Monday Gaming & Mini-con thoughts
Are people going to be around this monday? If so, I'm open to suggestions although I do have another ginormous game to try out. The living rules are online if people are interested.
But I could live with Roads and Boats, or Scepter of Zavandor, or Sword of Rome or ... lots of things.
Jacqui and I were considering trying to organize a mini-convention, perhaps on MLK weekend in January. We've done this before, basically you get a hotel's conference center (which can usually hold ~20 people) for the weekend. These are fairly cheap, because businesses don't tend to rent on weekends (especially holiday weekends).
This struck us as a good idea, although that was before we started having lots of all day game events (at DL or wherever). One aspect it does give is the monster game that you are in complete control of. Everyone tired? Lock the room and come back in the morning.
In any case, would people be interested in this? It would probably take ~$20/head (or so) to cover the room costs for the weekend. [Out of towners would presumably rent a room for the 'convention' and each room rented would lower costs. There would be a discount for people out of town. [I expect some people may come from Austin, perhaps one or two from further away.] Given the hosts, our kids would be around some of the time. [Caveat Gamer].
The other option is a "NameCon" where "Name" throws open their house for the weekend. I've been to a dozen of these, and they are great. We don't really have the setup for it (and I'm not banishing our kids upstairs for several hours), but if someone else wanted to host ... I wouldn't be agin' it.
posted by Brian @ 4:32 PM
23 comments
23 Comments:
Regarding the mini-con, I'm all for it. I think the hotel room sounds like the best idea. I doubt I could convince my wife to have us host this.
SABG.con:
Sweet idea. Count me in. I should be able to make it by that weekend. We could make SABG tshirts, coozies, underware, etc. Seriously, do you need to charge some reg fee too or something? Oh the possibilities: FULL game of 7 ages, EastFront+WestFront+EuroFront fest, For the People....
Now that I have some more time and a bigger table, I could host a regular game night (not a 'con' though) every now and then (รก la Brian, but of course, without encroaching). Any of the wargamers up for EastFront 2?
Monster game Monday:
Well, Jon and I were planning on trying out SS on Monday, unless he chickens out at the last minute. I should be getting there between 1-2pm (work in the am). He, 5pm? So I'd be up for something like R+B, Scepter,etc in between or just any other euro/americani. SoR/PaxRomana: on my list of things to play.
BTW Ben, what happened to the evites?
I would be unable to do a mini con.
FYI I'll be there tomorrow around the normal time.
I'll be there Monday at approximately 1600-1630 hours. I'll bring Prophecy, Runebound, and maybe C&C: Ancients if I can find time to redigest the rules today...
The second edition C&C: Ancients rules are supposed to be posted on-line today or tomorrow, so this is added incentive.
I played Prophecy solo yesterday. I'm very pleased with the game! Apparently the first shipment to the US has already sold out at the distributors. I'm hopeful the game will sell enough for the expansions to get imported as well. The game seems to like it would play well with 3-4 players, though it can handle either 2 or 5 players as well.
Runebound seems to work best with 2-3 players.
I'll create a Google calendar event for tomorrow. I usually leave it up to whoever is organizing the event to post the event on our Google calendar. If anyone isn't sure how to do this and wants help, just let me know.
As far as the mini-con goes... I'm still working on committing enough time to participate in Carlos' upcoming one-day TI:3 game later this month. One-day gamefests are one thing, but committing to multiple days in a row is going to be tough for me.
Jeff and I would enjoy hosting the MLK SABG.con weekend-thingy. Also, we were talking about hosting a New Year's Eve/Day game-a-thon.
Ben: I've never actually been to a con, but I would think for this "mini-con" that it would be okay for you to just come in for a day (or just a 1/2 of one) if that's all you could manage!
An SABGcon sounds pretty cool (especially for 20 a head) and I'm all for SABG freebie gear, or "throw-downs" as they call them in the biz.
As for tonight, things may be tight. I'll try to show early but most likely I'll be there around 8:30pm...sorry for requesting so much Ben when I won't be there for long...
Jeff and Amy: How very kind and generous of you! We need to make sure a portion of the $20 goes to fund your cleaning bill and provide ThoughtHammer gift certificates for you!
Simon: Don't worry, I hadn't cracked open C&C: Ancients yet... I'll still bring Prophecy and Runebound. I'll also bring Blue Moon City. Note for C&C: Ancients fans... GMT just released a new set of scenarios for free.
As long as we're making long range plans... I'm going to be taking a week of comp-time off work the week of October 9th to indulge in my favorite three hobbies: woodworking, running, and gaming... i.e., plenty of time for all-day gaming. SS, PV, TI:3, WW, BtB, SoR... you name it.
Tonight = tomorrow night...Monday (9/11) that is.
Simon: I was just thinking... if you aren't going to get to DL until 8:30PM, I don't think we'll be able to get a game in. I will probably have to leave by 9:45 PM or so, so we probably wouldn't be able to finish either Runebound or Prophecy (most likely 2.5 hours apiece on their first play...). If it doesn't work out on Monday, I can play Friday afternoon as well...
So.... anyone else interested in Prophecy at 5PM? Or, perhaps at least one person for Wilderness War? I'd bring Dune, but I want to complete my upgrades first...
I can do Friday no problem.
Ben: I'd love to get in a game of Wilderness War in the next few weeks, but Mon night I'm scheduled with Mark.
Amy & Jeff: You guys rock! Way to go!
Wow... you see, I have to stop working (had work today). I missed like 10 posts, instead of being able to reply to every single one like I did for the past few weeks.
Well then, from what I'm seeing above, I'll get there at 4pm (ie if no one is showing up at 1pm).
Would like to try mykerinos again. R+B will have to wait from the looks of it.
SABGcon and JeffandAmycon can be 2 different things instead of either or. Hey, I make a killer omellete in the morning. Sign me up. Brian, what is the next step?
Ben: You are the chief master and commander of the SABG calendar.
With enough time for me to plan, I would be very willing and able for a Mini-Con. The house thing sounds interesting, but I am having enough trouble getting my wife out of the house on a Saturday to host a game at my house for just a few hours.
I just want to make sure we're all on the same page and that there's no CONfusion. As usual, I'm probably the only one having trouble keeping it all straight. Brian is proposing either Hotel-con or House-con on MLK Day. He and Jacqui can't host House-con, but Amy and I are able and willing to do so (By then we'll have 2 tables that can accomodate RRT-sized games plus the coffe table and floor space).
House-con pros: 1) It's free.
2) Organization is a snap.
Hotel-con pros: 1) People from outside the SABG might attend (More people means more game options).
2) There might be coozies.
House-con cons: 1) Not really enough space for gamers outside the SABG
Hotel-con cons: 1) It's not free
2) Somebody has to organize things with the hotel, sign stuff and be responsible.
So, both options are open and now the masses must decide whether they want hotel-con or house-con.
IN ADDITION, Amy and I would love to host a mega-game day New Year's Eve/Day.
Jeff: I think your post is right on target. To me, House-Con vs. Hotel-Con is the same as hobby vs. business venture. Both could work, but it's a question of scale, workload, and risk with potential profit and/or fun payoffs.
Even with the House-Con, I'd still think you might want to collect a small fee for the House-Con to cover food, sundries, cleaning, and maybe a small prize table.
I just want a coozie, dammit! Doesn't matter where from.
I'd really appreciate it if everyone would chime in with their blunt, honest opinion regarding the format of SABG MLK gaming so that we can reach a CONsensus and start planning (I'm sure we'll need to get the hotel-con ball rolling right away if we choose that route).
So speak up, or you'll leave me no option but to CONtinue making these awful jokes.
Well, maybe I should have clarified earlier. The obstacle for me participating in the mini-con is the expenditure of money. I can guarantee that will not be approved.
It seems we have a wide variety of possibilities, ranging from the expensive, labor-intensive, and extravagant to the low or no cost, basic, and easy.
Here's a pile of my thoughts on the subject: Personally, I just want to play games. I think my ideal type of Con would be along the lines of a light-hearted chess tournament: deliberate; planned; organized, with minimal distractions; yet friendly and lots of fun to play in. I don't need all the trappings of a Con (auctions, prizes, dealers, etc.), nor do I expect to game much beyond normal business hours. Planned events, games, and/or tournaments are something I do like better than random open gaming. In general, I like to see my gaming dollars go towards buying games so the lower cost the better.
Sorry, I've missed a lot. I'm buried at work.
I'm interested in the MLK day mini-convention - I'd like to try one of these longer games like Sword of Rome or 7 ages (Brian's description has me interested) - but since I work at M.L.King Academy, where the march begins, I may have to be there. I'll find out more as we get closer.
Simon, I'm dying to get a look at C&C: Ancients.
Rob, a belated thanks for introducing Thurn and Taxis. I ordered a copy (and about 5 other games) the next night.
I hope to make next Monday....
No prob Rick.
I'm CONvinced that SABGCON is the way to go for me. I like the idea of having that gaming solace...away from it all.
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