thedrifter
07-26-08, 06:43 AM
Posted on Sat, Jul. 26, 2008
War buffs do battle (no blood)
By Art Carey
Inquirer Staff Writer
LANCASTER - On a tabletop in a Lancaster hotel, Terry Carman was placing miniature trees, fences and log cabins, preparing for a massacre.
Settlers who had encroached on Indian territory in upstate New York, circa 1757, had raised the ire of the Huron Indians. Now there would be hell to pay, in a battle of revenge and survival that would also involve British regulars.
Carman, who designed this war game and drafted the rules, chose a title that left no about the potential for gore: "Our Tomahawks Dripped Blood."
No blood was in evidence yet, but Carman, of Laurel, Md., was, metaphorically speaking, sweating it. In about an hour, players would arrive - some very discriminating - and his game would debut.
As "gamemaster," the overseer and umpire, he knew this was showtime on the grandest stage of all - Historicon, the largest gathering of historical miniature war-game enthusiasts in North America.
"You have to know the rules and be able to explain the history," said Carman, 56, a training coordinator at the University of Maryland. "You have to manage the game and make it flow. Most of all, you have to make sure people are entertained and having fun. You're the god of this particular universe."
About 4,000 people who never got over playing with their toy soldiers were expected to attend Historicon, which began Thursday at the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center on Route 30. It ends tomorrow.
For a $35 registration fee, avid war gamers can "recycle their lead" at a huge flea market or swap meet (today's toy soldiers are actually made from pewter); shop for Lilliputian figures, scenery and accessories at "the world's largest toy store"; attend seminars (sample topic: "Frederick the Great . . . Oh really?"); and play as many as three or four games a day, each and every day, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at midnight, except today, when fanatics and insomniacs can participate in Midnight Madness, matching tactics and strategy until dawn.
"This is where war gamers come to show off and have fun," said Kathy Higbee, 47, of Springfield, Va., whose husband, Brian, a former history teacher, drew her into the hobby. "Some can get loud and rowdy. Some are intent on winning. And some want to rewrite history. They'll have Napoleon win at Waterloo and the South beat the North."
"People like to see if they can change history, but the number-one thing people say is that it's fun," said Bob Giglio, 49, director of this year's convention. "It harkens back to the days of playing with toy soldiers, but now they're painted, and there are rules and dice and a lot more order to it."
In the subculture of war gaming and "conflict simulation," which includes board gamers and computer gamers, historical mini-gamers are arguably the most diligent, imaginative and multitalented. They play their games in a meticulously researched, historically accurate, three-dimensional world crafted with tremendous artistry and attention to detail.
The hobby is a cross between model railroading and chess, played by history scholars with an alarming grasp of esoterica who observe and debate the rules with the contentious zeal of a punctilious bond lawyer.
Much effort goes into creating the "terrain tables" and painting the figures, which are usually about a half-inch to an inch tall. A figure may represent a single soldier or an entire platoon or battalion. The rules, often elaborate enough to require a book, dictate the scale of the figures, the ground, and time. Dice with various numbers of sides, again depending on the rules of a particular game, are used to advance the action and to introduce chance and resolve random events.
"The thrill for a lot of us is, 'What if?' " said John Drye, 55, of Alexandria, Va., a naval-base security analyst whose father was a career Army officer. "What if this decision had been made at the Battle of Gettysburg? What if Lee had done this instead of that? What if you're a tank commander at Bastogne? What decisions would you face, and what would be the outcome?"
As for the length of the matches?
"The only limits are human endurance," Drye said. "Some last less than an hour. Some last all weekend."
The theme of this year's Historicon is "The World on Fire," the period between 1754 and 1763 when the Seven Years' War rocked Europe and the French and Indian War roiled North America. Although many games this weekend are theme-based, war gamers can test their tactical and strategic wits in scores of scenarios from ancient to modern times, from Troy to Lexington to Omaha Beach, as well as science fiction, fantasy, the movies and outdoor adventure. They will be manipulating Roman legions, barbarians, pirates, cowboys, sled dogs, battleships and fighter planes.
On Thursday, in a just-hatched game called Apocalypse D, Nona Boast, 16, of Orlando, was deploying Marines and the National Guard to repel an attack by dinosaurs and cavemen who had slipped through a rip in the space-time continuum.
"I like the strategy," said Boast, a sassy lass who was sporting a black T-shirt that asked, "Don't ya wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?"
A member of her high school ROTC, Boast plans to join the Marines. "I want to be an officer," she said, "and games like this are very helpful."
Historicon is hosted by the East Chapter of the Historical Miniature Gaming Society. It is the society's oldest and largest chapter, with more than 2,000 members worldwide. The chapter also sponsors a convention in March, Cold Wars, and another in November, Fall In!
Among war gamers, historical miniaturists are regarded as the most social and sociable. Introvert you may be, but you can't very well play alone. Many mini-gamers belong to local clubs and meet weekly, like members of a poker group.
"Here you get the social interaction that you really don't get on computers," said Kate Higbee.
At Historicon, several groups are vying in tournaments this weekend, including members of the North American Society for Ancient and Medieval Wargaming, but most mini-gamers are motivated less by winning than the thrill and challenge of being armchair generals.
"Lead soldiers don't bleed," said Drye, reciting an axiom of the hobby. While war gamers are fascinated by military history, that doesn't mean, they insist, that they're warmongers.
"If anyone understands the horrors of war, other than the people who have been there and seen the elephant face to face, it's us," said Drye.
"You're the character," Terry Carman elaborated. "There's a quality of role-playing involved in this. You make difficult decisions and see people die. You get a visual, visceral feel for the bravery and savagery of the times."
If You Go
Historicon takes place at the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway E. (Route 30), Lancaster, through tomorrow.
Daily admission to games and seminars is $15 for adults. Children under 14 are admitted free, as are nongaming adults accompanying a family member with a valid admission badge.
For more information, visit www.historicon.org.
Contact staff writer Art Carey at 610-696-3249 or at acarey@phillynews.com.
PETER TOBIA / Inquirer Staff Photographer
War gamers gather around a mock battlefield depicting conflict between France and Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. At Historicon in Lancaster, war-gaming is being taken seriously this weekend.
Ellie
War buffs do battle (no blood)
By Art Carey
Inquirer Staff Writer
LANCASTER - On a tabletop in a Lancaster hotel, Terry Carman was placing miniature trees, fences and log cabins, preparing for a massacre.
Settlers who had encroached on Indian territory in upstate New York, circa 1757, had raised the ire of the Huron Indians. Now there would be hell to pay, in a battle of revenge and survival that would also involve British regulars.
Carman, who designed this war game and drafted the rules, chose a title that left no about the potential for gore: "Our Tomahawks Dripped Blood."
No blood was in evidence yet, but Carman, of Laurel, Md., was, metaphorically speaking, sweating it. In about an hour, players would arrive - some very discriminating - and his game would debut.
As "gamemaster," the overseer and umpire, he knew this was showtime on the grandest stage of all - Historicon, the largest gathering of historical miniature war-game enthusiasts in North America.
"You have to know the rules and be able to explain the history," said Carman, 56, a training coordinator at the University of Maryland. "You have to manage the game and make it flow. Most of all, you have to make sure people are entertained and having fun. You're the god of this particular universe."
About 4,000 people who never got over playing with their toy soldiers were expected to attend Historicon, which began Thursday at the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center on Route 30. It ends tomorrow.
For a $35 registration fee, avid war gamers can "recycle their lead" at a huge flea market or swap meet (today's toy soldiers are actually made from pewter); shop for Lilliputian figures, scenery and accessories at "the world's largest toy store"; attend seminars (sample topic: "Frederick the Great . . . Oh really?"); and play as many as three or four games a day, each and every day, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at midnight, except today, when fanatics and insomniacs can participate in Midnight Madness, matching tactics and strategy until dawn.
"This is where war gamers come to show off and have fun," said Kathy Higbee, 47, of Springfield, Va., whose husband, Brian, a former history teacher, drew her into the hobby. "Some can get loud and rowdy. Some are intent on winning. And some want to rewrite history. They'll have Napoleon win at Waterloo and the South beat the North."
"People like to see if they can change history, but the number-one thing people say is that it's fun," said Bob Giglio, 49, director of this year's convention. "It harkens back to the days of playing with toy soldiers, but now they're painted, and there are rules and dice and a lot more order to it."
In the subculture of war gaming and "conflict simulation," which includes board gamers and computer gamers, historical mini-gamers are arguably the most diligent, imaginative and multitalented. They play their games in a meticulously researched, historically accurate, three-dimensional world crafted with tremendous artistry and attention to detail.
The hobby is a cross between model railroading and chess, played by history scholars with an alarming grasp of esoterica who observe and debate the rules with the contentious zeal of a punctilious bond lawyer.
Much effort goes into creating the "terrain tables" and painting the figures, which are usually about a half-inch to an inch tall. A figure may represent a single soldier or an entire platoon or battalion. The rules, often elaborate enough to require a book, dictate the scale of the figures, the ground, and time. Dice with various numbers of sides, again depending on the rules of a particular game, are used to advance the action and to introduce chance and resolve random events.
"The thrill for a lot of us is, 'What if?' " said John Drye, 55, of Alexandria, Va., a naval-base security analyst whose father was a career Army officer. "What if this decision had been made at the Battle of Gettysburg? What if Lee had done this instead of that? What if you're a tank commander at Bastogne? What decisions would you face, and what would be the outcome?"
As for the length of the matches?
"The only limits are human endurance," Drye said. "Some last less than an hour. Some last all weekend."
The theme of this year's Historicon is "The World on Fire," the period between 1754 and 1763 when the Seven Years' War rocked Europe and the French and Indian War roiled North America. Although many games this weekend are theme-based, war gamers can test their tactical and strategic wits in scores of scenarios from ancient to modern times, from Troy to Lexington to Omaha Beach, as well as science fiction, fantasy, the movies and outdoor adventure. They will be manipulating Roman legions, barbarians, pirates, cowboys, sled dogs, battleships and fighter planes.
On Thursday, in a just-hatched game called Apocalypse D, Nona Boast, 16, of Orlando, was deploying Marines and the National Guard to repel an attack by dinosaurs and cavemen who had slipped through a rip in the space-time continuum.
"I like the strategy," said Boast, a sassy lass who was sporting a black T-shirt that asked, "Don't ya wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?"
A member of her high school ROTC, Boast plans to join the Marines. "I want to be an officer," she said, "and games like this are very helpful."
Historicon is hosted by the East Chapter of the Historical Miniature Gaming Society. It is the society's oldest and largest chapter, with more than 2,000 members worldwide. The chapter also sponsors a convention in March, Cold Wars, and another in November, Fall In!
Among war gamers, historical miniaturists are regarded as the most social and sociable. Introvert you may be, but you can't very well play alone. Many mini-gamers belong to local clubs and meet weekly, like members of a poker group.
"Here you get the social interaction that you really don't get on computers," said Kate Higbee.
At Historicon, several groups are vying in tournaments this weekend, including members of the North American Society for Ancient and Medieval Wargaming, but most mini-gamers are motivated less by winning than the thrill and challenge of being armchair generals.
"Lead soldiers don't bleed," said Drye, reciting an axiom of the hobby. While war gamers are fascinated by military history, that doesn't mean, they insist, that they're warmongers.
"If anyone understands the horrors of war, other than the people who have been there and seen the elephant face to face, it's us," said Drye.
"You're the character," Terry Carman elaborated. "There's a quality of role-playing involved in this. You make difficult decisions and see people die. You get a visual, visceral feel for the bravery and savagery of the times."
If You Go
Historicon takes place at the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway E. (Route 30), Lancaster, through tomorrow.
Daily admission to games and seminars is $15 for adults. Children under 14 are admitted free, as are nongaming adults accompanying a family member with a valid admission badge.
For more information, visit www.historicon.org.
Contact staff writer Art Carey at 610-696-3249 or at acarey@phillynews.com.
PETER TOBIA / Inquirer Staff Photographer
War gamers gather around a mock battlefield depicting conflict between France and Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. At Historicon in Lancaster, war-gaming is being taken seriously this weekend.
Ellie