Ok, Chris...you got my attention!

50 is a BIG milestone...and I am in if I am not a new Granpaw (my daughter
is expecting our first grandson in the family).

Put me down for starting on Friday @ 1p (1st session...running untill we
drop) for Dead Winter - GMT's latest ACW regimental game. I will need two
tables so I will bring an extra 72" by 30" table to put the entire game out.
This game will comfortably handle 6 guys...true wargaming...ACW.

I presume PJs are optional...

Rich

Subject: Help Me Celebrate at 50Con!


> (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!
>