Monday 10 June 2019

Broadside 2019 - Rejects go Red!

The sports hall filled up quickly and stayed busy most of the day; the company was friendly with wargame regulars rubbing shoulders with families who popped in having been to the pool next door; the club demo games covered a wide range of periods and were generally of a high calibre. This could describe every Broadside Wargames Show we have attended over the years and Sunday's event was equally good as any we have been too before. A small but very friendly show with great games and a good selection of traders.

Posties Rejects have sort of adopted this as our 'local show' and put on a demo here every year. This time it was Ray's turn to devise a game and we were able to have two goes at his recreation of the Battle of Killiecrankie. Not only did we put on our annual demo game but this year saw us 'rebranded' with new Red polo shirts. Black seems to be the colour of preference for the majority of people attending these shows and we sort of merged into the background with our old black polo shirts. Now there is no denying we stand out!

Running a demo can best be described as exhausting fun, and we were all shattered by the end of the day. We had gathered at Posties at 7am to load up the cars and were at the venue by the time the doors opened to exhibitors about 8am. Once we had set up we all had a brief chance to look around the traders and club games before we started on our demo. Interest seemed to be high and we had several detailed conversations with experienced gamers interested in the period we were playing or the rules we used. We also had several family groups pass by and the kids seemed to enjoy the colourful figures we had on display.

Setting up before the show started. The terrain was all items we use for our regular games and Ray used a lot of it for this scenario.

With visitors beginning to arrive we got started on the first of two games. Ray and Postie umpired and handled all the 'admin' while Richard and Surjit played against Dave and John. I was nominally helping the latter pair play the Jacobites but I was so busy talking to visitors they got little assistance from me. 

There was a good selection of traders at the show this year but we were so busy with our game that we didn't really get a proper look around. I still managed to get a good book on the campaigns of Alexander the great and some modelling supplies, as well as another T-Shirt from Art of War. I also didn't get much time to look at the other games but did snatch five minutes to whiz around and snap a few pictures.

Corsair vs Mustang - Dogfight ‘69 (Participation) by Maidstone Wargames Society

The Colonel’s Jammed and the Gatling’s Dead (Demonstration) by S.E.E.M.S

War in Middle Earth (Demonstration) by Shepway Wargames Club - Winner of best Game in Show

Trophy Hunting in the Lost Valley (Participation) by Friday Night Fire Fight

A Song of Ice & Fire (Demonstration) by Medway Wargames Society

Star Wars Legion (Demonstration) by Emotionally 14



Assault on Cap D’Enfola - Elba 1944 (Demonstration) by Deal Wargames Society

Flames of War ‘Late War’ reveal (Demonstration) by Battlefront Miniatures
Kill Team (Demonstration) by The Emperor’s 10th Games Club
There were also a selection of Boardgames for Participation being run so all in all a wide selection of games and genres. 
I didn't get much time to wander and join in, but that's only because we were so busy with our game. As always we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed running a demo game and meeting so many nice people. We were all exhausted by the time we got back to Posties and unpacked. We had a quick cuppa and a post-show chat then I decided to hit the road home. Unfortunately, instead of my usual, 35-minute drive took over two hours due to an accident in one of the Dartfort tunnels, so by the time I got home I just slumped on the sofa, utterly spent. Still, there's worse ways to spend a Sunday. 

14 comments:

  1. What a fine body of men! It looks like a cracking show Lee.

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  2. The red actually looks fantastic, with your groups red on white logo et all

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    1. We considered Orange and even Pink but I think the Red looked best. It certainly made it easier to round up stray Rejects when packing up time came around!

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  3. It was good to see you all again on Sunday. Nice pics of the games :)

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    1. Thanks Tamsin. I happy with the pictures, especially as I only had my new phone to snap them with.

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  4. Looks like a grand show, and I'm happy to hear things went well!

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    1. We always seem to get a good response at this show and its good to see a mix of people coming through the doors.

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  5. Cool pics Lee. Don't we look good in red!!!

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    1. We do look sexy don't we...lol. Seriously though, I think the new colour looks excellent. Nice call Ray!

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  6. Looks like a cracking show, and you do all look very smart in your new livery :-)

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    1. Thank you. Its an excellent little show

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  7. Hey! Who let the guy with the blue shirt in?

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