Test of Concept: North East 'Day' Convention ala CCow

[Neil Gow]

There has been quite a bit of action on this site recently of people in various parts of the North East looking for games, LARPs and other strangeness. I've always been painfully aware that unlike some parts of the country, the North East gaming community rarely gathers (Matt West and I live in the same bloody town and for some reason we have never met! For all I know, he could live down the street...) and thats a shame.

What I am trying to gauge is whether there is any mileage in exploring a Concrete Cow/PubCon style event in the North East? I'd be looking for venues in or around Newcastle in the first instance and looking for it to run on a Saturday, all-day, ala Pubcon.

Really, I'm looking for some nods of 'yeah, I'd like to meet other NE gamers' from the NE folks and maybe even a few nods of intrigue from further afield. Historically, when I have run things like this (albeit in the CCG world, where there were prizes up for grabs) I've had people from Sheffield to Aberdeen travel to Newcastle for the fun.

Neil

* ps. did I mention the night out in Newcastle afterwards? *grin*

[dr_mitch]

I'd probably attend such an event, other factors permitting. Call this a nod of intrigue from someone further afield.

[Elrick]

I can be in Newcastle in a little over two hours on the train. If it's reasonably handy for the railway I'd certainly be up for this.

[zackspacks]

Echoing Elrick here, if it's near the railway station, then definitely interested, as it's about an hour for me. Admittedly it's about the same time by car for me, but that precludes participation in any night out.

I might be able to drum up a few other locals to come along. However, don't hold your breath, as I have only ever managed to get one maximum to travel as far as Sheffield so far !

I guess at this stage, you're looking for more of a show of hands as opposed to games being played, or would it be D&D 4e only forex ? Reason I mention this, is I remember seeing your strong views regarding Call of Cthulhu. Would it be considered to be an act of roleplaying heresy if such a game reared it's blasphemous appendage at such an event ?

cheers
Paul

[Neil Gow]

ROFL! Seriously sniggering here at my screen.

I can firmly assure you that anyone will be able to play anything they want, even if it is .... *spits* CoC.

I'm also sniggering at the reputation I must have garnered as some sort of 4e zealot!

Getting a venue next to the Station (i.e. in the heart of Newcastle) might be a tough call, but not beyond the ken of man.

Neil

[zackspacks]

WRT the venue, yes I can appreciate that, but even a short taxi ride/ medium sized walk away ( as in the ConQuest model ) is acceptable.

As for your reputation, no worries there, IMHO if everyone liked exactly the same stuff, I would have stopped playing years ago. I guess my intention would be to offer to run something, and play something, if it's the same set up as Pubcon.

Anyway, I hope this works, as having Furnace as my 'local' con, seems a bit obscene ( despite it's awesomeness ) as it's 2 hours drive away, and it's not even in the North East !

cheers
Paul

[zeedneti]

Yes We have a small RPG squad at our club in south shields, called shot and shell

The conference sounds great, but as an idea , there is a huge wargaming contigent and have shows , near every week around the year , the durham one was this week, maybe we could all meet up at one of those and play a few games of somit?

If you want to find out more about the shows goto

http://www.gatesheadgaming.co.uk/

Its a great shop and out of the way, and like an aladins cave of old RPG stuff

Regards

Gary

[Scott Dorward]

Considering that I pass through Newcastle at least once a month, I could easily time one of my visits up north to coincide.

[catty_big]

Any word on this yet?

[Neil Gow]

A few new venues in the centre of Newcastle have come to my attention ... I'm going to investigate them next week.

Neil

[ImpossibleGears]

Hi

hope you don't mind me hijacking - but I'm actually doing an adult role playing and wargaming event in Newcastle next month (Sunday May 13th) it's called Experience Point and we've got the whole upstairs of the Grosvenor Casino, including our own bar!

find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Experien ... 3520769212

We're still looking for players and GMs - at least one local game designer (Gethsemane Games) will be there, probably more and we're doing a 'bring and sell' silent auction (like eBay but with no fees or postage)...we can accommodate around 100 gamers on 13 tables

There's even a band on! and the chance to enter the Miscellarium Role Playing Scenario Competition which could earn you free tickets to Miscellarium (www.miscellarium.co.uk) to run your scenario at the finals there

We're aiming to put on Experience Point a few times a year to build a sense of community with other gamers and act as a 'moot' for the disparate clubs, societies and independent stores around the North East

the event costs £5 for entry to cover costs, there's no extra charge for use of the silent auction or if you want to trade there

[ImpossibleGears]

oh and it''s about 5mins from the train station...and the casino is fine if you want to stay on afterwards, they're even going to let us use the 'fun casino' afterwards where you can play without using money...no, you don't win money either, but you can't have everything

[SJE]

I hope its an 'adult roleplaying' event in the sense that you need to be over 18 to enter the Casino and not the other meaning....

[ImpossibleGears]

lol

depends how the event goes

no it doesn't, it is an over 18s venue

[Neil Gow]

Hey!

Just to close the circle, I'm the guy that was going to promote the event on UKRPG... but you found your own way here anyway.

I'll be there as well, as I'll almost certainly come in my Omnihedron Games guise.

Its looking like the event I've been thinking about, but without any of the 'me organising' stuff.. which is arguably better!

Anything I can do to help, just drop me a line.