Salute 2019 – World at War

April 14, 2019 by Subedai

Gringo 40s put on a colonial game at Salute 2019 in the unusual setting of the Tonkin Campaign. In a combined naval and land action, French troops and their allies went up against the Black Flags.

Colonial French in naval and land action against the Black Flag Army

Tonkin 1885 by Gringo 40s at Salute 2019

Ardhammer created a battle on the ‘Highway to Hell – the Road to Nanjing’ during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War in 1937.

Highway to Hell by Ardhammer at Salute 2019

TooFatLardies presented ‘Malaya 1942’ using their Chain of Command rules, pitching Australian forces versus Japanese. Thank you undeadhighelf for the close-up shots.

Australians fighting Japanese in the jungle

Malaya 1942 by TooFatLardies at Salute 2019

Peterborough Wargames Club staged D-Day landings by US forces on the beaches of ‘Bloody Omaha’.

Bloody Omaha by Peterborough Wargames Club at Salute 2019

Pendraken Miniatures demonstrated a 10mm scale WW2 battle using their rules set Blitzkrieg Commander.

Blitzkrieg Commander by Pendraken Miniatures at Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Victoriana & Wild West

April 13, 2019 by Subedai

There were a couple of 19th century shenanigans going on at Salute 2019.

The always gorgeous OSHIRO modelterrain cooperated with Highgate Miniatures and Wiley Games on ‘Horror in Limehouse’. The game introduced the new ‘Tales of Horror’ supplement for ‘Fistful of Lead’.

Victorian London streets and docks haunted by vampire and ghouls

Horror in Limehouse by OSHIRO modelterrain at Salute 2019

Two stompy robots faced off in Micro Art Studio’s Wolsung introductory game.

Wolsung by Micro Art Studio at Salute 2019

Spirit of the Game staged ‘Blaze of Glory’, a Wild West skirmish in the town of Persistence, Dakota.

Blaze of Glory by Spirit of the Game at Salute 2019

Blaze of Glory by Spirit of the Game at Salute 2019

Blaze of Glory by Spirit of the Game at Salute 2019

The team behind the Wargamer Collection Calculator fought the Battle of the Little Big Horn over a series of hex based game boards.

Hex based battlefields in miniature scale

Battle of the Little Big Horn by Wargamer Collection Calculator at Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Fantasy

April 12, 2019 by Subedai

I don’t think there were any clubs hosting fantasy themed games at Salute 2019, only companies showcasing their worlds. Hopefully with the release of Saga: Age of Magic, Warlords of Erehwon and Oathmark later this year (I think) the genre will receive more attention again.

Mierce Miniatures had expanded their table for Darklands once more with the addition of a fantastic looking whaling port under attack.

Darklands at Salute 2019

Smaller boards for skirmish level games were presented by Goblin King Games (Moonstone), Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare (Thud & Blunder), Warploque Miniatures (ArcWorlde), Oathsworn Miniatures (Burrows & Badgers), Twilight Miniatures (The World of Twilight) and 4Ground (The Legends of Fabled Realms).

Tabletop skirmish game in a fairytale world

Moonstone at Salute 2019

Fantasy skirmish game set in a craggy mountain landscape

Thud & Blunder at Salute 2019

New edition of the fantasy skirmish game

ArcWorlde at Salute 2019

Anthropomorphic animal fantasy skirmish game

Burrows & Badgers at Salute 2019

Multiplayer game set in the fantasy world of Anyaral

The World of Twilight at Salute 2019

The Legends of Fabled Realms at Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Modern Warfare

April 11, 2019 by Subedai

All the cool kids are gaming modern warfare right now and accordingly there were a number of choices at Salute 2019.

I was very tempted to pick up the rules for Spectre and some figures to recreate scenarios from Narcos but in the end decided to postpone such a project. Any wargame that can justify the use of a swimming pool and sun chairs is a winner for me however.

Modern warfare skirmish using the Spectre Operations rules

Spectre Operations at Salute 2019

Another favourite of mine in terms of setting is Wild in the Streets, which I bought the Straight Edge crew for previously. The lack of terrain is holding me back but I might go for a less authentic approach and use the figures with my cyberpunk Infinity terrain.

Skirmish game of youth subcultures fighting

Wild in the Streets by Slow Death Games at Salute 2019

A few years earlier in the same streets of downtown NYC, gangs clashed to disco beats courtesy of Funky Skull Games.

A New York gang find themselves in hostile territory

Escape from the Bronx by Funky Skull Games at Salute 2019

The more dusty and deadly setting of Helmand province was the scene for ‘The Panther’s Claw’ by Whitehall Warlords.

Recreation of British operations in Helmand in April 2009

The Panther’s Claw by Whitehall Warlords at Salute 2019

Scimitar Wargames Group recreated old town Jerusalem during the Six Day War, playing with the Fate of a Nation rules set.

Fate of a Nation by Scimitar Wargames Group at Salute 2019

Thor’s Hammer Gaming Club built a historical location in popular culture for the Batman to rid of rogues and villains.

Batman the Miniatures Game by Thor’s Hammer Gaming Group at Salute 2019

The Joker's crew at the Axis Chemicals plant in Gotham city

Batman the Miniatures Game by Thor’s Hammer Gaming Group at Salute 2019

Batman and a SWAT team at the Axis Chemicals plant in Gotham city

Batman the Miniatures Game by Thor’s Hammer Gaming Group at Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Horse & Musket

April 10, 2019 by Subedai

On to the riot of colours and massed ranks of the age dominated by horses, muskets and black powder. There was a strong showing for this period again at Salute 2019, combining beautifully painted armies and terrain. Photos by myself and undeadhighelf.

One of the largest and best displays came courtesy of the Crewe & Nantwich Wargaming Club and the Battle of Aughrim 1691 during the Williamite Wars in Ireland.

The decisive battle of the Williamite Wars in Ireland

Battle of Aughrim by Crewe & Nantwich Wargaming Club at Salute 2019

The Friends of General Haig fought the Battle of Lützen 1632 between the Swedish and the Holy Roman Empire, which saw the death of Gustavus Adolfus (historically, not sure if he had a better fate during this recreation).

Battle between the Swedish and Holy Roman Empire

Battle of Lützen by Friends of General Haig at Salute 2019

The Old Guard fought a battle during the Napoleonic Wars, as one would expect from their name, using the Command & Colours rules set.

Napoleonic battle by the Old Guard at Salute 2019

Dalauppror presented the Battle of Dänholm during the Siege of Stralsund 1807 which won this year’s Robert Bothwell Memorial Award for Best Historical Game at Salute.

The French landing to attack a fort held by the Swedish

Battle of Dänholm by Dalauppror at Salute 2019

More games from this period were fought by the Gravesend Gamers Guild, Tin Soldiers of Antwerp, Wargamer Poland and Loughton Strike Force.

Skirmish at Staplethorpe by Gravesend Gamers Guild at Salute 2019

Belgian revolutionaries versus Dutch troops in Brussels

Once Upon a Time There Was a Revolution by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp at Salute 2019

17th century battle using By Fire & Sword rules

Muskovites versus Ottomans by Wargamer Poland at Salute 2019

Battle of Ligny by Loughton Strike Force at Salute 2019

Salute 2019 – Sci-Fi & Post-Apocalyptic

April 9, 2019 by Subedai

‘After the Apocalypse’ was the theme of Salute 2019 and the show miniature (which is very nice and fits in with my Ghosts of Gaia by Bad Squiddo). In terms of boards it didn’t have more of a presence than most other years however, while sci-fi was equally present as usual. Additional non-blurry photography courtesy of undeadhighelf once again.

The South London Warlords had built a moon base for their scenario ‘Dark Side of the Moon’. Set in not too distant 2039 it featured a clash between US and Chinese forces and other mysterious players.

Secret and deadly combat missions on the moon

Dark Side of the Moon by South London Warlords at Salute 2019

Dark Side of the Moon by South London Warlords at Salute 2019

Dark Side of the Moon by South London Warlords at Salute 2019

The fantastic Flash Gordon by the Jersey Privateers Gaming Club was built entirely of Lego and featured different settings and scenarios played with custom made rules.