HMGS / Pacific Southwest

Posts Tagged ‘hmgspsw’

Dear HMGS/PSW members,
It is not often that my association with miniatures brings me sadness but at this moment I feel a sadness and sense of loss hard to describe.. Most of you who have been around HMGS/PSW or the southern California miniature gaming scene for any amount of time have met, talked to, or been helped in some way by Alex Webster HMGS/PSW convention manager and member for as long as I can remember. On February 14th, 2011 Alex passed away from natural causes at his apartment in Lancaster California, a great loss to gaming and HMGS/PSW in particular.
As I sit here trying to formulate my thoughts about Alex I find it hard to find a place to start. To say that Alex was under appreciated, to say that there might not be an HMGS/PSW today if not for Alex, to say that Alex was the “Heart” of HMGS/PSW would be an understatement.
He was always ready to engage in conversation with old or new members upon any subject you might think of. He cared about HMGS/PSW in a way few of us care about anything, and he did it with out much praise. I can’t remember every seeing him with out a smile. Alex was not a saint, he had faults like us all but he was quick to recognize his failures and always resolved to do better next time. He was a great help to me when I became HMGS/PSW’s current president always there to bounce ideas off of or answer my questions about HMGS/PSW past and present. I have a tough time thinking about not having Alex there in the wings and how we will ever replace him. The fact is that we never will…. I wish I had taken more time to know him better.
Yes Alex was the Heart of HMGS/PSW, something you took for granted, hardly noticing, but sorely missed if he skipped a beat! He was always there maybe not always strong, but always steadily beating in the background. It was Alex who kept the doors of our conventions open for the last few years and closed them after we all left. I feel that we have all suffered a loss that we will only truly appreciate as time goes on.
Here’s to you Alex! And may you get a soft seat at the Great gaming table.
Respectfully,
Bill Witthans,
President HMGS/PSW

PS, I you have any thing you might like to share about Alex please leave a comment here or email me. I would like to assemble some thoughts on Alex to share at a future memorial service. I also have had many emails about Alex and I am going to paste the member messages here as a tribute to Alex. I hope the posters don’t mind.

Hi all,

The Fall Campaign of HMGS/PSW’s Mini-Wars convention is here and this year all most of us know we are holding it in conjunction with the good folks who know run STRATEGICON. We will dominate the miniatures area Sept 3-5^th (the con goes to the 6^th) of the GATEWAY event. It is held at the Radisson Hotel FOR the last time before they move to better digs at the Sheraton hotel a block down. We have more games scheduled for this con (19) then most of our mini-wars and it looks to be a great time and a good showing! I have posted a PEL copied of their site and have added HMGS/PSW to some of the games that I felt were missing this tag. There was some trouble getting the HMGS/PSW “tag” on but we are trying to fix it on their site as well. If I put you under the HMGS/PSW banner and YOU DO NOT want it that way let me know. I did it for know HMGS/PSW members figuring they would like that.

There are several other games not yet listed but will be there, The Boxer Rebellion (Sunday) and possibly Saturday night. Wings of War, and others.

Full information on the con can be found on our convention page and by visiting http://www.strategicon.net/

We will have our chapter meeting at 6pm and elections. President, Vice President, Convention Manager, Treasurer.

WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT AND GET PLENTY OF PLAYERS! DOWNLOAD THE FLIER AND PASS THEM OUT OR TAKE THEM TO YOU LOCAL SHOPS NOW! Flier is in the file section of the HMGS/PSW yahoo groups page.

See you there!

Bill Witthans

President HMGS/PSW

MINIATURE EVENTS

FRIDAY

DemoUnlimited
Beginner
AnyFri
3:00 pm3 hrs Ex Illis Demo Description
Ex Illis
GM: Ex Illis Demo Team Mini

EventUp to 8
Beginner
13+Fri
6:00 pm6 hrs Obilesti: June 1807 Description
Brave Men, Badly Led: 1806
GM: Jennifer Bagosy Mini

EventUp to 6
Beginner
13+Fri
6:00 pm4 hrs Folgore! – HMGS/PSW Description
Flames of War 15mm
GM: Frank Vassallo & Adam Hammer Mini

EventUnlimited
Beginner
AnyFri
6:00 pm4 hrs Clash of Patrols! Description
Warhammer Ancient Battles 2.0
GM: Tim Keennon Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Fri
7:00 pm4 hrs North Atlantic Battle Description
Large Scale General Quarters
GM: Special Projects Team Mini
Big
TourneyUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
9:00 am8 hrs Warhammer 40k RTT Description
GW WH 40k
GM: Scott Tiveron Mini

SATURDAY

EventUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
10:00 am12 hrs Crossing the Rhein – HMGS/PSW Description
Battleground
GM: Robert Boyens Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sat
10:00 am4 hrs RAF To the Rescue – HMGS/PSW Description
Check Your 6!
GM: Steven Reid, Gary Archer Mini

TourneyUnlimited
Beginner
FamilySat
10:00 am5 hrs DBA Tournament, Ancients – HMGS/PSW Description
DBA rules, Version 2.2
GM: Robert Mini

EventUp to 8
Beginner
AnySat
10:00 am6 hrs Sedgewick will come through! Antietam 1863 – HMGS/PSW Description
Drum Barracks Battle Manual of the ACW
GM: Stephen Phenow Mini

DemoUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
10:00 am7 hrs Ex Illis Demo Description
Ex Illis
GM: Ex Illis Demo Team Mini

EventUnlimited
Beginner
13+Sat
10:00 am8 hrs Warhammer Fantasy Battle Megabattle Description
Gamesworkshop WHFB
GM: Tobi Walker & Dave Parker Mini

SpecUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
10:00 am7 hrs Paint and Take Description
Hobby Painting
GM: Staff Mini

EventUp to 8
Beginner
13+Sat
10:00 am4 hrs Carrier Attack! Description
Mustangs and Messerschmitts
GM: Special Projects Team Mini

EventUp to 6
Beginner
AdultSat
10:00 am6 hrs Agincourt – 28mm – HMGS/PSW Description
Piquet: Band of Brothers
GM: Dave Maupin and Greg Kildare Mini

EventUp to 48
Beginner
13+Sat
10:00 am0.5 hrs AVE – HMGS/PSW Description
home designed
GM: thomas coveney Mini

EventUp to 6
Beginner
FamilySat
Noon4 hrs Elephant Hunt – HMGS/PSW Description
Flames of War
GM: Harold Hildebrand & Mark Nicholson Mini

DemoUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
Noon4 hrs Flames of War Demo – HMGS/PSW Description
Flames of War
GM: Frank Vassallo Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sat
Noon6 hrs Between the Wars China – HMGS/PSW Description
Valor, Flesh and Steel (25mm Skirmish)
GM: Tim Daun Mini

TourneyUp to 20
Experience
13+Sat
1:00 pm7 hrs Uncharted Seas Tournament Description
Uncharted Seas
GM: Special Projects Team Mini

EventUp to 8
Beginner
13+Sat
2:00 pm3 hrs Stalag 9 and the SturmFrappenZooter – HMGS/PSW Description
Beer and Pretzels Skirmish
GM: Matt Denny Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sat
2:00 pm4 hrs Billy Mitchell Vindicated – HMGS/PSW Description
Check Your 6!
GM: Steven Reid, George Paler Mini

DemoUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sat
3:00 pm2 hrs Firestorm Armada Demo Description
Firestorm Armada
GM: Special Projects Team Mini

EventUp to 8
Beginner
13+Sat
3:00 pm5 hrs The Valley of the Undead Description
Wargods of Aegyptus
GM: Richard Rodgers Mini

TourneyUp to 16
Experience
AnySat
4:00 pm6 hrs 2010 Blood Bowl Winter Championship Description
GAMES WORKSHOP, Blood Bowl LRB6
GM: Steven Outzen Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
FamilySat
6:00 pm4 hrs Avalon Hill’s War at Sea with Miniatures! – HMGS/PSW Description
Avalon Hill, War at Sea
GM: Robert Runnels Mini

EventUp to 6
Beginner
13+Sat
6:00 pm4 hrs Battle of Freeman’s Farm – HMGS/PSW Description
Field of Battle 15mm
GM: Dave Maupin and Adam Hammer Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sat
6:00 pm4 hrs Defection! Description
Firestorm Armada
GM: Special Projects Team Mini

EventUp to 9
Beginner
AnySat
6:00 pm5 hrs The Sword and the Flame – HMGS/PSW Description
The Zareba
GM: Larry Stehle Mini

SpecUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
6:00 pm1 hrs HMGS/PSW Membership Meeting Description
none
GM: Bill Witthans Mini

EventUnlimited
Beginner
AnySat
7:00 pm6 hrs Stalag 9 and the SturmFrappenZooter – HMGS/PSW Description
Beer and Pretzels Skirmish
GM: Matt Denny Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sat
7:00 pm4 hrs Cauldron Over Maastricht – HMGS/PSW Description
Check Your 6!
GM: Steven Reid, George Paler Mini

SUNDAY

EventUp to 10
Beginner
AnySat
10:00 pm3 hrs Dead Things: Gas and We’re Outta Here! Description
Dead Things
GM: David Fitzgerald Mini

EventUp to 6
Beginner
AdultSun
9:00 am4 hrs Heroes of the Soviet Union 28mm – HMGS/PSW Description
Disposable Heroes
GM: Dave Maupin and Jason Perez Mini
Big
TourneyUnlimited
Beginner
AnySun
9:00 am8 hrs Warhammer Fantasy Battle RTT Description
GW WHFB
GM: Scott Tiveron Mini

EventUnlimited
Beginner
AnySun
10:00 am6 hrs Boxer Rebellion – HGMS Description
“President”s Table” in the foyer
GM: HGMSBill Witthans, Matt Denny, John Denny. Terrain Bill Witthans, Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sun
10:00 am4 hrs The Divine Wind – HMGS/PSW Description
Check Your 6!
GM: Steven Reid, George Paler Mini

DemoUnlimited
Beginner
AnySun
10:00 am7 hrs Ex Illis Demo Description
Ex Illis
GM: Ex Illis Demo Team Mini

DemoUp to 8
Beginner
AnySun
10:00 am4 hrs Battle of Kynoskephalai 197 BC – HMGS/PSW Description
Field of Glory Demo
GM: Robert Parrish Mini

EventUnlimited
Beginner
13+Sun
10:00 am8 hrs Warhammer 40k Megabattle Description
Gamesworkshop WH40k
GM: Touradj Mansouri, Frank Martin, & Fernando Lopez Mini

SpecUnlimited
Beginner
AnySun
10:00 am7 hrs Paint and Take Description
Hobby Painting
GM: Staff Mini

TourneyUnlimited
Beginner
AnySun
10:00 am6 hrs Warhammer Ancient Battles – HMGS/PSW Description
Warhammer Ancients 2.0
GM: Harold Hildebrand & Adam Hammer Mini

Event 2-4

12noon to 4pm  Battle of Gavilan, Chile 1817, 15mm

Rules; Liberator, house rules,

GM John Fletcher

EventUnlimited
Beginner
AnySun
Noon6 hrs Battle for Ends Reach Description
Firestorm Armada
GM: Francisco Vassallo Mini

TourneyUp to 12
Experience
AnySun
1:00 pm5 hrs Warmachine Tournament Description
Warmachine
GM: Special Projects Team Mini

EventUp to 8
Beginner
AnySun
2:00 pm4 hrs Battle at Er Regima Pass – HMGS/PSW Description
Wustenkrieg (Modified Crossfire in 15mm)
GM: Steve Phenow Mini
Big
TourneyUp to 16
Experience
AnySun
4:00 pm4 hrs 2010 Blood Bowl Winter Championship – Finals Description
GAMES WORKSHOP, Blood Bowl LRB6
GM: Steven Outzen Mini

EventUp to 9
Beginner
AnySun
6:00 pm5 hrs The Sword and the Flame – HMGS/PSW Description
The Zareba
GM: Larry Stehle Mini

EventUp to 12
Beginner
13+Sun
7:00 pm4 hrs Blood off the French Coast Description
Large Scale General Quarters
GM: Special Projects Team Mini

DemoUnlimited
Beginner
AnyMon
10:00 am5 hrs Ex Illis Demo Description
Ex Illis
GM: Ex Illis Demo Team Mini

EventUp to 5
Beginner
13+Mon
10:00 am3 hrs Sub Hunt! Description
Large Scale General Quarters
GM: Special Projects Team

Hi all,

Last Saturday the monthly gathering of the St Crispens irregulars (funny since they are a very regular group) was attended by Steve Gausche and myself along with a promised assault by “the Bugs”

I had been down for a visit to the Orange County St Crispens group that meets at the Knights of Columbus  hall every second Saturday several times before and had found that several gamers there were building Starship Troopers miniatures and had an interest in playing. Even though it is not a real historical game or falls under the category of “History that hasn’t happened yet, I also had a keen interest in the game and had been collecting and painting the miniatures for years. I had also run it as a game at an HMGS/PSW event a year or so ago. Chris convinced me to come down and run it at St Crispens. Steve and I arrived around noon and had a small little tune up game before running one of the two games latter that evening. Their were two game run that evening with 9 players at two tables. Lots of fun was had by all.

Starship Troopers is a game that is no longer produced but figures and rules can be found with relative ease on the internet as well as by frequenting model shows. It’s a pretty fast and Bloody game. Both our games were well balanced and went down to the last figures standing with the Bugs and the Mobile infantry both taking a win and a loss.

St Crispins is a great venue used by both historical and non-historical gamers as well as board gamers, and modelers. There are 16 tables and one could find everything from ancients to Star Trek being played. Food is cooked and served twice a day, lunch and dinner for a small charge and its pretty darn good! There is a predominance of HMGS/PSW members in the core group here and most of the running of the event is done by HMGS/PSW members.

HMGS/PSW Vice President Harmon Ward talks about St Crispins!