This is the fourth year I’ve hosted my two day gaming convention, The Manassas Massacre in Manassas, Virginia. Thanks to our wonderful Game Masters we had multiple games over two days with a few GM’s running their games up to three times! One GM ran three different games on Saturday!

My son and I joined a terrific group of guys in a game of DBM where we took on the role of the Sea People invading Egypt. We didn’t quite get to a full resolution but we were pushing their troops back into the Pyramids themselves where they hid their baggage, so I’d say we were pretty close to a victory!

A few shots of the other morning games: Et Sans Resultat, Wake Island Naval Action, and Frostgrave,.

The afternoon session games featured Frostgrave, Check Your Six!, Flames of War, and another game of DBM. I played Frostgrave and couldn’t get a spell off to save my life, sometimes quite literally. Fortunately for me a host of wild animals descended on my opponent keeping the game close. We didn’t properly keep track of the victory points, but I’m fairly certain he won based on the sheer amount of Victory Points he should have got, and I certainly didn’t from successfully casting spells. My one son helped chase off the Germans and won his game, and the other helped his side win his second ever game of ESR!

In the evening one of the boys went home so the remaining boy and I took charge of the English Navy fighting the Dutch. The Dutch admiral split his fleet sending one half to cross my T. The crossing fleet came in late and had some bad rolls and couldn’t turn the battle after the massed fire of the English knocked the Dutch our of their riggings! In the massive 40k 2nd Edition battle two of the 40k 2nd Edition Challengers fought in a 2,000 point battle with the Dark Angels victorious against the Evil Suns Orks!

Sunday was more laid back. I got a little bit of painting in for DreadTober, my friend made a big pot of chili and we had a six gladiator Arena Games combat. My gladiator, Rizzicus (see, I can speak “hip!”) got the final kill on Lunchicus Boxicus earning his name on the wall!

This was another terrific show and as always I want to thank everyone who ran games, played games, and otherwise offered their support. This little convention started as a return to normal after the pandemic as my boys missed going to conventions so I figured why not run one myself. I’m glad in its fourth year people are still enjoying themselves. Even better, this is the first year where I broke even financially! Heck, I even came home with a six pack of beer and a case of water, I’m calling this a profit!

As always we closed out with cleaning, followed by fajitas and margaritas!

If you made it out this year, thank you! If you didn’t I hope to see you next year!

-Wachtmeister