{"id":3706,"date":"2015-03-08T23:45:57","date_gmt":"2015-03-08T23:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=3706"},"modified":"2015-03-08T23:45:57","modified_gmt":"2015-03-08T23:45:57","slug":"cold-wars-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=3706","title":{"rendered":"Cold Wars 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Pterodactyl Bomber with its fighter escort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cold Wars 2015 began with a huge snow storm that crippled the Northeast. \u00a0Schools were shut down, roads were clogged, and (thankfully) Congress was closed. \u00a0I had planned to head to the convention around 1500 and play a pickup, invitational scenario using G.A.M.E.R. rules. \u00a0Because the roads were treacherous, I wasn’t able to leave until 1815, arriving in Lancaster at 2100. \u00a0None of the HAWKs were in view. \u00a0I spent about 90 minutes loading junk onto my cart and limping my way back and forth with lots of stuff for the five games I planned to run. \u00a0Due to my late arrival, the G.A.M.E.R. event did not occur.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Goolanders' space ship<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I ran into the Goolanders, father and son, Thursday evening, and they told me about their spaceship game using G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. \u00a0One of the first things I did Friday morning, then, was look in on their preparations. \u00a0In the picture (above) you can see part of the setup. \u00a0They built a wooden box about 2 feet by 4 feet, I think. \u00a0In this they placed smaller boxes representing the various rooms on the ship. \u00a0This makes the spaceship reconfigurable for repeat play value. \u00a0Eric Schlegel played in this game and had a good time. \u00a0Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to participate, because I was running my own event.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Germans and Allies in their starting positions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friday morning, my first event of the convention was Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, USAAF, and RAF<\/em>. \u00a0I used X-Wing <\/em>with custom dials and pilot cards. \u00a0Only one player had ever used the rules; although, one or two had read the rules previously. \u00a0The Allies weighted their right flank, and the “bomber” was able to maneuver to their weak flank. \u00a0In the end, the Allied inflicted few hits on the bomber before it crossed the table — a decisive German victory.<\/p>\n

\"Northwest<\/a>
Northwest Frontier by GASLIGHT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My second game of the convention was the Northwest Frontier by<\/em> G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. \u00a0<\/em>In this scenario, the British column is trying to get Wee Willie Winkie across the table when they are ambushed by Pasha Chrismajadeen and his Pathan chieftains. \u00a0The game had a number of memorable and humorous moments — for which G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. is famous. \u00a0Chris sent Victoria Hawkes out ahead of her female hussars to melee with the driver of the Russian steam lorry. \u00a0She failed to inflict any damage and was herself killed by the driver. \u00a0Later, just as the crewmen were about the abandon the female hussars’ steam coach, a squad of Russians assaulted the vehicle. \u00a0As they clambered atop the vehicle, the crewman thought better of their plan to bail out and instead redoubled their efforts to repair the coach’s engines. \u00a0A squad of female hussars counter attached, and a roiling melee ensured atop the coach. \u00a0Two of Chris’ hussars rolled 20’s and fell off the coach to their deaths. \u00a0Meanwhile, one of the scout helicopters was shot out of the sky, and the engine of the second conked out, crashing. \u00a0On the other side of the table Pasha Chrismajadeen charged single-handedly against the 33rd Punjab lancers, who seemed to have trouble staying on their feet and instead spent a fair amount of time falling and standing back up. \u00a0Despite these setbacks, the British managed to achieve a clear victory, protecting Winkie.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The highlanders and female hussars, part of Wee Willie Winkie's escort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Another<\/a>
Another view of the Northwest Frontier game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While I was running these two events, other HAWKs were busy running other games.<\/p>\n

\"Jim<\/a>
Jim explaining the finer points of Saga to a West Point cadet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jim and Don ran a very popular, six-player Saga game that they have been developing for months. \u00a0This was Jim’s GM debut, and the game went extremely well.<\/p>\n

\"Don's<\/a>
Don's and Jim's 6-player Saga game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Greg ran one of his Dr. Who games featuring Noah’s dungeon tiles. \u00a0The folks seemed to really enjoy the game. \u00a0Mark Ryan played the rear guard, hold off the Weeping Angels long enough for the Dr. and his entourage to patch up the crack in space-time. \u00a0Greg told me that Mark “went all rogue” and actually charged the angels, which was quite unexpected. \u00a0In the end, I think all Mark’s folks were thrown into the “vortex” by the angels, but as I mentioned, he delayed the angels long enough that order was restored to the galaxy, universe, or other large timey-wimey place.<\/p>\n

\"Greg<\/a>
Greg Priebe's Dr. Who game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The interior of the crashed spaceship with lots of action going on<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/a>
Kevin Fisher and his Mobile Suit Gundam game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though I was remiss in capturing them in electrons, Dave ran a series of Look, Sarge, No Charts<\/em> demonstration games, both Napoleonic and fantasy, all day on Friday. \u00a0His final Napoleonic game lasted until one in the morning.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>
David Schlegel running his Hunger Game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Typically Greg attracts all the females at a convention for his Dr. Who games. \u00a0He has the HAWKs title of Lord Admiral High Priest Babe Magnet Potentate. \u00a0At Cold Wars 15, however, it was clear that Greg’s chick-Fu is now weak, and David Schlegel has wrested the Lord Admiral high Priest Babe Magnet Potentate title from him. \u00a0David’s games were full of females from ages 8 to 48. \u00a0Apparently all these women and girls really wanted to be the heroine from the Hunger games more that one of the Doctor’s companions. \u00a0What women David didn’t attract ended up in Duncan’s game or Eric’s games.<\/p>\n

\"Duncan<\/a>
Duncan running his War of 1812 (prelude to) New Orleans game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our big Fate of Battle<\/em> game for Cold Wars was the 1814 attack on Paris by the Russians and Prussian. \u00a0Duncan, Chris, Dave, and I worked on a piece of the centerpiece terrain element: the Montmartre Heights. \u00a0Jennifer thought the mountain was uninspiring and “eh,” but we were proud of it.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view of the Montmartre Heights before the battle commenced<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Russians<\/a>
Russians and Prussians advance toward the Montmartre heights above Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the French fought a delaying action on their right flank, the main action took place on the heights. \u00a0Due to overwhelming numbers and really poor French artillery marksmanship, the Prussians and Russians swarmed up the hill.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A long shot of the battle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patrick, the commander of the division defending the heights failed both his unit’s morale and his player morale. \u00a0After a “dressing down” from the overall French commander, Patrick held the heights. \u00a0Everyone predicted an allied victory; however, within the next three turns, all but two allied brigades failed morale and scurried back down the slopes.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Prussians and Russians swarming up the Montmartre Heights<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though one Prussian unit remained on the heights, I judged the game a French victory. \u00a0For those folks who argue that war-games emphasize casualties more than morale, this was a battle that turned on morale. \u00a0All the players had a good time.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, back on the ranch…<\/p>\n

\"Ed<\/a>
Ed and Sam running their Muskets and Tomahawks game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

… Daniel Boone was captured by the French…<\/p>\n

\"Norman<\/a>
Norman Dean's Scarlet Pimpernel game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

… the Scarlet Pimpernel threw the French authorities into a tizzy…<\/p>\n

\"Warhammer<\/a>
Warhammer Ancients run by a VERY excited Rob Dean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

… angry people bashed each other with swords and pointy sticks…<\/p>\n

\"Tank<\/a>
Tank at Schlegel's Ferry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

… and everyone came to Schlegel’s Ferry, including Nazis, space aliens, the adventure party from the Hobbit, Charlie Brown, and gangsters.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The HAWKs gather for dinner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We had a brief lull in the action as the HAWKs gathered around the Elven Capital for dinner. \u00a0We took this opportunity for Sam Fuson to present some mementos to the members of the HAWKs to supporting the 114th Signal Senior Leader Professional Development event mentioned in a previous blog posting.<\/p>\n

\"Sam<\/a>
Sam presenting a coffee mug to Dave Wood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those HAWKs for whom this was their first SLPD event received battalion challenge coins. \u00a0Those who have supported multiple events received a battalion coffee mug.<\/p>\n

\"Kurt<\/a>
Kurt (and his coin), Sam, and Eric (who received a mug)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The kind gesture was appreciated by all recipients.<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/a>
Chris and a coffee mug<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My fourth event of the convention was a reprise of the Paris 1814 game, but with Elves substituted for French and a variety of fanciful creatures substituting for the Prussians and Russians.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Paris<\/a>
Paris converted into the Elven Capital<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The "allies" advance against the slopes before the Elven kingdom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This young man and his mom seemed to really enjoy the game. He quickly caught onto the rules and was largely independent after a turn or two.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"David's<\/a>
David's eagles defend the partially complete wall against a series of assaults<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The various beasties slogging up the Elven heights<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The elves successfully defended their capital.<\/p>\n

\"Ed<\/a>
Ed and Sam ran a very popular modern Afghanistan game with Ed's home rules<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the orcs, goblins, spiders, dwarves, giant ants, and other assorted creatures was assaulting the Elves, Ed and Sam were running a modern game with Ed’s home rules. \u00a0Jim said later that he really enjoyed the game and the rules. \u00a0It was the first time the Americans won this game, I’ve been told.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A second view of Ed's modern game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunday morning I ran my 54mm chariot race game using Roman Circus rules. \u00a0There was a SNAFU with the convention hotel — again. \u00a0This time, they kicked us out of our room early, so we had to pick up all our gear and move to another room in time to start our games. \u00a0While I was watching four of six chariots crash, Duncan ran his Charted Seas game and Don ran a pickup game of Saga for a bunch of West Point cadets.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The largest Charted Seas game in history<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Don's<\/a>
Don's Saga pick up game for the West Point cadets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Attendance was off due to Thursday’s storm. \u00a0The dealer hall seemed empty all weekend. \u00a0I’m sure a bunch of dealers were very unhappy. \u00a0In the past it has been hard to get to the Old Glory booth, for instance, but many time I passed it was empty. \u00a0I did my part to stimulate the economy, partaking in a convention special on Middle Eastern buildings from Miniature Building Authority, some roads and trees from Battlefield Terrain Concepts, and other odds and ends. \u00a0Dave did his part too, by hauling a bunch of stuff away from the flea market.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed Cold Wars. \u00a0The past couple of HMGS East conventions I didn’t enjoy. \u00a0Whether it was a bunch of recalcitrant players lousing up a game, not being able to find what I came to get in the dealer hall, or something else, the last few were starting to make me think that I should cut back on convention attendance. \u00a0All of my games went well (although a little more play testing would have made the fantasy game on Saturday a little better) and there were no spoiled sport players, so I really enjoyed game mastering. \u00a0There was enough white space that I had plenty of time to wander around looking at stuff I didn’t need and socialize with the other HAWKs. \u00a0A handful of folks I hadn’t seen in quite a while, including Patrick one of the early HAWKs, were there, which was pleasant. \u00a0I would have liked to run my G.A.M.E.R. event Thursday night for a few folks who haven’t had a chance to try the game yet, but otherwise, I had an excellent time.<\/p>\n