Well, CW18 has come and gone.... as I am a very boring read.... for those that want the "Cliff's notes"... the show was a success. A good time was had by most everyone, the Host is getting better, but still in a pretty major state of renovations. The food was good and if you didn't like the Host food..... there were ample places to go all over the place. The Host's only downfall was the lack of adequate staff... they were seriously undermanned. At leats this year, the restaurant was open and the bar has seats and tables. The convention staff was great (I am biased as I am on staff).... the show this year really kicked it up a lot....
Were there issues? When is there not? I'll attempt to go over all of this later. And remember... I am not short on words and this is an AAR.....
Ok, out of the gate... we were off to a later than normal start.. old man winter decided to pay us another visit.... lake effect snow all around! Now, the roads were pretty clear BEFORE the snow hit.... and it hit hard and fast and.. just kept coming. Was it an omen? I think not.... it was really bad until we got south of Meadville near I80.....
No amount of snow was going to deter us from going... I actually got to be a passenger... because of my involvement with the shows, I always have to get down there early... and this often means driving alone.... this time around my brother-in-law decided he would drive... like I said.. it was really BAD... until we reached I80.. then it was really smooth sailing, even past State College in the mountains... It was a rather uneventful trip filled with conversation of things to come!
I had to arrive on Weds.... for Cold Wars 2018 I was the event manager.... this meant I was in charge of making sure all of the events/games were not only in the system correct and scheduled, but all export files and tickets were correct. before the show, then, on site I was in charge of the events board and the folks working it.... I also had to make sure all of the event rooms were staged correctly, including tournaments and open gaming and club rooms and then finally make sure all of the tables were numbered correctly.... it really is a lot of work, but it doesn't bother me to do it.... I really enjoy having first access to the games, etc... and to see what is being played and when at the show... mind you.. I said I get to see this stuff..... I am usually so busy I don't get to play anything..... but it is nice to see what is going on at the show! If something really cool pops up.... even then.. I work it so my time is free but I don't touch it until after pre-reg opens to get a ticket.... if any are left... the attendees come first... at least in my eyes! I digress....
Anyway.... Weds... due to the late departure, I got to the Lancaster Host at about dinner time.. yay me.... I unloaded, checked in with the convention director and staff, did some work and then waited to go to dinner.... Had a great meal... went to Texas Roadhouse.. knew exactly what I wanted.. we have one back home. Food & service above average...
The next day was spent in show preparations.... making sure the event board was up and correct, sorting tickets, etc.... at night my other friends started to arrive.... they had an enjoyable evening.... I could have played.. I should have played..... but alas.. I did not.. I continued making sure Thursday night all was set for an opening on Friday morning.
The good news is... the staff was thorough.... the CD chose well who did the work... In all of my efforts this year..... NOT ONE table was overbooked (although a few folks tried changing their tables times and screwed others....)... There is more coming, just wait.... So, with all of that work.. only ONE typo got out on the work I was responsible for.. that is almost 400 events.... no easy task as regular spell check cannot be used.... because of all of the other languages and quotes that show up in event titles and descriptions.
So, no pictures of the Friday am stuff as I was running wild with work.... but I have to say.... the HMGS shows were markedly improved this year.... all staff were easily identifiable in very bright staff shirts, they were well mannered and groomed... all of the locations were labeled well by signs and feather flags... the biggest improvement was technological though... yes, there were a couple bugs, but I assure you I don't need to into them, they will be fixed by Historicon 2018. HMGS has adopted printing on demand services.... this made badge pick up a breeze for pre-reg folks.... and was a lot less work on staff... if you pre-regged.. all you had to do is hit a one stop kiosk to get your badge and any related tickets for games or merchandise.... then a quick stop at the desk for a badge holder and some swag.... a dice cup and draw string bag... sorry, no pics.. they were nice.
The desk crews were awesome.... words cannot describe them well... courteous, fast and knowledgeable! Even with a new interface for the reg system this year, they adapted quickly and rocked it. You can see in the picture the bright blue shirt all senior staff wore to designate them as the targets...err, I mean identify them as helpful folks you could walk up to and ask anything.... the shirts were a great investment and bought cheaply for good quality....
Anyway, hats off to the CD and staff, they ran a great show, even with all of the inconveniences of having the show in a place under construction....
I don't need to talk about the Host much here.... the Host is the resort and conference center in Lancaster PA where they run the shows... this year, all 3.. Cold Wars, Historicon and Fall In! will be run at their facility.... and at each show, things get a little better in some areas and worse in others.... as they move construction through the facility. Some folks will never be happy, but I see improvements... it is happening.
There was a fair share of cancelled games and no show GM's... this happens more than it should. The good thing is that many GM's stepped up to run games in the vacant slots. Currently the CD's and events team is reviewing the events from the show. We are now checking on GM's, No shows, seats filled, etc... this is to better serve the attendees and weed out those taking advantage of the organization. To the right is an early image of the event desk, before awards were given out.
The Host was understaffed and you could tell.... bless the folks that had to work long hours....
The food was more than adequate... I ate at the show as much as I ate out. A lot of folks complain a lot about the Host, the facility and the food.... lets just say their expectations are a bit higher than mine.... Things are getting better at the Host... lets leave it at that. (note... a lot of the food there is self serve.... and damn can our attendees eat).. So yes.. my soup bowl was a lot fuller before I remembered to take a pic...
Ok, so what are we up to now..... event pics? The dealer hall..... I'll start with the games, in no order.... I know, I know.. finally..... well, if you are still with me.... you will NOT be disappointed.... We has some seriously kick ass games at the show.... we always do.. and apologies if I didn't get pics of them all.. well, you know... because I had to work!!!! I missed getting pics of Je Schawtz's Rome games... they were beautiful!
This game has to be mentioned... Young Frankenstein.... run multiple times... every one had fun.... don't tell the management I put a NON Historical game in a spotlight position....
The Battletech crew was there running a full slate of games as usual.... always a good turn out, always fun.
The H.A.W.K.S were there in force..... a great club and they always run a lot of games.... their dedication and skills are not to be overlooked.... so much can be said of so many other GM's and clubs though. I wanted to point them out because no matter how many games they run, they always make sure about one third are entry or kid friendly games....
I also want to add, this year at Fall In! (Nov 9-11) they will be doing a game challenge... called battle in a box.... information can be seen on the HMGS Fall In! webpage soon... I didn't post it up yet.
The main open game room (Distilfink ball room) was a little light on Friday, but rapidly filled up the rest of the show.... There were all kinds of games form all eras....
The usual suspects at a naval game... ODGW (Old Dominion Games Workshop) always runs some great games!
I have to mention the game below... it was Raid on U-502.. it was simply beautiful and I think it might have won an award too. It was simply awesome to behold and watch being played.
I cannot go without mentioning Frostgrave.... Jeff was going to run a big Ghost Archipelago game, but last minute issues caused him to run the GA game on his awesome Frostgrave table.
Kid friendly games were all over....
Jim preparing to run one of his awesome Gnome Wars games...
Of all things really cool.. Rich Johnson from Rat Trap games was there running intro level games of his new system.... "Not all blood runs Red" As usual, this game will be every bit as great as his original like of .45 Adventures!!!! He is a great designer and an even greater guy!
The game was soooo good I had to go back and take more pics!
A newer game... a great introductory game for kids to get into wargaming too!!! AND DNAG IT! I forgot his business card... I'll update later... The premise is each player controls a group of ants and they have to get to the food on the picnic basket and get it off their table edge.. when they do, they can eat the candy!
Triumph was there in full force running games all weekend for the novice and veteran!
This is a friend of mine.. Bill with the designers of one of his favorite games... Gates of Antares
By Saturday night there are a lot of tired folks....
Yes, there were games on Sunday... not a lot, but there were some...
Also.. the dealer hall was in full swing... it still wasn't finished and there was no short way to get there.. folks still had to take the long walk around the lot to get to the entrance on the opposite side of the building... it looked good though... the upper balcony wasn't open yet, but it will be by Hcon (or so we hope). The balcony will be used for the single table or small dealers.
I almost forgot.... The flea market.. due to hotel conditions, most everyone already knows by now... the flea market was moved form it's original place and placed in the "as of yet to be remodeled" theatre area.... the lighting was abysmal and access for your loads of broken dreams was pretty bad.... In the end though.... I sold all of my stuff.... I did very well, but others claimed to not have done so. There was a lot of grumblings, but moving forward.. when the area actually is remodeled, there will be much better lighting, an actual public elevator to get to the space, etc...
Our fearless leader directing folks to tables to sell their broken dreams....
What was left of my broken dreams for the Sat PM session. I was in the Friday PM session and did very well.... I sold off a bunch of sci-fi, fantasy and some historical stuff...
In this image you can see how bad the lighting was.... that and the lack of ease to load up and unload were the only issues, otherwise, the layout worked great.
A parting note on the restrooms.... they were all in need of repairs.. run down a bit, but not abysmal... in fact, if anyone wanted to complain about the cleanliness... I took a tour before folks arrived, they were spotless... and, even with staff cleaning them throughout the day.... there are a lot of pigs... or folks who need glasses.... any complaints on the staff would be ignorant... the attendees really messed the rest rooms up.
I wanted to also add a huge THANK YOU! to Walt for setting up Guidebook for the show.... it is an awesome Ap that I hope we decide to fund through HMGS. I used it extensively.
As for loot.. .I really didn't take a lot pictures, but as I said, I had great sales in the flea and so bought more dreams... In the flea market I picked up a blood and plunder ship to be used with B&P and GA., some LEGOs for my son and a great find... a lead Nazgul on foot and horse for $10! You can't get these any more in actual lead and they are only in bondo/finecast for $35! I took the remainder of my loot and headed to the dealer hall.... traditionally.. this is where I always spend my money I get from the flea market. I really shopped at 2 places, but could have shopped so many more!!!
I always hit Cotton Jim.. I have been buying from him for years... not only is he a great guy, but he absolutely kills all other dealers when it comes to pricing! I picked up the new SAGA rules, Crescent & Cross... I plan to play crusade stuff. I also picked up the crusade dice, the Millitus Christi starter box and wound up walking away with a great deal.. I also got a new laser pointer. And yes, I know they are redoing the book like they did for Saga.. it will tide me over until it comes out.
I also hit "your hobby place".... I picked up a couple of brushes, some Armada and Russian Fireforge troops to use for both Crescent & Cross and regular Saga. They also offer show special rates... usually 10% off or more!
My last 2 purchases were from the lead guy where you can buy lead castings by the ounce/pound... I got new metallic Iron Wind Metals gold, bronze, steel and silver... I swear these are the company for these colors... IWM for the win there! I also picked up some lead.... treasure piles, loot markers, etc... for skirmish games. The last purchase was a box of Fireforge Templar knights on foot from another vendor.
One really COOL addition this show was a vendor who was doing 3D scans of your head and then printing it on a variety of figures.... now, you can truly lead your forces from the tabletop!!! This was a HUGE hit! I did not get mine done, but I plan to get it done when they get more figures out that I can put my mug on!
In conclusion... I would say it was a win for me. I had a great time, saw great friends, played in a few great games and bought and sold. If I missed anything or anyone I am sorry.... I just didn't think to have my camera out at every thing....
The ride home was clean and clear... another great HMGS show down, time to plan for Historicon!
