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Warhammer Fest 2023: single day ticket holder review.
Returning after a pause since 2019, Games Workshop's signature event has returned and I went along as a non-gaming, non Golden Demon entrant.
Here are my thoughts on the day.
#Warmongers #warhammerfest2023 #WarhammerFest
Returning after a pause since 2019, Games Workshop's signature event has returned and I went along as a non-gaming, non Golden Demon entrant.
Here are my thoughts on the day.
#Warmongers #warhammerfest2023 #WarhammerFest
Entry price: £20
Venue: Manchester Central.
Onsite parking: limited (620)
Various other parking located around the city centre.
Visitors ~8,000
Opening hours: 08:00 to 19:00
@warhammer sent out an email on Friday at 20:40 containing the wrong opening time (10:00)
Venue: Manchester Central.
Onsite parking: limited (620)
Various other parking located around the city centre.
Visitors ~8,000
Opening hours: 08:00 to 19:00
@warhammer sent out an email on Friday at 20:40 containing the wrong opening time (10:00)
Impressions on arrival: upon entering the venue, I was confronted by a massively busy hall with few visual clues as to what is happening where.
No programme or event goodie bag was provided. I found this disappointing given the high ticket price and previous Fest offerings.
No programme or event goodie bag was provided. I found this disappointing given the high ticket price and previous Fest offerings.
I imagine this wouldn't have been great for people who are uncomfortable with large crowds of people, and getting about the exhibits wasn't easy given the press of people.
Heat and humidity inside the venue were less than comfortable.
These issues improved by mid afternoon.
Heat and humidity inside the venue were less than comfortable.
These issues improved by mid afternoon.
Everyone I spoke to on the day thought the event was substantially oversold.
Layout was suboptimal placing the shop, GW studio miniature displays and 10th Ed demo queue in the same part of the event hall i.e. the busiest 3 attractions. This caused huge congestion.
Layout was suboptimal placing the shop, GW studio miniature displays and 10th Ed demo queue in the same part of the event hall i.e. the busiest 3 attractions. This caused huge congestion.
One of the people I met up with commented how they felt GW hadn't made best use of the capabilities of Manchester Central e.g. hall partitions, balcony rooms and central stage.
I thought this was a good observation and says the venue has more to give than GW utilised.
I thought this was a good observation and says the venue has more to give than GW utilised.
Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition demo games.
There were 5 tables where visitors could play a demo game of the game.
This was woefully inadequate, with people queuing for in 2+ hours to get a game.
Compare to 'Fest 17 which had 20+ tables to demo 8th Ed.
Not the best at all.
There were 5 tables where visitors could play a demo game of the game.
This was woefully inadequate, with people queuing for in 2+ hours to get a game.
Compare to 'Fest 17 which had 20+ tables to demo 8th Ed.
Not the best at all.
Games Workshop Studio attendance: none.
One of the big draws for me to Warhammer Fest and other Games Workshop events has always been the opportunity to talk to the writers, sculptors, artists and other creatives who are the ideas behind GW's products.
Very disappointed.
One of the big draws for me to Warhammer Fest and other Games Workshop events has always been the opportunity to talk to the writers, sculptors, artists and other creatives who are the ideas behind GW's products.
Very disappointed.
Event Staff: the Games Workshop event staff I interacted with were all very helpful, enthusiastic and welcoming.
In particular the shop crew worked tirelessly to help people find what they wanted, and also worked issues through when products were out of stock.
In particular the shop crew worked tirelessly to help people find what they wanted, and also worked issues through when products were out of stock.
Attractions: there weren't many of these given the event's headlined gravitas.
E.g. Good stands put on by @AurochDigital with Boltgun and @combat_cards with Warhammer Combat Cards.
Members of the creative teams were fun to talk to - this is what Warhammer Fest is about!
E.g. Good stands put on by @AurochDigital with Boltgun and @combat_cards with Warhammer Combat Cards.
Members of the creative teams were fun to talk to - this is what Warhammer Fest is about!
The @TitanOwnersClub put on an incredible display game which wowed many a visitor with their fantastically modelled titans and beautifully presented display area.
It's good to see Games Workshop bring in fan highlights like this - the cosplayers being another artistic peak.
It's good to see Games Workshop bring in fan highlights like this - the cosplayers being another artistic peak.
https://twitter.com/leaky_cheese/status/1652280288838336512
Fest was long and the morning press of people was tiring, so a few of us took advantage of being in Manchester to go visit indy games store Fan Boy Three.
This was a great chill-out change of pace, and well worth a visit if you are in the area 👍
fanboy3.co.uk
This was a great chill-out change of pace, and well worth a visit if you are in the area 👍
fanboy3.co.uk
I finally left around 18:30, so it had been a long day. Time for some closing thoughts.
As an event, I was pretty disappointed by the overall experience, especially compared to Warhammer Fest at the previous venue (Coventry Ricoh Arena).
The overall concept of the show was >
As an event, I was pretty disappointed by the overall experience, especially compared to Warhammer Fest at the previous venue (Coventry Ricoh Arena).
The overall concept of the show was >
Lacking content and this coupled with the missteps in venue layout left me feeling the whole thing lacked the organisational panache of previous 'Fests.
For me, the best content of the day (by far) came from GW's franchise operators and unpaid creators. They can do better.
For me, the best content of the day (by far) came from GW's franchise operators and unpaid creators. They can do better.
The previous week I had attended @SLondonWarlords excellent Salute 2023 held at London ExCel.
This event costing £12.50 (inc. goodie bag and programme) was the superior of Warhammer Fest in terms of overall content, layout and facilities.
Games Workshop should reflect on this.
This event costing £12.50 (inc. goodie bag and programme) was the superior of Warhammer Fest in terms of overall content, layout and facilities.
Games Workshop should reflect on this.
Finally, I'd like to say I really enjoyed Warhammer Fest 23.
However, this was because I spent a lot of the day meeting up with people I know and catching up with them.
If I hadn't been doing this, I would have been in and out in a couple of hours.
However, this was because I spent a lot of the day meeting up with people I know and catching up with them.
If I hadn't been doing this, I would have been in and out in a couple of hours.
The GW run, in-show content was too thin, and they should note this for future events.
Based on many past 'Fests they can be excellent, and fingers crossed, we'll see a future return to form.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my review of Warhammer Fest 2023 Day 1 🙂
Based on many past 'Fests they can be excellent, and fingers crossed, we'll see a future return to form.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my review of Warhammer Fest 2023 Day 1 🙂
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