Hammerhead 2022 visit

[Norm S]

Hammerhead is back after 2 years and it felt good.

I have put up a bit of a show report on the blog. LINK

http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2022/03/hammerhead-2022-wargame-show-uk.html

[Tony S]

Speaking as a Canadian, I’ve always found it slightly alien that UK conventions don’t have more participation games.  I’ve never actually been to a convention here that wasn’t all participation games.  I’ve never seen even a single demonstration game at any Con.

Mind you, I must say that the average standard of display shown at your conventions is far superior to what I’m used to.    A result of demonstration versus participation?   Or are there games that do use masking tape for roads, and plain brown cardboard ovals with “woods” written on them, but you naturally don’t take photos of those.  (I’m not exaggerating either; I remember one DBM tournament player who’s terrain was indeed made from unpainted old cereal boxes).

Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

[Mike]

I am with you on the demo game. Unless it is amazing to look at and the creators will explain the techniques used then I am not interested.

[Norm S]

Tony, I suppose photographing does become selective as the eye picks up on the photogenic scenes, however, even accepting that, on the show scene in the UK (my only experience), game tables are typically of a high and inspiring standard. Home and club tables are likely to be more ‘normal’, but even then, when you look at the myriad of blog posts, people are putting nice terrain pieces down on the table.

I recently saw a video on a US con and thought that the tables there were lovely.

We do have a lot of wargame shows in the UK, so there is good opportunity to buy terrain. Also, just some very simple things like the introduction of fleece style printed game mats have significantly moved us on in visual terms.

[Not Connard Sage]

This isn’t a troll.

Presentation games are like a bad steak, neither rare nor well done. Pretty to look at though.

Participation games? If I wanted to play a game with a bunch of smelly misfits, I’d nip around the local club.

I don’t go to shows, haven’t done so for years. They had a point in pre-internet days. Now you have to wonder…

why?

Obvious contrarian and passive aggressive old prat, who is taken far too seriously by some and not seriously enough by others.

[Mike]

Not Connard Sage wrote:

Now you have to wonder… why?

I like to compare the actual size of the models with some of my own. I always have a cheeky model from my own stash at a show. Online they may say it is a 15mm figure but how big is that in reality.

[Not Connard Sage]

Mike wrote:

Not Connard Sage wrote:

Now you have to wonder… why?

I like to compare the actual size of the models with some of my own. I always have a cheeky model from my own stash at a show. Online they may say it is a 15mm figure but how big is that in reality.

 

You know what I’m going to say don’t you? 😀
I don’t mix ‘n’ match ranges.

Obvious contrarian and passive aggressive old prat, who is taken far too seriously by some and not seriously enough by others.

[Mike]

Not Connard Sage wrote:

You know what I’m going to say don’t you?

I sure did.

[deephorse]

Tony S wrote:

Speaking as a Canadian, I’ve always found it slightly alien that UK conventions don’t have more participation games. I’ve never actually been to a convention here that wasn’t all participation games. I’ve never seen even a single demonstration game at any Con.

“Cardboard box?  You were lucky.”

I wish that there were no ‘I’m only here to play a big game with my mates, and don’t bother me with questions’ games at UK shows.  They are akin to watching paint dry anyway.  Many can be quite attractive, but they are inevitably not my period of interest, not the rules that I use, and not in the scale that I use either.  So once the “oooh, shiny” has worn off, they hold no further interest for me.  I don’t participate in participation games either.

So why do I go?  I go to shop.  Yes Connard Sage, I could do it all via the internet, but you can’t beat seeing a product ‘in the flesh’.  I also frequently stumble across something that I didn’t know existed, but which I now cannot live without.

My view on why North American and UK shows are so different is down to geography.  From reading posts on a North American based wargame forum, it seems to me that a convention is the only chance that many gamers have to meet like-minded people, and therefore have a game.  Your major population centres are just so far apart.  I live in a small town, but I could get to four major cities and one large town (all with wargame clubs) within a 30 minute drive.  The benefit of being “compact and bijou, Mostyn.  Compact and bijou”.

Play is what makes life bearable - Michael Rosen

[Stephen Holmes]

Deephorse (above) has said most of what I was going to say.

Why Wargame Shows:

Let’s eliminate “Attract new blood to the hobby”; what non-hobbyist would attend a show (and leave thinking “That’s what’s missing from my life”).

Demonstration games: Too many where the only audience interaction is the back of the player’s heads. A happy few with enough staff to provide a few “talkers” to illuminate passing members of the public. I truly enjoy those who make the effort to address their audience, and pity their inevitable encounters with the rivet counters.

Participation Games: Oh brave ones who stage these. It’s a tough job running a short but meaningful game, over maybe 5 or 6 iterations in a crowded noisy hall. It really takes effort, vision and a larger than you thought staff to make these work. I’ve joined in some stinkers over the years, but the good ones leave excellent memories.

Trade Stands: Now you’re talking. An opportunity to browse and buy from the small traders who are the lifeblood of the hobby. See the goods, make a purchase and skip the delivery time and cost. Top up your collection of paints and brushes while you’re at the stall.

Charity: There’s sometimes a worthy cause attached. In a world of so many worthy causes, an association with your hobby can help you think beyond the big ones.

 

In response to the original poster, we tend to not have “Turn up for a full game of these rules” in the UK, because that’s what we do at our clubs.

 

[willz]

Thanks for sharing Norm, would have liked to have visited the show but a bit far from Devon.  Plus I had a submarine reunion to go to and catch up with some old shipmates.

I have run several demonstration and participation games at various shows across the country they both take a lot of work to get it right, however a must for demonstration games is plenty of handouts for visitors and plenty of people to explain what is going on.

Wargame shows are the life blood of the hobby, it would be nice if they lasted for 2/3 days but the logistics for 1 day is hard enough let alone 2/3.  Though these days I have a 3 day event in Kenilworth to attend which is a fantastic weekend.

I have encountered rivet counters and my standard reply is “my toys, my rules, my hobby”.

Well said Stephen, you only get out of this hobby what you put into.

[Andrew Beasley]

Thanks for the write up – I was in two minds over going (esp as most of what I want I could have picked up in Lincoln on the way past) and decided not to but a couple of the small games looked very intriguing. I have too much stuff and too little will power to visit the trade stands and two companies that I have passing acquaintance with to spend time chatting and buying them a coffee did not go.

Looking at the show website, there is an entry for 6mm Wild West by Wyvrn Wargamers. I do not think it was the Pony Wars rules as there are not enough figures on the table! The fort is nice though. Saying that The Original Pony Wars was listed by Halifax Wargames Society so who knows…

The Kallistra hex would have been worth investigating for me – I’m sorted for small hexes (thanks to Battlescale) but Bob Cordery kindly sent me a copy of the 3×3 rules from his Facebook group and its got me thinking (dreaming / drifting – feel free to select any)… The roads in the picture have me interested (as would have any rivers) but I am not going back on Facebook to find out

I did win out though – my daughter came with my Christmas present so I now have a nice lamp to paint by and had a pleasant day setting the world to rights with her 🙂

Since moving to the new location, Hammerhead and Partizan never seem as busy as the old ‘squeeze them in’ Kelham Hall thank goodness – Kelham was a nightmare (not as bad as York) and the food cr*p but talking with a couple of the traders pre-lockdown it was doing better sales wise (and less ‘loss’) for them.

Even before my mental health problems I hated ‘demo games’ – just an excuse for a pint-with-the-lads in a lot of cases. The worst one was still setting up at 1PM, never made a single move and closed at 4PM – they will remain nameless but suffer a remote Paddington Hard Stare. Never did see what the game was or rules.

As for a cardboard box being used as terrain – bothers me not as long as the game is fun and the company enjoyable (or the other way around). If it was a paid competition then yes I would be miffed but for a day out nope. Says the man using felt cut outs for hills 🙂

Will I go to another show – not really sure TBH. Not playing with a group of people cuts out the social aspect of the trip a lot (though a five min chat with a stranger over the first bacon butty is nice) and I can find more than I need on the internet. I am happy to support traders that way and it saves them a long day and stand costs. I never have seen a ‘show bargain’ that I needed and the only talk I sat in was held by the Leeds Armoury Museum staff as part of a show there. This stopped when they moved to the hall of ‘he who should not be named‘.

I did think about only buying from a show but decided this would not help reduce the pile and though retail therapy is nice, it does not last long. This may come back though if postage keeps going up then again fuel is outpacing that…

Oddly enough, the ‘thing’ that I would be missing out on is the chance to talk to folk over how they have done things (e.g. terrain / painting) – I find face to face and pointing / hand waving better to learn from than videos and web sites.

One question – what was the age of folk at the show? Last time I went it was mainly the more experienced (i.e. older) men with a few younger ones (still few females) – a serious difference to the Sci-Fi show in the Lincoln show ground a couple of weeks after.

[Norm S]

Not Connard Sage wrote:

This isn’t a troll. Presentation games are like a bad steak, neither rare nor well done. Pretty to look at though. Participation games? If I wanted to play a game with a bunch of smelly misfits, I’d nip around the local club. I don’t go to shows, haven’t done so for years. They had a point in pre-internet days. Now you have to wonder… why?

I really don’t recognise any of that. I absolutely love going to a wargame show. For me, they sit as highlights in the year, there is just a simple pleasure in attending and immersing myself in all of that hobby richness. I know that just for me to turn up as a punter, a lot of people have had to do a lot of work to make it happen and I hugely appreciate that.

As an aside, a useful as the internet is, it is also nice to have involvement with something that has got nothing to do with a computer screen – something real and tangible will forever hold its attraction – in a few years time, the cool kids will think they invented non-screen activity! 🙂

The show circuit is certainly up against it in the internet age (not to mention our current predicament of high energy costs and squeeze on finances), but if the headcount at Hammerhead is anything to go by, then there is still a huge appetite for wargame shows.

[Norm S]

Andrew Beasley wrote:

Thanks for the write up. One question – what was the age of folk at the show? Last time I went it was mainly the more experienced (i.e. older) men with a few younger ones (still few females) – a serious difference to the Sci-Fi show in the Lincoln show ground a couple of weeks after.

I sensed a bit more diversity in the audience, part of the ‘slow’ broadening of appeal that is filtering into the figure gaming scene. It certainly wasn’t the over 60’s club! Though I suspect it was visitors attending as families, rather than all visitors being wargamers that helped with that impression (my wife was there and she read a book!).

[Author]

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