"Little Wars Adelaide: Wrap" Topic

After a long gestation through "Historicon", "Bugle Call" and the offshoot "Festival of History", Adelaide hosted "Litte Wars". I'd reckon around 500 people passed through the doors yesterday to participate in around 25 games, look at several displays and do deals with around half a dozen traders. The singular most impressive aspect was seeing the war game clubs in Adelaide unite to put on a show that really defines the word "success".

Under Alan's leadership and vision, with support from Little Wars (Melbourne) and the commercial sector, yesterday was a relaxed, friendly, vibrant, high quality convention. The venue was brilliant, being central, large, close to transport and shops, well lit, warm and support from the local council helped significantly.

Anyway, enough babbling about how good it was, judge for yourselves:

Alan briefs the clubs and game masters before the official opening at 10.30.

Task Force 72, dsiplay of 1:72nd scale warships. Good to see the old Legs 11 again ! They brought in around 12 ships, all exquisitely made.

Trader alley, Nic and the Eureka stand, Mick's Metal Models, Battlefield accessories, THMX, Martin's Shop, Military Hobbies were all well supported and great to see them along. My apologies if I've left someone out.

Ishtar on the BSS table. Lots of goodies, not enough money ! Thanks for managing the stand all day Ishtar, 10% of sales went to support the event.

warmachie action from the team at Garrison

The big ancient battle, Southern Wargamers demonstratio game

WH Fantasy

SAGA, Feudal Japan

Laser Cut terrain from THMX, the quality and detail of this scenery was excellent.

Military Hobbies, who not only lent Alan huge support, but ran the BBQ. Well done guys.

Everyone loves a Darlek, particularly one nosing about Martin's game ! Funniest thing was watching the model builders clean one of the Darleks while the Darlek provided feedback and sledging. Very entertaining when a Darlek came face to face with the X-Wing game.

Martin ran this participation game and manned his trade stall.

The quality of the tables was fantastic. Not sure what this one was, someone help me out.

Blackhawk Down

Club North ran a DB tournament.

SA scale plastic modelers

ah, love 'em :)

This was a cool Black Powder game, run by the "Adelaide Regiment" reenactment club. A what if scenario involving a French attack on Adelaide, complete with local landmarks and the River Torrens. I had the pleasure of playing this. Unfortunately the civilian population (primarily milking girls) distracted my French marines who were caught sans trousers.

My own game. I was so impressed that every participation game had interested people come up and just want to play. The interest was fantastic and the hall was just a buzz of laughter, dice rolling and gaming.

"Quick or the Dead", another game I had the pleasure of playing, three small and improbably armed motor boats taking on the might of the Germans on Lake Tanganyika in WW1.

Zombie Pulp Fiction, fantastic table.

Group North again, this time with X-Wing

Ross (Group North) running people through Viking SAGA, I wanted to play this but didn't have enough time. A couple of mates gave it a try and I think it will be our next big investment. Ross also ran 15mm Plataea and Marathon using FoG rules.

So, all up, a fantastic day, excellent organisation and hopefully this will be on the calendar for many years to come. Thanks Alan and all the people who made it happen with so few problems. Thanks to all the clubs and game masters for putting on such a great show.

stu

one thing to add, most of the photos were taken during the set up, so the amount of people at the event isn't conveyed very well.

I've also just noticed on the Little Wars Webiste that the list of games has been removed, is there any chance of getting this info Alan ?

stu

Looks to be everything a wargames' show should be & perhaps a little more.

The pre-show photos are probably better as you don't have the hordes of people in the way of the tables.

I had a great day participating in the Wars or the Successor Game . Many thanks to Norm and Martin for organising that game .

Just completed the long drive back to melbourne. A fantastic day out. Well done to Alan and his SA supporters

Now…what is the date for next year?

Mike

T'was a grand day out, even though I could only stay for an hour or so. Well done Alan et al.

sorry guys, photobucket stuff up. Links are now broken and I can't edit the post to fix 'em.

the album is located here:

link

Thanks for posting this Stu. I've been comatose for much of the day.

What a fantastic day! I was so proud of this community for getting behind the show and coming together in a friendly and energetic way. Dice were being rolled all the time from the start to very end of the day and there were even a few die-hards asking about how late we were staying open.

The support from the major clubs – Garrison, Group North and Southern Wargamers – was brilliant and the show would have been nothing without them.

I can speak from experience when I say it's an amazingly draining experience running a participation game on a day like this, and I really want to thank all of the individual game masters for their efforts and support. You guys rock!

The mix of games there was just about perfect. A healthy dose of pretty much every genre you can name, plus a very active and energetic DBA tournament.

The displays of models from Task Force 72 and SAPMA were awe-inspiring and of course the Daleks and Adelaide Regiment were just gorgeous.

And we even had a giraffe running the Bring and Buy table – check the pictures – nice onesie Ishtar.

Having several lads coming over from Victoria to put on games was brilliant, Adam, Lon, Tristan, Ara, Andrew, Richard, Simon – thank you so much. I will try and organise a road trip to Melbourne next year to return the favour.

We had a great mix of traders this year too, with some local and some from interstate. Their support was invaluable and I really hope you managed to empty the pockets of some of our attendees.

And there is always room for more traders. :)

The day will be the 11th of July. I'm heading back to the venue tomorrow to return the key and will book it in while I'm there.

Thanks everyone.

11 July, eh? I'd better start planning the next game, then…

Thanks for the pics, Stu. We Dalek Builders were very happy to be there. The place had a great 'buzz', and I think the larger venue (compared to Bugle Call '12) was a huge bonus. The place was packed, but there was still room to move, and plenty happening.

Alan – oh yes, I know that post-convention coma. Hope yours wears off sooner than mine did in 2012. ;)

Given how much fun was had on the day I'm sure Group North members will be falling over themselves to help run tables or just fill up tables next year.

And also a big thank you to the guys who came across from Melbourne – I'm now looking at all the kids toy match box cars and wondering how I can convert them into some fun post-apopalytic road warrior fun.

There is one game there looks like it was played on a game mat of some kind with some random ruins spread about and I think I see some loose rounds of ammo sitting there , an Ace playing card on the table with image of a soldier on it and a few single based figures to the side.
What game is that please ?

cheers Tom

That game was run by Andrew Boswell from Melbourne. It was Achtung! Cthulhu – a Savage Worlds setting. The playing cards were purchased through eBay I believe.

Andrew helped run the Jurassic Reich game a few years back and I believe the figures from that game found their way into his Cthulhu table on the weekend. Well spotted Tom!

I've spammed the report across a few forums. Had a response from the Murray Bridge crew, they were also impressed.

11 July locked in.

Interestingly, the MIA games seemed to be WWII and naps ! who would have thought ! Better fix that up in 2015 :)

If you want to have a post convention catch up Alan, I'd love to attend.

next stop, group north open day (and the scale modelers show at the aviation museum, Saturday 16 August)

stu

Unfortunately the WWII game was cancelled at the last minute due to illness. But yes, I was surprised there wasn't a Napoleonic-era game this year.

But with the 200th anniversary of Waterloo next year, the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli, and the 75th anniversaries of the Battles of France and Britain there will surely be scope for some commemorative games.

Waterloo of the Daleks…

hmm…

some interest in your ships on the Rum Corps forum Martin, are they in production yet ? Any idea on cost ?

…and Bugle Call laid the platform :)

I booked the venue today. We're on for the 11th of July 2015.

Thanks Oz
Very nice pics and the Con looks great.
Clif

Probably the best vibe and most well attended day I have seen in over twenty years of attending Adelaide wargaming shows. It was a great day out.

Alan you did a great job bringing it all together, and well done everyone involved in any way.

I have the 11th July booked in my diary for next year.

Nic Eureka Miniatures

I've uploaded my pictures to the Little Wars website. Unfortunately I didn't get much chance to take many shots as I kinda had to be everywhere at once. These were taken during the initial setting up before the crowds arrived.

link

And just to update people, I did the sums and, thanks in part to the generous assistance of the City of Unley, Little Wars Adelaide was able to recover its costs and even raised a surplus which we will put back into the event next year.

excellent, good news, well done Alan.

Huzzah for breaking even! Huzzah I say!

Thank you to everyone who came and gave the show that positive vibe that Nic mentioned; it was a very real quality that was very welcome.

Stu –

Sorry, no idea on final cost as yet. :(
I'm currently aiming for below the $10.00 USD mark for 3rd rates, (perhaps as low as $5.00 USD) but its a lot of guesswork at the moment, educated though it may be.

The biggest hassle is the design of the stern – its a bit too tricky to get it to close up neatly, without requiring three extra hands and a dozen salty oaths. I won't release them until I'm sure I've got it right.

Progress continues, though! I'll certainly have them ready long before the next Little Wars. :)

Stay tuned.

Yes, great show, most impressed with the organisation and presentation, congratulations. Back in West Oz now.

Well done for all the traders too, glad I got in early to grab a Samurai castle/fortress.