CGL to run a GT this year?

GenePhelps · Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 547

It has been bounced around between a few of us that CGL should host a GT this year.

I mentioned this to the Masters committee and they suggested a mid-October date

Let me know if your interested, there are a lot of things to iron out if we are going to pull this off.

1. Location - needs to handle at least 40-50, easily accessible, food and lodging nearby

2. Tables - Terrain and 4x6 boards to handle 20+ games

3. TO's - minimum of 2 people to actually run the event

4. Rules Judges

5. Paint Judges

Lets get the conversation started

Grix007 · Joined: 28 Aug 2013 Posts: 712

Ill help any way I can.
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ExecutionerofKhaine. · Shade Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 2420

I too would be willing to help out

Anyone have NoVA contacts, may be able to borrow(rent) tables and terrain from them for an event. I would be willing to chip in some cash to help get it going as well. Maybe some terrain weekends or some such too.

Your Hobby Place was willing to host, not sure if its for free. Has a decent amount of space, but is a bit out of the way for most local people, but not too bad for people who are traveling though.

Ben had mentioned potential space in Culpepper as well, hotel/conference center maybe. Still would be needing all the tables and terrain.
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Skipschnit · Herr Pyramid Dictator! Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 2274

As Danny G. said in "Shooter", "It's doable".
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Skipschnit · Herr Pyramid Dictator! Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 2274

Does the location really matter as far as geographically speaking? We've gone to some hole in the wall places and had a great time. I've kicked this idea around a lot over the years since Baltimore Gamesday got cancelled. Here are some numbers to think about...
To comfortably hold 50 players (25 tables), you will need a location that has at least 2000 square feet of open space. I've called all of the local convention halls from Baltimore to Fredericksburg and for 5000 sf (min rented space) it was anywhere from $3000 to $6000. For 50 players at $50, that's only $2500. Moose lodges and such are much cheaper, but you dont necessarily get the amenities that you may want. Hotels may not have the space or they want a block of rooms guaranteed for rental of their conference space. This means that if you don't fill those rooms, your rate goes up and/or you have to pay for the unfilled reserved rooms.
Prize support... You have to partner up with actual stores who will donate prize support or you have to buy it all yourself. Games Workshop will not sell or distribute to events, clubs, or private parties regardless of size. They will only deal with brick and mortar stores who have the proper license with them. This was pretty much the stance of everybody that I talked to 2 years ago.
Tables...I don't know who has these anymore, but I can check with NOVA guy. If we were to get our own, the 1/2" plywood is about $30 per 4x8 sheet and then you have to cut each sheet down to 6 ft. Then each folding table purchased is also about $30 for the cheap plastic fold ups from Costco (3x6). So you're looking at another $1500 at least just for tables. Plus, who has a vehicle or storage for these?
Scenery...this can be as elaborate, tho not play-friendly, or as cheap as you want it. Most things can be bought from Michaels, etc or handmade for minimal cost. The most expensive part on this is the time. So scenery for 25 tables, 6 pieces each, would run about $300.
Admin...this is also a cost. The amount of paper and ink used to do this size would run about $100 if you do it yourself. Each sheet created from Staples or Kinkos would run about .15 to .30 per sheet. Collection of fees had better be as gifts on PayPal, otherwise you get penalized for admin costs and it goes toward the account holder's taxes as PayPal now reports to the IRS. The event program or score tabulation program I have. It takes some tweaking to get it to pair up by points but doable. However, in finding a location, you need to make sure there is a power source.
Overall, you need about $6000 to comfortably start up a GT on your own. I used to have that before I had kids, but I couldn't guarantee a return on it, which the wife was adamantly against. If it gained speed and popularity, then it could be worth it. However, a one and done scenario is not good. I had the opportunity to buy the rights and materials for Colonial GT, but not having a store to back me up made it difficult and so Chris went with the store in Jersey (which now went to the guy in PA). Got to make it "stick" in order for it to have endurance and be enjoyable.
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Gym Shorts · Joined: 23 May 2011 Posts: 1052

Wow, excellent post Ben!

You've obviously put more thought into this than I have.

A few pieces of information to add. I looked into doing the event at my school. Tons of space, plenty of tables, but would require 25-30 table toppers. The problem is I don't think I can get it for free so there isn't any advantage at doing it anywhere else.

We were looking at doing Huzzah Hobbies. We might be able to fit 50 there. Gene will be talking with the owner next Saturday when we go to Dennis's 1 day.

Regardless of location, tracking down the table toppers or access to them would eb spectacular.

The terrain issue is the easiest to solve. Todd Wiatt seems to have a group that is building terrain for his tournament and he seems happy to offer it to other Mid Atlantic events. With that supply plus the access to terrain that tournament attendees can provide, I don't for see having to purchase terrain.

So biggest financial limitations are location and then the table toppers.

GenePhelps · Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 547

It looks like there is interest so here is a proposal for tables

Members that are willing to contribute will each provide a table. This will be a "topper", game mat,two forests, two hills, a building and an obstacle.

The topper can be plywood or 2" pink insulation foam.

I like the foam ideal, cut it into 3-2x4 sections, duck tape it together on one side so it will fold up into a 4x2x6" size for easy transport and storage. If enough like this solution maybe we could get a discount by ordering it all together.

Joey, I did not pay enough attention while i was at Your Hobby Place, could they hold 25+ 4x6 tables?

Skipschnit · Herr Pyramid Dictator! Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 2274

The foam comes in pink or blue and is also expensive. The foam is light and I use it at my house for a table. Downside to it is that it gets dimpled real easy by dice, models, and player's elbows. The cuts will eventually roll down and great a channel that all dice seem to seek out. Price break for the foam is by tractor trailer load only. It is used in foundations and sometimes I can get a bunch off a jobsite.
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ExecutionerofKhaine. · Shade Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 2420

If we plan on having this continue for more than 1 year, I say we go with a plywood top textured and sealed for durability. The tables they used at The Colonial and also at NoVA were nice and seemed very durable. I don't think we need the water pools they had on their tables though. I also think that on the foam tops the dice bounce too much and are difficult to handle, as well as being more easily damaged as Ben said.

Your Hobby Place I belive does have room for 25 tables. I didn't lay them all out though, but did talk about it with Dave and he seems pretty sure of the room. He did have a seperate room that could be used by tournament officials for setup and paperwork etc. Also has a seperate room if needed for paint judging. If we do get going with this I can get with him and layout all the tables and spacing and so forth. He does have most tables for setting the gaming tops on but will need more. I can converse with him about what else is needed, what he is willing to supply as well as what the usage would cost if anything? I would like at least 1 other person from our interested "tournament team" to be in on our conversation to be sure I don't leave out any points that need covering. If not maybe we meet one Tuesday to go over necessary points before I talk to him.

I also have no confirmation of this but can ask and I think he will work with us on pricing for terrain pieces as well as making an effort on getting some GW prize support Shocked

Certainly more effort than we are used to getting Laughing

I think we should also get together and figure out how are tables should be made so we can have consistency among them for a more professional tournament look. As far as terrain we can have a few weekends with some felt and some foam board and foam cutters to assemble quite a bit of terrain in a short period of time. I think Rich has done this before and can assist with some techniques to help out with the mass production ideas. Michaels has had some fairly cheap trees before and maybe can fill the tables cheaper there than at a hobby store. They also have had some inexpensive castle tower like building that would work nicely too. Ben has a few we can look at. Just need to figure out how many pieces we need for each table and what types, lots of spray paint and sealant. I have an airbrush that may help some with buildings or rocky terrains.
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GenePhelps · Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 547

Are you going to be in the store this Tuesday?

Skipschnit · Herr Pyramid Dictator! Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 2274

I can be as involved as y'all want me to be. Martinsburg would be a great place to have it if wanting to bring in the northeast crowd. I don't know if they have midget strippers, but Rt 11 has a handful of interesting places.
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GenePhelps · Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 547

We certainly need you involved, you have the most experience running events.

ExecutionerofKhaine. · Shade Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 2420

Arydadan · Joined: 28 Jan 2011 Posts: 475

I would also like to be involved. Though much of my schedule this coming year is going to be warped between now and then, I think I should have a pretty good idea how busy I'm going to be with enough time to help out.

I've also got quite a bit of experience running tourneys and narrative events, though that's mostly for 40K.
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ExecutionerofKhaine. · Shade Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 2420

ExecutionerofKhaine. · Shade Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 2420

I will be there Saturday, the 3rd, if any more interested people can be there maybe we can toss some ideas around and get the ball rolling.

Thinking we need to be really rolling by summertime and need final info stuff by the Nova tournament so we can pass out flyers and make our first tournament a great one Very Happy

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Skipschnit · Herr Pyramid Dictator! Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 2274

Agreed. Posted a call in the committee forum.
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Arydadan · Joined: 28 Jan 2011 Posts: 475

Sadly, I will be in NC on Saturday, so I'm stuck posting this for consideration.

Is the GT going to be a Fantasy tournament only?

I'm still totally down if it is, but I've also heard some positive things from friends about massive narrative games days they've attended and/or other game systems might bring out some new players, if we had people interested in running those things. I suppose it makes sense to focus on what we know we can do well in the first year of doing this, but I thought I'd broach the subject.
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Skipschnit · Herr Pyramid Dictator! Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 2274

First stop is Fantasy, but 40k is in the hopper for 2016 so that we can do 1 or more of each.
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ExecutionerofKhaine. · Shade Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 2420

I say Fantasy for now and see how we do before adding anything. I think we all have experience playing in these things, but running one this big will take a little practice I am sure. Also space becomes a huge issue with a Multi event tournament.

Personally I prefer Fantasy only anyways. Focus on one thing and make it right Wink

I thought the demise of The Colonial was the addition of 40k. It split up the players and messed with the dates and now it has fallen apart. I am sure other things were involved too though. It was one of my favorite events for many years Crying or Very sad

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