Hello and welcome to this, the second part of my top ten exhibitors at last weekend’s Salute.

As detailed in the previous instalment, this year’s Salute was the first that I as able to enjoy as a punter. Previously I had only attended the show as a member of staff for one exhibitor or another, but this year I was able to take my time to browse each stand, chat to venders and catch up with friends in the industry. It also enabled me to cast a covetous eye over the various stands and compile this list of my favourite exhibitors.

As with part one, the following are presented in alphabetical order; that order is in no way indicative of each entry’s comparative merits.

Read Part one here: Featuring #Battleground HD #Bobmack3D #Flank March #DieHardMiniatures #Goblin King Games #Ontos Games and #This Then That Games

Modular Worlds

A vibrant green, multi-eyed monster with a large, toothy grin and several tentacle-like appendages is displayed on a circular base. The creature features a prominent yellow eye with a radioactive symbol, surrounded by purple and green details, and is set against a dark background. In the foreground, small tufts of grass and rocks add to the diorama's texture, while a smaller, light blue figure is partially visible to the right.

I’d never seen this range of fantasy miniature before, but I’m pleased to have discovered them at Salute. Sculpted by the owner Kieran James and operating out of their bricks ‘n; mortar store in Newquay, Modular Worlds boasts a a dizzying array of miniatures, vehicles and terrain features.

A display of intricately painted fantasy miniatures features several man-eating plants, showcasing vibrant colors and detailed designs. The plants have multiple heads, with some exhibiting bright greens and purples, while others display a mix of pinks and yellows. The miniatures are arranged on a dark surface, with price tags visible next to them, highlighting their unique and imaginative designs.

From sci-fi to fantasy and all points in between, this is a superb range. I was particularly enamoured with the various man-eating plants and a lizardman riding a giant toad.

A vibrant miniature display features a large, colorful frog-like creature, known as "Frogzerker," with a rider perched atop it. The frog is painted in shades of green and red, adorned with a saddle and surrounded by lush, tropical foliage on a rocky base. In the background, additional miniatures, including a reptilian figure and other fantastical creatures, are visible, showcasing a diverse range of imaginative designs.

Also, please show some love for the those handmade, wooden shelves and their label card frames; gorgeous!

You can explore the Modular Worlds range on MyMiniFactory.

A group of four lizardfolk miniatures, each painted in vibrant blue with detailed scales and features, are displayed on a dark background. They are equipped with spears and wear brown leather armor, standing on circular bases adorned with grass and small rocks. A sign below them reads "LIZARDFOLK TERRORBIRD RIDER," indicating their name and role in a tabletop game.

Nightfall Games / Word Forge Games

Three tabletop role-playing game books are displayed on a black table. From left to right, the first book titled "Maggot Machine" features a skeletal figure in a mechanical suit, rendered in earthy tones. The second book, "Demon Dog," showcases a fierce character with a spiked collar and a dramatic red background. The third book, "S.L.A. Borg: Money Murder Mayhem," has a dark cover with a skull and vibrant yellow text, emphasizing its gritty theme.

Between the likes of Mark Rapson, Dave Allsop, Jared Earle and Chris McAuley, an elite core of top quality creatives produce Word Forge / Nightfall Games’ titles; little wonder that Word Forge / Nightfall Games create top quality products.

As you’d expect, many of these games were on display at Salute, as well as some new titles; these included the new SLA industries / Mork Borg mash-up (which, I have to say, looks very swish), and the new expansion for their SAS Rogue Regimentboardgame, Operation Gain.

A tabletop gaming scene featuring a detailed game board set in a grassy area with a small water feature. The board includes various terrain elements such as houses, trees, and pathways, with miniature figures positioned throughout. Nearby, game tokens and a rule sheet are visible, indicating gameplay mechanics and actions.

Both these new titles sport the Nightfall / Word Forge hallmarks of eye-catching artwork and high production values. Whilst I couldn’t ascertain how they play just by eyeballing them, I’m pretty sure they’ll be just as good as the rest of the Nightfall and Word Forge Games’ catalogue.

See the Nightfall and Wordforge Games websites for more details. Late pledges for Operation Gain are also still available on the game’s Kickstarter page.

Oathsworn Miniatures

A group of anthropomorphic animal miniatures, primarily featuring badger-like figures, is depicted in a dynamic scene. The miniatures are intricately painted, showcasing a variety of colors and details, with some wearing armor and wielding weapons, while others appear to be casting spells or holding shields. The background features a textured terrain with grass and rocks, enhancing the fantasy setting, and a stone wall is visible in the distance, adding depth to the scene.

I’ve made no secret of the fact I love Oathsworn Miniatures and their Burrows and Badgers range. This fabulous skirmish game of anthropomorphic warriors, wizards et al is not only a cracking set of rules, but it also benefits from a fabulous variety of excellent miniatures.

A group of anthropomorphic animal miniatures stands on a textured, grassy base, showcasing a variety of characters from the Burrows and Badgers range. The figures include a rabbit wielding a staff, a bear in armor holding a weapon, and several other creatures, each adorned with unique details and vibrant colors. Surrounding them are circular bases featuring thematic elements like skeletons and plants, enhancing the fantasy setting.

As a special bonus for players of the Burrows and Badger skirmish game, Oathsworn also had copies of their new rulebook available to purchase. Although not officially released until 24th April, those nice people at Osprey Games allowed them to sell copies at Salute in recognition of the show’s pre-eminent position in the wargaming calendar.

A display of intricately painted anthropomorphic miniatures from the "Burrows and Badgers" range by Oathsworn Miniatures. The scene features several characters, including a badger in a plaid outfit wielding a sword, a mouse with a staff, and a hedgehog holding a weapon, all set on a textured base with grass and rocks. The miniatures are arranged on a glass display case, showcasing their detailed craftsmanship and vibrant colors.

See the Oathsworn Miniatures website for more details.

Twilight Miniatures

A display of various fantasy miniatures is showcased on a clear stand, featuring a mix of intricately detailed figures. Prominent in the center is a large, pale-colored creature resembling a dinosaur, with a rider atop, surrounded by smaller figures including warriors and anthropomorphic animals. Each miniature is labeled with its name and price, highlighting a diverse range of characters such as Casanii Warriors, Dumplok Riders, and Ferals, all set against a dark backdrop that enhances their features.

I like grimdark miniatures and I like World War II miniatures. I also like high fantasy and sci-fi. But, every now and then, it’s nice to see something completely different.

A detailed tabletop diorama showcases a vibrant fantasy scene featuring various miniatures on a grassy terrain. In the foreground, several anthropomorphic figures, including reptilian warriors and other fantastical creatures, are positioned strategically, while a small boat is docked along a waterway. The backdrop includes lush vegetation, a serpentine creature, and a rustic structure, all contributing to the immersive world of Anyaral.

That’s probably why I like Anyaral: the World of Twilight so much. Sculpted by Twilight Miniature’ owner, Michael Thorp, this fabulous range features a host of reptilian warriors, shaggy monsters and big beasties, all of which dwell in the unique world of Anyaral.

A collection of fantasy miniatures displayed in a glass case, featuring various anthropomorphic figures and creatures. Prominent are several bear-like warriors with blue fur and weapons, alongside smaller creatures resembling wolves and lizard-like beings. The bases of the miniatures are textured with snow and grass, enhancing the thematic presentation of a wintery landscape.

And the full majesty of Anyaral was on show at Salute. Not only were their oodles of miniatures available, but their was also a fabulous Anyaral diorama at which to marvel. With its riverboats, a hut, a serpentine sea monster and dozens of little Anyaral warriors on display, this cool display did a really good job of showcasing the things that make the world—and aesthetic—of Anyaral so unique.

A diverse array of fantasy miniatures is displayed, featuring various anthropomorphic characters and creatures. In the foreground, small figures include a frog-like warrior in blue armor, several colorful, small dinosaurs, and whimsical man-eating plants, all set on bases with tufts of grass. The background showcases larger figures, including a tall creature and a sign reading "The Contessa's Menagerie," adding to the vibrant and imaginative scene.

See the full range on the Anyaral: the World of Twilight website.

WarFulcrum Games

A detailed tabletop diorama depicting a World War I battlefield, featuring a lush green landscape with scattered trees, buildings, and a dirt road. Miniature soldiers from both the US Marine Corps and the German army are positioned throughout the scene, with some engaging in combat. The table also includes model vehicles and terrain features, such as a railway track and various structures, creating a dynamic and immersive setting for gameplay.

As you’d expect from Salute, there were plenty of fabulous demo games to gawp at. One such was WarFulcrum’s incredible demo table for their new WWI ruleset, 1918. This superbly crafted table recreated the WWI battleground of Villers-Bretonneux, and the combatants from the US Marine Corps and German army who fought over it.

A detailed diorama showcases a World War I battlefield scene, featuring miniature soldiers from the US Marine Corps and German army. The figures are positioned on a grassy terrain, with some soldiers holding rifles and others engaged in various actions, surrounded by patches of red foliage. In the background, there are model buildings and trees, enhancing the immersive atmosphere of the display.

Sadly, my meagre photographic skills and equipment couldn’t capture the full impact of this table, but you can see a collection of much better photos on WarFulcrum’s Facebook page. Furthermore, the Kickstarter for the 1918 rulebook is now live.

A close-up of a tabletop wargaming rulebook titled "1918: A First World War Wargame," featuring a detailed cover illustration of soldiers in combat. The title is prominently displayed in red at the top, with the subtitle "The Spring Offensive" below it. The background shows a textured battlefield scene, enhancing the thematic focus on World War I. In the background, partially visible game materials and a quick-play sheet can be seen, indicating an active gaming environment.

That concludes my top ten of exhibitors from Salute 2025. It really was difficult to narrow the list down to only ten, and I feel bad for those who only just missed the cut. I’m fairly sure, however, that I’ll have more then enough chances to include them in future articles. After all, it’s not too long until Partizan in Newark…

Images courtesy of their respective owners

Paul L. Mathews