Origins 2008

[TRDG]

It sounds like what you need is a couple of friends who are into the same type of games and attitude as you are my friend to go with you!! That may help you next year when/if you go and try to play specific games you love.
Nice report though, if I was there, I would have raised hell there for some of that "stuff" that went on, sounds like quite the kiddy show sad to say.....

Cheers, looking forward to your pics.

Tom

[Whiterook]

OK, some pics!

I'll admit that this year, I didn't take many photos, and after looking over the ones I did take, I quickly realized that the lion share were of the Stagate SG1 miniature's game...probably because I have every intention of exploring this game myself, and I was looking at having reference shots as "ideas". In fact, I bought the first, core rulebook on E-Bay the week I got back...at under half the price!!

Anyway, I figure my lack of taking photos was simply, the photo ops were just not as exciting as last year; which is ironic, considering I had a disposable digital CVS Pharmacy camera last year that crapped-out on me (electronically) halfway through the "roll"....and this year, I brought my Nikon travel camera (bought last year after Origins, after the disposable fiasco!) so I could take more pictures!!!. Irony is a fickle mistress.

The first three shots are of the gaming area I explained previously, that the Columbus Area Boardgaming Society (CABS) sets up each year. All three were taken Sunday afternoon, and the fair had already started winding down big time, hence, not a lot of gamers at the tables.



The first pic shows the tables going to the back of the ballroom, and there are tables on the right going all the way back, as well. There are also tables going back the same length on the other side of the sign-out table area, also where the War Room is located (on the other side of the soft wall pictured on the left).



Last year, the War Room took up the whole half of the left side of the ballroom; whereas this year, it only took up a quarter. Not sure what happened there, other than perhaps CABS figured they needed more gaming area for the Board Room gamers than in previous years. Kinda makes sense to me, actually.


This next pic shows the "sign out" area. There are a bunch of games to choose from in the big metal cabinets, arranged in a giant cube; and you can either spy them directly, to choose from, or look through binders on the table to see a list of games to choose from. When you find a game you like, you ask for it, and give your Driver's License to secure the game for the session. They keep track of signed out games via computer, as well, and the system seems to work rather well. The folks behind the table aren't the most friendly folks I've ever met, and got downright snippy at times. I get the distinct feeling that the majority of folks playing at the tables are CABS members, as I kept seeing the same folks playing with the same folks! Understandable, I guess. Lastly, I did notice that quite a few folks were obviously trying out new games they had just purchased at the fair, which seems an excellent thing to me! That's the War Room in the far back corners, with the grid-like accoutic panel walls.




Outside the ballroom is a big balcony-like area, with great views of the city, as it's on the same second story as the ballroom adjoining it. There are a lot of games that flood out from the Board Room area inside, and is actually my favorite area to play, as it's more open and has great views!



Last year, I had a Board Room and a War Room Ribbon, but I didn't really know how to use them, and the folks behind the counter didn't give a very good explaination as to the process (big surprise, and a forewarning of this year, I guess!). I was scheduled to the max last year with games in the Event Hall downstairs, and didn't have time to figure out the CABS section. What I did figure out last year, and this year confirmed, was that the CABS folks have nothing to do with the Event Hall hosts, and vice-versa; and the two factions hate each other with great disdain and overall contempt. I don't know why; don't want to know! This year, I didn't schedule myself through a hectic pace in the Event Hall, and bought just a Board Room Ribbon, figuring I'd do more gaming there. Well, that didn't quite work out, and I did better last year by scheduling myself fully in the Event Hall. On the flip side, I maybe chould have signed out more games to try and scurry up more play time, rather than try and find an "open" game just getting underway; but there wasn't a lot of games to choose from that I was familiar or interested in. Now knowing that the games to choose from are not really there for me, I think I would forego the Game Room in the future, but I'm still not sure, as I can get a LOT of milage out of one of my favorite games in the whole wide world...RISK...and there were two copies to choose from!

Some benefits of having a Board Room or War Ribbon: You get a free soda once during the show from a wet bar (soda only) in the Board Room; and this year, Mayfair Games, celebrating their birthday, gave your choice of two free games! Another cool thing they do in the Boardroom is, as you play in games, if you win a game, you write down the opponent's names you played against and drop the ballot in an old leather briefcase. At the end of the fair, they tally up the wins and select two runner ups and a "Chairman of the Board", who each receive plaques....the Chairman gets one with a Gavel on it, and they are all very cool! I don't know if you keep it, or if your name is put on a small tab on the plaque and they are recycled year after year adding the new winers (my guess is the latter); I hadn't even noticed them last year!

I played Shogun here in the Board Room, and its a game I probably wouldn't buy myself, but actually had fun playing it...and the people playing along with me were real nice. It's a bit like RISK, but you use cards that you have to lay face down to bid for certain things, like building Temples, buying rice to feed your peasants, recruiting more armies to fight with, and cards that allow certain provinces to fight, etc. If you don't anticipate a good order to "do certain things" and your opponent chooses order play that you don't expect, you can really be up a creek! You have to spend money wisely (in a bidding system), and peasants erupt into violence quickly. Honestly, it may have been more dumb luck that strategy in my holding my own so well, as I didn't have a real good grasp on the mechanics...actually, none of us ever played the game before! But I took a chance my mates thought was not so bright, that actually sailed me right past them! I didn't just fall off the Turnip truck!

I also played in Memoir '44 in the Board Room, crushing my opponent (who was a good player actually, and a real nice guy) in the Sainte Mere E'glise scenario. I played the American forces, and had a stellar paratroop drop that crushed my Axis opponent before he could move his fearsome armor from his rear area. I came in Second Place at last year's Origins Memoir '44 Tournament, and it was a highlight for me this year.

[Whiterook]

These next four pics are of a World War II miniatures game in the Miniatures Hall. Man, this was a sweet looking game! The models looked to be about the 1/72 scale, and were awesome. The diorama played on was so well done, too. I was bery impressed. I have't a clue what system they were using, but the players were VERY engaged. I'm not sure if the play of the game didn't actually span several days, in fact, as it looked to be the same bunch of gamers every day I checked back by!









The models themselves, and the diorama were artistic masterpieces by a stretch; but played in a miniatures battle, they were more than fine! There were several World War I battles being played out, but this was the biggest World War II battle I saw. Other games covered all eras.

[Whiterook]

Ancient Rome, anyone? Who doesn't enjoy a good chariot race? This was a sweet looking miniatures game. Again, not the most artistic representation you'll find, but plenty of fine details; especially the interior, which was nicely done. The exterior was merely to suggest the Colloseum. Note the giant "Roadie Cases" in the background, used to transport this beast; and I love the SPQR flags in the arena...nice touch! Also, the track inside was nicely done, and had a fine hex grid laidout on the stone floor.

[Whiterook]

OK, your guess is as good as mine, but it looked pretty cool regardless!





This next one I though one of the better built diorama elements...




And, the two long tables end-to-end are where the Axis & Allies Sugfest NEVER went off! But actually, the shot gives a good view of the scale of the Miniatures Hall; as this angle was actually width-wise of the hall (the Dealer's Hall through the openning in the distance).

[Whiterook]

OK, now the miniatures game that caught my full attention: Stargate SG1!!! What a cool game! It was played every day of the fair, with different players each day. It is based on a miniatures game, of which the core book came out in 2003. Sony didn't renew the publishing rights for the company that sells the game, I found out on my return, so getting the books on this will become real hard real quick! The core rulebook sells for $50-60 bucks US, and has a few follow-on books at half that. The miniatures are about $25-40 US for 4-5 metal figures you need to paint. I snagged my core rulebook on E-Bay, from a bookseller, and at the very least, it will come packed with info on the show so I can't loose! Plus, I snagged it at about $21!!! It is based on the popular d20 Dungeon & Dragons system, and plays similar to the Star Wars system, from what I've read.

The fellow that that hosted the game as the Game Master, used the SG1 series figures mentioned abouve, supplemented by other figures from other systems, some metal, some plastic. It really is a gorgeous layout, and the game played with a eal flavor of the series and movie. It is set after the fall of Lord Annubis, and before the rise of the Ori.

The Game Master is the fellow in the striped shirt. He built the Stargates from scratch, which there is one inside the city walls and outside; and some of the other stuff is either bought as is ready made, or handmade. The SG teams come throughStargate outside the city, fight there way into the city, as they are discovered very quickly, liberate "someone" and get back to the outer Stargate. That's a roof yu see in the front right corner of the first pic, of which the roofs come off all the buildings to reveal detailed interiors, and allow placement and movement of forces. The Game Master helps direct with the use of a laser pointer; and players can use rubber rulers to assist in moving pieces. Movement is governed by measurement or counding grid spacing.



The "Front Door" is gained passing between two large obelisks, and passing trough two large golden gates, which close!



Rear shots of the fortifications:

[Whiterook]

Some detailed shots!

[Whiterook]

A couple more shots of the Stargate...these were beautifully done!

[Whiterook]

Lastly, for the Stargate SG1 Miniatures layout, four pictures after the layout was starting to come down. It aforded an opportunity to get some closeups without the clutter!

[Whiterook]

And the very best for last....the Dealer's Hall. Man, of you like games, this one venue realluy makes the show! So many games to buy, so many games to try, and so many games to just plain drool over. But there's one thing that really shoots it to the stars, and that's the savings! The majority of the games are at a substantial convention-only price, and of course, there's no shipping and handling (unless your shipping them home to youself!).

This first picture is of the sales rep in the Osprey Publishing booth, in a very nice United States 82nd Airborne uniform!



The next two are folks working in a LARP (Live Action Roleplaying)-oriented apparel booths





And a LARPer cruising the Dealer's Hall (the camera went off by itself...I was looking at games...that's my story and I'm sticking to it!