Sheffield Triples Returns? Chillcon Leaves Me Cold.

 I was at the Chillcon show, this last weekend.

It's a curious show at the best of times, catering really towards the 'Hipster' gamers and 'Millennial' generation in terms of trade.

The only real 'Big Hitter' company was Warlord Games who always get me humming 'You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties' as they are at every show you go to. The majority of other companies seemed to be offspring of that very same wargaming spider plant, seling the usual discounted Warlord items. Really, how many stalls selling the same stuff does a show fucking need?

There were also a lot of 3D printing related companies, cupcakes (nice brownies) face painting (when you have watched adults lining up to get their faces painted at a wargames show, you really have seen the lights go out on the Age of Reason).

The show suffered from a lack of catering due to the caterer du jour, breaking down on the motorway. This is easily avoided by arranging catering locally. I am sure that the excellent 'Kevin's Pies' would attend the event if the organisers must have chi-chi catering. Kevin's Pies are purveyors of fine meat and vegetable based baked goods - Just the thing for wargamers. TAking the family? Well Kevin does a cracking quich you can share.

Lots of grumbling could be heard, and many a flushed face from the bottled ales not meeting in gastric union with some solid food. Again, a good pasty would have been helpful here.

The displays were fogettable, with a a reasonable Zombies game and a rather tired looking Medieval bash, the rest being put on by traders punting their wares.

Chillcon is what was traditionally be called a 'school show', the kind of show you went to when you needed a fix between larger shows. However, the trader mix is poor, unless you want to buy Bolt Action and Games Workshop whilst increasing your blood sugar levels and having your face painted with butterflies.

Vloggers also need to be controlled at shows. Walking around with a video camera, filming everyone witthout permission is a no-no. If you are the dozy moon-faced fucker who pointed his camera at me, and wondered why I flipped you a firm and insistent V-sign - I am talking to you.

Then we were buzzed by a drone camera. I mused on where the Ecclesfield clay pigeon shooting fraternity were.

I was also amused and indeed bemused by the painting competition which, had five classes with sub-categories in each, but which then meant nothing because only five trophies/prizes were given, totally nullifying the point of sub-categories. I also sniggered at one of the organisers seemingly 'directing' the judges. TUT, TUT!

But that said, it was a nice day, so we spent a lot of it outside in the sun, chatting to friends and associates. The £5 entrance fee is £2 above what a show of this standard is worth.

I was intrigued when a veteran member of Sheffield Wargames Society approached the Memsahib and I, asking us if we had heard that Triples was making a return to the show curcuit? We hadn't because, well, why should we have been told?

They seemed surprised and the subject was quickly brushed under the rug. Perhaps they were trolling us - if so, go for it - everyone needs a hobby.

After the monumental screw-up of that last, rather sad Triples (which I heard referred to, somewhat harshly, as Sheffield Cripples) where emails from traders were left unanswered for 6 months, and what followed was a major shake-up of the committee, I am told, is it not simply time to let that bared nerve wither?

I predict that any such show would not be anything like the standard of the 'golden age' of Triples, probably a one day show, and possibly joint-hosted with another club.

Triples should never have been allowed to become the joke that it did, and whilst I would love to see a show of the quality it was in it's heyday, anything less would be a waste of time, effort and money.

The Memsahib and I have mulled over the idea of an independent wargames show in Sheffield, but we invested the cost of a show in creating our own wargames room here at Fackham Hall, and to be honest, it is a gift which keeps on giving. Moreover, we have no 'politics' or unwashed wargamers to deal with.

As I am just beginning my third Summer holiday week , I have a pile of reading. Of particular note is 'The Tudor Arte Of Warre (vol 1)" by Jonathan Davies, published by Helion & Company. This volume covers the period 1485 to 1558 and is a hefty 426 pages of solid information and illustrations. This is one of the best Helion titles I have read, yet.

I also received a copy of the Ringworld RPG for a song, along with the Ringworld Companion, both in stunning condition for a 38 year old game. I have been drawn to this game since first reading a review of it in the GW Black Sun fanzine, almost 40 years ago. It is to me the very pinnacle of RPG design and presentation. How many games can be truly played fully, straight out of the core box? Ringworld can.

Well, if you will kindly excuse me, I have just seen the time, and need to fed our 5 Scotties and then get ready for a trip to Buxton museum and gallery followed by a pleasant little lunch, before returning home to snooze in a chair, in the wargames room.