[Deptheads] RE: Orccon 2011 Miniatures Events

[Harmon Ward]

Jim,
Thank you for the praise and constructive criticism.  The Sheraton Hotel is
a much better venue than our last one and we a very happy with it. The area
for miniature wargames was once a restaurant and bar and thus we inherited
their "mood lighting". The Strategicon staff purchased the lights we used
and they are an improvement, but the staff and I will look into ways to
improve the lighting.  It is nice being off the main lobby where a lot of
visitors can see what we are doing. Last convention we recruited an officer
in the California National Guard who was staying in the hotel for a
conference. As far as the space is concerned,  I am looking at the floor
plan and am going to make a recommendation to the Strategicon Team for their
consideration. Thanks again for your input. The convention is growing again
and that has all of us in a good mood. However, that guy said a long time
ago, "Don't get cocky kid!" and that is always good advice.

Harmon Ward
HMGS/PSW VP
Strategicon Miniatures Co-Manager
 

-----Original Message-----
From: War Times Journal [mailto:webmaster at wtj.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 7:37 PM
To: hjw
Subject: Re: Orccon 2011 Miniatures Events

Hello Harmon,

Just sending a quick follow-up note regarding the Orccon convention of 
a few weekends ago. I think the turnout for miniature wargaming was 
very good, and I believe we will be back to run more games in the 
future. I do have a few suggestions:

1 - Improve lighting.  A short walk across the lobby to the board 
gaming room served to quickly reveal how nice it was to be able to 
see. Having said that, I understand that miniatures benefit from the 
"drama" of the lower ambient lighting and flood lamps, but the current 
situation is a bit too dark. The little stand-up lamps just didn't cut 
it.

2 - More space for miniature wargaming (and maybe for all gaming). 
Enough so that people can set-up at crunch time and leave their set-up 
whilst they advertise the pending game as players from other games 
become available (a common way of drumming up players). Possibly have 
two miniature gaming zones which can be collapsed down to a single 
zone during lower traffic periods?

Overall, I think it is good to have the miniature gaming happening 
right off the lobby where it has good line of sight. What they need 
over in that "corner" is good visibility. Most people are so loaded 
with gear that they cannot bring their own lighting, and the tables 
are currently a crap-shoot depending on whether they are right under a 
flood lamp - or not.

Anyway, best of luck and please feel free to write if you have any 
questions.

Jim Burbeck
WTJ