(My apologies if you are receiving multiple copies of this note through your
many and varied mailing list memberships.)

August 22nd is my 50th birthday and for the last couple of years I wanted to
have a Gamers' Retreat planned for me and my gaming buds to last the whole
birthday weekend. My initial thoughts were to have it off-site at a cabin
or something--a real retreat with no distractions. But with me not
currently bringing in as much income right now as I'm used to, that's not
going to be feasible, although I still want to do something like that to
mark the occasion.

After speaking with the Boss (aka Diane) about this odd little idea (to
which she has given her full support, mainly since she won't have to mess
with renting the cabin and setting it all up as a surprise for me), she came
up with the idea of inviting a bunch of people over to the house for a
weekend of gaming, and naming this adventure "50Con." So be it.

So, I'm hosting a "50 for 50" game marathon, where we play for 50 hours
(well, at least we finish 50 hours after we start, or thereabouts). We'll
start at 1:30 pm on Friday 8/21, play until late, start again early on
Saturday 8/22 and play all day again until late, and do it all again on
Sunday 8/23. Now, I don't think I could expect everyone to be there the
whole time, and I'm not even sure what I'd be capable of myself, but I think
a wide open gaming weekend for any and all comers would be a great way to
help me celebrate my half-way point.

And I've organize it a bit, and set up seven 4-hour long gaming sessions,
just like they have at gaming cons, so we can focus all the games around
those slots. That way, we can inject some planning in the midst of the
otherwise chaotic open gaming scenario, and people can count on some
distinct entry (and exit) points to suit their own needs. For my part, I'll
be in all of the sessions, which will be 1:30-5:30 & 6:00-11:00 on Friday,
9:00-1:00, 1:30-5:30, & 6:00-11:00 on Saturday, and 9:00-1:00,& 1:30-5:30 on
Sunday. Attached is a schedule matrix so you can get a sense of what I'm
thinking about.

I have a minimum of 4 tables (w/19 chairs) that are available for gaming,
with 3 additional tables that could be set up for any overflow (but would
need some chairs). I think that's being a bit overly optimistic on the
turnout, but when I say "C'mon over!" I want to make sure there a seat for
everyone. (But does this joker even have that many friends??)

Now, this is primarily a wargaming thingy, though I expect some of the
harder-core "Euros" might get some playing time, as I am a big fan of heavy
economic games, and the 18xx games (1856 and 1870 in particular). Plus,
it's my birthday, and if I say it's "anything goes..." Rest assured there
will be no damned Magic and no damned Dragons (though you might see a LAW or
Sagger or two...).

All together, this would be a great little mini-con, 15-25 people to help me
celebrate the Big 5-0. So when looking at your calendar for the weekend of
8/21-8/23, keep the immortal words of Jack Lord in mind, and "book 'em,
Dan-o."

As my CSW tagline reads, "Most of my life I've spent gaming, the rest I've
just wasted." I'm looking forward to spending another 40-50 years of
gaming!

Be there!


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