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.
5 main halls were used this year, with Hall 1 used mainly used for open gaming and tournaments as well as housing the Big Expo Dragon figure that usually sits at the opening. It also had a museum exhibition showing items and pictures from across the two decades of the show running.
I have mentioned before how much I love this show and the weekend as a whole. You just immerse yourself in it and its open to everyone, regardless of your everyday beliefs, bias's, prejudices, they disappear, the Expo hosts everyone from every background, young or old and no one bats an eyelid. we are all one and there to enjoy out geeky, nerdy, weirdness and its amazing.
