Nashcon 2015
Many wargamers and wargaming vendors are preparing for a busy weekend coming up from May 22-24. In Franklin,Tennessee hosted by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society of the Midsouth Chapter (HMGS-Midsouth) will be the annual convention known as Nashcon 2015. On Memorial Day weekend every year HMGS-Midsouth supports this well-attended event which aims to provide a family-friendly fun opportunity to connect with the gaming community, try out new games, find needed materials to play your own games and have plenty of fun. The events are inexpensive allowing for the whole family to participate. HMGS-Midsouth strives to promote education of military history through gaming:
Our purpose is the running of educational programs promoting historical miniature gaming and military history. We believe a lot can be learned by adding fun into the learning of history. We promote gaming of a speculative or hypothetical nature as well to open minds to new ideas.
Naschon 2015 is Tennessee’s top gaming convention. Tournaments, fantasy and science fiction gaming, historical miniatures, board games, role playing and Advanced Squad Leader tournament. There will be plenty of vendors to make sure you are well stocked with all your gaming desires. One of the vendors will be Cigar Box Battle, a big promoter of John Hill’s Across A Deadly Field. A preliminary list of events (PDF) has days and times of tournaments and other happenings you do not want to miss.
John Hill was obviously not just a regular attendee of Nashcon, but also a regular host for his games to include Across A Deadly Field and his classic Squad Leader. On Sunday morning (May 24) Patrick Lebeau will be coordinating an Eastern Front scenario from John Hill’s classic Squad Leader using 15mm miniatures. Everyone I am sure will miss John Hill’s presence. There will likely be some “pick up” games of Johnny Reb and Across A Deadly Field all convention long. Speak with Norris Darrall, Dean West or Cory Ring at Naschon for additional details or visit the Johnny Con 5.5 at Naschon 2015 webpage for more information.
You can book your room for $120 a night at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs on 700 Cool Springs Road in Franklin, Tennessee. Their telephone number is (256) 213-7467.
I hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.
Neat website!. Today I was able to learn about wargames through your site. Very informative & as well providing the history of the game. Your late Father John Hill will be forever proud of all the hard work you have provided here in your site. Awesome job!
Hi Ana:
Thank you for your kind words and for stopping to check out my website. I think my father would be proud too. Please feel free to come back and visit anytime, because this site will only continue to grow.
Stephanie
Hi Steph
Great story on John Hill and it sounds like it will be a great weekend for all gamers
Hi Lorraine:
Thank you for stopping by. I am sure it will be a great weekend for all the gamers and their families. There is sure to be lots of fun events and tournaments for everyone from the novice to the most advanced. Come back sometime to check out updates.
–Stephanie
Very cool! As a teacher I wonder if there are things like this that kids can get involved with – do you know of any?
Hi Northern Wolf:
That is a great question. I also have a strong background in teaching and in education and I am glad you have brought up this issue. For many years computer wargaming has been used to teach and train military officers on the technique of command-level decision making. As a teacher, I am sure you are aware that many of the great battles have been won or lost as a result of a key decision made by the military leaders in charge.
My father held a career as a Government Military Analyst and one of the things he did was study and analyze those key turning decisions and the cause and effect of those decisions as well as the multitude of rippling effects. His career directly related to his passion and interest in wargaming. Wargaming is an old method used to rehash a battle before and after it is fought. It literally has been around and been used for many years by the military in nearly every country. The Japanese used wargaming to strategically plan their attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
So, yes wargaming can be a great tool to teach students about history. With wargaming, students can do role playing and pretend they are Robert E. Lee in the Battle of Gettysburg. This will entice their interest in learning more about history. The Squad Leader page on this website has a number of computer wargames kids (and grown-ups) can play which offers the the ability to recreate the historical environment to the exact level of detail and realism needed for every pupil to comprehend and appreciate the decisions made in battle by the military leaders who fought them.
Thank you Northern Wolf for asking this question and generating the interest for use in the classroom to educate students about history.
Stephanie
Hi Steph – Great website and a great tribute to your late father John Hill. Personally I am not a gaming fan, but the enthusiasm and love you have for it really comes across in your posts.
keep up the good work
Mark
Hi Mark:
Thank you for your comment. My father was a huge gaming fan. Like with many things my father became involved with, when he got hooked onto something, he really went as far as he could with it. He put his all into whatever he was involved with. He never did anything on a mediocre level. It leaves a rather difficult legacy for me to follow. Thank you again. Please come back and visit soon.
–Stephanie