This post was originally published on the HMGS site on September 8, 2019.

Last weekend I went to the NOVA Open in Arlington Virginia for a few hours.  If you aren’t familiar with the NOVA Open it is a convention that focuses mainly on tournaments, to include Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Infinity, Warmachine, Lord of the Rings, Kill Team, Blood Bowl and others of that genre.  They also have painting classes, a painting competition, a charity raffle, and a vendor hall.  If you just want to wander around and go to the vendor area entry is free.  Otherwise pricing is a la carte where you pay an entry fee to get in and then you pay per event.  Painting classes are around $30 and up, Tournaments can be $15 and up depending on what you are entering.

The view looking down the main escalator area into the vendor area.  There were about twenty vendors.  You can’t tell but the escalator isn’t working.  See?  It isn’t just us who has technical problems!

Epic Quest Master sells licensed prints of 3D printable designs.  I was drooling over this one for quite some time.  If I was still playing Warhammer Fantasy Battle I’d have had no choice.  If you are interested in buying something from them they were giving out coupon codes, MM15P386S967 for 20% off.  It was on their business cards so I’m not sure if it’s a one use only thing or not but feel free to try it if you see something you like!

Just two of the many entries in the painting competition.  There were tons of entries in a wide variety of categories.  There were quite a few large dioramas and busts in addition to single figure, units and so on.   

The charity portion has both raffles and a silent auction.  The first picture was a Monsterpocalypse set for the raffle.  (Hobby University instructor Greg Zuniga painted one of the units for this entry!)  The second picture was part of the silent auction.  The raffle had a bunch of great armies painted and the silent auction had things like unpainted minis, original art, art prints and this amazing LEGO Millennium Falcon! 

The NOVA Open has merchandising down to an art.  I thought Adepticon was good but they don’t have anything on the NOVA Open.  You could get NOVA Open branded shirts, hockey jersey’s, tape measures, all sorts of drinking vessels to include flasks, shot glasses and even beer steins!  Do you need a NOVA Open wireless mouse?  Well, here’s your chance!

On top of painting classes teaching all sorts of techniques and by all types of instructors (to include GW’s Duncan himself!) you could take a class making art with dipping.  It’s a great idea for those not interested in painting minis but have been dragged along by a significant other or friend! 

The new Marvel Superheroes game was on display and it looks great! 

Some of the tables from the various tournaments. 

If you know me you know I like my meals early and often.  The NOVA Open has food trucks on site for a long lunch stretch.  They were on site about six hours every day with some staying half the day and others going the full time.  There were lots of great options and I applaud the NOVA Open team for making sure their is easily accessible food.  If you are familiar with the area you know that area of Arlington is called Crystal City and it’s mostly offices with very limited food options.  Great job on this one, I’d like to see other conventions do the same!

I was attended the show with my friend and gaming personality Joseph McGuire.  We had the opportunity to defend the Imperium from threats internal and external as Face and the Big Man.  FOR THE EMPEROR!!!

All in all it’s a fun show with lots things to take a look at.  If you aren’t in a tournament or taking painting classes it’s worth a day trip if you are close by.  If you aren’t close by go to DC for the weekend, check out the sites and sneak over for a few hours!

-Wachtmeister