This is a report from a trip to Nord-Con, I made what must be 4 years ago. It fills me with joy to remember it, so though it is a bit dated, i'll post it figurkrigsspil.dk - it may inspire other to take a trip out of the land to experience miniature gaming. It have been written in English, so the lads from MiniRealms could also read it.

Nord-Con were my first foreign game-con, so it were with some special excitement I packed my miniatures, sleeping utilities, and some cloth. Stumbling under my heavy burden, I went to work. My co-workers either looked at me like I were mad, and made funny remarks, but no; I was going to Germany to push little pieces of metal around, and would not let anything stand between me and my fun. Eventually I were off to freedom and dice throwing.

The arrangement were what I would join Zakarias (a fellow player from Avalon, my gameclub) on the train, race south to Falster, join Graham and Henrik (fellow gamers from the gameclub Dreamland on Nykøbing Falster) there, and together drive (and sail) to Lübech, meet Thorsten (Voidlegion) and two fellows from Urban Mammoth, and follow them to Thorstens house.

The lads are waiting for the shuttle. Henrik are trying to convince Graham that this is indeed the way to Germany (from left to right; Graham, Henrik, og Zakarias).

And out of the mist, the promished land reveals itself..

And we end up in Thorstens house. I wonder if the neighbors know they hide such a ferocious gamer in their peacefull midst. (the houses have not been buildt by a drunk architect, it's two pictures what I have mended).

Even if Graham and Henrik tried to get us lost to a unknown fate on the German motorbahns, we eventually meet them on a tiny airfield, and followed them to safety. German roads are strange, since you can drive on a big decent road, and suddenly find yourself on a narrow road that seem to bend under all that traffic. Thorsten had arranged some barbecue, and that was very well received since we was all starving after all that travel.

Next morning after breakfast we went to the Hamburg House. There was lots of tents outside for the Live-Roleplay people. I have been told that some 3000+ people joining Nord-Con in some way or another, playing cardgames, paper-roleplaygames, live-roleplay or miniature games. Most of the action took place in smaller room somewhere in the building complex, and I did not see much of that. The science fiction tabletop games was held in a great auditorium. There was lots of tables and all with some impressive terrain - the organisers had made a really great work.

The auditorium before the madness starts

The very impressive gaming tables. See more pictures here

The last adjustment to the Grand Plan are made

While other people makes field repairs

And action!

Eventually the tournament started. I played my VASA, Graham Syntha, Henrik Junker and Zakarias Korelon. In the first battle we should grab some valuable rescues and bring them to safety in our own deployment zone. I was not particular lucky - as usually.
In the first battle I faced Junker, with lots of legionaries, grenadiers, battlesuits and three buggies. It ended up that I had two Suppressors racing home with two objectives, being chased by two junkers with a flamer. I lost initiative and the poor lads got burned to death.
In the second battle I faced a marine Viridian army. It was a take and hold mission, and I did the mistake to go after all three objectives, in stead of concentrating on the two and let my opponent have the third. I lost a big marine squad and two Shoguns on the left flank on that account.
In the third battle I faced fellow VASA (we agreed that it was only a exercise). The mission was to destroy one of the opponents squads. I choose a squad of Black legionaires, since they would properly come to me. My opponent, Jan, was even more unlucky then me, and his troops was killed to last man. It was some three exiting battles.

David from Berlin won the tournament, and ran away with the main prize, the legionarie bust. Henrik got second place, and I got a third place. Graham won speciel prize for Best Sport. I won prize for Best Painted Army. I cannot remember who won prize for most Lucky, and Most Unlucky Git. All in all we dreaded Vikings did well down there.

The tournament players, and John (standing in the middle) and Tom
(far left) from Urban Mammoth. Thorsten is on the far right.

Sunday was mostly for demo's and socialisation. I went outside and roamed the live-roleplay area. There was many people, I would say 3-400 hundred, with food, sales tents, minstrels, people in nice fantasy cloth (including orcs that would give me a heart attack if I ever faced them in a dark wood) - and the usually teenagers in t-shirts, shorts and latec-swords. But all in all it was a impressive gathering.

And music!

A group of mediaeval musicians. Mad to the bone, but a very lively liveband. You can see a small video of them here.

Like the historical tournaments, one area was set away for grand melee.

One group of valiant fighters facing the enemy,

Who return their challange with scorn and contempt

* * *

All that was left was to pack our belongings, and return home after a very satisfying weekend. I would like to thank Thorsten and his Wife for their hospitality, and my fellow gamers for some exiting battles.