Display games at shows.

[valleyboy]

I've always enjoyed the Too Fat Lardies games, and (further back in time) the Asterix games that one club used to put on (a tavern brawl sticks in the mind, but there were others).

Used to love those Asterix games as well - they were a highlight at any show

[RMD]

I'm with Penda 100%.

Nobody turns up to a model show and expects to be able to play with the exhibits...

However, I do agree entirely that the people who put on these games should actually engage with people and that is certainly my philosophy. I've made dozens of friends in the hobby simply from talking to people who were interested in my game and I don't thin that anyone could ever accuse me of ignoring the punters.

Aside that is , from Stuart Asquith, who attacked me in the pages of his rag for not talking to him at Eastbourne... That's because I was talking to a busload of German schoolkids, getting them to roll the dice and move troops at the time when you deigned to grant us an audience, you utter chod!

[Essex Boy]

Never understood Participation Games' attraction for folk. Why would I want to play a game with strangers? Why would I waste shopping and chatting time that way? Why would I want to miss the brilliant spectacle of the Display Game and the inspiration they bring to my own meagre efforts? Just my two penneth you understand.

I've only every played one participation game - Hammerin' Iron by Peter Pig. I'd been bimbling round the show with money burning a hole in me pocket when PP's 1/600 ACW ships caught my eye. The good thing about playing the game was that it persuaded me to save my money for something else. So, as a showcase for rules and figures I can see that participation games are great, but under any other circumstances they're not for me.

And another thing.......

Static displays which win 'Best Wargame'. What's that all about? I've nothing against people bringing their beautiful collections and stunning scenery to shows for us all to wonder at. Long may they continue. But, they're not games even if sometimes they shuffle a few figures to make it look like something is happening. That's also fine, but what about those poor devils who have also travelled hundreds of miles to and from the show and put on a terrific actual game with more functional figures and terrain?

Just saying..........

Iain

[levied troop]

Aside that is , from Stuart Asquith, who attacked me in the pages of his rag for not talking to him at Eastbourne... That's because I was talking to a busload of German schoolkids, getting them to roll the dice and move troops at the time when you deigned to grant us an audience, you utter chod!

Join the club! Asquith did the same to us at Eastbourne, complaining we weren't talking to people. We remember seeing him walk past when we were 3 deep in spectators!

Declaring an interest, if my mob make it to SELWG 2018 that'll be 30 years we've been doing games (mostly demo but we have done participation games), roughly at six shows a year. We've usually done two different games a year and we do make a point of talking to spectators (come within 5 feet of the table and we'll talk to you, no matter if you want us to or not!) and having publicity material to explain what's going on. Some demo games do seem to work on a different basis but even they can be useful, I find it handy to see different approaches to painting and landscaping, different products and rulesets or whole new periods.

There have been a few suggestions for trade only shows over the years but the only trade-run show I'm aware of is Hammerhead and they have participation games only. I think they had 70 earlier this year, interestingly it was difficult to get players - we managed to get two games (4 players each) running during the day but time would have allowed for four games.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

.....(come within 5 feet of the table and we'll talk to you, no matter if you want us to or not!).....

I can personally vouch for this. Baron Hardup and the Naked Cyclist are harder to evade than a rear attack from Stradiots.

[Wg Cdr Luddite]

Some of the best fun I've had at wargame shows was putting on participation games as part of a team. It was great having a laugh with so many strangers. (and you get into the show for free).

[grizzlymc]

I always read Mr Lardie's stories of shows with envy, they sound great. The only time I was ever part of a show we ran aerial games (using modified Paragon rules) and I made friends for life.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

I forgot the Staines Wargames Collective (or whatever they are called) - some fantastic games over the years, with the Swordfish attack on Taranto, Pickett's charge, and a memorable Charge of the Light Brigade games (complete with lines from the poem) among the best.

[levied troop]

I remember playing their 'Death of the Prince Imperial' - great fun

They published the rules in a WI. Almost tempted to revive it as a tribute act.

[Purple]

I like seeing the games at shows.
It's inspirational.