Hi everyone! I am happy to announce that registration for the Grand Tribunal America convention is open! The web site is us.grandtribunal.net/main.html and the cost is only $25 if you sign up before June. Information for making reservations at the hotel is posted as well. Hope to see you there!
Also, if you would like to run a game, please write to Toshi, lechatonnoir@gmail.com. Besides the acclaim and the feeling of great power it gives one to GM, you get tickets for our raffle of fabulous prizes. Currently, this includes a rare misprinted copy of City & Guild with Ancient Magic hidden inside!
That is astonishing. If I can get there at all this year I'll be taking advantage of that deal. Maybe not the whole two weeks, but certainly a couple of days either side. Nice one guys.
Can you tease me a little more and tell me what the actual gaming area is like?
Yes, it is absolutely true. And a lot of us are going to go up early and/or stay late, so you might actually get more gaming in if you do. I would certainly not be averse to running an evening session for those folks who spend the day at the lake and want to come back afterward to play some more of our favorite game.
Maerwen can probably answer better than I, but from what I have heard we have two options, depending upon how many of us there are. The first option is a suite with a full kitchen and deck, and room for two round tables with 8 chairs each, and another table and chairs outside during the day. The second option, if we have 20 or more people, is a standard conference room very similar to last year's that can probably hold 40 people comfortably. No kitchen, but all the rooms have full kitchens anyway.
Is there pre-game preparation that should be done before arrival if one wants to play? I've never attended one of these before, and I'd hate to miss out just because I didn't prepare...
Nope. You can just show up if you want. Some of the GMs might allow or request that you make characters beforehand, but most of them bring pre-made characters, as the games tend to play out better that way. You probably want to let us know when you're planning on arriving and things like that, especially for this one because the nearest airport is about an hour's drive away and we're planning to pick people up. But we'll have a packet and welcoming stuff for all registered guests there.
I'll second what Erik said. Last year most GMs had characters made up (the one that didn't did request you bring your character). In fact, those that pre-register often get to view the characters they will be playing before showing up. Last year's GMs were very well organized and the sessions were universally well received.
Key point: Register and just show up with what you would like to bring.
The chair and her team have done a spectacular job and the conventio will be well worth it.
If you want to bring people with you to the hotel who do not intend to participate in the Ars Magica activities, you don't have to register them. (There is quite a lot to do at the hotel and in the nearby area.) To participate in the conventio, kids should be mature enough to play-- the GM of the game making the call-- and we ask that a parent or guardian stays nearby to monitor them. Younger than about 14 is probably too young. It's also probably best if non-participants don't hang out in the room with us, so if you bring youngsters you will probably also need someone you can switch off with to supervise them.
Yes, we are quite thrilled to have negotiated our extended room rates for August 15, 2010 through August 29, 2010; we will only have the meeting room suite on August 20, 21, and 22nd. But we will have 24 hours access to the suite, which has a fireplace an outside deck, and a full service kitchen. It translates into a lot of flexibility for early/late start sessions. Plus your hotel rooms are suites, as well, with full kitchens and fireplaces; it's very cozy and nice
Some great new activity ideas are being speculated through the planning committee, and we plan on running item contests, another live action RPG (hopefully), as well as regular games. I expect that this year will be lots of fun.
With the extended hotel rate, we hope that many people will take advantage of coming early or stay late -- families can spend time shopping or going to Lake Tahoe. There is plenty to keep them busy while you sneak off in your wizardly robes for a creo-fix.
When you book the hotel room, the option you will want to select in "a one bedroom" -- also make sure you put in the group code: 409796
If you have any difficulties, email me!
~Toshi
Edit: The option is "a one bedroom" ALSO, I have noted there is a $10.00 resort fee on the rooms, so you must account for that. Perhaps there is also a resort fee tax, and a resort fee tax tax, ad infinitum.
