Virtual Conference Of Wargamers, 2023

 

What is it?

When is it?

Where is it?

What will it cost me?

                                    

Following the success of similarly events in the past three years, VCOW is now an annual fixture in Wargame Developments’ calendar.  VCOW 2023 will take place over the weekend of 3-5 February.

VCOW has preciously featured participants from four continents and welcomed many new and returning members, many of whom had in the past been unable to share in the COW experience.

VCOW is not a replacement for COW – the latter will take place as usual in July.

 

Details of sessions available will be posted on the WD Blog and this will be updated as more information becomes available.

Attendance at VCOW is open to the following:

Members of Wargame Developments

Guests invited by WD members

 

The cost to attend is a mere £10 - the proceeds will be used to help defray the expenses of WD's new website.

Booking details will follow soon!

Virtual Conference Of Wargamers 2021

Virtual Conference Of Wargamers – February 2021

What is it?

When is it?

Where is it?

What will it cost me?

                                   

VCOW 2020 comfortably exceed the expectations we had for the event when our traditional Conference Of Wargamers was cancelled. That the well-educated Anarchist collective that is WD managed to pull off a weekend of innovative and entertaining gaming and discussion is a testament both to the underlying strength of the organisation and to the hard work and dedication to the cause of the membership.

VCOW featured participants from four continents and welcomed many new and returning members, many of whom had in the past been unable to share in the COW experience. The post-VCOW participant’s survey revealed overwhelming support for the event and a desire to repeat the experience.

Given that the global pandemic shows every sign of being with us into next year; that VCOW widened participation and encouraged many new members to join us; and that the event was such a success, the virtual committee has decided to host a similar VCOW event over the weekend of 5-7 February 2021.

VCOW 2021 is not a replacement for COW. We are planning to hold COW as normal in July 2021. If circumstances make this impossible, we will look into running a second virtual event in the summer of 2021, however this is a backup plan only.

We look forward to seeing you all.   

Details of sessions available will be posted on the VCOW blog and this will be updated as more information becomes available.

Attendance at VCOW is open to the following:

Members of Wargame Developments

Guests invited by WD members

The cost to attend is a mere £5 – the Paypal link can be found on the VCOW blog.

Numbers will be limited so book now to avoid disappointment!

Virtual Conference Of Wargamers

The very first VCOW took place over the weekend of 10-12 July and was - according to the 20 or so attendees I have so far heard from - a great success.  Certainly that's my feeling as an organiser of said event.  At the moment we at Wargame Developments are amassing feedback from attendees (if you've had the survey by email please complete it!) before deciding on our next move.

Meanwhile, here is a brief overview of my VCOW weekend.   Sessions I attended are in bold with presenters names in brackets.  Where I have a record of the numbers in a session these are in red.

Friday

1400-1500    Mad frenzy to get work stuff finished and clear desk
1500-1600    Virtual Battlefield Tour  - Landsdowne 1643 (John Curry)

1600-1920    take time away from screen, finish off some work stuff, base some figures, eat

1920-1930    Welcome and opening remarks (me!) 52

1930-1955    Plenary Lecture 1 - Wargames: What and Why?  (Peter Perla) 52

2000-2020    Plenary Lecture 2 - Professional & Hobby Wargaming (Mark Herman) 52

2030-2230    Day of the Jackal (Russell King) 

Saturday

early breakfast followed by....

0900-1030    Give me back my Legions! (John Bassett) 24

1030-1100    break for tea

1100-1230    ECW Virtual TEWT (John Curry) 22

1230-1630    break from screen - sat in gardens, lunch, varnished a few figures

1630-1710    Wargaming & History (Gary Sheffield) 44

1720-1800    Defence & Wargaming (Graham Longley-Brown)

1800-1930    break for meal

1930-2130    Unfortunate Differences (Ed McGrady, Peter Perla, John Curry) 28

2140-2230    VCOW2020 Singalong (Jim Roche) (I dropped out early as I was so tired!)

Sunday

0915-0930    appear on screen still eating breakfast and chat to other early arrivals

0930-1010    WD40 - Oiling the wheels of wargaming since 1980 (Bob Cordery) 32

1020-1120    Storming a Medieval castle (John Curry) 24

1130-1230    walk 3 miles with dog

1240-1320    Wargame Developments AGM (chaired by me) 37

1330               collapse in tired (but rather elated) heap

Virtual Conference Of Wargamers timetable

The Programme and Timetable will be sent to attendees later this week.  Places are still available - details of how to book are on the VCOW Blog.  Here, for those who can't wait, is the timetable: