Partizan 2018

Following the Salute show last month, we put on the Aspern-Essling game again at Partizan last Sunday.  There was only three of us this time which made the day quite congested fielding many questions from the visiting public and trying to progress the game so that visitors did see some progress as they visited us.  However, as always, it is the questions and chat that make the show worthwhile.  If all we wanted to do was play the game, then we would put on at our club or a members house.  I always think the aim of a demonstration game is to try and showcase the hobby, not an extended club night!

We set off from Kent at just before 5am, arriving at the Newark Showground around 7.30, after some breakfast.  One thing to note is how few service stations are open early on a Sunday morning.

It was a bit tight in the car, thankfully I am the driver.

Parking, as usual, excellent, and we had the game set up by 8.30, ready well in time for the public when they came in at around 10.  Our table was at the start of the Demonstrator zone, next to the Perry's Germantown game.

One of the issues with having so few of us putting on the game is that you get little time to look at other games or the trade.  I managed to pick up my pre-booked orders.  There was some confusion with Dave Thomas but will pick up the balance at Crisis in November - it is not as if I will run out of lead by then.  Other than that, little opportunity to get around the show.  A few books acquired but I will use Crisis and Reading for my main shopping and research.

The game itself went well, we actually managed to finish it (French win), unlike at Salute.  It was good to catch up with a few people, specifically;

Michael Perry who obviously was taking a look at the large number of Foundry and Perry figures on the table but was also interested in the fit of their figures with the Gringo officers on the table.  He was also impressed with the Warbases wagons and caissons.

Steve Shann (see link on this blog), who I met for the first time and was the designer and creator of all the buildings on show, including the Granary.

Steve and I spent some considerable time discussing our next projects; the Peninsula and Waterloo.

Most people passing wanted to discuss the Command & Colors systems and also were impressed at how many figures were on the table, and for the General de Brigade gang, one comment was how nice to see 12 and 8 figure units (not such a painting marathon as 36+) and yet the battlefield looked well stacked.

Attack on Aspern

Aspern Church

My overall view is that the Partizan show has a very good standard of wargames that clearly are games that can be played.  There are no diorama style games which you see at other shows.  The location is very good, with good lighting (an advantage over Salute) but on a very sunny day it became very warm and the body odour aroma of some rose as the day went on!

The guys I felt really sorry for were the traders on the south side of hall (including Warbases) where the feel of a greenhouse came to mind.

It is a long day for people coming from the south (and no doubt the north), so for next year I think a night in Newark or Lincoln before hand will break up the day.  Something to consider.

I also noted two of my officer bases in this month's Wargames Illustrated, the Lannes (with Vistula Legion staff) and Grouchy.  Both Gringo figures.

Next post is the first of the Polish for Mockern.