I've returned from Fall-In! this weekend with my daughter Maja, and I'll cover the rabid, septic, elephant in the room before covering my normal story: The old gray corpse of conventions, the Lancaster Host.
I'm a pretty tolerant person (and a fan of the Host in days gone by... and more recently), but this renovation has made my children's possible sporting events a secondary reason to skip Cold Wars in March.
I was well-prepped by the HMGS Board of Directors shooting out an FYI on a recent visit they conducted, but when I arrived at Host at 10am Friday morning, and the only parking spots left were in the hinterlands of the overflow lot (which was filled with pile of dirt and a camper with a flat tire), I realized that we would need to enjoy ourselves in spite of the site.
Old main entrance? Still cordoned off.
Kitchen? Apparently gutted... but the off-site caterers did a fine job.
The Bar? Temporary... but effective.
The Distelfink Ballroom? Cut in half, with no carpeting, but fresh drywall (and HVAC... more on that later).
The Expo Center? Still dark room with a hill more akin to a minor ski slope than a wargaming convention.
No matter what version of the story I was told by fellow attendees, I'm haunted by the idea the somewhere in the remodel the new Host managed was made aware of numerous site deficiencies that weren't going to be hand-waved again like the good ol' days. After the third or fourth story, I moved from the hopeful and practical "gut and remodel" camp to the not nearly as cynical as I once thought "raze and rebuild from scratch" club.
With that all being said, my daughter Maja and I had a great time. And here we begin the regular portion of my report.
Friday I got the youngest on the bus, and Maja and I departed for Lancaster, with a few random stops along the way.
We arrived at the Host with the previously mentioned parking predicament. Badge pick-up with the scanner code for pre-registrations was quick and painless and Maja and I discovered the fun and excitement everyone got in their "swag bags": a pen/laser pointer.
Our first stop was Hobby University for Jim "The Gnome Guy" Stanton's class, "How to Paint a 2-Footer." I'm certainly dating myself, but the last time I took the class, the fledgling Hobby U was relegated to a tent beside the outdoor pool, Baltimore was a curse word for HMGS members, and I don't believe Maja was even born!
A refresher for me reminded me of how much stuff I had retained/adapted over the years, and for Maja's first time painting a figure with these guidelines and time restraints, she did spectacular.
The list of recommended paints to achieve a pleasing mini from two feet away have evolved slightly, but the approach always works.
From there, we wander the Byzantine construction corridors, investigating all the changes for the renovation, with quick stops at Wally's Basement (aka the flea market) then over to the Dealers Hall. My must-have shopping list with the vendors was quite small this time so we picked up three items and trudged back up the K-12 in the bone-chilling rain to wander back the car, hit Golden Corral to fill Maja's hollow leg with food, and check in at our off-site hotel down the road.
Golden Corral and a dirt-cheap hotel on the Lincoln highway met all our (low) expectations, but let me take a second to mention the other item directly across the street from the Host, The Continental Inn.
I didn't hear many rumblings about how the hotel is being turned into a Cartoon Network theme resort hotel, slated to open in 2019. From even as close as the Golden Corral, I only see curtains removed and no obvious activity, but since Maja doesn't watch Cartoon Network, she had the very old soul series of questions, "It was a nice place to stay, why mess it up?"
Somehow, this nine-year old missed the hotel/restaurant industries ploys to get more money out of her demographic (and her parents).
After checking into the hotel, we spent two hours post-gluttony, recovering and finishing up few items for my Saturday game.
Coming back from at the normal dinner time, I was able to secure a better spot near the front of the overflow lot, but the torrential rain and wind still drenched us.
Friday night was spent in my normal hunting grounds, Gnome Wars. When not commandeering the MBA castle at Historicon, the Gnome Wars have tried to follow the Siege of Tsingtao. It took all of Cold Wars to get the amphibious landing inland, and now the "Allies" met the the disorganized Germans on the outskirts of the city.
Sure, there were fewer supernatural entities, Swiss tunnelers, exploding trucks, and rampaging war elephants named Rodney in the actual historical battle, but everyone had a hoot.
Near the end of the game, an employee from Host, oddly asking us how much longer we planned on playing. No nefarious purpose, other than to let us know they planned on switching the heat on in Distelfink at midnight. Considering I hadn't realized it wasn't one, even after a rain-required change of clothing at the hotel, would bode poorly on Saturday.
After cleaning up some of the Gnomes, Maja and I returned to our hotel, where I continued organizing the Saturday morning game I was going to run, and Maja fought back sleep while curling up in her blankets, watching Nick at Nite.
Despite a painfully late night, Saturday morning stilled rolled around. We checked out early, re-loaded the car, and hit IHOP before my 10am game.
I decided to run a game this convention based on two factors: the theme "Revolutions and Civil Wars and Those That Start Them" and the H.A.W.K.S. sponsoring the "Battle in a Box" contest. The theme allowed me to break out my (Second) Samoan Civil War figures and try to keep it small and manageable.
Deciding that a 2-D terrain map for trees looked ridiculous, coupled with the Fall-In Battle in a Box was rescheduled, I got everything safely packed up, including palm trees, into TWO 17-Liter Really Useful Boxes.
I instantly remembered the heat had been turned on, when I started to set up and felt two small jet exhausts pummel me from above. I don't know about the rest of the room, but I was suffering from summertime Host flashbacks from the 00's.
As ten o'clock rolled around, other games picked up, but my table was just Maja and myself. Then Maja ran off with responsible adults to Hobby U and another class. However, by 10:30am, I had four excited players who at least feigned interest in my ramblings about Samoan history.
Outside of a few odd issues that can come up, I love playing with Contemptible Little Armies. The rules are simple enough to grasp at a convention that everyone expressed an appreciation of the rules.
It also might have been that I played the Americans and my Marines were simply overwhelmed by the Samoan rebels, and supply train absconded with.
Maja had returned just in time not only to clean up, but to safely get all the materials, including dice, rulers, minis, terrain, and cloth, into one box! I might have ventured over to the H.A.W.K.S room to express my success. Of course, it was noted by one of the members, that I have a second perfectly good box, from which I can create a second Battle in a Box. I already have something in mind.
A walk down US 30 for lunch filled the other hollow leg of my daughter and soon we were back in the Dealer's hall to trade in some game rewards I've accumulated over many past cons but never remembered to redeem.
Maja ran out to play in her Lego pirates game, and I got a few moments to wander a bit, peruse the flea market, and check out the other games.
By 5pm, both of us were pretty beat, so we made a stop to Wawa for human and car fuel, and headed back home.
As usual, the official breakdown:
THE HOST: Ugh. I've reached the point where even deluded nostalgia can't keep me from seeing the dumpster fire they're slowing improving. One day I hope it becomes a Wyndham hotel we can't afford to use, but for now I might take my grandkids there many years from now.
Maja's quote: "These halls and stairs remind me of scary scenes in Doctor Who."
Parking: When someone finally does a "Last Battle for Host" minis game, I truly hope they do the parking lot (in)justice. They seem to continually seek to remove more spots every con.
Dealer's Hall: the exterior is continuing it's transformation to a "destination" wedding area for pictures, hootenannies and whatnot. Steps up the balcony to that exit prevents numerous hill workouts.
The Swag: Car is still waiting to be unpacked for the usual swag picture. Like I said above, limited shopping list. The new mdf marketplace set from Things from the Basement was item #1, and Recreational Conflict now stocking Pulp Alley was #2. Add the Back of Beyond sourcebook for CLA at Brigade plus a free penguin bag for my daughter, and we that was as far as we went.
The flea market had an equal budget. Maja found some Imperial Guard 40k figs she feel in love with and before I could even hand him cash, he told her to take them. One day, wargamers may stop succumbing to her cuteness and politeness and give her things to help continue the hobby. If that does happen, she better have these IG painted up (and a Black Powder dead horse marker she also got for free).
For me, besides a few miscellaneous Pulp figs, and a great deal of Space Marines from the same fellow who gave Maja the IG (and we don't play 40k), I found some great finds in the RPGs bins.
I'm a pretty tolerant person (and a fan of the Host in days gone by... and more recently), but this renovation has made my children's possible sporting events a secondary reason to skip Cold Wars in March.
I was well-prepped by the HMGS Board of Directors shooting out an FYI on a recent visit they conducted, but when I arrived at Host at 10am Friday morning, and the only parking spots left were in the hinterlands of the overflow lot (which was filled with pile of dirt and a camper with a flat tire), I realized that we would need to enjoy ourselves in spite of the site.
Old main entrance? Still cordoned off.
Kitchen? Apparently gutted... but the off-site caterers did a fine job.
The Bar? Temporary... but effective.
The Distelfink Ballroom? Cut in half, with no carpeting, but fresh drywall (and HVAC... more on that later).
The Expo Center? Still dark room with a hill more akin to a minor ski slope than a wargaming convention.
 |
| This was what we had to work with in Distelfink. |
 |
| The downstairs bar right by the steps leading to the "Tennis Barn" |
The postitves?
- I saw staff everywhere, unlike some previous ghost town feelings.
- The outside caterers provided the best food I've eaten on sight in years... and it was hot dogs and fries.
- The outside door to the Expo Center balcony was open and accessible, making the return trip back up the hill feel like a dream compared to the rain-soaked march up the hill.
- If I ever build a "Last Stand at the Host" game, game companies will get rich with the number of 25mm shipping containers I will need to purchase.
 |
| Did not hear any true complaint out the outside food vendor... who was literally outside. |
Friday I got the youngest on the bus, and Maja and I departed for Lancaster, with a few random stops along the way.
 |
| Awesome warning label + average wargamer = How is everyone at the con not blind? |
A refresher for me reminded me of how much stuff I had retained/adapted over the years, and for Maja's first time painting a figure with these guidelines and time restraints, she did spectacular.
 |
| Maja's two gnomes on the left, with a little pirate flair |
From there, we wander the Byzantine construction corridors, investigating all the changes for the renovation, with quick stops at Wally's Basement (aka the flea market) then over to the Dealers Hall. My must-have shopping list with the vendors was quite small this time so we picked up three items and trudged back up the K-12 in the bone-chilling rain to wander back the car, hit Golden Corral to fill Maja's hollow leg with food, and check in at our off-site hotel down the road.
Golden Corral and a dirt-cheap hotel on the Lincoln highway met all our (low) expectations, but let me take a second to mention the other item directly across the street from the Host, The Continental Inn.
I didn't hear many rumblings about how the hotel is being turned into a Cartoon Network theme resort hotel, slated to open in 2019. From even as close as the Golden Corral, I only see curtains removed and no obvious activity, but since Maja doesn't watch Cartoon Network, she had the very old soul series of questions, "It was a nice place to stay, why mess it up?"
Somehow, this nine-year old missed the hotel/restaurant industries ploys to get more money out of her demographic (and her parents).
 |
| In the official report, this massive fireball from two trucks was blamed on co-ed seating. |
After cleaning up some of the Gnomes, Maja and I returned to our hotel, where I continued organizing the Saturday morning game I was going to run, and Maja fought back sleep while curling up in her blankets, watching Nick at Nite.
Despite a painfully late night, Saturday morning stilled rolled around. We checked out early, re-loaded the car, and hit IHOP before my 10am game.
I decided to run a game this convention based on two factors: the theme "Revolutions and Civil Wars and Those That Start Them" and the H.A.W.K.S. sponsoring the "Battle in a Box" contest. The theme allowed me to break out my (Second) Samoan Civil War figures and try to keep it small and manageable.
Deciding that a 2-D terrain map for trees looked ridiculous, coupled with the Fall-In Battle in a Box was rescheduled, I got everything safely packed up, including palm trees, into TWO 17-Liter Really Useful Boxes.
 |
| No felt on this board, it's all flannel! |
As ten o'clock rolled around, other games picked up, but my table was just Maja and myself. Then Maja ran off with responsible adults to Hobby U and another class. However, by 10:30am, I had four excited players who at least feigned interest in my ramblings about Samoan history.
 |
| Lego Pirates Plunder |
 |
| Gnome Wars: One Day, the Allies Will Capture Tsingtao |
 |
| A custom German Gnome on a Rabbit |
 |
| The Toys for Tots area was a happening place. |
As usual, the official breakdown:
THE HOST: Ugh. I've reached the point where even deluded nostalgia can't keep me from seeing the dumpster fire they're slowing improving. One day I hope it becomes a Wyndham hotel we can't afford to use, but for now I might take my grandkids there many years from now.
Maja's quote: "These halls and stairs remind me of scary scenes in Doctor Who."
Parking: When someone finally does a "Last Battle for Host" minis game, I truly hope they do the parking lot (in)justice. They seem to continually seek to remove more spots every con.
Dealer's Hall: the exterior is continuing it's transformation to a "destination" wedding area for pictures, hootenannies and whatnot. Steps up the balcony to that exit prevents numerous hill workouts.
The Swag: Car is still waiting to be unpacked for the usual swag picture. Like I said above, limited shopping list. The new mdf marketplace set from Things from the Basement was item #1, and Recreational Conflict now stocking Pulp Alley was #2. Add the Back of Beyond sourcebook for CLA at Brigade plus a free penguin bag for my daughter, and we that was as far as we went.
The flea market had an equal budget. Maja found some Imperial Guard 40k figs she feel in love with and before I could even hand him cash, he told her to take them. One day, wargamers may stop succumbing to her cuteness and politeness and give her things to help continue the hobby. If that does happen, she better have these IG painted up (and a Black Powder dead horse marker she also got for free).
For me, besides a few miscellaneous Pulp figs, and a great deal of Space Marines from the same fellow who gave Maja the IG (and we don't play 40k), I found some great finds in the RPGs bins.
- Castle Falkenstein
- Macho Women with Guns
- MWWG: More Excuses to Kill Things
Fall-In! 2019 will be November 14-17, 2019 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, PA. The kids' sports schedule will run havoc with that one, but I'll be delighted to pay for tolls on the turnpike to get there, IF there are no renovations.
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