surdu2005 | 14 Nov 2018 4:04 a.m. PST |
There was once a time when convention AARs focused on inspiring games seen, fun games played, new rules tried, unique flea market finds, new vendor products seen or purchased, etc. With rare exception, HMGS East convention AARs have become an unending stream of vitriol, hyperbole, and hate directed at the venue -- which is in many ways ancillary to meeting friends to engage in our hobby. Convention AARs have become like watching network "news" rather than reports on the GAMING aspects of the conventions. I, for one, think the convention staff did a nice job adapting to a poor situation. I have read and seen a couple of interesting Fall In! AARs that focus on GAMING, but they are a small percentage of the hate mail from the grognards. Buck Surdu |
holien | 14 Nov 2018 4:42 a.m. PST |
Ummmm not seen any hate filled postings on here? Perhaps the last ones I saw were awhile ago about the FCC? I guess a sign of the times when people post the truth and it gets tagged as Fake or Hateful? All the posts I have read agree the staff did a great job of handling a bad situation… Surely by CW the Host should be improved and over the worst of it. |
45thdiv | 14 Nov 2018 7:24 a.m. PST |
I also noticed that there are a lot fewer post after a convention these days. Buck, did you run a game? Matthew |
muggins | 14 Nov 2018 8:43 a.m. PST |
Combined Arms Podcast will have an episode up shortly where we talk about Fall In. Thanks |
rmcaras | 14 Nov 2018 4:15 p.m. PST |
Pray tell, what have I missed? Almost every report I read consisted of praise AND criticism. And those elements were supported anecdotally, IMO. This is clearly a matter of definition and opinion, though. |
WaltOHara | 14 Nov 2018 5:45 p.m. PST |
Lets see, so much to unpack here. I have written about twenty years of convention reports, and I admit I'm no expert, nor even a particularly good writer. However, one thing I absolutely refuse to be characterized by is spewing "hyperbole, vitriol, and hate." I consider "hate" to be a strong emotion and a rare one. Of particular note is the fact I won't let another person define what I "hate". I'm generally a positive person, if somewhat cynical at times. I certainly don't hate anyone— be it a person, a business, a politician or a board of directors, and consider the notion that I might "hate" presumptious at best. I try to aim at humor in AARs, realizing I must fail with some people. With that said, I admit to moving from tongue in cheek acceptance to critical comments, to being irritated. Not for my sake, by the way. I was one of those staff members that had to help scramble … a lot.. because of the unannounced changes to the Host layout. I saw, personally, guests of the convention not being to access everything the convention had to offer, because the elevator wasn't running and the long promised wheelchair ramps have yet to be built. After two years. I managed just fine, as you did. But a number of people couldn't. Did my frustration creep into my narrative? You bet. I used to be a cheerleader for the Host location, but they have dropped the ball enough three years in a row that it has become an issue that truly impacts our conventions Negatively. With that said, it wasn't the sole focus of what I wrote about. After so many years of coming to HMGS cons, it's the people and the games I show up for. Not the stuff and certainly not the facility or location. Respectfully Walt O'Hara |
surdu2005 | 14 Nov 2018 6:22 p.m. PST |
45thdiv: I ran or helped to run six games. I think statements like people should be "drawn and quartered" or "shot" seem pretty hateful to me. My point is that I am way less interested in hearing all "the Host sucks" comments and much more interested in hearing about GAMING. I don't think I'm the only one who is sick and tired of it. If I was new the hobby, TMP would drive me to another hobby. Buck |
masm6110 | 14 Nov 2018 6:24 p.m. PST |
I did not go to the show as I have been working in Korea most of this year. I have read most of the AARs to get a "feel" for what I missed. My general take away from the reading was the the Staff was great, there was construction but people made do , the flee market was a little dark, the show might have been a little light on attendance, many of the games looked great!, And last Double G, a friend of mine, seems to have people buying him a lot of food My take away from the AARs was I missed out on a lot of fun with friends… Mostly all positive reports I would say. Best regards, -Mike |
oldnorthstate | 14 Nov 2018 6:36 p.m. PST |
Even though he was not there Mike's takeaway from reading AAR's about the show is generally correct. The conditions were not ideal by any stretch but the games went on, the food apparently was a big improvement (they hired an outside restaurant to cater the weekend), the flea market had all the same stuff as usual for better or worse, and the weather, even though Friday's rain was miserable, could have been worse when compared to the freezing rain and snow the DC area is going to get tomorrow. |
WaltOHara | 14 Nov 2018 7:30 p.m. PST |
In general, I agree with Mikes statements, except change "people made do" to "people made do, unless they were mobility challenged". Like the guy who couldn't get up the stairs because he was in a wheelchair. |
Colonel Bill | 14 Nov 2018 7:55 p.m. PST |
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6mmACW | 15 Nov 2018 9:34 a.m. PST |
Little Wars TV just released a video recap of the convention, all very positive and showing some great games and club rooms (including the HAWKs). YouTube link |
CoffeeCooler | 15 Nov 2018 10:02 a.m. PST |
I liked the Little Wars TV. I will be sharing with friends. |
WaltOHara | 15 Nov 2018 11:38 p.m. PST |
I really like the Little Wars videos. I hope they continue doing these, they're great! |
rmcaras | 16 Nov 2018 6:43 p.m. PST |
My point is that I am way less interested in hearing all "the Host sucks" comments and much more interested in hearing about GAMING. I don't think I'm the only one who is sick and tired of it. Ok, so they and you have vented your true feelings! But I note you are both demonstrating the same behavior. I hope everyone feels better now. |
rmcaras | 16 Nov 2018 7:24 p.m. PST |
WaltOHara said, in part…"I managed just fine, as you did. But a number of people couldn't…." Walt, I want to thank you for your perspective. I have noted amongst many postings here on TMP, attendees expressing bewilderment and annoyance with other's criticism of the latter's convention experience. My remarks, herein, address specifically the cases where the site's conditions impeded disabled attendees to enjoy the convention experience as readily and to the same degree as able/mobile attendees. Because most of us, to one degree or another, can manage the challenges the site presented to moving easily and freely without a second thought, I think we just don't appreciate that other's experiences may not mirror our own. I was this way myself. 25+ years ago, younger, in better health I easily transited the Host's many design peculiarities with nary a second thought. Up/down the myriad of stairs, down/up the Tennis Barn hill. Yet disease and illness changed that [along with 25+ years of wear and tear] for me. I ultimately saw and experienced the Host in a new way. At Historicon 2018 [but starting to tilt at the previous two cons at the Host] I realized my experience degraded so much that I could not rationally accept the value proposition of attending at the Host any longer [that includes staying off site and driving to the Host each day]. It was too much hassle, pain and frustration. And so after 30+ years, I informed my gaming buddies and traveling companions I could no longer attend with them. I admit, I was crushed. But I was also angry at the Host [no one says we are always rational]. And seeing that the one crucial lifeline of the only working elevator serving the few rooms at the hotel was not available…they virtually destroyed any opportunity for a disabled attendee to enjoy freedom to enjoy what our conventions so splendidly offer to able/mobile attendees. So thank you Walt, and some other thoughtful posters who recognized that while Host's condition was easily overcome for them, they recognized that was not true for ALL their fellow attendees. It really drives home the old saw, "walk a mile in another person's shoes, before you can understand their point of view" and "I use to resent the lack of having shoes, until I met another person who had no feet". I admit, I was that person once as well. |
The Bibliophile | 17 Nov 2018 9:34 a.m. PST |
I'll leave it to others to judge how interesting it is, but here is my Fall In AAR (with about 100 photos): link |
capncarp | 17 Nov 2018 11:24 a.m. PST |
If while defining "interesting" you might consider having to choose between wheeling my wife in her wheelchair outside in the driving cold rain or helping her hobble down a flight of stairs and then bring the chair down by itself, yes, my convention was interesting. Doubly so, when I had to reverse the process. "Interesting", perhaps. "Inexcusable", definitely. There is nothing like having to leave a game to help a non-mobile person get from one floor to another to color one's view of an event. Put me in the "no new contracts until they are completely done with remodeling and _everything_ is working" column. And we'd better get some really good deals on rooms even then. |
Milhouse | 17 Nov 2018 11:46 a.m. PST |
The fact the Host was open and trying to conduct business is astounding. They are a lawsuit waiting to happen. Given the snails pace of progress and disjointed nature of the renovations, Double G's theory that something is amiss has real credibility . Are any other conferences/events being held there? I rather doubt it |
Cardinal Ximenez | 18 Nov 2018 11:29 a.m. PST |
Buck, If I was new to the hobby or the parent of a youngster new to the hobby and I attended Fall In I'd probably find another option. In addition to the myriad shortcomings, the facility is dangerous, one specific example (of many) being the 4 foot length of rebar sticking out of the ground at a 45 degree angle in the field between the Host and the Fairfield. No cap on the end. Just carelessly dumped some time ago with a pile of concrete only partly buried as the pile was almost overgrown but not quite. Safety is a basic reasonable expectation. I reported it to them and got the same blank stare as when I requested the puddles in Lampeter get cleaned up. No excuse for the state of that "resort". Nothing to do with hate or hyperbole. |
vonLoudon | 19 Nov 2018 3:02 p.m. PST |
Well, it's really a story to tell the grand kids. How great to survive such an ordeal. That's the AAR. I don't get out much. Now that you mention it, Buck, those puddles were deep. |