GrogHeads Forum

IRL (In Real Life) => Conventions, Clubs & Special Events => Topic started by: bayonetbrant on January 30, 2014, 07:05:38 PM

Title: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 30, 2014, 07:05:38 PM: Have a chat about what's coming up at Origins 2014!
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 09, 2014, 05:13:50 PM: (offer fulfilled)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 29, 2014, 06:43:25 PM: Stay tuned for big news tomorrow :)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Capn Darwin on March 29, 2014, 08:26:01 PM: Teasing us again... ::)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 29, 2014, 11:53:05 PM: I just wish that someone had mentioned this a while back so I could make plans.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Staggerwing on March 30, 2014, 05:05:08 AM: ^Yeah, what's up with springing this on us so suddenly? :D
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 30, 2014, 07:08:49 AM: (http://grogheads.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/CentComHeader.jpg) (http://grogheads.com/?p=4208)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Staggerwing on March 30, 2014, 07:24:08 AM: ^Nice!
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Copwizard on March 30, 2014, 01:36:09 PM: I'm looking to play IT NEVER SNOWS by MMP in the Board Room.

I can use two German players, North and South, and four Allied players, 1st AB, 82nd AB, and 101st AB, and the 30 Corps.

I'm hoping to get it started on Thursday morning.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 30, 2014, 02:57:35 PM: Somehow I have a feeling the only games I'll get to play this summer are the ones I'm working! :-\
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on April 05, 2014, 08:05:44 AM: So here's what one of the staff wargaming exercises looks like during part of the exercise

What else can we tell you about the new GrogHeads Central Command at Origins?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on April 06, 2014, 12:18:26 PM: we would like more intel on the booth babes who aren't Smuck.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on April 06, 2014, 02:14:31 PM: We don't control the crews being brought along by the other companies for their booths. But you've met a lot of wargamers in your time - you tell me what you think they are.

Now, if Wargaming.net comes, they might bring some of the GuP team with them to help (wo)man their setup...
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on April 06, 2014, 02:30:20 PM: countdown timer added to the front page :)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on April 11, 2014, 07:41:17 PM: Looks like Wargaming.net is going to be there too - even more reasons to come to Origins!
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on April 13, 2014, 03:37:55 PM: feel free to RSVP to the event on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/259426967563061/
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on April 20, 2014, 08:11:48 AM: More info about the staff wargaming team at Origins (http://grogheads.com/?p=4346)

Interview w/ Dr James Sterrett about the wargames

WA: If I'm a new participant to this entire process, what should I expect when I walk in the door for one of these games?
JS: You’ll get a job! Well, at any rate, a job on a staff for the duration of the event. Jobs include roles such as the commander, the operations officer, and the intel officer. We’ll teach you the basics of that job, and then provide an overview of the US Army’s planning process. Then you start to do your job: you and the others on your staff use the planning process to create a plan for the battle. Once the plan is complete, or time runs short for planning, we transition to fighting the battle. At the end, we run a short After Action Review, in which we try to point out things that were done well (or poorly), and to discuss some of the learning points that might have been brought out if this were run at CGSC.

WA: When you're working out the design of the exercises - especially the learning process of the first 30 minutes or so - how do you decide what goes into the game and what gets left out?

JS: The point is to give people a sense of how exercises work and how a staff functions. The key constraints are time and inexperience: we have very little time to teach people (CGSC spends over a month on the planning process alone!), and we have to assume that the players have never done anything like this before.
Therefore, we focus only on the bare essentials, and we expect to do a lot of coaching. That said, players often come back again and again, and it’s great to watch repeat players get better and better with practice.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 08, 2014, 08:12:39 AM: Official Origins Events Listings for the GrogHeads Central Command

Event# Prizes? Date/Time Length? Event Name GM
3277 Yes Thu 1 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: A Test of Mettle Paul Rohrbaugh
3739 Yes Fri 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Circle of Fire (ATO)
4044 Yes Sat 10 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Circle of Fire (ATO)
3596 Yes Fri 10 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Julius Caesar Jim O.
4045 Yes Sat 10 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Julius Caesar Jim O.
9229 No Thu 7 PM 2 GrogHeads Presents: Flashpoint Campaigns Q&A with the Designers Jim Snyder / Rob Crandall
9433 No Fri 6 PM 2 GrogHeads Presents: Games & Sims for Military Training Seminar Brant Guillory / James Sterrett
9424 Yes Fri 3 PM 2 GrogHeads Presents: Learn to Play Flashpoint Campaigns with the Designers Jim Snyder / Rob Crandall
3217 Yes Thu 11 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Orange Crush (Civil War in the Ukraine) Brant Guillory
3218 Yes Fri 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Orange Crush (Civil War in the Ukraine) Brant Guillory
3916 No Fri 8 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Play with the Designer - Ranger! Bill Gibbs
3465 No Thu 7 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Play with the Designer - Sergeants! Miniatures Game Lost Battalion Games
3917 No Fri 8 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Play with the Designer - Spearpoint 1943 Byron Collins
3886 No Fri 7 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Play with the Publisher - Circle of Fire Steve Rawling
3031 Yes Wed 3 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Ranger! Chris Pauquette
3564 Yes Fri 9 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Ranger! Chris Pauquette
3024 Yes Wed 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Sergeants! Miniatures Game Vance Strickland
3178 Yes Thu 10 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Sergeants! Miniatures Game Vance Strickland
3740 Yes Fri 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Sergeants! Miniatures Game Vance Strickland
4007 Yes Sat 9 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Sergeants! Miniatures Game Vance Strickland
4143 Yes Sat 1 PM 4 GrogHeads Presents: Sergeants! Miniatures Game (Team Game) LBG / Vance Strickland
3278 Yes Thu 1 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Spearpoint 1943 JR Sharp
4181 Yes Sat 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Spearpoint 1943 JR Sharp
9402 Yes Fri 10 AM 4 GrogHeads Presents: Staff Wargaming - Battle From The Bulge Sterrett / Snyder / Graves
9605 Yes Sat 10 AM 4 GrogHeads Presents: Staff Wargaming - Battle From The Bulge Sterrett / Snyder / Graves
9214 Yes Thu 2 PM 4 GrogHeads Presents: Staff Wargaming - Flashpoint Campaigns Red Storm Sterrett / Snyder / Graves
9630 Yes Sat 7 PM 4 GrogHeads Presents: Staff Wargaming - Flashpoint Campaigns Red Storm Sterrett / Snyder / Graves
3025 Yes Wed 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Tide of Iron
3312 Yes Thu 2 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Tide of Iron
3597 Yes Fri 10 AM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Tide of Iron
4222 Yes Sat 3 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Tide of Iron
4416 Yes Sun 10 AM 4 GrogHeads Presents: Tide of Iron (Team Game)
9230 No Thu 7 PM 3 GrogHeads Presents: Tide of Iron series Q&A with the Designers Bill Jaffe
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Double Deuce on May 08, 2014, 08:50:37 AM: I think if I was able to go this year I doubt I'd have not time to see anything else. Thats a seriously packed schedule there.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 08, 2014, 08:55:58 AM: we could've had about 6 more events if 2 of our other vendors had been able to work something out with GAMA :)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 08, 2014, 01:55:22 PM: I just got a call from 1A Games within the past 45 minutes or so, and they have pulled out of Origins.

We will be talking with GAMA about what their plans are to replace one of our anchor booths in the Central Command.

Stay tuned
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 15, 2014, 11:39:53 AM: Jeff Horger (http://grogheads.com/int-horger.html) will be running a Manouevre tournament on Sunday

Here's what he posted at CSW:
Quote
I will be running an 8-player Manoeuvre tournament at Origins this year. It will take place Saturday morning from 10 am to 3 pm. The event number is 4055. The event will include the armies from Distant Lands so you can get an opportunity to see those countries in action if you desire. Help me fill up the event.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 17, 2014, 08:31:23 PM: Here's the current iteration of the events grid for the entire show

http://originsgamefair.com/events/games/
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on May 19, 2014, 10:47:19 PM: I just browsed a number of travel sites and tickets seem to be about $280 from Florida.

wtf! a ticket for Gus is $380 and up, most are well into the $400's and its half the distance.
who knew gnomes were so expensive to transport!
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 20, 2014, 04:47:19 AM: Quote from: GDS_Starfury on May 19, 2014, 10:47:19 PM
I just browsed a number of travel sites and tickets seem to be about $280 from Florida.
does this mean you're coming?

Quote from: GDS_Starfury on May 19, 2014, 10:47:19 PM
wtf! a ticket for Gus is $380 and up, most are well into the $400's and its half the distance.
who knew gnomes were so expensive to transport!
once you're within 1 day's drive, the prices inexplicably go up. I guess they figure if you're going to fly when you're that close, you're going to spend whatever they charge on it.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 22, 2014, 09:13:57 PM: some Origins guides for newbies

http://keepingthegame.blogspot.com/search/label/Origins
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 22, 2014, 09:14:28 PM: Timothy Zahn's going to be there, too!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1171218/surprise-origins-guest-appearance-well-kind-of-any
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: BanzaiCat on May 23, 2014, 05:51:43 AM: Next year, hopefully... :(
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on May 23, 2014, 11:10:16 AM: Bloody hell. I really do need to start planning for 2015.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 05, 2014, 02:53:09 PM: if anyone wants to drop in a plug for the staff wargaming events, here's a decent place to do it
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1182948/any-massive-multiplayer-politicalconflict-games-ho

it would especially cool if some of you who have participated would do so (not just Cap'n D and Dr S :) )
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Mrs Darwin on June 07, 2014, 09:30:02 AM: I can't wait. Can't wait. CAN'T WAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIT! Are we there yet?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 11, 2014, 08:21:51 PM: Staff Wargaming team and the Central Command are in the area labeled as "Command Post" in the exhibit hall book.

Look for the giant blue canopy with the camp net behind it along the gold drapery

All of our events are in that area.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on June 12, 2014, 12:59:06 PM: <grinds teeth>

Remind me again why I'm working (a job I've come to hate intensely, btw) these next several days instead of being there?

Oh, right. Responsibilities. Dammit...
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 12, 2014, 01:28:00 PM: if that your feeling, don't go read our Facebook page. All sorts of pictures from the show starting to show up there
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: panzerde on June 12, 2014, 08:50:00 PM: So i should probably not comment here that I'm having a blast and what a great time it is to be hanging out with fellow grogs? ;D
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 12, 2014, 09:00:22 PM: First photo galleries are up!
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 12, 2014, 11:28:02 PM: where's Smuck in his Leah slave bikini?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on June 13, 2014, 12:31:59 PM: Looks like a good time! <wistful sigh>
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 14, 2014, 08:23:39 PM: Read about today's events on the front page.
And photos going up all day on our Facebook page
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 14, 2014, 09:15:29 PM: Parking today was f'ed up...

Note the sign for $5 parking, and then the second sign directing you to turn for $5 parking.

Then note in the upper right what I was actually charged for parking.

Apparently the signs are additive...
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on June 15, 2014, 11:16:05 AM: Getting gipped on parking fees or not, I still wish I'd been there. Definitely looked like it was fun.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 15, 2014, 09:44:03 PM: 3-7 June 2015
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: TheCommandTent on June 16, 2014, 05:38:18 AM: Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 15, 2014, 09:44:03 PM
3-7 June 2015

Seriously!? Again that is right at the end of school next year and there will be no way I can come. >:( They really need to push it later into June, you know just to accommodate me. :tickedoff:
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 16, 2014, 05:48:54 AM: you're not the only one pissed off about this
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: panzerde on June 16, 2014, 03:16:59 PM: Given the number of people with some sort of school affiliation that they might be wanting as speakers and the like, those dates don't seem ideal. Of course, it might be nothing in the following weeks was available at the Convention Center, either.

I suppose we could all just go hang out at Brant's house the following week.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 16, 2014, 03:28:44 PM: ..........I just casually asked Mrs.B what she thought of the idea of visiting the US next year...............
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: TheCommandTent on June 16, 2014, 04:14:54 PM: Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 12, 2014, 09:00:22 PM
First photo galleries are up!

Any chance we could have some names to put with the faces in the pictures of the GrogCrew that were posted today?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 16, 2014, 04:30:51 PM: Nope! We can neither confirm nor deny that they actually exist or that we just took pictures of a random group and claimed them as us
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Capn Darwin on June 16, 2014, 05:14:08 PM: I don't think you really want to put too many faces with names. It will spoil our near mythical quality. Kinda like peeking behind the curtain if you catch my drift. ::)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Mrs Darwin on June 16, 2014, 07:46:48 PM: The really good-looking one is me.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 16, 2014, 09:53:24 PM: where are the booth babes?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: undercovergeek on June 17, 2014, 01:05:26 AM: Quote from: bob48 on June 16, 2014, 03:28:44 PM
..........I just casually asked Mrs.B what she thought of the idea of visiting the US next year...............

Kllllllllllllllannnnngggggggggggggg?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 17, 2014, 01:41:13 AM: Quote from: bob48 on June 16, 2014, 03:28:44 PM
..........I just casually asked Mrs.B what she thought of the idea of visiting the US next year...............

where?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 17, 2014, 01:42:18 AM: I wouldn't travel for Origin's but I just might for Bawb.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 17, 2014, 04:19:19 AM: Lets just say that tentative discussions have been initiated.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 17, 2014, 04:23:27 AM: Quote from: GDS_Starfury on June 16, 2014, 09:53:24 PM
where are the booth babes?

As the Asmodee booth across the room
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 17, 2014, 04:23:52 AM: Some comments about the event from the LPS/ATO guys

http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?14@@.ee6df75/49323
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 17, 2014, 11:16:35 AM: Costume gallery up today
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on June 17, 2014, 11:56:47 AM: Damn. There's actually quite a few kick-ass costumes there.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Barthheart on June 17, 2014, 12:02:58 PM: Quote from: Martok on June 17, 2014, 11:56:47 AM
Damn. There's actually quite a few kick-ass costumes there.

Ya really gotta come see fer yerself.... :coolsmiley:
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on June 17, 2014, 12:37:03 PM: No promises yet (it's way too soon), but I'm definitely going to see what I can do about that. :)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Barthheart on June 17, 2014, 12:40:25 PM: Never too soon. Plan now, book the time off, start saving money, suck up to the wife etc. all can be done now. ;)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Barthheart on June 17, 2014, 12:43:21 PM: Unless yer real name is Jim.... we had.. what... 5 of them in the booth at one time.... :crazy2:
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 17, 2014, 03:26:34 PM: incidentally, Proving Ground won an Origins Award for Best Historical Miniature Rules with Fields of Fire, so very well-done to them!
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Capn Darwin on June 17, 2014, 03:45:04 PM: My vote for next year is more Jim's and more Canadians... :2funny:
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Barthheart on June 17, 2014, 05:33:52 PM: How about Canadians named Jim? :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 17, 2014, 08:06:28 PM: so you actually stepped into a slim jims?

is that what a herd of Jims are called?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 17, 2014, 08:06:59 PM: Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 17, 2014, 11:16:35 AM
Costume gallery up today

up where?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 17, 2014, 08:07:50 PM: oh right.... the front page that I never check. :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 19, 2014, 08:05:03 AM: Numbers from Origins this year (per GAMA's Facebook page):
Unique attendance 12,902.
Turnstile attendance was 39,214.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: TheCommandTent on June 19, 2014, 07:58:00 PM: I like the Staff Wargaming article. It sounds like that was alot of fun to participate in.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Barthheart on June 19, 2014, 08:03:36 PM: Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 19, 2014, 07:58:00 PM
I like the Staff Wargaming article. It sounds like that was alot of fun to participate in.

It was blast to participate in. I was the Fires officer for our run through. Very tense and very good way to learn the workings of a combat staff.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 19, 2014, 08:07:46 PM: Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 19, 2014, 08:05:03 AM
Numbers from Origins this year (per GAMA's Facebook page):
Unique attendance 12,902.
Turnstile attendance was 39,214.

sounds great.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: TheCommandTent on June 19, 2014, 08:17:28 PM: Quote from: Barthheart on June 19, 2014, 08:03:36 PM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 19, 2014, 07:58:00 PM
I like the Staff Wargaming article. It sounds like that was alot of fun to participate in.

It was blast to participate in. I was the Fires officer for our run through. Very tense and very good way to learn the workings of a combat staff.

I assume an interest in military history, wargaming etc. helped but did you have any other prior experience/knowledge that helped you participate or was it easy to jump in and learn as you went.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 19, 2014, 10:13:36 PM: I would imagine that wargamers being wargamers they would go with the flow.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Barthheart on June 20, 2014, 04:27:30 AM: Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 19, 2014, 08:17:28 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 19, 2014, 08:03:36 PM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 19, 2014, 07:58:00 PM
I like the Staff Wargaming article. It sounds like that was alot of fun to participate in.

It was blast to participate in. I was the Fires officer for our run through. Very tense and very good way to learn the workings of a combat staff.

I assume an interest in military history, wargaming etc. helped but did you have any other prior experience/knowledge that helped you participate or was it easy to jump in and learn as you went.

I have no previous knowledge of staff workings and the team made it easy to jump in and learn as you go. You get a good 30 minute or so run down of how things work and what each staff position should be doing and looking out for.

We used Flashpoint Campaigns as the simulation and we played the US. Got creamed but gave a good account of ourselves. The other game they were using was Battles from the Bulge.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Orieni on June 20, 2014, 11:34:21 AM: There were a couple of coaches, who were trying not to give the right answers, but let the players find them with perhaps a few helpful questions if needed.

There was an AAR, heavy on the good points, not Army at all. Each runthrough is different, you will pull different roles, some will simply show up for every event and learn what they can. James and I didn't try to cover everything, every time.

In the Bulge, with 6 US task forces to track, you learn why units don't have six line subordinate commands. In the Flashpoint scenario, you learn how the various combat arms have to help each other. Watching the players struggle to anticipate, you learn why making even a bad decision is usually better than making no decision.

I say there is no other event which will teach you so much about why wargames and military history are as they are.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 20, 2014, 02:06:22 PM: We're going to make this one non-sticky, and open up the thread for next year's event so you start lining up your excuses to not join us even earlier this year.

The rest of us are going to have a f*&^%$n' awesome time ;)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 20, 2014, 03:09:32 PM: We are seriously looking at the possibilty, depending on costs, etc.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 20, 2014, 03:32:53 PM: Im going if Bawbs going.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 20, 2014, 03:56:31 PM: Obviously, we would have to tie this in with a longer visit, so hotel cost and so on will be a big consideration. We'll be looking at it in a bit more detail over the next couple of weeks.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 20, 2014, 04:10:49 PM: seriously Bob, you know that if you guys flew over here from England, all manner of the Grog family here would end up helping you guys with places to stay. It might not be the lap of luxury, but the price would totally be right
we don't all live in tourist traps, but you would get a chance to see a whole lot of the country if you just drove around and said hi to everybody on the site
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 20, 2014, 04:18:13 PM: That's much appreciated, Brant. One of the big attractions would be to actually get to meet some of you guys.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: Martok on June 20, 2014, 07:46:26 PM: Quote from: GDS_Starfury on June 20, 2014, 03:32:53 PM
Im going if Bawbs going.

This. 8)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 20, 2014, 10:45:23 PM: it was Origins or the pc build.
Origins would have been more fun and less expensive.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 21, 2014, 05:11:41 PM: y'all can feel free to set this dude straight :)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/221051524573205/permalink/810754702269548/
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 22, 2014, 10:25:54 AM: another article up today :)
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: BanzaiCat on June 23, 2014, 10:37:11 AM: I'm up for Origins next year, if my company pays a bonus this time around. I won't know until February next year though.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 23, 2014, 11:30:06 AM: We were looking at flights (there is actually one from Newcastle to Columbus) but they are over £1000 each, so that is a bit daunting to start with. :(
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 23, 2014, 11:55:18 AM: You're not going to find great prices between secondary airports. Best best is to price something like Heathrow - New York, and figure out the cheap way to do connections at either end.

Be careful how much driving you estimate for the US. Philadelphia to Columbus is a whole day in the car.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 23, 2014, 11:58:51 AM: ....now if I can persuade 'geek to come along as chauffeur..........
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 23, 2014, 08:39:49 PM: Quote from: bob48 on June 23, 2014, 11:30:06 AM
We were looking at flights (there is actually one from Newcastle to Columbus) but they are over £1000 each, so that is a bit daunting to start with. :(

take a tramp steamer and make an adventure out of it.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 24, 2014, 05:10:28 AM: Quote from: GDS_Starfury on June 23, 2014, 08:39:49 PM
Quote from: bob48 on June 23, 2014, 11:30:06 AM
We were looking at flights (there is actually one from Newcastle to Columbus) but they are over £1000 each, so that is a bit daunting to start with. :(

take a tramp steamer and make an adventure out of it.

I'd rather go by sea. Do such ships still exist?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 24, 2014, 05:43:55 AM: If they do, they take an extra week...
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 24, 2014, 05:47:26 AM: As long as I don't have to stoke the boilers or act as 'cabin boy'.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 25, 2014, 08:09:37 AM: Origins with Kids article is up today

http://grogheads.com/?p=5152
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: BanzaiCat on June 26, 2014, 08:40:37 AM: Quote from: bob48 on June 24, 2014, 05:47:26 AM
As long as I don't have to stoke the boilers or act as 'cabin boy'.

That would steerage you the wrong way, wouldn't it?
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bob48 on June 26, 2014, 09:40:32 AM: Only if they give me enough latitude.
Title: Re: Origins 2014
Post by: bayonetbrant on July 01, 2014, 02:34:30 PM: Now that we’re a little ways past Origins, and the annual ritual complaining about the convention seems to have subsided (except on the "board room" thread here on BGG), I want to ask the community for some constructive advice.

We all know wargaming has spent a few years on the wane at Origins - mainly through neglect rather than malicious intent - and would like to see it come back. This year, we took some first steps toward putting together a wargaming program to give grognards some dedicated events, in a dedicated space, with support from vendors. Included in that vendor support were playing events with the designers/publishers, as well as prizes for participants (and props to Lost Battalion for going *waaaay* overboard on their prizes).

Even with the advance notice, the vendor support, a generous location in the D-Hall, and full slate of events, we still had some fairly light participation. There was, on day 1, some confusion about where we were; that was quickly straightened out with the Tabletop HQ. But there were more than a few events with no participants, and quite a times where just our team were pushing counters around with each other, rather than other wargamers.

So I’d like to put it to you guys - what would you want to see in the wargaming program that would bring you to the table and have you playing in ticketed events with us?

- Different slate of games?
- Bad times on the events / wrong length on the events?
- Bad location?
- Couldn’t find the events in the program book?
- Personal jihad against GAMA / Origins that you’re unlikely to attend no matter what? (and if so, it seems odd you’d even be reading/monitoring this board)
- Confusion between us and the board room?
- Didn’t like the vendors that were participating?
- Didn’t even know the program was going on?

Now, we *are* looking at some changes for next year:
- Games times planned at 2-hr blocks instead of 3
---- only 1 generic token instead of 2 for the game session
---- more sessions for each game, instead of fewer/longer
- Big “event” games, such as the entire Eurofront game from Columbia one evening
- Tournament play for smaller/shorter games like Spearpoint 1943
- Better tie-in with the vendors / gaming area with cards for locations/schedules/times at both ends so vendors can better inform customers when their events are and player can more easily find vendors

Every year there's talk about bringing wargamers back to Origins. We stepped out there and tried something new this year, and we’ve got a commitment from GAMA for at least 2 more years to refine this program, so it’s going away and we’ve got some room to experiment.

What would *you* like to see? What would make *you* more likely to come and participate?

Please keep these comments focused on things we *can* control! We can’t affect the ticket price for the show, or move it Atlanta, or play on levitating tables. But within the things we can influence - scheduling, prizes, location, game choices, etc - what would you like to see?