Geeks on Parade...

I went out with a couple of my gaming pals to the UKGames Expo (supposedly UK’s answer to GENCON). We met at Kevin’s and our first stop was at the supermarket to stock up on junk food and fizzy drinks before driving off to Birmingham.

The Friday before the event was a general get together at the main hotel, informal gaming and a few organised RPG’s.

The weekend proper was held at a nearby convention centre and consisted of several large halls full of trade stalls adjacent to demonstration areas where you could play the games. Also there were smaller rooms where organised games were played and a big area set aside for a table top miniatures war game competition.

There was a wide variety of games from those aimed at children in the family area, board games, card games, other table top games and role play games. There even was a live action game of Living Munchkin where ‘adventurers’ went down into the ‘dungeon’ and kicked down a few doors, battled monsters and took their treasure (it is based on the satirical card game Munchkin and its many variations).

Also at the show were several costumed groups, the Viking re-enactors were showing their fighting skills outside sending sparks flying as their blades clashed to the delight of children and adults alike, there were the Star Wars characters guarding the doors and patrolling the venue, Dr Who was near his Tardis with a shapely female companion as two friendly Darleks wandered around (one bumped into the other as they moved around and apologised in their distinctive voices “sorry darling”, “that’s alright darling” came the response). Other monsters from the later series were present as were a couple of inanimate droids from Star Wars. Also visible were Judge Dread and a couple of Super-Heroes (or Super-Villains – I wasn’t sure which).

I played a Triple Ace – Daring Tales of Adventure game using the Savage Worlds rule set, play tested a new game being developed and had fun zombie killing in a table top game called Last Living Souls. I bought a couple of items, a set of Steampunk Dice and a fun little two person game called Hive.

One small stall caught my eye (and I suspect quite a few other male attendees) it was the first appearance for a new company called AxFaction who make 32mm miniatures for collectors or gamers. This new venture only has two models available at the moment, but they are exquisitely crafted and shapely female characters of fantastic design.

Considering it was the hottest weekend this year, it was the most fun you could have with a group of predominately pale male, physically different (tall & skinny, short & fat, bald or longhaired) sweaty people hyped up on sugar based confectionary as a person can have.