HUZZAH! 2018 CONVENTION REPORT, PART THE FIRST

Once again, I attended the excellent regional convention, Huzzah!, sponsored by the Maine Historical Wargamers. This year, I once again ran a game, Loot the Baggage Train, of which I will focus on in my Convention Report, Part the Second--yet to come. In this report, dear readers, I will relate the sundry impressions and images gained during my meanderings at the convention.  I fear that this year's convention report will be a bit less robust than the last, but that is more a function of my dysfunction than the 2018 convention being of lesser substance. In the following, as usual, you may clix pix for big pix...

FRIDAY

It just so happened that my table was not in use on Friday night, so my attendance that day was mainly utilitarian: to get my badge and set up my game ahead of time (more on that anon).  I knocked off work early as well, so that was another good thing! Above, the lobby area and check-in desk on Friday afternoon. Things were still fairly light when I arrived, but even during peak periods, there is no problem moving through the check-in. As a game master, admission fees are waived.  That's nice...

...but for running a game, one is presented with a handsome set of commemorative dice! It was upon getting home with the above that I rediscovered my handsome commemorative dice from Huzzah! 2017. Indeed,  A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon (Napoleon).

This year's convention was dedicated to the memory of Kermit Kincaid, a well known figure in the hobby whose recent loss was felt by many. This remembrance was posted in the lobby at the entrance to the main room, so I thought it appropriate to place it in the entrance to this report. Although I was not a personal friend, I was certainly acquainted with Kermit, as were most who had spent any time on the east coast/New England convention circuit. He will be missed.

On Friday afternoon, things were still a bit light in the main gaming room (above left), and in the WWII/Bolt Action area (above right). I spent the majority of my time setting up my game, and then I was pretty much done in, so didn't get lots of shots of the Friday evening gaming....

...however, this particular American Civil War game, Richard Wallace's Carnage and Glory extravaganza, "The Queen's Cotton," was set up and waiting in the room where I was getting my game ready.   It featured not only beautiful Union and Confederate forces...

...but also a contingent of the Perry British Intervention Force figures (above)...

 ...and a 28mm ironclad!

A popular fixture of Huzzah!--Andre's WWI Friday Night Dogfight game was getting started in the lobby when I was heading out. 

My game was set up, minus troops and a few other bits, at the conclusion of my Friday trip.  First thing Saturday, I would be back to put the figures down and add the player materials.

SATURDAY

Arriving bright and early on Saturday, I was joined in the room by two compadres from my gaming club who were also setting up for the morning session in the same room. Above left, AJ, of AJ"s Wargaming Blog, was setting up his Electronic Brigadier game (AWI Battle of Monmouth). Check out his blog for a game and convention report.  If you aren't familiar with Electronic Brigadier, I recommend that you check it out.  Greg S, above right, was setting up his Great Northern War Sharp Practice game. All three of our games were filled, and there were several players on stand by looking to fill any no-shows. In short, all games had good interest and no empty chairs--a good start, to be sure... 

...at this point in time my game transpired; stay tuned to the next post for more... 

We now resume our normal broadcasting.  Having completed running my game, I was able to take a bit of a rest and then sample the Saturday afternoon proceedings...

ACW seemed a popular presence, in various scales...

The Great Northern War in "Gawd's Own Scale": 6mm  (I luv's me some 6mm)

Young gamers were present and well taken care of; above left, Mike Paine's ever popular Hanghai pulp game ready for action. Above right, a youngster (minion?) working his way around a game table sporting a Maine Historical Wargamer's Association pith helmet (and goggles!).  They're bringin' them up right in these parts!

 A wonderful WWI trench game. This had flashing leds imbedded in it to replicate machine gun fire:  if you check out the big version of the lower picture, you'll see the flash of one of the leds (just to the left of the firing slot of the sandbagged bunker opposite the tank). Spiffing stuff!

The amazing Stalingrad boards from last year's featured Bolt Action game were reprised in the WWII room...

..with the addition of new of a set of stunning Monte Cassino game boards.

                                                            Vikings: tons of 'em!

 Wings of Glory, WWII

Not quite sure to make of this one, other than to say, "bloody sheep!"

A few more shots of games, just because. 

 The much busier main room on Saturday, with the convention in full swing.  

Nicely organized, wonderful games, excellent gamers, good attitudes--another excellent Huzzah!.  I and my compatriots are already looking forward to Huzzah 2019!

Part the Second will be forthcoming: in which our correspondent conveys the curious tale of his machinations as game master, and of the bold spirited bravos who "played up!" in his game.  I beg your patience, dear readers, until then, and bid you adieu for now.

 Excelsior!