Jason Pipes - Jun 7, 2011 9:09 pm (#13628 Total: 13660) CSW Expo 2011, here we come!! Finished setting up Manassas by ICE and started playing today with Dan Thorpe (while Kerry Anderson and Todd give color commentary from time to time). So far the game is a blast. This is our first attempt so the rules reading took some time to grok, but things are easily coming together and I personally am finding the game to be excellent. Been selling games like hot cakes in the flea market, which has been nice. Only picked up 8 more so far too! Hobby Japan's Malaya Burma and Highway to the Kremlin (both in trade interestingly enough) have been my personal favorite finds so far. sysop - Jun 8, 2011 12:56 am (#13629 Total: 13660) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** June 6-12, 2011 ** Extra Day Added! ...this game really looks great. Glad you are playing it this year, Jason. Lance Nielsen - Consim Expo Staff / Player - Jun 8, 2011 2:45 am (#13630 Total: 13660) Arizona here I am Great fun playing Shattered States today (6 player game) post apocolyptic America game and did Fortress America yesterday, so future conflicts seems to be a theme for me this year. Hoping to get a game of Galactica in tomorrow and some down in flames, Currently, I am writing up more questions for the quiz, as Tex seems to know way too much about films! Took advantage of the pineapple on offer in the break station... sysop - Jun 8, 2011 9:18 pm (#13643 Total: 13660) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** June 6-12, 2011 ** Extra Day Added! Not sure about final count yet but we hit our second biggest turnout ever. We had around 250 a few years ago. This year we are around 220 or so so we blew past our attendance figure from last year. sysop - Jun 8, 2011 9:22 pm (#13644 Total: 13660) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** June 6-12, 2011 ** Extra Day Added! We have some real good seminars going on tonight, starting in a few minutes. Cyberboard Primer, Andy Loakes Inside GMT Games, Gene Billingsley Simulating Modern Warfare, Joe Miranda The Yom Kippur War 1973, Frank Chadwick I'm going to head down now to make sure AV is all set and good to go! (update: drats... the PC cable is not functioning, so all AV presentations need to run on Mac tonight. We are fine there but Cyberboard can't be demonstrated. Shoot) Joshua Gottesman - Jun 8, 2011 10:35 pm (#13645 Total: 13660) R.I.P., Jerome Gottesman 06/20/1929 - 10/18/2009 Great War in Europe It looks like we might be the first game finished. Unfortunately, Hope and I were both n00bs and we got the CP (perhaps we should have thought this through more) and we both made our share of mistakes that put us in a poor position. We had more or less stabilized things, however Russia was pounding away at Austria-Hungary. We still might have been okay, however then Italy entered the war. That was the final nail in the coffin. I'm glad we played, I learned a lot, and hope to get another play (perhaps several) by VASSAl if nothing else and come back next year better prepared! Lance Nielsen - Consim Expo Staff / Player - Jun 9, 2011 1:31 am (#13646 Total: 13660) Arizona here I am Some really great and interesting games going on and some amazing playtests for some very original pieces too. Quiz is full for Friday, alas I am full of cold and losing my voice so, it should prove a challenge to say the least, far more people in the quiz than expected so spent the first part of the day writing a ton of new questions. The other half playing an excellent Battlestar Galactica boardgame, which was much better than I expected it to be. Hans Korting - Jun 11, 2011 1:38 pm (#13656 Total: 13660) BookmarkEmail to Friend Wargames rock! Anybody seen VPGs Tattered Flags? sysop - Jun 11, 2011 8:00 pm (#13657 Total: 13660) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** June 6-12, 2011 ** Extra Day Added! I just caught a glimpse of it and it is definitely drool-worthy. I haven't seen it on the table yet (being played). Also saw the John Hill game design for Academy Games on Gettysburg and that looked really nice as well. They had a blown up version of the map in order to accommodate miniatures. Sweet. Allan J Rothberg - Jun 11, 2011 8:26 pm (#13658 Total: 13660) the nexus of all that is evil in the world Hans, John, etc., I talked to the designer, Hermann, yesterday, and he is quite impressed with how the final product came out. He has been demonstrating the game almost non-stop since he arrived late Thursday. (Just don't ask him about Anderson....) Lance Nielsen - Jun 12, 2011 5:37 am (#13659 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop Todd and I have just been play testing our latest game, called Operation Fanjita, which involves walking along Mill avenue late on a Saturday night.... On a more serious note, this con has been the best ever.... Lance Nielsen - Jun 12, 2011 2:23 pm (#13662 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop LOST PROPERTY We have a couple of items left behind in the ballroom, the most significant of which is a red and blue rucksack which contains various personal items and a Flames of War supplement. We are reluctant to go rooting through all the personal contents, so if this sounds like it might be yours, it has been left with the hotel security, so please contact the hotel directly as it will be in their possession. Thank you. Awesome Con this year, one of the best and most friendly ever. Full write up coming. sysop - Jun 12, 2011 3:21 pm (#13663 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! Thanks to Brian and Tori Blad for helping co-host CSW Expo. They did a stupendous job again, as always. I'm just between hops from Phoenix to Dallas (in Albuquerque) so I'm just jumping online to start with a BIG heartfelt thank you to them both. Likewise, I'll be decompressing a bit and get a write-up in soon. In terms of turnout, we really turned things around this year in no small way. Last year we had our second lowest turnout out of 11 expos -- the economy having an impact of sorts. This year we clocked in with our second highest total. Sandy at the hotel ran the numbers by me so it was very humbling to see the significant bump in attendance despite the lagging economy. Great to see so many new faces as well as our veterans returning to celebrate the hobby. Thank you all! Cory_w. - Jun 12, 2011 3:37 pm (#13664 Total: 13898) If I shot her when I wanted to, I'd have been out by now. Mr.P.Gunn I would like to thank John K for inviting me and the nice favor he did for me. All the people that I met and played games with. I really enjoyed playing Salerno Nathan Kilgore's new game. Like all games you play for the first time,, I would have done things differently once I understood the game For Nathan, Ian Scholfield and Jamie for playing Swashbuckler and being killed by those pirates I hope I can make it again next year. All I need is that week off and another gig in Vegas Barry Setser - Jun 12, 2011 3:58 pm (#13665 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Excellent con - one of my favs from all the years of attendance. Props to Brian for taking a crew of us AltHistory guys thru Shattered States, Joel for the Andean Abyss playtest, of course the AltHistory crew for three excellent games of FA over the weekend and just general over-the-top harrasment. Loved the War Movie quiz; our group got a t-shirt by a mere half a point. So got a love note from TSA in my bag on the way home. See - I check Cerby into my luggage thinking that was the way to go to avodi the security issues I had in Vermont. He got called out and inspected even in checked luggage. Looks like I'll have to hand carry hin from here on out. sivaD ddoT - Jun 13, 2011 2:33 am (#13671 Total: 13898) "Just the tip." Fanjita - 4 hours of dancing....my knees felt like basketballs this morning! But the pretty sights in ther club was worth it...oh yea, my pic must have been snapped over 20 times last night - I had two different *gorgeous* girls ask if they could have their pic taken with me. How could I refuse? 8^) I think I played more games this year than ever...Kerry Anderson with SPI's old NATO (ended quick after Kerry attempted to Tac Nuke his way through my Nato defense - he KIA'd 4 unstacked NATO divs and in response I nuked 7x 5-2-6 top line Sov armor divs - well then!). Norway 1940 with Brian Workman (way to go Oscarburg defenses!!!! - of course, rolling three '3's in a row with 2d6 when I needed them didn't hurt either!). Playing Brian Train's new Guerilla game! John Hill and I spent two days playtesting his new Gettysburg game, coming from Academy Games. The first game included John Alsen as the Rebs and me as the Union, testing "Heth Attacks!", covering his attack at McPherson's Ridge vs. Cutler and Meridith's Bdes. It seemed to go pretty well historically speaking, as Davis' Bde went in immediately versus Cutler's Bde and got Hammered, followed right after by Archer's Bde from the Iron Bde. Man, I was hot with the dice this con! The second game had Pat Mulvihill playing the Union versus my rebs in the same scenario this afternoon. After Pat had to go, John and I continued on, until we called it and packed up at 5:45pm Sunday night - the Last Game of the CSWE11!!!! We worked out a few small kinks in the rules and streamlined some procedures. THIS SYSTEM ROCKS! Don't have any idea when it'll be ready, but it will certainly be worth the wait, I guarantee it! Now if I could only get John to print out a copy of that map for me and sell me the minis to put on it! This system IS the perfect miniatures/boardgame crossover. Really. Really. Anyway, Lance is out on Mill St. and I'm crashing in the hotel room....long drive tomorrow...hopfully the AZ fires will not be a problem... 8^O. I think this was the best con yet. When someone spends $60.00 to buy a six-share SPI certificate at the auction...well, that is quality auctioneering at its finest. 8^) Oh yea, the goth club 'Sanctum' with Joe Miranda and Brian Train and his wife on Friday night after the War Movie Quiz was awesonme! Thanks to Eric Harvey for being the DD into downtown Phoenix!!! My personal CSWE11 highlight: During the War Movie Quiz, Allan Emrich and his "California Dudes" team were getting stumped on a Q and Allan said "We are of two minds..." and I interrupted him and said "That's pretty good for five guys!"....Allan shook his head, smiled, and...had no comment! 8^P That Fanjita club.....WOW! Lance, you should post that pic of me dancing (or, having an epileptic fit some might say)! By the time I crashed at about 4am this morning, I was at approx. 44 hours without sleep...which I then got about three hours of before getting up to see my buddy Lance win the Star Performer award at breakfast! It was most-excellent meeting Andrew Loakes (esp. when he buys you a couple tequila and cokes and listens to your stories)! Helping Brian Train come up with a new map for his new Guerrilla game was a blast - Brian, it was Most Excellent hanging with you this year, I wish it had lasted longer! - you should move to Farmington!! Congrats to Adam, the 10 year old fighter-pilot Ace - awesome job! Playing Rand's "Cambrai 1917" with Kerry Anderson. Meeting Randy Lein - next year, we're coloring your 'hair'. hehe Having Ed Wimble, Frank Chadwick, Dennis Spoors, and Monte Matteson autograph the box front of my new La Batt Moscowa!!! Playing bartender for my friends and getting to have a long chat with Frank C. and Mark K about misc GDW stuff in Days Gone By!! Thanks Frank! The Bordeaux wine given to me by Dennis Spoors - nice!! Seeing Craig Nynych's new design prototype "War in Russia". Getting all the positive comments over my Hue map!!! Chatting with Ken Dingley and Rick Galli till dawn Friday night (the reason I didn't get ANY sleep that night)....you guys had some good ideas, sorry I wasn't in a better mood right then. 8^( FINALLY making the trip to the top of the hill behind the TMPH! Did I mention the Fanjita Club yet? The Absolutely Best Thing about the whole week: The Whole Week! Yep, DEFINATELY the best CSWE yet! Thank you John K (and of course Brian and Tori!!!) for what will EASILY be my best week of 2011. Phew! Barry Setser - Jun 13, 2011 8:19 am (#13672 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Sanctum? Why was I not informed of this wonderful place? Sounds like mine kind of club. Ah well, I was hanging with some other other folk; can't be everwhere all that time. Had a great time meeting with Andy from LYG and with Randy from Legion games. Def hope to have the chance to work with both these wonderful blokes again in the future. This must have been the "Hang with the English" con for me cause it seemed like every spare moment I was bumming a cig off of all the fellows from England. Got to hear some great stories and am really thinking a wargame trip to England is something I'll have to do in the future. Now when am I going to be able to wear that Rebel flag shirt here in MD? Maybe I'll wait until WBC so I'm in Pennsylvania instead Alan Emrich - Jun 13, 2011 10:23 am (#13674 Total: 13898) "A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are for." - J ohn A. Shedd I'll always remember this CSW Expo for personal reasons and my sudden departure and return from the show when my mother passed away. But the "Band of Brothers" was there for me when I got back and everything went very well after that. We held the secret Victory Point Games Semiannual "World Domination" meeting at this convention, where I pronounced that we were, in fact, still being dominated by the world. The VPG Brain Trust did help set the direction of the company for the next 6 months, and the sage wisdom of Frank Chadwick and Gene Billingsley on assorted game company business matters will help guide out way in the months ahead. The trivia contest was terrific, although the "Dudes" team only came in second. Next year, Lance McMillian is the team captain, no doubt about it. Honestly, I would really like to put myself forward and organize next year's event, stuffing it with lots of hobby, history, and Hollywood stuff that we all geek out on. If I can Shanghai Frank Chadwick and Joe Miranda to assist, it could really be amazing. The auction went well, I thought, although changes in policy must be made going forward, that didn't stop everyone from having a good time this year. I'm really kicking myself for not bidding higher on that SPI stock certificate! We had 5 new titles at the show (lots of pre-release copies of our summer titles), but GETTYSBURG: THE WHEATFIELD flew off the shelves and is WAY backordered back at VPG. We're going to building those until we drop this week, that's for sure. Hermann Luttmann is to be commended on this, his first game published. He taught it to Frank Chadwick and Tim Allen (VPG's Art Director) one day, and a great time was had by all. The surprise hit of the show, for VPG at least, was HERO OF WEEHAWKEN. He had a near-release prototype bouncing around the convention and I did some demonstrations, but the "buzz meter" practically went off the scale. Everyone seemed to ask me about it! It's a snazzy little solitaire game on the Aaron Burr conspiracy where you're President Jefferson in a very tight corner. Lots of people got to play it, but Frank Chadwick who was doing everything right simply couldn't find Aaron Burr to arrest him, and he got away and invaded the Spanish Southwest and ruined Jefferson's reputation and second term. Sorry, Frank! On the drive home, Joe Miranda, who also tried the game, was saying, "You know, you could apply this game engine to the Russian Revolution where you try to put in the Kerensky Government and then hold on when the Bolsheviks try to throw you out." I'm telling you, guys, there's something about this game... Luke Hughes, who is a superhero with his first design, THE WORLD WILL HOLD ITS BREATH, was there at the end of the convention doing demos. I'll be working on developing that game starting next week. Gotta go! Barry Setser - Jun 13, 2011 10:51 am (#13675 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Alan, I was actually considering bidding on the cert just to give it back to you, but had to have a number first! A little cheesy I know, but your return to the con just blew me away. I was quite moved by that gesture and your speech before the auction. Reminded me that we really are a "Band of Brothers" and not just ChitKickers. DirkHeinz - Jun 13, 2011 10:57 am (#13676 Total: 13898) Now Reading: Use of Weapons by Iain Banks and Hitler's Preemptive War: The Battle for Norway by Henrik Lunde Managed to clock a pretty good time for the drive yesterday by making it in 10:37:00 including one fuel stop, one bio break and a quick detour to the Hoover dam for a couple of facebook snaps. Not bad for a solo drive. The con was a bit of a rollercoaster for me on the last couple of days. On Friday, while my table was out to dinner, a homeless guy wandered into the convention area and tried to swipe one of Jack's laptops and did snag my camera. Only fast action by John and Craig managed to foil the guy before he hit the street. On Saturday I had the opportunity to experience the worst and best out of our hobby. In the afternoon, someone snagged my mint copy of This Hallowed Ground off the flea market tables. A couple of quick scans around the ballroom confirmed that someone had actually taken it and not just pulled it over to their table while waiting to contact me. I was pretty devastated. Not only that one of our own could have stooped to the level of thieving on one another but that the sale of that game was going to help pay for the hotel room this week. John sprung into action and was seen scurrying around the ballroom for several minutes. About 15 min later, he tapped me on the shoulder and told me he had talked a bunch of guys and that they would make sure my loss was covered. During the Auction that night, John put up a box for donations and was able to raise enough money to match the price I had listed the game for on the table. He was also able to raise enough to cover Shannon's misplaced GD 40 purchase that went missing the day before. Not sure why our gaming table got hit this year, I blame our proximity to PAVE for drawing attention our way ;-p I really appreciate you all of you guys who contributed and what you all did for me. THANK YOU! Joel Toppen - Jun 13, 2011 11:55 am (#13677 Total: 13898) "Drink side run the Java" >I was pretty devastated. Not only that one of our own could have stooped to the level of thieving on one another but that the sale of that game was going to help pay for the hotel room this week. It's VERY sad that someone would do something like that. The ability to leave games out on the flea market tables and trust folks not to just walk off with them is one of the things that I really like about this convention. P.S. Your copy of THG was priced VERY reasonably. Sad. Very sad. Glad it all worked out in the end though! Lance Nielsen - Jun 13, 2011 11:58 am (#13678 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop Last man standing..... Todd has checked out, and now its just me from the EXPO crowd left in the room. I thought this was a great con overall, and there was always some small game going on you could jump into which made it really nice. It was a shame about the events mentioned above which have caused us to re-think how we will approach the flea market tables next year. Brian, Tori and I already thought of some ideas concerning this yesterday, which hopefully will avoid these issues in the future. Highlights for me gaming wise were the two games of 'Paranoid Galactica' that I played. It did seem no matter what I did, I just couldn't convince people I wasn't a Cylon even though I was human in both games. Had great fun running the movie quiz which will become and annual event, or at least annual when I am there. It will go much faster once the technical issues are resolved, plus take into account, originally we thought we were only going to have four teams, then it was 6, then 10, so I had to find a way to accommodate that and re-work it all, but for the most part people seemed to enjoy it. If we could get some buzzers going, now that would be cool. It was great to see the comradarie there were for people who had been going through a tough time. That was a real testament to the nature of our con, that puts it way above others and if we got too big I am sure that is something we would almost certainly loose. John, Brian, Tori and others put in an amazing amount of work, which as always, was to be commended and I was happy to help out. I had already said to Todd and Shannon that this was one of the best cons for me personally, which prehaps had as much to do with my state of mind this year as much as the con itself, so it was really nice to get the Star Performer award at the end of the Con, and not only that but be given a game too, and a game I both wanted and didn't actually have! Despite the lean pickings in the auction, Alan's one man show (With Pave in a supporting role) was great as always. Can I also point out that the bar Todd and I went too on the last night was not actually called 'Fanjita's' I just told him it was called that (Which it might as well have been) and he has been calling it that ever since... LOL Barry Setser - Jun 13, 2011 12:08 pm (#13679 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Lance, What is the club's real name, so I can get there next time I'm around? Did you ever make it to the gift shop? You did get Star Performer!? That's 2 beers Mr you owe me, but I'll happily take that extra copy of Fighting Formations you were sporting instead. I wonder which quotes The Man used when he gave you the award? Steve Carey - Jun 13, 2011 12:23 pm (#13680 Total: 13898) We are the Walking Dead >In the afternoon, someone snagged my mint copy of This Hallowed Ground off the flea market tables. That really stinks, Dirk. My friend, Mark Kaczmarek, also had an unpunched copy of Stalin's War lifted from the Flea Market tables. No comparison in value between the two, but another theft nonetheless. >Shannon's misplaced GD 40 purchase that went missing the day before. I've got a shrink copy available that I brought to the show but didn't sell, if he's interested. Alan Emrich - Jun 13, 2011 12:38 pm (#13681 Total: 13898) "A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are for." - John A. Shedd Lance Nielsen is nothing short of a hero for his efforts at CSW this year. The trivia contest was great, of course, but his effort in putting together a card from all the brothers at the convention to condole me was very, very moving. Thanks, Lance! Now get that TOWERING INFERNO game into a great prototype and let's get it published! Always, Alan Emrich Barry Setser - Jun 13, 2011 12:42 pm (#13682 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Dude - if you'll do that one, then I need to crank out some things for VPG. Actually, the Inferno sounded great from the pimpout I got from Lance. BTW - why is my nickname "Black Dog" and not Lance's? Just saying... Roger Taylor - Jun 13, 2011 1:03 pm (#13683 Total: 13898) "...by responding to the personals ads, they're not only cheating on each other, they're cheating on each other WITH each other!" - Crow T. Robot, on the Pina Colada song >On the drive home, Joe Miranda, who also tried the game, was saying, "You know, you could apply this game engine to the Russian Revolution where you try to put in the Kerensky Government and then hold on when the Bolsheviks try to throw you out." Alan, I heard you say, "A game you can lose twice!" Heh. Folks, buy Hero of Weehawken. It's got a history lesson (assuming you're not one of the few who already know about the Burr Conspiracy), Clue, 24, and courtroom drama all in one game! Hans Korting - Jun 13, 2011 1:05 pm (#13684 Total: 13898) Wargames rock! My condolences, Alan. Good to see VPG did well at Expo. Jason Pipes - Jun 13, 2011 1:12 pm (#13685 Total: 13898) No compromise with traitors, and no argument but the cannon's mouth >About 15 min later, he tapped me on the shoulder and told me he had talked a bunch of guys and that they would make sure my loss was covered. I overheard this when it was first unfolding and was pretty upset so I immediately went to John and told him I had an idea to help Dirk out. I said that if the game was not found by the time of the auction, I would stand up and put in money to cover the cost and ask others to do likewise if they were able to do so. John thought it was a great idea and said he'd donate as well and things just ran from there. In the end folks were very generous with their donations on their way out at the end. I'm very pleased that everyone donated enough to cover the cost of the game. The best of the hobby indeed! Andy Loakes - Jun 13, 2011 1:39 pm (#13686 Total: 13898) I don't make predictions and I never will. >and am really thinking a wargame trip to England is something I'll have to do in the future. Well, if you do Barry, consider bed and board sorted. Andy Barry Setser - Jun 13, 2011 1:55 pm (#13687 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Some of my personal classic ConQuotes (that I can remember): Part of movie quiz: "What's the movie "Jump From Hell" about?" Tex's too fast reply - "My first marriage?" "You guys are never gonna believe where that die landed!" - after a die went flying halfway across the con room only to land right on the table top under one of the water station jugs. One in a million shot. "You know, I understand 80% of what you're saying, but it's that last 20% with all the meaning I'm not getting." - poor Andy Loakes when forced to deal with my Wyoming accent. "0947" - the answer to one of the movie quiz questions that lead to a half pt lead for the Black Dogs team. That half pt turned out to be the edge necessary to sneek out 4th place over two other teams and into the T-shirt winning zone. "Think I'm just going to lie low and assasinate someone" - Clayton during a game of Shattered States. Great game right in the AltHist play list BTW. Designer even has copies left. I waste no time in the pursuit of suitable gaming titles. "So if we made the pieces in China for a game about invading China, would we be violating some Chinese security protocol?" - a discussion with Dingo Boy about a Fortress America follow-on game. Roger Taylor - Jun 13, 2011 2:16 pm (#13688 Total: 13898) "...by responding to the personals ads, they're not only cheating on each other, they're cheating on each other WITH each other!" - Crow T. Robot, on the Pina Colada song >poor Andy Loakes when forced to deal with my Wyoming accent. Ah, so that's where your accent's from. >"Think I'm just going to lie low and assasinate someone" You laughed when I said at the Andean Abyss game, "I've got to step lively and assassinate." (before your Cartels could bribe my assassin) So how many games did you play that featured assassination? Barry Setser - Jun 13, 2011 2:21 pm (#13689 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Apparently I played at least two, and you could argue Ici has them as well, though there is no Assassinate action, phase, segment or no moon phase called such. There had to be some humorous quote come out of the dual mushroom clouds that burst out over the US and the Gulf States on the same turn in one of the Labby games. Ed Wimble - Jun 13, 2011 3:15 pm (#13690 Total: 13898) KAWANIA CHE KEETERU, Motto on the Schuylkill 32 pounder... "I am master wherever I am." Who was the fellow walking around Friday with that really professional looking camera, and where can I find his shots? Mike Lam - Jun 13, 2011 3:27 pm (#13691 Total: 13898) Running & playing in the next DIF continuous experience campaigns from 13-to-16 October at GMT-West in Hanford, CA >Who was the fellow walking around Friday with that really professional looking camera, and where can I find his shots? It could have been Martin Scott as he owns a nice camera. I don't know if he's posted any photos at this time. Lance Nielsen - Jun 13, 2011 3:30 pm (#13692 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop Ed, that was Jeff Tibbets from Pacific Rim. Just about to get ready to go and check out now, then I have four hours to kill, time to go and test that Skateboard on Mill that I bought..... :O) Cheers Alan, and your a total hero for coming back to the Con and we are all very glad you did. Right, time for a shower then down to reception. Mike Lam - Jun 13, 2011 3:33 pm (#13693 Total: 13898) Running & playing in the next DIF continuous experience campaigns from 13-to-16 October at GMT-West in Hanford, CA Movie Trivia Contest Barry, "0947" - the answer to one of the movie quiz questions that lead to a half pt lead for the Black Dogs team. That half pt turned out to be the edge necessary to sneek out 4th place over two other teams and into the T-shirt winning zone. For those of you reading this, the question was in relation to a rescue mission film clip we had seen. I think the question either was, "What time did the rescue operation begin?" or it was the time the rescue team synchronized their watches to. Joshua Gottesman - Jun 13, 2011 3:44 pm (#13694 Total: 13898) R.I.P., Jerome Gottesman 06/20/1929 - 10/18/2009 A great time This was my 2nd time at the CSW Expo, and last year I didn't get there until Thursday. This year I was there for the entire week and it definitely enhanced the experience. I started off with Great War in Europe and made enough rookie mistakes that the CP ended up in an untenable position in mid-1915 (well, developments on the Eastern Front contributed, too). I really enjoyed the learning experience, though and hopefully will be better at it by next year's con! After that it was a lot of working for VPG, playing DiF, a good (but late) game of Brittania and 7 Wonders. The highlight might have been getting to play High Frontier with Phil Eklund. And really the overall camaraderie was wonderful and catching up with friends. My nice score at the Flea Market was Battlelore and 3 expansions (which I didn't even realize were in there when I bought it) for $30. The hotel staff gave me an alternate route back to Las Vegas which was about 12 miles longer and by avoiding stop lights probably saved me 1/2 an hour and I made the drive in just about 4 1/2 hours. Its nice to be back home. Himeko had a great time, too. Thanks to all of those there who made her feel welcome. She loves being around people and everyone at the con was very nice to her (even Greg and his allergies). It would have been nice if someone had laughed at my "Dog is my Copilot" joke at DiF, though. She'll be back next year, too, and maybe she'll get her own badge. I'm looking forward to next year's con already. I'm sure I'll see some of you at WBC and GMT West, and CSW Expo is a special atmosphere with its focus on wargames and wargamers. Roger Taylor - Jun 13, 2011 3:45 pm (#13695 Total: 13898) "...by responding to the personals ads, they're not only cheating on each other, they're cheating on each other WITH each other!" - Crow T. Robot, on the Pina Colada song 0947 was the time they synchronized watches. The movie trivia quiz impressed upon me just how poor my attention to detail is. And I took notes! Roger Taylor - Jun 13, 2011 3:48 pm (#13696 Total: 13898) "...by responding to the personals ads, they're not only cheating on each other, they're cheating on each other WITH each other!" - Crow T. Robot, on the Pina Colada song Joshua, I usually dislike small yip-dogs, but Himeko doesn't yip, and she's really friendly. A little charmer, she is. Alan Emrich - Jun 13, 2011 4:28 pm (#13697 Total: 13898) "A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are for." - John A. Shedd I didn't take notes at the contest, but the "Dudes" team had some real brain-boxes at that table. Alan Emrich DirkHeinz - Jun 13, 2011 5:03 pm (#13698 Total: 13898) Now Reading: Use of Weapons by Iain Banks and Hitler's Preemptive War: The Battle for Norway by Henrik Lunde >She'll be back next year, too, and maybe she'll get her own badge. Email me her full name and her avatar and I'll make sure to make it up....just wait until a couple weeks before the con next year so I don't misplace it. Jason Pipes - Jun 13, 2011 5:27 pm (#13699 Total: 13898) No compromise with traitors, and no argument but the cannon's mouth Back from CSW Expo in Tempe! That was a whirl wind trip. Hard to believe it's over for another year. Saw so many people and did so many things it's hard to even recap. My head is still spinning a little. Some highlights included rooming with Mark Simonitch and Kerry Anderson along with Dan Thorpe. Having beers with Frank Chadwick, playing the trivia contest, meeting Hermann Luttmann of Their Tattered Flags fame, battling for bids in the auction, and probably one of the best highlights was so many people stepping up to donate games to give to Adam the 10 year old. I organized and helped recruit folks to donate games to give him before the auction and we ended up giving him something like a dozen games! He was so happy he hugged John on stage which was really neat to see. I think we officially have a long time wargamer! It was great seeing so many folks and putting more names with faces. It was great to see Todd and Lance and Brian and Tori. Nice seeing John Teixeira as always. Great seeing John Gibbons who I game with in the Bay Area near Oakland when not in Milwaukee. Of course my roomies mentioned above, Mark Simonitch, Kerry Anderson, and Dan Thorpe are always the best. You'd be hard pressed to find a more fun, funny, and entertaining group to spend time with! We had some interesting discussion over dinner to say the least... Those crazy Canadians! Being the only conservative among 5+ liberals is always a fun time! Sadly Danny Holte wasn't able to make it this year either. It was also great meeting folks like Ian Schoefield, Pat Mulvihill, Cory Wells, and Vincent Aken. If I’ve forgotten anyone I apologize as there were so many people to see and so many things to do! Played to completion a game of Iron Crown Enterprises' Manassas which I lost as the Union around 2pm. I conceded victory to Dan Thorpe after not being able to push him off Henry House Hill and upon disordering half my attacking force in the process. Thought I made early progress and got up to and on Henry Hill early, my progress stalled against a strong Rebel defensive line. The force to the other side of Stone Bridge also made slow progress which didn’t help much. With 3 more Rebel brigades on their way as reinforcements later in the afternoon I made one last push up the slopes of Henry Hill from the left flank while the center was holding and the far right was trying to prevent Jackson’s brigade from flanking down Chinn Ridge. In the end we couldn’t do it and with the con coming to a quick close we called it a Rebel victory and packed it up. We ended up playing the game for most of the con, just not all in one go. We took breaks for hours or days at a time. I would say the game would have taken a day to play if we have been focused about it (which is hard to do if you are OCD and at Consimworld). In between numerous breaks to kibitz, troll the flea market, and take in the sights and sounds I also played Here I Stand as the Turks and very nearly won on the first turn by a domination victory. Came in 2nd place after a hard fought game where, imagine this, everyone turned and fought me to prevent my running away with the game (something that happens frequently in HIS and CDGs in general). I also played The Arduous Beginning by VPG and Frank Chadwick which is a new prequel of sorts to the classic Battle for Moscow. Won that as the Russians. It’s a nice puzzle of a game with many options for each player to consider. We spent all the time fighting each other and pondering strategy, not the rule book. I rounded out game play with too many play test sessions with Kerry Anderson to remember. Played his wrestling card game about a dozen times (fast and fun, a great diversion for when you need a break). Also played Armageddon, including a memorable 5 player session that was a lot of fun. Nothing like the seas turning to blood and the deserts of the middle east burning up for a little wargaming fun. As for new toys, for once I sold way WAY more than I came home with. I shipped something like 100 items to Tempe and nearly everything sold. I came home with about 10 items that didn't sell. I bought about 20 items total in the flea market and auction. The highlights of the auction for me were scoring original copies (not reprints) of the first two volumes of Strategy & Tactics magazine and an original stock certificate from SPI in 1973 from Jim Dunnigan to Al Nofi! I have never in all my years of collecting seen something like that!! It will hold a proud place next to an original SPI lifetime subscriber certificate that I also have which happens to be from the same year. The auction was way down from years past, but Alan, Brian, Tori, and John all are of the same mind to make moves to have a bigger, better auction next year. Can't wait!! In the flea market I picked up a copy of Plotrkow 1939 by a Polish wargame company in their line of games covering detailed battles of the 1939 Polish campaign, Malaya and Burma in the large box by Hobby Japan, Highway to the Kremlin by OSG (I'm not that into Nappy War except for the Peninsula War but a beautiful game on the entire 1812 Campaign was something I couldn't pass up), the newest higher production values edition of Flying Colors by GMT, Almeida & Bussaco 1810 by Hexasim/Canons en Carton, Dead of Winter by SDI, Price of Freedom by Compass Games, Battles Magazine #6, Boots on the Ground by Worthington Games, Chancellorsville by Clash of Arms, In Their Quiet Fields 1st ed, In Their Quiet Fields II, Thunder at the Cross Roads 1st ed and August Fury (all by The Gamers in their CWB series from way back when), and a few other nice items. I also won a copy of Operation Gazelle by Grognard Simulations as a door prize which was nice. And speaking of flea markets it was pretty clear this year saw a huge rise in the number of games people brought for sale. I think at least part of the increase was because folks were a little worried about selling their items in the auction once the no min bid policy was confirmed. I think overall this resulted in flea market prices being higher. Only a few sellers had prices that I think were unreasonable. Most people seemed open to haggling though a few sellers seemed intent to want to take their games home with them. There were some real great finds in the flea market though overall there were a lot more commonly seen items or recently published games (not a bad thing by any stretch, just an observation). The sales area was nice with six vendors set up, including VPG, Decision Games, Pacific Rim, Grognard Simulations, Legion Games, and 1 other I don’t recall. All had interesting items to offer for sale. New purchases for me included Remember Limerick by Red Sash Games on the war in Ireland in 1689-1691 resulting in the Battle of the Boyne, the largest battle in Ireland. The game has FANTASTIC production values and includes essentially a full book for the historical overview written by the designer which was worth the price I paid alone. For whatever reason DG sold the game along with the massive expansion map for $60 even though apparently they retail together for $120-140! I think they said it was their last copy so likely they were blowing it out. Now I'm going to try and pick up Red Sash's design on the Jacobite Rebellion called Charlie's Year. Also new from DG was the excellent book "With Custer at the Death" which though not a long book (about 100 pages) it is large format and includes tactical maps charting the authors analysis of the fighting at Little Big Horn pretty much blow by blow, unit by unit, for the entire fight. I've never seen anything providing this much detail on the fight in map form. From VPG I picked up the second game in their Disaster on Everest line, this one having you trying not to die on K2. I'm working on a game about climbing Mt Everest so these are nice to have. And of course I picked up Their Tattered Flags on the fighting in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Sadly didn't get a chance to learn the ropes with the designer Hermann but the game looks fantastic. The map is by far the best thing VPG has published so far. It was really heart warming to see the reaction Adam had when John gave him all those games. His reaction, the kindness of so many CSW members who donated games to give him in the first place, and the folks that stepped up to help cover the game Dirk Heinz had stolen were really wonderful high points for this convention. Hard to believe another convention is over. This CSW Expo had a great buzz about it. Things just felt really great. Not sure what it was. My head is still spinning from everything! It was a great event and very likely the best CSW Expo so far. Brian Train - Jun 13, 2011 6:16 pm (#13700 Total: 13898) "Make new junk!" - Dan Cicero Wow, what a week that was. I've never talked so much, for so long, to so many people about so many things. It was great to meet so many people; as usual, I was humbled by how much intelligence, creativity and decency is stuffed away into the members of our hobby. Todd, you know that Lianne and I love the desert so maybe we will end up as "snowbirds" one day; Barry, I think you would have had a lot of fun at "Sanctum"; I am sure it will be there next year so you can check it out then. It was also very good to meet you, playtest Andean Abyss and talk COIN games; we must do some more of that later. I'd like to write more but I am completely exhausted! Jack Beckman - Jun 13, 2011 8:15 pm (#13701 Total: 13898) Dare to be Stupid Another great Expo. Thanks again to John, Brian, Tori, and everyone else who makes the Expo a fun time for all. Glad to see Lance pick up the Star Performer award - well deserved. Sorry to hear about the thefts. Someone also tried to boost one of my PCs, but thanks to Nick Markevich, the guy was scared off and Security alerted (I heard he was picked up trying to rip off a camera). So like anywhere else these days, we have to remain vigilant, I guess. Sounds like a plan to protect the flea market is in the works, so good news there for the future. Still a great Expo. Already looking forward to next year! Ken M. Keller - Jun 13, 2011 8:49 pm (#13702 Total: 13898) Musician. Programmer. Twice the hack. The Expo was great fun. Someone did take my plexiglass, however. I left it overnight leaning against my roller-cart full of games in the open-gaming area and someone just took it without asking. sysop - Jun 13, 2011 9:14 pm (#13703 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! Ken -- I *think* Dick Sauer has your plexiglass...if yours was the last plexi left in the ballroom. Dick was worried someone had left it behind by accident so he took it for safe-keeping...he called me about it last night to let me know. Contact me direct and I'll be happy to pass on his phone number to you. I'll be posting soon...haven't had a chance to sit down yet to type anything up substantive. Patrick Mulvihill - Jun 13, 2011 9:16 pm (#13704 Total: 13898) Gone Too Soon Wow, that went fast. There was so much to do, and I missed so much even though I was there from Sunday to Sunday. Thanks to all the guys who gamed with me; great players and great company. Thanks to folks new to me and the "usual suspects" for letting me watch your matches and ask questions. Thanks to Lance for putting together the first movie trivia contest... though I don't expect I'll ever be able to answer things about the third guy from the left who starred in a hit UK detective show in the '80s. Thanks for continuing the "Strike Force One" tournament... the only tournament I can ever win (it's the morale rolls), and thanks to my nemesis Vincent. And to John, Team Blad, Mike and the others who bust ass to put this together every year: No words say thank you enough. Joshua Gottesman - Jun 13, 2011 9:18 pm (#13705 Total: 13898) R.I.P., Jerome Gottesman 06/20/1929 - 10/18/2009 I am proud to be one of Pat's SF1 victims. I agree that the week went way too quickly. Monday was a set-up day and Sunday was pretty dead, so even though it was a full week, there were really only 5 full days...it seems like a lot, and I'd be up for another week! William Cooper - Jun 13, 2011 9:58 pm (#13706 Total: 13898) BookmarkEmail to Friend Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA and Hague, NY. Developing La Belle Alliance for MMP; designing Beneath the Southern Cross. I am very hopeful that, given the change of dates, I will be able to attend next year (perhaps flying from Indianapolis, or even driving). I have missed this experience. BC RicVanDyke - Jun 14, 2011 5:49 am (#13707 Total: 13898) "Any Over Runs?" Best con period I got there on Sunday 5JUNE and left in the early hours of Sunday 12JUNE. Mark and I started gaming Sicily on Monday afternoon and played quite consistently every day. We still had 8 turns to go in the game when we packed up up on Saturday night just before the Auction. It wasn't clear who would win the game, it appeared to be a minor Allied victory, but with 8 turns left Mark had plenty of time to gain victory points. It was a great event as always and somehow even better this year. I've had a hell-of a go after the con left AZ at 6AM, home for about 8 hours then off to Kansas City landing here at midnight, then taught all day yesterday. Time to pay the piper! Lance Nielsen - Jun 14, 2011 12:52 pm (#13713 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop Landed back in the UK safe and sound. Skateboard was not allowed on as a carry on, as it was deamed an offensive weapon... so had an extra 60 buck charge for that, gee thanks... My bag was so full with games, that it was overweight too. So did a bit of moving around to sort things. Had an awesome time this year. And yes Pat, while not everyone might not have seen Edward Woodward in the movie clip, people got far more questions right than they did wrong. The team who got the question wrong for 'What was corperal Steiners weapon of choice in the film Cross Of Iron' should have been a no brainer for any wargamer...!!!! (Especially as he was firing it in the clip!) Pave was quick to gain the extra point with his answer 'What is PPSH...' Alan's team getting the Tiger 1 question right in the semi-final was an excellent result. There will be a few changes for the next one which I am sure will be just as fun. If people can form their teams before the event, I can give everyone a movie specialist subject. Brian C. Blad - Jun 14, 2011 1:59 pm (#13718 Total: 13898) Consimworld Expo 12 Staff 2012 Tempe, Arizona Finally have a moment..... Thank you...all of you for making the trip to the Expo...as always Tori and I had a great time helping all you have a great experience. John..thank you more than we can say..you are awesome! To the rest of you....Wish we could do this more often! Was great to see all of you and look forward to great things next year!!! Barry Setser - Jun 14, 2011 2:08 pm (#13719 Total: 13898) Black Dog Games featuring a line of "Hello Cerby" T-shirts and jerseys. We eat Kitty for breakfast Brian, You rock! Thanks for taking us thru the Shattered States. What a great game; the designer is going to sell me a copy at WBC. Probably made her day. Ian Schofield - Jun 14, 2011 2:11 pm (#13720 Total: 13898) BookmarkEmail to Friend “No lesson seems to be so deeply inculcated by experience of life as that you should never trust experts. If you believe doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe theologians, nothing is innocent; if you believe soldiers, nothing is safe." Brian, Thanks as always to you and Tori for working so hard to make the experience great for the rest of us. Its greatly appreciated. Ian Lance Nielsen - Jun 14, 2011 2:19 pm (#13721 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop Brian, Same from me. I am sure we can get the quiz moved if the demand is there, but don't forget we have to pay extra for the rooms we use, also a Quiz with more than ten teams would go on forever. But don't worry, got plenty of ideas so we shall see. Off to bed now, been awake for what seems like forever. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Brian C. Blad - Jun 14, 2011 2:37 pm (#13722 Total: 13898) Consimworld Expo 12 Staff 2012 Tempe, Arizona I'm hoping that once I get to unwind and catch up here in the salt mines that I can post more lengthy thoughts.... Blessings to all of you....Sigh...12 months to go.... Joel Toppen - Jun 14, 2011 3:10 pm (#13723 Total: 13898) "Drink side run the Java" Awesome time at CSW Expo 2011! I got to play a BUNCH of games: Jena '20 (probably the best Nappy 20 game ever played...) Combat Commander Pacific NAVAJO WARS: This is my own game design on the conflict in the American Southwest. It's a solitaire game. Thanks to Gene Billinsley for taking this one for a test drive! Red Star Rising Lord of the Rings: I played this with a bunch of folks. Played/taught something like 4 games of it I think. Urban Sprawl: This game ROCKS!!! Stronghold: Smashed down the castle gates a turn too late but had a blast doing it! Andean Abyss: I demoed this game for four excellent gamers! My thanks to Brian Train, Barry Setser, Roger Taylor, and Marty Sample for playing. Through the Ages: Thanks to Chad, Kai, and Paul for teaching this one to me! Fighting Formations: Had a wild, and very bloody match (Scenario 4). Endeavor: This one closed out the con for me. My brain having turned to oatmeal... Thanks to John Kranz for running an excellent convention and to Brian and Tory for their ever-present assistance! Thanks to Allan for an excellent job auctioneering (my favorite part of the convention)! Can't wait for next year! Kerry Anderson - Jun 14, 2011 4:19 pm (#13725 Total: 13898) SPI wrecking yard - I buy/sell/trade SPI games and parts ( http://members.shaw.ca/kerryanderson/ ) Like everyone else, I had a great time! Thanks to Larry (my Soviet teammate), Allan and Robert who helped introduce me to the original DNO. This was far less intimidating than I thought, though the German stacks were absolutely frightful. We used a simple "can't look in the opponent's stacks," which had an impact on the German attack. Then the mud came in Sept II which brought the game to a quick end. Todd Davis and I had a fun time playing NATO, including some simple rules modifications for air power, chem warfare and nuclear weapons. Unfortunately my strategy of delaying the assault probably worked against me and the Soviet juggernaut quickly collapsed. We were going to take the map out in the parking lot and light it on fire but common sense prevailed. Next time... And I'd also like to thank all those who helped out playtesting my various creations. Personally, this was a valuable week for me. Finally chumming around with celebrities like Frank Chadwick and John Hill was amazing. We've got to convince Jim Dunnigan to come next time! sysop - Jun 14, 2011 5:13 pm (#13733 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! June 25 - July 1, 2012 Regarding 2012 dates. Yes, the voting came out to be an event split and given how those who are involved with schools or graduation ceremonies, I finally wanted to tip my hat to them and give them a date that would work for them. Other factors included the hotel rate will drop by $5/night vs. get bumped up by an earlier date (due to seasonal rates), and also ORIGINS is going on around Memorial Day (I know a few folks plan to go there as well). It will be a bit hotter but we don't do any gaming outdoors. I do hope all those who haven't been able to make it in the past due to school obligations or any family graduation ceremonies will mark their calendars now for CSW Expo 2012. I'll open up the web site for registrations starting in 2012 -- early January. sysop - Jun 14, 2011 5:17 pm (#13735 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! Star Performer Results Congrats to LANCE NIELSEN who was nominated as our Star Performer for CSW Expo 2011. Lance was recognized for his herculean effort in putting together The Great War Movie Quiz as well as organizing the touching sympathy card for Alan Emrich who was dealing with a family loss. Lance took 21 nominations which is a record as far as the number of ballots one usually receives. I also want to announce that JOEL TOPPEN took honorable mention as Star Performer for his outstanding contributions during the expo as well. Congrats, Joel! --- To sum up, however, I think everyone was their own Star Performer this year. I was getting such positive feedback throughout the Expo and in posts here that EXPO 11 was our best expo ever (coming also from those who have attended all eleven (!!) expos). Dennis Spors from Martial Enterprises (original La Bataille creator) wrote me a very kind note and said this was the best organized gaming event he has ever experienced, so that was humbling to me to say the least and speaks to the excellent participants we have and staff such as Brian and Tori. All the credit goes to you guys, and to them for being so supportive and helpful each year. The energy in the air was very positive and relaxing at the same time. Not sure what the ingredients were that made it happen, but knock on wood, we'll be looking again to enhance the venue in several ways for next year for sure. Thanks again to everyone for what appears to rank as our best Expo yet! sysop - Jun 14, 2011 5:26 pm (#13736 ToBookmarkEmail to Friend [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! STRIKE FOR ONE CHAMPTION Congratulations to PAT MULVIHILL who was our Expo 2011 Strike Force One Tournament winner. Pat exacted revenge on VINCENT AKEN is a rematch of the finals from last year. We had 32 participants and it was incredible to see our top two seeds make it to the finals again to square off against one another. I will be posting an extended length video on youtube shortly of the Strike Force One Finals so you can see how the action went dow Lance Nielsen - Jun 14, 2011 6:38 pm (#13739 Total: 13898) Back to Blighty and a slap meal at Mrs Miggins pie shop Alan Emrich's narration of the Strike Force One tourny, was hilarious. Cheers John, still blushing There was a very nice sense of comradarie there this year which for me is always one the main plus points of the con. We were going to get you a card John, but under the circumstances, we thought Alan should have priority, but we can do a 'Zark returns' card next time. Rob Flores - Jun 14, 2011 11:44 pm (#13745 Total: 13898) Great Event, sorry I coudn't make last year (family illness) came to relax mostly, had a tough couple months of elderly care. John K. good call moving the con to late june, I think the week after father's day is also a good option if the last week of June is taken. So... is everyone thumbing through their SPI games looking for a SPI share certificate, why it's like finding a Piccaso in the basement!! (my limit was 20$.) Thanks to John K on the words of encouragememt for my Tactical Naval Combat game Am working on a prototype (night action sighting mechanism being developed) hopefully I can have a couple of copies for the NEXT CON. Now I feel I must confess my sins as a lot of impure thoughts (leers actually) were generated by the Gordon Bierst waitresess. Like novacaine they cause the price of the meal to be felt long afterwards. sysop - Jun 14, 2011 11:59 pm (#13746 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! My Expo 2011 Highlight Reel Some of my personal highlights at CSW Expo include the following: The floor plan worked up through midnight on Saturday night (day of my arrival) was pretty much right on the spot...just made a few minor tweaks as you may have noticed here online. It got better after I got some sleep and I was able to maximize table space a bit more. So smooth sailing to start as far as the ballroom set up goes. Dirk Heinz did a great job with the badges. Things actually ran smoother/easier by distributing the badges the following day since we didn't have to do everything at one time which can get overwhelming. The tshirts came out great...Dirk Heinz and Ric Van Dyke did an awesome job with the design, and seeing the Spinal Tap video clip made sense about the slogan on the shirt (“Mine Goes to Eleven”. Way hip.... The many door prizes were great as always, and even thought Tony Curtis couldn't make the expo, he surprised us all by still having the GMT warehouse send some warehouse 'extras' and goodies free for whoever wanted to grab them. GMT went way overboard as always with door prizes, and we had more publishers supporting us this year with free stuff, so that was a real treat. Battles magazine came through with something like 20 or so copies of their magazine which was terrific as well. That was a very generous gesture as well. Getting a perfect tournament draw of 32 participants for Strike Force One tournament was perfect. Seeing the top two seeds make the finals was pretty amazing as well. Hats off to Pat Mulvihill and Vincent Aken for a fine performance. Speaking of performances, Lance Nielsen’s Great War Movie History Quiz was a real treat, and one of the key reasons he took home the honors as Star Performer. Little 10 yr. old Adam stole the show. His enthusiasm was incredible and we anointed him as CSW Cadet. He will help us with some special events next year. Surprising him with some free games as orchestrated by Jason Pipes was a kick. He loved it. Jonathan Young (Rick’s son) was a true gentleman and he had a great idea to organize a tournament format using Combat Commander as it’s base (in a way similar to Down in Flames by Mike Lam). We hope to see Jonathan next year and how the Combat Commander Sergeants Campaign (or whatever it ends up being called) develops over the course of the next year for CSW Expo 2012. The Duel in the Desert featuring Dennis Spors and Monte Mattson from Martial Enterprises was a true treat. It was the old Guard against Ed Wimble from Clash of Arms and others. The seminar was fantastic as well -- I just wished we could have video taped it! Next time I’ll work to get videos captured of our seminars. Oh, and I didn’t realize Torgau was the original inspiration for La Bataille back in the day. Makes me think that game needs to be resurrected again just in knowing this. I know Todd Davis started work on this project some time ago. I was pretty much blown away by the game map Nathan Kilgore had for his VCS: Salerno game. It truly looked 3D and I’ve never seen anything like that before. Truly amazing and one should preorder this game for the map alone knowing how great the rest of the game is going to be. The killer playtest set was Mark Hinkle’s Winter’s Victory (or Winter’s Glory). It’s based on Wellington’s Victory system and the darn thing was just screaming to be played (and published). I can’t wait until this game makes it in print. Other playtests that looked good, just to name a few -- The War 1939-45 for Compass Games was looking very sharp, as was the Gettysburg playtest by John Hill which was set up using an oversized map to accommodate miniatures for play. Both very nice looking indeed. Simonitch had his Guderian’s Blitzkrieg 1940 game being playtested as well, but it looked so polished already one would think it was already published by GMT Games. Having the break station available every other day was a real pleasure -- nothing like getting a sugar and caffeine high in the middle of the day. Chasing down the street thief who tried to take off with Dirk’s camera was a nice brief workout. I have to jog more often, I’m way out of shape. Todd preparing me his special concoction one night was pretty darn good. Sometimes liquid spirits are needed to keep the soul warm. A few times we had some great drinks to share amongst friends. The flea market was hopping early. We had 56’ feet of table top space to accommodate all the games offered. Of course the drawback was realizing a few items sprung legs and disappeared which none of us are happy about, so we will work to find a solution for next year. The seminar series was quite strong. La Bataille was very good as was Chadwick’s seminar on Yom Kippur War. So were the company seminars although they needed to have more time for attendee questions. Next time! I was in shock. Flat Top actually got played this year! Okay, only two players, but next year we are thinking about offering a combined expo-participant and remote player online campaign so we can go multi-player with both expo participants and remote players via the Web playing one big game in the ballroom. That could be WAY cool.… For selfish-reasons, it was great having Frank Chadwick around so Bruce Howland, John Rainey and myself could run by some proposed enhancements for GDW’s original AVALANCHE game. We got some great direction and consensus from Frank, so I think it bodes well for this project. Seeing everyone pitch in to help Dirk out when his pricey flea market item was lifted. We have a truly amazing group of guys who can overcome any negatives that come our way. SPI titles. I just get a kick out of seeing SPI titles being played. I took in the following: Wellington’s Victory, War of the Ring, Wacht Am Rhein, Napoleon’s Last Battles, Battles for the Ardennes, etc. Just cool seeing these old friends being played! I equally enjoyed seeing ICE’s Manassas being played (Jason Pipes) as well as GDW’s original DNO. I love seeing those old games set-up. Heck, even Panzer Blitz and 1776 were being played! Meeting Cory Wells, a true artist in the house and genuine nice guy. Hearing from others that they were not only having a great time, but considered it the best Expo event ever attended. Equally it was great to hear from newcomers that they felt right at home at the event. It’s important to come in and feel welcomed by the gaming community. I never have to worry about that with our gaming group. Having fun trying to set-up Sandy with some participants at the event. (You know who you are). Thanks for making Sandy feel good...getting some attention warmed her heart, and she’s a huge supporter of our event and really helped make it possible to begin with. Not ever having to worry about anything getting taken care of; it’s a real comfort having Brian and Tori Blad around and their tireless and selfless efforts are truly amazing to see. Getting treated to sushi one night wasn't bad either. One of the low points for me was getting pulled into an emergency call at work for a product launch, so I missed the pizza get together with Lance. I feel real bad about having to drop out at the last second on that one. That’s just a basic mind dump of a few things I took away from this years’ Expo. Of course there were many more fond memories, but this is pretty much a good basic start to it. It’s all about being around so many great and enthusiastic people in the end. Can’t wait for 2012! Ed Wimble - Jun 15, 2011 4:06 pm (#13755 Total: 13898) KAWANIA CHE KEETERU, Motto on the Schuylkill 32 pounder... " I am master wherever I am." John, Some praise for the convention from an unusual source: >ConSimWorld Expo is easily the best convention we have ever attended..., >Monte Mattson, "Clash of Arms Games" #18547, 15 Jun 2011 10:17 am sysop - Jun 15, 2011 4:22 pm (#13756 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! That's music to my ears, Ed. It was great seeing everyone get together and I'm excited about what may be in store for 2012! For those who were in attendance to see La Bataille de la Moscowa set-up and being played, it was a true visual feast. This kind of positive word-of-mouth is what really keeps the Expo going so given a lot of folks really enjoyed this particular venue over previous years, I hope the recommendations will pass onto others at summer conventions this year so folks can plan early and mark their calendars for 2012. sysop - Jun 16, 2011 12:38 pm (#13786 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! >Having said that, it seems to me the con is about the perfect size at the moment. If you had twice as many people, for example, I am not sure you could accomodate them. Yes, I would cut-off registrations at a given point if we experience such a (nice) problem to deal with. Based on my survey of tables and what tables remained open, etc. -- we can certainly accommodate more. It also depends on how game sign-ups go, as table counts become key. We've still got room for a significant bump, so that is the good news and folks should not fear about their gaming needs not being accommodated due to available space (that's my job/responsibilty to manage so you guys don't have to worry about it). There are add'l gaming and breakout rooms, but past experience shows that we want all gaming in one centralized location only; the Main Ballroom. If a group wants to make a special request for their own gaming room, such arrangements can of course be made (I believe we did this years ago with a Europa game room, for example). Anyway, knock on wood -- we had a great event this year and I'd love to see the positive momentum lead to some significant growth for next year. I think we can hit critical mass next year, especially if folks help spread the word this summer at WBC, Origins, GMT West/East, and all other major venues out there. Hopefully those who attended Expo 2011 will still feel pretty jazzed about the experience and help us evangelize for next year. Martin Sample - Jun 16, 2011 1:44 pm (#13795 Total: 13898) Sometimes I wish we could just hit 'em over the head, rob 'em, and throw their bodies in the creek. For what it's worth, I just filled out my hotel survey that came via email. I usually don't, but the crappy WiFi service still irks me, especially considering it is one of the things that hotel guests are tacked on with the surcharge. Here is my commentary: "Spotty hotel WiFi functionality, in this day and age, is UNACCEPTABLE. The hotel seems to be located in a bit of a cell coverage dead zone. OK, not the hotel's fault. But the WiFi coverage, for which ALL guests are charged a $10 a day surcharge bundled along with other services, is inconsistent at best. In the rooms it was OK, not great. Slow connection speed meant that I experienced several operations timing out to the point that I could not log on to my workstation remotely. The downstairs meeting room, for which there is a separate WiFi network, is far worse. Out of the 40 nights spent in hotels over the last 12 months, this hotel had the worst coverage by far. The other properties I stayed at were of equal or lesser quality. Hell, Days Inn blows you away in this regard. Many guests with me also had the same problems. Coupled with the aforementioned cell coverage, this means business travelers are in a veritable dead zone. In this day and age for a resort class hotel charging what you do, it makes me reconsider staying on the property in the future. This situation has been going on for the past several years . Let's see if I get a response Martin Sample - Jun 16, 2011 3:36 pm (#13809 Total: 13898) Sometimes I wish we could just hit 'em over the head, rob 'em, and throw their bodies in the creek. Got what looks to be a form letter back: "Dear Martin Sample: Thank you for choosing Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and Conference Center on your recent visit. We appreciate your business. I had a chance to review the survey that you recently completed. We would like to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you had experienced during your stay. We appreciate your comments, and will use them to further improve our customer service standards. Rest assured that your concerns will be forwarded to the appropriate departments. I know that does not change your experience but I hope that you can feel confident that we heard your concern and are definitely doing something about it. I apologize again for the inconvenience, and thank you for taking the time to let me know about it. Without your guest feedback we cannot continue to improve our services. We look forward to your return to the area. Sincerely, Ken McKenzie General Manager Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and Conference Center Ian Schofield - Jun 16, 2011 7:13 pm (#13823 Total: 13898) “No lesson seems to be so deeply inculcated by experience of life as that you should never trust experts. If you believe doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe theologians, nothing is innocent; if you b elieve soldiers, nothing is safe." John, you need a yellow and red card system for tables that are not being used. Put a yellow stand up card, gives them an hour/ two hours to start playing, followed by a red card that says you have an hour or we clean up the table and let someone else use it. There were a number of tables that had nothing but a map on them for much of the con, when those tables could have been used. Ian John Tex Teixeira - Jun 16, 2011 7:24 pm (#13824 Total: 13898) "I've dabbled in pacifism, Dude" Ian, thats an excellent idea. Unfortunately, you failed to have dinner with me at CSW this year and have thus earned a YELLOW card. Failure to do so again next year will earn you a RED card and disqualification from Monstercon for a year. How did your game turn out, btw ? Martin Sample - Jun 16, 2011 8:03 pm (#13825 Total: 13898) Sometimes I wish we could just hit 'em over the head, rob 'em, and throw their bodies in the creek. I like Ian's yellow/red card idea as well. Brian Workman - Jun 16, 2011 8:04 pm (#13826 Total: 13898) I thought the wifi coverage in the ballroom was excellent. However I had no cell phone coverage at all if I was inside the ballroom. I thought that was kind of weird. Martin Sample - Jun 16, 2011 8:06 pm (#13827 Total: 13898) Sometimes I wish we could just hit 'em over the head, rob 'em, and throw their bodies in the creek. I had sporadic coverage on my cell phone for voice as well as for Internet access. The WiFi would periodically go out and web surfing would time out throughout the day . sysop - Jun 16, 2011 9:19 pm (#13829 Total: 13898) [John Kranz] ConsimWorld Expo 2011 ** Thanks to all who Attended! >John, you need a yellow and red card system for tables that are not being used. Put a yellow stand up card, gives them an hour/ two hours to start playing, followed by a red card that says you have an hour or we clean up the table and let someone else use it. Excellent idea! John Tex Teixeira - Jun 17, 2011 7:53 pm (#13871 Total: 13898) "I've dabbled in pacifism, Dude" A couple of things... For me, Monstercon AKA CSW Expo, is the best wargame convention there is. I have been to just about every major game & minatures convention in the east and midwest over the past few years (except for Brogfest). To paraphrase Greg Marmalade in the greatest movie ever made (Animal House), "each of them have their own styles and strengths" and then Dean Wormer cuts him off. I'm not crazy about the date change,but its really about the people.I truly believe that John Kranz helped save our beloved hobby with this website.Seeing Jason Pipes, Ian Schofield, Nathan Kilgore, Shannon Cooke, Kerry Anderson, Brian Blad, Mark Hendrickson, Hope Peters, Ken Dingley, Todd Davis, Dave Peashcock, Steve Carey, and various grognard luminaries every year is a blast. And I would be remiss if I did not mention my fellow Black Dogs, Clayton Baisch and Barry Stester. I was fortunate to play Fortress America (the greatest wargame ever made) three times, Shattered States twice, Nato,Nukes and Nazis, Operation Condor, Humans, Battlestar Galactica and a bunch of other stuff that I have forgotten through the gaming attrion of six straight days of wargaming bliss. Lance Nielsen did a great job with the war movie quiz and the seminars were first rate. I know that the games can be improved at the auction, but I laugh so hard, it really doesn't matter. Alan Emerich is a gem. The flea market is one of the best out there. This is the 6th Monstercon that I have attended and it has become a must for me every year, despite the time, distance, and money from the east coast. I usually stay at the Red Roof Inn about 2.7 miles away and it costs me for a week what I would pay for two nights at the Tempe Palms. I know that the Con depends on attendees staying at the Palms,but it is just a little too rich for a poor retired civil servant.Still, I love the location and think that Tempe is great. I would definately attend a mid year con (Late fall-Jan/Feb) in Texas if that opportunity arose. Thanks for all for making this a great gaming opportunity.....GROUP HUG! Andy Loakes - Jun 18, 2011 7:33 am (#13878 Total: 13898) I don't make predictions and I never will. Thanks John & Co Had a great time at the Expo - and have already secured permission to attend again. Sally is encouraging me to go again next year but that would be a little too indulgent - 2013 looks promising though. CSW Expo really is a great event - it was everything I hoped for and more. And it is the attendees (as much as John's effort) that make it what it is. If you're interested in reading my day by day diary, it starts here: Andy Loakes, ""Limey Yank Games" by Andy Loakes (Leicestershire, UK)" #1965, 4 Jun 2011 1:38 am