While attending NOVAG's usual Friday night gathering at The Game Parlor, President John McConnell asked if I was attending Gamecon 10. I responded that I was, to which he asked if I could run a game. Knowing the event was 8 days away I equivocated with a "maybe" and went off to ask Dave Luff, the organizer, some questions. I stalled for two days before making up my mind.

I hadn't played much in the past couple of years, and was woefully short of rules knowledge. I have plenty of figures in many periods, but I wanted to feel comfortable teaching/playing with the participants, I settled on DBA because I knew it was simple. I could provide several armies so folks didn't need to bring theirs, and I didn't need specialized terrain (the farmhouse for Rorke's drift, for example). Finally, I called them both and volunteered to run a DBA tournament. I would provide all the boards, terrain, and troops. They promised me tables and some Ral Partha gift certificates for prizes. I was committed.

First, I had to re-read the DBA rules since I hadn't played the game in a while. I didn't know if the original 1.0 edition was current, but it was what I had. Besides, I though most players would be novices whom I could give at least consistent rules to, if not the most current. Riding the bus to and from the Pentagon provides ample time to read, so I did that over the next several days.

Next, I had to have playing boards. I assumed that a one-day convention wouldn't draw more than 100 people, of which 15 at most would play my DBA. I quickly calculated that 4 boards with players would offer enough gaming to keep me busy all day and handle the estimated crowd. I ad have each participant play 6 games using all four boards and 6 different armies.

I looked in the basement and spied some 1/4 inch particle board big enough to cut four 24" square boards I. After sanding the edges, I laid down a coat of brown house trim paint I had laying around and set it to dry. The next day I asked my obliging wife to pick up some geo-hex green paint at the local hardware store (I gave her a hill as a color sample).

After work I quickly cut some carpet pad pieces hill shapes, glued them to the boards, and set about slopping on the green paint. Actually, I used a brush sort of sweep so that the texture of the particle board left some scattered brown streaks spots. This gave a nice mottled look.

As the paint dried again, I pulled out my 15mm WRG armies and began comparing them to DBA army lists. In the end, I selected Vikings vs. Franks, Low Countries vs. Feudal French, Imperial Romans (East) vs. Huns, and English War of the Roses (Lancaster vs. York). I would used an army with elephants for more variety, but all the ones I own are 25rmn. Nevertheless, tactical differences and challenges would be interesting for the players.

I added finishing touches to the boards the next night: a stream, forests, rough areas, and hills, some touchup paint. Two boards were fairly open, two more densely covered. terrain would be d for the players to quicken the games and level the tactical playing field.

Camps

Next, I needed more camps (I only had 5 and needed 8). I rummaged aroumd until I found e tents I had picked up from Historicon (Ian Weekley's I think). I'm no great pamter but I painted n up in bright colors and affixed them to a base with some hedging. Voila!

I wanted the players to have a quick reference of rules for play, so I drafted one up which wed movement allowances, combat factors, modifiers, turn sequence, and other quick reference rmation to fit on one side of an 8.5"XI I" sheet. Computers are wonderful things.

I drafted up a roster to track my players' names, opponents, and scores. I also printed OBs for each army (including abbreviations such as Bd for Blades), cut them out, and affixed to folded card stock so each player could sit down and quickly see what army he or she would play, as well as the opponent's.

Almost done, I enlisted my daughter (age 10) to make up a sign advertising the tournament, and my son (age I 1) to help build a cardboard stand for it. Looking around the house, I quickly scavenged 8 dice, but found no rulers. Back to the store for my poor wife.

Ready?

Everything was ready, right? No, I needed playtesting. I didn't want one side to repeatedly thump another since whoever played that superior side would have a scoring advantage over anyone who didn't. I also wanted to brush up on the rules, and playing would force me to remember all the odd situations that can occur. Andrew (my son) and I played three games on each board, swapping sides over the last two nights. Occasionally we turned a board to see if the fixed terrain played better from another angle. I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many games he won, but it was more than I did, and unfortunately I can't lay all the blame on the die rolls.

Finally it was game day. We packed up everything the night before. Arriving early, I helped Dave and John set up tables, and then assembled my playing area. Shortly I started recruiting players and off we went. In the end, I had 14 players, plus myself whenever an odd opponent was needed I encouraged people to play a little and then walk around and play other games so they weren't locked in for 3 or 4 strait hours. Many took advantage of this and enjoyed other games like the NASCAR race, Warhammer 40,000, and John Hill's ACW.

The results were interesting and gratifying. Vonda Matthews came in first place, edging out Jeff Mehr who finished second. My son Andrew finished third, and Vonda's husband Jason Matthews finished fourth. Two things I really liked were that Vonda, one of those rare female players, had clearly dominated her opponents. I was also impressed that the second place winner, Jeff Mehr, was a novice at DBA, yet performed very well. In fact, he was instructing other new players by the end of the day. Neat.

All told, I think the event cost me about $10 to run in supplies, much of which I'll get to use over and over again. Running a game like this also offers you the opportunity to make new friends, provide an easy-to-learn game for novices, and flexibility for convention goers to enjoy a game when they have those inevitable breaks in their game schedule. In the case of DBA, it also offered ancient gaming to the attendees, which was otherwise missing at the convention.

So next time there is a convention, instead of only playing in events, look around your hobby area and think of an easy game you can share with your wargaming fellows. You'll enjoy it, and so will they.