Believe it or not, old man 2022 is almost done and baby 2023 is rapidly approaching. AdeptiCon is taking place March 22-26 in Schaumburg, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago. AdeptiCon has had a large historical presence for years but it has more recently really been beefed up with the addition of some new games (check out last year’s experience here). registration opens January 8th, 2023 at 1:00PM CT. Today we’re going to talk a bit about the offerings for historical players in the schedule preview.
One of the big additions to the offerings last year was a more structured Lard America day. We had quite a few games running on Saturday all day and this year will be expanding into Friday. This year we will have 10 or more games that players can sign up for and play in. These are participation games – the gamemaster brings all the models, terrain, rules etc and you play in it. A good knowledge of the rules helps but isn’t usually required. These will all be taking place at the Hyatt Regency hotel, the off-site place at AdeptiCon.
If you’re not familiar with Lard America, we’re an informal club that gathers at conventions around the country to showcase TooFatLardies games. TFL is a company that writes historical rulesets that put a great emphasis on leadership, characters, friction (fog of war), and historical accuracy. Many of their games are large skirmish – so maybe 50-60 minis a side.
FRIDAY
Sharp Practice in the Caribbean “Ensign Noseblower gets his chance”
8:30 AM-12:00 PM
Sharp Practice
Tickets:0/5
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
The pirates lair has been discovered and HMS Vincent has been tasked with sending her marines in to punish the reavers. Ensign Noseblower has been tasked to take the sword to the pirates and torch ships or buildings as found. Leaders of three pirates crews have gathered at the Rusty Bucket encampment resting and plotting their next raids.
Sharp Practice (TooFatLardies) in the Caribbean. Five players, two his majesty’s servants and three scurvy dogs. Rules will be taught, all figures provided.
Chain of Command: Defending the Hexenkessel (Cauldron)
2:00 PM-5:00 PM
Chain of Command
Tickets:0/4
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
21st September 1944, at Westerbouwig, Oosterbeek. During the British airborne assault on Arnhem in September 1944 elements of the 1st Borders airlanding battalion defend Westerbouwig on the southwestern corner of the airborne perimeter against Oberleutnant Wossowski scratch battalion from the Hermann Goring NCO school supported by Panzer Kompanie C (Ndl) 224.
A 4 player WW2 Chain of Command game using 28 mm miniatures.
Chain of Command: Holding Back the Tide
10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Chain of Command
Tickets:0/4
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: Expert
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
April 9, 1940, Danmark- Holder Tidevandet Tilbage
German forces are massed at the border and believe they will be unopposed when they cross the border. The Danes, in the great Viking spirit, stand ready to fight this invading force.
Chain of Command is a platoon level ruleset developed by the TooFatLardies to simulate small scall actions and emphasizes command and control. Join us as a German motorized platoon supported by armor attempts to clear and secure a small Danish Village. A scratch force of Danish infantry mounted on Motorcycles and Bicycles attempt to hold them back.
This event is being brought to you by LardAmerica, a group of wargamers from across the nation spreading the Lard. This will be your opportunity to learn what it means to “Play the period, not the rules.”
On Friday right now we have three offerings. As you’ll see in the list, Sharp Practice and Chain of Command are definitely the two most popular TooFatLardies games here. The use of pirates in SP is a more uncommon offering, while Brits vs Germans in CoC is pretty classic. Danish motorcycles and bicycles will be interesting!
SATURDAY
Sharp Practice in the Caribbean “Ensign Noseblower gets his chance”
8:30 AM-12:00 PM
Sharp Practice
Tickets:0/5
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
The pirates lair has been discovered and HMS Vincent has been tasked with sending her marines in to punish the reavers. Ensign Noseblower has been tasked to take the sword to the pirates and torch ships or buildings as found. Leaders of three pirates crews have gathered at the Rusty Bucket encampment resting and plotting their next raids.
Sharp Practice (TooFatLardies) in the Caribbean. Five players, two his majesty’s servants and three scurvy dogs. Rules will be taught, all figures provided.
Chain of Command: World Turned Upside Down – Malaya 1942
10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Chain of Command
Tickets:0/4
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
Britain is supposed to be the dominant power in Asia, but now they are scrambling to hold back the Japanese onslaught towards Singapore. Take command of the hard charging Japanese forces racing to Singapore, or the desperate British defenders of Malaya.
Chain of Command: We Can No Longer Win This War, But We Can’t Afford to Lose It (WWI)
1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Chain of Command
Tickets:0/4
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Chicago Lardies
October 1918. The German frontline has collapsed. The trenches have been left behind. Desperate German rearguards seek to delay the Allied pursuit. 28mm Chain of Command Rules.
Sharp Practice: Bloodshed on the Cape Fear (American Civil War)
1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Sharp Practice
Tickets:0/4
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
Fort Fisher has been under construction for some time, guarding the southern access to Wilmington, North Carolina. Blockade runners slip up the Cape Fear river and deliver goods to the Confederacy in late 1864 when the war effort is desperate.
Federal patrols have entered the Cape Fear region to probe defenses, find spies, and free enslaved people. Confederate units assigned to Fort Fisher have sent out companies to attempt to stop the Yankees from finding weaknesses.
Two players will play on either side using the TooFatLardies Sharp Practice ruleset. Everything will be provided and no prior knowledge is needed.
Sharp Practice: Zulu! The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, January 22nd, 1879
1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Sharp Practice
Tickets:0/5
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Event Game | Materials Provided: Yes | Experience Required: None
Cost: $7 | Presented By: Lard America
As the British defenders can you repeat history and hold off the Zulu hordes? As the Zulus can you finish off the small British garrison and bring more glory to the Zulu nation?
A Sharp Practice game using 28mm miniatures.
We actually have a more eclectic offering so far on Saturday – I haven’t yet seen a Zulu War game using Sharp Practice, so that should be very interesting. It’s not a period I know much about so I’d like to check out the minis and see how the Zulu Kingdom units work in the game.
Most of the CoC games I have seen are set in Europe, so it’ll be great to see one set in Asia – I can’t wait to check that out and see how the different terrain and unit types work there.
I am also running my game on Saturday, an American Civil War Sharp Practice game based in late 1864 when the writing was on the wall for the Confederacy. They’re still doing their best to defend Wilmington, NC, one of the last and most important ports open to them to receive supplies through. Infamous general Braxton Bragg had taken command in Wilmington after being run out of the Army Of Tennessee and he did basically the same stuff there – undercut subordinates, promised and underdelivered, and retreated and gave up. This game will be based around patrols sent out by the garrison at Fort Fisher to keep Union forces from taking up supplies in the area and also likely sport an appearance by my 3D printed steamer that I love.
Other events that I’m definitely interested in are Bolt Action and SAGA – things I’ve done quite a few times in the past. Both have had very dedicated and hobby-focused crowds for years that put on great events.
Bolt Action Combat Patrol
4:00 PM-10:30 PM
Bolt Action
Tickets:0/40
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Tournament | Experience Required: Some
Cost: $25 | Presented By: Chicago Dice
Bolt Action Combat Patrol is a three-game tournament of battles between recon forces. Each round is only 90 minutes and games are played on a 4’x 4′ table. Effective Combat Patrol forces will find the right balance of speed and firepower. The theme this year is “The Rising Tide 1939-1940”. Player are not required to bring themed forces, but are highly encouraged.
All forces will use the Combat Patrol Platoon, 450-points, 8 Order Dice max. Full event rules are available at the provided event URL.
Bolt Action Doubles
8:00 AM-6:30 PM
Bolt Action
Tickets:0/40
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Tournament | Experience Required: Some
Cost: $50 | Presented By: Chicago Dice
Bolt Action Doubles is a three-game, 2v2 tournament of battles between allied forces. The theme this year is “The Rising Tide 1939-1940”. Players are not required to bring themed forces, but are highly encouraged.
Teams will play in three, two and half hour rounds. Teams must be composed of nations that allied during World War II – 1400pts per Team, 18 Order Dice Max. Full event rules are available at the event URL.
Bolt Action Tournament
9:00 AM-6:30 PM
Bolt Action
Tickets:0/48
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Tournament | Experience Required: Some
Cost: $30
Players will use a 1,250-requisition point force. The force may consist of a maximum of ONE Reinforced Platoons and no more than 16 order dice. This will be an Early War Themed Event; players will build Generic Reinforced Platoons with units from 39 to 41, and no armored vehicles with an armor value of 8+ or above. US players may build Generic Reinforced Platoons with units from 41-42. No tank Platoons, No Special Characters, No Naval observer, No Planes (From the PDF).
Bolt Action, like I said above, has had a strong showing at AdeptiCon for years. The Chicago Dice club puts on great events with strong theme and sweet tables. This year’s theme is Early War, so it’ll be fun to see all the zany vehicles and units on the table. I am eyeing the Combat Patrol event really hard – likely using my Slovaks if the book comes out with their army list by then. If not, I may do USMC or east front Italians.
SAGA Grand Melee Age of Vikings
8:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saga
Tickets:0/40
Hyatt Regency
Event Type: Tournament | Experience Required: Some
Cost: $30
The SAGA Grand Melee Age of Vikings is a one day, 3 game event. Build a 6 point warband from any faction in the Age of Vikings book including Old Friends and New Enemies. Legendary units, War Banners, and Relics & Artifacts will not be used. A single point of Mercenaries may be taken (with some further Mercenary restrictions indicated in the Tournament Packet in Rules & Resources it’s released.)
The SAGA scene at AdeptiCon has been really strong for years – they used to have their own hall in the main AdeptiCon location and now have a corner of the Historicals hall that is their own. I am really into the Age of Vikings so I’ll be doing my best to get into this event on Sunday. It’s a good way to end the week – lots of good laughs, players are great sports, and really epic stuff happens.
Check back more as the New Year starts for a Road to AdeptiCon for me – I’m not sure yet what I’ll be painting but I am definitely going to do some crunch to get projects done!
