On September 12th, the urge to be around one's own kind, fellow wargamers, compelled me to visit the hospital game in Oak Forest to meet the guru and his merry men. I didn't care that it might take me an hour and a half to get there in the Friday night rush hour traffic, which it did. The only way that I can explain this unique experience is that it was a combination of show and tell, swap shop and flea market, interesting ideas and conversation on military history and wargaming, mixed with hot and heavy tabletop wargaming action.
Sticking close to Hal and Greg Principato to make sure that I got involved in some sort of action (at this point I already thought I was in heaven), I found myself in an Anglo-Saxon and Viking attack on a Norman keep. Now, not having ever played anything earlier than the American Revolution either in boardgaming or miniatures, I felt out of my element. To make matters worse, on a die throw, I won the right to command the Norman forces, but with Hal and Greg on my side, how could I lose? (Try losing every initiative die roll but one to Jerry (Wally) Webster, the luckiest man I ever met). After the first couple of turns, it was everyman for himself just trying to survive the Anglo-Saxon assault. Best move of the night goes to Greg Principato for saying to hell with holding his hopeless position and mounting up his men and charging around the table, hacking up nasty AngloSaxons wherever they could be found, almost bailing Hal and myself out of our hopeless mess. A very interesting and novel game, which I suggested to Rich Black should be renamed Hack and Slash. By the way, Rich's Norman keep and terrain board is a piece of beautiful model building and a joy to play on. I hope to return soon to this unique and interesting group.
In early October that urge returned and I dutifully journeyed to Milwaukee in the rain and fog for the Eighth Historical Wargame Weekend. The high point of this trip was a chance to play in Duke Seifried's El-Obeid game assisted by Bob Pavlik and Tony Adams. I considered this a rare treat, as Duke spends a great deal of time giving you the "and you are there" feel of the subject and event being played. His pregame induction and conference with opposing players is better than reading the best book on the subject; he instills a real sense of the historical character you are playing. Also, Duke's buildings and terrain are a joy to behold and who else brings real sand to pour on the table? While not a new idea in wargames, I enjoyed his no pre-measured artillery fire where you have to call your shots and gauge the range yourself. If you like Little Wars, you would enjoy this gathering, on a smaller and quieter scale than some other conventions.
Almost a month without a game sent me on a pleasant drive to Rockton for RockCon, a cross between Little Wars and Milwaukee Historical Weekend. Here I played in two games judged by Greg Novak, who also imparts a great deal of historical knowledge along with his fine games, even if he wouldn't let me use "clearing volleys" against the Hereroes (Only kidding, Greg). I really enjoyed both his Yellow Ribbon game and his German versus Hereros game. The German troops involved in this failure have ended their military careers in disgrace.
Only because of my own laziness, did I miss his military-political game in 1920 China. I heard later on that this game went over very well and was enjoyed by all. Despite running three games within 24 hours, he still managed to squeeze in Sunday breakfast with me to discuss and exchange thoughts on wargaming and the colonial period in general. Greg's Geo-Hex setup for the Yellow Ribbon game was very impressive with loose pieces of lichen being the only other terrain used.
This short travel log is my way of thanking the judges and gamemasters for many a pleasurable hour spent at the table. I really wonder where this hobby would be without these men who give so much of their time and knowledge with little thanks or reward. While winning or losing a historical miniature game is last on my list of importance in wargaming, being 0-for-six in these events does make one wonder if he is in the right hobby. ON TO DUPAGE!
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© Copyright 1987 Hal Thinglum
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