Britcon 2024 - Demo & Participation Games
2024 confirmed demo games.
As well as a host of traders (including a number of first-time exhibitors anywhere on the wargames circuit) this year's Britcon also features a host of participation games as well, so you can not only splash some cash, you can also roll some dice (or flip cards.. etc etc) during your visit to Nottingham's newest wargames show.
This year for your playing pleasure we have the following games on offer:
As well as a host of traders (including a number of first-time exhibitors anywhere on the wargames circuit) this year's Britcon also features a host of participation games as well, so you can not only splash some cash, you can also roll some dice (or flip cards.. etc etc) during your visit to Nottingham's newest wargames show.
This year for your playing pleasure we have the following games on offer:
The Wi Room - WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED @ BRITCON 2024
Across the Britcon weekend Wargames Illustrated Magazine will be presenting several eye catching and award-winning games for convention attendees to check out.
On Saturday the Wi Room will play host to games of Valour & Fortitude.
V&F author and games design grandee Jervis Johnson will be busy playing Napolenics with Alan and Michael Perry, along with overseeing the ‘Best Historical Game’ award winner from Salute 51 - presented by the Southeast Scotland Wargames Club, and the Boondock Sayntes’ Partizan ‘Best in Show’ Indian Munity game - Unao 1857.
Across the Britcon weekend Wargames Illustrated Magazine will be presenting several eye catching and award-winning games for convention attendees to check out.
On Saturday the Wi Room will play host to games of Valour & Fortitude.
V&F author and games design grandee Jervis Johnson will be busy playing Napolenics with Alan and Michael Perry, along with overseeing the ‘Best Historical Game’ award winner from Salute 51 - presented by the Southeast Scotland Wargames Club, and the Boondock Sayntes’ Partizan ‘Best in Show’ Indian Munity game - Unao 1857.
On the Sunday, we head back to the Middle Ages as the Wi Room is given over to medieval small battles action in the form of several games using the Never Mind the Billhooks rules, with author Andy Callan on hand to umpire the action and talk to punters about Billhooks, Boathooks and Fantasia.
Blood & Plunder
The BHGS are delighted to welcome Bob Emmerson & Firelock Games' to showcase Blood & Plunder at Britcon, Nottingham's own wargames convention.
Rob will be onsite running participation games set in the golden age of piracy - appropriately enough in Nottingham Robin Hood's hometown! Whether you are the greenest landlubber or the saltiest seadog, you can try your hand at being a bloodthirsty pirate, desperate militiaman, or a fierce native to fight for control of the Caribbean, waging deadly battles in jungles, towns and on the high seas!
Rob will be onsite running participation games set in the golden age of piracy - appropriately enough in Nottingham Robin Hood's hometown! Whether you are the greenest landlubber or the saltiest seadog, you can try your hand at being a bloodthirsty pirate, desperate militiaman, or a fierce native to fight for control of the Caribbean, waging deadly battles in jungles, towns and on the high seas!
Gunsmoke!
This is your chance to take part in one of the most iconic cinematic moments in movie history by playing in "Tombstone", The Gunfight at O.K Corral !
Just look out for the guys dresed as cowboys who will be running a Dead Man's Hand-based game that recreates this lenegdary shootout in around 20 minutes, on a lovely Western-themed terrain board at this year's Britcon show.
Just mosey on over and say "Howdy" to Chris and the gang to pick up your six-shooter and take part !
Just look out for the guys dresed as cowboys who will be running a Dead Man's Hand-based game that recreates this lenegdary shootout in around 20 minutes, on a lovely Western-themed terrain board at this year's Britcon show.
Just mosey on over and say "Howdy" to Chris and the gang to pick up your six-shooter and take part !
Bello Ludi
BelloLudi will be running demos of their innovative gaming system throughout the Britcon weekend.
Their games are designed as a multiplayer games but will work just as fine with only two players or even solo. BelloLudi rules are intuitive and easy to learn, yet offer enough variation for seasoned wargamers.
Their games are designed as a multiplayer games but will work just as fine with only two players or even solo. BelloLudi rules are intuitive and easy to learn, yet offer enough variation for seasoned wargamers.
The Boondock Sayntes Present... in the Wi Room
The battle of Unao, September 1857.
Part II Of the relief of Lucknow
With two failed attempts to relieve Lakhnao behind him, Brig-Gen Henry Havelock and his under-strength cholera ravaged force reluctantly returns to Kanhpur and to stinging criticism from his subordinate Brig-Gen Neill.
"I deeply regret you have fallen back one foot....The effect of your retrograde movement will be very injurious to our cause everywhere....."
Havelock described the letter as the most extraordinary he had ever perused.
“I do not want and will not receive any of them from an officer under my command. Understand this distinctly, and that a consideration of the obstruction that would arise to the public service at this moment alone prevents me from taking the stronger step of placing you under arrest".
Under increasing pressure, Havelock was then forced to move on Bithur to confront a Rebel force which had gathered there, threatening his rear. After defeating the rebels he returned to Kanhpur to read in a newspaper, the Calcutta Gazette, that he had been superseded by Maj-Gen Sir James Outram.
Outram arrived on Sept 16th bringing with him some badly needed reinforcements. His first action was to entrust Brig-Gen Havelock with the command of the Oudh Field force. The honour of relieving the garrison at Lakhnao should fall "to that distinguished officer for all his strenuous and noble exertions already made".
And so it was on Sept 19th, 1857, Brig-Gen Havelock led out a force of 3,179 men, across the bridge of boats and into Oude. Ahead of him lay a march of 50 hostile miles and an enemy of many thousands. In his hands, the fate of 900 Lakhnao residents and possibly the future of Empire in India itself.
Part II Of the relief of Lucknow
With two failed attempts to relieve Lakhnao behind him, Brig-Gen Henry Havelock and his under-strength cholera ravaged force reluctantly returns to Kanhpur and to stinging criticism from his subordinate Brig-Gen Neill.
"I deeply regret you have fallen back one foot....The effect of your retrograde movement will be very injurious to our cause everywhere....."
Havelock described the letter as the most extraordinary he had ever perused.
“I do not want and will not receive any of them from an officer under my command. Understand this distinctly, and that a consideration of the obstruction that would arise to the public service at this moment alone prevents me from taking the stronger step of placing you under arrest".
Under increasing pressure, Havelock was then forced to move on Bithur to confront a Rebel force which had gathered there, threatening his rear. After defeating the rebels he returned to Kanhpur to read in a newspaper, the Calcutta Gazette, that he had been superseded by Maj-Gen Sir James Outram.
Outram arrived on Sept 16th bringing with him some badly needed reinforcements. His first action was to entrust Brig-Gen Havelock with the command of the Oudh Field force. The honour of relieving the garrison at Lakhnao should fall "to that distinguished officer for all his strenuous and noble exertions already made".
And so it was on Sept 19th, 1857, Brig-Gen Havelock led out a force of 3,179 men, across the bridge of boats and into Oude. Ahead of him lay a march of 50 hostile miles and an enemy of many thousands. In his hands, the fate of 900 Lakhnao residents and possibly the future of Empire in India itself.
Trench Offensive - Pandyman Games
Pandyman Games will be running demos of their WW1 game Trench Offensive - A 28mm scale, 2 or more player competitive Great War inspired trench combat skirmish game, which was first unveiled at the 2022 edition of UKGE.
Chesterfield COGS
The COGS group from Chesterfield will be staging another demo and participation game at Britcon this year, under the forboding title "DOOMED!!"
Here are some photos of the game.
Here are some photos of the game.
Nottingham Wargames Club
The Nottingham Wargames Club will be staging an impressive 28mm Franco Prussian War game at Britcon in 2024
In this blistering encounter, the Prussians take on (of course) the French in aa race to secure control of a village. Both sides had two infantry regiments, with accompanying artillery, although the Prussians benefit from larger battalions, a battalion of Jaegers and two regiments of cavalry rather than one. They also can rely on the power of a number of 4pdr and 6pdr Krupp batteries.
The Franco-Prussian War offers a lot of scenario opportunities and, with the differing troop type classifications, coupled with the respective advantages of the weapons carried, this provides the wargamer with lots to think about.....
In this blistering encounter, the Prussians take on (of course) the French in aa race to secure control of a village. Both sides had two infantry regiments, with accompanying artillery, although the Prussians benefit from larger battalions, a battalion of Jaegers and two regiments of cavalry rather than one. They also can rely on the power of a number of 4pdr and 6pdr Krupp batteries.
The Franco-Prussian War offers a lot of scenario opportunities and, with the differing troop type classifications, coupled with the respective advantages of the weapons carried, this provides the wargamer with lots to think about.....
Wings of Glory Aerodrome
7/8/24: UPDATE
Unfortunately due to pilot availability issues, the Wings of Glory Aerodrome have informed us they are regretfully now unable to attend Britcon this year - but they do promise to zoom back into Nottingham again in 2025!
Unfortunately due to pilot availability issues, the Wings of Glory Aerodrome have informed us they are regretfully now unable to attend Britcon this year - but they do promise to zoom back into Nottingham again in 2025!
(The Wings of Glory Aerodrome are a regular and much-loved feature on the UK wargames show circuit, and this weekend in Nottingham will be bringing a veritable hangar-full of gaming systems to Britcon for you to get stuck into. Wings of Glory is the definitive super-easy-to-pick-up WW1 air combat game, and if you're one of the very few gamers who have never played it yourself you'll certainly have seen other gamers hurling their Spads, Albatrosses and Camels around the tabletop skies and having a whale of a time - so whether you’re an ace or a novice why not pop along and ask to join in a round or two of ludicrously colourful air to air combat?
As well as allowing you to be the Red Baron, the core Wings of Glory system has also been extended to cover the world of Napoleonic Naval gaming, all using the same simple movement and firing system of the original WW1 game - and both of these systems will be available to play and try at Britcon this year.)
As well as allowing you to be the Red Baron, the core Wings of Glory system has also been extended to cover the world of Napoleonic Naval gaming, all using the same simple movement and firing system of the original WW1 game - and both of these systems will be available to play and try at Britcon this year.)
Kings of War Armada
The Pit are now to all intents and purposes "Mantic (when at a show)" and as part of that awesome responsibility Matt and the gang will be demo’ing Mantic’s Kings of War Armada fantasy naval game at Britcon this year.
Kings of War Armada shares a lot of its' gaming DNA with Warlord Games' Black Seas, making it very easy to learn and play - but in porting (see what we did there..?) the setting over into Mantic's Kings of War universe means the opportunities for generating loads of very different fleets, all with their own unique feel and playstyle, are hugely expanded. Fancy trying your hand at bellowing out "RAMMING SPEED CAPTAIN!" in Orcish? The Pit stand and KoW Armada demo needs to be on your Britcon agenda!
Kings of War Armada is very easy to learn and play, even with the optional rules. The current 2 forces feel unique in their playstyle and the included fleets in the starter-set provide some great games. There are 10 scenarios included in the rulebook for those looking for more than just knocking fleets together.
For those looking for a fantasy ship game, the scope for expansion with Armada is huge with Mantic’s Kings of War setting. You will also be able to play Armada as the Kingdoms of Men with the correct scale ships you may already have when the rules are published. Armada doesn’t have a huge amount of rules detail in terms of ships taking damage to specific sections, as the combat system is streamlined for easy and quickness of play. It does have a lot of flexibility in force building with the optional upgrades, and that can only expand as more factions become available and the game grows.
Kings of War Armada shares a lot of its' gaming DNA with Warlord Games' Black Seas, making it very easy to learn and play - but in porting (see what we did there..?) the setting over into Mantic's Kings of War universe means the opportunities for generating loads of very different fleets, all with their own unique feel and playstyle, are hugely expanded. Fancy trying your hand at bellowing out "RAMMING SPEED CAPTAIN!" in Orcish? The Pit stand and KoW Armada demo needs to be on your Britcon agenda!
Kings of War Armada is very easy to learn and play, even with the optional rules. The current 2 forces feel unique in their playstyle and the included fleets in the starter-set provide some great games. There are 10 scenarios included in the rulebook for those looking for more than just knocking fleets together.
For those looking for a fantasy ship game, the scope for expansion with Armada is huge with Mantic’s Kings of War setting. You will also be able to play Armada as the Kingdoms of Men with the correct scale ships you may already have when the rules are published. Armada doesn’t have a huge amount of rules detail in terms of ships taking damage to specific sections, as the combat system is streamlined for easy and quickness of play. It does have a lot of flexibility in force building with the optional upgrades, and that can only expand as more factions become available and the game grows.
Board Game Room
As well as this diverse mix of miniatures games, Britcon will also feature a dedicated Board Game & Roleplay Room, hosted by the Nottingham Board and Wargames Group. Located in Lecture Theatre 8 (on the right hand side of the main competitions area) the room will be set up for you to come along and use the space to play your own games, or to borrow games from the extensive library of popular titles all provided by Gary and his team. There will also be opportunities to take part in game-testing, with some as-yet unpublished titles on the tabletop, all of which are keen to get your feedback as playtesters over the weekend of Britcon 2022
Warlord Games: Epic Scale Ancients (& other demos)
Warlord Games need no introduction - and especially so at a show running in their home town of Nottingham. The Warlord rules portfolio covers some of the most popular and well known titles in the industry, and they will be demo'ing a number of them on their stand at Britcon this year (just in case you haven't already tried them).
The highlight will of course be a large demo of their brand new Epioc Scale ancients minis under the hail Ceasar system, but there will also be a chance to try your hand at systems such as Bolt Action, Black Seas and others.
The highlight will of course be a large demo of their brand new Epioc Scale ancients minis under the hail Ceasar system, but there will also be a chance to try your hand at systems such as Bolt Action, Black Seas and others.
Lard Workshop
Running on Saturday in The Old Chemistry Theatre, Lard Workshop is Too Fat Lardies Nottingham Extravaganze, with a host of amazing looking games being played throughout the day.
The players have all signed up in advance (and paid!) to attend, but you are more than welcome to drop in and ogle the eye candy of some incredible tables and fantastic figures throughout the day.
The players have all signed up in advance (and paid!) to attend, but you are more than welcome to drop in and ogle the eye candy of some incredible tables and fantastic figures throughout the day.
Do you want to run a demo game @ Britcon in 2024?
The BHGS are now taking applications from clubs and groups to stage demo and participation games at this year's event.
Fitting neatly into the East Midlands' wargaming calendar "Summer" slot (with Hammerhead and both Partizan shows in the other 3 calendar quarters), Britcon boasts an eclectic mix of historical and non-historical competition games, less competition orientated "organised play" gatherings from gaming communities such as the Too Fat Lardies, and of course the Britcon Trade Show including space for a number of show-floor demos and participation games
And, uniquely all of this happens slap bang in the middle of Nottingham, with great connections to ever conceivable form of public transport as part of a multi-day convention with onsite student accommodation right on the doorstep of all of the evening (and daytime) attractions that Nottingham has to offer the discerning wargamer running a weekend demo or participation game!
We can offer demo game groups:
Britcon is a 2-day event which this year is on track to host over 500 "there all weekend" players, plus several hundred additional "walk-in" show-only attendees as the show becomes more firmly established as we move into our 3rd year in Nottingham. The main day of the show will again be from 10-4 on Saturday, with a part day on Sunday from 10-2
In terms of layout the demo games are integrated within the main trade show floor, which sits at the very heart of the event. Show attendees walk from the entrance straight into the middle of the show, and all of the residential gamers will also be walking past our stands and demo tables multiple times every day to get to the bars, catering spaces and even the main entrance and exits from the venue each morning and evening.
If your group is interested in applying to run a demo game, or if you have any questions or would like to understand more about taking part in Britcon 2024, please get in touch by email and we can arrange a time to discuss the possibilities.
The BHGS are now taking applications from clubs and groups to stage demo and participation games at this year's event.
Fitting neatly into the East Midlands' wargaming calendar "Summer" slot (with Hammerhead and both Partizan shows in the other 3 calendar quarters), Britcon boasts an eclectic mix of historical and non-historical competition games, less competition orientated "organised play" gatherings from gaming communities such as the Too Fat Lardies, and of course the Britcon Trade Show including space for a number of show-floor demos and participation games
And, uniquely all of this happens slap bang in the middle of Nottingham, with great connections to ever conceivable form of public transport as part of a multi-day convention with onsite student accommodation right on the doorstep of all of the evening (and daytime) attractions that Nottingham has to offer the discerning wargamer running a weekend demo or participation game!
We can offer demo game groups:
- Free show entry for all demo/participation game runners
- Free onsite weekend parking for the main organisers of each game, and heavily discounted city-centre parking for other players and helpers
- Leisurely setup times, starting on from Friday lunchtime, to allow you time to create your tablescape
- Access to book our onsite "Student" accommodation on Friday & Saturday for anyone wishing to stay all weekend and take advantage of everything Nottingham has to offer
- Late night gaming on Friday and Saturday if your group wishes to continue progressing the action in any particularly engrossing games after the trade show closes for the evening
Britcon is a 2-day event which this year is on track to host over 500 "there all weekend" players, plus several hundred additional "walk-in" show-only attendees as the show becomes more firmly established as we move into our 3rd year in Nottingham. The main day of the show will again be from 10-4 on Saturday, with a part day on Sunday from 10-2
In terms of layout the demo games are integrated within the main trade show floor, which sits at the very heart of the event. Show attendees walk from the entrance straight into the middle of the show, and all of the residential gamers will also be walking past our stands and demo tables multiple times every day to get to the bars, catering spaces and even the main entrance and exits from the venue each morning and evening.
If your group is interested in applying to run a demo game, or if you have any questions or would like to understand more about taking part in Britcon 2024, please get in touch by email and we can arrange a time to discuss the possibilities.