From 11th Edition 40k teasers to the return of Yarrick, we break down the highs and lows of attending AdeptiCon 2026.
Another Long War Two-Fer is here: Keep those hobby muscles strong with this week’s webcast and the latest exciting podcast of table-top wargaming awesomeness, mostly centered around Warhammer 40k.
The Long War: Episode 504
Article Table of Contents:
Show Summary:
This week, the crew covers their reflections on Adepticon and hopes for the hobby going forward! Here are the key takeaways, section by section:
- 00:03-01:20 The hosts open with travel jokes about Rob being stuck on the road, then frame the episode around AdeptiCon 2026 and a big question: was the old Schaumburg/Renaissance setup better than the current Milwaukee convention center?
- 01:20-03:47 They strongly prefer the old Schaumburg venue for its intimacy, convenience, and social feel, even while admitting the larger Baird Center allows more games, classes, and hobby events to coexist.
- 03:47-06:24 Their biggest complaints about the Milwaukee setup are the stricter security, outside food and drink restrictions, weaker hotel experience, and a more corporate atmosphere that they feel has chipped away at AdeptiCon’s old hangout culture.
- 06:24-08:11 Even with those complaints, they acknowledge the event’s scale is a huge success. Their Long War Doubles event drew 378 players from 189 starting teams, which they present as proof that the convention’s growth is very real.
- 08:11-13:47 The episode shifts into a broader point about convention “life cycles.” As cons get bigger, they often lose some of the informal networking, bar culture, and spontaneous social energy that made them special in earlier years.
- 14:10-24:40 On the positive side, they say AdeptiCon is still the premier all-around miniatures convention because of its sheer variety. They praise the vendor hall, the huge presence of non-40k games like Battletech, MCP, HeroClix, and Middle-earth, and call out Monument Hobbies as a standout for building an interactive, community-focused booth rather than just a retail space.
- 24:40-31:58 They are especially proud of the Long War Doubles turnout and hobby effort this year. A much larger share of players brought display boards, themed armies, and strong paint entries, which led them to create an extra award for best display board on the spot.
- 29:12-33:52 They also celebrate how smoothly the event ran behind the scenes, crediting volunteers, judges, and their scorekeeping support team. They note there were only three judge calls in a tournament of nearly 400 players, which they see as remarkably smooth.
- 34:45-40:42 One host says AdeptiCon has become more appealing again because it feels fresh and exciting, even for non-gamers. He points to his wife enjoying several days at the con despite not being in the hobby, which they use as evidence that the event now has broader appeal.
- 40:42-50:13 The biggest news segment covers the 11th edition 40k reveal and the return to Armageddon, including Yarrick’s return, new Guard vehicles, new Ork releases, and a Blood Angels vs Orks starter set. They are excited by the reveals but concerned about rumored changes to terrain layouts and replacing circular objectives with terrain-feature objectives, since that could force stores and event organizers to replace a lot of terrain and accessories.
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🔗 Related Reads From the Show:
- Adepticon 2026 Previews
- Bourbon & Bolters Retreat
- Monument Hobbies Paints
- Get your Warhammer and hobby supplies from Fabricators Forge
- J15 Games Has Your Game Aids, Tokens & Templates!
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