Another empty chair - Nick Zizo - Rest In Peace My Friend

 

It is with great sadness that I must post about the passing of my friend Nick Zizo! Nick passed away last Friday night while in the hospital battling multiple issues. He'd been in and out of the hospital and rehab for quite sometime. His body finally gave out, may you Rest in Peace my friend.

Nick had a long history in our hobby even before HMGS-South. He was very active in HMGS-East as an attendee, game master, vendor, convention staff, con volunteer, and even a con director. His entry into the hobby pre dates the Skirmishes Conventions that we had at multiple venues around south and central Florida. I had met Nick at a Historicon decades ago! We became fast friends over our common love for the colonial period and especially our favorite rules set, The Sword And The Flame. Like many of us in the hobby Nick loved many periods and loved to paint miniatures and undertake the needed research to build armies and field them.

Nick and I collaborated on multiple games together at the HMGS-South cons and ran games elsewhere as well. 

Here's some pics of Nick and his son Jimmy at a surprise Bday / Retirement celebration games day Jimmy set up for him for which I ran the games. That was an amazing day.

Cheers Nick! 

One of the games Nick and I ran together was based on the last battle scene in the movie, The Wind And The Lion. We ran this game at Colonial Barracks-1 for Larry Brom and his daughters. Here is a pic of Larry Brom at our game.

Nick and Jimmy at Colonial Barracks-1 in Mad Guru's epic Maiwand Day game in New Orleans. Ethan drove his massive game with all the custom terrain tiles and troops all the way from LA. Nick, Jimmy, and I had an awesome time playing this game. Skyler, Ethan's son was my teammate for this one. We were lucky enough to have multiple members of our local Florida group SMG, multiple HMGS-South members, and some of Larry's original game group the Jackson Gamers at this con. Unfortunately, many have passed away in the past few years.

Nick Zizo right, and Rick Welch standing, both gone, pictured here at one of my HMGS-South con games. Rest in peace my friends.

Farwell my friend.....

• Raisuli: I will see you again, Mrs Pedicaris, when we are both like golden clouds on the wind.

TSATF - The Sword And The Flame Games at Hurricon-2025!

 

(Click the photo to see it clearly - I don’t know why it’s blurry on the blog page)

Here is the list of games thus far for the upcoming HMGS-South convention Hurricon-2025! There are currently 6 games listed, that’s 3 per day with one more being added for Thursday night. 

Thursday Night’s convention game opener on the club TSATF - The Sword And The Flame table. 

Send in the Marines!

Coast of Mogadishu, 1906, a merchant vessel has been captured by Somali and Arab pirates. Negotiations have broken down, the ship’s crew have become pawns in an evil game. The hostages lives are at risk. An informant has leaked intel that the Somali warlord has no intention of letting the crew go and that they will be killed at dawn.

The American consulate general to Mogadishu has no choices left, “send in the Marines!”

                (Rough game map for Thursday night)

At Hurricon-24 with SMG, Last Stand Dan & Bud’s Blast Markers

There were a lot of really amazing games this past weekend. I was lucky enough to play in a bunch of them, see pics below of some that I attended. All these GM’s ran excellent, fun, and beautiful games!  

Coolidge running a Boxer Rebellion game. Hard Fight outside of Tienstin. The Boxers leave the city to stop the invading allies from entering and sacking it.

  

The Chinese vigorously attacked the allies, the superior firepower and numbers of the allies where just too much

for the Chinese to overcome. Despite these factors it was a minor Chinese victory because they stalled the allies and blunted their attack on Tienstin. 

It is rumored that a spy had given the allies the Chinese battle plans. Someone must pay for this …

Last Stand Dan ran a TMWWBK WWI Tigris River game, Attack Along the Tigris 1916. The Turks gallantly defend an outpost on the Tigris from a combined arms Anglo-Indian assault. It seemed as if there were thousands of Turks. Could the Brits break the trench line, silence the shore batteries, take the town, and move their gunboat upriver???

Custom hand made gunboat by Last Stand Boatyard.

More Buds Blast Markers and plane fire / damage markers. Bud’s Blast Markers.

WWII, Operation Norwind, 17 January, 1945, Rapid Fire Reloaded game run by RBW.

Some of the RBW Crew setting up, Scotty couldn’t make it due to the hurricane. 

Jeff from RBW patiently awaits the players Saturday morning. 

The Americans are on their 3rd or 4th attempt at taking this vital bridgehead, town, and railway stations. The Americans made it across the river albeit with major casualties in personnel and armor. Both sides of the river were stoutly defended. 

German Panthers emerge from the cover of the railway station to finish of the advancing American armor. 

A lucky long range flank shot takes out a Panther on its way to reinforce the railway station. 

Big Dave runs a TSATF Sudan game, To Save Their Own! from the official The Sword And The Flame 2016 Scenario Portfolio.

Capt Stewart has been picked to lead a small force of men from the main column on a night raid against a Grand Emir, in order to rescue some British officers of the Denbigh Fusiliers, including Capt Griffiths, who were captured after the last action. 

Sgt. Guinness runs a TSATF 1891 NWF game from the ongoing campaign, Never Trust Anyone on the Frontier.

Redemption, Rescue the General’s Daughter. In our last episode the General’s daughter was captured in an ambush on a supply column headed to the Lowari Pass garrison.

Captain Barrington Hawthorne Smyth, Queens 2nd Dragoon Guards, can you redeem yourself and rescue General Horatio McGuinness' daughter Margaret Fitzpatrick McGuinness from the clutches of your enemy?

                                            

                                            

Hmmm, Russians on the Grim, from Askari Miniatures

The British and Indian forces have redeemed themselves, captured a Russian officer, reduced a village to burnt cinders, and rescued the general’s daughter. Fire markers by Bud’s Blast Markers.

Another game by Last Stand Dan. Villa Rides, The Battle of Conejos 1914.

Left to right, Capt Lucas, Bud ala Bud’s Blast Markers, Jennifer Librarian Gamer, & el jeffe Roger. 

Sgt Guinness had the kids roll his dice for him to keep them included in the fun. 

                                    Good turn …

Good Ground Miniatures

                         HMGS-South Conventions

             SMG - South Florida Miniatures Gamers