Northeast Wars X

CONvergence, a media convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently posted a first timer’s guide to convention preparation and planning. While specific to the CONvergence experience, the principles are sound advice for any convention-goer’s planning process. Highlights include:

• A checklist of useful stuff to pack, including types of clothing, spare batteries and sufficient variety of denominations of cash.
• Events to visit — they also recommend making a point to visit every party; similarly, at a gaming convention, it can be fun to explore every corner of the venue, rather than “camping” in one particular room.
• Practical tips to make the experience more pleasant for  you and the people around you, like sleeping, eating right and, naturally, “Shower. Daily.”

You can also check out our own suggestions on keeping alert and healthy to enjoy the whole convention.

As Gen Con ramps up, gamers and designers wend their way to Indianapolis. Along the way, some of them carry on traditions new and old. Robin Laws, for example, has announced 2009’s buzzword: “idea farm.”

Even if  you’re not attending Gen Con, or even consider yourself a game designer, feel free to play along at home, working the buzzword into conversation as frequently and ludicrously as possible. It’ll make you feel like you’re really there.

Gaming blog Held Action relays that the Lake Morey Resort has sold out of rooms for the weekend of Carnage 12:

It came across the Northern New England Gamers mailing list the other day: Lake Morey is sold out for Carnage 12 this November. In confirming this, convention board member Dr. Nik added, “Game submissions are up and so is attendance!” So they’ve got that going for them, which is nice.

The post goes on to repeat alternative accomodation information, which you can read there or in Dr. Nik’s original message on NNEG; registration is required, but NNEG’s a useful resource to New England gamers, so it’s worth your time.

Pi-Con’s “variety of awesomeness” includes not only gaming and panels, but guests of all stripes. They even have a special Guest of Awesome. That’s pretty . . . what’s the word? Starts with A, ends in “-wesome.”

Get yourself down to the Pioneer Valley in two Saturdays’ time for a weekend of gaming that is sure to be, well, awesome.

Back for its second year is N.E.G.A. Convention, a weekend of gaming sponsored by the New England Gaming Association. N.E.G.A. is based out of the University of Maine at Farmington, in none other than Farmington, ME. The proceeds from the convention benefit the UMF alumni scholarship fund, so a weekend of gaming not only benefits the attendee, but students as well. Sounds like a pretty good deal to us.

In a few weeks’ time, Anticipation, the 67th World Science Fiction Convention, convenes in Montreal, Quebec. Neil Gaiman, author of, among other things, Coraline, American Gods and The Sandman, is the guest of honor, along with a whole cast of other very talented people.

In addition to masquerades, an art show and a dealer’s room, the convention’s programming runs the gamut from science and technology interest to human culture — and yes, there is a gaming track.

It’s not often that a Worldcon comes so close to this corner of North America. Check it out while you can!

This is a busy weekend for autumn convention updates, it seems. Draconis shifted into gear this past Friday and now a missive arrives via electrickal daemon from Rod Sheldon, board game field marshal. Carnage seeks talented board game players to show off and teach their favorite games, particularly those named below.

Of particular note is the deadline for submitting games: August 5th. That’s the date by which Carnage needs your events in order to get their pre-convention book printed and mailed to everyone on their list. That’s the best exposure your game could hope for, so don’t delay.

We are just five months away from Nothing but Carnage.  We are in full swing of getting great games and great GMs to run them. We are planning on presenting another excellent selection of Boardgames for you this year!  Below is a wish list of Boardgames we would love to have at Carnage 12.  This is in no way a complete list.  There are many great games not on this list that we would love to have as well.  Also not all these games will neccessarily be run at Carnage.  But we will try!  So if you are interested in GMing this year and feel comfortable running any of these games, please use our GM submission form at the www.carnagecon.com website.  (or email me directly mrgarabaldi005@yahoo.com with your game or any questioins) Be sure to include your prefered time slot to run, as well as a back up slot.   If you want to GM and don’t see your game in our wish list…. still go to the GM submission form and submit your game!  All games submissions are welcome!   Our deadline this year is Aug 5th.  So on with the list:

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Montreal’s gaming convention, Draconis, recently updated their website with news of the 2009 convention. The weekend of choice this year is October 16th through the 17th, at the Days Hotel & Conference Center.

Early bird registrants who get their reg form in before July 26th get the special rate of $18.00 for the whole three day weekend. After July 26th and until October 11th, a weekend badge is $20. So get those forms in toute de suite, campers.

The last weekend in July is traditionally a big vacation weekend, as families and friends rent cottages and cabins to hit the beach.

But not you. Oh no, you’re going to play it smart. Instead of tempting some great white shark with a penchant for toes, you’ll be comfortably ensconced in the air conditioned coolness of the Connecticut Convention Center in downtown Hartford, where ConnectiCon 2009 will rage all weekend.

In addition to robust anime and gaming tracks and an enormous dealer’s hall, ConnectiCon hosts a growing gaming area, with a selection ranging from traditional roleplaying adventures to popular party games. So swing by Hartford and check things out. At the very least, the spectacle of all the costume conventioneers will be worth it.

Council of Five Nations, the Capitol District gaming convention sponsored by the Schenectady Wargamers Association, is looking for a few good GMs. The thirty-second Council is Columbus Day weekend this October. In an email sent last night, Dave Cheng wrote:

We really, really need your events by Sunday, July 26th so we can get the pre-reg material out nice and early this year.  Please don’t procrastinate – get those events in now.

Held again this year at Proctor’s Theatre & Conference Center in downtown Schenectady, New York, Council of Five Nations boasts a game auction, one of the largest Star Fleet Battles Rated Ace tournaments in the country and new this year, a tour of the battlefield of the Battle of Saratoga, a key turning point in the American War of Independence.