Grand Tribunal 2010
An Ars Magica mini-convention in Cheltenham.
Back to Cheltenham this year, after our migration to Cambridge last year. We've settled into a pattern, where events will alternate between being included in a once-every-two years games convention in Cambridge, and the original format in Cheltenham.
So - Friday evening - out for a Chinese meal, then down the pub. A quick academic paper,m then beer and frothing.
Saturday - the main day. Too many things to fit into the time. If a venue opens at 10, it is not possible to fit an hour's events in, and have a costumed up and freeform running at 11. Davud Chart's (the line editor) message was read, the rest of session1 abandoned, and the freeform started. It was fun, my objectives were pretty much achieved, although had there been another half hour to play I doubt they would have remained so. For me, the evening session was spent on a playtest of something to appear in a later book. The NDA ensures that I can't say what, but it was a fun game. Finally, a game of Carcassonne.
Sunday - a morning session only, as someone else had the centre booked form two. Another playtest, also fun - possibly more fun as a game, but rather less use as a playtest. Then either off to the pub, or off homeward.I picked homeward, stopping off for an afternoon taking photographs, as it was a nice summery day. Up through the back roads from Toddington to Stratford, dinner in Stratford, and home.
All in all, a pleasant weekends games. Organisationally chaotic, mainly due to trying to fit too much into too few hours - both in the freeform, and overall, but fun. A small but excellent group of players and authors, which makes this event well worth attending.
Back to Cheltenham this year, after our migration to Cambridge last year. We've settled into a pattern, where events will alternate between being included in a once-every-two years games convention in Cambridge, and the original format in Cheltenham.
So - Friday evening - out for a Chinese meal, then down the pub. A quick academic paper,m then beer and frothing.
Saturday - the main day. Too many things to fit into the time. If a venue opens at 10, it is not possible to fit an hour's events in, and have a costumed up and freeform running at 11. Davud Chart's (the line editor) message was read, the rest of session1 abandoned, and the freeform started. It was fun, my objectives were pretty much achieved, although had there been another half hour to play I doubt they would have remained so. For me, the evening session was spent on a playtest of something to appear in a later book. The NDA ensures that I can't say what, but it was a fun game. Finally, a game of Carcassonne.
Sunday - a morning session only, as someone else had the centre booked form two. Another playtest, also fun - possibly more fun as a game, but rather less use as a playtest. Then either off to the pub, or off homeward.I picked homeward, stopping off for an afternoon taking photographs, as it was a nice summery day. Up through the back roads from Toddington to Stratford, dinner in Stratford, and home.
All in all, a pleasant weekends games. Organisationally chaotic, mainly due to trying to fit too much into too few hours - both in the freeform, and overall, but fun. A small but excellent group of players and authors, which makes this event well worth attending.