19 December 2024
Thanks once again for signing up for Eboracon on Saturday 8 February 2025.
There’s about seven weeks before the day, so I thought I’d send around a quick newsletter with essential information about the day.
First, as I hope you appreciate, this is not a monster convention along the lines of Airecon or PunchedCon (sorry, if you didn’t get a ticket!). Ebroacon was a punt, seeing if there was an appetite for a smaller, one-day opportunity for wargamers to meetup on a semi-regular basis. I’m pleased at the response – we’ve got a dozen signups and possibly a few more to come. Spread the word! There’s room to accommodate up to 25 or so so pass on the details to any gamers you know.
That should be enough to get a few multi or two player games going. And, it’s about the same number as Tre Kroner – a one-day meetup in East Anglia run on similar lines to Eboracon.
Games organising
Speaking of games, I don’t want to be prescriptive but – as I understand was successful at Tre Kroner – it might be best to focus on a few multi-player games to start out. Some of you have already used the game organiser spreadsheet to list games you’d be willing to play. Here’s a short list of multi-player options which I know we can get access to (I own the ones marked with an asterisk):
- any number of COIN games such as Andean Abyss* (4-player), People Power (3-player)
- the Great Statesmen series: Churchill (3-player), Versailles 1919* (3 or 4-player)
- Mike Smith has offered to run one or other of the Pax series
- Mike has also mentioned a Game of Thrones game
- one of the Histo Games offerings: Friedrich (4-player), Maria (3-player), Wir Sind das Volk (2-player or the 4-player variant)
- Kingmaker II* (up to 6 players)
- if anyone has Liberte or one of the Quartermaster General games, these would be great ice breakers
Of course, if you want to set up a two-player game, that’s no problem. This is your event (or YorEvent, as we say around here!). You make the rules. I just ask that you use the games organiser for everyone else’s benefit.
Practicalities
If you haven’t looked at the website, I’ll just run through a few important details.
The hall is in the village of Heslington which is next to the University of York. There’s a very good bus service from the city centre and rail station. It’s about five minutes off the A64 York by-pass.
There’s is NO parking next to the hall. There’s ample parking on the university campus, a five minute walk. If you do drive, you can park outside for 15 minutes to unload but you will get a ticket if you leave your car there all day. Sorry about this but York is not the most parking friendly place in the world.
Food options: best bet is to bring sandwiches, microwave meals or order a takeaway pizza. Or, hop across the road to one of two pubs. The nearest shops are ten minutes away on the university campus.
Future events?
I don’t want to get ahead of myself but it looks like there’s probably enough interest to start thinking about further events. I won’t book anything until after 8 February because I’ll want to get your thoughts on the event, venue etc. I’m conscious about the parking in Heslington but it is a supper little hall and it’s comparatively cheap! Finding an affordable, suitable venue on a Saturday can be a challenge.
Contact
The best way to contact me is by replying to this email.
I’ve thought about the best way for us to communicate. I’ll continue to use the website, newsletters and the Eboracon thread on BGG for now. If you have any strong preferences otherwise, then let me know.
Finally, enjoy a riotous Saturnalia (or Festivus, if that’s what you celebrate), thanks again and see you all on 8 February.
Pete