A Day of Dragons, Dice, and tabletop games. Our Adventure at the 2024 UK Games Expo

Last weekend, I embarked on an epic quest with my 9-year-old son, Daniel, to the 2024 UK Games Expo at the Birmingham NEC.

The Journey Begins

Our journey began with a two-hour drive from Hertford to Birmingham. As we arrived just after 9 a.m., the expo was already buzzing with excitement. Imagine a massive arena filled with tabletop gaming enthusiasts from all corners of the country. The NEC had three colossal conference halls dedicated to this event. We queued, collected our lanyards and badges, and dived right into this gaming wonderland.

Hall of Tables

Our first stop was the grand gaming hall, where long rows of tables stretched out like a sprawling game board. People huddled around, engrossed in every kind of board game and RPG imaginable.

Engrossed in Painting

Hall two was a treasure trove of stalls, displays, and stands. Sellers hawked all manner of tabletop gaming goodies. From rare dice sets to custom-made game boards. But one stall grabbed our attention —the My Mini Factory stand. Here, we sat for TWO HOURS, meticulously painting miniature dragons for a competition. Time flew past.

Catan

In  hall one we dove headfirst into learning how to play the classic Catan. Little did we know that Catan had a 3D version—a luxurious upgrade that came with a hefty price tag (about £100 more expensive!). After a check online later I also found that there are plenty of Catan accessories that can be 3D printed to enhance the game. So, Keep an eye on www.paragonstar.co.uk—I might just unveil my Catan creations there soon! 😉

King of Tokyo: Roll the Dice, Unleash the Kaiju

Next up: King of Tokyo. Picture this—a fast-paced battle where players unleash their inner Kaiju by rolling dice. It’s like Yahtzee with a monstrous twist. Each game lasted a mere 15 minutes, but the strategy ran deep. We were hooked! As soon as we got home, I hit the online store and snagged our own copy.

Hive: Buzzing Battles

Our final game was Hive, a turn-based tile game featuring ants, bees, beetles, and grasshoppers. The goal? Surround your opponent’s queen bee. The game buzzed along for 10-15 minutes. And guess what? You can 3D print your own Hive set! Check out Makers World for the blueprint—it’s next on my print schedule.

As the day drew to a close, Daniel was a bit sad that we didn’t get to do light sabre training. Maybe next year, young Padawan. 

So there you have it: a day of dragons, dice, model painting and 3D printing magic. The 2024 UK Games Expo was an adventure and we will be back. Until next year, fellow gamers! May your rolls be crits and your dragons fierce. 🎲🐉✨