Frequently Asked Questions
This page is a work-in progress. We will continue to add to these lists of “How to …”.
Managing Your HMGS Account
Create an HMGS, Inc. Account
To access certain functions on HMGS, Inc. sites, you must have an active account – in addition to access certain information you may need an active Membership.
Click here to create an account. After creating your account, you will be given the opportunity to buy a Membership:
Or you can just return to the Portal home without purchasing a Membership.
Change your password
After you have logged in, you can change your password from the link in the dropdown menu attached to your username in the upper right.
Update your Profile information
After you have logged in, you can manage your profile from the My Profile link in the dropdown menu attached to your username in the upper right.
This brings up your three profile tabs, My Info; Membership (if you have an active Membership); and My Account.
Click on the tab to move to it; click on a down arrow to open up a section; or click on a pencil to open for editing.
Buy/Renew your Membership
If you do not have a current Membership, you will see a “Buy a Membership” option in the drop down menu. (If you are a Member of a different HMGS entity, please provide the Membership Coordinator – membership@hmgs.org – with information that shows which HMGS you are a Member of, and what date your membership expires.)
When your Membership is within 90 days of renewal, the notification icon will have a new notification indicator.
And there will be a red Renew button in the Membership tab of your Profile (currently, outside of the 90 day renewal period, there is a blue Renew button – this will go away in a future upgrade).
On the Checkout screen, you must have:
- input a (or selected a saved) payment method,
- selected the billing address associated with the above payment method, and
- checked the “I authorize” box.
After you have done all three of the above, the Checkout button in the bottom right will change from being greyed-out and inactive, to blue and active. Click the Checkout button to complete the transaction.
Get a payment receipt
Coming Soon!
Access HMGS, Inc. Member-Only information
Coming Soon!
Attending an HMGS Convention
What conventions does HMGS, Inc. run?
HMGS, Inc. holds three conventions a year:
- Historicon – our flagship convention, usually in July
- Cold Wars – our winter/spring convention, usually in March
- Fall In! – our autumn convention, usually in November
The dates of future shows can be seen in our Convention Calendar.
Where does HMGS, Inc. hold its conventions?
Historically, most of our shows have been held in the Washington to New York corridor, as this is the geographic nexus of our Membership.
Other “HMGS” entities, i.e., organizations that license our name, run conventions outside of our “membership area”.
What is there to do at an HMGS, Inc. convention?
The main activity (Event type) at our conventions is the participation games. Game Hosts volunteer to run games for attendees. At Historicon, we have over 600 participation games.
Other Event types include Hobby University classes, War College seminars, and Tournaments.
We also have an Exhibit Hall where exhibitors sell hobby-related products and services – at Historicon, we have 60+ exhibitors.
Your convention Badge gives you access to tickets for all Events, and the Exhibit Hall and Wally’s Basement.
What do I need to bring with me to a convention?
Unless you’re hosting an Event or participating in a Tournament, you just need to bring yourself …. and a full wallet (and your deodorant)!!
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How can I help? Volunteering
Volunteer at a Convention
To volunteer for a convention, use the “Volunteer – Apply/View Application” for the specific convention on TableTop.Events (TTE – the event management platform we use).
To be accepted as a convention Volunteer, you must be an HMGS, Inc. Member.
There are various areas/roles available for volunteers, which are outlined in the convention’s TTE pages.
Non-convention volunteering
There are a number of functions and roles that operate outside of a convention.
These include leadership roles, like Treasurer, Outreach Director, Marketing & Social Media Director, Information Technology, etc. which are recruited from the Membership at periodic intervals (login to the Member Portal, and select “Member Positions” to see more information).
Some of the leadership positions also have other “staff” working with them, for example in IT, Social Media, and Outreach (details on these can also be seen in the “Member Positions” section).
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Request HMGS Outreach at your event
Outreach activities focus on participation games open to the public, primarily in HMGS, Inc’s “geography”, i.e., Maine through the Carolinas, out through Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
With a focus on the general public and non-HMGS affiliated gamers, Outreach runs events at historical sites, history-related events (like heritage festivals), and other gaming conventions (like PAX Unplugged).
To request HMGS Outreach attendance at your event, please fill out a request form.