Welcome to the third Grognard Pre-Con which features preliminary round play of no less than ten of the traditional, hex-style wargames you knew from your youth. Not actually part of WBC proper, Grognardcon is sort of an opening skirmish for those who can’t get enough of a good thing. Is Centurion status in your future? Send out a few patrols to qualify for single elimination action later in the week and increase your chances.

WBC attendees have long lamented the many conflicts between their favorite games at WBC. With so many events to choose from, its hard to find time for everything you’d like to play. So many games, so little time…Since so many of our attendees have large investments in travel costs to attend WBC, there has always been a certain element which wanted a longer convention so that they could get more bang for their travel buck while increasing the number of events they can play. The problem with this is how to scratch this itch without infringing on those for whom a longer convention is just out of the question.

Our solution was to select a few events for early play which shared a similar game system with long playing times that could benefit from uninterrupted play without outside distractions. Grognardcon opens on Saturday and runs through the start of WBC on Tuesday. Come anytime during that span to join in the fun for as much action as you can stand. GM Bruno Sinigaglio, the original grognard himself, will act as temporary GM for all of the Free Format Scheduling wargame events and pair opponents for preliminary matches of 1776, Afrika Korps, Anzio, Bulge ’81, Gettysburg, Panzerblitz, Panzergruppe Guderian, the Russian Campaign, Waterloo, and Wooden Ships & Iron Men. None of these events will conclude during the Pre-Con. Their normal GMs will continue to run them starting Tuesday and throughout the remainder of the week so that later arriving players may also try to qualify for the elimination rounds at week's end.

Qualify to advance in one game and then move to the next, or take some time off during the week once you’ve qualified for single elimination play and try a different event that you never had time for before. Grognardcon is just a time extender that gives you more opportunity to scratch that wargaming itch at a more leisurely pace. NOTE: Failure to attend Grognardcon does not bar anyone from participating in any of these ten events as they may still enter and play during WBC on Tuesday or later. The only difference is that they have less time to qualify for the elimination rounds.

Tribune members may freely partake in all of BPA’s Pre-Cons during the three days preceding WBC. Play at Grognardcon for non-Tribune/Sponsor level members requires a separate registration fee of $30 for BPA members pre-registered by July 25, or $40 for all others, payable to the BPA, 1541 Redfield Rd, Bel Air, MD 21015. This fee can be paid separately or in addition to other WBC fees noted on the WBC pre-registration form and covers qualifying play in all eight events of Grogrnardcon. If paid at the door, the higher fee will apply.

WBC special room rates at the Lancaster Host, Continental Inn, and Red Roof Inn apply to all days of the pre-con. See our travel and accommodations page for details.

For more specific event details, click on the gameboxes, above, to see the Event Previews for the respective tournaments.