A LAST HURRAH AT LITTLE WARS

In the hope of reviving a fairly long-running interest in historical wargaming that rather suddenly as well as unexpectedly fell into a coma-like state, [1] on Friday afternoon, April 28, and then again on Saturday morning, April 29, I made the 20-25 minutes drive west to attend LITTLE WARS 2023 at the Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel. [2] Sadly and unfortunately, if I may amend the lyrics to an old Billy Joel song and subsequently mix my metaphors, “I couldn’t restart the fire.” This disappointing development aside, [3] I did manage to take a fair number of pictures of the games that were staged along with a few photos of the products or “goodies” that were available in the vendor area. [4] The following photographs are presented in no particular order and with no agenda attached or intended. Ironically, none of them pertain to or reinforce the stated theme of the four-day event, which was “Damn the torpedoes!” [5]

I will begin with a handful of pictures taken while being an “active if also sometimes absent spectator” around the TRIUMPH! refight of Asculum (279 BC) table. The in-quotes and contradictory designation refers to the fact that during the three hour (approximately) scenario, I would sometimes weigh in with a bit of advice, a suggestion, a rule reminder, or even an attempt at humor directed at the player-generals commanding the Roman left (Joe) and Pyrrhic right (Will). During the occasional lull in the action, or simply to get out of the umpire’s way, [6] I would make a wandering circuit of the room in order to check on the progress of other games, to see what new games were being set up, or to review a portion of the blown-up event schedule posted near the game organizer’s check in table. Anyway, here are five photographs of the historical refight I spent the most time at; here are five photographs of Asculum selected for viewing by those who have opted to follow this blog and the dozen or so readers/visitors to what is very likely to be a final post to No Painting Required. 

Picture 1 — A view of the TRIUMPH! Asculum tabletop, taken from behind the Roman battleline, during the umpire’s pre-battle talk. The figures deployed were 28 mm scale. Evidently, most of the Romans were plastic while the army of King Pyrrhus was metal. The figures were nicely painted. I overheard a part of the discussion about shield transfers and asked a question or two about using broom bristles for pikes. Although this is a “wide shot,” one can see the two elephants on the model field as well as one of the Roman anti-elephant wagons. 

Picture 2 — A closer look at the Pyrrhic left wing, showing the Bad Horse and Javelin Cavalry as well as the elephant model which, if memory serves, enjoyed a number of successes against the Roman right wing.

Picture 3 — Both armies are advancing. This snapshot was taken over the Pyrrhic right and Roman left, the position where I spent most of the scenario. The other anti-elephant wagon can be seen, along with its Battle Card. Will, who commanded the Pyrrhic right, seemed a little hesitant to engage. Joe, commanding the Roman left, was plagued by poor command rolls, but still managed to force Will to “dance to his tune.” 

Picture 4 — A close up of the action on the Roman left, showing the collision between the opposing formations. One can also see the “crunch” in the center between the lines of Roman legionaries and enemy pikemen. 

Picture 5 — A general view of the developing battle. The Roman right has not done well. I believe it was demoralized or very close to that point when this picture was taken. The center of the field was witness to many pushing and shoving matches between the legionaries and the pikemen. The Roman left wing, under the capable command of Joe, has turned the tide against Will and his formations. The elephant is in trouble, and the Pyrrhic cavalry have been roughly treated. In fact, Pyrrhus sent a stand of Knights from his reserve galloping over to support his hard-pressed right wing units. 

That chilly, damp and dreary Saturday afternoon, with Asculum still very much on my mind, I decided to do some additional “research.” [7] In fact, I even toyed with the idea of staging my own version of the historical battle. Unfortunately, as with the previously described attempt to “rekindle the sacred flame of wargaming interest,” this idea did not come to fruition. I would not refight Asculum using my functional as well as simple method of employing colored counters instead of traditional miniatures on my tabletop. 

On the positive side of this figurative coin or dark-clouds-without-an-apparent-silver-lining situation, it appears that the larger hobby, at least with regard to the state of HMGS-Midwest and the popularity of LITTLE WARS, seems to be doing very well. Paraphrasing the few paragraphs written by Kevin Cabal, the current President of HMGS-Midwest, and found at the bottom of page 5 of the slim program booklet, “Growth is being observed, is taking place on many levels. New stores are opening and old ones are expanding; attendance at the convention is increasing, and smaller events are showing up on the radar.” In short, despite the mysterious, rather sudden and disappointing coma-like condition of my level of interest, the overall state or general health of the hobby, at least as indicated by this quote and the crowds seen on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, seems rather robust. Then again, a closer as well as perhaps critical or cynical look at the demographic composition of the attendees strongly suggests that the vast majority would fit into or identify with a “single category” of gender, age, race as well as, perhaps, educational and or occupational background.   

Before I turn my attention back to the various photos selected for this post, a line or three or four about my comparatively poor history with LITTLE WARS. 

It would be fair to comment that I have not been a “very good soldier.” Looking over the long record of LITTLE WARS, [8] as of today, I see that I have programs from 12 of the events and pictures from three of the conventions. I went to my first LITTLE WARS in 2000, when I was 35 and still trying to make a name for myself, still trying to figure things out. [9] While I have had the pleasure and privilege of playing in a number of convention wargames over the years, [10] my role at these annual events has been more often that of an observer or visitor rather than an  active participant. I have never offered to run a game at LITTLE WARS. (This effort would be quite contrary to my practice of and preference for solo wargaming, and I cannot imagine my color counters being accepted by the passersby.) I have never set aside a substantial amount of funds (say 100 to 200 US dollars) for specific use, nor have I spent a great amount of money at these conventions. Another “black mark” or demerit against me would be the admission that I have never bothered to become a member of HMGS-Midwest. [11] In summary, I guess this post (sections of it as opposed to all of it, and I would hope not the included pictures) needs to be taken with a rather large grain of salt. [12] Anyhow, to get back to the visual record, or at least the one that I recorded and then reviewed and then prepared for possible wider consumption as well as comment. 

Picture 6 — Shifting from ancient warfare on land to ancient warfare on the water, this scenario featuring model triremes and crew figures caught my attention. The rules looked fairly complicated, given the “stat page” and pieces used to monitor the condition of each naval vessel.

Picture 7 — A closer view of the “stat page” or “sheet” used to track the condition of each ship. I did not inquire about the rules, nor did I make a point to come back and watch a turn being played, but again, my guess is that this was a fairly complicated wargame.  

Picture 8 — The table identifier and small standup poster showing what rules were being used for this smaller in scale as well as much larger ancient naval wargame.  

Picture 9 — Looking down at a portion of the opposing fleets before the start of this large ancient naval battle. 

Picture 10 — My guess is that this was a scenario set in the Middle East during the late 60s or early 70s. Evidently, it was a Flames of War or Team Yankee-based wargame. The terrain looked pretty good, in my opinion.

Picture 11 — A close up of some of the tanks sitting on this tabletop. I am not sure of the nomenclature or nationality, but they certainly looked realistic and blended in well with the larger terrain picture. 

Picture 12 — Another view of the tabletop, showing the prepared defenses of what I am guessing is an Israeli force. The “deployment” of laminated battle or unit cards strongly suggests that this is a modern scenario, more Team Yankee than anything else. Of course, I could be completely mistaken. Although I found the set up worthy of a few photos, I have no interest in this period or this type of wargame/wargaming.

Picture 13 — On a series of smaller tables, outside of the main game room (in the corners of the lobbies of the hotel complex), there was, I think, a Team Yankee tournament. This photo shows, I think, some modern Soviet and or UK AFVs moving around a built-up area.

Picture 14 — On another smallish tabletop, I noticed these modern French infantry units in a box formation. 

Picture 15 — Traveling back to the later nineteenth century and to different geographical region, I could not help but be impressed by this Zulu War display. The model of Rorke’s Drift was excellent. The verdant teddy bear fur was also excellent. From what I was able to gather, the rules employed were The Sword & The Flame. There were two umpires present. One of the gentleman was dressed as Lieutenant Bromhead, I think. Or maybe he was supposed to be Lieutenant Chard? 

Picture 16 — These dozen Zulus represented the riflemen or snipers on the higher ground overlooking the British outpost. The figures and terrain were, again, impressive. 

Picture 17 — Bands or “regiments” of Zulus forming up to launch the first of many attacks on the improvised defenses of the severely outnumbered British garrison. 

Picture 18 — Another look at the visually attractive model of Rorke’s Drift and its red-coated defenders. I regret not making more visits to this game. I regret not making a point to see how a turn or two played. Based on the look of the British set up, it appears that they do not have sufficient numbers to man the mealie bag barricade.  

Picture 19 — Evidently, this chariot racing game was advertised or listed as “Ben Hurt.” The miniature model of the “racetrack” was very, very good. Due to my short attention span and tendency to wander, I did not ask or learn anything about the rules employed. Given the laminated reference sheets and variety of playing aids, my guess is that the rules were somewhat complex. The presence of four chariot teams on the course made me wonder if playing this game was as exciting as watching Charlton Heston as he competed against his former childhood friend on the large screen.  

Picture 20 — A close up of the architecture of this impressive model. One can almost hear the crowd noise. One can almost hear the vulgar Latin phrases being used as well as snippets of perhaps more civil conversations.  

Picture 21 — These very attractive wooden ships crewed by iron men did not fail to capture my attention. I am not sure of the scale (1/1200th?) or of the rules used, but the scenario was set in the Mediterranean, circa 1808. The clear plastic bases or movement stands for the deployed models were impressive as well, at least to me, a non-traditional historical wargamer who prefers dry land to salt water and waves.

Picture 22 — Another photo of the wooden ships and iron men, this one showing a part of the British squadron or fleet. The detail and painting on these various ships was terrific, from the smaller row boats to the rigging to the various standards. 

Picture 23 — Moving forward just over 100 years and switching from the sea to the sky, this presentation caught my attention and impressed as well, but for different reasons. The “battlefield” was well done; the airplane models were excellent, and the inclusion of great cotton clouds was another nice touch. Looking at this selected picture again, I was reminded of watching “The Blue Max” many years ago. More recently, I recall there was a brief scene of aerial combat in the film “1917.” 

Picture 24 — A second snapshot of this participation game. It appears rather evident that the British plane and pilot are in serious trouble.   

Picture 25 — Each pilot flying in this scenario “operated” his plane via a control panel. Evidently, the laminated card provided the stats of the specific aircraft, while the “dashboard” provided a visual reference to the current status of the plane. I am not sure what purpose the black box served. I think the dowels and other markers in the plastic box were used to mark or track the plane’s condition during the air-to-air engagement. This appeared to be a quite popular game/table. I believe it has been presented at a number of LITTLE WARS and has always done rather well.  

Picture 26 — Staying in the same geographical region but going back in time about a century, this 54 mm Napoleonic presentation was different and impressive. The “big” man can be seen on his horse in the center of the frame. Evidently, this scenario saw Napoleon leading his infantry in an attack on one of the chateaux at Waterloo.

Picture 27 — Here is the objective of the French advance/attack. The umpire is in the process of selecting the British troops from their plastic storage bins. The model of the building and associated grounds was well done, I thought, if perhaps not to exact scale.

I believe Lieutenant Sharpe was present along with other men of the 95th Rifles. Not returning to check on this game and watch a turn or two adds to the length of my already long list of regrets for LITTLE WARS 2023. 

Picture 28 — Staying with Napoleonics but going to the other end of the figure scale spectrum, here is a photo of the French II Corps for a reconstruction of the Battle of Ligny. These “figures” are 2 mm, I think, and the battalions of each brigade are represented or appear to be represented in line, column, or square formations depending on the need or situation. There are also artillery batteries as well as command stands for these French troops.   

Picture 29 — This photo shows a portion of the Ligny tabletop or board. I believe the village for which the contest is named is in the upper left corner of the frame. Roads, streams, farms and villages, and the rolling landscape are discernible. The very small formations can also be seen moving and engaging across the model field. It occurs to me that a player-general would benefit from having a jewelers glass or perhaps one of those magnifying lamps used for painting 6 mm figures when participating in this interesting take on the historical battle of June 1815. 

Picture 30 — A brief chat with one the participant’s (perhaps he was one of the umpires) informed that this WW2 battle was a grand scale scenario. Evidently, the models represented battalion-size or strength units and the ground scale was 3 inches equalled 1 mile. Apparently, the rules were a hybrid of Volley & Bayonet and Command Decision. Apparently, there were quite a few markers that could be used to indicate the status of this battalion or that battalion. (Seeing this made me think about my first experiences with miniature wargaming. We played WW2 games using unpainted Airfix models and plastic soldiers from those small boxes that contained 36-48 pieces. To be certain, our games and battles looked nothing like this.) 

Picture 31 — Staying on European soil, this photo takes us back to the mid eighteenth century and a SYW contest between Austrians and Prussians in the winter. These are 15 mm figures. I am not sure what specific battle it was or what rules were used to refight it.  Upon closer inspection, I noted the grey beads on a number of formations. I am not sure what this bead represented. My guess is that it was not an indicator of casualties. 

Picture 32 — Another view of the same wintry SYW engagement. Again, the “mysterious” grey beads are evident. Evidently, playing cards were also used in some capacity. 

Picture 33 — Moving again, both geographically and chronologically, I stumbled upon a very large scenario using 54 mm figures and many pieces of excellent terrain. This first of approximately a dozen photos captures just a corner of the set up for a refight of the attack on Khartoum. 

Picture 34 — Here is another view of the multi-tabletop display. This section or sector of the field held the final part of the city. In the background, one can see the river as well as one of the steamboats used by the British and their supporting troops. 

Picture 35 — Just one photo of the many formations of Fuzzi Wuzzis. The 10-warrior movement trays (unit strength of 40 or 50, apparently) were drawn up in columns or masses. As these fighting men were attacking a city protected by substantial walls, they carried ladders with them.  

Picture 36 — On reflection, I should have started this section of the photographic review with this picture. This view shows two of the three large tables employed for the refight. Interestingly, in the background, another large table can be seen. This one was covered by a lot of water. I did not investigate further to see what kind of game this large body of water was used for, and I did not ask about rules either. 

Picture 37 — One of the many model boats used by the British and their friends to try and fight off the Mahdi.  

Picture 38 — A large poster advertising the wargame did not fail to draw attention. The old movie poster was soon forgotten once the scale and scope of the model battlefield came into view. 

Picture 39 — A close up photo of some sailors manning a hasty barricade. They have a machine gun as well, so they should be OK when the Fuzzi Wuzzis charge. 

Picture 40 — Another view showing the length and breadth of this tabletop and scenario. On the nearest table, a sliver of the tribesmen can be seen. They had plenty of friends, that’s for certain. However, they did have to cross plenty of open space under the attention of the soldiers manning the walls.   

Picture 41 — The photo speaks for itself, I think. I count five ladders placed. I see desperate defenders, plenty of attackers, and quite a few casualties. I am not sure if these figures were lead or plastic or a mix of both types. If I were an umpire or player-general, I would be concerned about handling them during the wargame and laying them down as KIA. I am guessing that all the figures had a healthy coat of protective finish. 

Picture 42 — It appears that the main or one of the major assaults has gone in. Many ladders are up and many warriors wait for a chance to climb and attack. It also appears that these warriors are paying a very heavy price for their efforts. 

Picture 43 — The Mahdi had a naval contingent as well. Their artillery was not as heavy as the British guns, however. 

Picture 44 — This is another photo of the desperate action captured in Picture 42. The point of view is from the other side of the native assault, and it appears quite evident that many more Fuzzi Wuzzis have fallen to the cannon and rifle fire of the Imperial troops.  

Picture 45 — My lanyard identified me as a “shopper.” On both days I attended, I made brief circuits of the trader stands/vendor areas, trying to take in all the new as well as old and familiar products that were on display. Being a member of The Society of Ancients, and having read several pieces about Commands & Colors ANCIENTS, I thought I would give the boxed set a closer look. In the dictionary, under the phrase “sticker shock,” there is a picture of my face (not at all flattering) when I saw the price of this well-reviewed boardgame. 

Picture 46 — Years ago, I used to read about the wars of Napoleon as well as about the War Between the States. Years ago, I used to play Horse & Musket period games. This new development (at least to me) of 13-14 mm plastic figures promoted by WARLORD Games certainly caught my attention. I wondered if they might, eventually, produce something similar for the Ancient and Medieval periods. (The April 2023 issue of WI included a sprue of Pike & Shotte Epic Battles Cavalry. I counted 17 mounted figures, two pieces of artillery and crew, and around 10 figures carrying firearms. As I have no great interest in the period and have no talent with regard to preparing and painting figures, the sprue will remain untouched and will be stored in a hanging file folder, along with the program booklet, the issue of WI, and Issue 133 of “Knights of the Dinner Table” magazine, which was given to me when my convention registration was completed.)

To be certain, this collection of 46 pictures and captions is a lot to digest, enjoy, and examine. Here’s hoping that the reduced platoon of followers of this blog and what I imagine won’t be more than a handful of additional readers find at least a quarter or maybe a third of these selections and their explanations worthwhile. Admittedly, this post or “review” of LITTLE WARS 2023 is late and somewhat redundant. 

As might be expected, other attendees and participants have already posted about their experiences at and impressions of this annual multi-day gathering. As of this typing, May 02, readers might want to take a look at TMP, specifically this link: http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=569721. With regard to other TMP posts about the recently concluded convention, if you have not found and scrolled through them yet, please see http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=569541 and http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=569724. Typing “review of little wars 2023” into a search engine took me to a page where a video review (almost 11 minutes long) produced by ‘Centurion’ offered another perspective of the annual gathering of like-minded enthusiasts and individuals.

In the very hastily scribbled outline for what may well be a final post or more certainly, the last post for an indeterminate stretch of time, I had a few notes about discussing the content of the April 2023 issue of WARGAMES illustrated®.  I thought about comparing and contrasting the look and content of this issue to older issues that I have in my collection. I also considered weighing in on the highlighted discussion between John Stallard , Rick Priestley, Andy Callan, and Pete Brown about “game changing developments in the hobby,” as well as what the future (10 years or so from now) might bring. The transcribed and illustrated conversation was interesting, but it seems to me that this is a very open to interpretation as well as potentially fraught topic. For instance, I recalled reading Henry Hyde’s Compendium and enjoying his well researched history of the development of the hobby. Admitting a certain degree of bias, I wondered why the appearance and long-life of Slingshot, The Journal of the Society of Ancients, was not mentioned as a “game changer.” Additionally, it seems quite apparent that blogging has had an impact on the hobby. However, I am not sure if it would qualify as a “game changer.” As I stated above, this outline was sketched in a hurry; there were cross outs, asterisks, additional ideas, and arrows indicating changes in order, etc.

I also had a note or two about comparing and contrasting LITTLE WARS to SALUTE. Looking at the blogs of Big Lee and Von Peter as well as the discussion on TMP, it seems evident that SALUTE was a much larger as well as single-day show. [13] I was not at SALUTE, obviously, but from what I was able to find out and see, it appeared that the lighting was better and that even with thousands of attendees and customers, there was not the cramped or crowded feel or even a noise-level concern that I experienced while watching the refight of Asculum or while taking impromptu tours of the dedicated game room to see what other people were doing. If pressed to offer an opinion or vote, I would comment that the games at SALUTE were better in terms of look, quality, and variety than those on display at LITTLE WARS. 

If this post was one of my usual battle reports, this final section would be dedicated to commentary, critique, and evaluation of how the non-traditional wargame played, how the rules performed, and how the rule amendments functioned. If this post was about the refight of some historical battle, then this last section would consider how closely my reconstruction matched the written but not always fully accepted record. But this post is not a battle report. Instead, it is a rather heavy-on-the-pictures “review” of LITTLE WARS 2023. It is also, due the aforementioned plummeting lack of interest, very likely a “last hurrah.”

A word of sincere thanks, then, is in order to the followers of this blog for their interest and support. It is curious though, that only four of you gentlemen took the time to comment on material published over the short lifespan of this blog. A word of thanks too, to those random readers who clicked on the various links to reports and other writings posted in a number of online forums, as well as to those who did not opt to follow, but took the time to offer a comment, ask a question, or even take issue with my approach to the hobby. 

Looking back to my early days of writing for Hal at MWAN (and even to the years before that, when it could be remarked that I wargamed, albeit naively, for the innocent and simple enjoyment of it), to the more recent period of contributing articles to Slingshot, and then to the development of this small blog, all things considered, I think it has been a pretty good run. 

I will draw this post to an end by raising a figurative glass or pint and offering this unrehearsed toast: “May you enjoy good health, good friends, good times, and especially, good gaming. May your dice always perform well, and may your lead mountain never be more than three feet high. Cheers.” 

Notes

1. Hal Thinglum was kind enough to accept and then publish “A Question of Scale, Another of Representation,” an article in which I attempted to explain my approach to the hobby in addition to considering some rule questions, in the September/October 1993 issue of MWAN (Midwest Wargamer’s Association Newsletter). This was my first accepted piece of wargaming writing. I would go on to have many more, fortunately, though a “career” of writing about wargaming was never planned. At the risk of extending this endnote, I had been wargaming, in one form or another, for about 15 years prior to this “historical event.”
2. For additional information about LITTLE WARS 2023 as well as HMGS-Midwest, I encourage readers to take a few minutes to explore the following links: https://tabletop.events/conventions/little-wars-2023, https://tabletop.events/conventions/little-wars-2023/schedule#?query=, and https://hmgsmidwest.com/.
3. To continue with the mixed metaphors, unless there is a medical miracle and unless some king of lightning strikes, it appears that the March 19 “Ghulams vs Skoutatoi” post will be my last wargame report. 
4. If memory serves, I took about 180 photographs. These were downloaded from my digital camera (I had my phone with me, but did not use it) to my ancient MacBook and then reviewed and selected. The chosen photos were transferred to a memory stick and then downloaded to my “newer” desktop Mac. These nearly four dozen photographs were then exported as PNG files and sorted into file folders. Captions were then drafted and revised for each picture. 
5. While I do not hold a doctorate degree in any specific field of historical study, I like to think that I am fairly well read if not familiar with military history. This three-word phrase or command, is attributed to an admiral on the Union side during the American Civil War. (Please see https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2014/july/damn-torpedoes.) Admittedly, I did not spend a great deal of time (or money for that matter) at LITTLE WARS 2023, but in my wandering around the gaming area or room over the course of Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, I did not see a reconstruction of this nineteenth century engagement. Further, I did not see any scenarios involving German submarines and allied convoys (for either World War). A brief review of the electronic list of events (I prefer the older format of having the games cataloged in the Convention program booklet) did not result in many matches or near-matches to this theme. Of course, I could be mistaken. 
6. For those ancient wargamers not yet familiar with the TRIUMPH! rules, I would strongly encourage you to check out the wide variety of videos/tutorials available on the You Tube channel. Just type “triumph wargame you tube” into your search engine, and you should be able to find the channel easily. In addition to a number of rule explanations, there are also several videos of games or scenarios, which I think are very helpful. 
7. I was not completely unaware or unfamiliar with this ancient battle, but again, I was no recognized expert. First, I searched the Slingshot Index and found Chris Winter’s FOG (Field of Glory) report in the July 2011 issue. The Internet, as might be expected, provided even more material for consideration and review. Please see the following links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Asculum; https://www.wargame-scenarios.com/items/show/14641; http://www.blmablog.com/2019/06/battle-of-asculum-279bc.html; http://devonwargames.blogspot.com/2017/08/battle-of-asculum-279bc-augustus-to.html; http://www.stephan-berry.de/sby_dio10.pdf, and https://wargames.richardevers.nl/asculumscenario.htm. 
8. According to the chronology provided on page 16 of the 2023 program, the first LITTLE WARS Convention was held in 1984 at Triton College. One of the several directors of that debut event was Todd Fisher. (Aside as well as personal anecdote: Many years ago, I had the good fortune to meet and converse with Todd at his store, The Emperor’s Headquarters. As I recall, the discussion was mainly about Napoleonics. The accomplished and learned gentleman tried to interest me in purchasing a new set of rules. I respectfully declined. Update: EHQ is now closed, unfortunately. I don’t know exactly when or why. A search for information about Todd Fisher was inconclusive. I found something about a Napoleonic Society on Facebook, but . . .) Anyway, in its nearly four decades of existence, LITTLE WARS has been held in nine different locations. Obviously, the 2020 Convention was not held due to the COVID pandemic. 
9. If I frame this record of attendance or participation in terms of a baseball, then, according to my calculation, my “batting average” is .307. Though I am not a fan of the sport, I know enough to remark that this is a decent “average.” To be certain, this “hitting record” pales in comparison to those grognards, stalwarts, and veterans who have been to many more LITTLE WARS and who have wargamed and made purchases each day of the multiple-day event. 
10. The “simple but not simple-minded” wargames hosted by George Knapp were perennial favorites. The admired and respected gentleman was not at this year’s convention.
11. To be sure, this does not count as an excuse or rationalization, but I cannot help but think of that great line attributed to Groucho Marx. Please see https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/04/18/groucho-resigns/. 
12. For those who may not be familiar with this saying, please see https://www.rd.com/article/take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt/. (This end note typed with the dawning realization that I might very well be using too many end notes.) 
13. For the impressions, thoughts, and pictures from Big Lee, please see: http://www.blmablog.com/2023/04/review-of-salute-2023.html and http://www.blmablog.com/2023/04/salute-2023-pictorial-review-of-games.html. There is also a “Director’s Cut” which runs longer, of course. Additional perspectives and You Tube videos of this excellent UK show can be found here: https://vonpeterhimself.wordpress.com/2023/04/26/salute-2023-errr-50-and-plastic/. The TMP discussion is at http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=569506.