The COURIER has received the following idea from Jeff Cornett (Commissioner, N.E. Gaming Association). Would any of our readers be interested in this type of affair? Jeff is willing to organize it based on response. My wife likes the idea that I take the kids, but claims to have no problem coming up with a score of things she'd rather do than take a gaming vacation with me. Sadly, I suspect she may be a typical example of a wargaming widow. If your wife (girlfriend) views your hobby with more enthusiasm, you may want to contact Jeff at the address below.
Are you tired of conventions oriented toward kids? Is a weekend in a dorm away from the family your idea of a vacation? If so, is it also your wife's (girifriend's) idea of vacation? Wouldn'tyou liketoattend an event where the best adult miniatures gamers around gamemaster their best scenarios, rather than attend another introductory demo for the convention overflow of role-players? Areyou tired of being the 12th Zulu player on one side? Wouldn't you rather participate in miniatures with your two best buddies on your side? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then consider the following weekend agenda. It is an agenda that not only would you enjoy, but your wife and kids might too:
An agenda for a Couples Only Miniatures Retreat
| Widows & Orphans Program | Miniatures Activity | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY | TIME | EVENT | TIME | EVENT |
| FRI | 9-11 | Reception (Cocktail Lounge) | ||
| SAT | 9-1 | Shopping Spree | 8-1 | Competition Round #1 |
| 1-2 | Lunch (informal) | |||
| 2-6 | Free Time or Sightseeing | 2-5 | Miniatures for Kids Demo | |
| 6-8 | Dinner Banquet (Dress-Up) | |||
| 9-11 | Widows Card Party | 8-1 | Competition Round #2 | |
| SUN | 9-1 | Free Time or Sightseeing | 8-1 | Competition #3 |
| 1-2 | Lunch (Informal) & Check-Out, Discuss Next Year's Location, Awards Ceremony | |||
MINIATURES COMPETITION
The objective would be to have exactly nine teams of three players each. Any more could make the weekend difficult to schedule and manage. Any fewer than nine teams would not assure that each team meets completely new teams each round.
Scenarios would all have to be designed for exactly three players on a side. Each team would gamemaster one round and participate in two others. All teams must be willing to play any scenario, under any rules (including home-grown), and for any period. Gamemastering teams must be prepared to offer all the technical assistance necessary assuming that the participating teams are not familiar with the rules.
The competitive part of the weekend will be to judge the quality of event each team gamemasters. Events will be judged by players from the participating teams in the scenario!
How well the participating teams do will not be judged! The objective is to provide the highest quality miniatures events. Prizes will be awarded to the top rated teams based on the quality of the event they organized.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
In order to assure that the weekend is indeed a family oriented retreatand not just another convention, all participants must come with their wives (or dates?). Children are also welcome. Unescorted singles will be permitted only in "hardship cases" (e.g. she divorced me last weekend and I could not find another wife on such short notice).
A full social schedule will be planned including the opportunity for families or couples to have some time for themselves (Saturday afternoon). In so doing, it is hoped that the wives will enjoy the weekend sufficiently that they will let you do this again next year!
SITE SELECTION
Almost any moderate sized hotel or motel would suffice. The facility must be large enough to accommodate at least 27 families. In a nine team format, only three ping-pong tables or the equivalent would be required plus a reserved room to run the events. The Saturclay evening "card party" could require some additional table space.
Suggestions in the New England area include a Vermont ski resort, Cape Cod, Mystic Seaport, or any other reasonably interesting place to visit. Some more exotic options could include Martha's Vineyard, the Maine coast, or how about a weekend cruise to nowhere?
The best time to schedule such an event would be in the summer, but the weekend format could work any time of year.
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