Preregistration | Team Tournament | Primer | Event Newsletters | Program | Yearbook | Auction | Library Inventory | Open Gaming Expands | The Party Game Cast | Lodging | Tie Dye Shirts | Previews | Math Trade |Lodging | Souvenirs | Previews | Polls Closing | PBEM

PRE-REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS HAVE ENDED: WBC's Pre-Registration set a new record with over 1300 attendee commitments. We will continue to process registrations at the walk-in rate of $40 for the first day and $10 for each additional day for those who wish to speed the registration process or need to enroll in the team tournament. Use the Preregistration page to check the status of your registration, troll for teammates, rides or roommates, or even Open Gaming matches or babysitting gigs. 

Note: If you are in the habit of showing up at the door and requesting extra days on your badge, be advised that higher walkon rates will apply. Increased door rates are imposed to encourage pre-registration and avoid badge reprints which slow the registration process for yourself and others. So, if you want to upgrade your membership to include pre-cons, do so before you arrive. If we must reprint your badge it will cost extra. We will honor the lowest prices for upgrades of Sustaining memberships to Tribune memberships, but only if received by July 27. 

TEAM TOURNAMENT COMMENTARY: Longtime track sage, Stuart Tucker has authored a weekly commentary on the upcoming Team Tournament that complements Jeff Cornett's new statistical analysis of the odds. Can you beat the new Handicapper this year? 49 teams are already headed to the starting gate athttp://boardgamers.org/wbc14/teamtour.htm for the 24th annual run for the slivers. Check Jeff's odds, weigh Stuart's opinions, get your team entered and then study the racing form for our annual Bracket Busting contest. Don't procrastinate! Enter your team now by sending an email to conventiondirector@boardgamers.org. 

WBC PRIMER: All WBC pre-registrants will be sent a special email one week before the convention. Watch for it, since it will include among other tips how to enter the Team Tournament Bracket Busting contest once the final odds are set, plus other convention advice. 

EVENT NEWSLETERS: One of the things that sets WBC tournaments apart from those found elsewhere is the extra care and detail lavished on them year round by dedicated GMs. Three such are War At Sea, Gettysburg and Gangsters whose GMs send out free newsletters each year to promote their events. You can get copies of the former by contacting Vince Meconi at vmeconi@verizon.net or going to John Pack'shttp://www.gameaholics.com/gsr_wbc/gsr_13_yearbook.htm. Both longtime GMs have earned event bonus points in the new adjusted Century formula for their efforts. 

WBC PROGRAM ON LINE: A colorized version of the 2014 program containing the complete alphabetical and chronological schedule is now posted. Unlike the black & white print version distributed at WBC, the various categories of events are color coded as an aid to quick recognition and is definitely worth downloading and printing for the easiest reference. View the details of your favorite events and then plan your schedule using Steve Okonski's Personal Scheduler. You can also find additional scheduling aids on line for the ultimate in planning your week at WBC including apps for android, i-pad, and i-phones by Kevin Broh-kahn plus an icalendar scheduling tool courtesy of Craig Trader. 

2013-2014 YEARBOOK: The most recent version of the WBC Yearbook is posted online for download. Qualifying members who renewed their Sustaining or Tribune memberships by the required deadline and who were not mailed a copy may pick up theirs at WBC registration in New Holland. A limited number of additional copies will be available for sale on site for $10. 

AUCTION CLOSED: The Auction again sold out in record time this year. Those contemplating selling items now need to wait till next year or avail themselves of the Auction Store. All Auction Store items must be pre-registered by July 20. The Auction Store is also capping what it will accept this year at 2200 items so don't delay as it is already 2/3 full. Unregistered items will NOT be accepted. Get the details.

LIBRARY INVENTORY UPDATE: Donations of new games are again pouring into the BPA Game Library sponsored by Alliance Distributors. The center piece of the Lancaster Showroom's 13,000 sq ft Open Gaming Dinner Theatre made over 1800 recorded game loans last time and an even bigger assortment of the latest games is expected in 2014. See the continually updated 2014 inventory as it grows ever larger with contributions from Rio Grande Games, GMT, Victory Point Games, Blue Orange Games, Red Raven, Doctor Finn's Games, Days of Wonder, Elfinwerks, Flying Buffalo, Paul Koenig Games and Alliance Distributors, among others. 

OPEN GAMING EXPANDS: The Showroom's 13,000 sq ft tiered Open Gaming location remains the focal point of the convention and will be supplemented by the even larger Expo Center during peak days, Wednesday thru Saturday. While the Expo Center is without library services and rectangular tables, it will not be subject to parking tickets and may be a better choice for games with long setup times whose players need to take occasional breaks. However, unattended games remain so at your own risk. Note once again that there is no Open Gaming during the Pre-Cons. More details are available. An Open Gaming list is now up on Boadgamegeek. Check the World Boardgaming Championships Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2381468400/), WBC BoardgameGeek Forum (http://boardgamegeek.com/forum/970241/boardgamegeek/wbc), WBC BoardgameGeek Guild (http://boardgamegeek.com/guild/84), BPA_WBC Twitter Feed (https://twitter.com/BPA_WBC), and WBC forum on ConSimWorld (http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX/.1dd15816/) for all the latest discussions about WBC, including open gaming match-ups. 

THE PARTY GAME CAST: Expect a return visit by the podcasters from The Party Game Cast with more Live at WBC interviews and reviews. Relive last years minisodes at http://www.thepartygamecast.com/#Minisodes.

LODGING: Although the Host is long since sold out, overflow housing is available across the street at the Continental Inn for $99 per day including a free, hot breakfast. A three-night minimum stay is required for our special group rate. One night's deposit will be required upon booking. Deposit is refundable up until 48 hours prior to arrival. Phone 717-299-0421 to make your reservation or email info@continentalInn.com for a callback by the reservationist. Alternatively, you may book on line at http://www.continentalinn.com at the regular rates and identify yourself in the comments as claiming the WBC rate providing you are booking the three-night minimum stay. This offer is valid only until our room block sells out, and only a few rooms remain for Wednesday thru Saturday so reserve now.

TIE-DYE SPECIAL ORDERS BACK AGAIN: A wide assortment of WBC Souvenirs and apparel, most with the BPA embroidered logo, is now available to order at http://www.boardgamers.org for pickup at WBC. The deadline for orders is July 20. 

WBC 2014 EVENT PREVIEWS: Each of our 159 tournaments are previewed in detail as only WBC does them. A few of these have been updated since their initial posts and those so affected will have an updated date in the list of tournaments.

MATH TRADE: Math trades are a great way to swap games with other people. Ben Stephenson (Bien on BGG) will run a math trade at WBC 2014. The advantage of this math trade is there will be no need to ship any games saving time and a lot of money. However, you must attend the convention or give your games to someone that will be attending. Find out more at http://boardgamers.org/wbc/mathtrade.htm. There is a link to the rules and the discussion list and a description of a math trade for everyone who is unfamiliar with them. Note that all games offered and desired must be posted by 8pm, Eastern Time, on Thursday, July 31. The meeting to exchange games is 12pm, Eastern Time, on Friday, Aug. 8, in the Hopewell Room at the Lancaster Host.

PBeM NEWS:

Mossman WINS SPEED CIRCUIT: Tim Mossman moved into 7th place in the BPA Speed Circuit laurels standings by winning the 2nd PBeM tournament over a field of 26. He came from the back of the pack with a late forced pass and a successful chance dice roll to seal the win on the New Delhi track. It was the first tournament win for Mossman who finished sixth in last year's contest and has finished 3rd or 4th at WBC three times. Rob Kircher, fresh off his March Madness PBeM title, racked up more offseason laurels with a second-place finish. Michael Aubuchon doubled his laurel totals with a third place finish, fading from the early lead as his tires wore. Martin Burgdorf of Germany finished fourth followed by Doug Schulz and Curt Collins in the laurels. Rounding out the finalists in order were: Canadian Bruce Rae, Robert Runf, Chris Hancick, Jeff Cornett, William Kennard and Buck Karpowicz. A third PBeM tournament will be starting after WBC again using two heats to qualify 12 finalists. Contact wbcspeedcircuit@gmail.com for details and check out the updated laurel standings at http://boardgamers.org/yearbook14/sctpge.htm#pbem.

McCulloch WINS PRO GOLF: Sean McCulloch edged Robert Kircher in a six hole playoff round to best a field of 51 after some 12,590 emails had been hit across the nation's pseudo courses. Despite losing the playoff, Robert increased his lead in this year's Caesar competition with his second place finish. WBC junior's honcho, Laurie Wojtaszczyk finished third while Harry Flawd, Terry Coleman and Rebekah Monnin split the remaining laurels. More details including updated laurel standings are available at http://boardgamers.org/yearbook14/pgfpge.htm#pbem. 

NEW STONE AGE TOURNAMENT: Max Jamelli will host his second online tournament for Stone Age on August 24. Check out the details athttp://maxjamelli1.wix.com/stoneagebpa.

WAR AT SEA PLAYOFFS: The five swiss rounds of the current PBeM tournament have delivered six finalists to the quarterfinals. Andy Maly and Ed Menzel earned the top two seeds and a bye into the semis while Dennis Nicholson and Rob Flowers battle in Menzel's bracket and Jonathan Lockwood and Rob Drozd meet for a shot at the unbeaten Maly. The bracket can be seen at:http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/BPA_WAS_Bracket_2014.htm.

GREAT CAMPAIGNS: Round 2 of the GCACW PBeM tournament has concluded with 25 players still fighting for the top eight spots. So far the ranks of the undefeated include some of the usual suspects but also relative newcomers such as Rob Tokarz and Dan Leader. Having played two scenarios from the All Green Alike module, we now shift our attention to the updated "classic" scenarios from Stonewall Jackson's Way II. Check out the latest news and standings at the tournament website:http://www.wargamereplays.com/gcacw/tournament/gcacw13pbem1....

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Remember... all of the above PBeM fun is free to current BPA members. Others may qualify with a $10 PBEM membership in the year the event starts. All multi-day paid attendees to WBC are current BPA members for the balance of that calendar year. You need not keep your membership current in order to finish a PBeM event. Players may join the BPA throughout the year. See the BPA Terms page for details.

BPA members who would like to see an email tournament for their favorite game are encouraged to step forward as the GM of such an event. BPA does not run tournaments. Rather, we are an organization of gamers lending support to one another so such events can happen. No one cares as much about your hobby as you do. Get involved. See the requirements to host a BPA email tournament at http://www.abovethefields.com/top_pbem/

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