Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society's annual show – Cavalier – is taking place today, and as it marks the beginning of the wargaming year for many of us who live in this corner of England, I usually go ... but this year I haven't.
The reasons are varied, but essentially they are as follows:
- My ongoing problems with mobility. Although I can drive, once at the car park near the venue I will have to walk the rest of the way, and once inside there is nowhere on the ground floor to sit, something that I must do quite regularly. (I can walk about 100m before needing to rest.) Furthermore, walking around a crowded venue with a walking stick will not be easy and I do not want to risk tripping up and falling over.
- I have agreed to stage a World War II Portable Wargame at Dice on the Hill on Wednesday and need to get the necessary figures and terrain out of storage in Dartford. As I have several appointments on Monday and Tuesday, I will have to go to the store on today as I do not want to leave it until Wednesday ... just in case.
- My wargaming mojo is not what it should be at present (Although I should have got over the 'flu bug I caught earlier this year, I am still finding difficult to concentrate on anything for more than about ten minutes), and I lack the basic motivation to go to a wargame show.
- There are several things that I really need to do and that I cannot (or should not) put off any longer. For example, I have a detailed review of Steve Parker's DOMINION OF THE SPEAR wargame rules and DOMINION OF THE SPEAR BATTLES EXPANSION half finished, and I want to get it uploaded to my blog within the next day or two.
- I have the second play test of my simple late nineteenth century battleship vs. battleship naval wargame rules to stage and write about on my blog ... and possible make a video for my YouTube channel.
I might have made the effort to go to Cavalier if there had been anything in particular that I wanted to buy, but as my current project is currently on hold, there isn’t.
Hopefully I will make it to next year’s Cavalier … and will not regret not going today.
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Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteAll perfectly valid reasons and with no regrets - sounds like a win - win to me! I have also swerved the show this year - mainly as I do not have any pressing retail excuse and the time will be more productively spent in the man cave, paintbrush in hand!
I also have to prepare for a Portable Ironclads Wargame for Wednesday at the club - it will be a chance to get some of the lesser used models on the tabletop.
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteI am very glad that I didn’t go as during the day I’ve not been feeling well and my temperature has been going up and down. If 8 had gone, I probably would have regretted it and even found it difficult to get home.
We did make it to our storage locker in Dartford and I managed to find almost everything I’ll need for the game I’m running on Wednesday. Luckily, Sue came with me and was able to step in and help when I begun to feel unwell.
I hope that everything goes well on Wednesday.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteYes- your mobility continues to be problematic - hope that for the next year show you'l be OK. Looking forward to your next posting. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI still have quite a way to go before I can consider that life - and my mobility - has returned to something resembling normal. Until it does, going to wargame shows is going to be problematic.
All the best,
Bob
Real life does intrude on art, unfortunately. It is wise to recognize that there are other priorities (sometimes). I (and others I know) have become more "selective" when it comes to outings such as this (for a range of similar reasons). For what it's worth, there always seem to be very extensive Youtube surveys of many of the UK shows. You may still be able to mark the start of the new hobby year vicariously via those. Even here in the U.S., these "virtual" visits to the U.K. shows have become a part of my hobby year.
ReplyDeleteEd M,
DeleteOver recent years I seem to have spent most of my time at wargame shows talking to other wargamers, looking at the various games that are on show, and doing a small amount of retail therapy. The first I can now do almost as easily online and - as you point out - YouTube reports will probably cover the second. The third can easily be replaced by buying online. Despite this, I still hope to be able to visit wargame shows in the future.
All the best,
Bob
Smart planning and decisions to my mind.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteAs it turned out, not going was a very sensible thing to do as I’ve not been feeling too good today.
All the best,
Bob
I completely understand why you didn't make it. It is a shame as I ran our Portable Wargame based 54mm Fort Pippin game as a partticipation game at the show this year.
ReplyDeleteLots of interest and met quite a few people who use the portable wargame already.
Mike Lewis,
DeleteIf I had been up to going to Cavalier, this would have been top of my ‘must see’ list. The whole thing reminds me of HG Wells’ games and is a great advert for 54mm wargaming as well as the PW concept.
I intend to drool over the photos I seen!
All the best,
Bob
Big Lee's report is up on Youtube and it is the first game featured there.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqUOuNJ6qEc
Mike Lewis,
DeleteFunnily enough, I watched it whilst eating breakfast and was very impressed. 10/10 for presentation!
All the best,
Bob
Sounds like you made the right call Bob.
ReplyDeleteI will be very interested to read your review of Dominion of the Spear.
Maudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteIt wasn’t an easy decision to make … but I’m glad that I didn’t go as I felt pretty rough by Sunday afternoon.
I want to do justice to these rules as I think that they are a very worthy alternative to the FP3x3PW.
All the best,
Bob