I only made it 1 show last year...Salute, almost a year ago. I usually get along to Colours and Warfare later in the year but these clashed with work or family things and, to be honest, I wasn't really fussed about going along. This year I feel a bit more like getting back out in the wider wargamey world but then realised that Salute this year will clash with a big day at work so that's out of the question.
One of the shows I always enjoyed going to is Cavalier in Tonbridge, Kent. Checking the blog it turns out it's been a shocking 9 years since I was last at the show. It's a fairly modest, quite traditional show and must be one of the earliest in the year. So on Sunday it was off round a remarkably quiet M25 and, after a bit of negotiating some road closures, into the Angel Centre.
Like I said, Cavalier is a pretty traditional shoe but has its own charm. Nearly all the games were historical (with a couple of exceptions) and the traders, apart from Warlord Games and a couple of others, seemed to be more smaller companies.
The games were pretty good... a good mix of demo and participation games. My usual gripe about organisers of games concentrating more on the game than interacting still stands in a couple of cases but most were pretty good at engaging the punters. I bumped into a couple of people I knew... one from my old Guildford club, and it was nice to catch up with Ray of Don't Throw a 1 fame. I bought precisely... nothing.
I spent a while browsing but there wasn't anything that caught my eye and I stuck to my resolve (mentioned in my last post) of not hoovering up yet more rules that I don't need. ( my name is Alastair and it has been 3 weeks since my last rules purchase....)
So here are a small selection of photies... sometimes I've even made a note of the subject and club, apologies if I didn't. I also missed a few games
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| Malplaquet 1709 - Hailsham Wargames Club |
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| The Labyrinths of Mars - Maidstone Wargames Club |
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| Polish Blitzkrieg - Deal Wargames Club |
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| The Mogaisciou 1993 - Milton Hundred Wargames Club |
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| Launch all Fighters - Friday Night Firefight Club |
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| Kent & Sussex D&D and RPG Club |
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| Port Arthur or bust! Tonbridge Wargames Club |
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| Team Yankee Game - Gravesend Gamers Guild |
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| The Englishman's Castle -Shepway Wargamers |
I did not go to Cavalier this year. Mainly because I just do not need anything. Salute is just hell on earth to me now, I have not been for well over a decade. How will traders survive if no one attends shows or if they do they buy nothing? It’s Overlord in Abingdon this weekend. I am not going to that either, none of the increasingly small amount of traders that now attend inspire me to make any purchases. Simon
ReplyDeleteI think the overheads for traders and the domination of online sales must make it a risky day out. Maybe better for the smaller, more local traders who want to be more visible
DeleteCan't believe you didn't buy anything Alastair..lol!
ReplyDeleteI have great self-control Ray!! :)
DeleteThe event just gets smaller and smaller. It will disappear soon. At least one of the traders is retiring this year. Mike P
ReplyDeleteIt still seemed reasonably busy by lunchtime... I was pleasantly surprised
DeleteBut all the footfall seemed to be old guys like me! Mike
DeleteYou and me both Mike!! It's certainly a noticeable difference at shows like Salute
DeleteLooks like a great show with plenty of games
ReplyDelete