"3 Cheers for the HAWKs" Topic

Duncan et al,

Once again you guys have outdone yourselves. Not only did you provide excellent games in your room at Historicon again but your program to provide kids with everything needed to start gaming on their own is genius. Your club has done more to promote this game to kids than any other initiative I have ever seen and you are to be commended for it.

In an age where more and more games listed in the PEL say must be 14 or over to play you have thrown open your doors and said you and your young player are more than welcome here. You have always made my son feel welcome every time we came through your room. Your idea to keep two tables setting up and breaking down in sync so a young gamer can slide easily from one game to another worked flawlessly. My son was able to play 3 games in a row and each game was seemingly better than the last. You even have young GM's coming through the ranks (Sam you did a great job!).

The icing on the cake however, and I am not ashamed to admit it put a lump in my throat, was when you awarded him a box with 2 complete painted armies, terrain, dice, rulers and rules. Now I have been pushing my son towards the precipice of wargaming for some time. But you guys just put wheels on him and shoved him over the edge. Not only have you made him a gamer but you have also created one in his best friend who was called over last night to play with the new toys. Not only did they play but they spent an hour online looking up the 7 years war to find out more about the armies they had.

On the ride home from the con he finally succumbed and fell asleep in the back of the car. But I know in my heart he was replaying every roll, every "tactical decision" he had made in 8 hours of the best gaming he and I have ever experienced. I have always counted the HAWK's as friends but you have just made another friend for life as well. You can bet we will be at the next Barrage and perhaps a new young GM will run his first SYW game as well.

Yours in gaming,

John Camarano

I love hearing about stuff like that! Bravo!

Yes, I would also like to add my thanks to Johns.
My son played in the same game and got his own armies as well. Fantastic and well done. All the kids had a great time and the dads as well just watching and offering bad advice. I suggested my boy make a charge which didn't work out for him. He smiled and pointed his finger at me and said you told me to do that.
Thank you again Hawks.

Malcolm Bailey

John-
Thank you for your kind comments about our club, the HAWKs! (Harford Area Weekely Kriegspeilers) We really appreciate hearing about how our efforts have touched a young gamers life.
The Armies for Kids project, and our series of Kids-Table games are two of the activities of which we are proudest.

I will be posting a report on the this year's Armies for Kids effort a little later today.

(edit) Thank you as well Malcomn! I was writing my post as you posted yours. :)

Great story and good for HAWKS!

Let me add another pat on the back for you gents! I always enjoy seeing your room when I go to an HMGS con.

Ditto here the HAWKS always put on a great show.

Thank you all for the generous remarks!

I have just posted a thread and photos of this year's Armies For Kids game:

TMP link