Historicon Play Tests

This Saturday several HAWKs got together to run some play test games for Historicon.  The first was my 10mm Napoleonic game of the Battle of Hanau using Fate of Battle.

Hanau begins
Hanau begins

The battle occurred in October 1813, after Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig.  The combined Austrian and Bavarian army squared off against Napoleon.  We will make a few changes to the scenario as a result of this play test.  The game went well, but all the action moved to  one corner of the table.  We are going to move the map so that more of the action occurs in the middle of the table.

Hanau in full swing
Hanau in full swing

The HAWKs are continuing our tradition of running the Armies of Kids Giveaway again this year.  These games, for gamers younger than 10, end with us handing all the participants two fully painted armies, rules, and sometimes terrain.  Some of the figures we paint ourselves, and others are donated to us for this purpose.

The kids' army giveaway play test gets under way
The kids' army giveaway play test gets under way

This year’s project involves 25mm Napoleonic figures.  Eric will be running the game at Historicon, so we wanted to familiarize himself with Milk and Cookies Rules, which is the set we’ve been using for these games.  He ran a six-player game.  After two hours (the allotted time at the convention), the game was a marginal victory for the French.

The early stages of the Milk and Cookies Rules Historicon play test
The early stages of the Milk and Cookies Rules Historicon play test

This year’s donation included some nicely painted, classic wargaming figures.  It’s almost a shame to give these to kids who won’t appreciate the classic nature of the donated armies.  I may trade some of my Minifigs 25mm figures for these vintage figures.

The game went well, and Eric is ready for the convention.

The Teddy Bear side of the table
The Teddy Bear side of the table

The final game was an opportunity for Sammy to become more familiar with Milk and Cookies Rules.  She will be running this game, featuring the Eureka toy soldiers and teddy bears, at Historicon.  This will be her first convention game.

The objective of the toy box game
The objective of the toy box game

Sammy made all the terrain herself.  The game is quite attractive, and I’m sure it will attract attention.

Initial set up for Sammy's game
Initial set up for Sammy's game

We will make a few changes to how she runs this game as a result of the play test.  The attackers need more forces.

We had a good, full day of gaming.

A nice bonus was that Chase Guinn, who was a cadet when I was teaching at West Point, joined us for the day.  I hadn’t seen him since he graduated from West Point.  It was good to catch up and game with him again.