HMGS-Midwest Newsletter Winter 2021 In This Issue The President’s Postings it, we look forward to seeing and gaming with many of you again. Leadership Reports SITREP From Be positive, (your outlook, not test The Presidents Postings - “Six Actual” result) as things are changing. The SITREP From “Six Actual” - p.1 by Kevin Cabai Siege of Augusta went forward last Legacy Program - p.2 weekend and was successful. Next Gen sans Picard - p.2 Perhaps we can learn some helpful HMGS Education Initiatives - p.3 lessons there. Treasurer’s Report – p.4 Other good news includes, that in the “Year of Covid” your Board worked Featured Articles hard and was creative in coming up San Sever Duel: Sherman vs. with ways to cover our fixed costs Panther - p.7 We even have positive income for Tips for running a convention 2020. game – p.22 Gaming the War of the Triple Alliance – p. 31 Major Battles of the War of 1812 – p. 36 The Face of Battle 1580 Part II, One event of note I would like to cont. from Summer Issue p. 50 bring up. Is the HMGS-Midwest HMGS-MW President effort for Toys for Tots. This was It is difficult to believe that a year Special Features our first year in working with ago, we had little idea that our Omaha Beach-Legacy gift – p.25 Battlefront on this worthy cause. We gaming habits would take such a The War Chest - p.27 had great participation, our gamers dramatic shift. But we are a group Autumn Wars AAR - p. 56 were generous, and had fun. As a that has a strong creative streak. We bonus, 5 members of our group won have discovered many ways to prizes from Battlefront. Next year, Events Calendar overcome and adapt. It continues Little Wars 2021 Preview - p.19 we will join them again, and plan to still. So, it goes with our prep for increase the size and scale. Really, Upcoming HMGS Little Wars. As I type this, our plan how can you say no? HMGS Sponsored Events - p.75 is to go with a reduced footprint HMGS-MW Game Nights-p. 76 event. We already have had Highlights considerable vendor interest and we HMGS-Midwest Updates should be looking at around 20 Within this newsletter, you will be The Todd Fisher Award - p.28 dealers. Autumn Wars proved to us able to get updates on our Little Wars We Are Legion - p.77 there is a demand, and the Board will convention, and an After-Action Volunteer Opportunities try to meet it. If the conditions allow Report from Autumn Wars. A great Solicitation– p.78 1/79 selection of gaming articles, an -Sassanid Persian the Historical Miniatures Gaming update on an upcoming new HMGS -Early Republican Rome Society has not been resting on its event, The War Chest. A special -Middle/Late Imperial Rome laurels. Last August, in furtherance of thank you to Josh Burick and -Thracian its longer-term ambitions, HMGS Wheaton Academy. We are also • Ottoman Renaissance (25mm spun off a new organization named accepting nominations for the Todd - Minifigs) Next Gen, Inc., the ultimate goal of Fisher award. • Napoleonic (25mm - which is to grow the miniatures Minifigs):British- Allied gaming hobby. What’s fresh here is Administrative News • Napoleonics (15mm) some “outside the box” thinking. Next Gen will supplement the A Reminder: The Board has voted to -French-British-Russian traditional hobby-based mechanisms postpone the 2021 election of of conventions, vendors and painting Officers which was scheduled to take Our goal is to put these items up for classes by advocating what we do on place between February 1, 2021 and sale during the upcoming Warchest a more conceptual level. The March 31, 2021. With the event, this June. If you are interested fundamental idea is to introduce cancellation of LW 2020, the in any of these figures sooner, game design philosophy and game attendees were not able to renew their Contact Jon Michal at based professional development skills membership. The formalized dates [email protected]. (aka “gamification,”) to learning will be announced in the Spring organizations. Next Gen intends to Newsletter, prior to Little Wars. Miniatures Swap expand the playing field by seeding We all have minis we will never paint and funding the growth of historical - Kevin Cabai and painted minis we will never use [email protected] again. We all are interested in new gaming in school clubs, libraries, and periods because of games we have museums--but also work through played at Little Wars or at Autumn government and commercial Legacy Program Wars. Send us a list of your wants institutions. The critical thinking by Jon Michal and/or what you have to offer, along skills engendered by our hobby will HMGS-MW General Counsel with your e-mail address or phone be the main selling point. number. In each issue of the Our newest donation comes from newsletter we will run your list. We all know that games provide a long time Little Wars attendee, Eric Send your information to: framework from which to develop Hogan. He has gathered a massive [email protected], or call Jon camaraderie, harness diversity, and collection of over 6,500 painted and Michal at (847) 823-1370. hone team building skills. They can based 15mm Napoleonic miniatures. also be useful for improving personal Thank you so much for the generous Next Gen sans Picard attributes like analytical thinking, donation. stress management, and by Brandon Musler leadership. These experiences may HMGS-MW Vice President of Outreach A special thank you Josh Burick and even act as a dress rehearsal for Wheaton Academy (Please see page situations that occur on the job or on XX) a daily basis in players’ real life. To that end, HMGS Next Gen will We have the following unpainted provide start-up services in support of miniatures available: developing new gaming venues. Tangible services offered • Ancients (25mm - will include supplies and grant manufacturer(s) unknown) funding for both new and growing -Han Chinese game clubs. Supplies include things -Galatians While there has been a paucity of like paints, miniatures, and rules – -Gauls convention activity in 2020, (with the plus any other necessary gaming -Numidian notable exception of Autumn Wars,) 2/79 related components (Ed: dice would sessions on topics like team building, recurring basis to promote, educate, be nice!). Above and beyond the process modeling, leadership training enhance and expand the historical supplies, upon approval of a simple and group decision dynamics – gaming hobby and recruit more new application, monetary grants to clubs according to the needs of the participants, both old and new, into will also be forthcoming. client. There is virtually no limit to the hobby under a non-profit, and the way games can be leveraged as charitable umbrella, provided under Another thing we know from teaching tools – just look at the the auspices of HMGS-Midwest! experience is that the key diversity on rule sets already on the differentiator in any miniatures We can procure the necessary grant market! experience is likely to be the person monies to facilitate your organizers variously known as a game master access to funds making it possible to Another HMGS Next Gen ambition (GM), referee (Ref) or Game provide the necessary gaming is holding an annual conference that Operations Director (GOD.) requirements that you and your group will bring together clients, would not be able to afford on your professional speakers, educators, Actually, HMGS Next Gen already own. Such things as gaming terrain, game designers, and others for the has more irons in the fire with public equipment, miniatures, gaming tables express purpose of gaming and game and private universities, secondary and material costs for the same, etc. theory exercises to explore their schools, libraries and corporate could be arranged. benefits from the classroom to the organizations than it is currently boardroom. Those who think they The advantage of a sponsor/club staffed to handle. Therefor the gaiting might have what it takes to become arrangement – so long as the gaming growth factor for Next Gen is finding facilitators should contact me at group is housed within a bona-fide and recruiting facilitators who have [email protected]. (NB: school or library – is nobody will first-hand experience and enjoy Grognards need not apply.) need to go through the process of promoting games as a learning tool. registering your club with the state as A core mission of HMGS Next Gen a (501c3) tax exempt organization. will be facilitating “game HMGS Education That’s already been done. Thus, the days.” Since not every club or Initiatives grant can be made to the school or hosting environment will have a by Brandon Musler library housing the club…which in seasoned gamer, Next Gen will send HMGS-MW Vice President of Outreach turn passes the funds on to the someone – somebody who is sponsor/organizer. experienced – for them. The trick is Regrettably, due to the COVID-19 setback both the “ to access prepared GMs who have the Education This would then be conducted under ” and the supplies and other means necessary Initiative Program “not-for-profit” regulations allowing “ to stage a fantastic, fun and Pritzker Military Museum - Game to operate and qualify for such funds are still on hold until the educational event. HMGS Next Gen Days” – and we have the resources to make pandemic subsides, and things return has already run Roman Empire, this happen. to normal, as is hoped. American Revolution, and Second It’s a golden opportunity in planning World War days.