Saturday 16th April 2016
Another year , another Salute. Went on the lunch time train Friday with intentions of a wander around the docklands area, but the rain kept us in.
We were lucky this year to get the hotel next to the Excel, so somewhere to leave bags and not have to get up so early, as in other years traveling in from other parts of London.
In the queue for a reasonable 9:10 and still near the front. As with our first visit to Excel 4 years ago we got a KR Multicase Golden ticket - Adam was the lucky bag winner this year and so another excellent back pack.
We had our shopping list and had narrowed it down to a few games we wanted to try. When show opened, first stop was KR for the bag and a redistribution of weight load.
Right next door was a couple of XCOM games and we went for the longer mission. This was one we had played on the Xbox and thought we might know what we were doing!!!!
Excellent terrain and figures, 5 players taking 6 figures, so we all had 1 each and Mark and I shared the lone MEC. We had to the mission to get to the Trawler and activate a homing beacon to allow bombers to come in and finish the job, after which we had to extract back to the start point. Crysalids came at us all the way and the MEC was first to die.
Whilst the others provided cover fire, I managed to gain the bridge and activate the beacon. Getting back was another thing. Finding myself with several Crysalids between my figure and the rest of the team, we decided to extract the remaining team, whilst I took as many out as possible.
So, my guy died heroically whist remainder successfully escaped, mission complete.
So, hour in and time for a wander. Mark really wanted to play the Minion Racing game and we walked over several times and each time a game was under way and very busy, a popular game.
Over the next 4 hours, we walked around, spent money and admired the games.
All were very good, some big and some small, all good quality. Trading stands were not overly crowded either, and had no problems getting what we wanted.
My favourite game was 54mm Napoleonic Peninsular battle, using Victrix figures. I had a battle of wills to stop myself buying a pack, however, when the new Osprey Napoleonic rules come out (as I like Black Ops), who knows!!!!
Another excellent game was a 40mm Peninsular Napoleonic game, which included Sharpe and Harper and also Hakeswill.
For Black Powder, and for amazing terrain, there was a 25mm SYW war, with a fantastic city scene at one end of the battlefield.
No more games were played, this seems to be different every year, as last year we played lots of games, but we all still enjoyed the show. We are looking forward to next year, and hotel is already booked (assuming same weekend) and same hotel as in such a good location.
Some more pics of other games and great terrain.
There was a big Horus Heresy game on which was a optical feast.
There was a big 25mm Vietnam game, with plenty of detail and things to see.
And finally a very nice ECW siege game.
Nice quiet trip home and 3 happy Wargamers arrived back home Saturday night to inspect their wares.
