Lots of stuff in the mailbox this month! Yeah! I only took this job from Hal because I knew I'd get mail, and I love mail. Not really, but I do like to hear from new groups out there. Thanks for writing or calling.
NOTE: HMGS now has a web home page. Check it out at http://www.erinet.com/bp/hist.html. It is linked to several other historical gaming areas on the net. Thanks Bob French at HMGS East for the work, and Camino Real Post and HMGS East newsletter for the info.
NUTS! No, not General McAuliffe at Bastogne, it's the Northern Utah Tacticians and Strategists. Their headquarters is in Layton UT where they get together twice a month. They have a dozen members on their roster, and put out a monthly Battle Gram (I like the name). Bart Wood, their fearless leader, is looking for new recruits and offers to share the club assets (rules, figures, etc.) with those new to the hobby or period in play. NUTS plays all periods of miniatures and may rules sets. In fact, they have at least four sets of locally created rules (Napoleonics and Colonials) that I'd like to see them send into MWAN for publishing. Share with all of us! Recently they put on a fictitious post-ACW campaign where the CSA fights the USA to a draw with French help, and now everyone is fighting over North Africa using their home Colonial rules. Very interesting. The Battle Gram also included painting techniques, member roster, and their game schedule. Contact Bart and the other nuts at 3257 N. 2175 E., Layton UT 84040, (801) 771-4394.
I heard from the folks at the Camino Real Post once again. They recently sponsored the Albuquerque Game Fair in December '95. Turnout is growing. They had a little plug for us in their newsletter, calling MWAN the internet of wargaming. High compliments! Games are played at Wargames West in Albuquerque on Tuesday evenings, as well as a number of homes all over New Mexico and Texas. These are listed in the newsletter, and you can list yourself free of charge if you send the info to Don Wolff, 18 Milagro Ct., Los Lunas NM 87031 or call him at (505) 865-5380. The group plays all periods and rules at various intensity levels. Check them out.
The Hartford Area Weekly Kriegspielers (HAWKS) join our teaming ranks. Rob Dean claims to be their only MWAN'er (boo! hiss!) but he sent me a spiffy color flyer that they put up to attract gamers. They meet every other Thursday at 1900 hours, with the location varying each week (someone's house). Usual periods played are ACW, Napoleonics, Medieval, Colonial,20mm WWII, and Franco-Prussian. They play established and home rules (hey guys, send those home rules in for Hal to publish!), and beginners are welcome. Contact Rob at 96 S. main St., Port Deposit MD 21904 (410) 939-6176 or robdean@access.digen.net. Other POCs in the 410 area code are Andrew Haag at 272-6877, Eric Schlegel at 272-3314, or Chris Palmer at 569-6441. You guys aren't that far away, I should drop in!
The Old Dominion Military Society dropped me a line to tell me about their group. They've been around for six years and field over 40 members. They recruit from Newport News and Hampton Roads VA area, but anyone is welcome. Gaming is regularly held on Thursdays at Gamer's Guild/World's Best Comics at 9817 Jefferson Ave in Newport News. Several large tables, lockers, figures and magazines to borrow, and snacks and drinks at nominal prices are all part of the package.
Miniatures of all periods, biblical to sci-fi future are played. Primary periods are the Age of Reason, Napoleonics, ACW, 19th century Europe, and WWII. Membership runs $20 for the first year, and $10 thereafter, but you get a club t-shirt, shop discounts, and club use in exchange. Club President is Paul Crouch, at (804) 431 - 1438, or contact their membership chairman Rob Eubanks at (804) 779-2923 (home) or (800) 488-3915 (work), or 6107 Magazine Dr., Mechanicsville VA 23111. The club number is (804) 595-9005. If you are in the coastal Virginia area, stop in and see the Old Dominion Military Society and make some new friends.
The January issue of NOVAG News reports that the North Virginia Gamers Wargaming Club (NOVAG) has been busy. John McConnell is the new President, with Rob Wayment taking the editorial duties for the newsletter. They host their big convention NOVAGCON in November, with Game Days in June and August, and weekly games at The Game Parlor in Chantilly VA. Other game locations include The Gaming Realm in Frederick MD, the Fantasy Forum in Arlington, and Eagle & Empire in Alexandria VA. The newsletter offers extensive convention information, an article on facial hair in historical armies, and a summary of a Napoleonics campaign. Nearly 300 members fill the ranks covering all periods from micro armor to SYW, Napoleonics, DBA/DBM, and ACW. They have an excellent relationship with local game stores and a very open atmosphere. NOVAG charges $7.00 per year for membership and their bimonthly newsletter. If you live in the VA/DC area, this group is a must at P.O. Box 7158, Reston, VA 22091.
Do you live in FL, GA, the Carolinas, AL, KY, LA or TN? Three words--HMGS Mid South! Bill Harting leads this second largest HMGS, and an active bunch they are. There are currently 6 HMGS events and 4 other conventions on their calendar, plus numerous local games. Membership boasts 500+ members in over 34 local clubs (several listed below). Members receive an annual membership listing to help them find opponents. The latest newsletter has several pages of humorous and outlandish newspaper style reports of ACW campaigns. Barry Lee wrote a nice piece on Trojan and Mycenean armies, and the usual club refights and goings-on were included. Contact Maj Bill Harting and enlist yourself for $10.00 per year: 101 Taylor Rd., Estill Springs, TN 37330-3831, or NEW...majorbill@united.net.
The latest Greater Washington Area Gaming Directory is out. Great stuff! There are 22 gamer listings for Maryland, 21 for Virginia, and 36 manufacturer/company listings for both. They also include a full page of conventions, and 74 retailer entrees. The book is rounded out with "opponents wanted." You can have this fine compilation of information for a mere SASE and $1. For those of you who want to advertise, regular entries are FREE, bold entries are $1, business card size ads are $5, and half-page costs $11. If you live, play, sell, advertise, or mail to the Washington DC, VA, MD area, this is a priceless resource. Send inquiries or checks to David Luff, PO Box 5094, Herndon VA 22070.
COLD WARS has probably come and gone by the time you read this. Reading through the announcement from HMGS East, it looks to be an excellent show as usual. The lineup includes games by Leo Walsh of TCS, Bob Bryant, the Courier staff, Buck Surdu, Bob Giglio, Jim Brokaw, Empire, Eagles, and Lions, Scott Holder, Jim Birdseye, Bill Gray, Mike McVeigh, and many, many others. Ancients tournaments and a wide array of periods will be available for you to enjoy. The newsletter is much more upbeat and useful than past issues (congrats Wilbur and JT). Bob Giglio wrote a nice work on the ECW battle of Ledbury 1645, and followed it with a regular column detailing all the important board issues (like we might get a fall convention from them, too, since Historicon and Cold Wars are pretty far apart). They are also looking for a logo and motto, so if you budding artists out there have ideas, send them in! They are also proposing an new HMGS Canada. Sounds interesting. Will there be a separate Quebec chapter?--Oops! To join the hosts of our hobbies finest conventions, contact LTC Wilbur Gray, Secretary, at 2727 Duke St, Apt 1106, Alexandria VA 22314, (703) 461-6723; ltcgray@usa.pipeline.com. You can join for a mere $5. The gamers of Heart of America HMGS are still coming on strong. Their semiannual convention Call to Arms is coming April 12-14, and promises to be the usual "excellent adventure." All the usual faces, terrific terrain, fun games, and good deals at the dealer tables at the Plumbers Hall location. Their latest newsletter, the Communique, starts off with a very informative article explaining some of the minutiae of the English Civil War. They also included a DBM army list for the Romano-Britons, as well as upcoming events, and HAHMGS elections info. These guys are very enthusiastic, so if you live in the Kansas, Missouri area, you're blowing it if you don't check them out. Contact Ken Van Pelt at 1205 Allendale Drive, Greenwood, MO 64034, (816) 537-7883, $10.00 for one year.
News from HMGS Pacific Southwest. Steve Phenow is doing a great job as the new editor of their newsletter, The Messenger. Format is readable, and it is packed with great information. I'd say they are beginning to look more like a magazine than a newsletter. Informative articles on early Roman Legion organization, modern armor capabilities, naval scenario theory, Armati and Shako reviews, classified ads, and the Napoleonic battle of La Souffel. Gamers can be found at the War House and The Last Grenadier in southern California, and other locations listed below. PSW supports two annual conventions. If you live in or near SoCal (my hometown) give editor Stephen Phenow a call at (818) 982-5002, or write HMGS/PSW, P.O. Box 701, Norwalk CA 90651-0701 with your $15 dues.
This one isn't really a club, but it's interesting. An 8-page newsletter called Industry Insights is available and in its second issue covering the gaming industry. Articles this issue covered women in gaming, awards at Origins, and a host of gaming industry job openings and inside notes. Next issue, games and education. If this sounds interesting, contact Grey Ghost press, Inc., P.O. Box 838, Randolph MA 02368-0838 or e.danforth@genie.geis.com, or ghostgames@aol.com.
Still haven't heard from the following HMGS's: Rocky Mountain, Great Lakes, and Gulf-South.
Back to MWAN #81 Table of Contents
© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum
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