Some Pictures from Drums at the Rapids 2025

    Lagertha, Ragnar, & another Viking raider break into the Anglo-Saxon church in search of loot

I enjoy going to smaller local conventions as much as I do the bigger wargaming shows. In fact, the atmosphere at these shows tends to be more friendly and intimate, with a greater feeling of camaraderie. One annual convention that I have made it to every year since its first is Drums at the Rapids, hosted by the Colby Street Irregulars. It is held in the Visitors Center of Fort Meigs, a reconstructed War of 1812 fort in Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area). My local Historical Miniature Gaming Society chapter (Great Lakes), has helped sponsor it since the beginning.

    Tod Kershner's 'Assault at Ft. Meigs' recreates the 1813 battle that was fought at the actual fort site

    Tod's lovely 54mm figures and easy-to-learn rules reenact the U.S. assault on the British lines

In an effort to save money, I have begun driving up Friday morning and staying only Friday night in an area hotel. Saturday, we attend the con, game until we are tired and ready to go home, and then drive back. It's a good way to cut costs but still enjoy both Friday and Saturday of a show. We've begun doing the same thing at Cincycon, which is held every year in March. In addition, Drums has a free flea market on the shelves or tables along the wall -- just set your stuff and folks interested in buying something come to you. No booth to man or table to sit behind. Just do your gaming and pocket the cash your fellow attendees bring to you!

    My friend Abel Delacruz made the trip up to Toledo to run his Samurai game using Test of Honor

    Players enjoy Abel's cinematic terrain and the quick--playing rules simulating samurai warfare

As always, there are fun games being run at the show. I set up my Viking Town Raid and ran it Friday evening and Saturday morning. My good fortune continued and it filled up both times. I had good groups of players both games, and even had one repeat player on Saturday determined to get more loot than he did on Friday night. That was helpful because he could assist other players in figuring out what the defenders would do when the card came up for all of the enemies on the table to activate and attack. 

    Rich Brown teaches new GL member Andrew how to play 'Chivalrous Bum' quick-play rules

    Two attendees at Drums 2025 play the Horse & Musket adaption of the rules called 'Frizzen Bum'

Saturday saw one of the rare times that the Viking raiders made it into the church and looted its treasures. In fact, Lagertha ended up winning based on her last-turn looting of church silver, stealing the victory from the player controlling her husband Ragnar, who had a big lead most of the game. Everyone said they had a good time and I think that Ganesha Games will likely sell a good handful of copies of Sellswords & Spellslingers based on the number of folks who took pictures of the rules cover or copied down the game's title.

    Tanks assault Martian walkers in Dave Elmore's 'All Quiet on the Martian Front' game

    'Here they come...!' Martian tripods bear down on the enemy in one of Dave's2 runnings of his game

I finally got a chance myself to play in demos being run by Rich Brown of RRB Minis & More. He brought along his friend Kyle, and the two were hopping all day Friday explaining the four games they brought along and set up. Both are based on a set of rules by David Bezio (Zombie RV fame) and are meant for Westerns, called Saddle Bum. Rich and Kyle enjoy the system so much that Rich has adapted it for Medieval (Chivalrous Bum) and Horse & Musket (Fizzen Bum). Jenny and I sat down to a game of Chivalrous Bum and well, she kicked my bum and good in the game! David had sent me a copy of Saddle Bum for feedback, but I had never played the rules before. They are very simple and easy to learn. 

    Mad Max style post-apocalyptic warfare in Justin Lynch's Gaslands game, which ran both days

    Players at Drums enjoyed Justin's atmospheric board and the fun, quick 'Gaslands rules'

I saw some attendees cycling through both of his games trying them out and (I believe) purchasing the rules. The two variants are available for download on RRB Minis & More's website. I also purchased his printed copies of Bezio's Mice-at-Arms and Sci-Fi game, Fictioneers. I have been wanting to give the anthropomorphic animal themed mice battle rules a try, but haven't gotten around to it yet. And every time Rich is running Fictioneers at a convention, it seems I'm busy running my own game at the same time!

    Convention Director Doug Johnson also found time in his busy days to run the Battle of Omdurman

    Even though it wasn't on the schedule, players requested an encore of Doug's 'Toledo War' game

Drums has always been a great convention for socializing. It is good to see old friends and connect with folks I see only at conventions. This year was no different. In the old days -- 10 years ago or so -- it was quite the party, with more than a dozen gathering at the local chicken wings place over beers. Nowadays, it is much more sedate. Jenny and I had fun hanging out with Rich and Kyle at Frickers and chatting about our respective game groups. I had told myself that once I retire I would make it to more conventions. I've found that has not been the case, this year. I'm attending pretty much the same ones I attended when I was teaching. 

    My own Viking raid game had a full table on both Friday night & Saturday morning

    So many mounted Saxon hearthguard defenders appeared they formed a 'horde' under to the rules!

However, I have been floating another idea. I would like to make the rounds of the local game clubs in various parts of the region and show up on their meeting days. Rich and Kyle have a game club in the far northeast of Ohio -- Hubbard Ohio Gamers Guild. So do Rusty and James, whose Fireland Games were the one vendor in attendance. There are several in the Cincinnati area, as well as Chilicothe, and other places. So, if you would like to have Jenny and I stop by some weekend when you're gaming, let me know!

    Trench lines & tanks defend Earth against Martian attack in 'All Quiet on the Martian Front'

 

    Two medieval knights meet in chivalrous combat on a bridge in one of Rich Brown's games

Anyway, Drums was a good time, as usual. I hope you enjoy the photos of the game. I'm continuing to make good progress on my 28mm Vietnam project. I have another batch of U.S. troops in the flocking stage, and two more sets of five in the pipeline. As far as terrain, I've started on some more jungle terrain scatter pieces. They're about halfway through the process, so look for photos of them soon. Until then, hope you're getting in some good gaming yourselves...!

    Saturday morning, and my Viking Raid game is set up and awaiting a new group of Viking players

    Saxon hearth guard from a shieldwall to protect the church from Viking raiders at Drums

MINIATURES Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

• Miniatures acquired in 2025: 143
  
• Miniatures painted in 2025: 80 

TERRAIN Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

• Terrain acquired in 2025: 19
  
• Terrain painted in 2025: 22

SCATTER Acquired vs. Painted Tally for 2025

• Scatter acquired in 2025: 54
  
• Scatter painted in 2025: 57