War is heading to Thames – right now armies all across the entire North Island are arming themselves and raising the cry of war.

But before you go ducking for cover, the upcoming war is the NICON 2015 North Island Wargaming Convention, taking place at the NZ Festival of MindSports in Thames on May 30-31.

Te Puke wargamer Matt Everitt with a troop of his Warhammer 40k army. Matt will be competing at the NICON 2015 North Island Wargamming Tournament on May 30-31. Photos: David Tauranga

Wargaming is as the name suggests: a strategic game where players of two-or-more control armies of intricately crafted miniature models and go head to head with one and other.

There are many different systems, or types, of wargames. Some are based on historical events like World War Two or the Napoleonic Wars, while others are rooted in science fiction and fantasy.

Te Puke based wargamer Matt Everitt will be competing at NICON 2015, pitting his army against others who play Warhammer 40K which is set in a dystopian science fiction universe.

'Wargaming is a large and broad subject,” says the 27-year-old. 'At its heart is a group of likeminded people who enjoy the modelling, painting collecting and gamming side of it.

'It's played with die and a very large rule books, and I'd say it's about 70 per cent skill and strategy, and 30 per cent luck.”

Trying to explain the mechanics behind wargaming can be, well, difficult. Matt agrees the mechanics are somewhat similar to the board game ‘Risk' but quickly adds: 'They're way more complicated.”

Each individual model used in the game has its own point value and before a war starts, players will agree on a total amount of points that armies will be worth.

So say you agree on a total of 1,000 points and you command 10 models that are worth 100 points each. If you wanted to, your entire army could consist of just those 10 models.

'In terms of winning games there can also be different objectives,” elaborates Matt, 'like capturing a section of the table and defending it, slaughtering as much of the opponent's army as possible, or simply killing them.

'There's also huge backstories in Warhammer 40K, whole novel ranges have been written about this game and they sometimes makes you want to possibly play with a particular faction or army.

'Your imagination get really inspired by a lot of what you read and it is your only limitation.”

About 12 years ago Matt was introduced to wargaming through a friend who'd purchased a beginner's kit that cost roughly about $100.

When asked how much he's spent on his passion since, Matt lets out a nervous laugh and replies: 'I have probably spent at least $20,000.”

'I've never looked back since I first played the game,” he continues. 'It was pretty much an instant addiction, there's been moments where I've had to step back and take a break, but I always come back to it.”

Matt's looking forward to the upcoming NICON 2015 tournament and says it should be a bloody good weekend of war and meeting new people.

Along with the social aspects, it's the competitive side of wargaming which Matt enjoys the most, but that's not to say the roll of the dice always goes his way.

'As I said its 70 per cent skill and strategy, and 30 per cent luck. You can't always control what a dice is going to do but you can build armies in a way which reduces your chances of a bad roll.

'But there's always going to be a bad dice roll, some days it just comes down to the die hating you.

'You just have to remind yourself that if everyone had a good dice roll, nobody would ever lose.”

The NICON 2015 North Island Wargaming Tournament is on during the first weekend of the NZ Festival of MindSports being held in Thames on May 30-31 and June 6-7.

For more information visit the festival's website at: www.mindsportsfestival.co.nz