Last week saw our second-annual SDHistCon East event at the U.S. Naval War College Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. Over four days, attendees got to tour nearby historical sites (including Fort Adams, the International Museum of World War II, and the USS Massachusetts), meet and play games with prominent designers including Geoff Engelstein, Volko Ruhnke, Mark Herman, Mark McLaughlin (seen seated at top above showing off his personal copy of his The Napoleonic Wars, with his miniatures), and many more, tour the remarkable history of the museum and the Naval War College, demo prototypes of upcoming games, play published games, and more. There was even a visit from Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro! Here are a few of the highlights:
More from tour day at the @SDHistCon East at the @USNWCMuseum we tour the largest personal collection of WW2 artifacts outside Europe at The International Museum of World War II. An extraordinary collection of personal items with incredible stories. pic.twitter.com/eiPbJmopuX
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 10, 2024
At The International Museum of World War II in Wakefield RI. Amazing collection presenting a very personal story for each piece. Just took a wonderful tour and only scratched the surface. I’m sitting here watching @AndrewBucholtz and @Volko26 VR their chosen documentaries. Taking… pic.twitter.com/vKF2atltVl
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 8, 2024
Tour day at the @SDHistCon East at the @USNWCMuseum touring @FortAdamsTrust the largest fort in the US built in response to the War of 1812 incursions. @gengelstein @Volko26 @jeff_dreher @PratikMultani pic.twitter.com/cqoZpYrHik
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 10, 2024
Touring Fort Adams. It’s big enough to fit Forts Sumter, McHenry, and Ticonderoga inside. #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/2OgQLiaTXB
— SDHistCon (@SDHistCon) August 8, 2024
#SDHistConEast is in full swing! Live from the U.S. Naval War College Museum in Newport, RI. pic.twitter.com/yoCu4TMUKL
— SDHistCon (@SDHistCon) August 9, 2024
Lots of Friday gaming around @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast with Crisis: 1914, Imperial Struggle and a Battle of the Coral Sea miniatures game pic.twitter.com/Er0j6eR86W
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 10, 2024
Playtest of Chalice of Poison (the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988) hosted by designer @akarsb at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/lAV7SLwOW6
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 10, 2024
Playtest of Peace of Nicias hosted by designer by @markherman54 at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/Eg1oTVCq3o
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 10, 2024
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Playtest of FRUIT: United Fruit in Latin America 1900-1950 hosted by designer @Bublublock at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/9AqpG2apeY
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 10, 2024
Faces Saturday at @SDHistCon East at the @USNWCMuseum pic.twitter.com/gowXulqEPB
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 10, 2024
More from #SDHistConEast! pic.twitter.com/qozs9Gmfmx
— SDHistCon (@SDHistCon) August 10, 2024
And more faces from @SDHistCon East at the @USNWCMuseum pic.twitter.com/TAdkbqztbX
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 10, 2024
@SDHistCon Scenes from today’s Con: Napoleonic Wars, Henry!, Coast Watchers and Game of Thrones! Look at that schemer @josephnschmidt 👀. Thanks for teaching @Volko26 and @Bublublock 🙏 pic.twitter.com/7BATF4STJ0
— Jeff Dreher 🇺🇦 (@jeff_dreher) August 11, 2024
A couple shots of the many playtests of Coast Watchers from designer @Volko26 at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast (get your P500 @gmtgames order in here: https://t.co/CvLudpUV9N) pic.twitter.com/sOtepqLW6Y
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
Getting in a lot of great games at #SDHistConEast. A few: Watergate, Brave Little Belgium, Barracks Emperors, Henry. pic.twitter.com/DJUD1tFhbp
— Andrew Bucholtz (@AndrewBucholtz) August 10, 2024
Esteemed @SDHistCon co-founder @HBuchanan2 hosted a group of eager players over four simultaneous games of his South China Sea from @gmtgames on Saturday night at #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/E75geIAD3g
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
Playtest of Hell-Raisers in Kahawah County (West Virginia Mine War of 1912) run by @josephnschmidt (game by @MildaGames and @DearPaidiaic) at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/J64n5yXXke
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
Playtest of Blood & Treasure (government contractors bidding to extract profit from the US-Afghan War) run by designer @Bublublock at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast pic.twitter.com/c2WQUddrve
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
I had a great time, thanks and I look forward to the next Newport Con… https://t.co/LvjLnfNc5t
— Mark (@markherman54) August 11, 2024
Rebel Fury event at SD HistCon at the Naval War College museum. pic.twitter.com/nAuN1s2wjI
— Mark (@markherman54) August 10, 2024
Playtest of Henry: The Agincourt Campaign, 1415 run by designer @josephnschmidt at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast — get your @gmtgames P500 order in at https://t.co/NRfyUQGAWh pic.twitter.com/vRiKTzh1P9
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
Playtest of Epipolae: The Athenian Expedition in Sicily, 415-413 BCE
run by designer Jason Walonoski at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast — get your @gmtgames P500 preorder in here: https://t.co/drnxIga5wK pic.twitter.com/XEjAsWtsZ7— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
Wrapped up a wonderful weekend at @SDHistCon #SDHistConEast playing Liberty or Death with designer @HBuchanan2 hosting two simultaneous games pic.twitter.com/BNN8Turh1e
— Brooklyn Wargaming (@kimbervanry) August 11, 2024
2/n. War College, gaming and new friends… pic.twitter.com/XXSvXJZGu6
— Craig (@craig6968) August 13, 2024
Lots of events to report on from the recent @SDHistCon at the @USNWCMuseum including this gem from Chip Saltsman. Chip is the lead developer on the OCS series for @MultiManPub and was a joy to hang out with at the event. Chip gave a well attended discussion on the OCS system and… pic.twitter.com/25nwRJ2fZm
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 15, 2024
And capped off my con today with an epic game of Conquest and Consequence. My USA eventually won an economic victory. pic.twitter.com/IoIFtonKyr
— Andrew Bucholtz (@AndrewBucholtz) August 11, 2024
Highlights from the past few days at @SDHistCon East. Had a blast running
Day 1 – @WriteGameRead‘s Crisis: 1914
Day 2 – @ryanmheilman‘s Brave Little Belgium
Day 3 – @gengelstein and @markherman54‘s Versailles 1919.
And some behind the scenes footage of Con staff! pic.twitter.com/6GFe2Sdbg6— Jeff Dreher 🇺🇦 (@jeff_dreher) August 12, 2024
The Volko amazes yet again with the first public showing of his intelligence game Drachen (kite or dragon?) framed by the WW1 Battle of Verdun. All at the @SDHistCon at the @USNWCMuseum in Newport RI @Volko26 @gmtgames pic.twitter.com/kxe6QSJzHW
— Harold Buchanan (@HBuchanan2) August 16, 2024
This post will be long, but I have a lot to say about @SDHistCon East. I had an absolute blast at the US Naval War College over the last few days. It started with a tour of the USS Massachusetts battleship as well as other ships and then a “meet and greet” dinner, followed by a…
— Craig (@craig6968) August 12, 2024
Thanks to everyone from the museum, the @SDHistCon team, and all of the attendees for a tremendous #SDHistConEast! It was a blast! pic.twitter.com/QODdfBTTy7
— Andrew Bucholtz (@AndrewBucholtz) August 11, 2024
We appreciate everyone who came out to SDHistCon East 2024! We intend to return to Rhode Island next August, with dates for that announced in the new year. Before then, our next physical convention will be the annual Summit convention in San Diego, this Nov. 8-11. Badges there are on sale now and going quickly; go here if you want to secure your spot!
Gaming at the Naval War College Museum brings the wargaming experience to a whole new level. I will definitely be returning next year.