Gallery: Lucca Comics and Games 2008

Looking like a dirty prop against a scenic theatrical backdrop ... the TBG ambulance in all its glory.

Our alarming arrival in sunny Lucca

Our booth before and (6 minutes later) after.

The queue to get in was about 5 times longer than could be captured in one photo

Just a tiny sample of some of the more impressive outfits. That giant syringe is going to have someone's eye out though.

Two different approaches to drawing the crowds. The monkey dance (above) and the bullet-to-the-head (below)

Neither technique above really worked. This creepy guy hung around for a while and made us nervous.

Things picked up on the second day though. Lots of healthy interest.

"What's Italian for finger?" - Andy S struggles to explain the basic mechanics involved in spinning the axis of evil

Some new friends loved the game so much, they devoted space on their own booth to try and sell our game for us. We love the Italians.

Andy S presides over two simultaneous demo games of WoT. The number of smiling faces shows you they're either playing it wrong, or they've only just started.

Why I oughtta! The balaclavas prove alarmingly popular. We actually sold out.

Our one-and-only WMD finder more than deserved this enthusiastic handshake from Andy T.

"Cosplay Hour" at the local pub was poorly conceived. The basic idea was people in fancy dress get two drinks for one: A loophole that a few balaclavas could easily help us exploit.

Despite having ridden bikes since we could walk, when you're abroad, on hired bikes, after a number of special Cosplay Hour Bloody Marys, cycling is the most amazingly fun experience in the world.

Andy T and Tom display binary for "Ciao!"

Andy S mid-signing.

"Hello!? No.... I'm in a games fair ... GAMES FAIR! .... No, sorry I can't ... I'm a knight... A KNIGHT.... Hang on, I'll take my helmet off" - And that's when he was beheaded by an enemy broadsword. Remember, mobile phones and crusades just don't mix.

The cosplay Bloody Marys from the night before catch up with us after the adrenaline (surely alcohol - ed.) wears off.

Resident tramp, Tom M-J, adds a thoughtful and poignant touch to our stand.