Essen Spiel is where you can go to lose
yourself completely in the world of (analogue) games, be they all things table-top
(miniatures, card, dice, or abstract), Role Play Games (pen and paper, and Live
Action Role Play) and for all levels (children games, casual players, party
games and serious gamers).
As seems to be the general trend these
conventions are growing in size and popularity and the games are becoming
broader in appeal, attracting a wide variety of people. Essen has its fair
share of sun deprived social outcasts but it does also attract a more ‘normal’
and family crowd as the Euro tradition of gaming seems to be wider spread.
Unlike the UK Games Expo and GenCon
there is less emphasis on playing at the convention, it being more of a huge
series of trade halls. And this means many people gather at hotels after the
show day to play into the wee small hours.
We have used a small family hotel called
Handelshof some distance away from the convention centre for many years now and
have a friendly group of people to play with who have become good friends over
time. This year several palls came in from far and wide (New Zealand, Sweden,
Belgium and South Africa) and as well as gaming we managed to socialise at
dinner and over drinks. One dining highlight was at the Mousetrap restaurant for
pig knuckle followed by apple strudel.
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