There will be a lot of shooting and sword play going on next weekend in Lawrence.

It will be imaginary, however.

Lawrence Wargame Club is organizing the Spring Maneuvers 2009 miniature wargaming convention, which will be Friday and Saturday at Econo Lodge, 2222 W. Sixth St.

“I’m really excited about bringing this to Lawrence,” club member Michael Machell said. “We’ll have a lot of people from out of town. Hopefully they’ll spend the night and spend some money here.”

Machell estimated that more than 100 people could attend and participate in the convention.

Miniature wargaming uses scale models or figures on a tabletop covered with three-dimensional terrain to recreate a historical or fantasy battle.

Players command forces in the battle with the help of rules. In addition, a variety of board and card games will be offered, including demonstration games hosted by representatives from Avalanche Press, Steve Jackson Games and Dan Verssen Games.

A feature at this year’s convention will be the simulation support team from Fort Leavenworth’s Command and General Staff College.

Contractors from Northrop Grumman’s Technical Services division will run a “Kriegsspiel” game, a forerunner of modern wargaming, adopted by the Prussian general staff in the 19th century.

The contractors also will demonstrate the practical use of wargaming in military planning by offering games used in the 1980s and 1990s to simulate a possible Cold War conflict.

“Another thing I like about this is a lot of parents show up with their kids, and this gets them excited about history and military history,” Machell said.

Lawrence Wargaming Club has just a few members and many of them “come and go,” Machell said. The club put on a few demonstrations last year at Lawrence Public Library.