Little Wars 2017, a review...

Dear Readers;

This review is wordy, long, and photo-intensive. May I humbly suggest that you find a nice, relaxing drink to refresh yourself with as you read on-wards.

The 2017 Little Wars Convention was put on by HMGS Midwest at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard Illinois during the weekend of April 27th-29th,  This is the second year that they were onsite in their new location now that the old DuPage is no longer there. 

Part 1: "Head out on the highway...."

My wonderful wife (Gawd bless her!), was unable to attend again, so for the weekend we had planned (Saturday and Sunday), I teamed up with my friend, fellow war-gamers (and Yankee ACW nemesis), Bill Rosser for the weekend trip up there.

We took I75 up and then 94 onto Chicago, and then got onto 294 which took us onto 88 and then onto Lombard and nearby Downers Grove. The morning started out okay, but as we kept going North the clouds got heavy and the signs of oncoming rain was more evident as we traveled. Nonetheless we continued our journey towards our destination, (After a quick stop for donuts and coffee that is)...

NOTE: CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR LARGER PHOTOS OF EACH....

Hmmm...what could this be?

Okay this isn't looking too good and based on what we are seeing it must have just happened.

Impact mark of whatever had hit it and was burning up ahead...

Annnnnnnnd it's an 18 wheeler on it's side burning.  Note: part of the wheel assembly is right to the left of us...

And as traffic gets out of the way, a clearer picture...

I also took a bit of video of it as we got closer and caught part of it exploding. 

We moved quickly past it and continued onto our destination.

Part 2: "This looks like the place..."

Arriving at The Westin, we ended up parking in the nearby parking lot, just the bottom fell out of the sky and the rain came down.  

We quickly moved into the building and found registration and registered. I re-joined HMGS Midwest because I figured it was the least I could do to support the organization that is putting on this convention.

Yours truly at the con, (wearing the obligatory Confederate Forage Cap)...

Once we were registered we got our programs, and our swag bag.

For the life of me I don't have my copy of the Program to give you a shot of the cover as I have. Mine seems to have disappeared

Along with the program the swag bag was filled with a wide variety of stuff, 

First off, I'd like to say "WOW" to "The Wargames Company" for sponsoring the swag bag. It was very nice.

A penguin in uniform!

Among some of the items in the bag was a plastic sprue of a FoW BF 2012 series M4 Sherman, (iirc this is the M4A1 version). While I don't play FoW, it is a nice surprise and one can never have too many tanks...

Also in the bag was a copy of the scenario booklet "The Battle of Blindenmarkt: 1809 in Germany" by The Wargames Company.  While I am not a Napoleonic's player I can and do appreciate well written and produced scenario books, and the quality here is superb.

A nice bit of reading....

And once again Old Glory was there and provided one of their "Little Wars Vikings" figures.

Wandering around the place, we checked out the dealers/flea market/paint and take/reenactors area.

By this time it was raining cats and dogs outside, and would continue the entire day, and later on we would find out that some of the events were cancelled due to the weather preventing GM's from showing up and running their games. 

The P&T (Paint and Take) was well set up and very popular.

There were approx 3-4 reenactor groups at the con, (Ancient Romans, Napoleonic French, WW1 Germans, and WW2, (I think I saw some WW2 US Pacific Marines). While they had nice displays, I didn't see much interest in them, (especially the Napoleonic French).

Part 3: "Dealers and A Death...."

So with that in mind, we wandered into the Dealers Room.

Old Glory, Knuckleduster, Scale Creep, Badger, OMM, Recreational Conflict, The Local FoW/BF distributor and The Wargames Company seemed to be the primary distributors there. There were a few more that are listed but for the most part it was all the standard dealers.

Old Glory in the front right here...Always have a wonderful wide selection....

Enterprise Games, with Badger off to their left, and other dealers.

Since we were planning on an over-nighter, I was planning on getting more photos for a better display of the Vendors area.

I wandered over and took some pics of Forrest Harris's Knuckleduster setup. He is starting to preview his new "Gunfighters Ball 28-32mm Western Buildings and they look very impressive.

Knuckleduster Buildings and the new Gutshot "Showdowns and Shootouts" scenario book.

A closer look at the new buildings....

The Desperado and Gutshot Rules and expansions. Pick yer poison....

A close up of one of the painted and weathered Knuckleduster buildings. These buildings paint up really well.

While I was planning on spending some Sunday money at Knuckleduster, it ended up not happening due to our schedule change.

My big purchase on Saturday was from Badger Games, (more on this later).

The actual vendor room was sold out and there was an overflow vendor room in the side hallway right next to the flea market. 

To be honest, I think I had mixed feelings about this as it seemed the the vendors that were put in there seemed to be more of a "secondary importance". Now I am sure that is not the case but to be honest, if I was going to be selling my wares and willing to pony up the bucks in the future for vendors tables, I should have as much right to the large dealers room as some of the old familiar standbys.

I took a quick cruise around the flea market and in tried and true tradition ended up buying five figures from Uncle Dukes table. (Part of my haul and described later).

I decided to take a quick break and sat down, and then I got a text message....

My cousin sent me a message to say that her mom, (my aunt) had died in her sleep that morning. She was 92 and was the last of my grandmothers six daughters. All six of them had died of Alzheimers/Dementia and now with her passing, that link to our family and ancestors was forever gone.

It took me a few moments to compose myself and then I steeled on.

And it was off to the game room.

Part 4: "The Gaming Area", (or "The REAL reason that YOU are reading this blog entry...")

So entering the gaming area, I was impressed.

It's well lit and the noise wasn't a roar. There were lots of tables, and people playing (more in the afternoon I think than the morning as the weather I believe had an issue with it).

One thing I did notice this year was that this seemed to be "The Day of BIG MEGA Multi-table battles", as numerous games were very large scale affairs.

Here are two photos of the gaming area on Saturday:

Yeps the fellow in the short sleeve blue shirt with his hands in his pockets is friend, fellow war-gamer, and all around Yankee nemesis, Bill Rosser. 

The introduction board to "The American Adventure Game", They had a nice set of handouts explaining it, but in my usual self I completely forgot to take one...

 Of interest to me was a SST Style Bug attack on Planet P style game going on...
Once again the Mobile Infantry was out dealing with the bug menace.

"Would you like to know more???...."

The outpost in "Bug World"...

"Annnnnnd here they COME!!!!!".... 

 And then there was this very impressive 1/35th Scale WWII game.

And a giant ant "THEM!' sort of game....

Over in the corner floor was an interesting game that seemed to attract the kids. It was a pulp style/victorian/steam naval boat game.  

Funny thing...this boat is actually a decorative piece from Hobby Lobby...

And Uncle Duke was running one of his large Mega-Games...this time a massive multi-table Desert Affair...

Arabs in the front, and the Crusader fortress in the back

And another shot of the real estate:

And some more pics of it:


Meanwhile in the minaret...

"He began to waaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiillllll......"

"Sharif he don't like it!!!!"

"Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah..."

And then there was one entire section side of the room it seemed...

In Martians....

Massive multi-table games of AQOTMF, as the threat from the red planet and their tripod walkers moved across our world.

A hard fought battle for our world...

Observation balloon, directing fire towards the Alien Tripods...

Defense field HQ and "The Trenches..."

Tripods and Troops fighting it out...

An objective marker, or breakfast tomorrow morning?....YOU decide....

And then there was another pulp game:

Some of the figures on the table...Hmmm...some of these goons look familiar....

To be honest, I didn't stick around for the game, but it looked like the objective markers/plot point markers were "ducks"...

What I found most intriguing was this:

 Look familiar?
It's the same decorative boat from Hobby Lobby that was used by another player as one of his boats in the floor game I described earlier.


And there were many, many, more games but my battery on my camera phone was powering down.

By now, the rain was pouring down hard and instead of staying overnight, (two of the games I had signed up for were cancelled), Bill and I decided to head back.

Part 5: My loot haul....

So I made it back home, and looked at my loot.

First off I did a bad thing and stepped into a new genre: 1920's-1930's era gangsters. 

 Since a lot of the stuff can also be used with Pulp games, it's a good choice, plus I wanted to get in on the original "The Chicago Way" KS but couldn't afford to at the time.
With that being said, I went ahead and made a step into it.

I picked up the rule book, an extra set of cards, and the tokens.

"What's a game without da rules?..."

Extra set of cards for play...nice thinking...

Da tokens ta help youse know what's goin' on...

Now...I ask you all...What's a miniatures game without....

...

...

...

Miniatures?

First up...The gangsters...

"You'se got needs....they's got solutions...."

And the Prohibition Agents...

"The law is the law..."

And naturally....yeah, naturally I had to pick up some extras...so I did.

First up..."The Terrified Civilians"...

Collateral damage to cause problems for players in the game...

And I grabbed "The Bootlegger Still".  Now historically this really isn't an accurate still, but with a little work, I think I can make it "better"...*cough cough*.

And last but not least, I grabbed some Uncle Duke Figures. Five of them....

The total haul for this trip...

 I will admit that it is indeed a much smaller haul than I usually get, but time was short, and thus less purchased.
On a good note, Badger Games, put in a free figure or two with purchases so I came out with a Bandito with a Rifle, and a Sci-Fi Skirmish Sniper figure.
So all in all I ended up with 3 free figures, (plus the OG Viking from Bill), and two sprues of Sherman Tanks...so FIVE (5) free minis, and two tanks along with my haul. Not bad for a day.

On the way back we stopped for dinner at Bar Louies and had a great meal, and a nice beer called "Old Grumpy", and let the storms pass up.
I finally ended up home around 12:30 am...a long day but a good one.

Dinner....

And a good "Old Grumpy"...

PART 6: Conclusion....

 This is my 4th Little Wars convention that I have been to, and I have enjoyed each one. Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay the entire weekend, and I wasn't able to make last year at all...
I am enjoying this convention tremendously and even though the weather cause a less than 5% attendance drop, HMGS Midwest memberships increased by almost 20%. I'm thinking that the winning idea for this is that HMGS Midwest does a good job to make the conventions fun, and unlike other *cough cough cough* HMGS chapters *cough cough cough*  doesn't seem to get in a constant battle over "Where to have their convention THIS year..."

If there were any possibly suggestions I would say this.

1: Food choices at the hotel were horribly expensive.  I know we are in the "Chicago-land area" but ten dollars for a hamburger? Really?

2: Try to accommodate ALL of the vendors  in one large room. This helps tremendously.

3: A little more signage would be good also.

4: Update your website and make it "newbie friendly".

Other than that, I think the con is doing great.
I will definitely be back next year.

Thanks for reading.
More to come....

2017's extremely overdue update...

Weird.

Last thing I remember it was December 2016, and I had just finished a blog post.

I get up to get some coffee and use the men's room, and then suddenly, *BLAM!* 

It's April  May2017, and a lot has changed.

Okay so getting up to things as I had actually already started a draft post but never finished it.

This was an original draft started in January and then saved and just sat alone and unloved for almost 3 months.

First off...

Some figures and scenery!

A nice little 19th Century Victorian Gothic Horror Vignette:

WIP: Various figures in a setting.
“The darkness grew thick and ominous outside of Billingsley Manor. One could barely see further than three feet out the windows into the inky, blackness of night that seemed to surround the manor home and cover it like a funeral shroud.
Inside (from L to R); Miss Morgan (the private educator), ran her fingers through her hair while holding tightly onto the leather strap that held the two ancient, ominous, tomes of forbidden lore while discussing the current situation with Lord Billingsley in the East Wing Study of Billingsley Manor.
Behind her Mrs. Elsbeth Mustard fanned herself and listened carefully to everything that was between Lord Cecil Billingsley and the teacher. Her husband Horatio stood nearby her and behind Cecil with his shotgun open and ready to be loaded.
Lord Cecil Billingsley carefully did his best to explain that “He knew it was a mistake to try to say the words on the ancient scrap of parchment that had been given to him by the old gypsy woman, but that was his only son lying in the casket in the family tomb, and well….”What would you do???”, he asked in desperate exasperation as if trying to find an answer to what has caused their dilemma.
Before anyone could respond a loud ominous shuddering groan was heard outside of the house.
Horatio’s friend Arthur Kensington took that moment to make sure his shotgun was loaded with the special shells they had made. Powdered silver, pure iron pellets, and blessed holy wood ash slivers were mixed with a fair amount of gunpowder in each shell. “Let us have faith that these shells will do exactly as Father Hogan said they would.” He said to everyone while checking his shotgun once again.
Meanwhile their good friend, Nigel Chepley held his shotgun at the ready and quietly waited for whatever would come next…
He did not have long to wait….
For come next….it did….”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figures by: Pulp Figures and Wargames Foundry/Casting Room Miniatures.
Furniture by: Frontline Miniatures.
Room: Scratch-built by yours truly.

"The fearsome winds outside in the inky, black, night made the old manor home shudder as if in fear of what was to come.
Inside the study, the heavy table had been moved against the door to offer further protection from anything trying to force it's way inside. Meanwhile, Nigel Chepley watched outside of the left window while Arthur Kensington guarded the right window. Horatio stood nearby his wife Elsbeth, while Miss Morgan and Lord Billingsley conversed quietly.
"Laird MacDougal and Lord Cummerbund should have been back by now." Elsbeth said quietly with a strong tone of concern in her voice.
"If I know Duncan and Basil, they will be back soon enough. Duncan is a plucky enough Scotsman to get through things thick and thin, and Basil is wily enough also." Billingsley replied trying to add a tone of cheerful confidence to the thick atmosphere of dread that permeated the study.
"Yes, but Basil's older and his heart isn't what it used to be." Horatio said quietly, reminding Billingsley of that cold, sobering fact...
And once again a thick silence came upon the small group in the room as each of them was absorbed in their own thoughts and wonders of what the next few moments would bring..."

WIP: Lord Cecil Pennington Billingsley (Approx. Late 19th Century), in his favorite "walking out" clothing.

WIP: "19th Century Figures" and Scenery.
"Bartholomew J. Peters discusses business terms with Mr. Smith, (purveyor of fine goods and other things for Lord Hawkins) as he examines the current merchandise he is interested in buying. "Well, yes, although we all know here that slavery is illegal after we beat the Southerners in the war a while back, I think that if the offer you make to me is acceptable for Miss Josette here, I can look the other way, and she can become the property of Lord Hawkins." Bart Peters said, while smacking his lips at the idea of the large amount of hard gold currency that Mr. Smith was willing to pay to "purchase" young Josette here. Bart thought quickly. New girls were showing up every week, and no one would miss Josette here at all....Hell's Bells, in two weeks no one would remember her at all either, and those that did, would just think she skedaddled out for greener pastures or went back home to her little town in France.
Josette blinked her eyes and looked on towards Mr. Smith. She knew that she was being sold again like a cheap piece of meat and would soon be earning her keep in a bed somewhere. After all, it seemed that that was all that every man had ever wanted with her....
Mr. Smith smiled at her, and nodded in agreement. "Thank you Mr. Peters. I am sure you can enjoy the money that Lord Hawkins has given you for this delightful young lady. She has quite the look that he likes. The eyes, hair, skin color, and the build...yes...yes...she looks like she can be ridden around Lord Hawkins private rail car with a saddle on her back and a bit and bridle in her mouth..."
Smith knew that a red hot branding iron would also be waiting for the young girls tender flesh, as his lordship always liked to make sure that "His property was properly marked as his..."; but why say anything about that here and now and raise eyebrows or concerns? Besides...what the poor girl didn't know wouldn't hurt her...for now..."

Figures by: Knuckleduster Miniatures, Wargames Foundry, and Old Glory.
Scenery by: Acheson Creations.
Twisted Backstory by: Yours Truly...

And for the folks with a more "20th Century Flair"....

Cubby "Flash" Olsen is one of the beat photographers for The Dominion City Tribune. Armed with his trusty camera, extra flash bulbs, film, and his "PRESS" ticket card in his hat band, he moves quickly to hot scenes to get "The winning shot."
Eager to please but not having a full plate of common sense and personal safety skills, he has on numerous times been caught in situations where if it weren't for more diligent people around him, he'd be sporting a brand new toe tag down at the morgue while being the subject of a by-line story in the paper he works for.
He read somewhere a while back that in order to get recognized you had to have a "keen nickname", so he's been asking people to call him "Flash" for his photography skills.
Miss Marge Gerine calls him by his first name, Cubby (Which he hates), while Editor-in-Chief Howard Draper calls him "Kid". Only Investigative Reporter Karl Coldcheck plays along and calls him "Flash"...
He also has a thing for Miss Sabrina Hepburn, the beautiful, darling, mysterious, socialite daughter of wealthy magnate Rutherford J. Hepburn.
"But what's a gal like her ever gonna see in a two bit schmoe like me?" says to himself dejectedly, as he sucks down another Hires Root Beer at the Soda Fountain at Gower's Drugstore on 43rd and Suncrest while waiting for the next "scoop photo opportunity".

Figure by Pulp Figures

And for you purists at heart, here's a B&W one:

Meanwhile back at the office:

Beat and Scene Photographer Cubby "Flash" Olsen; Society, Horoscope, and Gossip Columnist Miss Marge Gerine; and Howard Draper, Editor in Chief of The Dominion City Tribune (aka "Draper's Paper"), discuss the recent late night shenanigans at The Seven Seas Nightclub and Ballroom involving wealthy playboy Blake Wolverton and singing star Miss Diana Midnight....

Figures by the ever wonderful Pulp Figures

And for the B&W purists out there...

Okay we'll end this post up today with this one.
Stay tuned for more as I have a ton of other things to discuss, including 15mm vehicles for Bongolesia, my review of Little Wars, and my purchase of "The Chicago Way".