PARTIZAN June 2, 2013

[ffrum]

I am an American wargamer, a long time member of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society HMGS (Midwest), living near Chicago, Illinois.  I have been a participant on this wonderful LAF for some months now.  This is a great resource for gamers.

Can I ask a few questions about a planned visit to the British Isles and get information from my fellow gamers in the British Isles?

I will have the opportunity to visit England Scotland Wales May 31 through June 10, 2013, with my wife and two daughters (22 and 18).

During our trip there, I have been granted leave in the agenda to attend a convention.  Would Partizan at Newark, 2nd June be a good show to attend?  I picked that show from the Newark Irregulars convention calendar based upon dates I will be in the country.

I have never attended a show anywhere but the in U.S.  I have run very large 28mm scale F&IW and ACW games at conventions here (Historicon, Cold Wars, Little Wars, RockCon, and several other smaller venues) and constructed terrain for many other games run by friends and associates (55 Days at Peking, Hastings, Viking Raids, Fort Necessity, Fort Duquesne, Fort Elizabeth, Foriegn Legion, Agincourt, Rorkes Drift, Islanawanda, Waterloo, WWII ruins, Mexico City, Stalingrad, and many more, etc) 

In the past, I have also attended some conventions as a dealer of terrain and buildings I have marketed for gamers.   I have a few game photos on the LAF (Fort Duquesne, a fictional Post-ACW Western Confederate/Mexican battle over a train, a UN raid on the river port where the Hunley is being constructed, with three steamers and a shipyard,  Harpers Ferry, etc.) of some of my games.

For many years I have patronized Wargames Foundry, Dixon Miniatures, Essex, Britannia, Redoubt, Anisty Miniatures, etc. from my side of the Atlantic.

Can you please offer me some assistance with information about attending this show?  We will fly into London on May 31, and travel out from there.  Where would you recommend staying in the area of Newark?  Would you recommend a rental auto for travel there from London and elsewhere in Brittan, Scotland and Ireland.  What is the cost of attending the show?  Is the dealer area substantial and a good place to shop for wargame “wants”?

Please give me some feedback and information about Partizan.

[Dags]

Partizan is one of the best of the smaller shows here in the UK - good selection of traders including some from your list and plenty of interesting games. Entry cost is minimal - £5ish and you pay on the day.

For travel you could get the train up from London to Newark (about 1hr 45m) on the day (and back afterwards) - the Irregulars certainly used to run a taxi service to and from the station - drop them a line and see if they still do... they're a good bunch of lads

There are several hotels in Newark if you wanted to stay in the area - but none within 'easy' walking distance of Kellham Hall - nearest is a good couple of miles iirc.

[fastolfrus]

Newark can be an interesting place to stay, and Shaun (Bunker Wargames) is based there.
His wife is a non-gamer so might be able to give advice for things for your wife & daughter to do locally.

[Dewbakuk]

One thing I will say, is that be prepared for a completely different experience to the US cons. The main purpose of the UK shows tends to be shopping and meeting up with people. While Partizan usually has some good games on, it's more cramped than the US cons and there are less. Plus of course it's only one day. That said, the games tend to look better than the average games at US cons, you're unlikely to see lots of green table mats with coloured felt on*



*I'm sure you're games were never like this 

[Grimjack]

I am lucky in that I attend a large number of UK shows and have had the good fortune to visit Orccon in Los Angeles, my first ever US show.

Partizan is exactly as Dewkabuk says, much more cramped than a US show but with great traders selling goods which cost less than US prices, especially with regard to postage. Also, don't forget, Nottingham and the surrounding area is pretty much THE home of wargaming. Northstar, Warlord Games and Arcane Scenery are quite close to the city centre and each other and you can visit with a little bit of notice. The Perry's still have an office in the city but most of their product can be purchased from Nick Eyre at Northstar. Nick is great and has his own ranges, plus handles distribution for almost every type of figure, rulebook and building you could ever want. Of course, you could stay in the city centre and visit Foundry on St. Mark's Street, not far from the only decent shopping centre we have left. Trains to and from Nottingham from London are plentiful and there are good hotels you can stay in if you like. Plus, all these places can be reached by taxi very easily - and now I am the Wargamer's Tour Guide for the Spiritual Home of Wargaming, Nottingham! you could even visit Warhammer World and join the multitude who spend vast amounts of money on nice but over-priced products.

When I went to Orccon, a very nice dealer suggested I buy another suitcase to take items home or send them via the US mail. I understood what he meant as my wife and I staggered out of the venue laden with goodies, all discounted thanks to something called 'President's Day Weekend'. This suitcase was also helpful after I visited Brookhurst Hobbies and bought the stuff I had always wanted at great prices.

And that, in essence, is what Partizan and the other shows in the UK are, shopping malls where you get to see or take part in great games, chat to all kinds of friendly folk and spend an awful lot of money on things that you only probably see on the internet!

[ffrum]

Thank you all for your comments and information on Partizan.  I am very excited to attend and experience the affair in "THE home of wargaming."

I may try to arrange to stay in Nottingham with my family for the night after the show.  We most likely will take advantage of a hub and spoke visit where you drive from town to town (up to three) in different parts of the country, staying at each for a few days and exploring the surrounding area and attractions.  Suggestions?

Any addtional advice will be welcome, especially from the "Wargamer's Tour Guide for the Spiritual Home of Wargaming, Nottingham!"  Thanks Grimjack, I appreciate your words.

I was lucky to have visited London and Edinborough 22 years ago.  I carried a lot of lead home on the plane on that trip (and Tullamore Dew).  The extra bag is a good move, except now one must pay for luggage on most airlines.

[Grimjack]

Foundry is open on a Saturday but Northstar and the others are only open on weekdays, so plan accordingly.

Sounds a bit stalker-esque but PM me when you intend to stay over in Nottingham and I can always point you in the right direction or offer a 'taxi', etc. My wife may also have advice for shopping for the other members of your adventuring party, the actual city centre has many delights for the discerning lady shopper!

Most of all, enjoy your visit to the U of K and embrace the difference between shows when you hit Partizan.