The annual convention at Bailey Center in Westland, MI, was held Saturday, Oct. 9. As usual, the variety of games was broad and the quality high. A beautiful day and a home Michigan Wolverines game may have led to slightly smaller attendance than normal, although I don't have the numbers yet.

I ran a 28mm WW II skirmish with lead elements of the 1st Para Brigade running into the blocking line of 16th SS Training Battalion and the 9th Recon Battalion of the 9th SS Panzer Division. A bloody fight with the British Paras lead section shot to pieces. However, the MMG team on the carrier with the lead elements, despite losing half their crew and continual machine gun fire, held their position. Along with a sniper team on the railroad berm next to the road, they blew away the German troops to their front. The timely setting up of the 6 pounder gun by the 3rd Section commander saved the platoon when it destroyed the German 251/9 SPH that arrived to support the Germans.

The 16th SS HQ managed to get caught by the British 2nd Section and was shot down as it attempted to support the 9th SS squad and its 250/1 half-track. The bulk of the 16th SS swung around the flank to attack their objective of the small railroad storage shed and the stone walls surrounding it. Their lead elements ran into the waiting 3rd Paratroop section and were stopped cold. The result was the road was kept open and the British continued their advance towards Arnhem.

Meanwhile, Bob Beattie ran a 1963 Belgian Congo game (at right). He will also be running it at Historicon. I don't want to say too much, except the play test we ran went rather well and the game should be a blast. I have attached one picture from it. Let us just say you need to take a train load of troops to a town, rescue some Europeans, and then get back.

There also were a lot of Napoleonic games, one interesting American Civil War skirmish game, Vietnam, French & Indian Wars and Dark Ages. Mike Czar ran his 25mm Pirate naval game. In its own room, there was a continuous series of WW II naval battles taking place.

I found a nice 1/48 M113 for sale. Also, new T-shirts in three different colors were available. The food was edible and cheap, and all my friends were there to tell me how much older I looked. All in all, Mike Erisman and Larry Smith ran another good convention.

Check out their shows at www.proorcon.net!