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I live in Cleveland, Ohio, but I'm visiting a friend in Virginia Beach, leaving this saturday and returning the 3rd or so. I noticed that I'll be passing relatively close to Baltimore, and I wonder if there is any compelling reason to take the 1.5 hour detour and visit the battle bunker? I've never been to any Bunker, so I don't know if this one has anything special for being the national HQ. I'd be looking for some combination of: a cool pick up game, painted armies to gaze at, neat tables to check out, etc.

Any experiences positive or negative on if it's worth a special trip?

Going to GW Baltimore is.....

Overrated.

Other then it going to just another warehouse, you may or may not get there in time to play, then there is the little matter of the brainwashed staff. If you think that your local GW store is bad, think of it on a scale about ten times that. I've been there a few times, and either I got there later in the afternoon, or got there almost at closing time. They do have the game area next store, but its bring your own stuff, and there seems to be the local duffs that play there. It is a pretty dull experience, either way. Cheese central.

My trip took me from the bottom of VA to Glenn Burney, it is a hell of a ride, and a ride to take just to say you did it. Though if you intend to get some FW stuff, they do have it, and you can pick up that overpriced baneblade, the titan stuff, or the other resin goodies that will be out soon. When you get there, there is a McDonalds at the end of the block, the big GamesWorkshop sign, and the spacemarine you can take a picture in front of.

I had a meh experience, and don't intend to go back there again.

I visited there for the first time in November as we travelled up there for the GT. Yep, we got a group picture standing in front of the Space Marine statue.

We played there Friday night before the GT. Where we live, there is no GW store. Not a big issue, but it seems folks can get awfully spoiled with playing on great looking tables that they don't have to put an ounce of work or money into. We were a bit in awe at how nice all the tables were. The store also has some great looking models in their cases.

The staff was nice, not pushy and genuinely nice to talk to. Yes, they have FW as I picked up the Avatar with the spear.

If you don't have a local GW shop where you live, it's kind of neat to see what one is like. It wasn't really out of the way for us as we were already in Baltimore for the weekend.

The whole Baltimore/DC/northern VA traffic scene is horrible, so beware that it will take time and can be quite frustrating at certain times of day.

If you can go on a Monday they have a club night till 10pm. Best chance to get a pickup game. THe staff is not pushy compared to a standard GW store.

Sarigar wrote:We were a bit in awe at how nice all the tables were. The store also has some great looking models in their cases.

...

The whole Baltimore/DC/northern VA traffic scene is horrible, so beware that it will take time and can be quite frustrating at certain times of day.

Aye, been wanting to go back sometime and throwdown on some of those sweeeet tables. Besides that and seeing some 'new' stuff and nice armies in the cases, not too many other reasons to go IMO. Though the last time I was there they had some kind of anniversary event I didn't expect to see, with prizes, bitz bash, and Dave Taylor working on his Vossies and chatting it up. Was a decent time

Oh, and as an ex-NoVA person, I always liked the drive up to Glen Burnie, quite faaast and not too bad compared to 495 and such.

- Salvage

They recently shrunk the gaming area to half the size it was...I was disappointed when I went last time.

I was there once a year or so ago, same day as Balitomore Games Day. It was fun, but then a few friends of a friend had invited me down to play a big team battle, and we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Lots of nice tables, and lots of expensive things to buy. Nothing to make you take a knee in awe, but not bad per se.
Still, I like my FLGS just as well, though being a little more local and having 4-5 more tables would make me smile.

I live in VA Beach myself.

You can hike all the way out there to see the battle bunker, and if you're looking for pure GW atmosphere, thats where you need to be.....its all simply atmosphere.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a good selection of games, you are lucky enough to be in VB where ATLANTIS COMICS is holding its once a year major sale if you can make it before midnight on Saturday. Great selection of 40k at this store as it is a partner, and graphic novels are 40% off, a good time to pick up some extra reading for the flight home.

http://www.atlantis-comics.com/store/index.html

...check out "zombie proof glass" for a glimpse of the store.

This is our local store that we're all VERY proud of, decent competition, discounts on GW occasionally. Lots of players, plenty of gaming space and terrain. If you're simply looking for a GW fix in a new town, this is where you need to go...really...you wont be missing much by not going to the bunker, and you'll save yourself a long time in the car.


I'm not an employee, by the way, trying to drum up business. Just a regular who can honestly tell you that this has been one of my favorite gaming venues since I've been in Virginia. Fun staff and always a good place to hang out. I might even show up sunday after 6pm to get a game in if you'd like.

Wehrkind wrote:... though being a little more local and having 4-5 more tables would make me smile.

*taps massive hydraulic foot and waits for Wehrbasement to be finished, as we're on the same side of the Valley (opposite the Portal)*

Though I will be over in Butztown tonight, killing whatever xenos rejects Studder throws at me

- Salvage

Hmm, Ok, it looks like the battlebunker will be a maybe for the return trip. I'm driving down tomorrow, so I probably won't stop by the store before the sale ends, but I might be up for a game on wednesday, which if I read properly is wargames night.

I'm staying with a friend and his wife, and I haven't spent more than a few hours with him in about two years, so I'm probably going to dedicate my time mostly to hanging out with him. However, I'll be sure to at least check out Atlantis, as I love new gaming stores.

Thanks to everybody for your input, I got exactly the feedback I needed!

Just as a note, TUESDAY is wargames night at the Virginia Beach location. Wednesday is for the portsmouth location. If you jump on the forums though you shouldnt have any trouble scheduling a game with someone on wednesday...theres pretty much always someone ready to play 40k/Fantasy.

skyth wrote:They recently shrunk the gaming area to half the size it was...I was disappointed when I went last time.

You are incorrect. The new Bunker is about a third bigger then the old one. They have about 18 gaming tables, with the capability of adding more tables as needed. The old Bunker had 20 tables, but with alot less room.

Now, the store area is alot smaller then the old store. But the gaming area is much more spacious.

Okay...I didn't see the gaming area...The store was in where the gaming area used to be then.

Looked a bit under construction when I was there too (This was last December methinks)