Sunday 3 October 2021

Cotswolds Wargaming Day 2021




When it’s your partner’s birthday, what better treat can you give than to take them to a wargame show!


Organised by Kieth Flint (author of the recently released Shadows of the Eagle napoleonic rules), the Cotswold Wargaming Day is an opportunity for gamers to get together at Westwoods Community Centre, Northleach, (about 45 minutes drive from Oxford in the UK) to put on a variety of games. There isn’t a trade element, but punters could bring things that they want to sell or give away. It is rather has the feel of a club Open Day - nice.


In truth, we were on our way for a few days (birthday) break in Oxford and this venue was on the way …. well almost!


This post is just a brief overview of the games that people kindly organised and put on.


I should say that it was very striking what a lovely bunch of people this group of ‘local’ people were, there was an almost family sentiment to the show. It was all very relaxed. 


Please use the ‘read more’ tab for the rest of this post.




I arrived at 10 AM, with the day apparently having started at a delightful 8.30 AM (though my day started at 0445!), so by the time I was there, everything was pretty much set up.


I had a quick check to see what was what. I came across a few people who have an internet blog /vlog presence, which I follow, so it was nice to put some faces to names.


Roll Call (links to their sites are in the Resource Section below).

Steve J, who is a blogger and a most generous and prolific supporter of other peoples blogs and with whom I currently am participating with in a campaign game


JP, who is a vlogger, with a huge back catalogue of YouTube videos covering games with his lovely figures and table. He often co-hosts a game with his young son, Charlie and a lot of his output relates to his fine collection of napoleonics, gamed with General ‘d Armee  rules.


Keith Flint, who is a rules author. I have his SYW book called Honours of War, published by Osprey and his recent Shadows of the Eagle book, published by Caliver Books is something that I treasure, it is just lovely to own, with gorgeous artwork (by Chris Collingwood) to the cover.


Tables.

Altogether, there were 8 games being played, with plenty of variety both in table size and subject matter. One of the nice things about the show is that without traders and with a handful  of games, I found it gave a greater focus for the visitor to spend a bit of time at each table, this is often the first casualty in the mainstream trader based shows.


Coffee / tea and biscuits were available and an area was set to one side for people who had things to sell or for those who wanted to donate items freely. 


Finally, artist Chris Gregg had some of his paintings for sale and I was immediately taken by one of them!


Anyway, having had a chat at most of the gamer tables, I stand a better chance than usual of being able to get some of the gaming details right ….. though no guarantee!


In the order that I hit the tables as I moved around from the entrance we have;


An Ancients game - the battle of Sentinum, with Roman Vs Gallic / Samnites in 28mm. This was a big table game put on by  Tim Cull using rules from the Farnborough Wargames Society (free download at www.fwgs.org.uk) with some amendments. they also did a nice 2 page information flyer.








Ottoman Vs Polish Imperial in 28mm, put on by Cirencester Wargames, using the rules ‘tercios’. This was a big table game with plenty of variety, but I couldn’t help getting hypnotised by big guns and winged hussars!



 





A French Vs Prussian napoleonic action using General D’ Armee rules, doing the battle for Dolitz from the Leipzig 1813 campaign. This was put on by JP and his young son, who play this rule set a lot at home and put up plenty of YouTube videos covering their games (see Resource Section). His table has the  Conflix buildings, of which I love and have some, they seem to be getting harder to find.










The Battle of Allville Depot or Rogers Creek (fictional) ACW 1863. This was a 20mm game put on by friends, using club rules and they provided a nice 6 page handout giving background, orders of battle and special rules. You’ve gotta love a train in the middle of a table!






Sinai 1967, put on by friends using Cold War Commander rules. This is the battle of Abu Ageila with Egyptians defending against an Israeli attack. It was done in 10mm, so the vehicles looked superb on what would be a domestically sized table. There were also some helicopter models, which look exactly right in this scale.






Point de la Croix, Breakout from Normandy 1944. This was a game put on by Jon Billington and as I was leaving, I saw that Kieth Flint had joined the table to take one of the sides. Jon was using first edition of Dave Brown’s BattleGroup Panzer Grenadier. This is a 15mm game and I was taken by the jeep model (Peter Pig), which apparently comes with the figures and the jeep all  formed as a single model. Hmmn - shopping list!







 A Sharpe Practice game in 28mm from the French / Indian wars, put on by friends, covering a fictional encounter. The tents looked superb.






A playing of Keith Flint’s Shadow of the Eagles napoleonic rules by Steve J and friends. Steve was using his 6mm figures, which are by Commission Figurines, who do a range of MDF 6mm figures and buildings. The setting is a fictional 1809 (ish) encounter. Again, another game that would sit very comfortably on the kitchen table.






Before leaving, I kept on going back to the paintings by Chris Gregg. One had caught my eye, a scene of mounted cavalry, which represented the 9th Cuirassiers advancing in the Eckmühl 1809 campaign. Anyway, it now belongs to yours truly!


So thanks to everyone, from organiser to those putting on the games and for everyone being very patient and friendly towards  my interruptions. I was only there for an hour, but really enjoyed the visit.


It was a great start to Mrs. Wargamers Birthday - a long drive, a wargame show and a military painting bought, all I needed now was a pot of Zandri Dust acrylic paint from Games Workshop in Oxford and I will be able to count it as one of Mrs. Wargamers best birthdays!


For all of those who like a happy ending  …. we drove on to Oxford and are having a great time, though we are of course starving because I spent the dosh on a painting :-)


Resource Section.


Steve. J’s blog


http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.com/


JP’s video channel


https://youtu.be/JKAK0HSpH5k


Keith Flint’s Honours of War website / forum


https://www.shadowoftheeagles.com/


Chris Gregg’s webpage

http://www.chrisgregg-art.co.uk


My sister webspace COMMANDERS is being re-configured to showcase various figure and boardgame systems that I am enjoying and give a flavour of where current ongoing projects are up to. Link.


https://commanders.simdif.com


41 comments:

  1. Great looking little gaming con. It would be quite fun to visit one day.
    Spent your lunch money on wargaming stuff? You are not the first! Enjoy your get-away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jonathan, the wargame itch has been scratched :-)

      Delete
  2. I hope to attend the event next year, this year my focus being on Partizan next week.
    Good to see you enjoyed yourself and I miss those club open days there was a lot to be said for them.
    There were some really good looking games by the looks of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Graham, yes, it was a nice event. Leading up to the show, the current issue with fuel was a thing of whether I would be able to make the journey, but where I live, fuel has been getting through, with a maximum allowance of £30 at the pump. On the way, I stopped at motorway services to find only one pump had fuel. Fortunately at that time on a Sunday morning, I was pretty much the only one there. Around Oxford itself, fuel seems to be OK, with no purchase limit …. So at least I can get home :-)

      Delete
  3. Crikey, a wargaming show that would’ve been in reach for me (sort of). If it’s on next year I might well go and have a look. You sure know how to show a woman a good time matey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A nice show to attend and a relaxing atmosphere. Yes, I find the wargame show calendar and vacation destinations to be good friends. :-)

      Delete
  4. Nice sounding birthday treat and some great looking games!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. An enjoyable hour or two Iain and a reminder of what we have been missing.

      Delete
  5. Cracking looking stuff and a great day out. Look forward to talking about in the next day or two.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mike, enjoying Oxford now, a city you know well.

      Delete
  6. Some great looking games Norm. Looked a great day out. Brave man taking Mrs Wargames with you, there's no way my wife would come along to a show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ray, she is indeed a treasure and even offered to buy me something off the bring and buy stall!

      Delete
  7. Thanks Michael, everyone had done a splendid job.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Some good looking ‘real’ Wargames norm nice to see. Love me as she does I am not sure I would get away with a show on my wife’s birthday ! I think that painting may cost you dearly 🤔

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Matt, re the painting, I just fell short of saying ‘look what I bought you’ :-)

    Sure was nice to see other ‘real’ games and gamers just being immersed in that. I’m sure Partisan will be a big draw next week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pointe De La Croix now that brings back some early wargaming memories ! Great looking games each one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gary, from memory you are PG Grenadier fan. The situation looks like one of ‘feeling’ your way forward for the Allies.

      Delete
    2. That scenario pre-dates PzGren as it was in Operation Warboard rules (my first) from 1976 !! Original had US vs Germans but same terrain.

      Delete
    3. Operation Warboard - a true nostalgic blast from the past. Nice to see it still giving insparation.

      Delete
  11. Looking forward to Partizan even more now I've read that Norm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi David, I was left with an overwhelming sense of what we have been missing for 18 months - enjoy your trip, Partizan will be fab.

      Delete
  12. Thank you Norm for your excellent visit report, I had planned to put a game on at Keith's fantastic event but sadly events conspired against me and I was unable to attend.

    Willz.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks like a great little "show" Matt. I am with Ray, my wife would not be talking to me if I even suggested she come to a show on MY birthday, let alone hers! You must have a very understanding partner!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Keith, she is probably just pleased I’m not into golf :-)

      Delete
  14. Heart warming to read this post Norm, a return to normality after the crazy 18 months we have all endured. The games looked great, I especially like the Ottoman/Pole game pics and those little MDF 6mm's have got me intrigued, I saw them some time back and was tempted by them! We have the SELWG show coming up in a couple of weeks, but they have only gone to a new venue NORTH OF THE RIVER, I mean come on, really! Anyway, cheers for a great report.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Lee, the 6mm MDF are very clever. I have seem the guy who sells them at a show and he has a lot of variety all painted up. Enjoy SELWG.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Some nice looking games on show there, roll on Sunday🤞

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Phil, Have a great day at Partizan.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great report on the show Norm and such a lovely surprise to meet you in person. I'm glad you enjoyed your few hours at the show and have a great time in Oxford. Maybe we can tempt you down next years for a whole day!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Steve, nice to meet you, I hadn’t signalled my intention to visit as it was all rather last minute due to the problem with national fuel supplies. I rather like the idea of a full day and a more relaxed pace. Our visit to Oxford has been really enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great to see some shows returning. Nice pics as well. Hilarious that you stopped at a wargames show on her birthday weekend but I’m glad you have that kind of marriage.
    But a nice reminder that we can get back to gathering together to play miniature games again. 😀

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS. I think it would be great fun to meet some fellow bloggers in person.

      Delete
    2. Hi Stew, the wargame show / con is a fundamental part of the wargaming community fabric, I think the lockdown may have been the wake-up call we needed to remind us never to take it for granted.

      Delete
  21. Looks like you had a fantastic day Norm! Truly fitting of a wife’s birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Mike, there is the wedding anniversary soon ….. a big one ….. i must start checking dates :-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sounds like heaven! Or close to- and those pictures of Poles and Janissaries! Just awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi John, something for everyone I think.

      Delete
  24. Lovely report Norm, thank you for directing me to it and I'm so glad you liked one of the paintings so much you starved Mrs Wargamer!!! You should have said and I'd have given you my spare sandwich! I expect to do a full report on my blog before the week is out. Chris. http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Chris, nice to meet you and to see your art in person, I am really pleased with the painting and it will get me sorting my French and Austrian armies out once I get back home, for Keith’s rules, so we are full circle. I am ordering the Osprey Eckmühl book. Look forward to your blog report.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment