Fall In Wargaming Convention Lancaster PA (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

I attended the Fall In Wargaming convention this past weekend with my cousin. Got there Friday, left early Sunday morning, I used to attend this and the other two HMGS conventions as a dealer, this is my first time going as an attendee since about 2015 when I started to attend these conventions.

I had a GREAT time, shopped in the dealer hall, bought some nice items for my 20mm collection including a 3 foot long modular WWII trench system, 3 packs/24 figures per pack of Napoleonic Bavarians in 20mm, a great 3' by 3' jungle terrain matt, some nice fall underbrush/bushes for my Autumn themed set ups, some desert underbrush for my First Sudan War layouts.

I also attended the three flea market sessions; this is where hobbyists can sell off unwanted items, it's a feeding frenzy, jam packed with buyers, cash sales only, picked up a nice ruined chateau, a crop field with fencing around it, some winter trees for my winter layouts, a Franco Prussian War book as well as a large number of ho/oo boxed sets from various manufacturers, I paid what the seller was asking, I also did this with all the other items I bought, very fair prices, no point in haggling as all the items were priced to move.

They also run a huge number of games in scales anywhere from 6mm to 54mm, some great games including Isandlwana, Plancenoit, a Franco Prussian game, a Bunker Hill game and a 1812 French/Russian game.

This convention is right in my wheelhouse as I collect 20mm figures, really had a fun, relaxing time, no pressure to sell, no pressure to be anywhere at a certain time, I reconnected with many of my customers and wargaming friends who I have not seen since 2019. Wargamers are a fun bunch, very knowledgeable about history and passionate about it as well, nice to chat with people at the bar and in the gaming area, wargaming shows are awesome, that hobby is booming, very vibrant, money was flowing in both the dealer hall and the flea market, no one was shy about spending money on the hobby at this convention, that's for sure.

Wargaming conventions have a totally different vibe than toy soldier shows, took some pictures as well, their next event is Cold Wars 2025 in February in Gettysburg PA..............I'm in...............

 

[Currahee Chris]

Great to see you had a chance to actually enjoy the Convention this year George instead of being crammed into the back alleys of the dealer halls!!

 

[Warrior]

Great to see you had a chance to actually enjoy the Convention this year George instead of being crammed into the back alleys of the dealer halls!!

Highlight of the show for me; meeting "Wild Bill" Guarnere's and George Luz's sons...........unbelievable, what a thrill and an honor, George's wife is a sweetheart, served her country for 27 years, come to find out they live about 30 minutes from me here in Taunton.

And yeah, attending is a **** ton more fun than working the show, no doubt about it.

 

[theBaron]

Glad to see you got to enjoy yourself, George! I haven't been able to attend the HMGS shows for a couple of years, since they moved briefly from Lancaster, but it was always a fun event, an interesting event.

I agree with you about the flea market. When I first visited Historicon, the guys told me that the wargamers' flea market was a good source for us collectors and painters, because wargamers will work in a time period for a while, collect references, etc, then switch to another subject, and sell off their material, and relatively cheap. And it's like buying toy soldiers from retiring collectors-you never know what you'll find on someone's table.

It's fun to watch the games, too. Historical games are broad enough, but there are games in other subjects, too. I recommend visiting the shows, to those who have never been, especially. HMGS stages 3 shows throughout the year-Cold Wars, at the end of the winter, Historicon, in July, and Fall-In, in the fall. The society's website is https://www.hmgs.org, by the way. They have a page for each of the events, too.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Warrior]

The HMGS conventions are a great time, period, a lot to do and see, guest lectures as well as the games, the dealer hall and the flea market.

The flea market was great, found some nice items for my collection at fair prices, no haggling from me, if the price works for me, I buy it, end of story, stuff was cheap enough to begin with without haggling, I'm not going to insult someone who's taking a beating on the price to begin with by chiseling more money off the price.

And for those dealers who complain about the flea market ( no need to go any further, wouldn't want his mole over here to dime me out again like the last time I spoke my mind.............); about 90% of those guys once the flea market ends go to the dealer hall and spend their "profits", so no need to whine about it.

There were a few professional flea market sellers in there, one in particular, didn't get a dime from me, so there's that.

The vibe at the con is so much different than a traditional toy soldier show, talking history at the bar or over a nice meal, the main purpose for many attendees is to game, so there's that, sat in on a couple, it was a lot of fun to soak it all in, no pressure to sell or be anywhere at any particular time all weekend long.

I'll be back next year for sure.

 

[REVWARBUFF]

George,

Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing about your experience. While I'm not into wargaming I can appreciate it a lot. Seems like it would be tons of fun to participate.

It makes perfect sense when you say that war gammers are very knowledgeable when it comes to history. If nothing else for me, having those history discussions would be the highlight in attending one of these conventions.

 

[Warrior]

George,

Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing about your experience. While I'm not into wargaming I can appreciate it a lot. Seems like it would be tons of fun to participate.

It makes perfect sense when you say that war gammers are very knowledgeable when it comes to history. If nothing else for me, having those history discussions would be the highlight in attending one of these conventions.

I'm not really into gaming either, but I love the "eye candy" aspect of it, that Bunker Hill game was tremendous.

Had dinner on Friday night with a reenactor, he gave me a great history of Little Big Horn, he was great to talk to, just a fun guy.

Wargamers in general are just good people, period, sharing their love of history and recreating it in miniature.

 

[OzDigger]

George, sounds like fun.

 

[Warrior]

George, sounds like fun.

It was great, I was bummed out driving home on Sunday, such a good time.