July 16, 2023

Thanks for choosing to vacation with us in our sixth year in Seven Springs - an exciting move up in creature comforts and amenities. Here are some helpful hints and late breaking news to guide you through the coming week. To those who have heard this all before, please bear with me as much of what follows is still new and pertains to our current venue. But first, refresh the cache in your browser to get the latest updates on our website.

(New in 2023) BPA CODE OF CONDUCT: In an effort to make sure that WBC is welcoming, inclusive, and safe for everyone, the BPA has been looking very hard at our policies and culture to determine where improvements can be made. As a first step, we realized we need to do a better job letting members know what type of behavior is expected, so we've decided to introduce a modern Code of Conduct for BPA. The BPA Board recently approved this Code after we reviewed the draft with a group of members and incorporated their feedback.

The Code also includes better information on how to report any problems you might experience. You can read the new code ( or Download a PDF version) on the website at http://www.boardgamers.org/about_policies.html. There will be some copies available at the at the Registration Desk.

Of course, a Code by itself it not enough to guarantee the type of environment we'd all like to see, so we are also looking at proactive actions we can take. This will be an ongoing process, so please send any suggestions to policyteam@boardgamers.org.

(New in 2023) BADGE RIBBONS: Badge ribbons for Pronouns and First-Time attendees will be available at the registration desk. Board Members, Staff, and Volunteers at WBC will also have ribbons that will allow all attendees to identify them.

SEVEN SPRINGS REMAINS CASHLESS: Seven Springs remains cashless. All purchases from Seven Springs must be by Credit Card or charged to your room.

TEAM TOURNAMENT: And they're off! The odds are posted for the 27th run for the slivers. See http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc23/teamtour.html to check the hilarious assemblage of 61 team logos and accompanying commentary by Stuart "Happy Handicapper" Tucker for the tote board of the The Laurel Handicap. All wagers are purely hypothetical of course but it will help you with Bracket.

BRACKET BUSTIN' WBC STYLE: Got March Madness withdrawal? Make your brackets for the WBC Team Tournament. Send your Top Ten picks for the Team Tournament (by Team Name - not number) listed in order from 1st to 10th to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org by July 21st for a chance to win a free Sustaining admission to WBC 2024. One entry per person.

BADGE HOLDERS: You need not worry about leaving your "official” WBC pouch badge holder at home. We’ve bagged the treehugger and the US balance of payments concerns and said whatta heck - one less rule. You can use the badge holder appliance of your choice as long as you wear one. If you need one, we have four styles available ranging from pouch version, new plastic badge holders with colorful lanyards, clip-on, and pin. There will be a $5 charge for lost and replaced badges.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE: You must sign for receipt of your badge and all the goodies that come with it. So, make sure you have everything before you walk away. Once you sign, there is no coming back for what you forgot. Everyone must pick up and sign for their own badge. No exceptions!

PROGRAM: The 2023 printed program available at registration is black & white only. Those who prefer a full color presentation or who cannot wait to get their hands on a printout may download it now in full color from our schedule page at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc23/schedule.html. The programs provided at WBC are strictly one per person and invariably get lost so having a spare or one of the schedule apps is highly recommended. In fact, if you come so equipped, forego the B&W version entirely so we’ll have something to hand out to any late arrivals.

2024 RESERVATION POLICY: Do not attempt to reserve a hotel room for 2024 while at WBC. Seven Springs will not accept hotel reservations before January 15, 2024. At that time, reservations will again be limited to those reserving stays of five days or more with shorter duration stays opening later on a space available basis. A credit card guarantee will be required at time of booking to hold the reservation (hotel room, Condo, Chalet). No deposit will be required when booking reservation. Thirty days prior to arrival the full lodging amount for the stay will automatically be charged to the credit card on file and will be non-refundable. Reservations may be canceled, in writing, without penalty 31 days or more in advance of arrival date. Reservations canceled within 30 days or less of the arrival date will be charged full amount of the stay. If canceling, the entire reservation will be canceled—you cannot cancel a portion of your reservation.

You can make reservations before 2024 if you reserve a multi-bedroom condominium, chalet, or cabin. Not only will you enjoy kitchen and living areas, but you will make WBC more accessible to more gamers by opening more hotel rooms.

PARKING & CHECK-IN: Seven Springs is blessed with ample free parking, but exercising considerate behavior in its use will make this facility better for all concerned, so:

Entrance to the Convention Center and Main Lodge for those staying in the hotel is best accomplished from inside the hotel directly from the third and fourth floors. Those staying elsewhere should park in the Upper Lot and enter the Convention Center directly from the lot.

FOOD SERVICE: Two new food options include Mexican Cantina (next to Slopeside) and Foggy Goggle Bar (upper level of Ski Lodge). 2023 also see the return of Mountain Perks and the Bloody Mary Bar. See the inside cover of the program for more information on meal options.

WBC AUCTION: Sitting in on the game auction is always a nostalgic way to spend the day. It begins at 10 AM Tuesday and will conclude prior to the regular tournament fare at 6 PM, thus allowing us to keep our competitive focus. Check out the list of over 625 lots being auctioned at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc_auction_lots.html. Print the list to help you track the bidding. And remember, the Auction Store opens at 9 AM, an hour before the Auction begins. The Auction is Cash Only.

AUCTION STORE: Pre-registration for the Auction Store has ended. Do not bring unregistered items for sale. They will not be accepted at the Auction or the Store. Auction and Auction Store sales are strictly cash-only affairs so bring your wallet. WBC still does NOT take credit cards for the Auction/Auction Store. Registered lots for the Auction and Auction Store must be checked in at the Grand Ballroom on Monday between 12 and 6 PM.

REGISTRATION: The registration desk accepts Cash, Credit Cards, and Checks. Registration hours begin on1st Friday 7 PM – 9 PM and continue from 1st Saturday through Friday 8 AM – 8 PM, Saturday 8 AM – 10 PM, and Sunday 8 AM
– 2 PM. Be sure to stop by before departing to pick up any prizes won. Whether pre-registered or not - report to Stag Pass to pick up your badge and program.

KIOSKS: Check the Kiosks display in the 4th level hallway between the Main Lodge & the Convention Center opposite Pizza Place. Each is adorned with a pictorial history of the event that furthers the traditions of WBC. Do NOT sign the entrant lists on the Kiosks - those are strictly for the use of GMs. There is no event pre-registration at WBC. Later, when you want to see if you've done well enough to advance to a subsequent round after a preliminary heat, check out the Alternate & Qualifying lists on these kiosks which should be returned to this hallway in alphabetical order when not in use. Do NOT write on these kiosks! By vandalizing them with your messages you make it that much harder for us to keep prices low and appearances up. Use the paper that is taped to them, not the boards themselves.

The Event pictorial history sheet on each kiosk contains a place above the previous Laurelists for the GM to provide a Cell Phone # should you need to contact the GM. This is voluntary and up to each GM as to whether they wish to provide it or not - but there is a uniform place to look for this information. Give your GM a break and do not abuse their sacrifice of personal time by making unnecessary calls.

PERSONAL SCHEDULER & APPS REVISED: View the details of your favorites and then plan your schedule by checking the Schedule page for all the updated scheduling tools, including the iPad and android apps.

PICTURES: Newcomers will have their photos taken, so comb your hair, ladies, and gentlemen. We use these photos on our website and event kiosks to honor winners and laurelists in the various events as well as on membership badges. You may protest you'll never win anything, but please humor us and oblige us with a photo. You can request that we not use the photo on the internet. We would appreciate it if you would remove the hats and sunglasses. We'll also stop asking you for a new photo if you give us one where we can actually see your eyes. The kids’ photos get retaken frequently since they are anxious to grow up. Adults, not so much, since most of us would rather remember what we used to look like. However, if your picture is more than 10 years old, we encourage to have a new photo taken.

PACE YOURSELF: WBC is now nine days long. As such, it is very much a marathon - not a sprint. Resist the urge to treat it as a theme park and run from one event to the next. You'll enjoy yourself more if you take the time to eat and sleep normally and take an occasional break.

TOURNAMENTS: If with us for the first time, you may wonder what's the big deal? Well, WBC tournaments tend to be a far cry from what you find elsewhere masquerading as "events". Not all our tournaments are equal of course and GMs vary widely in experience and passion. You may be someone just looking for fun with pre-conceived notions of uber competitiveness who has always claimed that tournaments are not for you, but you'll be shortchanging yourself if you don't avail yourself of the opportunity to try a few. You might be surprised at just how much "fun" they are. Even confessed Open Gaming junkies admit that WBC's scheduled events provide the best organized Open Gaming ever - no more arguing about what to play next or endless teaching sessions. Just show up and play someone who knows how to play at the appointed time and place. What could be easier? So, keep an eye on that rotating projected schedule in the Exhibit Hall and pick a convenient time to get your feet wet. If you don't like it, you can always go back to Open Gaming - but at least you'll have tried.

GAMES: Remember to bring the games you want to play! Especially those of the two-player variety. Those using public transport must understandably pack lighter, but if you're driving, toss every game you want to play in the trunk. Every year people get turned away for lack of games.

OPEN GAMING: In an attempt to make the world a better place, we have ice-breaker Open Gaming kiosks for loan in the Game Library. So, in addition to borrowing games to play, you can get a highly visible display that announces your invitation to join your table and thereby escape the pain of being turned away. The kiosks are color-coded like their larger, tournament brethren: red seeks experienced players; yellow will teach you to play; and green seeks someone to teach them or are willing to learn together. Once your table is filled with all the players you need, please return the kiosk for others to use in finding partners.

(New in 2023)LATE NIGHT SOCIAL DEDUCTION GAMES: Consistent with BPA/WBC rules, late night social gaming (Werewolf, etc.) is considered open gaming and will be restricted to Open Gaming/Exhibit Hall Annex at WBC 2023. All event rooms will be locked after the last tournament slot has finished. We have been lenient on this in the past but several issues last year have forced the need to have this open gaming be done in the proper location.

UNABLE TO ATTEND? We'll miss you, but if you have a friend who is going, ask them to pick up any souvenirs for you and send us an email at conventiondirector@boardgamers.org to confirm who your representative is.

MAILING LIST: At registration, walk-ins will be required to complete an address form for both postal and email addresses so that we can contact you in the future. Rest assured that BPA does not sell or share its Membership List. If pre-registered, and you have changed either postal or email addresses recently, please share that information with us by neatly printing a Change of Address Registration form. However, to actually get our free Monthly newsletter emailed to you, visit: http://lists.boardgamers.org/mailman/listinfo/bpamail.

O, Canada! & Overseas Members: To avoid currency exchange problems, many of our members outside the US pre-pay their next year membership fees. We now accept Paypal payments throughout the year so this is less of a problem. However, those reluctant to deal with Paypal may complete a Registration form in Stag Pass for a Sustaining or Tribune membership and write "2024 pre-payment" at the top - indicating their preference for a free souvenir in the case of Tribune members. You will have the honor of becoming our first 2024 members, but first see Page 3 of this year’s program for 2024 Reservations policy. Don't forget to participate in the end-of-Year Trial votes by email.

NEW VENDORS: Shoppers are reminded that our Vendors Room is only open Thursday thru Saturday. We are pleased to have many of your favorite publishers back while welcoming Fyre & Ashe, Geek Chic, and Heiress Gaming as vendors, and JESi Gaming as an exhibitor to their first WBC.

A FULL 9 DAYS: Sustaining level members now have nine days of WBC. Open Gaming has expanded in both duration, tables, and space. You'll also find a number of new game demos scheduled in the Exhibit Annex Demo Area under the listing of "Game Demonstrations" as WBC welcomes a crop of budding designers anxious to show their Kick Starter projects and new game designs.

OPEN GAMING: Open Gaming is limited to the Exhibit Hall and Exhibit Annex and requires a WBC badge which should be worn at all times. Games may not be left setup overnight. Any game abandoned for more than an hour during prime game time runs the risk of being removed to Lost & Found. "Saving" of tables and solicitation is NOT ALLOWED. Using the preliminary round of WBC events as a form of scheduled Open Gaming is common practice. If you win and have no desire to continue in the event, just inform the GM.

GAME LIBRARY: Thanks to the generous support of our vendors and other game Company’s, the Exhibit Hall will have a supply of games for free use throughout the convention. Please borrow only one at a time and do not take them from the Exhibit Hall. Return them to the same alphabetical section of the library in the same condition you received them and remember to sign them both in and out on the same line using the same alphabetical-coded clipboard for the game you borrowed. Use the bags provided to sort and store pieces for the next user. Your co-operation is needed so we can continue to offer this valuable resource. The current library inventory is listed at http://www.boardgamers.org/wbc_gamelibrary.html.

JUNIORS: The Juniors program is located in Hemlock on Level 3 of the Convention Center and is now open six days. Before you unleash the kids, be advised that those 12 and under who wish to play in the Juniors events or use the Juniors room must be accompanied by a member parent or guardian to sign a consent form before being allowed to use the room. Be advised that the Juniors Room is NOT a Day Care service, however, and that we take no responsibility for keeping tabs on children who are free to come and go as they please. There is no substitute for parental supervision. We welcome all parental assistance in teaching games and keeping order. Inquire with the hotel for day care and kids camp services.

EXHIBITS: These are not to be confused with Vendors & Sales, but are tables reserved for publishers to demonstrate their products, both old and new, and distribute their literature. They may playtest upcoming games or just invite you to Open Game with their products. These tables will be marked as reserved tablecloths for the various companies and cannot be used for Open Gaming or events without the permission of that exhibitor. Exhibit tables occupy the first two rows of the Exhibit Hall.

FOREIGN CURRENCY: Exchange of foreign currency is not available locally. Be sure to visit the Foreign Exchange Office at your airport.

MEETINGS: The BPA's Annual Meeting will be held before the Collectibles auction on Tuesday, July 25th at 3 PM in the Grand Ballroom of Seven Springs Mountain Resort where we will present the newly elected 2023 version of the Board of Directors for your questions. We will also present our awards to the worthy winners of Caesar, Consul, Praetor, and Team Tournament.

Our After-Action Meeting will be held at 8 AM on Saturday morning, July 29th in Sunburst for a CD review of WBC 2023 and to answer questions and hear comments from the members regarding the week of WBC. All are encouraged to attend.

SHOW YOUR COLORS: Saturday, July 29th is the official Game Club Shirt Day. Promote your local gaming group and camaraderie by showing everyone your gaming affiliation. Friday, the 28th, is Team Shirt day. Show the creativity of those clever team logos. Thursday is Centurion Shirt day when past winners can strut their stuff in unison. And for the elite veterans amongst us, Wednesday is WBC Legion Day when those proud few stalwarts laying claim to having attended every WBC can proudly proclaim their veteran status by wearing their Legion shirts. Tuesday is Hawaiian Shirt Day to honor the auction staff. But Monday is a day when we can all show our local pride by wearing our favorite Sports Jersey. Promote your sports affiliations when we meet at WBC! Empty your closets and pack accordingly.

POSTERS NOT ALLOWED: Attendees are reminded that absolutely NO flyers, posters, or charts of any kind are to be taped, glued, stapled, or adhered in any fashion to any surface at Seven Springs. Any such materials will be immediately removed. You are welcome to place flyers for gaming activities on the designated table in Registration with Prior CD approval. Absolutely no signage of any kind is to be adhered to a wall, furniture, or other surface. Those who ignore this rule will be liable for damage claims.

FLEA MARKETS NOT ALLOWED: Attendees are reminded that all tables at WBC are reserved for the PLAY of games by those with a current WBC badge. No unauthorized selling, trading, or solicitation is allowed on the premises. Items stacked on tables and games left unattended will be sent to Lost & Found in Registration.

PRIZES: Players are reminded to check the event kiosks in the Kiosk hallway of the Convention Center to see advancement priority for later rounds. It is common in multiplayer games for non-winners to advance, so if you want to play, always check to see if there are openings in the later rounds. It is not the GM's responsibility to find you. You must check the kiosk to determine your standing or appear at the next round to check for vacancies. If you do win a prize, remember to collect it at Stag Pass before leaving. Although we hold prizes for pickup next year, we must charge a shipping and handling fee if you want them delivered in the interim. Also, remember to check the back of any Plaques you win in GMT events for merchandise credits.

EXPERIENCE LEVELS: Please honor the experience requirements of events. Class A (red) events are for experienced players only. Class B (yellow) events allow beginners only if you have at least read the rules or attended the mandatory demonstration in the Exhibit Hall Annex. Do NOT expect to be taught the game during the event. Class C (green) events have GMs who have agreed to coach players during play.

PLAYING TIMES: Be considerate and play promptly, keeping within the duration of the event's listed playing time. Failure to do so not only cause problems when the space you occupy is needed for another event, it can distress your opponents by making them miss the start of their next event. And it slows down the entire tournament while others wait for you to finish before they can start another round. Failure to adhere to the scheduled playing times forces GMs to make adjudications which neither they nor you will enjoy - especially since we advise heavy bias against those who play slowly. Most event playing times are already estimated on the long side but if you cannot keep up with even that pace, restrict your play to Open Gaming.

.........I look forward to seeing all of you next week and Travel safely.
Ken Gutermuth
WBC Convention Director