Game Free Shows

[Mike]

Following on from this:

https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/forums/topic/pay-to-put-on-a-display-game/

Would you like to go to a show that had zero games?
That space could be more traders and or tables to sit down and chill at for example.

(I suspect that the only person other than me to like this may be NCS.)

[Phil Dutré]

Probably not.

A show is fun because there’s a mix of events – shopping, gaming, browsing the B&B, a bar, a food stand, … Not all things appeal to everyone in the same way, but if there would only be trade stands, then where’s the fun?

I guess it depends on whether you see a show as a shopping mall, or whether you see a show as a place to socialize with other gamers.

[zippyfusenet]

Absolutely not. I go to a convention to play games. If a dealer at the con has something that catches my eye, I’ll buy it. But really, I can buy anything I want these days via the internet.

But, as Connard noted in that other thread, y’all are in the UK, not the US. So go on talking among yourselves about what concerns you.

You'll shoot your eye out, kid!

[Steve Johnson]

I go to see the games, chat with friends and gamers, then I’ll browse the traders. So no, I wouldn’t go to a show without any games.

[Ruarigh]

Like Steve Johnson, the main attraction of shows for me is to see what games are there that might inspire me, and to meet up with friends. I would not pay to get into a show that was only traders and no games for the same reason I would not pay to enter a shop to buy things.

Never argue with an idiot. They'll only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

https://roderickdale.co.uk/
https://emidsvikings.ac.uk/

[Andrew Beasley]

Interesting idea but I do not think I would travel far to do one now a days with the internet access to suppliers.

I’ve been to technical ‘shows’ that are basically sales pitches but each stand runs a demo of their products with you or arrange a more detailed discussion off the sales floor.  The home building show has lots of trade stands and limited number of demos / talks / meetings but neither of these are a good match to a hobby.

I have been to a model show and a couple of train shows – these are close to a ‘sales only’ show in that you cannot touch anything but the bits on the trade stands – though interesting, the total visit time was way less than my average wargames show.

The closest show I can think of currently is Vapnartak in York – lots and lots of stands and only a few participation games (I avoided the demo games and tournament sections as I was not playing in them) and I used that show to buy things BUT I normally looked on-line first to see what the suppliers did or was taking with them! I did find other suppliers with interesting things though so it did work.

[Jim Webster]

I am more likely to go to a show without games than a show without traders 🙂
Yes I would go to a game free show.

https://jimssfnovelsandwargamerules.wordpress.com/

[John D Salt]

I am more likely to go to a show without traders than a show without games.

Indeed, I find it very hard to see how you can call an event that has no wargames a wargames show.

All the best,

John.

[Mike]

A wargames trade show?

Where things from the traders are on show.

Vs.

A wargames convention.

Where people convene to play wargames?

I have worked at a builders merchants in the past and been to trade shows. No-one was making any buildings.

😉

 

 

[Mike Headden]

I go to shows to:
1. get ideas from the games on display
2. to talk to the people I only meet at shows
3. to talk to people I’ve never met before about the games and gaming
4. to try and sweet talk specific traders to make additions to their ranges that I want
5. to buy tat I’ll probably never use from the bring and buy
6. occasionally to pick up stuff from a select few traders – an excellent opportunity for 3. above
7. to check out stuff that is either not illustrated on the traders website or is difficult to get a good sense of from an illustration.

Buying from traders is something I usually do online so I can have stuff delivered to the door.

A show with no traders would be a disappointment, a show with no games a tragedy.

There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

[Jim Webster]

Mike wrote:

A wargames trade show? Where things from the traders are on show. Vs. A wargames convention. Where people convene to play wargames? I have worked at a builders merchants in the past and been to trade shows. No-one was making any buildings.

 

I too have been to industry trade shows and I think that the analogy is good.
I go to wargames shows to see wargames figures, to meet the people who make them and to see the toys they have to sell. A chance to see stuff in the flesh which otherwise I’d only have to buy on line.
Yes the games are fine, but frankly a lot of them aren’t worth travelling a minimum of a hundred and forty miles for. And I can play games here at our club.

I can see how somebody who doesn’t have local opponents and likes buying on line could well have different priorities

https://jimssfnovelsandwargamerules.wordpress.com/

[Whirlwind]

I guess I might go to a show that was traders only but it would have to be pretty comprehensive and offer something more than an hour or two’s browsing on the internet would.

[jeffers]

Jim +1.

I would be happy to attend a trader only show, but I think a wargaming show without a wargame would lack a certain something.

By the way, I’ve attended shows with participation games, demo games and as a trader so I appreciate the work that goes in to all three.

More nonsense on my blog: http://battle77.blogspot.com/

[deephorse]

I have yet to experience ‘fun’ at any wargame show I’ve ever been to.  I’m with Jim Webster on this.  Primarily my attendance is a shopping expedition.  Display games can provide a limited duration distraction, and I’m not interested in a short participation game either.  Maybe I’d have some ‘fun’ if I did!

Play is what makes life bearable - Michael Rosen

[Mike]

Indeed, fun for me is finding some models that meet my requirements.
I can then return home where calm prevails and there is less odour and noise.

[irishserb]

I would consider it, depending on the driving distance.

As an old school DIY style gamer, over the last 40 years, the hobby has largely evolved away from my interests, so most shows don’t feature many gaming events that are of particular interest to me.

Additionally, most convention these days seem to feature companies selling gaming/hobby/geekly stuff other than miniatures, or canned games that I can get at any local shop such as GW and Warlord. I only need so many dice towers, and don’t have any interest in canned games.

The idea of actually finding metal miniatures that aren’t part of a self contained marketing gimmick at a show would be refreshing.

[madman]

I go to conventions mainly for two (three?) purposes.

One try something I am interested in buying or getting into. Primarily a set of rules/game and secondarily a period.

Two to meet up with old friends (we are pretty spread out here in Canada) or find others nearby with similar interests. Included with this is “the vibe”.

Hot Lead was the first con in 3 years and scratched, primarily, the second itch well. As it was a little downsized the selection of different (as opposed to new only) rules or games was down a bit. Plus I have managed to play a wider variety of “new to me” titles before and to a lesser extent solo games during the lockdown.

[willz]

Yes I would attend Mike.

I suppose the best way is to compare the question to a toy soldier / train / toy swap meet.  At these they don’t have people playing with toy soldiers  / trains or toys and I visit them, also pay for the privilege to enter.  A wargame show is sold the fact it has both games and trade.  A pure show only doing wargame related products, yes well worth it.   What about car boot sales they sell wargame related products and there is no wargame tables at them.

In fact Mike I remember you ran one several years ago at Bristol and I had a trade stand there, it was an excellent day.  That one was mainly sci fi based and I sold a shed load of historical wargame items😁😁.

[Mike Headden]

I don’t understand those who go to shows simply to buy stuff and then have to lug it home when you can buy it online and get it delivered to your door for a pittance.

Now, if there were a show I could go to to buy stuff from US firms without the extortionate US postage costs and the hassle of dealing with VAT payments then that I would go to that even with no games in sight!!

There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

[Mike]

I do this so I can see in person the actual quality of the castings and if they match with what I already have in terms of size, one mans 10mm is another mans 12mm etc.
I would much rather go to a show and see if they are any good, than order a butt tonne online and have to send them back as they are not suitable.

Plus you have show offers, bring and buy etc.

[willz]

Mike wrote:

I do this so I can see in person the actual quality of the castings and if they match with what I already have in terms of size, one mans 10mm is another mans 12mm etc. I would much rather go to a show and see if they are any good, than order a butt tonne online and have to send them back as they are not suitable. Plus you have show offers, bring and buy etc.

Amen to that Mike, that’s why I like wargame shows or trade shows.

I mean the next thing you’ll be telling me is that you can buy a car online🤣.

[Mike Headden]

If I want to know if trader A’s figures are a close enough match to Trader B’s I search and ask online.

As to buying a car online …. It’s a cinch 😀

There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

[deephorse]

Mike Headden wrote:

I don’t understand those who go to shows simply to buy stuff and then have to lug it home when you can buy it online and get it delivered to your door for a pittance!

A show is also an opportunity to stumble across products that you’ve not heard of before, or to see something from a trader that you are aware of, but never considered buying.

Take Dave Lanchester Books as an example.  He has a fairly large stand at the few shows that I go to.  He has a mix of new and ‘pre-owned’ product for sale.  I very much welcome the opportunity to examine his books in person to see if they contain the kind of information that I want.  Buying online poses a certain risk in that regard, though I do buy many that way.

Play is what makes life bearable - Michael Rosen

[Jim Webster]

deephorse wrote:

A show is also an opportunity to stumble across products that you’ve not heard of before, or to see something from a trader that you are aware of, but never considered buying. Take Dave Lanchester Books as an example. He has a fairly large stand at the few shows that I go to. He has a mix of new and ‘pre-owned’ product for sale. I very much welcome the opportunity to examine his books in person to see if they contain the kind of information that I want. Buying online poses a certain risk in that regard, though I do buy many that way.

I love the serendipity of a good show, you never know what you’re going to find 🙂
And I’m a big chap so carrying what I’ve bought has never been an issue 😉
Also the savings I make with show discounts and not having to pay postage help cover the cost of the petrol getting there 🙂

 

https://jimssfnovelsandwargamerules.wordpress.com/

[Mike Headden]

I don’t see why not, my equivalent of the Jedi in the 5 Parsecs game I’m playing are the Hasslefree children figures which have a deliberately Jedi vibe. 28mm scale kids make excellent 20mm Jedi-alikes!

As far as I’m concerned, if all those involved in a game know what a model represents then it’s all good.

OOPS: OK, clearly this should be in the 15mm ringwraiths thread. Someone please take pity and move it for me. Thank you.

There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

[Steve Johnson]

I haven’t noticed any show discounts of late, compared to say 10 years ago when you did get good show discounts.

[Jim Webster]

Steve Johnson wrote:

I haven’t noticed any show discounts of late, compared to say 10 years ago when you did get good show discounts.

 

I haven’t been to a show for over two years, but the last one I went to, because there were half a dozen of us from the club spontaneously decided on a club project when we saw the figures, we got 20% off and no postage 🙂

It was surprising how much traders were happy to round prices down and similar 🙂

https://jimssfnovelsandwargamerules.wordpress.com/

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