PAW 2010

PAW 2010                            Words and Photographs by Paul Davies Dates: 3-4 February 2010. Venue: YMCA, Plymouth, Devon, UK. One might be excused for thinking that a wargames show in the far south west of the UK would struggle for support from gamers, visitors and traders, but PAW 2010, presented by the Plymouth Association of Wargamers (PAW), demonstrated very much the opposite. Over the weekend there was a mix of more than 17 demonstration and participation games. Visitor numbers surpassed previous years within the first couple of hours, and the number of entrants for the competition tournaments was around 40% up on previous years. One trader even said that he’d not had time to set up a game because his stand was too busy! And all this in a new venue too!

I was particularly impressed to see so many participation games. We all know that running a participation game is more demanding “on the day”, but clearly there were a lot of very enthusiastic wargamers only too aware that the best way to create interest in our hobby, is to share their enthusiasm, by actually involving people. And so to a selection of the games: American War of Independence Winner of Best Demonstration Game. Presented by Torquay Games Group Eagles High.

Type of game: Participation. Scale: 28mm Figures: Front Rank, Perry Miniatures, Foundry, Eureka Rules: British Grenadier Contact: eagles-high@hotmail.co.uk

Battle Cars Presented by  Andy Hart (PAW). Type of game: Participation. Rules: Battle Cars scaled up to accommodate larger vehicles. http://www.plymouthwargamers.co.uk/index.html

English Civil War Presented by John and Steve (PAW). Type of game: Demonstration. Scale: 28mm. Figures: Perry Miniatures. Rules: ECW - Warhammer Historical http://www.plymouthwargamers.co.uk/index.html

Mexican American War Presented by Exmouth Wargames Society. Type of game: Demonstration. Scale: 25mm. Figures: 1st Rank and Old Glory. Rules: Club rules. http://www.exmouthwargames.blogspot.com

Modern Naval Presented by LKM. Type of game: Demonstration. Scale: 1/2400th. Vessels: Seawulf Ships. Rules: Shipwreck

Escape from Necromunda Presented by Torquay Games Group Eagles High. Type of game: Participation. Scale: 28mm. Figures: Games Workshop. Rules: GW Necromunda. http://eagles-high.page.tl/Home.htm

Pirates Presented by Laurie Walsh & Steve Larkin. Type of game: Participation. Scale: 28mm. Figures: Mostly Black Scorpion, plus various conversions. Rules: Legends of the High Seas – Warhammer Historical.

Secrets of the Third Reich Presented by Trelawney’s Armies. Type of game: Participation. Scale: 28mm. Figures: Westwind Productions. Rules: Secrets of the Third Reich. Contact: vml@rothery44.fsnet.co.uk

Seven Years War Presented by Torquay Wargames Club. Type of game: Demonstration Scale: 25mm Figures: Front Rank, Eagle Miniatures Rules: Warfare in the Age of Reason Contact: grahamgodfrey@hotmail.com

Space Hulk Winner of Best Participation Game. Presented by Cross Swords. Type of game: Participation. Scale: 28mm. Figures: Games Workshop. http://www.cross-swords.co.uk/index.html

A very worthy winner of Best Participation Game of the Show. Any game that can keep my 12 year old son fully occupied for SEVEN hours has clearly got everything right! Not only was it an extremely well presented, engrossing and fun game with an amazing 3D Space Hulk layout, but I was also very pleased to see that good sportsmanship was important too, with the main ‘combatants’ who managed to ‘stay the course’, duly shaking hands at the culmination of the seven hour marathon campaign. A lesson for a few of those, thankfully rare, ‘win-at-all-costs’ players! Can’t stand them myself, frankly I’d rather lose and have a good game than try every trick and rules ‘loophole’ to win! Competitions As already mentioned there was a very healthy entry for the competition games, the winners of which were: Field of Glory- 25mm Martin Hayes, Mid-Republican Roman, South Somerset Best painted army – Andy Unwin, Norman Field of Glory- 15mm Alan Millicheap, Mongol Conquest , Berkley Best painted army - Gordon Jamieson, Mamluk, Warhammer Chris Myhill, High Elves, Wargamers Out For Fun (Woof). Best painted army - Colin Farrant, Dark Elves, PAW. Warhammer 40K Tournament Jon Corps, Orks, Kingston So, although a small show by some standards, PAW 2010, was a bigger and, in my opinion, better show than last year, with an easier to find venue, free parking, willing helpers to assist with unloading, good food on-site, a Bring and Buy that I could actually get to with sensible pricing in most cases, and plenty of games with which to get involved (as opposed to just spectating). What more could any wargamer ask? So thanks to the Plymouth Association of Wargamers and particularly Clive Dudley the event organiser. For more information about the games at PAW 2010, wargames groups in the area, or PAW 2011, which is already booked for 5th/6th February 2011, contact Clive at: pawevents@plymouthwargamers.co.uk