Fellow AGOT players,

There's been some discussion on the boards about organized play and the lack thereof. The midwest just had a big event, and the west coast guys made an attempt at a large tourney as well. Furthermore, there's been a lot of question concerning which exact decks are dominant in the relatively unknown AGOT environment, largely because there has been no "multi-meta" LCG tournament yet.

I think it's about time we on the East Coast organize exactly such a tournament. I myself am willing to handle the brunt of the organizational responsibilities, and I have experience organizing large CCG tournaments from my SW:CCG and LOTR:TCG days. However, it should be noted that I'm located in DC -- not exactly a central location for a large event -- and that I'm not registered as a tournament director (although I do believe my partner in crime, Dan/twn2dn, is in some capacity).

I mention this because, instead of trying to host something on my home turf in the DC area, I think the best location for a gathering of all East Coast metas -- we here in DC/NoVA; the NYC meta; the DE, PA, and northern MD guys -- would be Philadelphia. Concerning a date, I propose a Saturday in the middle of July: either July 11 or 18. Either of those dates is far enough away from GenCon to give the guys with families who are spending their "points" on heading to the big summer convention some negotiating power, while still being close enough to GenCon so as to be useful in getting a feel for the LCG worlds events.

If this is of interest to any of you, speak up and post here. Topics I'm looking to discuss include whether you

1) think you'll be able to attend,
2) prefer one date over the other,
3) want help put together the event,
4) think that we might get more people hosting the event in NYC or somewhere else,
5) want to speak up on whether or not we should try to sanction the event, or
6) know of some cool prizes we could put together (or want to discuss what's a reasonable price to charge for entry to get cool prizes like a replica LOTR sword).

If there's sufficient interest, I'll create a poll of some kind to determine a date (or alternative location if that seems necessary), and then try to room in the schedule of a card shop or other sort of public venue. Once that discussion begins, maybe we'll start a new thread by moving this discussion over to the relatively inactive Meta forums.

If you'd like, get the word out to some of the old timers who don't frequent the boards anymore but might be willing to play in an LCG tourney.

Thanks guys -- I look forward to putting something together,

Erick

i forgot to mention the Mass guys as an existing east coast meta as well, oops

finitesquarewell said:

1) obviously depends on the date and location

2) can't tell you right now, i've got what i like to call a liquid schedule right now

3/4) i'm not sure if philly is the right place. We play down in DE in a really small store and share space. ~I know the NYC guys don't like letting us provincials have big events too, right stag.

5) can't hurt

6) uhmm uhmmm uhmm, no sorry.

This is a good idea. I'll pass the idea around my meta next week (we met yesterday) and let you know.

finitesquarewell said:

1) Would love too... and if I can convince my sister the real reason is to come out and visit here in DC at her new place, I can even earn big brother points while I'm at it.

2) None at this point, it will become an interesting sandwiching between Origins and GenCon for me.

3) Will do what ever I can... like make my phonelist available for spamming... particularly if I get my voice back soon.

4) NYC would be more central if you could dig the Bostonians out of their funk... failing that, you should really do it down in DC. Check that, I think the store in Glen Burnie has always been friendly, and seemed convenient for incoming travellers, IIRC. Alternatively, I found a store on the north side of Baltimore (the name escapes me at this time), near Towson Town Center, that might prove suitable.

Lars is right about Claymont, the store and owner are sweet, but it's a little cramped/inappropriate for something on this "scale." Assuming it reaches the proportions it could.

5) Hells yes, sanction this bad boy.

6) Pondering will commence.

Maester_LUke said:

Is that store in Towson Legends Games and Comics?

yeah, that's the store LUke was referring to. my thought was to have the event closer to NYC so as to ensure we draw those guys in, while still not burdening those from DC, MD, DE, etc. i'll add it to the list of possible locations.

I don't think there will be any players from MD, i'm pretty sure they stopped playing w/ LCG

1) I am definitely in, Erick, as we discussed.

2) July is great for me...my wife will be out of town, so I can devote a bit of time to planning/logistics.

3) Definitely will help, and I have some prizes in mind I can contribute.

4) As we discussed, I still have my doubts about Philly. I think Glen Burnie might work though...any place that I can make it a daytrip (rather than an overnighter) is best, but I suppose I'm flexible.

5) Let's sanction this thing. I can register the event if that's helpful, but if we do it in another city, maybe we want the local person to register it so that the shop has someone local to correspond with?

6) I have some ideas for house cards, counters, etc. We'll figure something cool out that's worth a good tourney.

Lars said:

That's too bad...does anyone know if any of them are playing? The DC meta is shaping up to have around 4-5 regular players, and we're looking to expand that a bit. (Haven't actively recruited anyone yet, but we've got a gameshop that's selling a lot of AGOT product to mystery players and we're curious to find out who!)

The difficulty for me is the proximity of the date to Origins (and I'm not certain I'll be able to make that either). But I would think DC would be the only option if any of us from TN were to make it.

I'd be interested in attending for sure. I'm not certain how many others form teh NY group will travel. all Thrones is lcoal these days, as the saying goes, and although interest is high - I don't know if interest is high enough to support a trip much south of Philly. Something train-able though, that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg in travel expenses coudl be do-able. I don't think we would come down to DC.

As far as having it in NY - I'll let letsgored wiegh in on that. I know we would need to make arrangements with our "venue" .But lGR is much more the TO htese days than I am.

Staglord and I have chatted a bit over the last couple months about having an "event" in Manhattan on a Saturday that would hopefully appeal to surrounding metas. I've been delinquent in pushing it forward --I need to identify a date or two that I'd be free to actually manage it and then hope it will work with the one game shop in the Manhattan I'm aware of that will (reluctantly, as CCGs are not their bread-n-butter) allow us to use their space if it's not taken already. Plan B is to see if the cafe that allows our weekday meetups will put up with a larger, weekend gathering. I'll try to make some progress on this soon in order to see if Manhattan is a viable location option to include in this discussion.

DC or Glenn Burnie area would be ideal for me. I'm from TN but travel to DC at least once a month for work and can coordinate my work schedule around the event.

1) think you'll be able to attend, <-- Depends on 2) and 4)
2) prefer one date over the other, <-- Should be a weekend, well away from Connecticon (August 2nd?) or Gencon

4) think that we might get more people hosting the event in NYC or somewhere else, <-- Well for the few up in Mass that I might be able to drag... its rather cheap to bus down to NYC and only 4 hours. Hosting should also be discussed because I'm not sure if I can get any but myself to make the trip... but I can't take time out of work for this event, so I have to be able to zip in friday night and leave saturday night or sunday morn.

6) know of some cool prizes we could put together (or want to discuss what's a reasonable price to charge for entry to get cool prizes like a replica LOTR sword).

<-- Make some stone house cards, if possible. Special gold counters, etc.

Drag wolfstalwart down. i'll call him if that will help.

While I think Ethan would appreciate hearing from you, I don't think it would convince him.

bloodycelt said:

What about be if I said I'd attend...

<Well, well, well.. I was just asking Lord Sandwich, "Where the devil are those Douchebags?"> - SNL

Unfortunately I am neither telepath or psychologist hence I can't make any garuntee. But by all means call him, I just didn't want to raise any amount of expectation.

Though having a date, time, and place would help.

I would love to attend an East Coast tourney. I can probably make it pretty much anywhere on July 11. I can't make it anywere on July18.

We'd love to have you compete.

Maybe we should shoot for the 11th, since that works for at least one out of towner. Does anyone else have acommitment probelms with that date? Its pretty far form GenCon, might be close to Origins (which I think is the last wekeend in June). Luke - how would this affect your travel plans?

July 11th looks like a conflict for me; the 18th looks promising, however. I'll check with the Compleat Strategist game shop in Manhattan to see if their game space is even available (they only open it up on Saturdays and have several long standing groups that get "priority" on booking it, so it can be tough to get it). If that is a bust, I'll look into plan B (the cafe that lets us have our weekday evening meetups in their space). Knowing whether CS or the cafe will be willing hosts or not will dictate how likely I could coordinate something in midtown.

Stag Lord said:

I could make either date work, but I missed the change to hosting it in NYC. That would pretty much exclude me. I'm only able to justify the trip if I'm getting in the visit to the sister's new digs in the greater DC area. Besides, after the pasting Eric put on Greyjoy Chris, I think y'all need to make an excursion (and drag only that Dark Lord of the Lameness you use to kill threads) and attempt to regain your manhoods. I mean, he did win Black Friday, aff?

No, no - there hasn't been a selection as to venue yet. LGR and I are just suggesting that IF it ends up ebing held in NY - this is what we need to do to make it happen. We are just trying to help and get some information out there.

I can guarantee htough, that no one will be able to tarvel down to DC. Glen Burnie is as far as anyone will go, and that would probably be just me. I could see a contingent going to Philly however - if that ended up being the choice.

Given the economy and the more casual approach to the game - I don't think trips of more than three hours or so are likely to happen.

Quite understandable good Ser, and as I suggested, I think GB would be a great locale. The store is nice if they can get the space, and it's convenient for travel. And if nothing else, it makes a great memorial to a dead meta... though now that he's married, maybe Son of Starfall has freetime again.

I do hope I can make this work, it would be great to see everyone, since GenCon looks to be mostly "locals" from the Midwest... plus the odd Philadelphian or Seattle-ite.

And seriously, what do we need to do to get the Boston-ians back on their high horses? Burn someone in effigy? Ride screaming through the night about teabagging and hot wax candle drippings?

OH, and Eric, I'll second bloodycelt's suggestion about stone housecards. It shouldn't be too hard for a crafty engineering grad student to find some nice stone and gussy it up with a felt back and a neat sticker or too... Or be really bad-ass and embed the new house sigil pins into them. And that's without recommending etching or stone polishing.

Werd.

They tied the knot, did they? That's great - they are a wonderful couple. I need to drop him a line.

i'm going to look back through the posts and chime in shortly; sorry for temporarily abandoning the proposal i laid out, life has been busy over the past x days.