Huzzah! AAR
Wow. Had a great time, hope everyone else did as well.
First, I'd like to thank everyone who contributed their time, expertise, effort, and enthusiasm to making this convention a reality. There are so many people I truly dont know where to begin, and I'd certainly leave someone off in my current befuddled state, but let's start with some basics.
Game Masters: The tables and miniatures were beautiful, and the players were clearly engaged as we looked across the rooms over the course of the weekend. That takes time and preparation, and more than a little talent. Thank you for all of your hard work on our behalf. Your efforts made us look good. Huzzah!
Vendors: A wonderful selection of miniatures, rules, books, accessories, and games on hand. I could have started six or eight new periods this weekend just by the inspiration of all those great items you brought to the convention! I hope that the trip was enjoyable, worthwhile, and that we count on your company again next year. Personally, I wish there had been more time to shop. Huzzah!
Attendees: Thank you for your good company and for rolling dice with us for the weekend. I heard little in the way of raised voices, other than in exultation (John Bowman's daughter shouting, "I'll get 'em!" or some such as she played in Vic's LoTR game comes to mind), and much laughter. I hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. Huzzah!
Volunteers: A great bunch. Thank you all for your willingess to help lug boxes, to set up, sit at the registration desk, run errands, clean up- etc. The club is lucky to have such a committed group of people to organize and run the convention. Huzzah!
Hotel Staff: They'll probably never find this little forum, but hats off to them for having the tables set up, for letting us into the space early so that we could get started on our work, and for responding quickly and in a friendly manner to each of our requests over the course of the weekend. Huzzah!
Everyone: Thank you for your support of our first convention. You waited patiently in hours of traffic due to that fire on the turnpike, then for us to get things going Friday night as we scrambled about. Personally, I was struck by the quality of games and players that I was lucky enough to witness as I walked through the rooms, and it was a pleasure to hear the excitement of people playing. Truly, I hope that each of you enjoyed your stay in Maine, at our event, and that you will consider joining us again next year. Hope it was fun. Huzzah!
Attendance
The big question all weekend- how many people were in attendance? It looks as though we had approximately 215 vendors, players, game masters, and guests.
Battle Honours- Best of Session Awards
Friday evening: Low Intensity Conflict in Former Danubia, by Eric Jones
Saturday Morning: Bloody Tomahawks - Amphibious Assault, by Earl Richards
Saturday Afternoon: Jean D'Arc, by Andy Niven
Saturday Evening: Reynold's Pipe Creek Defense, by Scott Mingus (photo by Scott Mingus)
Sunday: Evacuation of Black Point, 1676, by Dave Soucy
Ack! Sorry, Dave. Still looking for a photo. I'll post one shortly.
Shipyard Brewing Co. Best of Show Award
The Shipyard Brewing Co. Best of Show was awarded to Scott Mingus for his Reynold's Defense of Pipe Creek game. Huzzah! Scott!
Okay- all for now, folks. Check back later in the day for more updates.
Again- thanks to everyone for all their hard work. Huzzah!
So I hate to be like this but what is the big project next year? Dean it was a truly proffesional event I am proud to be a part of this organization. Jack
That was your first effort at a convention?
Wow. Great job!
I didn't know until Friday evening that I'd actually be able to make the trip to Portland. Took in the two lectures in the morning. Then stopped by Wargames Factory table meeting the owner and sculptor, and getting to experience their software sculpting process. After lunch watched some gaming, shopped the vendor tables, watched the WF sculptor demo a sculpt of a WoSS short musket, and watched the Battle of Sabis. It was a super event!
I'm going to put up a thread here with some of the photos that I took of your associations project.
Thanks to those who organized this event, and I hope to be back again next year.
Awesome! Glad to hear you enjoyed the time at the show. Yep, our first. Thanks for posting the photos!
So I hate to be like this but what is the big project next year? Dean it was a truly proffesional event I am proud to be a part of this organization. Jack
-jackgaudette
Hi, Jack. Believe it or not, Tony and I have already been corresponding about a future project! LOL.
Glad to know you made it back safe and sound. Thanks for all the help. Your enthusiasm and support is terrific.
Dean
Ditto to all, I tried to spend a little something with every vendor and budgeted a few hundred dollars to say thank you, so again thank you venders you make the show happen.
chris P.
I know what you mean to shop at every vendor. I tried to spread the wealth around too. I didn't indulge with Hobby Bunker here, as I did fairly heavily at HAVOC. I felt less guilty about that.
Chris, do I assume that you broke down and bought a few units of turtles, bears, and frogs?
Mike
Alright, Its good to know you and Tony are talking Dean, but lets not talk about 3000 figures this time. Or if we are, lets get started tomorrow.... 
We really should give Tony and Wargames Factory a huge Thank you somehow....
Tim
No small critters for me, just a wagon.
Heres a few pictures from the Flames of War Event everyone had a blast and are still talking it up over at the FOWNE yahoo group ..
Everyone was great hotel staff ,Huzzah staff, players and on lookers seem all to be having a great time making new friends and playing games ya just cant get any better than that-
Gordon & Denise
No No, Next year is the start of 150 year anniversaries for the Civil War.... If there is a theme.
I am already thinking on my big Saturday or Sunday games for next year.
Tim
To everyone who put this together, ran games, showed up to vend, showed up to participate, and the various sponsors,
Thank you for such a wonderful time. This was the first 'historical' convention I have attended as a player (vs. as a spectator,) and everyone was so friendly and patient to teach the new players. I hope next year I might have some time to run a game of my own.
Great job all!
Dan Young
Nashua, NH
Hello.
Austin brought his friend DJ to Huzzah! and we had a blast.
I was the proverbial one-armed paperhanger due to a complex first game (Catch as Catch Can, the WWII in Normandy 15mm Command Decision game) that took too long in setup and takedown and was too large for the time allotted. That delayed the second game (Wanted Dead or Alive, the Old West game with The Rules With No Name) and created a general mess for a bit.
I want to thank the man with the pulp game across the room (with the mysterious Dr. Satan and company - GREAT ships, by the way!), which entertained the boys between my two games.
The WWII game was interesting, with lots of "attack on this side/defend on that side" for both sides. It was fun even if foreshortened. The Germans held at the bridge, thanks to the SS StuG IIIs and Austin's Wehrmacht troops getting into the rubble of Cherence le Roussel just in time. The SS Panzergrenadiers made headway for a while, but the US Combat Command got itself together in time to blunt the attack.
The Old West game was fun, with some wanted posters that included one on Austin for "reffing decisions", one on me for "felonious jocularity while reffing", and one for Dr. Miguelito Loveless for "attempting to take over the world". The gun battles were wild for a while (the old curmudgeon who was a former mountain man and the town drunk added some interest), but the game ended when Austin's remaining character and DJ's two characters were all killed in the blast of a badguy scattergun wielded by "Pig's-Eye" Porter, which saved the badly wounded Phil Yurand. Still, the boys were excited all day and went home in high spirits. Scott Free got away scott free with the cash from the bank, and the town drunk fell down on Main Street. Since the rules require the next move to be "recover" after falling, he became a recovering alcoholic by rule.
I plan to be there for the next Huzzah! I hope some of you will come up to Levant for NOR-CON on 5 June. It will be a game day much like those in Bath, and it's a freebie to get in.
Bob Bailey
Somehow Dean I do believe that you are already working in it. ;)
Dean mentioned Frog wars to me next year
Here are some shots of the Knights in the Sky Aerodrome Tournament. It was a good bunch of players and we had a great time running it.
I have posted a summary on www.KnightsInTheSky.com.
Here are some shots:
Nice AAR on the KiTS site, Andre. Sounds like the tournament was a hit!
Hello All -
Just wanted to say Thank You for a great convention!!! After a 14 year absence it was brilliant to see Dean pick up the torch and cross the finish line in grand style! Though I dare say the poor guy went home and collapsed!!! We, on the other hand, stayed until the weather turned against us and just made it home this past Monday afternoon. Domestic clean up and catching up was brutal but well worth the week in Maine . . .
Peter and I were impressed by the results of all your hard work and I've sent a note to Dean with a few suggestions and pictures which he can post here or not - as necessary. The weekend was an absolute delight in every aspect but most especially because we got to see all our old gaming buddies in one place again!!! Even the weather was outstanding and most of you know how much I hate the cold!!!
I have but ONE MAJOR BITCH - why aren't there any other female gamers?????? Some of you may think otherwise but surely I'm not the ONLY woman with an interest in the hobby and history? As I mentioned to Dean - 50% of the population is female . . . So howz about a little brain-storming on how to entice the ladies into the hobby?
Or am I speaking out of turn and it really is a boys club that wants to remain so - and you're all just humoring me ?
Peace Y'all - through superior fire power,
Andy
Andy,
I certainly hope this isn't a boys only club. Hmmmm, how about a ladies only game or tournament? Or a men vs women game? I wonder if I could get my wife interested in playing.....or if my ego could stand to lose against her.
Ken
