Rock Con 2021

 After a year off for the pandemic, Rock Con (What-Khan) returned to the Tebala Event Center in Rockton, IL!  Several of us from the Fox Valley area journeyed down to enjoy the convention scene and reconnect with friends again.  There were six vendors, a silent auction with some real deals, gift bags for pre-registrants, food available on site, a professional and welcoming staff, Sunday morning giveaway that more resembled a feeding frenzy, and of course; the games!  Two time slots on Friday though we eschewed the first to visit Royal Hobby in Rockton for their flea market.  So starting at 7pm Friday we have:

"Bungle in the Jungle" US invasion of Cambodia using
the Flames of War system for Viet Nam.  Hosted by
Brendgol Majewski.  My first game of the Con.

"Naval Yatzee: Trafalgar" hosted by Conrad Wiser.

"Two Fat Lardies - What a Tanker: From Normandy 
to the Rhine."  Hosted by Chad Murry.

"Soluch, Prelude to Beda Fomm" using Jagdpanzer
2nd Edition, hosted by Kevin Cabai.

"FUBAR: Escape the Titanica!" Space liner Titanica
has hit a meteorite and players must escape.  Hosted
by Bill Wimbiscus.

Bungle after two moves.

Heavy mortars set up, flank support ready.

Seemed like everybody had a RPG.

Beautifully painted air support at the end.

"Siege of Havana, 1762" using Rebels and Patriots
run by yours truly.

"By Fire and Sword: Winged Welcome." Turks vs. Poles
hosted by Todd Prochniak.

"Age of Fantasy: Battle for Elmgrass Forest" hosted
by Sabas Parada.

Spanish flanks in peril, as is Havana.

Being invested in my own game, I missed getting pictures of "All Quiet on the Martian Front", a classic rendition of "The Sword and the Flame" and other fine games.  I noticed a lot of flying games this year, though I did not partake.

"Battle of Albuera" using Charge: Eagles Rising.  A 
"new" set of Napoleonic rules.  No further comment.

Albuera again, French on the move.

Photo doesn't show just how wonderful the painting
was.  Here the Toledo Regiment.

General Blake redeploys to face onrushing French,
sacrificing some cavalry to buy time.

French diversionary attack finds itself in a very bad
way, assailed on three sides.

At the end of the Albuera battle as my forces advanced, Marshal Soult was heard to say "If the Spanish are attacking, we've lost the day."  Made my weekend.  I somehow missed getting pictures of the Japanese-Korean naval game, always a hit at the Con.  In the evening I played Napoleonic sail, using the Osprey Fighting Sail rules.  A fast game that works for one on one or multi-player games.  The British sank/took three ships of the line, though the convoy they were escorting got away.  Much like the historic result for the Glorious First of June.  Sadly missed out on more pictures.

Finally, on Sunday morning my scheduled Babylon 5 game didn't happen so I got into a "Girls und Panzers" game based on the anime series.  Silly fun, though we lost.  In the middle of the game the con had the traditional giveaway feeding frenzy of extras, auction items no one wanted to take home and donations.  I feel I did rather well, the highlight being a baggie of WWI French in 15mm.  Enough to be a starter force, complete with machine-guns and trench mortars.

I was really happy to be at a convention like this again.  Always runs smooth with a well-seasoned staff.  Next year is a little later than normal, happening November 4-6th.  This was announced so if you have seen otherwise, these are the actual dates.  Heartily recommended.