Blasting off my not-as-exhaustive-as-it-used-to-be and much delayed Salute coverage for 2024 is Pendraken with Future War Commander 2.0. There is an impressive range of new 10mm metal figures available from their website but no word on the rules which I believe are figure agnostic.
Future War Commander by PendrakenFuture War Commander by PendrakenFuture War Commander by PendrakenFuture War Commander by Pendraken
The next table by Ashford Gaming Club was clearly not Epic 40k, don’t let your aging eyes deceive you. Very nice swarms of critters, appropriately spawned from bubbling resin pools.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Epic by Ashford Gaming Club
The South London Warlords had a couple of tables at the show, here a steampunk aerial clash in the clouds.
Space 1889 – Cloudships! by South London WarlordsSpace 1889 – Cloudships! by South London Warlords
If you wanted to stride among titans, you had to be a member of the Titan Owner’s Club, but us commoners could at least observe from the sidelines.
Full scale Adeptus Titanicus by Titan Owners ClubFull scale Adeptus Titanicus by Titan Owners Club
The fluffy Burrows & Badgers took a more violent turn in this city siege with looting, pillaging and fires raging through the streets, brought to us by Magrathea.
The Battle of Luneden Stone by Magrathea Builder of WorldsThe Battle of Luneden Stone by Magrathea Builder of WorldsThe Battle of Luneden Stone by Magrathea Builder of WorldsThe Battle of Luneden Stone by Magrathea Builder of Worlds
Finally, the satirical politics and pulp TV themes of Grotesque Gogglebox by BunnyBadgerGames packed an amazing level of detail and flair in very small spaces.
My favourite gaming table at Salute 2024 was Saigon 68 by Loughton Strike Force, depicting a small force of Marines engaging insurgents in the midst of bustling street life.
The attention to lovingly crafted detail won them the Best Scenery award at the show, repeating last year’s success with their Mordheim board.
Of course World War 2 was a popular topic for gaming tables at Salute 2024, and here are my favourites.
In the Lard Zone, a section of rubble strewn Stalingrad had been recreated for armoured duels using the What a Tanker! rules.
What a Tanker! by the Too Fat Lardies teamWhat a Tanker! by the Too Fat Lardies teamWhat a Tanker! by the Too Fat Lardies team
Planes were the target of the Brecon Wargames Club with their game DAK ATTACK, staging an assault by the Long Range Desert Group on a German airfield.
DAK ATTACK by Brecon Wargames Club
Taking to the skies, Maidstone Wargames Society presented The Summer of 77, a 1/300 Battle of Britain scenario inspired by classic Warlord Books for Boys.
The Summer of 77 by Maidstone Wargames SocietyThe Summer of 77 by Maidstone Wargames Society
Retired Wargamers Reloaded invited you to Hold Until Relieved, the battle for the Orne crossings in Normandy 1944. The game was played using Rapid Fire Reloaded rules.
Hold Until Relieved by Retired Wargamers ReloadedHold Until Relieved by Retired Wargamers Reloaded
Napoleonic battle by South East Scotland Wargames ClubNapoleonic battle by South East Scotland Wargames ClubNapoleonic battle by South East Scotland Wargames ClubNapoleonic battle by South East Scotland Wargames Club
An American Civil War encounter was fought with 18mm paper figures courtesy of Peter’s Paper Boys.
American Civil War battle by Peter’s Paper BoysAmerican Civil War battle by Peter’s Paper Boys
To the Strongest! fought for King or Parliament over control of Norchester during the English Civil War.
The Relief of Norchester by To the Strongest!The Relief of Norchester by To the Strongest!The Relief of Norchester by To the Strongest!
The Loughton Strike Force did it again and brought my personal favourite wargaming table at Salute. Following last year’s Saigon ’68 board, the topic this time was the Warsaw Uprising during World War 2. The rules system used was ‘O’ Group by Reisswitz Press.
Warsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike ForceWarsaw Uprising by Loughton Strike Force
There were many fabulous World War 2 themed wargaming tables at Salute 2025, a selection of which I have captured below.
The Lard Zone featured several well presented games, the Too Fat Lardies’ ethos of authenticity in their games very much on show also for terrain building. Covering the WW2 period we had boards for Chain of Command (previewing the second edition) and What a Tanker!, a big participation event.
Chain of Command by Too Fat LardiesChain of Command by Too Fat LardiesOperation Charnwood by Joe BiltonOperation Charnwood by Joe BiltonOperation Charnwood by Joe BiltonOperation Charnwood by Joe Bilton
The landings an Omaha Beach were the topic of a 6mm scale game over impressive terrain using All Hell Let Loose rules.
Bloody Omaha for All Hell Let LooseBloody Omaha for All Hell Let LooseBloody Omaha for All Hell Let Loose
Anschluss Publishing brought a display game set during the Defence of Tobruk, with Australians fighting Rommel’s forces in the desert.
The Defence of Tobruk 1941 by Anschluss Publishing LimitedThe Defence of Tobruk 1941 by Anschluss Publishing Limited
Lasting Games showcased their brand new Butcher & Bolt rules set in a U-boat base, perfect for their commando style skirmish system.
Butcher & Bolt by Lasting Games
Retired Wargamers Reloaded re-enacted Götterdämmerung in Berlin of May 1945 on a grand scale, with Soviet troops advancing towards the Reichstag.
Götterdämmerung Berlin 1945 by Retired Wargamers ReloadedGötterdämmerung Berlin 1945 by Retired Wargamers ReloadedGötterdämmerung Berlin 1945 by Retired Wargamers ReloadedGötterdämmerung Berlin 1945 by Retired Wargamers ReloadedGötterdämmerung Berlin 1945 by Retired Wargamers Reloaded
There was a large number of small demo tables, usually hosted by the publishers, for the many sci-fi and fantasy games currently available. I tend to not focus on them too much as they are often quite generic regarding their terrain and presentation. I probably missed a couple of gems (for example the Laserburn game that was set up somewhere by the stage), but here’s my selection of snapshots of those gaming boards that stood out to me.
Making inspired use of some bookshelves, Magrathea explored multi-level gaming with Judge Dredd and Burrows & Badgers.
What Lies Beneath… by Magrathea Builder of WorldsWhat Lies Beneath… by Magrathea Builder of WorldsWhat Lies Beneath… by Magrathea Builder of WorldsWhat Lies Beneath… by Magrathea Builder of WorldsWhat Lies Beneath… by Magrathea Builder of Worlds
An unusual take on Gaslands away from the barren wastes and towards more of a Cyberpunk future was presented by the Gravesend Gamers Guild.
Gaslands Neon Streets by Gravesend Gamers GuildGaslands Neon Streets by Gravesend Gamers Guild
Crow Industries had brought a selection of their gorgeous sculpts for Battletech and Starship Troopers themed games, while also presenting their fan-made Dune skirmish rules with figures by Skull Forge Studios.
Crow Industries and Skull Forge StudiosCrow Industries
Pendraken showcased a big battle using their latest Future War Commander rules and 10mm scale sci-fi range.
Future War Commander by PendrakenFuture War Commander by Pendraken
Finally, a couple of pictures of small but perfectly formed tables across a variety of settings.
Mars Defends! by Bunny Badger Games Fallout Factions by Modiphius EntertainmentAsteroids by Abingdon Wargames ClubCrypt Hulk by Ashford Gaming ClubWorld of Twilight by Twilight Miniatures
The most sweeping battlefields and most dashing uniforms at Salute 2025 were to be found in the age of blackpowder and cavalry.
To the Strongest! took us back to war in Louis XIV’s time, when men were men – and wore plenty of lace.
Louis Quatorze’s Warses by To the Strongest!Louis Quatorze’s Warses by To the Strongest!Louis Quatorze’s Warses by To the Strongest!
A 6mm scale engagement during the Great Northern War in 1701 by Wyre Forest Wargamers featured a river crossing in boats, floating gun platforms, a pontoon bridge, ships and fortifications.
The Crossing of the Düna by Per Broden, Nick Dorrell and Wyre Forest WargamersThe Crossing of the Düna by Per Broden, Nick Dorrell and Wyre Forest Wargamers
General d’Armee 2 was the rules system used to refight a section of the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805.
Battle for the Pratzen Heights by Dave Brown (Reisswitz Press)Battle for the Pratzen Heights by Dave Brown (Reisswitz Press)
The Yarkshire Gamer staged the Battle of Mentana in 1867. “Rome or Death” was the motto of Garibaldi’s forces as they confronted the Papal State.
The Battle of Mentana by Yarkshire GamerThe Battle of Mentana by Yarkshire GamerThe Battle of Mentana 1867 by Yarkshire Gamer
An imaginary 18th century siege was under way via the Vauban’s Wars rules. Trenches were being dug and mortars fired from earthworks in this interesting looking scenario.
Vauban’s Wars by Wars of the Gelderland SuccessionVauban’s Wars by Wars of the Gelderland SuccessionVauban’s Wars by Wars of the Gelderland Succession
The Soldiers of Napoleon game was put on by its designers Warwick Kinrade and Piers Brand I believe (it wasn’t listed in the show programme). A very nice and naturalistic looking terrain board, heaving with regiments.
Soldiers of NapoleonSoldiers of NapoleonSoldiers of NapoleonSoldiers of Napoleon
Since the theme of Salute 2025 was “Highlanders”, it was attended by a group of practical historians in period costume, who’d brought a table full of Scottish wargear too.
Re-enactors from the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre (I think)Re-enactors from the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre (I think)
As this broad era of military history was possibly the best represented at the show, following a number of further gaming tables I took snapshots off while wandering the hall.
The Ballad of Kinmont Willie by Whitehall WarlordsWofun 10mm Napoleonic by Peter’s Paper BoysTrangen 1808 by Hugo’s HeroesBrandy for the Parson by Cornwall Wargames AssociationTest of Honour by Footsore Games (I assume, but couldn’t find a matching listing)
