Saka Light Cavalry

Saka Light Cavalry

Saturday 19 March 2016

Triples - Please Stick a Fork in it!

I have a policy of NOT writing bad reviews, or at least not going out of my way to be negative. Many a time I have chosen not to write on a subject that I have negative views on. If my writing would possibly help protect readers from wasting money or time etc. then it's considered but when it's just not my cup of tea then it's best to keep quiet and move along.

So to lead with a title such as this shows just how much I think this event has lost it's way. Actually that's crap, no event loses it's way. Those that run it do. I understand the need to change venue from the University, I also understand the difficulty in finding a new venue that meets the needs but I also recognise when nothing is being done to correct failings.

First up I personally have no issue with the venue myself. It works for me, however IF the reason Triples is failing is the venue due to either price or location then it's an issue. Triples it seems charges the most for a trade stand outside Salute. It still claims to be the biggest Northern Show, York seems to have moved south I guess. When a Sheffield based trader makes a loss at a show in Sheffield something must be wrong. Hell they go to Antwerp and make a profit so what's the deal.

Not once but numerous times I over heard traders complaining they are set to make a loss this year. It was said they were down 17 regular traders on last year. They replaced some with new traders but not all, this would not have been so bad if the punter numbers had been up the traders who were there would have benefited. The sad fact is that today witnessed Sunday attendance, a bad Sunday at that.

Display and participation games were also down, indeed it was so bad that the halls seemed hollow making the lower visitor numbers seem even worse. The bring and buy of course continues to get worse as they continue to allow the organiser to use it as a flee market and I can't remember when I last saw much worth buying on it. 

Even the tournament side of it was almost empty, the reason they claim it needs to be a two day show is dead on it's feet. As I said, stick a fork in it if your not going to fix it.

On a brighter note I did go with plenty of spending planned, fortunately I had organised some up front purchases as follows.

I met up with my main supplier to collect enough figures for another four phalanx which will give me 14 blocks when all are painted up, watch this space.

Warbases like Baccus was not trading at the show so I had to pick up the bases for my new project from a third party and I replaced a couple of paints that are low, can't risk running out.

Magister fortunately where at the show and this saw me pick up the four figures I need to make up yet another Persian cavalry unit and I doubled my original plan of a Macedonian cavalry unit. I now need to get the two painted up before the next show they attend so I can buy more.

So sticking with 15mm I present my next new project. Seven Years War. The Boy was given free choice on what to do next in 15mm. I went through a bunch of websites showing him images of different periods. He narrowed it down to SYW, ECW, TYW and something Medieval. He finally choose SYW as he thought the mix of different troop types the most interesting. This pleased Lee no end as he really wanted to do this period for a long time. I was less up for it wanting the medieval choice. Lee grabbed Russian and then Austrian after The Boy choose French and I fell in with Prussian as they are the obvious choice, Oh good Prussian Blue, I have some of that LOL.

So Timecast got my pennies, Lancashire Games got The Boys and nearly every provider has a bunch of Lee's. If Lee dies of lead poisoning I will not at all be surprised.

The Boy is not all that well at the moment, struggling with a nasty cold and with the lack of suitable things to do was getting down so it was a great relief when we found a demo of this game to play. Indeed it was the highlight of the show so I parted with a bit more birthday money and we now have a new game to play and a few more miniatures to paint up. Lee already owns this and all the extra's from the Kickstarter so I knew some things about it. First game Sunday night so lets see what Cath and The Girl think of it.

18 comments:

  1. Speaking to trader at Albanich last weekend and he hated triples and loved antwerp. He said there was no way it should last 2 days. Nice haul though

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    1. Nice haul indeed, you can tell I had Birthday money to splash

      Ian

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  2. Well the show wasn't all that, but at least you went home with a large bag of goodies!

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    1. I did, mostly down to pre-ordered but I did end up impulse buying the game we played towards the end of the day

      Ian

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  3. Well the show wasn't all that, but at least you went home with a large bag of goodies!

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  4. Having being going to Triples since I guess 1985 first as a demo gamer then as a trader I have watched its demise. Like you I don't think the venue is that bad but unfortunately the organisers have not changed how they run the event in all that time. The excuse of a two day show for the competition games disappeared a long time ago. I thought last year was grim and hence didn't go this year. I have supported shows even where I don't expect to make a profit ( Prestonpans this year) but at those events the organisers are great, they listen and I've had a good day. Unfortunately that doesn't happen at Triples the organisers need organising :)

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    1. I can only see it being worse next year as more traders stay away and the punters stay away due to the bad press of this year and expectations of a further decline

      Ian

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  5. After several years, I boycotted the old venue because disabled access was almost non existent and the two chaps I spoke to about it clearly didn't give a toss. I had high hopes for the sports hall, but the atmos was shot. Been twice since the change and was steadily more disappointed, so I just ignore it now.

    I'm sad because the two Leeds based shows aren't great (last year's Fiasco seemed to live up to its name), which really only leaves Vapnartak, the Partizans and the St Helens show within reasonable striking distance, although the choice of up to four shows a year ought to be enough for anyone.

    Shows used to be the lifeblood of the hobby to many, but times change yet they haven't. I think the whole approach to shows needs a rethink, but Isuppose this isn't the place to open a heavy debate about it. However, I will say that two dayers are questionable, Salute is just Tesco's for war gamers with no atmosphere and any game at a show ought to be crewed by people who want to engage with the punters and not pretend they're not there.

    There, that ought to start something . . . .

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    1. All good points Gary, the old venue had charm but being on so many levels was tough to get around.

      I think shows can still be a major part of our hobby but not sure how they can react to todays climate, maybe a post in that somewhere

      Ian

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  6. In a single word Triples was poor.

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  7. In a single word Triples was poor.

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  8. It must have been bad... Kev said it twice?

    There is a new show up on Teeside in July being organised .. Muster on the Parade Ground.. Hope that has a good start , as the guys have long history of running shows

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    1. The show calender is crammed which is part of the problem (we get over picky) but there is always space for a good show.

      Ian

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  9. Triples was a very poor show this year, unfortunately nothing will change. Next year the trader list will be non existent & the death knell of a long standing show will be heard loud & clear. I wouldn't be surprised if they struggle with traders as nearly all those I spoke to we're having a lousy day's trading

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    1. That is the crux of the shows future. Traders and punters both continue to fall as the loss of one always effects the other.

      To save Triples they need to have next years traders pay substantially less and advertise the upswing in traders and drop the cost of entry for the year to try and get these two elements back up.

      Further to that they need to make major changes to the show and again make sure everyone knows this

      Ian

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  10. I still hope it will recover but from the comments about the organisers I have read all over the web I can't see that happening. I will only attend next year if I can't get to others around the date

    Ian

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  11. I have triples to thank for getting me to attend beer & pretzels, when they date crashed the b & p I thought it unfair and tacked an extra day and a slight detour on the holiday, we had such a good time that we have attended every b&p since. How did the girls find the game?

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