But heck, there was still more. Seriously, one can play only so many games before your head starts to pound from calculating all those die roll modifiers. And for those down times you could wander thru the Dealer Hall out back at the Host’s Tennis Barn, or check out the new offerings via two spiffy displays set up by Osprey and Casemate Publishing, try your hand at diplomacy vice sabre rattling at the National Security Decision Making Game, learn all the best techniques for painting at the HMGS Hobby University, and then put those skills on display at the Iron Paintbrush competition. LOTS of folks checked out the Sharpe Experience, a fascinating display from the TV series that has immortalized Bernard Cornwell’s series of books on the British 95^th Rifles and Napoleon’s war in Spain. In fact, you could have your picture taken with some 95^th re-enactors, or grip and grin with actor Jason Salkey, who portrayed Rifleman Harris in the series and was there all weekend.

Thirsty for more?

Tournaments, Flaming from World War II and Ancient

Heads Up, Origins!

Because if you are, look no further then the HMGS War College, formerly our seminar series, but now on steroids and likely making our Origins colleagues just a wee bit nervous. Here was the line-up for Historicon 2009:

Modern Trends in Intelligence Analysis

Peter Mancini, US Army Intelligence & Security Command, Weider History Group

Louis-Alexandre Berthier in the American Revolution

Professor James McIntyre, Morraine Valley Community College

Planning and the Belorussia Operation, 1944

The Lublin-Brest Offensive

The L’vov-Sandomiersz Offensive

The Lasi-Kishinev Offensive

Col. David Glantz, US Army (Ret) – Guest of Honor, Weider History Group

Myth, Memory, and the Combat Effectiveness of the British Soldier of the Peninsular War

Dr. Edward Coss, US Army Command & General Staff College

Historical Art – Capturing the Past:  The Creative Process 

Keith Rocco, Historical Artist, Tradition Studios, Woodstock, VA

How Not to Fight a Civil War Battle: Bad Tactics, Poor Marksmanship, and Questionable Decision Making at the Battle of Pilot Knob, 1864

Dr. Kyle Sinisi, the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina

Napoleon as Urban Warrior – The Cairo Uprising of 1798

Dr. Melanie Byrd, Valdosta State University

The Little Wars of the World: H.G. Wells and the Genesis of the War Game

Alexandra Carter, PhD Candidate, Modern European History, UCLA

“Hot Wash-Up” – A Critical Analysis of the Pearl Harbor Attack

Dr. Alan Zimm, Aerospace Performance Analysis, Group, Johns Hopkins University

Napoleon vs. Wellington: The Third Campaign in Portugal

Dr. Donald Horward, Florida State University, Director Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution

The American Civil War in the Southwest

Intelligence Success and Failures in Operation Desert Storm

John Hill, author Squad Leader and Johnny Reb, Weider History Group

At The Sharpe End! And Reflections of a Rifleman

Jason Salkey – Guest of Honor, Sharpe TV Series

The Franco-Austrian War, 1809 – Parts 1 and 2

Dr. John Gill, National Defense University, Washington DC and Casemate Publishing

Growing Flowers in the Data Dump

Gerald Swick, Senior Online Editor, Weider History Group

The 1809 Campaign: Napoleon vs. Austria

1809: Battles and Consequences of the Campaigns in Germany, Austria and Spain

Todd Fisher, Executive Director, Napoleonic Historical Society

Reflections on the Danube: Napoleon's 1809 Campaign

Napoleonic Wargame Scenarios, 1807-09

James Arnold, author Crisis on the Danube: Napoleon’s Austrian Campaign of 1809 and Crisis in the Snows: Russia Confronts Napoleon, The Eylau Campaign 1806-1807

Forward the Colours! – A History of Military Flags

Dr. Arthur Etchells III, Vexologist, Miniature Figure Collectors of America

Casemate Seminar – Exclusive Insights into the Military Book World

Simone Drinkwater, Marketing and New Business Director – Casemate Publishing

Osprey Insights: From Development to the Latest Publications

Richard Sullivan, Marketing Director – Osprey Publishing

The Battle of Magnesia 190 B.C.

Dr. Ilkka Syvänne, University of Tampere, Finland

The Greatest Tactical Study Ever: Pascal Bressonnet's Study of the 1806 Campaign in Prussia

Scott Bowden, author Armies on the Danube 1809, Guest of Honor, Military History Press

Napoleon’s Grande Armee: The Birth, Development and Operations of the First Modern Army

Jean Lochet, former Editor, Empires, Eagles and Lions, Military History Press

About the only thing wrong with such festivities was the overkill, and this was with some speakers, like noted Osprey historian Rene Chartand, stranded at airports in Europe. There was so much to do even the most dedicated of attendees couldn’t take half of it in, much less the entire bundle. This was particularly a downer for me as I wanted to desperately sit in on two of the (Napoleonic, of course) events above, but failed to make either.

Into the Breach

And storming the bastions of the Lancaster Host was pretty tough the first day, though totally my fault. I got up early on Thursday, the 16^th (my Anniversary; more later) and headed out to Lancaster hoping to get the hotel keys for me and my roommate early. Obviously, it would have been nice to have my wallet on hand for license and credit card to complete said transaction, but when folks say that with age the mind is the second thing to go, don’t believe it. So it was that I got to enjoy the scenic farm lands and countryside of Lancaster country as I trundled 45 miles back to home near Harrisburg, and then another 45 miles back, this time with wallet in hand.

Nevertheless, getting to attend on my anniversary has caused many of my colleagues to ask if my wife, Paula, has a sister or at least might be cloned and marketed. Trust me it’s not what you think. Instead it’s a matter of my wife counting the minutes down each year until she can kick my ass out of the house for four days of peace and quiet. I was actually going to skip the con this year until reminded that I needed to take her feelings into account. Evidently a romantic dinner plus doesn’t come close to her Historicon vacation, and that makes me a lucky man. I think.

OK, so I am now finally checked in, and then easily slid through Preregistration where I got my name tag, full color program, a goody bag with nifty things like a silver commemorative tape measure, Legion of Honor badge, plus a golf shirt and challenge coin that I ordered. My short stay in line, however, reminded me that the move next year to the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC, a gorgeous facility BTW) is still well on people’s minds, and many natives are still restless.

The issues range from perceived cost of the new venue, to parking, safety, and convenience, but the consensus seems that a solid majority of attendees and vendors do not want to move, and there has been some collateral damage given the Board’s decision. One Board member resigned and two of three Board incumbents who supported moving were not re-elected. Many vendors and gamers have hinted they may not show up, while others cautiously plan for a day trip and are unlikely to run games. On hand reps from the BCC and special booklets produced by the Board were available to receive the brunt . . .

But it’s all kind of hold your breath time right now over this and a big test will come 26 September of this year. HMGS will hold a “Games in Education Day at the BCC,” and one of the implied intents is to let doubters check everything out so hopefully all fears will be extinguished. I’m personally surprised the commotion has not died down since the announcement was made in March, but the fact that there are lots of rooms available at the primary convention hotels for next year (the Host was usually over booked a couple of years in advance) indicates challenges still remain.

Dealer’s Hall and Flea Market

Regardless, that is then, this is now and I still had a blast so kudos to Director Bob Giglio and his hardworking, all volunteer, yet highly professional staff. As always the first day was spent hooking up with friends but in particular scoping out the Dealer Hall to see what I wanted to buy. Hey, my wife’s vacation isn’t free! I always try to pick up a few items I might need for the game I am going to run, and often I’ll grab a scarce item or two lest I come back and find everything gone. I also needed to pick up some 15 mm Napoleonic’s I had ordered from Eureka Miniatures USA, to include some free Austrian command packs for distribution at my game on the morrow. Honcho Rob Walter has always been very supportive of my games and Age of Eagles rules, and his AB Miniatures are quite honestly one of the best lines in the business. Otherwise the idea is to get a list of products I’ll want to pick up Sunday morning when everyone is ready to pack up, go home and might be so inclined to cut a deal or two. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

I really didn’t find anything that stood out as regards vendors or their wares this time around. What was noticeable to me was the vendor who was not there (again), Old Glory 15s. Their absence had nothing to do with the Baltimore controversy, and everything to do with the current economy, They always had a huge display of products on hand, and were some of the most accommodating chaps you could ever meet, but fuel and lodging costs simply made the trek from Norton Shores, MI too much of a burden for very little return. I noticed other vendors also had smaller, more subdued displays, in particular Karl and the gang at the Last Square, a firm out of Wisconsin I always buy from. Nevertheless, if Doug Kline of Battlefield Terrain Concepts was correct, sales were brisk and that was good news. Doug tends to be a very harsh judge of such things, so I take his comments very seriously.

Thus ended my first day at the con. And after a long evening rollicking with friends it was back to the Super 8 for a battle with the rack monster where visions of Hungarian Insurrection Hussars danced in my head. Oh yes, still had my wallet as well.