Vegas sized craters and Essen crashes.

Vegas sized craters and Essen crashes.

Having finally gotten over the come down that has afflicted me the last two or three months, which has been a roller coaster of a ride for several reasons, I am somewhere between here and there which to be precise is somewhere between “up yonder” and “down’t road.”

Firstly, I changed roles at work taking a secondment for 6 months (starting mid august) which took me well away from my comfort zone.

Secondly, I turned 40 and as a surprise for this apparently life defining moment my wife arranged a surprise visit to Las Vegas for me/us/her (I could tag along). I will be totally honest, it was not somewhere I had any real interest in going, but “oh my good Lord!” What an amazing place, what an adventure. I arrived there and was totally overwhelmed, a real shock and awe moment for me. My good wife thought I was in some sort of mood for being taken there, the truth is that I could not take it all in, it just did not compute. I should also add that it was only at the airport check in desk when I found out where we were actually going. Must.Go.Back.

Viva Las Vegas!

Back in the UK and a huge funk took over me. I could not focus on work, even my beloved hobby was not doing it for me. I tried to continue with my plans, which I will get to, but I just could not get excited about them. All I did, it seemed, was day dream about my time in Vegas and how on earth I could get back there (and it wasn’t for the gambling, which I barely did any of, it was just such a cool place to kick back, explore, relax and spend some quality time with my wife).

And then the Essen call came. Obviously I have written a fair amount about it in previous posts, so wont dwell. Essen came and went in a whirlwind of utter chaos and exhaustion and I found myself dumped straight back into Vegas shaped crater I had just managed to crawl out of.

Another couple of week meandered by, but very slowly and surely I was starting to plan my attack. I had, pre-Vegas, spoken to one or two people about what I wanted to be doing with my life. They were enthusiastic for me and I further outlined my ideas to my wife. She was/is very supportive and then met up with a good friend who listened to my musings and he too gave me some good advice and offered to help.

So here we are, but where exactly is that?

The start of my plan is where, a plan that started with my discovery of KickStarter and a couple of games that are made by independent companies.

I will start to record my journey, where I have been, where I am now and where I am hopefully headed (amongst my general ramblings with regard to the hobby I love).

Game Happy

Chris

Grublins and Greblords

I ended part one with the words “Had we known what was in store for us, we may not have emerged from our rooms.”

That is probably a little unfair. We were excited and terrified in equal measure. I should have probably said “We would be better prepared.”

I perhaps should also have posted these pictures of the first couple of days in the previous post, but here they are now, a few pictures of the setting up before the show proper.

Tuesday and Wednesday in Essen... the calm before the storm (quite literally)

I remember walking along with Nick at about 8:50 am on the Thursday morning. Nick, Rachel and Henry were already inside, having headed over a little earlier than us. We passed the entrance to the convention centre and there was a little crowd gathering outside. We had a cursory glance and ducked in a side entrance, gleefully showing our ‘exhibitor passes.’

We got to our stand, C-105, and tinkered about a little, sorting out the finishing touches, when we realised that there a couple of things missing. Nick and I agreed to head back to the hotel and get the required bits ‘n’ bobs. Back passed the crowed, a little larger, but still no sign of the crowd we had been told [warned] about. Collecting the items from the hotel, we then passed the convention centre again at approximately 10am... “Oh my good Lord!”

Where did all these people come from... the place was rammed. With the exhibitor passes in hand we again made for the side entrance and into the halls proper and what for the past 2 days had been relatively quiet (aside the hive of activity that was people setting up stalls) was now wall to wall people... all on the hunt for the same thing, BOARDGAMES!

Shock to the system: The Halls of Plenty.

Exhibitor pass: Saving your sanity one day at a time (just don't leave home without it!)

The canny amongst you might have noticed that the 27^th is un-punched.  Here is a lesson for all you kids out there, don’t misplace your pass EVER! If you do, all notion of German efficiency will leave you forever. Another story there... will post that tomorrow (if I can bring myself to relive the torment of that hour I will never, ever, get back.

Moving swiftly on as I can feel the tears coming back....

Pushing our way back to the Grublin Games stand, we could not believe our eyes.

I should say at this point, we had all been harbouring an unspoken fear; what if we weren’t busy? What if people didn’t want to buy Cornish Smuggler.

That fear was quickly put to rest and never surfaced again for four solid days. I won’t dwell too much on the actual business side, only to say that from 10:00am through to 19:30 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and pretty much until we left on Sunday, all we did was sell Cornish Smuggler, Demo Cornish Smuggler and talk about Cornish Smuggler. Of course, Henry also had to do all the talking to the press, interviews (see BGG one here), etc. Actually, I will say one thing on the demonstration side of things. We had back to back demo slots from 10:00 Thursday until 18:00 (by which time we also had two games running at a time). Much like the ubiquitous Zombies, they just kept coming... 

Demonstrations of Cornish Smuggler with the Grublin Games Team

I met some great people while I was there, Warren, Neil and James. I was lucky enough to play a game designed by a friend of Henry’s.  I am not certain what I can say about it, so will only say that it was a card drafting game, where players bid and trade resources. I am not sure how far along the game is, but what I experienced I really enjoyed.

I was also lucky enough to bump into an old friend who I had not seen for a long time (actually, that is not entirely true, I also bumped into him at Salute this year, but that is besides the point). So to you Mr Greblord, a salute. Thanks for the beer and introducing me to Love Letter.

Oh and a final mention. In the post today I received a prototype of a game to play test from another person whom I met in Essen. So a quick shout out to Katrogue and Chaosgen.

With Sunday night drawing to a close and with sadness and happiness washing over me in equal measure we stowed what was left of our Cornish Smuggler in the car. We gave Essen a wave goodbye and set off for the drive back to the UK, through storms, wind and rain we battled; eventually arriving back in Crowthorne at approximately 3am. I unpicked myself from the boxes, bags, boardgames, laptops and all manner of other items and crawled into my bed for the best sleep I have had in ages. Exhausted and drained, but with memories that will last an awful long time.

Bowing out of Essen, we were proud to display the following:

 

Game yourself happy
Chris

We're gonna need a bigger cupboard!

Saturday morning: My wife is busy beavering away at our (her) gift shop in the village. Me? Why I am doing what any dutiful husband would be doing on the first morning of the much revered weekend; I am lying in bed thinking about getting up. In betwixt thoughts of what I could do to take the gaming world by storm I drift off again. There is an occasional kick as my restful companion (Pickles the Dog) joins me in wonderful slumber. Pickles is most likely dreaming equally adventurous dreams; wondering what it would be like to devour a bone twice her size (and for the sake of imagery, that would equate to an oversized chicken wing! Yes, she is that small).

Reconstruction of Miss Pickles and Long Bear enjoying a much need nap

My dreams are broken by the most irritating of sounds, the phone ringing, “Bugger!"

Who on earth calls at such an ungodly hour on a Saturday morning..? Er, lunchtime, yeah, lets round down and call it midday!

Apparently it is my wife. I clear my throat and put on my best ‘of course I am up, I have been for ages’ voice. She is irritated, I can feel it the static that is crackling on the line... the static that winds me up. It really should not exist in 2013, but that is a complaint for B.T. not my blog.

“A package? For moi? Noooo, what could it be?” Of course, I already know, but have to play dumb. In her defence, she is only irritated that this oversized package is not for her.

With renewed vigour I jump out of bed and skip the 5 minute walk in less than 3. Throwing open the shop door, the biggest smile I can muster splayed awkwardly across my face (I don’t normally smile in the shop, I sulk and pretend to kick imaginary little people around the floor until I am told to go home lest I upset the venerable customers!). Regardless, I am there and on the surface I am happy. I skip over to my gorgeous wife and give her a big hug and peck on the cheek and tell her what a wonderful day it is. She doesn’t fall for any of this, merely scowls and points... “in the back.”

As I open the door that leads to the rear of the shop I can almost hear an orchestral choir singing (aa-aa-aa-aa-aaaaaa). It feels like the scene from Pulp Fiction when Vincent Vega opens the brief case for the first time; a warm glow emitting from within and lighting up my cherub like features (if Cherubs had beards).

Vincent Vega: "Ooooh shiny." (Okay wrong franchise)

And there before me is ‘Dark, Darker, Darkest’. I hauled, literally hauled, the box over my shoulder and headed out into the bleak Saturday weather, it was wet and cold. With my strength renewed I hurried home to the warm confines of my little cottage eager to see what was actually inside, unsure whether the box would even fit through the door.

Putting things in to perspective. The Box vs. Railways of the world, the largest game I own.

Imagine my surprise. Not one ‘Dark, Darker, Darkest, box, but two! Two huge boxes of delight (well at least I hope so, I have not yet gotten to play the game). The first box is the main game, the second box contains all the Kick Starter bits ‘n’ bobs... Aaaand a third mini bundle of joy in the form of Metro. Wow! Simply wow!

Miss Pickles Vs. Dark, Darker, Darkest (and Metro)

All there is left to do with them (aside playing of course) is find somewhere to store them all.

I should say as well, that this was a game KickStarted some time ago and had hoped to pick up while I was in Essen. Sadly (or in hindsight fortunately), I notified them too late and while I made my trip to Germany, it made its trip over here to the UK. I wonder, would that put me over my baggage allowance?

Happy Gaming

Chris

Whilst this post is based on reality, rather inspired by, some scenes have been altered for dramatic effect (or maybe they are downright lies!

If you would like to know more about any of the games featured, then click on the links below:

Railways of the World by Eagle Games.

Dark, Darker, Darkest by Queen Games

Metro by Queen Games