{"id":1733,"date":"2013-06-11T13:37:14","date_gmt":"2013-06-11T13:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=1733"},"modified":"2013-06-11T13:37:14","modified_gmt":"2013-06-11T13:37:14","slug":"hawks-expeditionary-force-attends-nashcon-over-memorial-day-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=1733","title":{"rendered":"HAWKs Expeditionary Force Attends Nashcon over Memorial Day Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The HAWKs Expeditionary Force at Nashcon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It what is now a time-honored tradition, Dave, Chris, Greg, and I took a road trip to attend a non HMGS-East convention. \u00a0This year Don joined us as we headed to Nashcon in Nashville, TN. \u00a0We rented a U-Haul, hooked it to Dave’s Subaru and headed down, just minutes after I closed on a new house.<\/p>\n

\"Dave,<\/a>
Dave, Greg, and Chris before Greg started his Dr. Who Game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We each ran several games. \u00a0Greg ran three Dr. Who games. \u00a0Dave ran two WWII games and we co-ran a large Napoleonic game. \u00a0Chris was scheduled to run four games; however, he had to cancel one because he wasn’t feeling well on Saturday night. \u00a0I ran three Napoleonic games.<\/p>\n

Above is a picture of Greg’s Dr. Who game set in the Northwest Frontier, that is sort of an “aethership down” scenario. \u00a0Below is the setup for my Montereau 1814 game using Fate of Battle: Look, Sarge, No Charts: Napoleonic Wars<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One of my Fate of Battle Napoleonics games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dave<\/a>
Dave assisting with one of my Fate of Battle games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dave ably assisted in the running of this game. \u00a0A major reason for me to head Nashcon this year (and Origins last year) was to evangelize the Look, Sarge, No Charts series of rules to a new audience. \u00a0All of the games went well, and I think all the players had a good time.<\/p>\n

\"More<\/a>
More Fate of Battle Napoleonics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though the game seems a bit complicated when I explain them at a convention game, we’ve found that players catch on pretty quickly, even though the mechanics are novel — and we think innovative.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Greg's<\/a>
Greg's aether ship takes to the air<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here are two shots from Greg’s Dr. Who game, using the Dr. Who Miniatures rules. \u00a0To Greg’s surprise, the players successfully got the aether ship back in the air.<\/p>\n

\"Greg's<\/a>
Greg's Dr. Who Northwest Frontier game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cory<\/a>
Cory Ring's 28mm Johnny Reb game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were a number of terrific games at Nashcon. \u00a0Above is a picture of an impressive-looking Johnny Reb<\/em> game run by Cory Ring, who I used to game with many years ago in Tallahassee. \u00a0I had a chance to play games with two sets of rules I’ve been wanting to try: \u00a0Songs of Blades and Heroes<\/em> and Bolt Action<\/em>. \u00a0I enjoyed Songs, <\/em>but I’m not sure it’s a game I’d like to play often. \u00a0I’d like to give one of the other variants, such as Songs of Drums and Shakos<\/em>. \u00a0I played Bolt Action<\/em>, but I was distinctly unimpressed with the rules.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A Fate of Battle game in progress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a shot from another Napoleonic game I ran, this time the battle of Craonne.<\/p>\n

\"Steam<\/a>
Steam spiders advancing on Mars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chris and I ran a 14-player Mars game using GASLIGHT<\/em>. \u00a0None of the players had ever used the rules before, but GASLIGHT<\/em> is quickly picked up. \u00a0The players were generally aggressive, and the game went well.<\/p>\n

\"Sanwar<\/a>
Sanwar gun beast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The game featured various European factions facing off against Sanwar, red Martians, green Martians, rock men, white apes, etc.<\/p>\n

\"Female<\/a>
Female hussars on Death Jaws with their steam coach battle green Martians<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This game was the first major engagement for my Female Hussars mounted on Death Jaws. \u00a0In gross violation of Buck’s Law (i.e., the first time a unit is used in a game it gets spanked), they acquitted themselves well. \u00a0Above you can see how the swirling melee that began when green Martians assaulted the females’ steam coach. \u00a0The Death Jaw riders came to their rescue, creating a melee which lasted two turns.<\/p>\n

\"Another<\/a>
Another skirmish between Female Hussars and green Martians<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The second coach found itself beset upon by Sanwar, green Martians, and a white ape. \u00a0The coach managed to survive the game.<\/p>\n

\"Dave<\/a>
Dave running a Look, Sarge, No Charts WWII game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dave ran an interesting WWII North African campaign game using Look, Sarge, No Charts. \u00a0He had a full complement of players, and the game went well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"More<\/a>
More Fate of Battle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nashcon was very well run. \u00a0Bryant and Scotty did a tremendous job. \u00a0There were a large number of dealers and a wide variety of games. \u00a0Nashcon is what I hope Barrage will become over time.<\/p>\n