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Jan. 28-31, 2010
Holiday Inn Timonium, Timonium, MD
On Thurs., Jan. 28 through Sun., Jan. 31, 2010, in Timonium, MD, the BPA will again be hosting the annual Winter Activation Meeting (WAM VIII)
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 miniconvention for the two-player historical
"card-driven" boardgaming community.
This year we will be offering the following titles as fully sanctioned BPA tournaments with full laurels to be won: Paths of Glory,
Twilight Struggle, Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage and Combat Commander. These are the only official tournaments that will
be run and all four tournaments will have a set schedule (see below). However, there will undoubtedly be informal tournaments run during
the weekend, such as the annual March Madness Tourney and a farewell to 1960 event. Participants are also welcome to open game
to their heart’s content, so bring your other CDG titles along.
New for 2010:
Besides the addition of Hannibal and Combat Commander as official tournaments this year (and the corresponding retirement of 1960 and Wilderness War), the other significant change is the “Open Thursday” concept. After last year, we recognize that since Thursday is a travel day, people cannot necessarily get to the hotel in time for scheduled rounds. So this year, Thursday will be devoted to “open” first rounds and nothing will be formally scheduled on that day. Upon arrival, attendees may seek out the GMs and have a Round 1 opponent assigned for any tournament (this would NOT be a Mulligan). On Friday and Saturday, each of the tournaments will have formal rounds scheduled (including Round 1). Anybody who played a Round 1 game on Thursday would be exempted from playing in the scheduled Round 1 for that tournament. This should give people a little more flexibility and allow them to play more tournament games. Also, any tournament which requires a 5th round will have it scheduled on Sunday morning.
Who is the target audience for the convention?
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.
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. The GMs are likely to be playing
in their own events.
Why These Games?
These games were selected due to interest expressed in the
general gaming community and are those that we enjoy hosting and
playing. 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.
Why This Time?
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.
Pre-Registration
All participants are STRONGLY encouraged to pre-register ($40
for BPA 2010 members, $50 for non-members, received by
January 15th); those not pre-registering will pay $50 at the door
regardless of BPA affiliation. The price jump reflects our desire
to strongly encourage pre-registration. Please send a pre-registration
check, payable to BPA, 7766 Valley View Court, Hickory, NC 28602. We
will post the names of pre-registrants on the WAM web site. Pre-Registration Form
Refunds: The WAM pre-registration fee is a discounted
rate extended in exchange for a guarantee to attend. As such,
no refunds are allowed.
LOCATION: Near Baltimore, at the Holiday Inn Timonium
LODGING: BPA has obtained a very favorable group room
rate of $89 per night plus applicable state and local taxes (currently
13%) at the Holiday Inn Timonium. To obtain this
rate you must identify your affiliation with the BPA's WAM gaming conference and make your reservation before Jan. 7,
2010 (or when our roomblock sells out, whichever occurs first)
at 410-560-1000 weekdays between 8 AM and 7 PM EST. After Jan.
7, reservations will be accepted on a space or rate available
basis. Alternately, you may contact Holiday Inn Timonium, 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. Chili's restaurant is attached to the hotel and open for lunch
and dinner.
Reservations should include:
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Arrival & Departure dates
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Estimated Time of Arrival
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Room preference (single or double, smoking or non-smoking)
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Credit card type to be used for payment including number and expiration date
Directions to the Days Hotel:
Light Rail: From the Light Rail (MTA) Light Rail HOURS OF
OPERATION: Monday - Friday: 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m Saturday: 7:00
a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Sunday and Holidays: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
(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
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Open Round 1: Thursday
Round 1: Friday, 9 AM
Round 2: Friday, 1 PM
Round 3: Friday, 5 PM
Round 4: Saturday, 4 PM
Round 5 (if necessary): Sunday, 8 AM |
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Open Round 1: Thursday
Round 1: Friday, 8 AM
Round 2: Friday, 4 PM
Round 3: Saturday, 8 AM
Round 4: Saturday, 4 PM
Round 5 (if necessary): Sunday, 8 AM
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Open Round 1: Thursday
Round 1: Friday, 12 PM
Round 2: Friday, 8 PM
Round 3: Saturday, 12 PM
Round 4: Saturday, 8 PM
Round 5 (if necessary): Sunday, 8 AM |
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Open Round 1: Thursday
Round 1: Saturday, 9 AM
Round 2: Saturday, 12:30 PM
Round 3: Saturday, 4 PM
Round 4: Saturday, 7:30 PM
Round 5 (if necessary): Sunday, 8 AM |
| Open Gaming/Unofficial Tournaments: We have the space from Thursday, 2 PM to Sunday, 6 PM. Participants
may open game as space permits. |
General Tournament Formats: Swiss Open/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. 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. 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).
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.
Prizes: The top finisher in each official tournament will receive an official BPA plaque. Additionally, the top six places in each will add to their BPA laurels. An event is laurel eligible only if it draws sufficient participants.
RULES AND REGULATIONS: All of the rules and regulations for attending the annual WBC
convention will also be in effect at WAM.
SPECIFIC GAME FORMATS:
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Twilight Struggle (GM - T. Coleman): We will use the
Second Edition rules/cards and the clarifications current on the GMT Games website as well as boardgamegeek and consimworld websites. Players will bid IPs (to be given to
the US at the start) to play the USSR.
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Hannibal: Rome v. Carthage (GM - K. Wixson): Either the Avalon Hill or Valley Games versions may be played (Second Edition rules for AH). Players will bid PC markers for sides. A 9-9 tie after none turns will count as a victory for Carthage.
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Combat Commander (GM - J. Terry): Combat Commander Europe will be the default game. There will be a scenario recommended for each round, but if both players agree, any scenario from Europe, Med or Pacific (or the Random Scenario Generator) may be played instead.
RESOURCES:
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Consimworld: The website that hosts the primary discussion boards
for these games: www.consimworld.com
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For the most recent updated info on WAM,
see www.wamconvention.com.
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