Previous Events Draw Praise

JodieCons this year have included Waterloo '98 in October, Crete '99 in February, Monmouth 1778 in March, and Gettysburg '99 recently in May.

Friends of mine highly enjoyed the Crete and Monmouth games, and I attended the next event on their recommendation, playing my longest and largest wargame ever at the Gettysburg battle. Other participants have said:

"The biggest problem I see with JodieCon is WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING IT? JodieCon at Ft. Monmouth is a 'SAFE HAVEN' for committed historical miniatures wargamers, and the best kept (good) secret of the hobby. With several immensely fun and successful Campaign weekends so far, I sincerely hope many more events will come. I will be there!"

"Please help me get the new web site out to all--so no one in the future can say 'why didn't my HMGS friends tell me about this sooner?'"

JodieCon The Experience

As a new member of the "JodieCon Veterans," I think I'm in a good position to relate the experience. JodieCon combines the best features of a great club meeting with a convention. Its been described as a "mini-con on one historical campaign" (HMGS East Newsletter). You get to be part of a team of ten or more other gamers. The game "scenario" is well thought out and prepared. The battle goes on in several rooms at once, and you only get to see the one your own figure is on!

When you sign up you become part of a team internet link online, which allows you to chat immediately with the others on your side to discuss rules, tactics, period interests, etc. You get messages from the Con staff, copies of rules and strategic options. Your Army Commander also welcomes you, and makes sure you've got your assignment and order of battle. In the weeks before the Con, you are receiving military intelligence reports, situational updates, and the results of the first strategic moves being made by the Army Commanders.

For example, at Gettysburg '99 as Divisional Commander Rodes, CSA, I was able to talk to Robert E. Lee and Richard Ewell, my Corps Commander. The excitement builds as your team begins to plan for battle.

Once reporting in at Fort Monmouth, you meet Major Pete Panzeri, who is on the teaching faculty of the US Military Academy Prep School. Side lectures and demonstrations about the campaign take place with both qualified professional teachers and the student cadets, with you as a special guest of the base. Your food and lodging are taken care of simply so that you are free to focus on the gaming with no hassle.

JodieCon provides everything from sketch maps to referees and a Combat Information Center (The Ref Room), where messages are routed or rerouted, and the staff plans the fallout of player actions--from permissable night redeplopyment to random events. Down time between moves is spent in the fine social company wargamers enjoy with each other, including hanging out together in the lounge and watching films and videos on the period topic. Muchies and sodas are provided. Then its back to the action once again, with breaks for meals, sleep, a special event, or a team conference.

This is how you always knew the hobby could be, and how some older games expect it to go in the future, as more players sample the experience. This is a rare opportunity to play at a scale and level for a time most clubs can't support often! So come meet fellow gamers and enjoy sharing the playing, discussion, and obscure bad historical jokes for a really great hobby experience.

Just as I played a practice game at Cold Wars '99 led by Fred Hubig ("Robert E. Lee" at Gettysburg '99), so some Napoleonic teams are now planning to get together for a preCon Meeting and Maneuver. Join up today and get an automatic invitation to any practices as well.

As a first timer with Fire and Fury I found the practice worthwhile, and afterward was hatching my own individual plans to pull of a tactical coup, which I later managed in part on Culp's Hill. Now you too can head a corps of beautiful figures you don't even have to paint.

Why shoot, if'n that ain't worth fifty Yankee dollars, I'll eat my Confederate wide brimmed hat--and fellow gamers can tell you that its a big 'un!