Yes, this is a ConQuest GT owned and set up by Mondo. They will run 8 events during the year.
I am the Head Judge, just like in Seattle.
The real difference is I had two weeks to get stuff ready for Seattle. (and I'm sure most of you can find out why on the net)
I'll be the Head Judge for San Francisco (ok, santa clara), Los Angeles, Orange County, Bellevue WA & Seattle.
I've been re-working the tournament rules, dropping use of Special Characters in Fantasy and re-orginizing how and when certain thing should happen. I would expect this event to run much smoother then Seattle. And I for one would like to not have a repete of the post tournament issues. (I'd be more then happy to talk about them in person, but not on the net.)
Like most fledgling events I'm sure we will have issues each and every time, but in the end I hope these events get better and better with more experiance.
Mondo Vega is the guy running these. We went to the Seattle one with our usual traveling crew (Fred, Jim, Bill, and myself) and we did not especially like it. There were issues a lot of people had, especially in terms of their level of organization. The people actually playing in Seattle were a lot of fun, though. You should hunt around the web for more people's opinions and draw your own conclusions.
Mongo doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me. Paying $50 to show up to a tourney with an unknown number of players and unknown terrain for two days is very sketchy. It doesn't help that his track record at running these isn't all that hot either.
I've been very happy with the events that you have run in the past though... all one day affairs at local cons without any extra charges, and all fun and well organized.
I see your name on this event. Have you talked to them about giving you the support you need to run it properly or are they just using your good to add some respectability to what is otherwise an expensive unknown?
OK, let me give you all the information I have and let you decide if you wish to sign-up or not.
Gabriel “Mondo” Vega is the owner of Avalon Games. Avalon Games owns and runs several Conventions on the west coast including Pacificon in Santa Clara and Con-Quest Sac in Sacramento. In some of these conventions, like Pacificon, volunteer game masters run games and or tournaments for free entry into the convention. This is what happens when I run my 1 day tournaments at Pacificon. I run those as a volunteer game master and I get into the con for free along with my kids. In past years I’ve supplied all the awards for my tournaments and any prizes. This last year my family was hit with a massive bill for fixing my home and was unable to supply any prizes. Chris at Endgames stepped up and offered his prize support for 2010 and I hope to keep that going for years. Mondo, as owner of the Con, has nothing to do with my events short of allowing me to run them, just like any other game master, at his conventions. I’ve never asked him or the con staff to supply support in prizes, terrain or tables. It’s my event and I run it. All the matt’s, terrain and support has come from me and I’ve enjoyed it for 4 years now.
Now, Avalon Games, this year, is starting to run Grand Tournaments in several cities in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Colorado. These tournaments are part of the Games Workshop Tournament Circuit, just like the QCR. The first of these tournaments run by Avalon Games was in Seattle last month. Two weeks before the GT was to take place Mondo game me a call, told me he needed help, and asked if I would come up and help. I took the offer and took on getting a GT ready in two weeks. Most of the rules for this GT were already set and posted by the previous group working with Avalon Games so I kept most of them and ran the event as best as I could given the limited time.
After that Mondo asked me to work on 4 of the GT’s as the Head Judge this year. I’ve been working on fixing the rules for each tournament and making suggestions about tables, terrain and how to run tournaments. Part of this process is just about over and we should have a working set of rules, along with a new tournament schedule up this Saturday on the web site. Unlike when I run my event at Pacificon these GT’s need tables, terrain and several judges and staff member working together to make the best event possible. As the Head Judge I have a large say in how the judges will work, how the staff will work and how the scoring works. I’m in contact with Mondo about table and terrain construction, what is needed, what works and what doesn’t work. Mondo is the boss and has the final say of course, but he is giving me lots of leeway in letting me shape how these events will run. He is also putting a great staff around me to help run each event.
Someone asked if Mondo is using “my good name” to bring in players. Well I don’t see it as that. I’m sure two month ago he wasn’t even thinking about me running his events. Yes it’s true that folks in the Bay Area might know me (and not always in a good way), but I’ll also be running events in Washington, Oregon and in the LA area and they don’t know me from Adam. In the end I will do the best I can, and ask those around me to do the best they can.
Will it be perfect, will you have a fabulous time that you will tell your friends about, and will we be as good as the QCR? Well the easy answer would be, YES, but of course that’s just crazy. Leadership 2 as run the QCR for many yes, making it better and better each year (Both my daughter Ariel and I have made each one so far and will be there this June again). We are just getting started and I’m just getting started, learning and growing. I will strive to make it as good as I can, but I will make some errors, don’t we all while we are learning a new job?
I am always open to suggestions and helpful input to make these events better. Either before or after each event my e-mail is always open for your input.
So, in the end I will leave it up to you. If you come, GREAT, if not let me know why and what you would like to see to make you think it will be good so you’ll come next year.
Thanks for your time, hope to see some of you in April.
It is being held in Santa Clara... over an hour away from San Fransisco. It is much closer to San Jose (15 minutes away). How about a little truth in advertising?
Are you running this Doc? If not, do you know who is?
Rules are up - extra pre-reg time
Hey Y'all
Rules are finally up. Pre-reg has been extended till 3/7 (web site might say otherwise for a bit, but 3/7 is the new date for pre-reg).
Army lists due 3/28/2010.
http://conquestgt.avalongamecon.com/SanFrancisco.html
Doc
Ragnarok Update
Hey Doc, Any progress with a
Hey Doc,
Any progress with a posted registered players list? We've contacted Mondo directly regarding it, and he was pretty off-handedly con.
Derek
None Yet
None Yet, but I've asked 3 or 4 times. If I ever get an answer I'll pass it along.
Terrain and # regd
Doc,
Is the terrain for Ragnarok the standard mats and whatever terrain you use for Conquest 1 day events?
Can you let us know how many are pre-registered?
Terrain for Ragnarok
All ConQuest GT's have tables and terrain made by and for each GT. My personal stuff I use for 1 day events will not be in use at the GT's.
I'll see if I can get a number of pre-registered players.
I've also requested that we start posting a list of pre-reg players on each GT site.
Thanks for the question, the more the better we can make each event.
Doc
Who runs it?
Hey Y'all
Yes, this is a ConQuest GT owned and set up by Mondo. They will run 8 events during the year.
I am the Head Judge, just like in Seattle.
The real difference is I had two weeks to get stuff ready for Seattle. (and I'm sure most of you can find out why on the net)
I'll be the Head Judge for San Francisco (ok, santa clara), Los Angeles, Orange County, Bellevue WA & Seattle.
I've been re-working the tournament rules, dropping use of Special Characters in Fantasy and re-orginizing how and when certain thing should happen. I would expect this event to run much smoother then Seattle. And I for one would like to not have a repete of the post tournament issues. (I'd be more then happy to talk about them in person, but not on the net.)
Like most fledgling events I'm sure we will have issues each and every time, but in the end I hope these events get better and better with more experiance.
Doc
Mondo Vega is the guy running
Mondo Vega is the guy running these. We went to the Seattle one with our usual traveling crew (Fred, Jim, Bill, and myself) and we did not especially like it. There were issues a lot of people had, especially in terms of their level of organization. The people actually playing in Seattle were a lot of fun, though. You should hunt around the web for more people's opinions and draw your own conclusions.
Mongo or Doc?
Mongo doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me. Paying $50 to show up to a tourney with an unknown number of players and unknown terrain for two days is very sketchy. It doesn't help that his track record at running these isn't all that hot either.
I've been very happy with the events that you have run in the past though... all one day affairs at local cons without any extra charges, and all fun and well organized.
I see your name on this event. Have you talked to them about giving you the support you need to run it properly or are they just using your good to add some respectability to what is otherwise an expensive unknown?
Message from Doc
I have not checked my
I have not checked my calender (kid stuff may get in the way) but I am inclined to attend, especially if Doc is running it. Doc runs good tourney's.
If I do though, I will likely get a room there and get absolutly schloberknockered.
Hengl
yeah we're going, how bout yall?
Low Comp is definitely going, how bout yall l2 duders?
San Francisco? Really?
It is being held in Santa Clara... over an hour away from San Fransisco. It is much closer to San Jose (15 minutes away). How about a little truth in advertising?
Are you running this Doc? If not, do you know who is?