Salute 2026

  

Another year and another Salute wargames show. The largest one day wargames show in the UK and after a hard start to the year for me with various issues and being chased by the black dog, after I wasn't that impressed with the show last year, I was contemplating not going at all. However convinced by friends I made my way down to London for it. 

Not as early as I usually do, and I prebooked parking so that wasn't much of an issue (apart from the extortionate cost) The queue as you can see from the pics was immense but didn't seem as disorganised as previous years and the doors opened 10 minutes early so I got into the show pretty much just like I would have done previously arriving really early and being near the head of the queue.

                        

Once in the majority of my time was made up of doing a full sweep of the hall as usual. Finding what traders and games I want to visit and play later on during the day. The place was packed but avenues were wide and apart from vary buy stalls (good for the traders) it didn't feel overcrowded.

Personally I thought the traders this year monopolised the space over games, a lot of companies had their own demo games attached but as per separate gaming I thought this was down on previous years (I could be wrong)

The show for me is mainly about meeting up with all and sundry I know and catching up and the chances of making new friends. I did not have a shopping list in mind this year but at the end of the post you will see I didn't do too bad with my haul.

One game stood out for me and I picked up a Rulebook and miniatures bundle. This is SAND a DUNE inspired small scale Melee Skirmish game from Crow Industries. The rulebook was a limited print run for the show but I am sure after its huge success they will do more. At present though you can get the pdf and 3D print miniatures from their Patreon site.

I played Trench Crusade as I have had a passing interest in this game, and as much as I really enjoyed the game and the dynamics of the rules, I don't think I will be investing in it any time soon, only for the fact that I have a couple of other game systems that are taking all my time.

In the end I played more games, caught up with really good friends and some really nice people and had a rather good time.

I might be going again next year!

Annual Bloggers/Old Gits meet up

The Haul

I managed to get my hands on a great deal for a load of old BattleTech novels, plus Leisure games had a bunch of BattleTech miniatures game Salvage boxes including vehicle ones (which are hard to find in the UK) so I impulse bought a load. I picked up a show exclusive Vampire mini from Alex at Warp miniatures and as mentioned the SAND Melee skirmish game bundle, along with the usual SALUTE freebies and dice.

Merry Christmas 2025

 To everyone for however you celebrate this time of year. 

Guards of Traitors Toll - The first game.

After what feels like an inordinate amount of time, I have finally managed to get a game of Traitors Toll to the table. In reality its probably the first proper game I have had at my wargames club since June due to real life factors.

Setting up the table with the fantastic Battle Systems Fantasy village terrain, with various 3D printed elements and Mantic terrain crate bits made it feel really immersive for an area of town. 

If people are not aware, this game is not your typical wargame but a mash of skirmish/RPG elements in that the game runs with an NPC/card/event deck controlling many civilian/criminal models that are scattered around the town and rival guard patrols (controlled by players) compete to solve/arrest/complete criminals, tasks or situations.

So with my friend Nic and I taking a Guard patrol each, civilian models were placed throughout the town. Plot deck was generated, this would give us the tasks to play through as well and adding a major plot (unknown until drawn) 

We started drawing action tokens for guards, plots and suspects as and when they arrived and during the game ended up dealing with a drunken goblin, muggings, stabbings, lost visitors, a dangerous killers as well as evil whispers which echoed around the streets.

The major plot saw a Wizard Duel conducted on the conveniently placed Wizards Tower (this was completely coincidental as I placed the terrain before the major plot cards was chosen blind and added to the deck.

At the end of the game, we had failed to arrest a couple of suspects, managed to arrest both Wizards and gain a few gold coins as well as have some of our guards learn new skills. As Nic had the most gold coins he won.

A brilliant game, great concept and the way it plays with the interactive NPC elements keeps it fresh as nothing is ever the same.

Guards of Traitors Toll - Lord Kalinan’s Patrol

I have recently finished my second Guard Patrol for Guards of Traitors Toll. Again I have added a few extra element to the normal Wargames Atlantic Guard miniatures. This time I have included a Wargames Atlantic Halfling Militia miniature and a Wargames Atlantic Mounted Sergeant, from their Barons War range (converted with a few guards bits)

So to introduce Lord Kalinan's Rowse Street Guardhouse, North Watch.

Members

Guard Captain Marmaduke Hartstein (nicknamed Count Marmalade)

Guard Sergeant Krieg Breitsamer

Watch Constable Kuhne Graftschaber

Watch Constable Ludmila Maintal

Watch Constable Spey Aachener

Watch Constable Sabine Plaiff

Watch Constable Oskar Kartoffel (affectionally know as Toffee Apple)

Watch Constable Frederick Eisner (Elder of the Eisner twins)

Watch Constable George Eisner (Younger by 5 minutes of the Eisner twins)

Watch Constable Alberich Schutze (Mounted Patrol)

The Rowse Street Regulators