Huzzah! Convention report

 

  This past Saturday I attended the Maine Historical Wargamers Association's convention Huzzah!  In Portland Maine.  it was a very last minute thing (late Friday night) as we are doing major house renovations.  But Janine said I needed a break and encouraged me to go off and have a fun time with the boys.  Warren was kind enough to offer to drive (I still cannot process things to drive safely) and so Dave, Warren and I set off for a day of toy soldiers and fellowship with like minded individuals.

  The true high light for me was meeting up with friends.  Mr Ed from the blog Ed M's Wargamers MeanderIngs was there and its always a pleasure and rewarding time talking with him.  Most importantly was meeting up with a long time internet friend Vincent from The Corlears Hook Fencibles!  Looking across the lobby I noticed an individual wearing a Corlears Hook Fencibles t shirt.  Running up I introduced myself and was delighted to meet Vincent in person.  Oh happy days!  We three bloggers then got together for a picture and a promise to get together this fall for a game.  

The convention was a return to the older style conventions I remember from the 1990's.  Not a gigantic historicon type but a smaller and more pleasant gaming atmosphere.  It was spread out through six rooms and had an incredible variety of games.  These included historical, fantasy and a few board games.

Speaking of board games I discovered a game of Diplomacy going on.  Had great, and many not so great memories of this game.  In high school we played a lot of Diplomacy.

AJ from the club put on The Battle of Rhode Island game using his Electric Brigadier rule set.  Beautiful table and excellent looming miniatures made thus a stand out game for me.  Thanks to Mr Ed for assisting AJ!  And very well done AJ!!

Lots of WW2 games especially with the Bolt Action rules.

Most unusual game was The Warriors. " Can you dig it brothers! " Based on the movie which was a retelling of the Iliad but in NYC with street gangs.  Oh come on!  You know you watched it!  "Warriors...come out and playyyyyy!"

My friend Peter put on a War of 1812 game Battle for Michilimackinac.  The ruled used were Carnage And Glory computer.  Beautiful terrain and figures.  I especial liked the Cigar box mat cloth and his you can crap it over hills to make very realistic terrain.  Great and fascinating battle and very well done!  There are not many War of 1812 games at conventions but Peter always puts one on and does a magnificent job.  Well done sir!

One that definitely caught my eye was The Battle of Freeman's Farm (or first Saratoga).  Thus was run by Rich Wallace and was a computer rules.  The terrain was award winning and miniatures excellent.  I was really impressed by this one.  For a better more detailed report see Corlears Hook Fencibles blog.  

I will be doing doing a separate post on the Moby Dick game next.  Lots of pictures and much more details!