Today would’ve been the first day of AdeptiCon 2020. That fact really does hit home and is felt keenly by all of us. The health and well-being of everyone involved with the convention is still very important to us and we hope everyone is taking the necessary steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
I wanted to take a minute and thank everyone. There are so many people that deserve mention that it would be foolish to try and list them all here. Suffice it to say that a lot of people are still working very hard to salvage what we can and lay the foundations for future AdeptiCons. We appreciate everyone’s patience.
Finally, I wanted to share with you this year’s annual ‘Welcome Letter.’ It was written in what seems like ages ago, but the message rings especially relevant and true now more than ever.
Hank Edley
March 25th, 2020
“We few. We happy few.
We band of brothers, for he today
That sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother.”
Henry V
Welcome to AdeptiCon 18. As we move deep into our second decade and AdeptiCon reaches “adulthood”, it’s natural to become a little introspective. You can’t help but wonder how that original Warhammer 40K tournament in central Illinois, with its couple dozen players, became one of the largest and most diverse miniatures wargaming conventions in the world, with an ever-growing and incredibly loyal group of attendees, volunteers, and staff? I think the answer lies in an anecdote we all know well. How many times have we heard someone at AdeptiCon say that they only see you once a year? How many of these micro-reunions do we witness on Wednesday and Thursday at the con? AdeptiCon is a celebration of all things miniatures wargaming, but that celebration would be entirely incomplete without the friends this hobby has given us.
It has been widely reported, lately, that table-top gaming has made a major comeback. We’re told that people, tiring of their screens and the resulting feelings of isolation, are rediscovering the social element of role-playing and board games and enjoy the novelty of actual interaction with other players. But while playing games in-person might seem innovative for some, it’s something we’ve all known for years. Miniatures gaming is a very social hobby and always has been. Whether you engage in combat on your own dining room table, conduct your campaigns in a friend’s basement, launch invasions at a local game store, or take to the field at AdeptiCon, sharing the experience with other gamers and hobbyists is what this is all about. It’s important to remember that.
Social media has been, for the most part, a net positive for the hobby. You can easily share everything from tactics to photos of painted models with like-minded enthusiasts across the globe. You can watch painting tutorials or game play at your leisure and connect with the community at will. Of course, as with any other fandom or hobby, there will always be those loud voices that just can’t seem to move beyond the negative. Luckily those voices are increasingly easy to tune out and the Internet can be an invaluable resource. However, with that being said, nothing can replace the fun of moving your toy soldiers across the table-top battlefield, rolling some dice, and enjoying the company of friends.
Finally, I would like to officially welcome the return of the Golden Demon miniatures painting competition to the United States. From the very first time we stared, gaping wide-eyed, at the Demon coverage in a White Dwarf, we knew that this competition was something remarkable. If you’ve ever been to a Games Day and have seen a Golden Demon in person, you’re probably as excited as I am. If this is your first Demon, you’re in for some incredible eye candy. And if you’re entering the competition- good luck!
Hank Edley, March 2020