Vapnartak 2026

 A bit late with this report, though there were extenuating circumstances, of which more, later.  Surprisingly, given the lousy weather we have been having, the trip over the Pennines was not too bad this year.  We were travelling later than usual as this year Steve and I were not putting on a game for the Lance & Longbow society.  Arriving about 10.30, we found that there was still a queue of people waiting to get in, half an hour after the opening time.  However, the club were very efficient handling the queue and we gained entry without too long a delay.

The one game shown as being on the ground floor was not present and it seemed like the number of traders there had been thinned out a little, with some moving to the 1st floor.  This all meant that it was fairly easy to move around.

The games were all on the 2nd floor and 2nd Mezzanine and were all participation games.

The East Leeds Militaria Society had a naval game based on the war between the Imperial and Shogunate navies in 1869.  Steve and I had a go at this and it was very easy to pick up.  The ships seemed to all have different layouts and weights of guns which made for some rather confused fighting and seemingly reckless ramming!  The naval action in the bay was framed by some very nice terrain, forts and port facilities.

This year being the 250th anniversary of the AWI/Revolutionary War, the Brompton Bankers were presenting "An incident at Cartwright's Tavern".

The Crown forces

The Locals

The Revolutionary forces

The Harrogate Wargames Club had an Italian Wars game.

 

Ken Riley had his Germantown game there as well, but it has been extensively photographed on its various outings.   Harrogate also had a Cold War gone hot game,  York wargames Club had two games and there were two "Wings of Glory" games.

The emphasis seems to be more on the trade than on the games, especially larger games; though with the games being placed on the upper floors that is perhaps reasonable.

To return to the late appearance of this report.  Well, after 45 years we are moving house.  This has resulted in some disruption to normal routines, (no figure painting for a good three weeks, no games hosted for nearly a month and all my books being boxed up).  It has taken six months to get to the position that we will, hopefully, be moving soon, but how long it will take to organise things once we do move is anyone's guess.