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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

It’ll probably be fine but I wouldn’t recommend it for newbies yet. Don’t dismiss it out of hand especially if Dudley is convenient for you.

That’s it for February.

Mt recommendation: You could do a lot worse than making your first convention experience of 2026 a visit to Revelation.

8/fin

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

But after having a great time at the recent Furnace (same time, same people) as just a player I’m now considering going.

DUDLEY BUG BALL

Dudley 21st to 22nd February

A small friendly convention. I haven’t been to this one for a few years and don‘t know much about its current set-up.

7/x

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

….close cousins such as Ironsworn, Candela Obscura or story games.

This is a convention at the Garrison Hotel:

garrison.omnihedron.co.uk/revelations/

As such it has my highest recommendation. Even as a newbie they’ll look after you. I’ve never been to THIS because PbtA is not my thing.

6/x

Revelation – Garrison Con Hub

garrison.omnihedron.co.uk

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

REVELATION

14th and 15th February 2026

Revelation is a Powered by the Apocalypse and Forged in the Dark tabletop roleplaying game convention held at The Garrison Hotel in Sheffield, UK.

The convention welcomes Powered by the Apocalypse and Forged in the Dark games along with

5/x

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

TWINCON

Totterbridge Sat 21st February.

Again I know nothing about this one (I’m not being very helpful yet, am I). It seems like a great friendly little games day but it’s just a bit too far for me to get to in one day and a bit too small to make it worth paying for accommodation.

4/x

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

Maybe look at the list of traders to see if there’s a small amateur one you can contact and throw in with. (Share costs, share a table. I see there’s at least one amateur TTRPG game publisher).

3/x

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

Thanks BTW for replying.

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

PaH! ONLINE!!??

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

Tabletop Scotland, Canterbury Games Con etc. A large hall full of traders and gaming tables. TTRPGs are offered but nothings sorted yet.

I’d say not one risk putting your toes into the water with yet but I’ll contact them to try and find out more information. If you’re look to promote “stuff”

2/x

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

#CONVENTIONADVICE2026

FEBRUARY

7th and 8th February Beachhead. The link on the spreadsheet seems out of date. The current one is this.

www.beachheadexpo.com

I can tell you nothing about this one as I’ve never been. It seems like they’re aiming for a UK Games Expo vibe. Like Airecon

1/x

Beachhead Tabletop Games Expo | Bournemouth

Beachhead Tabletop Games Expo annual event at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), UK. Wargames, Card Games, Board Games, Roleplay, Miniatures Games and more.

www.beachheadexpo.com

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 4h

@thegrognardfiles.bsky.social (and associates). Sorry about the public call out but I’m not verified so can’t do personal messages.

What’s the deal with the first Grogmeet of 2026? I’ve just realised I need to sort out my 2026 conventions and don’t want to miss out. Ie. I’d like to come, please?

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 4h

I’m so, so sorry. But there’s the nub of the issue, isn’t it?

I have my own horror story from education but it’s nothing like a physical assault so I won’t even try to compare it with yours. But when nothing is done you feel unprotected.

I was close enough to retirement to feel able to shelve it.

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 4h

Superb analysis. Great feedback. I think I will leave even commenting on the games systems for now. Thank you.

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

One of your talents is often finding just the right words. A 13 point thread summed up in a single analogy.

Touche’ sir!

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

..a clear image of of the attacker what do you think would happen?

(I know there’s the fact that the court and jail system was fucked by the Tories in here somewhere.)

2/2

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

I’m so sorry.

The law of unexpected consequences.

People thinking of obvious (and easy) solutions when it’s a societal issue of how people interact with each other deliberately stoked by political will.

Can I ask - and I hope I’m not being inappropriate - if your camera was on and caught 1/x

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Reposted by Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED

Will BOO-rows 🖖🍞🥀 @reforest-kelley.bsky.social · 15h

A photo of three people in inflatable frog suits outside an ICE detention center in Portland, overlaid with an excerpt from Exodus 8:2-6

"But if you refuse to let them go, I will
plague your whole country with frogs...
The frogs shall come up on you and on
your people and on all your officials."

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

Which one?

Peek @peek.bsky.social · 12h

don't british people ever get tired of doing the accent

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Reposted by Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED

the wicker mang @mangmangmang.bsky.social · Aug 14

People are always rightly pointing out that Warhammer contributes more to the British economy than the fishing industry, but the problem is that there just aren't very many folk songs about Warhammer

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

I wish, just once, someone, somewhere would want to find a way to stop enshittification.

“I’m getting the strong impression that verbal and physical assaults are on the rise in public spaces such as hospitals, schools, public transport. Is it? Why is it happening? What can we do reduce it”

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

Traveller, Roll out the Guns, Daggerheart (to do Diskworld), unnamed Kaiju game and Shiver BTW - to fill my #TTRPGTHOUGHTS list. I’ve added 2 or 3 today that I remember from the weekend, most a lost shorter than today’s or reviews would be. 2/2

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 6h

But the game SYSTEMS are unchanging. Are my thoughts on Monggose Traveller vs. Daggerheart of no value? If they’re not, I won’t do it. Should I try just being more social and a fault go. Back to talking to people over a pint and vent there?

I don’t need to give my thoughts in te 5 game systems 1/x

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 7h

15

…give me a great experience.

(BTW that 1 player. He was just further along the spectrum than I am. All the other players seemed to spot that, accommodated him & gave him a good time. I suspect I was the 2nd weirdest player at that table & probably come across as a bit “odd” myself).

15/fin

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 7h

14

….impressed by how convention players seem to have evolved. Years of playing meaning they make sensible choices. All this “play up the other PCs” and “share the spotlight” stuff seems to have sunk in. Give my a sh*t game system and a weak Referee and my fellow players will still….

14

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 7h

13

You all want me to do that, don’t you?

(There may be 4 of my mutuals ready to scream NO!)

Oh, I forgot. I DID thoroughly enjoy the weekend. The systems , scenarios, even Referees were “variable” but with one exception all the PLAYERS were great! Since I’ve been back on the scene I’ve been…

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