Turning 50 and celebrating 35 years in the hobby with a BANG!!!

 Seven tables set for my gaming mates

Yes, I turned 50 this Summer and held several parties to my friends and family.

I also painted my first wargaming miniature some 35 years ago (I think it was a Chaos Dwarf of a Dark Elf that we used playing role playing games), so I wanted to set up a special event to celebrate these milestones with my wargaming mates. So on I went and decided to organize a (demo) games day at our Nopat & Taktiikka club here in Helsinki.

I brought miniatures and some terrain too, to set up 7 different games, recruited fellow gamers to run the demos and invited 20+ mates to come and play. Read on to find out what was on the menu!

Toast!

After demo tables had been set we opened the event with toasts of sparkling, a not too long speech from me and introductions to the games available by the demo hosts.

As I didn't want to delay the start of gaming too much, I didn't go through my 35 years in the hobby in any detail, so here a recap of the years and milestones. And so the first round of demos started...

Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809
aka Finland's War

Marko and Mikko joined in to refight the Battle of Siikajoki, which took place in 16th of April 1808, rules used were Rebels & Patriots by Osprey Wargames. Me and several of my club mates had the privilege to play test the rules back in the days. This battle was played in our Finland's War Campaign in 2017.

Marko took the role of  Von Döbeln and lead the Finnish rearguard trying to hold of Kulnev's advancing Russians, steered by Mikko

Russian Hussars arrive from the reserve and charge the Finnish flank

I helped the chaps to get going and then continued to fill glasses with sparkling.

Star Wars Legion

I've played quite a lot of Legion this year and couple of new players have joined in. One of the long time club mates Herkko and a new comer Paul ran the demo, which was quite popular and well received.

Battle of Hoth!

Second demo with Teemu, Paul and Jorge

Ronin

Ronin is another excellent game by Osprey Wargames, which captures the single combat style of the era and the mighty skill of samurais compared to commoner ashigarus. We have about 10 players at the club playing with samurais, rules used are Ronin, Test of Honor and Lion Rampant. Last year we ran a campaign using all of these rules.

Matti ran the demo twice and had laid out a very nice scenery.

Pasi and Petri also enjoyed a demo of Ronin

Bolt Action

Bolt Action is one of main stay games at the club and I nowadays have several armies to it, but it all started by wanting to play Finns fighting Soviets, so I have both for both Winter War and Continuation War.

Demo was ran by Marko and was very popular

SAGA

Before I started playing ASOIAF Saga was clearly my number one game. Mikko ran a demo for Johannes and Martin

Mates!

An Old friend RONI joined us in the fun. He and Pave played a game of Kill Team, only game that wasn’t using my miniatures - those heretic rebels!

Marvel Crisis Protocol

Sami ran a demo, we had to use some digital aids, as I had forgotten to take all cards with me…oops

After two rounds of demos, most of us headed for a dinner and “after games” in downtown Helsinki. Restaurant Harald with it’s Viking theme suited our mood well!

A great day! Thank you all for joining!