tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post6878474577978899397..comments2024-02-16T18:32:38.635-05:00Comments on The Back 40K: Comparing NOVA and Adepticon: Part I - Location And HotelFarmpunkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09622091234212120598noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-15668089168249739162013-08-02T20:49:35.081-04:002013-08-02T20:49:35.081-04:00Good comparing within nova and adepticon with grea...Good comparing within nova and adepticon with great example..<a href="http://www.lombard-taxi.com/" rel="nofollow">lombard ohare</a> Lombard Taxi services to and from Midway, O'Hare and the Loop<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834302510531760242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-45490394038084359772011-09-15T10:37:31.884-04:002011-09-15T10:37:31.884-04:00Please let it go Foodie.Please let it go Foodie.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-59642902373785392252011-09-15T09:16:46.024-04:002011-09-15T09:16:46.024-04:00Thank you for comparing them. As I am stuck out he...Thank you for comparing them. As I am stuck out here in the corn fields of Iowa, I will have to choose between Adepticon and Nova next year. Traveling to both is probably out of the question for my vacation budget. I have to choose between flying to DC or driving 9 hours to Adepticon.<br /><br />Hotel conditions are a factor in my choice. There are also other considerations too. I do not think it is a bad thing compairing the 2 events as long as it is done objectively.<br /><br />Josh<br />2centson40k.blogspot.comDunn911https://www.blogger.com/profile/04528417511673449145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-53690653596629084222011-09-15T08:56:03.539-04:002011-09-15T08:56:03.539-04:00I really think we should go back to talking about ...I really think we should go back to talking about the hookers.Anonymous Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14362829012549159278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-75631687609434126262011-09-15T07:29:49.868-04:002011-09-15T07:29:49.868-04:00@Blackmoor and Jiri
Great comments guys!@Blackmoor and Jiri<br /><br />Great comments guys!SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-38312686872071500052011-09-15T03:45:03.077-04:002011-09-15T03:45:03.077-04:00I envy your tournament concept! Places look luxuri...I envy your tournament concept! Places look luxurious. In Czech the tournament is usually held in a school gym. Sleeping in a hotel? Why, take a sleeping bag and sleep on the ground or find a hotel on your own. But I have to admit that ticket to a big tournament is the equivalent of around $ 9 and the biggest tournament has about 60 participants.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14168565352235018000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-89062403542998180042011-09-15T02:59:49.661-04:002011-09-15T02:59:49.661-04:00It is not really a fair comparison for the Nova Op...It is not really a fair comparison for the Nova Open to be compared to Adepticon. <br /><br />The Nova Open is in its second year and Adepticon is in its 10th. There were a lot of growing pains along the way for Adepticon like when it was at the Shamburg Marriott and they had the Warhammer Fantasy tournament in a tent!<br /><br />Then about 3 years ago they moved to a hotel in Rosemont IL (The Crown Plaza?) and it was everything you are complaining about with the Nova Open. It was right next to O’Hare airport so it was really convenient to the out-of-town crowd, but it had no stores or services anywhere close to the hotel and the prices were sky high. The locals also were upset at having to pay for parking. After that, and 8 years they moved into the Lombard Westin.<br /><br />As far as the Hyatt goes, I did not think it was too bad. The prices were a tad high, but in the DC area hotels are use to doing business with the big businesses that are trying to do business with the Government, so most of the people they are dealing with are on expense accounts and on their corporation’s dime so it makes it someone tough for those that are paying their own way.<br /> <br />Now that we have some practice at this hotel, if they stay with the venue Mike can make it better and mitigate some of the major venue complaints. <br /><br />For example there was a parking lot next door that was much cheaper, and there can be some research done to find cheaper parking option nearby.<br /><br />I was tired Sunday night (13 games is a killer and we got out late) so what did I do for food? I ordered a $10 pizza from Dominos that was both dinner and breakfast. There are delivery options available that people just do not think about. There is a Chinese restaurant where you circled “Everything Else” that has delivery.<br /><br />So what I am trying to say is that if Mike wants to stay in that Hotel, there could be some work done to prep people for a more pleasant experience. Update the Nova Open website with other parking options, add list of all of the local eateries that have delivery with menus and phone numbers, etc. No hotel is going to be perfect, and sometimes you just have to make compromises.Blackmoorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09608837818226972440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-41250075143983229072011-09-15T01:13:25.555-04:002011-09-15T01:13:25.555-04:00In the future I'll refrain from using "vs...In the future I'll refrain from using "vs." or calling a "winner" on the comparisons. But I'm still going to compare the events because I think it's important.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-51684501272860020212011-09-14T23:32:13.016-04:002011-09-14T23:32:13.016-04:00And MVB who is a big supporter of Sandwyrm asked v...And MVB who is a big supporter of Sandwyrm asked very nicely to not do a "vs" thing.<br /><br />Either way it is Sandwyrms decisionSpaguatyrinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459803772469387289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-69063590651591426872011-09-14T23:29:13.453-04:002011-09-14T23:29:13.453-04:00Lantz,
We play together regularly and traveled to...Lantz,<br /><br />We play together regularly and traveled together to Nova. <br /><br />Sandwyrm is very well liked and read as he should be, he is the premier writer on this blog. We believe here that we want to better the community of 40k. When any of us writers start to come off the wrong way we police ourselves. If there is an unbiased and fair comparison I have no issue. The two events are not the same, and they shouldn't be compared the same in my opinion.Spaguatyrinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459803772469387289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-30992282219981718802011-09-14T21:48:02.172-04:002011-09-14T21:48:02.172-04:00@Spaguatyrine
I think laying out logical reasoning...@Spaguatyrine<br />I think laying out logical reasoning as to why one location was better than the other (ie: price, staff, location, building layout, etc) is pretty unbiased. Not sure what your comment really means in all honesty.L Witha Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089402505678172242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-62398465784760625022011-09-14T21:45:28.540-04:002011-09-14T21:45:28.540-04:00I've never been to one of these events, though...I've never been to one of these events, though I hope to make it to the next Adepticon. But I've always thought the hotels and convention centers up here would make a great location since they're right next to malls for the most part. That and Johnson County/Kansas City being the center of the US more or less makes for shorter travel for some.<br /><br />Great article, sir.L Witha Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089402505678172242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-45305704882524100552011-09-14T21:43:21.719-04:002011-09-14T21:43:21.719-04:00@SW
I think that is a more apt comparison at face...@SW<br /><br />I think that is a more apt comparison at face value...and to tackle that alone would place any criticism in a vacuum. The bigger picture, and even stuff like flights, weather and the like, will ultimately influence someone's overall perception of something like AdeptiCon or The NOVA Open...but it also influences the individual/micro aspects.<br /><br />I do believe comparing two somewhat similar events under the auspice of your personal preference is a perfectly legitimate route. I am not discouraging that at all. See my above comment for my general, overall concerns.Matthiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01692546909563451253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-50457780284119542322011-09-14T20:15:51.192-04:002011-09-14T20:15:51.192-04:00They were not what you thought they were. It was a...They were not what you thought they were. It was a convention, and they were not interested in us at all. Maybe me, but then I am attractive that way! LOL!!!!!!<br /><br />But to the real point of the article!<br /><br />Your article is biased! And I feel because you didn't do as well as you wanted, the tone of your post is more negative than positive. <br /><br />Your disclaimer at the beginning of your post: <br /><br />"If you went to NOVA and had a 99% perfect time, then stop reading right here..." <br /><br />sets the tone for your post exactly the same as this disclamer below in someone else's post:<br /><br />"As most people know Blood of Kittens has stirred up things from time to time and at first I wasn’t going to say anything."<br /><br />If you plan on giving your personal account of what you liked better from one to the other then great. But there are times when it is better not to comment and compare apples to oranges. These two are apples and oranges. Both fruit, but very different. You have been very critical of Nova in each post thus far. To jump on the coat tails of someone who is a stupid coward to get your point across in my opinion is inappropriate. <br /><br />People listen to you when you speak...."with great power comes great responsibility". I think spider man's uncle said that!<br /><br />I love you man and respect you for all you have taught me. I would not have been able to deal with leafblower twice without the time we have spent together. Tread lightly in the direction of your posts please.<br /><br />With all due respect,<br /><br />SpaguatyrineSpaguatyrinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459803772469387289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-67238517444565705632011-09-14T18:57:11.615-04:002011-09-14T18:57:11.615-04:00@Matthias
I know and respect that Adepticon is mo...@Matthias<br /><br />I know and respect that Adepticon is more than just the 40K championships. Which is all that I'm really going to be comparing the NOVA to. But facilities played a large part in the relative strengths of both events. Such that I needed to mention them here.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-75194299782538430542011-09-14T18:52:52.461-04:002011-09-14T18:52:52.461-04:00@G Red
Um... thanks, I think. That's an odd p...@G Red<br /><br />Um... thanks, I think. That's an odd place to take the conversation.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-5094348243578772962011-09-14T16:34:36.060-04:002011-09-14T16:34:36.060-04:00Those were not hookers you saw, Sandwyrm. Around h...Those were not hookers you saw, Sandwyrm. Around here, in the DC metro area, we call them Lobbyists. They may promise you a happy ending, but not necessarily of the sort people ordinarily want. We have hookers too. Odd that both terms originated at roughly the same time :)<br /><br /> BTW, loved the Lawrence of Arabia army. Beautiful work. But... the underside of your Valkyries-- what the... mud splash maybe? Do an image search to get an idea of how that should look. And we saw decals on those wonderfully converted vehicles of yours. A painter of your skill level should either freehand or stencil that stuff. Decals, water slide transfers, whatever you call them, are shabby. I saw your work. I know you can do better. So, do so, and come back next year and win our top appearance award. At a more gamer friendly venue, naturally. Man, the lighting in that place :[ The mines of Moria reference is perfect. (I offer these criticisms in a friendly constructive manner. I hope the tone of this post conveys that. You really do excellent work, and the photos of your work do not do it justice.)G Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180174897038108755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-570809371887535522011-09-14T16:26:08.792-04:002011-09-14T16:26:08.792-04:00I don’t think it is necessarily fair to compare an...I don’t think it is necessarily fair to compare and contrast these events. For starters, they simple occur in different geographic regions, have differing player bases/focuses and honestly have massive differences in scope, ~300 vs ~1500 attendees changes a ton of variables in dealing with contracts, hotels, terrain construction, table rentals and the like. For all intents and purposes, the NOVA Open is still very focused on one or two major 40K events (about 70% of their attendees) and that makes it something different than what we strive to be – a full-blown convention (in contrast about 35% of our attendees are there for 40K). The NOVA Open can get there, but sustained growth is the best advice I can give.<br /><br />Additionally, while there might be some truth in the inherent nature of competition between similar events, I am firm believer that the hobby/community would greatly benefit from a number of large, social events throughout the States. Good organizers learn from one another and more good events in circulation directly translates into the bar being raised for all events. <br /><br />Simply look at the large number of tried and tested ideas that Mike has borrowed from us. That is almost 10 years of learning, mistakes, corrections and setting expectations. Likewise, myself in particular, looked to the basic foundation of the NOVA format for some new inspiration last year after we had started to discuss what was to change for AdeptiCon 2011. <br /><br />Of course there is truth in saying that someone might be forced to choose between large events…but that isn’t the root issue. We shouldn’t be encouraging people to choose. Good events get people excited people. Excited people talk, get friends involved, start new armies…the challenge is to host good events and grow the player base that is willing to travel to event of this nature. I have seen plenty of blog articles and comments that start with something like, “The NOVA Open was my first big GT…” That is a beautiful thing.<br /><br />I simply think events should be judged on their own merit, the number of dedicated people/staff, time constraints from real life/employment, readily available resources and vision of execution will all come together to create a unique event in each unique instance. One event won't always be able to do it like another. Don’t get me wrong – I know you are celebrating these events, and giving the NOVA crew feedback is a brilliant start, I’d just like to see a true miniature wargaming community coalesce out of all the effort that goes into these events and in the online arena, instead of furthering the divide with an ‘us vs. them’ attitude. While I honestly don’t see this as your intention…it will serve those ends. <br /><br />And really, no one should be paying any attention to internet people who lie about attending events or purposely ‘report’ disingenuous information to prop up their own limited worldviews/egos.Matthiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01692546909563451253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-35827909956882828872011-09-14T16:21:13.506-04:002011-09-14T16:21:13.506-04:00@TGM
Yes, absolutely!
It was one night out of 4,...@TGM<br /><br />Yes, absolutely!<br /><br />It was one night out of 4, and I really don't consider the event to be more than a footnote. Certainly it's nothing that even the hotel could do much about unless the individuals in question are causing a disturbance.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-11695626449304593482011-09-14T16:17:51.269-04:002011-09-14T16:17:51.269-04:00Bias? Towards what? You've never heard of esco...Bias? Towards what? You've never heard of escort services? <br /><br />I didn't ask those girls for their union cards, but it's not like I've never lived in a major city. Believe what you want to, I guess. But I wasn't the only one remarking on their probable career in the elevator.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-32817268669544413922011-09-14T16:11:40.832-04:002011-09-14T16:11:40.832-04:00You guys make it sound like hookers are a bad thin...You guys make it sound like hookers are a bad thing .....<br /><br />Ok, but seriously, we get it, there were attention seeking females.<br /><br />Now back on track to evaluating the Tournament.TheGraveMindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02202256201375802641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-45576225071495676262011-09-14T15:43:26.510-04:002011-09-14T15:43:26.510-04:00in all honesty, The women I saw didn't behave ...in all honesty, The women I saw didn't behave differently than girls I saw as an RA in Champaign.<br /><br />I saw similar behavior at Florida Avenue Residence Hall. Similar Dress, even.<br /><br />I feel SandWyrm's insinuating a bit much here. I understand you're trying to be objective and constructive with the two events, but it seems to me that your bias is showing.Farmpunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09622091234212120598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-30481919953326916112011-09-14T15:32:51.642-04:002011-09-14T15:32:51.642-04:00Please note that this hotel is in Crystal City, VA...Please note that this hotel is in Crystal City, VA and not DC. Crystal City really isn't a seedy place with hookers all over. Neither is DC, really. I've seen way more hookers in Honolulu, HI than I have in DC.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11680110160882762433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-4477959828679363952011-09-14T15:13:26.703-04:002011-09-14T15:13:26.703-04:00It was an AA conference. At which some of the atte...It was an AA conference. At which some of the attendees had the means to not be lonely. <br /><br />Was it typical for this hotel? Eh... Probably not.SandWyrmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265244938930651317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519319818452068646.post-42825488354670351862011-09-14T15:10:46.695-04:002011-09-14T15:10:46.695-04:00I suppose you're insinuating it was an AA hook...I suppose you're insinuating it was an AA hooker conference then?Farmpunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09622091234212120598noreply@blogger.com