Thoughts On Shows Pt 2984

Two shows into the season, with a third coming along this weekend and I am seriously questioning giving up on a part of the hobby I've enjoyed for nearly 45 years.

Now, for fear of sounding like a grumpy old man - which of course, I am - it's time that the old guard came out of retirement/hiding and put a thistle up the arse of the show circuit.

'Show' - the thing is, that these days, with a few exceptions there is little on show. When I think back to my first proper show at age 13, there was a genuine sense of excitement and wonder when you walked into the main hall. Remember that this was time before static grass, speed paints and for the most part, any paints which were not oil based, the standard and scope of the games were fantastic.

Fantasy and sci-fi games were colourful imaginative affairs, sometimes on terrain on par with model railways in terms of skill and attention to detail. Hostorical games- anyone remember the stunning 15mm 7YW Falkenberg game put on by Ian Smith and Michael Rothenburg, using Lilliput Lane buildings, and with a mountain in the background? A fucking MOUNTAIN!

I accept, that if we go to Salute (I don't anymore) or Partizan we will see some nice games, but they all seem a bit samey. A great game should be about what is on the table. I will instinctively avoid a game where there are grown men in mess dress, pretending they are Victorian officers or wearing waistcoats and flat caps. 

Games need to glow... They need to be more than a pissing competition too. The Perrys arguably put on a good looking game, but they own a compan making figures and have a coterie of painters. Don't get me wrong, I love their games because they are presented casually, letting the toys do the talking.

There are clubs out there with serious collections and seriously talented members, but they are not putting on the games at shows.

The younger or certainly the post 1990s end of the hobby are just not putting on anything which is outstanding. They are so skirmish focussed and even then, the games you see at this level, look like something I can put on myself in 10 minutes, if I grab a few random boxes in the games room.

I always enjoy seeing The Bunker's participation games, but at Vapnartak, they were not in attendance this year, seemingly noit invited. The Bunker put on good looking, fun games that anyone can aspire to. Not inviting Shaun and co was in my opinion a mistahke for a show which feels flat and rather 2 dimensional now.

There's no buzz at shows in the modern world, and I wonder if this is down to the fact that there seems to be more PC box ticking and inclusion worries. Let me tell you, the average old school gamer doesn't give a fuck how you identify be it unicorn or AH-64 gunship, whether you give free hugs or whether your fashion choices are the same as your late other, despite you being a 35 year old man with a body hair issue. Really they don't, because they are too involved with playing imaginary games of war with little lead dollies, which put like that, is pretty weird. 

 You pay to get in... If you don't want to do that, nobody forces you. Frankly, shows will lose little if they just get on and put on a good show, even if a few people believe that in their opinion they are being 'excluded'. Fuck me, the point I am making is that personally, I no longer think I want to pay to look at moribund crap, and to that effect, I have made that very decision to not go to shows which offer me little.

I also note an increase in trade stands selling stuff not even related to wargaming. Cupcakes for fuck's sake? Face painting?

Jesus, but Peter Gilder will be spinning in his grave.

I am attending Chillcon this weekend, which will no doubt have a good mix of these unrelated things, as well as a plethora of 3D printing companies selling poorly produced, brittle shit which seems to be en vogue these days.

I think perhaps this is because modern gamers are more clannish and lack the address books that those of years gone by possess. Think of Triples or Northern Militaire if you can remember that far back and you will recall that there would be a veritable who's who of wargaming manufacturers, with quality products and very, very few resellers were in evidence.

A show should be curated, crafted and nurtured. If it becomes an exercise in just taking on anything that pays the bills and you have to literally accept everyone who wants a stall just to break even, you should consider whether that show is needed.

I remember seeing traders and exhibitors turned away because they were crap or simply because demand was so high that a line had to be drawn somewhere.

There's an Oldhammer show in Sheffield, which when offered a chance to have a game with 3000+ old minis and great terrain, just brushed it off. Are you fucking kidding me? It's your proposed USP for the love of Gygax! End result, some serious 'faces' are now looking at putting on Oldhammer weekenders in Sheffield and the Peak District - And they have the sdress books to do it, as well as the funds.

So, show organisers... Step back and look at at what your show is genuinely bringing to the gaming table, and up your games.