Fantastic News

[Ian61]

Folks, I have just come back from a weekend at Cranfield at the same place where we are holding the Convention this year. It is a super venue. Good accommodation, great food, masses of room for battles and lectures (good IT!!!). Bar seems more organised that either of last two venues. And for me a half hour driving closer (well it matters to me!) Seriously folks this year looks like being the best SoA convention ever. Make sure you sign up soon and bring out your battles!

[GavinP]

Indeed Ian, seeing the venue this weekend in action has shown what a fantastic opportunity and location it is. Everything is light, bright and airy, compact and easily navigable.

I appreciate I have only last year at Missenden to compare to which in itself was a nice venue, but Cranfield I believe represents a good step up.

[Jim Webster]

where exactly is Cranfield?

[Adrian Nayler]

where exactly is Cranfield?

Just to the east of the M1 motorway at Milton Keynes.

[Jim Webster]

Thanks Adrian

[Martin Smith]

Folks, I have just come back from a weekend at Cranfield at the same place where we are holding the Convention this year. It is a super venue.
>

CoW / WD event? How was it?

[Ian61]

Certainly a different type of experience to SoA but is scratching an itch in looking at things differently. I enjoyed the weekend. Not being to any previous COWs can't compare but folks were friendly and talkative. A vast range of games although more of the arguing your case type (Matrix /mugger games??) A few good talks but they were in the programme rather than plenary sessions which was a pity. I like the way the SoA convention does that, it gives more of a collective focus. (I am kicking myself for missing the talk on the Falklands war.)
 This was a better setting for exploring rules. Given how I usually like to dot  all the i's and cross all the t's definitely not my comfort zone but enjoyable and I will be going next year with a rule set that will need some play testing.

[Imperial Dave]

Sounds interesting and somewhat different so worth a punt

[Martin Smith]

Certainly a different type of experience to SoA but is scratching an itch in looking at things differently. I enjoyed the weekend. Not being to any previous COWs can't compare but folks were friendly and talkative. A vast range of games although more of the arguing your case type (Matrix /mugger games??) A few good talks but they were in the programme rather than plenary sessions which was a pity. I like the way the SoA convention does that, it gives more of a collective focus. (I am kicking myself for missing the talk on the Falklands war.)
 This was a better setting for exploring rules. Given how I usually like to dot  all the i's and cross all the t's definitely not my comfort zone but enjoyable and I will be going next year with a rule set that will need some play testing.

Thanks for that....sounds like an interesting and thought provoking weekend.
Were you a WD member long before, or did you join up mainly to try CoW?
[I joined WD waay baccckkk, soon after it started (?80's), but life, the universe n everything intervened and the sub was dropped].
 Always felt very niche/cutting edge, and a potential source for 'that' idea which would change our approach to playing with toy soldiers.

[Jim Webster]

Just to agree with Martin, I too joined WD way back but life intervened. Embarrassingly I wasn't even aware it was still going. 

[Ian61]

In answer to both the above I joined about a year ago so did the virtual conference a few months ago. I enjoyed that. You put your bids in for any 'numbers limited' sessions you want to join and I got most of my first choicesand there were more plenary sessions than in the physical version. The vitual conference was much less stressful in some respects as no travel and when sessions aren't running you're just at home. But not anywhere near as good for the social aspect.

[Martin Smith]

Just to agree with Martin, I too joined WD way back but life intervened. Embarrassingly I wasn't even aware it was still going. 

Here it be ....

https://wargamedevelopments.org/

[Jim Webster]

Thanks 

[Imperial Dave]

Me too lol

[Nick Harbud]

where exactly is Cranfield?

South of Wigan...

...terra incognito as far as you are concerned, Jim.