(Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by a NOVAG member who wished to use a fictitious name to avoid recriminations from certain persons in HMGS, where it seems punishments of that sort may be expected. Rather than play such games, I have simply denoted him as anonymous.)

Personally, I believe that themes at conventions can serve a useful purpose. It’s just that a slew of my friends and NOVAG members have questioned the ends to which themes may have been abused at this past Cold Wars Convention. I have been asked by them to examine the question upon their behalf.

I believe that the benefit of a theme lies in raising the profile—hence, the interest level—of periods of wargaming that are under-utilized by the wargaming community. That is a noble goal. Should one create a theme in order to push a rules set or line of miniatures for personal profit, however, the term ignoble comes to mind.

It seems that the Crusades were the Theme of Cold Wars. This theme was used in both the convention in general, as well as the ancient’s competition, and alas, neither was without criticisms. Fortunately, I have NEVER participated in the scramble for the Theme Events prizes, NOR have I ever participated in the ancient’s competitions—which is the only reason I voice my friends concerns, lest it be considered by any to be my personal venting.

It seems that for one of the ancients/medieval tournaments, the armies to be used were only listed according to the number of that army in the new rules booklet for sale that had to be purchased after one purchased the rules for the game.

Tom—a long-time veteran of ancients competitions —had ordered the rules set months before the Con, but since it had still not arrived by game time and he did not know for certain which armies he might be able to use—remember, the names of the armies were never divulged, just their rules numbers—he chose not to participate. Poor Tom. (Poor customer service on not mailing the rules to him.)

Dick took a different tack. Knowing his history, he decided that he knew his army had participated in battles against several of the crusading armies, so he brought it to the competition. Alas, the new rules book—which he had yet to purchase—did not include the number of his army. The result was that even though he was historically correct, he was prohibited from participating in the tournament because he had failed his merchandising roll. (Bring your army all the way to Lancaster for nothing.)

I’d like to say that Harry (I have substituted Tom, Dick & Harry for their real names to avoid unpleasantness from the vindictive) and the others were too livid for words, but they were not. And no, I’m not going to commit those words to print.

Actually, when you get right down to it, the retail opportunity was ideal. You sell a set of rules. Then you come out with a series of army list books which you want everyone to purchase. You establish a theme tournament, and only give the numbers of the armies, which can only be determined by purchasing your rules. The screw tightens. The profits pour in. Brilliant! Not my style, of course, but brilliant, none-the-less.

I dare say that if the goal of a theme in ancients competition is merely to highlight armies not frequently used, it should be a simple matter to offer a theme, but to have a parallel set of competitions for those who either do not have and do not want to purchase theme armies, or simply prefer to fight something else. Of course, I only view this as a disinterested outsider, and there may be other considerations of which I am not aware.