Verona Con 2000 by Nick FrydasSeptember 8th - 10thI have not been at an Italian Convention since 1988, back when I had attended the famous Padova ’88 CON. Famous that is, not because of the gaming (I do remember actually that I did manage to play at least one game with an Italian opponent), but because of the unforgettable and infamous “Murray’s Pizzeria incident” and more to the serious side, because it was in Padova that I had the pleasure in meeting for the first time Barri and Ruby. Mind you it was only due to personal and professional reasons that I was prohibited from returning to Italy up to now, and not by the initial impressions back then, when we did encounter a general lack of pre - organized tournaments. The way the Italians had received us and made us feel warmly welcome, has compensated more than enough and has been always imprinted into my mind. Therefore I was eagerly awaiting the first chance that I would be able to return. Twelve years and approximately 37 governments (Italian that is) later, this opportunity has at last arrived, and I decided that this year I would join Murray in his annual pilgrimage to the land of Verdi, Chianti and cappuccino. As a matter of fact, there are two Italian Conventions this year, Modena following the Verona one, at the end of September. Our visit has been greatly facilitated by our friend Paolo Cariolato, who was extremely kind to offer us hospitality plus his help with the car in our moves to and from the Convention site and around the town. Paolo who is a young upcoming lawyer in the region of Venetto, Verona being the largest city there but Venice the administrative capital, is well known and much liked to the AHIKS members from his previous visits to the “Bridge” Con at Greenford. Murray always the impatient type, has left from Thursday in order to get with Paolo some practice of “Tigers in the Mist” while myself I spent a long day in the office on Friday, counting the minutes before my departure. Catching the Gatwick Express at 17.00 from Victoria I have handily boarded the 18.45 BA flight (one of the 3 daily flights) to Verona. On arrival I was relieved to see the tall figure of Murray standing above the permanently shouting and excited crowd around the arrivals gate. Together with Paolo they have come to collect me from the airport and to provide me with the full account of the first day’s proceedings. Despite some unfortunate reversals to a scheduled game of “Alesia” there were plenty of “TiM” and “BKN” to keep them both happy and contended. But the biggest surprise of the event was waiting me when we arrived for that night’s lodging to Paolo’s summer house some 25 miles to the South East of Verona. A Grand House, really a superb country mansion standing three levels high (but with ceilings that seem to reach the sky) and surrounded by an estate that contains vineyards, fruit trees, a family chapel, you name it !! I do not remember the exact number of bedrooms, there could have been 12 there could have been 20, I do not know but we surely were not in what we call a “crammed” situation. This house has been built some 500 years ago and it was the seat of a landowner’s family with an even greater estate than today, thousands of acres ! Apparently Paolo’s grandfather did an extremely astute business move when he bought it in 1917, at a time when the German troops were converging to the line of the river Piave some only 30 miles away !!!! Just to prove that there is never a gain without a risk !!! To top all that, Murray’s storytelling started around a superb local dessert wine whose name unfortunately I can not recollect, and focused on his father WWI service with the Royal Flying Corps who apparently was stationed and fought nearby. Needless to say that, that night I dreamt of young Rommel and Manteuffel in their Alpencorps uniforms and of their deeds in the high peaks of Trentino and Alto Adige !! The two main events that I have come to Italy for were the tournaments of “Paths of Glory” and “Hannibal”. “POG” started in earnest early on Saturday morning and for the first rounds we did use the Limited War Scenario (10 turns) with the historical or optional set up (players’ choice). Having good training by the “POG Meisters” Karl and Chris back in the UK, I did surprise my opponents with my steady and balanced game on both fronts, and some “tricks I had up my sleeve”, progressing relatively easy to the final which was scheduled for Sunday. Stiffer opposition came from a promising young POG player, Giovanni Lanza, who managed to push relentlessly his Russians to the gates of Budapest only to see his Western Front finally collapsing on turn 9. On Saturday evening the “Hannibal” tournament started with 8 players. Well I suppose it was a bit too much to ask to come to Italy and beat the Italians at “Hannibal”. Besides with the arrival of “POG” and “FtP” I haven’t played the game for a year or two and I was definitely “rusty”. Nevertheless against a properly named Christian Guerra, I did fight to the 9th and final turn. He never allowed my Carthaginians a proper foothold in Italy and I had decided to return Hannibal to Spain. Then, with a daring sea crossing Hannibal arrived in Africa to crush Scipio and 15 legions, which perished stampeded by my elephants !! So I entered the final turn with 8 regions (Spain and Africa) against the Romans’ 10, but my hand of cards in the last draw was so atrocious that I did not stance any chance from whatever little hope I have been left with. I did entertain my defeat with a superb dinner “al fresco”, where we have been served “Pizza by the metre”, and I think we did probably consume a mile !! To that, we were helped by an excellent white local wine named Custozza, from the town on the Dolomites about 10 miles north of Verona, famous from two battles in the Italian Wars of Independence against the Austrians. Following the dinner and on the way back to Paolo’s home, we paid a late night visit to the impressive medieval town of Soave, also famous wine producing area, which lies approx. 10 miles to the East of Verona. The historic centre is preserved with the medieval gates, walls and ramparts around and a splendidly lit castello on the top of the hill. On Sunday’s final for the “POG” tournament I was for a treat….The Campaign game was to be played (myself as AP with historical set - up). There was a GMT Demo map, 4 times the size of normal map and mounted on pressed paper and wood, and pieces of 1 and 1/4 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick mounted on pressed paper and wood !!! The pieces were fantastic and of course extremely easily to play with, as no congestion of counters occurs. My opponent did not go anywhere in the Western Front, but managed to do considerable damage to the Russians, which by mid 1915 were in the brink of collapse. However he has badly mixed up Austrian and German Armies in the same stacks, which were costing him a lot of OPS and slowing him down. That factor saved the Russians, as by the time he sorted out the mess, the Ruskies had a much healthier OOB. I kept throwing French and Brits against the trenches with 5 and 7 results (and earned the nickname “butcher” pronounced batcher by the Italians), but finally the attrition was starting to tell. By summer1917 he was still at Limited War and although he has reached Kiev and Minsk with the Russians again reduced to 4 field armies, the CP have been left with 4 armies in the West against 12 of AP, while the Brits were in the outskirts of Constantinople. He capitulated on turn 15. There was a nice touch in the prize giving, an announcement from the microphone of the names of the tournament winners, the awarding of a framed plaque at a little ceremony with other gamers applauding, and to top all that a symbolic “prize” of 20,000 lira to spend in games and other paraphernalia. Splendido !!! Some “wood”, to return home and restore the wounded pride. Such a success should be entertained accordingly, and after the closing of the Convention on Sunday evening, we started with a visit to the Castel San Pietro, from which one can have commanding views of the whole of the city of Verona. This historic city which spreads at the foothills of the little Dolomites is truly one of the most beautiful in the whole of Italy and it is standing since the Roman times. It’s strategic importance lies in the fact that the river Adige is coiling in a strange way like a colossal S around the historical center, and there are several bridges providing the crossing points. Thus the city is protected from all sides. It has been an independent state, subsequently under the Venice Republic and also under the Austrians occupation. It was incorporated to Italy after the third war of Independence (the one that the Italians lost but the Prussians won !) in 1866. Cultural visits were followed by a superb meal in which some of us (not
named), consumed horse meat with polenta, and the required pasta of course, all
washed down with the most delightful bottle of Valpolicella. This delightful
valley lies only 10 miles to the North - West of Verona, so one can safely say
that this area of Italy, caters particularly well for the discerning “gourmand”
! So here we are; Good competitive gaming, hospitality that makes you feel particularly welcome by the fellow gamers, superb food and wine, splendid sites and cultural things to see and visit, something for everybody, the gamer, and the partner alike. In short the kind of convention I adore, the kind of wargaming event I am prepared to spend my holiday’s allowance for, without burdening my conscience. From now on the Italian Convention is a must in my war gaming calendar… |