Salute 51 - A Wonderful Wargaming Expo
Salute has always been a highlight of the year for us here at Wayland Games, and this year was no exception. Having sponsored this year’s painting competition, we couldn't wait to jump right into the event.
For the uninitiated, Salute is Europe's biggest independent one-day wargaming and hobbying event, packed full of tabletop wargames and friendly, like-minded wargamers sharing in the excitement of the day. Salute 2024 offered brand-new games to try out, classics to rediscover, and plenty of shopping to be had.
Situated right in the heart of the convention floor, our stand served as a treasure trove of hobby essentials. We were incredibly excited to see so many people explore our ranges and pick up a treat for themselves or a loved one!
Whether people were picking up some LEGO, Gunpla, Warhammer, or even Army Painter paint sets, it was great to see so many happy faces.
Our Stand
We were even able to be one of the first to sell the event-exclusive Varangian Guard miniature for Infinity.
This year, the folks at Warcradle Studios joined us on our stand to demo their alternate late nineteenth-century naval wargame, Dystopian Wars. They were rushed off their feet all day, with demos in high demand and people took on the role of an admiral to blow their opponents out of the water.
On one table, the Crown and Empire were battling for supremacy over the seas, and on the other, the Union and Imperium were fighting in the skies! We even heard there was a sneak peek at some miniatures from the upcoming Armoured Clash!
We saw some amazing entries this year from a wide range of game systems in a variety of art styles. Here are some of our favourites that were on display
The convention hall was full of a variety of exhibitor stands this year, from manufacturers we were excited to see to small hidden gems. Here’s a selection of some of our favourite stands from this year.
Warlord Games
You can’t have a wargaming expo without the wonderful team at Warlord Games. Their stand was packed with beautiful boards for Black Seas, Bolt Action, Konflikt ‘47 and even their new Achtung Panzer!
Mantic Games
Mantic Games gave Salute 51 attendees an opportunity to get a hands-on look at their recently announced Halo: Flashpoint for the first time. This is one we are really looking forward to!
Bad Squiddo Miniatures
Bad Squiddo were doing it all this year. Not only was the ever-lovely Annie showcasing their wonderful female miniatures, but also offered a place to colour in some of their designs (and even some Rogue Hobbies Rascaltown goblins!)
For more highlights of the event, check out OnTableTop's event coverage.
With so much to see and do at Salute this year, picking just one favourite thing from the event is incredibly tough. Luckily, we don’t have to! Here are our staff picks of the best bits from Salute 51.
My favourite part
It’s a tough choice between meeting all the exhibitors and the sheer amount of interesting things there were to see this year. There were some excellent cosplayers this year, a wonderful exhibit of aptly pirate-themed clothing and weaponry, and even a fencing bout!
Freya’s favourite part
The major highlight of Salute for me was definitely the people! It was great to work alongside my colleagues at such a busy and exciting event. Plus, I had the opportunity to spy on Parker in action during demos, and I even got to meet my hero - Health & Safety Frog (and, of course, the incredibly talented MS_Paints Dave!)
For more highlights of the event, check out OnTableTop's event coverage
