Following the 2014 edition of Britcon we conducted a short 10-question survey of all the 173 registered players to see what they though, and to try and identify areas we can improve on in future years. 

We're very conscious that we are organizing Britcon on behalf of all of our players who pay to enter, so we not only want to do our best, we want also to be as open as possible in sharing the information we are using to make our decisions about how Britcon is organised too. 

We had a fantastic response to the survey, with almost 90 players completing it, which is great. Even better, the results were very, very positive too! 

We have now published the full, unexpurgated results on the BHGS website - including analysis of the results, as well as all of the individual comments and suggestions which were submitted. Where possible we've also tried to answer as many of the individual comments as we can too. (The only editing that's been done is to take out any references in the comments that might be used to identify specific individuals, as that would of course be a little unfair).

We are already planning for Britcon 2015, and we are pleased to be able to confirm that the dates for 2015 will be from the 7th-9th August, again in Manchester University. Details on the competitions on offer, and the booking form will be made live towards the end of this year.

In the background to running events the BHGS are steadily also transferring results from previous competitions from the "old" BHGS website to this new one. 

It's a time consuming and frankly rather dull task, but occasionally it does throw up some real gems - and this week we've been lucky enough to find a treasure-trove of pictures taken at past events, going back in some cases to the early 90's. 

These will all appear on the relevant pages of our "previous results" section once we complete uploading all of the results for the competitions they relate to, however we've also posted a "taster" bundle of some of the best of these photos from across the years on our Facebook site. 

So if, you want to see what your clubmates were wearing in 1994, or what you looked like when you still had hair our Facebook Page is the place to go. 

(You don't need to be "on" Facebook to view the photos, but if you are and "like/join" our page you can add whatever comments you like to the photos - or "share" them on the timelines of your friends, who may have missed spotting themselves - we're sure they'll thank you for it..!!). 

The "year end" rankings for FoGAM are now published - congratulations to our new 2014 champion, Graham Briggs! 

Looks like Britcon had a dramatic effect on the standings overall with several of the previously top ranked players performing rather poorly and dropping points! 

Results from FoGAM, DBMM, FoGR, FoGAM Medieval and FoG Napoleonic now published! 

In time for the final event of the rankings calendar the BHGS FoGR rankings have now been updated to include July's events. 

Again, a month packed full of big changes, wild swings and a host of surprises at the top of the table.... oh, sorry - actually it's business as usual ! 

Unfortunately we have taken the difficult decision to cancel this year's X-Wing tournament at Britcon (Manchester, 8-10th August)

We had a lot of interest on forums and the UK X-Wing Facebook group, and we did lots of advertising - some of you may even have seen some of the "paid for" Facebook adverts we tried the first time just for this event - however we are still a few players short of the minimum number required to make a 3-day event viable. 

With some players needing to plan travel and book accommodation, we therefore felt it would be better to pull the event at this point in time rather than hanging on to the last minute, or to continue with our current level of entries and risk ending up with a tournament in which everyone ended up playing the same players multiple times over the course of the weekend. 

We put in a huge amount of effort to promote the event and so this is of course a real disappointment for us as well as for the players who had signed up, and in the long term we do hope to reintroduce X-Wing at future events. 

We've offered all of the players who had entered a full refund, a transfer to one of our other gaming periods on offer at Britcon 2014 or to carry their entry fees forwards to another BHGS event in the future.  

We do still have table space allocated for the event, so if anyone local is thinking of visiting the Britcon Trade Show we could still accommodate some space for "free" pickup X-Wing games for trade show visitors - maybe some of the players from local clubs might want to take advantage of this offer and arrange  games?

Miniature Worldmaker have just emailed to tell us that they are (once again) sending across a box of terrain for us to give away as prizes at this year's Britcon ! 

If you don't manage a podium finish, Magister Militum will be selling Miniature Worldmaker terrain at the Britcon Trade Show anyway ...  

In a development which will surprise almost no-one, the pre-Britcon FoGR rankings are now posted, and with Alasdair Harley on a rather impressive 100% ranking, its, erm, kinda probably maybe worth turning up at Britcon. Maybe - we think. 

For next season the rankings calculation  will be changing, so as to make it harder to get a 100% score...  

Everyone has been waiting for this one! 

The most hotly anticipated rankings update of the year is now live on our website - only the Britcon results will change these rankings and impact on the the presentation of the annual BHGS Trophy .

Who will be the person on top of the heap after the last round at Britcon 2014 ?

Gripping Beast and The BHGS are proud to announce the Inaugural “UK Saga Northern Melee”, which will be taking place at the British Historical Games Society’s Britcon Event in Manchester from 8-10th August this year. (See the official announcement on the Saga forum). 

Book your place via this link 

 Staying true to the spirit of the hardy Northern SAGA factions, “Northern Melee” will be one of the most epic tests yet for your Warlord and his Warband. This UK SAGA Event will allow you to test your skill and courage in 8-10 Scenarios over 2 or 3 days.

All currently published Factions are allowed (excluding the Cross & Crescent Factions). All Swords for Hire, Heroes and Thunders are included together with War Banners (as amended). A 6 Point Warband Composition can be used in each game, chosen from an 8 Point Roster submitted beforehand.

Gripping Beast will be providing prize support, freebies for participants and (we hope) the chance to play on some of their unique terrain. Members of the Gripping Beast team should also be on hand to provide tips, hints and will also be fully prepared to accept any and all offers of frothing pints of ale you may wish to buy them in return for them being such terribly nice chaps.

 As part of this ground-breaking collaboration, we have negotiated a special "sponsored" 20% Discount on the entry price for the Britcon SAGA tournament to £40 per head, including a £5 voucher to spend with any of the traders at the Britcon trade show - many of whom will be selling Gripping Beast figures and other SAGA goodies.

 This is a fantastic opportunity to take part in an Official UK SAGA Melee Event, pick up some SAGA goodies and also help showcase SAGA to the hundreds of other competitors and visitors at what is one of the UK's biggest and longest established multi-period wargaming conventions.

 Britcon is organised by the BHGS and is held at the University of Manchester from 8-10th August. Competitions start on Friday evening and run through to Sunday afternoon, with discounted onsite university accommodation available, as well as a "student prices" bar and cafe within the gaming hall.  The venue is opposite Manchester Piccadilly mainline station, with great connections to the whole of the UK.

We hope you can join us for the inaugural UK SAGA Northern Melee 2014 for what promises to be a very Northern weekend indeed.

Book your place via this link