TableTop Scotland 2019

Hi all

For my first real post in 5 months...

Let's start off nice and gentle with a trip up north to TableTop Scotland (TTS). This August a small cadre of Uncon gamers made the gruelling 11 hour drive from Kent to Perth with half of the library for TTS 2019 - a gaming convention held annually (in it's 2nd year now) at the Dewars Centre in Perth.  TTS is the biggest gaming 'con north of the border and (i'm sticking my neck out here) the second biggest in the country after the UK Expo in Birmingham.

So what is TTS? Well it is primarily a board games con with all sorts of other RPGs and Tabletop action sprinkled in. For more detailed information check out the link here https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/. With thousands of attendees the weekend was absolutely buzzing! 

So why travel 500+ miles to go to a games con? Well, Uncon and All Around the Board (AATB) has a special relationship with TTS.  Last year, just prior to their first convention, a fire in the place where the fellow providing the board games library meant that they would have no board games available for attendees to play! Disaster!!

Step forward Uncon founder and all round lovely fellow - Darius, who offered the use of his library for the event (200+ titles, now over 300+). Of course the guys at TTS were incredibly grateful and welcomed Darius and a couple of hardcore AATB members with open arms.

This year, Darius was once again asked to provide his library to significantly enhance the official (and very impressive) collection and in need of a break from real life, I jumped at the chance of taking a long weekend in a beautiful country playing games!

beautiful country doesn't even begin to cover it!

The Uncon gang!

happy Gobbo

Anyway, on with the show! TTS is over the whole weekend and we turned up at 8am to help the organisers label the library and get set up. Doors opened at 9am and I immediately get drawn to the one outright wargame. This lovely participation from the War of the Roses using the "To the Strongest" ruleset. The miniatures provided by the Claymore club were beautifully painted and the game was fun although the rules were a little bland for my tastes.

I then went onto play loads of board games including the latest hotness - Jaws.  This was a lot of fun, played over 2 acts, firstly on Amity Island and then on the boat. What happens in Act 1 directly influences the play on Act 2, which I really like.  It is also a 1 vs many game, with one player taking on the role of the shark and the others taking on the main character inc Chief Brody.

I also managed to play some of my favourites including Sycthe (7 players) and Capt Sonar (a real time submarine hunt game with 8 players) and a rather amazing "Starship Bridge" simulator, where I took on the role of science officer.  This digital game experience was excellent with Jess taking on the role of Captain which came with the infamous captain's chair. With information coming from weapons, engineering and deep scans she coped really well and we kept our sector of space clear from enemy combatants.

I also, crucially got to play my very own design "Blood, Sweat & Horses" with some of the folks from the event inc a games designer/publisher, who really loved the game - reigniting my desire to see this game into published form.

Overall TTS was amazing, superbly organised by Dave, Duncan and the team, friendly and most importantly stuffed full of fun events, games, seminars and activities.  Even 4 hours spent in the local A&E didn't dampen my spirits although it did slow me down.... I hadn't even had a drink!!

very few pictures of the actual event sadly, as I was too busy enjoying it! Suffice to say I will do better next year.

hope you enjoy

dGG