Children, there was a time when Historicon wasn't in Lancaster, stolen to Virginia. It was then that "The Weekend" emerged, a small group of like-minded individuals putting together a no-frills convention with games people wanted to run, a snack table, and some running commentary on a horrible movie during the evenings.
There was something endearing with the convention, originally in the basement ballroom of the Continental (now Cartoon Network hotel), intentionally set up there to be across the street from the Lancaster Host. I attended once or twice, using the con rates to bring the family down for the weekend once. They shopped and swam, I played games and hung out with guys who like history. A win for everybody.
The original organizer, Otto Schmidt, passed away in 2019, but his cohort kept it going, and now it operates every summer out of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as "Ottocon" in his honor.
Why all the reminiscing? I did notice on TMP the announcement for this years Ottocon.
Copied and Pasted:
OttoCon 2025
It is time to announce (and prepare) for OttoCon 2025 to be held on the 27th and 28th of June 2025 at the Comfort Suites, 10 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.
OttoCon is a small, low-tech convention (I really did mean to get a FB page up and running this year) put on by the Society of Daisy, founded by the late Otto Schmidt, and is dedicated to the preservation and the advancement of humor, imagination, and fun in wargames.
There are no board meetings, membership meetings, or massive dealers area.
It's like a big game weekend where folks can relax and play miniatures games, board games, or decision driven card games.
Standard Daisy fare includes the return of Military Science Theater 2000, where we show a dog of a movie on Friday night and Saturday night, the infamous "Munchie Pit", the classic board game Divine Right, and the convention theme "Naval Games", which everybody ignores.
We've spoken with Walt Leech about running an ADLG tourney and we'll have the Bring and Buy Open Not Quite Flea Market, as well.
Other games being planned are ACW Naval Ironclads, Cod Wars modern naval action (it's all about the fish), and Western Gunfights (with or without Prairie Schooners….)
But we mostly ignore the theme.
Did we mention it was Naval Games?
Registration fee is $30 USD at the door for the whole weekend, or $20 USD for a single day.
There is a block of rooms available at the hotel. You can make a reservation by calling the front desk and 717-960-1000, then dial "0", and specify the "OttoCon" room block.
If you want to run a game or have any questions, then you may contact us at saxenviolets@gmail.com Ask for Tracy. He's still our Grand Poobah.
You can also contact me at epturner29 AT aol DOT com and I can get you in touch with Tracy.
Hope to see folks there.
I do have a tendency to stay on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna for cons, but that might be worth an extended day trip. I'm certainly more excited at the prospect of going to this than Cold Wars, particularly the half-hour shorter drive each way.
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