HMGS / Pacific Southwest

Archive for the ‘Clubs’ Category

On Saturday and Sunday, February 27th and 28th of 2010 the HMGS/PSW Demonstration Team took their show on the road the Westcoaster Toy Soldier Show at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California. Harmon War, RJ Galati, Mark Deliduka and Frank Patterson hosted games on both days and handed out hundreds of pages of information about our organization to attendees at the largest gathering of it’s kind on the west coast. We enlisted and collected dues from five new members and had a great time doing it.

We were demonstrating a wide range of historical periods by basing the demo game on Jerry Pournelle’s “Janissaries” science fiction books. The use of soldiers from different time periods allowed us to reinforce the game table with 28mm Essex War of the Roses and Front Rank Napoleonic and Redoubt American Civil War miniatures. The response was enthusiastic and many of the focused 54mm collectors took literature to bring to friends who wargame with miniatures who were not at the show. We met a large number of people who came up from San Diego and we are going to help them to have a more active HMGS/PSW division down south. We also got hours to browse the tables for metal and plastic toy soldiers, diorama accessories and military collectibles of stunning variety. It was a great weekend and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Last year on December 19th our ten week run at the Muzeo in Anaheim during their “Treasures of Napoleon” exhibit came to a close. We pulled out all of the stops to host a Christmas Party to commemorate the occasion. Attendance was over forty and a wide range of groups and organizations were there. We had representatives of the HMGS-PSW including Bill Whittans, the President and Harmon Ward, the Vice President. Fritz Bronner and Margie Beeson represented the Warhorse Foundation with other renenactors in Napoleonic Era uniforms. Mark Deliduka from the International Plastic Modelers Society and Tim Knapp from SoCalWargamers were also in attendance. HMGS/PSW member and St. Crispin’s Irregulars stalwart RJ Galati started the 28mm Battle of Waterloo miniatures game and managed to run two games before the evening was over. Most attendees arrived at 3:00pm to tour the Muzeo and visit the pricesless Napoleonic artifacts including his last surviving diamond signet ring and hit famous hat. At 5:00pm we walked over to the movie room and started watching “Waterloo” with Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer on the projection screen. The reenactors in uniform led us in cheers as their depicted regiments appeared on the screen. The wine, cheese and crackers, tapenade dip, basil and sun dried tomato dip and other tasty treats appeared at 6:30pm and dinner was served at 7:00. The dinner menu consisted of chicken marsala, sausage and peppers, roast turkey, pasta, meatballs and dinner rolls. Dessert was chocolate cake, peach cookies, and fudge. Everything was home made and when the cook entered the room, she received a standing ovation. The conversation continued on into the night. With lawyers, professors, actors, architects, carpenters, painters and stockbrokers in the crowd, we had a incredible range of conversations floating about the historic old Carnegie library. Napoleon and Josephine would have fit right in!

As the night wound down large numbers of people helped clean up and put everything away to continue the St. Crispin’s Irregulars tradition. There evening was a perfect blend of wargaming, history, family and friends. The Age of Napoleon lived again for one night to create wonderful memories and bond new friendships.

So St. Crispin’s Irregulars 10 week run at the Muzeo drew to a close and we can look forward to the future with a smile and fond memories.

Members of the Anaheim-based Saturday Night Irregulars have begun a new campaign set in the Alsace in October ‘44. For details on its progress, see the ODGW Blog.

Last night, the Bengal Club held two very entertaining games using “The Natives Are Restless“, a simple yet sophisticated set of rules previously only used for Boxer Rebellion games (See below for information about the convention games played in the fall). Zulus versus Brits, and although the Zulus lost twice, it was still an exciting game — both of which were played in the span of three hours.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any pictures of the games, but we’re starting to think that these rules may be a handy replacement for The Sword and the Flame, a game system not currently in favor at the club.

Here is an older AAR from the Miracle Mile Gamers.

Tonight, the Bengal Club will be attempting a retry of Plastic Ships & Iron Men — wherein we use the old Wooden Ships & Iron Men rules, a hex mat, and WizKid’s Pirates of the Spanish Main (etc) ships.

Some of us have actual scale model ships, a la “Ship of the Line”, but there’s nothing easier and more convenient than just punching out some ships of the wide variety available in the “Pirates” line and whipping up a battle.

For those who don’t have a copy of the old WS&IM rules, Hasbro has made them available at their website here.

Note that this PDF is missing page 7, so you can find that here. The log sheets here, the counters here, and the advanced tables here.

Here is the latest game report from the Miracle Mile Gamers (MMG) of Los Angeles.

From Tunisia '43

We meet about every five to six weeks for WWII gaming. Our latest campaigns have been in Crete and France ‘40, though we occasionally venture off for single scenarios of interest.

Cheers,
Blue Leader

I would like to extend an invitation to game on Dec 5th, at Brookhurst Hobbies. I am the official area Catalyst Rep (Battletech). Catalyst is the company that runs and owns Battletech.

Yes, a few things have changed for the better as there is variety now, and a good solid serious game company backing up the game.

It is also the 25th Anniversary of Battletech.  Also, for those of you that always wanted to take Battletech to a more realistic level without getting over complicated, Catalyst has created fully developed Terrain Miniatures rules.

Ray of the “Art of War” terrain company and I will be running a full scale Battletech event at the store. Hours will be from 12 PM to 5 PM. I will provide all that you need : the rule books and Mechs and Terrain and prize awards.

Don’t be nervous to try out the newer version of the game. It has remained true to the source. However, now movement is in inches instead of hexes.

Come on over — we hope to repeat the great times at the Mini_Wars Convention.

I also run the Official events at St. Crispin’s Hobby Day every month. You can spot me easily as I will be wearing the company uniform and hat.   The event at Hobby Day is scheduled at 11 AM to to 4 PM there will be prizes and info handed out as well.

Don’t worry if you haven’t played in a long time. We have had several returnees, and they have all been having fun getting up to speed.

Brookhurst Hobbies is located at 12188 Brookhurst St. Garden Grove Ca, 92840

on a microarmor night — and he has nothing but contempt for the Tiny Germans. NSFW, btw.

Hobby Night
Monday November 23, 2009
6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
(This event repeats every week until Thursday December 31, 2009.)
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall in Anaheim
Street: 1127 North Anaheim Blvd.
City State Zip: Anaheim, CA
Phone: 714-414-2749

Notes:
The hall is open for open gaming every Monday night. (Except on the three day weekends, Labor Day, Memorial Day and Presidents Day)