Dear All,

While waiting for GameCon2 or mini-GameCon to materialize, why not put our heads together to find a suitable venue and organize another Euro Games Retreat for 2007.

I am currently looking at the June 8-9 weekend in Genting Highlands (which coincides with the International Jazz Festival) to offer some alternatives to family members to join group but are not into Euro-gaming. It could also offer a good break between gaming in the daytime and partying to Jazz in the evening.

Any other alternatives?

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I came, I play, I lost, I return for revenge.

2007 Euro Game Retreat will be held at the same venue - Awana - due the great value and experience last year.

Timing wise, it is scheduled for either end October or early November, as this allows participants first look at the 2007 Essen releases - something we didn't do last year as it was held before Essen.

We filled up 16 places last year, mostly with infrequent gamers who took the opportunity to enjoy a weekend of gaming. This year, we expect to fill up 24 seats in view of a fairly large contingent expected from Singapore gamers.

macedwin:

2007 Euro Game Retreat will be held at the same venue - Awana - due the great value and experience last year. Timing wise, it is scheduled for either end October or early November, as this allows participants first look at the 2007 Essen releases - something we didn't do last year as it was held before Essen. We filled up 16 places last year, mostly with infrequent gamers who took the opportunity to enjoy a weekend of gaming. This year, we expect to fill up 24 seats in view of a fairly large contingent expected from Singapore gamers.

if the Singaporeans are coming, how about increasing the whole lot to 50 slots?

Thanks for the heads up, will now commence boardgame lamination......err.....preservation measures.

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I came, I play, I lost, I return for revenge.

1. don't think we can fill up 50 slots.

2. our experience from last year shows that regular gamers are not interested to attend as they game regularly, and don't want to pay the money (was rm200 last year for 1 night accommodation + buffet lunch, dinner + breakfast).

3. the people that eventually attended were interested, but infrequent gamers who saw it as a good opportunity to learn/play many games in 2 days. most of them were also couples.

4. we may not even fill 24 but i certainly believe we will fill up more than the 16 last year.

5. from an admin point of view, 50 would not be manageable. we play in tables of 4 so we need exact numbers - 16, 20 or 24.

6. format will be graded games from table 1 - table x. we expect the best players to move up to table 1 and vice versa, so table 1 will have the "tougher" games, while table x will have the more social games.

7. this format is great as top 2 + bottom 2 change tables in the next round, ensuring that almost everyone meets/plays with everyone else.

8. since we played all the old favorites last year, we should keep the event fresh by playing new games. this also allows people to learn many new games in 2 days!

9. no games over 2 hours and no wargames!

preliminary list:
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1. shear panic.
2. blue moon city.
3. die saulen der erde.
4. kabale um hiebe.
5. take stock.
6. lifeboats.
7. mission red planet.
8. etc.

macedwin:

9. no games over 2 hours and no wargames!

YAY!!! Tell them to leave their TI:3 sets at home.
and ASL kits, etc

PS: I thought BMC was an old game?

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I came, I play, I lost, I return for revenge.

rhyen:

PS: I thought BMC was an old game?

Blue Moon City is a new game la. Blue Moon the Card game is old. BMC theme is based on the card game. Most of the artwork in BMC is from the card game too. The Card game talks about the big war between species, whereas BMC is after the events in Blue Moon where everyone is at peace and they come together to rebuild the City.

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LoStBoYz:

rhyen:

PS: I thought BMC was an old game?

Blue Moon City is a new game la. Blue Moon the Card game is old. BMC theme is based on the card game. Most of the artwork in BMC is from the card game too. The Card game talks about the big war between species, whereas BMC is after the events in Blue Moon where everyone is at peace and they come together to rebuild the City.

Someone please bring along Blue Moon the card game, I want to see it and play it

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I came, I play, I lost, I return for revenge.

being able to play essen games is a bonus... but judging by last year's experience, we need to have a few people on hand who can teach the games properly...

1. agree w ayheng - the real challenge is having enough people to teach others. even with 16 people last year this was tough, as every table played a different game! Any ideas?

2. err, you are free to bring your ti3, 18xx, dune, etc as the schedule leaves sat night free for your own mega game, or drive up to genting for the other kind of gaming!

3. just to clarify, the 2007 essen games will be on display and demo, but not in the series of games played.

4. since this is a euro game retreat, we play mostly, if not only, euro games...

macedwin:

1. agree w ayheng - the real challenge is having enough people to teach others. even with 16 people last year this was tough, as every table played a different game! Any ideas?

maybe budget 15 minutes briefing sessions before each game starts OR

have volunteers who managed each table and are well briefed on the rules and rulings (those volunteers can also help document the gameplay and create a game log for people interested in analysing the games at their own leisure, they don't play so have to come up with some other incentives for them to choose this role) OR

Just dumb down the games...

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I came, I play, I lost, I return for revenge.

setting aside time to teach games was not the problem. the problem was we had several occassions when those who were teaching the games on other tables, themselves had to learn the game on their table, so this delayed the briefing substantially...

ha2, good idea re volunteers - though i doubt if anyone would be keen to go all the way there and not play! instead, just teach and log???

i am thinking of video taping someone teaching all the games! this way, all we do is watch a video clip before each game, and then play!!!

Volunteers will need some form of incentive mah - free lodgings etc? If ada volunteers.

We thoughts rhyen has a recording of jack208 teaching? But that was for Werewolf only we thinks. Any more?

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"I suppose, at the end of the day, we're all someone's dog." - Sir Samuel Vimes (Jingo).

well, why don't we get some confirmed volunteer-attendees, then compile a list of game which rules they have to learn to teach. then we can have a meeting at mages cafe to make sure everyone understand the same version of rules.

since 1 table = 4 person, we have to have the total number of attendees divided by 4 number of volunteers. and rope in a few more extras in case of emergencies.

Just bring our 18xx games lah. Everyone that posts here all know how to play. Furthermore newbies will take them like 6+ hours to play a game, that will remove the need to have many games in many sessions. 2 games of 18xx with newbies = 12+ hours. Just nice.

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LoStBoYz:

Just bring our 18xx games lah. Everyone that posts here all know how to play. Furthermore newbies will take them like 6+ hours to play a game, that will remove the need to have many games in many sessions. 2 games of 18xx with newbies = 12+ hours. Just nice.

This is a splendid idea! I support

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CK Au (jack208)
Boardgame Meetup photos at Flickr
Angkor Wat blog