I am not one of them.
And that's why I like NJ Con in Edison, NJ, where I've just spent two relaxing, enjoyable days. Plenty of parking, nice helpful staff, modest but interesting dealers room, and past time with good company. Nice convention site with room to grow.
NJ Con recaptures the simple fun of playing miniatures as was done in the Golden Age - there's really No School like Old School.
The NJ Expo Center is located at the end of a quiet business park, near the nexus of three major highways (NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and I-287), making it easily accessible for drives from north, west and south.
Minor downside - the convention center is about 1/2 a mile from the nearest hotel. That's not much of a problem in my opinion. Another debatable downside is there was no integral catering, but there was a BBQ van with some very good hot sandwiches which was there from about 3:00 PM to about 8:00 PM. And being Edison there are plenty of restaurants, some of which will not be Indian.
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| NJ Con Vendors Room - photo courtesy John R. |
(Edit 15 June): Thanks to John R., there are now pictures:
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| NJ Con Game room - photo courtesy John R. |
For a touch of controversy, I understand there are those in HMGS who have dubbed NJ Con the "Anti-Historicon" - I find this difficult to credit. The first NJ Con was run at Fort Dix in 2008 - well before the current Historicon move and unfortunate fallout. With a full month (and attendant pay-cycles) between event dates NJ Con is not in direct competition with H-Con - it is, at best, a soft or indirect competitor.
That said, the success and inevitable growth of NJ Con does prove that there is life outside of HMGS for the miniature wargame hobby - something which the current HMGS leadership might not want to hear....Ω
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