My Trip to Games Day Baltimore 2008 (Games Workshop's Mecca of all that is gaming)

The wife and I decided to take a trip to Baltimore in June of this year for a multitude of reasons; we were celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary and wanted to hang out in a cool city. Months prior however knowing of this trip I had asked her if she wanted to attend Games Day with me. I have always wanted to go to Games Day since I have been playing Warhammer 40K since 1989, so I figured now would be a great opportunity.
We decided to fly since it was just easier and probably about the same cost to drive. So fly we did, we left Albany via Southwest Airlines and had a short flight (about 1 hour) to Baltimore. We arrived around 10 pm, and I decided I didn't want to take the train due to having the luggage and the time of night. So our $50 cab ride later (yes, it was $50 because of the distance of BMI to the Baltimore inner harbor, plus we sat in traffic forever because a baseball game was getting out of Camden Yard and there were people streaming out of the ballpark congesting traffic. After the cabbie basically dumped us in the middle of the street because he couldn’t reach our hotel, we schlepped our bags about 4 city blocks to the hotel. So we were there, all set and we were prepared to head to Games Day the next day (Saturday.) Next time I will take the train, not only is it dirt cheap (like $1.50-$2.00) its quick also.

Saturday came around and we headed over to the convention center, it was about 6-8 blocks away from the hotel we were staying in, but not too far to walk. If I was gaming that day it might have been a bit far if I was lugging multiple army transports around, but alas I decided to just soak in the sites of Games Day this first time.

Upon entering the convention center they had us all waiting in the spacious lobby, we already had our tickets and registered and everything, we got the free games day mini (a space marine captain or personality running with a Warhammer held aloft as if it were going to smash your head) my wife and I both got one and that’s good because one went on E-bay and basically paid for the price of admission. They are limited edition minis, only available at games day after all. GW had us separated by Ork clans, based on last name or date registered or something, the wife and I ended up in the Evil Sunz clan group. This is how they were going to let the groups of folks into the convention area.
So after some hooting and hollering to get some free swag they were giving out (and I did get some stuff, but I gave it to a 10 year old standing near me) the let us in.

After the crowd funnels through the doors we walked in and started checking out the various displays and events. GW does a pretty good job of supporting their product, even if I have felt wronged by some of their business practices in the past.

The Forge World table area was swamped for the first two hours and I decided to wait it out till things settled down a bit. It was only after I went over there that I found out they only got about a third of their shipment from England, the rest was stuck in customs. They generously offered to give free shipping from the UK on any Forge World order that you placed at the convention. So that was a decent thing to do in my opinion.

They had multiple events, things like the Conversion Contest, Painting Contests, and Scenery Make and Take, multiple club sponsored games, as well as the Games Day 40k and Fantasy tournaments. The only game I played in was the Big Game, a huge game that spans multiple tables and pitted Orks vs. Imperial Guard. The theme was BANEBLADES, the orks had massive Baneblade conversions and the IG ran standard tanks. All the models were excellent and obviously done by GW staff and or Eavy Metal folks. The guys who ran the big game, (and I do mean big, it was like 30 vs 30) were good fun and made us chant things like “My Armor Is Contempt” if you wanted an orbital strike on the enemies on your table. The Orks had the same option, although for the life of me I have no idea what they were chanting other than the occasional WAGGGHHHHHH.
Either way, the big game was FUN, but not to be taken serious as it was a stripped down version of 40K with just big tanks.

The next stop was at the Scenery Make and Take event, the wife and I both sat down and made up some terrain with the materials provided. GW gave us glue, building sprues from their Imperial City line and let you have at it. We made some stuff and checked our materials.

I was really impressed with how organized it was in that regard, there was a coat check area that you could check your purchases and other things you bought and accumulated through the day. It was run very well and was a great way to ease the burden of having a lot of stuff to carry around.

The conversion tables were full all day and I was unable to get a seat at all. GW had painting demos for little kids and adults alike, they also had game demos for 40K, Warhammer Fantasy and Lord of the Rings.

It was a long day, and it was loud in there with all the announcements and chanting gamers from the big game. The convention food was so-so, and a bit on the expensive side, but I doubt GW has much say in that.

Overall my wife and I had a good time, next time I decide to go I think I would want to get in on one of the club sponsored games, as they had some great themes games and fun things going on.

So Games Day was fun and a success, attendance was good and I would go back again. Also a word on Games Workshop… many of us have found their games to be light on the strategy side and their corporate policies have angered many a gamer through the years. However I believe they had made good strides in the last few years to offset the costs of some of their stuff, the Apocalypse range of products is a great deal for anyone who wants to build an army quick. You get big savings on the stuff your buying in mass, and the new rules for 5th edition in my opinion are the cleanest and most decent rule set they have released for Warhammer 40,000 to date. Sure they have taken away some of the customization and individuality of the respective armies, but they have to streamline the game and not bog it down with too many special rules etc. Games Workshop has burned lots of us, and their prices on some stuff are still outrageous. But things are getting better and they seem to have gotten a bit more grounded and cater to the gamer a bit more than they did in the late 90’s. This is a good thing, and I honestly believe that the secondary markets like E-Bay and Bartertown etc. as well as other game systems like Confrontation, Flames of War and AT-43 have made them realize its about the gamers and not just making money. (at least I hope)