Battleground 2014 (formerly Smoggycon!)

[Leon Pendraken]

Battleground 2014 will be taking place this coming Saturday, 29th November, at the Queens Campus Sports Hall in Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6BH.  We've added direction pdf's for every direction, so download those from the website here: http://www.battlegroundshow.co.uk/#!venue/chhf and here's a map as well, just in case:




We've got 35 traders and 21 games this year, with several new companies added to this years line up.  Head over to the Traders or Games pages of our website for all the details on those: http://www.battlegroundshow.co.uk/#!traders/c24i2  In unfortunate news, Cozzmic Cakes has been taken to hospital this weekend and will be unable to attend.  We wish Corrine all the best and we hope she's feeling better soon.

Our Tabletop Sale is being run by the Middlesbrough Gamers Club and will be open for bookings from 9:30am.  Here you can hire a 6ft table for £1 per half hour to sell any unwanted goodies you've got laying about, then once your time is up you can head off into the show and spend you hard earned pennies!

Catering on the day is provided by the Aroma Cafe, situated on the other side of the car park, and it will be open from 8am for drinks and 9:30am for hot food.  The location of the cafe is shown on our layout map:




If there's any queries at all, just give us a shout either through the Battleground or Pendraken websites, or through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BattlegroundShow

[Elk101]

Just back from this and I thought it was a good one. There was a good amount of traders and games on display. The Vietnam games was a cracker. Good to meet Leon and have a chat too. The Tabletop Workshop castles were very nice indeed too (I collapsed and bought a tower). All in all a better venue and a decent show I thought.

[Leon Pendraken]

Just back from this and I thought it was a good one. There was a good amount of traders and games on display. Good to meet Leon and have a chat too.

Thanks for the comment, good to hear you enjoyed the day!

Very impressive on all accounts.

Bought some great books, and other stuff. My one complaint if I have one...no concessions for us oldies  still I do not begrudge paying full price for such a good show.

Thanks for that, we have chatted about various options on the entry fees and it's something we're constantly keeping an eye on.

Thanks to everyone else who came along yesterday as well, visitors, traders and gamers!

The numbers were slightly increased from last year, which is a great result when moving a show.  The Queens Campus was also a much better venue than the old one and the majority of the feedback we've had so far has been very positive.  As with any change of venue there are a few creases we need to iron out, but we'll get those sorted and we'll be back next year on Saturday 28th November 2015!

We'll also be uploading the pictures, and putting together a proper show report, in the next few days, so we'll pop that up once it's done! Thanks again to everyone!

[Leon Pendraken]

We've just uploaded all of the photo's from this years show, so head over and have a look on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.504863642989228.1073741831.388912817917645&type=3  (There's over 100 of them on there, so it was easier to use Facebook for it!)

Here's a quick selection as well:

[Elk101]

I really fancied playing that Chain of Command winter game. There seemed to be some good discussions going on between the participation and demo game runners and the attendees,  which is always nice to see at a show.

[Dave Knight]

Richard, who was running it, is the author of the latest supplement for CoC and a great bloke (a freind of mine).  If you go to Monty's Wargames World you will see what shows he is attending  and where he is putting games on.  They tend to be a bit longer than your usal show participation game and offer a good introduction to the rules

[Elk101]

Please see review on this blog - not happy reading 

http://gloriouslittlesoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2014_12_01_archive.html

Big Andy is not known for his subtlety. I still enjoyed it.

[Dave Knight]

I can't comment on Battleground as I was unable to attend.  I am not sure if I would have if I had been in the area though as I like to play a participation game or two when I go to a show and what was on offer did not appeal that much.

However as someone who started going to wargames shows in the north east in the late 70's and have done so ever since (less so in recent years since I moved to Scotland) my observation is that the gaming element has never been that strong in the area.  For some reason there is not so much of an ethos of a club project to put good games on at shows (there are some exceptions of course).

It is interesting going to Scottish shows where a farly high proportion of clubs tend to put on games at the major shows and the smallers ones also get a very good turnout. It really suprised me when I moved up here and certainly adds to the 'buzz' of the events.

I think most NE wargamers don't miss what they have never had and are happy to treat shows as shopping trips.

[Dave Knight]

One other thought - you might want to invite the Wings of Glory Areodrome guys along - they put on great participation games

[Leon Pendraken]

Please see review on this blog - not happy reading 

http://gloriouslittlesoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2014_12_01_archive.html

Yeah, unfortunately not a glowing review there, but judging by the earlier post in advance of the show (http://gloriouslittlesoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/battleground.html) there was already a pretty negative view of the event before actually attending it.

From the other traders, every one I've emailed since the show (nearly half of the traders) has reported increased takings, so combined with the increased footfall, nicer venue and positive response from all the visitors, we're pretty happy with it!

I would have liked to have seen more folks on the bring and buy tables (only 2 guys with stuff most of the time I was there and there was a big area allocated - but I still managed to find something I wanted). The traders got my money so it stayed in the hobby.

The Tabletop was a disappointing turnout this year, and we're not quite sure why to be honest.  Last year there were 12 tables and they were all fully booked from 10am-2pm and then a few of them right through until 4pm.  This year we added an extra table for the expected rush and it just never happened.  I'll be having a chat with the Middlesbrough Gamers Club in January probably, and we can work out what to do next year to boost the uptake again.

I can't comment on Battleground as I was unable to attend.  I am not sure if I would have if I had been in the area though as I like to play a participation game or two when I go to a show and what was on offer did not appeal that much.

I've chatted with a few folks about the games and ratios of display to participation.  We'll increase the participation side where possible (it was almost 50/50 this year) but as an organiser you're relying on the clubs to come along and put the games on.  It's those guys who are putting a huge amount of time, effort (and money!) into their games, so we're just appreciative of them coming along and supporting the event.

 

[Dave Knight]

I fully understand that show organisers are in the hands of the clubs and traders wanting to put games on - my comment was a general one on NE clubs and the support that they give to shows (with honourable exceptions of course).

[Leon Pendraken]

I fully understand that show organisers are in the hands of the clubs and traders wanting to put games on - my comment was a general one on NE clubs and the support that they give to shows (with honourable exceptions of course).

We'd like to bring more clubs along next year, as it adds more variety to the show and gets more bodies along as well.  There are a huge number of clubs in the North-East, so hopefully as the shows grow we'll see more of them asking to put games on.  I was actually chatting with Kenny about the Falkirk lads bringing a game down, so that could be something for 2015, and another local-ish club asked about it at this years show as well. 

Hopefully we can tempt you down as well!

 

[fastolfrus]

We've been to lots of shows over the years, from Claymore in Edinburgh to Bovington, Northern Militaire and Phalanx on the West Coast, Smoggycon, Durham, Beverley, and Scarborough on the right side of the Pennines.

What do we like at shows?
A good mix of traders with reasonable light - the old Derby show at the Assembly Rooms and Vapnartak at the Merchant Venturers were atmospheric, friendly shows but appalling for any serious shopping.
A good mix of games with some good looking display games - Partizan always has splendid looking tables
A mix of fun participation games - Brompton Bankers are quite light-hearted, (but so are a lot of other clubs.)
Clear directions to get there, or signs - really liked the photo-directions for Smoggycon.
Reasonable parking, a cash machine nearby is handy but not compulsory (especially if it's advertised that there is no cash machine).
Good, sensibly-priced catering. It would be cheaper to buy beer than tea at Derby and Hammerhead. Retford has brilliant cakes.

We hope to be back at Smoggycon next year.

[Leon Pendraken]

We've just put up a full report on the show if anyone fancies a read: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,11025.0.html

 

[ACW Gamer]

What is the "OFW crowd"?