Salute

[Alex M]

Did anyone else  attend Salute today ? I think my overall impression was that it was a bit underwhelming. Lots of empty tables that had companies and games scheduled but who didn't turn up. Some big players missing and one company who told me they didn't bring any stock to the show as they had too much ? Baffled . Cheers Alex

[martin goddard]

Thanks for reporting back Alex.
I think they are all waiting for the "big one" ie WWW? 
The change of date might be making a difference. Also the proximity in date and geography of Warfare show?

martin

[Moggy]

yep was there from 11 until about 3pm. was thinning out quickly. Going to do a report with piccies for Martin as requested tomorrow. A few obvious gaps in amongst traders and a fair few games table empty as well.

Derek

[Moggy]

Mind you, the Star Trek convention down the centre looked fun. Loads of Star Fleet personnel of all shapes, sizes and ages. Recruiting standards have gone to pot since Pickard retired!


And after this can never watch Uhura again.




Who says equality would never happen in Kirks day!


Derek

[Moggy]

I only saw 1 person that wasn't in some version of a Star Fleet costume and that "young lady" was not in a uniform, just made up as an alien. She moved away before I could get the camera out.

Derek

[martin goddard]

Derek has made a fine report.
I am going to put it into MILL 11 as a back edit.
That will make it very prescient.

martin

[Moggy]

You may well get a few more people coming here and to the PP website following discussions had at Salute as well. People are always looking for game ideas.

Cheers

Derek

[martin goddard]

Good news Derek.  Prostheletising, proselytising, prosthetic, prostyling.  Encouraging new chaps.

martin

[BeneathALeadMountain]

Thank you Martin for the latest edition of The Mill, I really enjoyed looking through it (as I always do). Also thank you to Derek for his Salute report. I’m saddened but not shocked by the paucity of mask wearing and attitudes of those inconsiderate people involved. Thank you Derek for at least allowing me to imagine I was there.

Martin if you ever need someone to proof read anything (The Mill or rulesets) please get in touch as I’m often not well enough to sculpt, model or paint but I can read in bed, and I’d like to be helpful were I can. Your miniatures have bought me a lot of joy and I’d like the possibility to pay a little back if I can.

Stay safe all,
Andrew
BALM

[Jimmy James]

Evening gents - was a bit tied up over the weekend but a few thoughts on Salute.... (and no the battery didn't hold up enough to take any decent pics, as feared. Need to organise that bit better in future.)

First off it did seem a bit sparse in the hall - clearly the organisers had booked more units in the convention centre and tried to give extra space; good on them, looking to ensure plenty of room in the aisles and certainly none of the crush and packing that you can get at conventions. On the other hand it was equally clear that quite a few of the booked traders and a fair number of the games which had been expected hadn't turned up - which from that room & space perspective was good but made for quite an empty and sorry-looking affair in some parts, and of course the big point of these things is to play games and get around stalls, isn't it, and you want to have plenty of both to visit! Suspect numbers of traders, game organisers and visitors were down due to the current unpleasantness - can't blame anyone not wanting to turn out in fairness, it's a personal thing isn't it.

Saw one really good 15mm game, that was Garry David Wills' Villamurial "Wellington at Bay" - using Black Powder rules, using Kallistra hex terrain (this is the first time I've seen the hex terrain in the flesh so to speak and I thought it was really smart!); hung about for a bit watching that one. PSC ran 15mm games for ancients using Mortem et Gloriam, and WW2 using Battlegroup rules (there was another game in 15mm I hear, German Fallschirmjaeger dropping in to attack a British radar station - but I never came across it!).

Don't think I saw any more 15mm games, but a few really good setups - Poltava by Per Broden in 6mm, a gorgeous Stalingrad table by Dave Brown in 10mm using O-Group rules,  Very British Civil War / What a Tanker across a fantastic table in 28mm and played a really fun Coventry Blitz game using PSC 1:300 aircraft and using modified Castle Panic rules(!)

Saw some of Warlord's new Napoleonic kit in the flesh, it's that same halfway scale (13mm? 1:120?) as they've used for their ACW Epic setup and again, nice enough and crisp quality on the plastics but all a bit samey? Suspect there'll be enough folk who aren't fussed for the price though and they'll no doubt promote it heavily enough for it to be a success.

Not many 15mm figure traders - saw PSC of course, also Donnington Miniatures, had a bit of a mooch at Colonel Bill's secondhand stuff, but didn't find a lot else. Some good & interesting terrain that I'd not come across before though - The Square and Last Man Last Bullet had a few nice things that I picked up.

Overall - a good event which I enjoyed, though would have been improved by a bit of a fuller hall (though caveat - I've not been to a wargames show like this before so don't have a lot to personally compare to!); I believe Salute next year is in April, hopefully circumstances will be a bit more propitious and general confidence will be up a bit, and it'll see lots more traders and games and people turning out for the event. Mind, if the organisers keep the same sort of space though for it, that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Jim

[Moggy]

HI JIm

The booklet that listed all traders and games is the 2020 one not for this year which explains why a lot of the stuff was different. I believe this was due to the significance of the 80th Anniversary of Battle of Britain. Only the organisers could answer this. There was no stuff clearly marked 2021 in the goodie pack.  Found this out when trying to do my write up and couldn't read my own writing. Tried the flier which was little help at times

The Epic stuff from warlord will be done the same way as the ACW stuff. After watching the vids I have found and linked elsewhere it sure looks like it is the same moulds used for all infantry just a different plastic colour used. Yes, purists will be shocked at a Rifleman having the same uniform and acutrements as a line soldier. However, as a believer in the 3 foot rules don't think this will be too much of a problem. The pricing structure seems better than with the ACW. A brigade pack comes in at £25 and the Cavalry is a lot cheaper but I don't remember the amount.

Glad you enjoyed the show. I know I did.

Derek

[Jimmy James]

Derek I've just read your report and what a full and good job you've done of it, a cracking account. Lovely pics you've taken there too. (Suspect you arrived around the same time as I did at the event as I'm actually in one of them!  )

[John Watson]

I didn't go to Salute but I have heard from a trader who did attend that there were some problems. Apparently the organisers had advised that a pre show Covid test was necessary (far enough) but didn't specify it had to be taken on arrival. They offered on site LFTs for £10, which sounds a bit steep as you can get them for nothing. Also the traders etc car park had been moved this year. On arrival at the new car park the parking ticket machine was out of order which meant that the drivers had to drive back to the venue to pay the £20 there and then drive back again to car park. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the traders etc gave up rather than go through all the hassle.
John

[Leslie BT]

Same old things every year John, only Covid added this year for more complications.

Hope you have a better time at the gaming weekend of the year!