A typical miniature wargaming layout / diorama created by Scott Mingus of the Johnny Reb Gaming Society, an international wargaming association headquartered in York County. {Click to enlarge)
More than 1,200 military hobbyists / miniature wargamers packed the Eisenhower Inn and adjacent All-Star Sports Complex in Gettysburg this past weekend for the annual Fall-In! wargaming convention. The show features scores of miniature wargames from all periods of warfare, including the Civil War. A dealers' hall and flea market in the All-Star offer shoppers a wide variety of merchandise of interest, including historical books, paintings, art prints, collectible 54mm toy soldiers from such makers as Conte and Britains, miniature wargaming and military diorama accessories and figures, and other goodies.
Scott L. Mingus, Sr. was the featured keynote speaker at this year's Fall-In, presenting a PowerPoint talk on the Siege of Petersburg. The convention's theme was siege warfare through the ages, and many wargames were miniature depictions of famous sieges throughout military history.
In March, an even larger gaming convention, Cold Wars, will be held in Lancaster, PA at the Lancaster Host Resort, and in July comes the "mother of all wargaming conventions," Historicon. For much more information, dates, themes, locations, etc., please click on the website for the Historical Miniature Gaming Society's East chapter, the largest wargaming organization in North America.
A local wargaming club, the Susquehanna Historical Wargamers, meets here in York County every Monday night at the comic book store in East York. Games vary from Napoleonics to World War II. Chalfant Conley of Iron Ivan Games is the point of contact for this gaming group, which is open to the public. For more information on the hobby or on Iron Ivan Games, contact Chalfant.
Another view of a typical wargaming scenario, the Battle of Crampton's Gap on South Mountain in Maryland.
Hi, I've been an avid collector of plastic minatures, but never war games before, I've always soloed, i guess you could say. I was wondering if you could help me find a wargaming club in my area, I live in WIlliamsport Pennsylvania, I know there is several in Gettysburg, where I've learned of the activity, but I was hoping for a club closer to my home.
Thanks, Jon
Hi Jon!
The world's largest wargaming convention is held in Lancaster PA every year at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center on U.S. Route 30. It's a great way to take a deep dive into the hobby, and there are thousands of gamers present. The Historical Miniatures Gaming Association runs the show, and they should have access to the addresses of gamers and gaming groups near WIlliamsport. There is a gaming store in Williamsport known as the White Knight's Game Room; try them as well.
Allegheny Irregulars. POC is Tom Semian, 316 South Home Ave, Avalon, PA 15202, phone (412) 761-8794 with Email at LTsite@aol.com .
The Bunker – South Central Pa Wargaming Club. The Bunker hosts a variety of miniature games in the York/Harrisburg region on a monthly basis. Most games are held on weekends. Game notices are sent out by e-mail. POC Email capcop@ptd.net and Dale Zartman at pscpk9@gmail.com.
Bux-Mont Historical Gamers. POC in Bucks County, PA David Cochran at phone (215) 343-5094, and in Montgomery County, PA Bill Miller at phone (215) 368-6536 or Email Dick McFarland at morwood@erols.com . Has games in the northern and western suberubs of Philadelphia every Wednesday night.
Center City Gamers. POC John Desmond, 922 S. 49th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143,phone (215) 729-1561, Email jdesmond@bbs.cpcn.com .
Circle of Swords Gaming Guild. PO Box 2126, Butler, PA 16003, POC Chuck Schnurr (412) 226-0864.
Eastern PA Gaming Society. POC Bob Hranek (610) 265-1768, Email rhranek@comcast.net
Website at http://www.epgs.org. Meets 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at the Oxford Valley Mall, 2300 E.Linclon Hwy, Langhorne, PA. Community room at top of escalators, behind Zales.
Gettysburg Area Gamers. POC Bill Molyneaux, Gettysburg, Pa 17325. Home (717) 337-0839 or (717) 752- 6029. We meet every Thursday at 6:00 PM. 2nd POC: John Zabawa, 200 Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg, PA 17325, phone (717) 338-1800 Gettysburg Miniature Soldier Shop, Web http://www.gettysburggamers.com/. NEW INFO!
NEPA Table-Top Warlords, POC Kurtus A. Brown, 350 Griffin Pond Rd, Clarks Summit, PA. 18411-9722, phone (570) 586-3717 and Website at http://members.toast.net/jab/.
Northern Lancaster Wargamers, Lancaster, PA , POC see http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/NLWargamers/. We meet at Six Feet Under Games every Tuesday and Sunday as well as other players houses.
Pennsylvania Wargaming Militia. POC Roger Bos, 1145 2nd Ave, Berwick, PA 18603, phone (717) 752-7543 and Email anvminiatures1863@yahoo.com. Schedule: weekly meetings at Adventure Games, Dickson City, PA.
Reading Area Wargamers. POC Eric Feifer, 2 Holly Dr, Lancaster, PA 17603, phone (717) 872-7984, with Email at efeifer@comcast.net and Website at http://home.comcast.net/~efeifer/index.html.
Scorpion's Nest Tactical Gaming (SNTG), POC (Wolf) Paul V. Hromulak, Jr, PO Box 5211, Johnstown, PA 15904-5211, (814) 288-5728, Email thenest@scorpionsnest.com, Website http://www.scorpionsnest.com .
Susquehanna Historical Gamers, POC Chalfant Conley, Email: inferrotas@aol.com meeting every week at the Comic Store West on Route 30 in York, PA. House of Disposable Heros/Coffin for Seven Brothers WWII, and also run 15mm Napoleonics, 25 mm FIW, Fighting Sail, 15 mm ACW, Chipco Ancients and more.