WHW Gaming events – perfect if you don’t like Gaming (and maybe even if you do).

Ok, so here’s the thing; I’ve been a table top wargamer on and off since I was about 10 years old.  I’ve had armies for a dozen different systems, have an attic full of models, set up a Gaming club and have attended events 3-4 times a year every year without fail.  But I have a secret (no, not the shoe fetish) – I don’t really like Gaming.

If I drew a pie-chart of my interest in the hobby it would look something like this:

with absolutely no space for my win / loss record (or, as I’ve taken to calling it more recently, my loss record).

And that’s precisely why I enjoy the events at WHW so much.  So what does a ticket get you?  And what doesn’t it get you?  I’ll break this down using my ToS (Throne of Skulls) experiences predominantly:

1. 5 games.  Kind of.  Depending on the event there are usually ~five games are included in a weekend ticket.  The narrative event I’ve just bought a ticket for includes a Friday night game and is actually seven games in total.  I’ll be honest, that’s too many games (especially for someone that doesn’t like gaming) so apologies in advance to my fourth opponent on Saturday – I’ll probably be an absolute nightmare to play (I’ll be really bored and I’m bad enough with the etiquette when I’m on it).

  Now, obviously, the deciding factor on whether a game was good or not is the person you’re playing against.  I’d rather play a floor war with a mate than at WHW against That Guy but I’ve had very few negative gaming experiences there to be honest (in fact, given my poor attention span and rules knowledge I’m probably more the problem).

  The scenery is pretty good and there’s tonnes of it.  It’s all GW kits (obviously) but it’s all built well and fully painted.  One thing to be aware of is that the games are all played on Realm of Battle boards.  Now, I own one of these and whilst they look good they have some big drawbacks.

  i) The hills are a recipe for wobbly model syndrome
ii) They are made of hard plastic so the dice noise is pronounced.  Multiply that by ~60 tables and suddenly the environment is EXTREMELY noisy

2.  Food.  The food at WHW events is…functional.  It’s definitely edible (they actually do a good line in desserts) but you might want to treat yourself to a Bugman’s Bar meal on one of the two days.  Or not, actually, as the food in there used to be very good (large range and well priced), presumably to appease bored parents while their offspring gamed.  It’s not quite like that any more – the menu is much smaller but whatever; ultimately it’s a pub in a retail outlet, not Claridges.

3.  There is no 3, usually.  Unusually the narrative event in September includes entrance to the miniatures hall (it’s been a few years since it opened but I’ve still not been in out of principle since they started charging so I’m looking forward to seeing it).  However, this hasn’t been the case for any other event I’ve attended there.  There are probably some micro economic benefits to being able to buy FW stuff in person (assuming the stuff is in stock) but ultimately anyone that thinks being able to go to a shop and spend money there is a benefit of an event ticket needs to take a look at themselves.

So, hold on, what exactly is it about playing 5 games and eating questionable food that appeals to a fat man that doesn’t like Gaming?  Hmm, I think it’s the things you don’t get told about in the ticket – the things you bring yourself:

1. Time with like minded people.  I’m choosing my words very carefully here.  Really this is time with good mates where you don’t talk work, there are no expectations around high IQ or cool chat or behaviours.  It’s a safe space where I can be a nerd, my drinking mates can drink, my thunderc*nt WAAC mates can ROFLstomp people and we can do it all like no one’s watching
2. Hobby deadlines.  Without events I don’t think there’s any way I’d paint whole armies.  Now, I’m not saying that painting whole armies is an admirable trait but actually sitting down and finishing a project does give me the warm and fuzzies.  Until I’ve been to the event that is and I come across the…
3. Hobby purge.  Lots of my mates leave events with loads of inspiration for new armies and real enthusiasm for the hobby.  Not me.  I leave events really purged of the hobby and having, generally, been painting for three months solidly leading up to the weekend the overload always leaves me feeling slightly cool towards Gaming and puts some of my other hobbies into perspective.  I like that.  Weirdly.

So what?  Why do I have to drive for three hours from my UK base (having flown for ten hours to get to my UK base from where I live now in the first place) to get to WHW to do that?  Aren’t there loads of indie events that do the same thing?

The honest answer?  I don’t know.  I don’t have a huge amount of experience in indie tournaments and I have an instinctive bias against them (crappy third party models, leniency around FPOFO (Fully Painted Or Fuck Off), dodgy venues with limited facilities and a cut throat meta).  However, what I do know is that you get 100% consistency from WHW events.  You know the venue, you get to know (at least by sight (sometimes smell)) most of the people that attend and, for me, it’s become more of a ritual.  I go to WHW events for the same reason I always put my underpants on before my socks; because I’ve always done it and I’m worried some catastrophe will befall me if I change.

Re-reading this, superficially it doesn’t sound like a great advertisement but it really is; I find WHW events enjoyable on a very instinctive level and I hope to keep enjoying them for a long time to come.

Anyway, I hope to see you there some time soon!