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Author Topic: Salute 2014  (Read 41151 times)

Offline H.M.Stanley

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #240 on: 15 April 2014, 01:31:46 PM »
Yes, there weren't that many spectaculars this year, were there?

A lot of nice looking games - but lots of them were these mini table layouts which seem very much in vogue... Maybe all aimed at short, sharp participation games?
...

But very few outstanding display games either...

My first Salute. This sums it up for me. A gigantic shopping exercise really

Perhaps we're spoilt what with the shows at Derby, Triples, Newark etc
"Ho, ho, ho! Well, if it isn't fat stinking billy goat Billy Boy in poison! How art thou, thou globby bottle of cheap, stinking chip oil? Come and get one in the yarbles, if ya have any yarbles, you eunuch jelly thou!"

Offline Mason

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #241 on: 15 April 2014, 02:28:22 PM »
My first Salute. This sums it up for me. A gigantic shopping exercise really

My thoughts exactly.

I used to LOVE Salute but the move to Excel killed it for me.
Olympia was a great atmospheric venue, but I do understand that a bigger venue was needed.
Just wish it was not in an aircraft hanger......

I much prefer smaller shows now....maybe I am just getting old.



Offline alrith72

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #242 on: 15 April 2014, 10:03:23 PM »
Contrary to the trend of the topic I actually got bored very quickly this year to the point where i'll probably give it a miss for a few years now. Can't put my finger on why exactly but by mid day I was ready to go home.

Offline Atheling

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #243 on: 16 April 2014, 06:04:32 AM »
Contrary to the trend of the topic I actually got bored very quickly this year to the point where i'll probably give it a miss for a few years now. Can't put my finger on why exactly but by mid day I was ready to go home.

Tired? Or do you think the standard of games has slipped (from the pics it didn't look like it to me). Maybe it's the Excel Centre?

Darrell.

Offline Captain Blood

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #244 on: 16 April 2014, 07:08:19 AM »
It is tiring, no doubt about it. Partly it's the gloom in the exhibition space itself, partly it's walking about or standing up for several hours solid, partly it's because Excel itself - never mind Salute - is so rammed with teeming hordes of jostling people that it's just an incredibly wearing environment, and partly it's because the initial excitement and anticipation of a big day out gets replaced by tiredness after a few hours and the adrenalin wears off! Leaving one feeling knackered. I fully intended to spend the whole day there, but was wiped out by 3pm and called it a day shortly afterwards  ::)

Getting old!  :'(

Offline Silent Invader

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #245 on: 16 April 2014, 08:25:26 AM »
Interesting comments. 

It's the first time I've paid to be at Salute.  If it hadn't been for the opportunity to catch up with chaps, I doubt that I would have gone.  I didn't go with a list to buy and I didn't buy anything.  To some extent I was hampered by the lack of a map (I know I didn't arrive until noon but for the ticket price it would have been nice to have been given even a photocopied sheet of the floorplan). The dull lighting also didn't help, which isn't directly a host or organiser thing, as centres like this expect the exhibitors to illuminate their own stands in the way that they want to (albeit paying for the privilege of a socket and power).  I expect that Excel is kind of geared towards businesses with a bigger promotional budget than your typical wargaming enterprise.  ;)

Aside from meeting chaps, a bonus was seeing the various games that I have watched being put together by fellow LAFers though how I managed to miss Akula's disco-lighting in the gloom I really don't know (maybe gamers were drawn to it like moths to a candle, so it was hidden from view as I did my walk around  :D). After spending time at the Foundry stand looking for anything that might be useful to my Boer War project, I left after about 3 hours.

To sum up the learnings: My only complaint is the absence of a map.  Before setting off, I knew it'd be £15 to park, £11 to get in, that I had nothing in mind to buy, that the lighting would be poor, that the floor would be hard, that crowds might get in my way. 

Anyways: on the plus side, I last went two years ago and within 24 hours was hospitalised with viral meningitis  :o but this year I am no more delirious than is my usual state of mind  :D

So this year Salute was quite a result, met up with LAFers, saw great games/boards that I've watched LAFers build and didn't end up at Death's door!  lol
My LAF Gallery is HERE
Minis (foot & mounted) finished in 2025 = 74
(2024 = 38; 2023 = 151; 2022 = 204; 2021 = 123; 2020 = ???)

Offline alrith72

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #246 on: 16 April 2014, 08:52:45 AM »
Tired? Or do you think the standard of games has slipped (from the pics it didn't look like it to me). Maybe it's the Excel Centre?

Darrell.

Think a lot of it is the fact that our driver insisted on getting there stupid early (we arrived at 8am!) might have had something to do with it as we were standing in a queue for 2 hours before going in. Sounds daft but I don't pay huge attention to the games anyway unless something really catches my eye but was a little disappointed the Full Thrust Galactica game wasn't there, was looking forward to seeing that. Also the weird thing is the last 2 years I've gone with virtually no money to spend and really enjoyed but this year I had plenty but found nothing that really tempted me to open my wallet (I only bought the Jugula rules and 2 decks of the cards plus some bases from Warbases)

Offline Chesh

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #247 on: 16 April 2014, 09:00:56 AM »
Last year was my first one and I remember taking time to look at each of the games as i walked around.

I missed out on a copy of In Her Majestys Name by doung this.

This year i was so focused on making sure i got everything i wanted i was almost rushing round buying things all morning.  Then when i had done so and got something to eat my arms were laiden down i didnt have the energy to spend time looking at all the games.

Ive made a mental note of this for next year

Offline Chilledenuff

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #248 on: 16 April 2014, 02:26:38 PM »
I also thought Salute was darker this year especially if you compared it with the brightness escaping fromthe wedding cake exhibition across the hall.  Still the extra space was brilliant (did anyone actually miss there being a bring and buy?) which made the day far more comfortable.  Thoroughly enjoyable day all told,looking forward to next year... might have to bring some battery powered lighting though :)
Smile!  It's not that bad!

Offline H.M.Stanley

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #249 on: 16 April 2014, 02:41:35 PM »
Head torches will be de rigueur ...  :D

Offline Vermis

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #250 on: 16 April 2014, 02:49:15 PM »
It is tiring, no doubt about it. Partly it's the gloom in the exhibition space itself, partly it's walking about or standing up for several hours solid, partly it's because Excel itself - never mind Salute - is so rammed with teeming hordes of jostling people that it's just an incredibly wearing environment, and partly it's because the initial excitement and anticipation of a big day out gets replaced by tiredness after a few hours and the adrenalin wears off! Leaving one feeling knackered.

That's my excuse for the LAF meetup anyway. :` Including two previous days of charging around London in a state of excitement and stress. (Though in addition, I don't think I've been a LAFer long enough to know many of you well. "Oh, that's Captain Blood! He does kick-arse GoT conversions. What do I say - 'I like your kick-arse GoT conversions!' What else? Er... Um..." etc. etc.)
What else? I had a shopping list, but just after dropping £250+ to get to London and stay there, it got a little truncated. So between awkward shuffling, not much to buy, and an inability to take in (or even hear) the demo games I peeked at...

That makes it sound rubbish, though! I'm still glad I went, saw stuff, and met those of you who were also there. Maybe next year I'll have more than two words to say. :D

Offline gamer Mac

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #251 on: 16 April 2014, 03:02:04 PM »
You will have trouble getting to know us if you dodn't introduce your self at these things, we don't  bite , well at least most of us don't and thunderchickem wasn't there only some of his buildings?
I noticed the bad lighting, how much does it cost the traders for an electrical supply ? I also thought it a bit strange that there was loads of spare room about the place, apart from at the traders stalls where it was like a rugby scrum . Are the traders allocated a certain size for their stalls?

Offline Silent Invader

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #252 on: 16 April 2014, 03:15:34 PM »
Yeah the traders pay per size of pitch, tight use of which can result in those "three rucksacks in a tight corner" type of ruckus!

Vermis: I don't think I met you* but would have liked to say hello (you've given me great sculpting advice before).



*I am terrible with names and faces

Offline zizi666

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #253 on: 16 April 2014, 03:25:30 PM »
So, next year we should all wear a t-shirt with our avatar and forum name  ::)
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

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Offline Silent Invader

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Re: Salute 2014
« Reply #254 on: 16 April 2014, 03:44:15 PM »
So, next year we should all wear a t-shirt with our avatar and forum name  ::)

Or we could just change our usernames to the branding (or whatever) on our favourite t-shirt ....

 

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