Warhammer 40,000

[suntzusdisciple.livejournal.com]

Are there going to be 40k players and tables with terrain at the con?

Comments

[unquietsoul5.livejournal.com]

So far there has been zero info about what is going on in gaming except for the LARPS and the 10 or so panels on the gaming track. It feels like gaming is being given the short end of the stick (again).

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Since Arisia (like most cons) is totally volunteer-run, things can only happen when someone steps forward and says, "I'll do that!" Gaming is generally given one of the biggest, most central rooms we have; any lack of specifics beyond that indicates a shortage of manpower, not a lack of regard.

[unquietsoul5.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I know, everyone burnt themselves out over worldcon....

Gaming does NOT always get one of the biggest central rooms. We have in past years gotten shuffled into a private party room inside the resteraunt (you went thru the resteraunt to get to the gaming room), into a resteraunt/bar on the 1st floor hidden away in a corner with zero signage or information that it even existed and a number of other disasterous locations, and one year gaming got shoved into what would have been a straight panel room.

Last year was a GOOD year for the gaming room, and for the gaming panels. This year they've preened down the panel space because the person in charge didn't think that gaming 'deserved' more panels (and wanted an expanded Literature and Media Track) and of course was not a gamer themselves.

There is not just a matter of volunteer factor involved in Arisia, there are TONS of internal politics and NEFA stuff that goes on in the organization of things, and has been for years.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Gaming does NOT always get one of the biggest central rooms....
I didn't say always, I said generally... but that shows how long you've been coming to Arisia! Gaming has been in its present location, the Stanbro room, since at least 2001. (I'm sure of that b/c I was chair that year.)

Last year was a GOOD year for the gaming room, and for the gaming panels....
Thanks very much! (I ran programming last year.) :-) I'm not doing program this year, but I know the person who is, and if there are fewer gaming panels it's not b/c they're less important, it's b/c there weren't more submitted. It's very hard to come up with several hundred fresh panel ideas, so we rely heavily on panelist suggestions. The mix of panels represents what people say they'd like to see happen.

This year's panels have already gone out to the panelists, but if you have ideas for panels that you would like to see, send them to program@arisia.org next summer so they can be included in next year's mix.

Keep in mind that Arisia covers the whole spectrum of s.f. fandom, and we try to allocate our resources to make everyone happy. Inevitably someone feels their interest is being shortchanged, but we can't give more to one group without taking away from another. We try to maintain a balance.

There is not just a matter of volunteer factor involved in Arisia, there are TONS of internal politics and NEFA stuff that goes on in the organization of things, and has been for years.
That hasn't been true for a long time. The FGOH in 2003 was a prominent NESFAn, and Arisians and NESFAns worked closely together on Noreascon with no problems. We just want to put on the best con we can. We don't have enough energy left over for politics...

[unquietsoul5.livejournal.com]

When things go right, I definitely like to praise them. My only complaint last year was something that was not in anyone's control, when the fire alarm system went off (during a panel I was on). Everything else was fine, and everyone I know had a lot of fun and interesting things to do.

When things appear problematic or potentially going wrong, I also feel a need to speak up. I'm also not afraid of offering suggestions or being involved, with the constraints of my ability and resources.

I have been on the programming mailing list since it started, did submit ideas (one of my panel ideas did make the list). Part of the problem is that not a lot of folks who were interested in the list either knew about the list in time to help with the panel list, were offline for various reasons, or were waiting to hear from Arisia's normal preliminary mailing that they had been used to from year to year before the panel document comes out. The time limits on the mailings were very short as everything was so shorthanded thanks to Worldcon.

NESFA for me has always had some affect on what goes on in Arisia. I know the original breakaway feud is long gone... but that just means that NESFA's own politics (because of the number of NESFA folks involved in Arisia) overflows into Arisia. NESFA from the days of the pre-Boskone Split off always had a dislike for the Gamers, and it continues to flow into Arisia.

I sat in several on the original Gamers related organization attempts for Worldcon, and was constantly frustrated by the lack of information coming down from the top to us and our organizing attempts, including regarding what space venues would be involved. I was one of the folks, who after several failed attempts to make things work, walked away and didn't continue to be involved in it (and my household did NOT attend Worldcon largely because of it and the financial policies involved in comparison with Arisia).

Yes, I'm a long time gamer, a long time Fen, and I've attended a LOT of Arisia's (both as a normal guest and as a participant). It tends to make me sensitive to issues, and sensitive to information when it comes to current and past experiences with the convention, both at the current venue and at the previous ones.

Anyway, thanks for listening and responding. I'm still waiting to hear wether the panels we have signed up for are actually going to happen and if we are going to be on them, so I really can't say much more on that front either.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

That fire alarm was pretty annoying!

I don't think there's a lot of overlap on comcom between Arisia and Boskone, most people tend to work one and relax at the other... it's just too draining otherwise. But the mix of people does change year to year.

Input is always appreciated. The timing has been a little weird this year, but we have a great group of people so hopefully we'll have a great con!

[jasra]

From email I sent to the Arisia staff list:

"No one has submitted an event like that; no one has offered any resources to
provide it. I'm guessing the answer is "no," but I'm open to suggestions.

Jason S"

Contact me and I can give you his contact info. (jasra @ LJ)

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

Not yet, but if you would like to run a Warhammer 40k game (or any other game), please send mail to gaming@arisia.org (mailto:gaming@arisia.org).