HOT Program

The Origins Game Fair Historical Origins Team (HOT) Program is bigger and better than ever! Every year, GAMA brings you some of the best names and games in Historical Miniatures, and this year is no exception. The HOT program, staffed by the Great Lakes Chapter of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, brings you top-notch games from Ancient Warfare eras right up to the Modern Conflicts of today, and everything in between. To further cater to Historical gamers, GAMA once again offers the HOT Ribbon for attendees, saving you time in line and money too. The HOT Ribbon lets you play as many Historical Miniatures games as you want for one price ($16). Any Event that is listed as a HOT Event is included in this program.

Here are just some details about the HOT program this year:

Brian Carnes - “Sailpower: Fun scale combat in the Age of Sail”. Brian brings his big beautiful15mm scale ships to Origins again this year to test the wind. Whether you’re a Gentleman Captain or a Rogue Privateer, he’ll have a command waiting for you! Thursday at 1200 and 1800, Friday at 0900 and 1800, Saturday at 0900 and 1800.

James Morrison - “WW1-Cambrai-A Tide of Iron”, “Kaiserslacht-The Last German Offensive”. James brings some World War one action to our tables with scenarios of the first use of combined arms using armor in history, and of the last major German attack of “The Great War”.  Saturday at 1000 and 1700. He will also be running a World War Two game, “Battleground WW2, a town in France”, pitting U.S. forces against German troops in July 1944. Thursday at 1200.

Chris Velas - “Islandlwana 1879”. The British have just invaded Zululand. Lord Chelmsford has just divided his column. He leaves Lt.Col. Pulleine in charge at Mt.Isandlwana base camp with 1,300 troops. The Zulus are nearer than they know with more than 20,000 warriors! Chris presents this famous “Guns Vs. Spears” engagement Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1800.

Rick Schirtzinger - “Aerodrome Ace of Aces”. Yes, the very popular “airplane game” is back again! Using WWI models, players test their strategy and skill at shooting down their opponents while avoiding the same fate.  Easy, fast-playing rules.  Little reliance on dice makes players responsible for their own success or failure.  Players can win replica WWI medals while earning promotions and campaign bling!  New players are welcome. Rick and his crew will be flying their Sopwiths and Fokkers numerous times Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

John T. Cusak - “Pirates-NO QUARTER GIVEN”, “Victory at Sea-The Battle of Cape Esperance”,  “Battleground WW2-Tanker’s Challenge”, “Pirates of the Bayou”.  John and his Battlefield Hobbies gang will be hosting these great events that feature some of the best figures and terrain to be found anywhere, and fast and furious action at all times! Various times Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Gordon Andrews - “55 Days at Peking”, “Grey Sausage Down”, “The Battle of Suakin”. Gordon brings his award-winning Colonial games with the Cinematic flavor to our Hall for your entertainment. Maxims, stink pot grenades and shouts of “Shah!, Shah!” for everyone! “55 Days” runs at 1200, “Suakin” at 1300, “Grey Sausage Down” at 1400 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Scott Caldwell - “MicroArmor: Operation Dual-Eagle, the Modern Invasion of Iran”. Modern, what if, amphibious American Marine and Polish heleborn invasion of Bandar Abbas Naval Base in Hormozgan Iran hosted by Scott Caldwell.   Features more than 1000 miniatures and 16 1/300 naval ships.  Grand prize for all six sessions. Friday at 0900, 1200, 1900, Saturday at 0900, 1200, 1900.

Brad Ruppel - “Battle of Borisov: Dec.6, 1812”, “Battle of Usha: Dec.2, 1812”. Veteran GM Brad Ruppel will run these Napoleonic Events depicting the “nightmare in the snow” that was the Russian Campaign in 1812, using Volley and Bayonet. Thursday at 1400, Friday at 0800.

Nick Gillispie - “Battle of Gettysburg, Fate of a nation”. Come fight the Battle of Gettysburg in 15mm. This game will be run for 3 days at Origins to recreate the historic three day Battle of Gettysburg. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1100.

Derek Johns - “Battle of Metemma 1897”. Dervish vs Rebels.  An infuriated Khalifa tells a Dervish Army to erase Metemma from the face of the earth. Pillage and burn! All rebels must die! Derek brings Colonial fun to Origins using “Sons of the Desert” rules. Thursday at 1800, Friday at 1000.

 The Duke Seifried Experience
“Over Seventy Years of Miniatures”

Seventy-three years and going strong!  Yet again Duke Seifried, the master showman of Miniatures Gaming brings his “Tour de force” of miniature events to Origins 2008. This year’s experience will feature five magnificent games with over 15 stunning scenario events. Duke has dazzled gamers at gaming conventions for decades with splendid museum-quality scenery, fabulously painted miniatures, and exciting games. Now, for 2008, Duke’s offering will feature five of the best games from his own personal collection including one designed to match this year’s “Heroes” theme.

Historical, Fantasy, and alternate history aficionados will not want to miss this! Origins is the only major convention this year where you can see Duke’s spectacular presentations. Duke has more than just massive miniature spectacles- Duke has also assembled a team of celebrity Game Masters from across the USA!

Warlord of Mars
Warlord of Mars takes us to the Red Planet and pulp adventuring in four scenarios found in the stories of this cult interest aptly named:  Seeking the Lost Princess, Valley of Dor, Helium under Siege, and Save the Red Planet.  Most intriguing terrain and airships operating in the red sand of this fabled Victorian approach to Sci-Fi!  All four scenarios operate simultaneously and players move from one to the other like the cycle in the Ring of the Nibelungen Wagner operas.

This is your opportunity to experience pulp adventure with a Hero of amazing proportions. His name is John Carter! Meet the Warhoons and Tars Tarkus, Jeddek of Thark representing the gigantic Green Men of Mars. You’ll also encounter The Therns, evil White Priestly caste living in the Valley of Dor with the Great White Apes and the sickening Plant Men. Visit stately Helium, center of the Empire of Tardos Mors and his lovely daughter, the “incomparable” Dejah Thoris (who’s always lost or kidnapped) under attack by a rival state. Swamps where live synthetic men not to mention the Kaldanes and Rykors with separate heads and bodies.  As if that’s not enough, every time you turn around the evil Black Pirates from the South Pole are assaulting you from their airships.  We must also mention the Yellow Men of the North Pole (Okar) and a bunch more of strange and unusual types.  

If you can get through this mess you are a real adventurer! A Heroes theme event. It will take a whole team to gamemaster this multiple table/scenario extravaganza! GMed by Frank Chadwick, Scott Hansen, Brian Beal, Bruce Weil and Duke Seifried.

Ancient Rome - Rome and the Barbarians
The 1st Century Augustinian Legions were tough adversaries. The Cohort has become the tactical element and when they can form up properly they are unbeatable. The forests of the Germanic areas cause great problems to these Legions as they get strung out while traversing from point to point. The roads are not autobahns. Wily Barbarian leaders have come to realize there is a way to defeat these foreigners by using the terrain...especially the wooded terrain. Do we need to say more? GM’s for this game will be Brian Beal and Scott Hansen. Rules for this slugfest will be Uncle Duke’s “Rome and the Barbarians.

Napoleonettes - Austrian Campaign of 1809
The Battles of Aspern-Essling and especially Wagram offered an unwelcome reality check to the previously victorious Napoleon and his Marshals. The Austrians are beginning to get it together and give a near run episode in 1809 to the Napoleonic genius. The Napoleonette rules provide a pageantry and look of the Napoleonic Battlefield not usually found in a game that plays easily and quickly.  

GM’s for this game are Jim Getz and Roger Gallagher. Rules are Napoleonette by Jim Getz and Uncle Duke.

Southern Africa 1879 - Day of the Zulu
Chelmsford and friends get a surprising shock as the Zulus deliver a crushing attack on their encampment at the base of the great mountain, Isandlwana...and as if that’s not enough, carry on the carnage to a mission station named Rorke’s Drift about four miles away. These “savages” provide a worthy adversary to the British who assume they are superior to anyone and anything.  It’s a typical Victorian attitude that will be sorely tested on January 22nd not only at these battles but in the South with Pearson attempting to cross the Inyezane River and Buller up in the North on Hlobane Hill.

Our game will deal with the twins: Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift!  The full affair of all four games is a whole show in itself. GM’s for this game will be Frank Chadwick and Duke Seifried alternating with Brian Beal and Scott Hansen or Bruce Weil. Rules are Zulu! Adventure Game extrapolated from Uncle Duke’s Lore & Legend Interactive Game Frame.

American Revolution 1781
By 1781 the Patriots had an almost perfect record of losing; and things weren’t very propitious for this fledgling confederacy of states. The Southern Campaign provided a bright spot due to the frontier savvy of one man: Dan’l Morgan, “the Old Waggoner”. He had a fresh idea and he knew the men. He had lots of rifles and good shots but few bayonets.  His concept turned around the way the Patriots fought and gave new hope.  This series will feature the battles of The Cowpens, Guildford Courthouse, and Eutaw Springs. They are well-matched affairs (if you know his secret plan) and provide a really interesting window onto the American Revolution.  Each day (Thurs/Fri/Sat) we will refight one of these battles and determine if there is still extant the spirit of Dan’l Morgan!

GM’s for this game are Duke Seifried and Bruce Weil.  Rules are Duke’s “Liberty of Death”.

Everybody plays, all the time - Duke’s personal promise for his fun-packed full-participation games!