Jan. 25 - 27, 2008 with optional
opening Rounds on Jan. 24
Days Hotel, Timonium, MD
WAM was such a success last year at Days Hotel that we're going
back. Opening day on Thursday, starting at 2PM will be Open Play
First Rounds for all events. Win and you are one round deep into
that tournament. Those who arrive on Friday will still be able
to join any tournament without missing the First Round. Note:
There are no Mulligans in 2008.
On Thursday, Jan. 24 through Sun., Jan. 27, 2008,
in Timonium, MD, BPA will again be hosting 2008 Winter Activation
Meeting (WAM VI) during the calm before the storm which is the
week before the Super Bowl. The focus of this four-day event is
to provide a gaming convention for the two-player historical "card-driven"
boardgaming community: players and designers. We offer the following
titles as BPA tournament events with expectation of full laurels
to be won: Paths of Glory, Wilderness War and Twilight
Struggle as featured tournaments. An Open Play and "swiss
open" format will allow gamers a chance to play a favorite
all weekend, or to enter a number of events, even returning to
later rounds of events after failed attempts to win the championship
in others. Other CDWs such as Hannibal, For the People, We
The People, Empire of the Sun and Trimuph of Chaos will be played in a less formal setting, and should attendance
justify it, tournament status will be granted the winners of those
games, as well, after the fact. The Open Play match-up system features
GMs matching players of like records as soon as they have an open
time slot to play the game (allowing players to fit short
games in between rounds of longer games).
Each participant is asked to pre-register, stating their gaming
preferences, in order to assist us in better planning this event.
The event is designed for experienced players of these games,
but all are welcome.
LOCATION: Near Baltimore, at the Days Hotel in Timonium
SCHEDULE: Jan. 25 (Friday 8AM) - Jan. 27 (6:30PM),
with a Thursday night open gaming session and Open Play of first
rounds for any of the covered games in the meeting space
(which opens at 2PM)--an invitation to kick off the weekend with
some early contests counting towards tournament play commencing
on Friday morning. We also anticipate that participants will get
a few sneak peaks at a number of new card driven boardgames.
GMs: David Dockter, Stuart Tucker and Keith Wixson
HOSTS: David Dockter and Stuart Tucker
WEB SITES: BPA (www.boardgamers.org) and WAM ( www.wamconvention.com
)
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Experienced, competitive, fun, two-player, historical card-based
strategic boardgamers. Who else would commit to playing a game
for 16 hours per day, for five rounds, over three days? Not many.
On the other hand, gamers that appreciate the diversity of the
titles and periods covered will have a chance to play many different
titles in 3-1/2 days. Of course, we encourage any interested boardgamers to attend
the convention and give the games a shot. However, it is expected
that players will have a thorough understanding of the rules for
each game that they choose to play. Initial rounds will match
players of similar skills. In each case, the GM is likely to be
playing in their own event. We often also have a few odd multiplayer
late night pick up games.
WHY THESE GAMES: These games were selected due to interest expressed in the
general gaming community and those that we enjoy hosting and playing.
Five events is a stretch in a three-day conference. However, our
experience shows that, via a sort of controlled chaos we call
Open Play, the GMs can keep people playing with very little downtime.
The shorter games (HRC, WTP, and WNW) allow players to play their
early round games at anytime during the meeting prior to the start
of Round 3 for their event. Obviously, participants, as always,
will need to make choices. After losing a game, some players will
choose to move to a new event, while others will continue to play
for the experience. Of course, winning an event championship is
likely to require wins in every round. NOTE: Games of Barbarossa to Berlin can be substituted for
rounds of Paths of Glory but ONLY if BOTH players agree. Paths of Glory will always be the default version should
both players be unable to agree on the game to be played.
WHY IN JANUARY?:
Face it, we are experiencing symptoms of withdrawal from our
wonderful experience at WBC in August. We realize that there are
many events in the winter and spring. We have no desire to detract
from those tournaments. However, we wanted to run something over
the winter close to Baltimore's major airport (for ease of travel
for both drivers and fliers) that would appeal to the WBC "card-shark"
gang without the distraction of competing events. Late January
during the lull before the Super Bowl seems to fit the bill.
PREREGISTRATION: Pre-Registration STRONGLY Encouraged. All participants are encouraged to pre-register ($40 for BPA
2007/2008 members, $50 for non-members, received by Jan.
11). Those who do not pre-register will pay $50 at the door, regardless
of BPA affiliation. The price jump reflects our desire to strongly
encourage pre-registration. Attach a list of your game priorities (rank the games you want
to play) when sending a pre-registration check, payable to BPA,
7766 Valley View Court, Hickory, NC 28602. (Knowing game tourney priorities will allow us to more easily handle any severe
conflicts that we have not anticipated.) We will post the names of
pre-registrants on the WAM web site.
REFUNDS: The WAM pre-registration fee is a discounted
rate extended in exchange for a guarantee to attend. As such,
no refunds are allowed.
LODGING: BPA has obtained a very favorable group room
rate at the Days Hotel. It is $79 per night plus applicable state and local taxes (currently
13%). To obtain this rate you must identify your affiliation with
the BPA's WAM gaming conference and make your reservation
before Jan. 11, 2008 (or when our roomblock sells out, whichever
occurs first) at 410-560-1000 weekdays between 8 AM and 7 PM EST.
After Jan. 11, reservations will be accepted on a space or
rate available basis. Alternately, you may contact Days Hotel,
9615 Deereco Rd, Timonium, MD 21093. Be sure to identify your
affiliation with our group - both to get the best rate for yourself
and to credit our group with your stay. Room options include one
king or two queen size beds. King rate is an additional $10/night.
Room rate includes daily continental breakfast served from 6:30AM-9:30AM
on second floor. Regular weekend rates are $99 per night plus
applicable taxes. Chili's restaurant
is attached to the hotel and open for lunch and dinner.
Reservations should include:
-
Arrival & Departure dates
-
Estimated Time of Arrival
-
Room preference (single or double, smoking or non-smoking)
-
Credit card type to be used for payment including number and expiration date
Directions to the Days Hotel:
Light Rail: Construction of the Maryland Light Rail (MTA)
is complete and
travel times should be faster as there are now two tracks in operation
in both directions (North and South). Hours of operation are Monday - Friday: 6:00 a.m. - 11:00
p.m; Saturday: 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday and Holidays: 11:00
a.m. - 7:00 p.m. There is direct access from BWI Light Rail station.
Get off at the Timonium station stop. Upon exiting the station
walk/turn right down Deereco Road (towards Padonia Road). The
Days Hotel is about 1/2 mile ahead on the left.
Driving:
-
From North and South Via interstate I-83: Take
I-83 to Exit #17- Padonia Road. Go East on Padonia Road towards
Timonium. Turn right onto Padonia Road off the Exit Ramp and stay
in the Right Lane. Make a Right at the first traffic light. This
is Deereco Road. The Days hotel is the first entrance on the right.
There is a large parking lot in back of the Hotel, if the front
lot is full. Additional parking is available at next two buildings
past the hotel, if the hotel lot is full.
-
From North and South Via interstate I-95: Take I-95 to I-695 North
towards Towson. Take Exit #24 to I-83 North. Go North on I-83
approximately 2 miles to Exit 17- Padonia Road. Follow Directions
from I-83 above.
-
From the West Via Interstate I-70: Take I-70 East towards Baltimore.
Take Exit #89 to I-695 North towards Towson. Take Exit #24 to
I-83 North. Follow Directions from I-83 above.
SCHEDULE:
|
Open Play: Thursday 2 PM+; complete two games anytime before Round 3
Round 3: Saturday, 3 PM
Round 4: Saturday 7 PM
Round 5: Sunday 1 PM
|
|
Open Play: Thursday 2 PM (play Round 1 early)
Round 1: Friday 8 AM
Round 2: Friday, 3 PM
Round 3: Saturday, 8 AM
Round 4: Saturday, 3 PM
Round 5: Sunday, 8 AM |
|
Open Play: Thursday 2 PM+; complete two games anytime before Round 3
Round 3: Saturday, 7 PM
Round 4: Sunday, 8 AM
Round 5: Sunday, 1 PM |
Other events: Open Play throughout weekend; complete two games anytime before Sunday;
Round 3: Sunday, 8 AM;
Round 4: Sunday, 1 PM |
Open Game = Room available for pickup games
of any sort; at other times on a space-available basis.
Open Play = See GM for early round game pairings any time; play
at least two rounds by Round 3 start time.
Round # = Formal scheduled start time for event's round. In case
of Open Play events, you may get in the game early and skip to
the next round start time.
All events are swiss events, allowing play in each round if you
are present at the round start time.
The plaque for We The People (WtP) will be awarded to the last
remaining undefeated player. |
GENERAL TOURNAMENT FORMATS:
-
Swiss Open/Four or Five Rounds: Each event will run
for four or five rounds (allowing drop-ins for any round). If
you want a top finish, you must participate in all rounds of an
event. We The People will award the top prize to the last
remaining undefeated player.
-
First Round Seeding: Events will be seeded for the first
round (matching players of similar skills when possible). GMs
will use a combination of previous WBC tournament finishes and
AREA ratings for establishing these first-round matchups (though
the Open Play events will be a bit more free-form). Newcomers
to an event usually will not be matched against experienced tournament
players for the first round. After the first round, players with
similar records continue to match off (much like a single elimination
tournament as long as you win).
-
Open Play: Players may play their early round games
at any time prior to a formal round start time on the schedule.
All early matchups must be approved onsite by the GM in advance,
and game record sheets must be submitted with the results. Find
Tucker and/or Wixson to request an early matchup.
-
What happens in case of a BIG turnout? We will be contracting
for a fixed amount of table space. Consequently, we are emphasizing
pre-registration in order to be able to provide enough table space.
-
What about uneven game preferences? We will NOT turn
players away from the game they want to play. Tie-breaker systems
will be implemented to handle popular events while still completing
each tourney during the weekend.
-
Prizes: The top finisher in each eligible event will
receive an official BPA plaque. Additionally, the top six places
in each event count toward the BPA's annual Caesar Award. An event
is eligible only if it draws 16 or more participants.
-
Rules and Regulations, etc.: All of the rules and regulations
for attending the annual WBC convention will also be in effect
at WAM.
SPECIFIC GAME FORMATS:
We're using the same formats as used at WBC. All descriptions
can be accessed on the corresponding BPA Event Previews pages.
-
Paths of Glory (GM: David Dockter): PoG will use the same
format and rules as the August WBC tourney, except a tie is an allied victory and there are no peace
terms. When players bid VPs for side, they should take into account
these changes.
-
Twilight Struggle (GM: Stuart Tucker): We will use the clarifications
current on the GMT Games website as well as boardgamegeek and
consimworld websites. Players will bid VPs for choice of side
in a manner similar to past Hannibal tournaments.
-
For The People (GM: James Pei): We are using rule version
2.6. FtP will use the campaign game.
-
Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage (GM: Stuart Tucker): See "Open
Play" above. Hannibal will use the same format and rules
utilized at the August WBC tourney. Players
may use either version of the rules if they can agree (the default
will be the second edition rules). The web-published second edition
has the advantage of incorporating the clarifications (but adds
about a dozen real changes) and can be obtained at: http://pages.infinit.net/mykeul/hannibal_rules.htm.
-
Wilderness Wars (GM: Keith Wixson): See "Open Play"
above. Wilderness Wars will use the same format and rules
used at the August WBC tourney. Wilderness
Wars will utilize Annus Mirabilis tournament scenario.
Players will bid VPs for sides.
-
We The People (GM: Stuart Tucker): See "Open Play"
above. This event has no specific rounds (except the Final slot),
as we expect people will be seeking matchups between their "quick"
rounds of play at other events. We will follow closely the rules
that have been in use in recent WBC tourneys for this game. Games
lasting longer than 2.5 hours and in danger of making a player
miss a round of another event will be adjudicated. A comprehensive
Q&A and Errata is found at http://www.geocities.com/dropded/WeThePeople.html
RESOURCES:
-
-
-
Consimworld: The website that hosts the primary discussion boards
for these games: www.consimworld.com
-
-
WAM
is changing formats and moving down the road from its traditional home
at Hunt Valley Inn to a more affordable site at Days
Hotel with a Chili’s restaurant on the premises. Opening day on Thursday
has become an attendance optional Mulligan Round for all events
starting at 2 pm. Win and you are one round deep into that tournament.
Lose and start over Friday with no blemish on your record. |