"Battleground" Report.

If only we'd listened to Brian,we would have got to the venue much quicker,and easier,however we listened to Paul (who,I'm sure couldn't even find Nemo!!) and got slightly lost!! however on arriving at the College Campus,we were met by Leon,shown to our table,and got the game set up in record time-5 bodies(Dave,Brian,Paul, Graham and I) certainly helps!!
The hall was well lit,although a little cold(!!!) and very spacious,with most of the traders(and there was plenty to choose from) on the outside,leaving lots of room for the games and Bring and Buy in the central area.
A time limit had been set for the games to be set up(9.30am) and the "punters" were let in at 10.00am-great organisation and planning-all very efficient and it worked a treat.
Within the first hour or so the hall was filled with eager to spend wargamers,who also spent a bit of time chatting to us about our game,and those around us-we met some old and some new friends,all eager to ask about rules,figures etc.
The only critical thing I heard all day was that it took a long time to get served with food!-this didn't effect Brian and I,because,being old farts,we'd brought along enough food to feed the 5 thousand!!!
At the end of the day,having spent all of our money,and having had a great day's wargaming,we went home(with Graham navigating!!) with Leon's words echoing in our ears"See you next year,lads"-you certainly will-a great show,thanks to the organisers and everyone who took the time to talk to us.

Our table,all set up,and time to have a wander around the traders-look at the space around us!!

More of the games being set up-quite a range,from Napoleonics to Western shoot outs,WW2,7YW  and Fantasy-every taste was catered for.....................

Even this!!-Bizarre. You had to try and hit the Cup Cakes using a Tank(on the left of picture) and if you hit it you won the cake!!!-a bit like an old fashioned Coconut Shy,I suppose!

The spending frenzy has begun-you could almost smell the money!!!-old and young,male and female-an excellent mix!!

This gorgeous young woman,obviously attracted by our club members who reminded her of film stars and models,spent a bit of time chatting to us and photographing our game-she was the official photographer for the organisers!!

Charlie Wesencraft,looking like a rose between two thorns, stopped and chatted for a while.

In this shot of our game,the Hadendowah are just about to charge Dave's finger!-well, it's rude to point!!!-we actually played the game through to a conclusion(each side claiming a victory!!-but the British won really!)

This is the Bring and Buy area,which seemed to do very well,and some of the prices being charged for figures and terrain pieces was "realistic"-I have found a good way of getting people out of the way,when you want to see something,- is to say,in a loud voice,"excuse me but I'm going to be sick"-it works every time!!

Oh and there was a "Spot the Loony" competition too!!!!-I wonder who it is????
A few of the games put on by various local,and not so local,groups-well done to everyone who put on a game-high standards indeed.

Our mates,John and Neil put on a separate game to Robbie(see spot the Loony competition)

This was a fine Napoleonics game using "Blucher" rules-don't worry Neil,you hair looks fine!!

Re-enactors allowing someone to shoot one of the traders for not giving him "discount"-by the way,if you don't ask for discount,you won't get it-so always ask!!!!

One final shot of our game before we packed up and headed home-roll on next year!!