Salute 2016 left me in deep thought after our annual pilgrimage. My regular reader will know that I shy away from the “steam-punk, wacky nerd” types , it didn’t look good upon our arrival. I know historical wargamers wouldn’t benefit from a show like Salute without sci-fi and fantasy but I do feel quite uneasy when I’m queuing up in line with an eight foot high red 40k storm trooper and a plastic sword armed Commisar/ Nazi space pixie. Confidence came back to me after pouring over the likes of Trent and the newly upholstered Bicorne miniatures. I don’t think I will ever get the scissors to work cutting out a wargames army ( the YouTube instructional video put me off I’m afraid). For a long time now, I’ve been boring my pals with dire warnings that Virtual Reality will be ending our hobby in the next ten years and then, wargamers start collecting paper armies, go figure? There were fewer games that for me had that special wow factor this year. The siege of Bristol game and the Dark age seaborne raid were my favourites.
For sheer, “I could never even contemplate that”, the Vietnam game was favourite. My daughter complains now that she is surrounded by Workd War two tanks in “her” room, I wonder how she would feel about palm trees and erm…..a Viet-cong sniper?
The Cardiff lads were spending freely but I myself bought a measly one pack of Late Roman officers. I was definately having an off day. Thankfully the Polish boys on the Fire and Sword stand raised my spirits. These boys were friendly and knowledgeable. I loved my sample game of Swedes versus Poles in the late seventeenth century. I have arranged with a few old acquaintances to try a few more games of this system, so keep posted. After one game, the system is logical and exciting. The skirmish level is the same size as DBA so I must admit I was hooked.
So, it was worth the trip after all! A new period and system on the way. And horror of horrors, I won a game! The barren spell is over !!
Despertaferres 
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