Beer & Pretzels Games Weekend 2008

Well, what can I say? The most successful Beer & Pretzels yet, I believe, not only in terms of numbers - well over 300 over the two days - but more importantly, in smooth running, so that I was able to get some games in myself. And the use of Tardis technology to fit everything in at the shop appears to have rubbed off at B&P too, we sold significantly more Saturday and two-day tickets than last year, yet seemed to have more space. No resorting to playing in cupboards, for which we were told off last year, it is contrary to Health and Safety/Insurance Regulations/Data Protection etc. etc.

Admittedly we did leave a fair chunk of the Games Library behind at first, but there was still an adequate selection to keep people happy until the final car-load was run round from the shop. The latest games were covered by the boardgame regulars, several of whom bought them from the shop on the way in and had friends lined up to play or recruited players with no difficulty. The well-established games from the last 15 years were the most popular from the library - Settlers, both vanilla and Stone Age, King's Gate, Through the Desert (two of Reiner's earlier games) and Waddington's Escape from Atlantis. Of the more recent games Killer Bunnies was most played, Antler Island was second, War on Terror went down well, too.

I assume that the various main tournaments went OK - I let the individual organisers get on with those and it all looked under control, they fitted in where I hoped they would so my bit went according to plan! The Sealed Tin Pirates tournament was ably run by the half dozen people involved, with two complete novices coming joint first and third. My advice to them when choosing ships and crew may have helped, but the tactical nous was all their own. My main involvement was handing out the prizes. Which brings me to the one thing that did definitely go wrong, the two lads having a good selection of Heroclix games between them made their escape before I could press the promised prizes upon them. Due to a series of reasons the expected proper Heroclix tournament did not materialise, but the promos were lined up anyway; if either of you read this please get in touch and claim your due rewards.

On a similar subject, if anyone has found an unexpected copy of Schotten-totten amongst their games upon arriving home, please get in touch as we have someone missing a copy.

The role playing side of the event had the hoped-for variety, with Munchkin RPG, Feng Shui, Esoterrorists, Dark Heresy and Call of Cthulhu all running in the course of the weekend. John and Shaun's historical wargame was there as always and kept several people amused with Romans on Saturday and ACW on Sunday. I used some scenery boards I made for John's game at one of the very earliest B&Ps to have another Battlelore game with 3D scenery and 25mm figures, and once again it worked very well. I must somehow find time to do more of that. I also got some practice in with Marakesh and Tortuga, two lovely new games which several of us will be demoing at UK Games Expo in Birmingham on 31st May/1st June. I expect to see many B&P regulars there, as last year, but there will be many others whom I will not meet again till next May. To all of you, as ever, thanks for coming, and remember that next year brings the 20th Beer & Pretzels Games Weekend.
I'll have to think of something special....

Cheers. Phil.

Games Review Prize Awards

1st prize: Brian Moore

2nd prize: David Seddon

3rd prize: Paul Roberts

General Pics

Lord of the Rings

Ancient Battle

Arkham Horror

Canal Mania

Doom: The Boardgame

ACW Battle

Torres

Wings of War

Zombies!!!

Fire & Axe

Sci-fi Battle

VTES