The date has been announced, and the Arden was already nearly full when I booked my room last week.
I nearly went this year but I just couldn’t muster up the drive.
I might go next year?
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My principles for an enjoyable Expo are:
- Interact with the actual Expo structure as little as possible. The Bring and Buy is a great idea, but you may have an hour’s queue to drop stuff off, and if you want to buy you’re just wandering around an unsorted morass of games. Role-playing can be great but is often in a hot noisy room.
- Instead, spend the days in the halls, following @lordof1’s principle of accepting every game demo you’re offered. When that’s tired you out, go over to the Hilton and get into a game in the open gaming areas. (Best if you’re with a group, either prearranged or formed at the show.)
- You should probably assemble a checklist of things to look at in the halls rather than wandering aimlessly. These days it’s fewer boxshifters and more publishers, which I regard as a good thing; even so, some of the vendors clearly aren’t aware that boardgameprices is a thing and there’s only so much premium you can charge for “play it right now” as opposed to “play it when I get home”.
- Sleeping on site is horribly expensive. Commuting in for the day is not a terrrible option, either by car or by train. Indeed, going for just one or two days isn’t a bad idea. Avoid Saturday if you have the option, as it’s the busiest day.
- (If you’re me) spend about half your time demoing for a publisher you like. Broadly, the big guys pay better but give you much less freedom; e.g. Asmodée will demand you work every hour the halls are open.
- stay clear of the food and drink vendors in the NEC, and the Hilton’s restaurants. The food trucks (usually one or two near the NEC down by the lake, the rest in the Hilton’s parking area) are expensive but at least you’ll get what you paid for. Bring water, the NEC has about two fountains for umpty thousand people. If you want a sit-down meal, the places in Resorts World are a bit less of a rip-off (Pizza Expess, Five Guys, etc.)
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The plan that worked well for me was take in a million things for the bring and buy and bimble all day. The slight issue is that I think it’s exhausting regardless. It’s pretty loud, bumpy and sweaty.
I think if there’s a game I really wanted I might have made the effort but I don’t think there was one. Having said that I do like picking up the odd gubbin I’ve never heard of.
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I think they had a limited number of items per person to be sold at the bring and buy (it’s been infested by dealers dumping old stock for a few years).
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While Saturday was really busy, Friday and especially Sunday were better. Even at its busiest the extra space benefitted everyone - I did not feel anywhere near as crushed as I felt a few years ago.
I go each year with son number 1 - we walk the halls, play games if we can find them, and then retire to our hotel and play games together in the evening in the bar quite happily. If I get the chance I go and say hello @RogerBW when he is demoing!
This year it was so big that just walking the lanes could take a whole day.
And for the second year running our hotel was the resting point for SUSD and friends. Not that we bothered them, that would be weird and we were happy playing games!
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The date means I’m never going to go. My friend lives near it and does a day every other year, but a full weekend at Aire Con.
I can never be bothered with the buying part of the B&B and I don’t know what’s hot any more.
The Demoes do sound fun though
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Has anyone ever been to the Beachhead expo in Bournemouth? Its right on my doorstep (well more or less) and I’ve never been. I think its more wargaming than boardgames but as it was created by my FLGS, then baordgames must be a decent part of it.