Hey folks,

We've been wrestling with venues and dates on this con.

Well, first thing that comes up is the setting. Davis and I have long wanted to move it out of Little Rock, to place it in a place that has a really cool atmosphere. Somewhere that we can all gather and game like it was 1066! The typical hotel fair is what is offered, by all conventions because that is what is easy and usual. All the usual suspects.

What to do then, has been the discussion. One of the discussions that came up was the Castle they are building in the Ozarks. Its an actual castle being built by a French architect, in medieval fashion. Of course we would all have to game in tents and that would probably not be good...there is no electricity either. hahah

I've been wanting some type of Viking Hall. My folks have a farm in the Ozarks and I offered my pa the opportunity to build said hall, but he had a few choice, but humorous nonetheless.

So with these thoughts in mind we stumbled on Big Cedar. Its a lodge I stay at from time to time; its very cool, on a huge river/lake, has water park, horse back riding, hiking, boating, fishing etc etc. There are 3 hotel lodges and a host of cabins, etc etc. Its located in Branson, MO, about 45 minutes from the Springfield airport (there is a shuttle service I believe).

We have two sponsors lined up for the event: Fat Dragon Games and Impressions Advertising and Marketing.
Fat Dragon has committed to $50.00 in Free product with ticket purchase.
Impressions has committed to a free board game, (about $30.00) for the first to sign up (# as yet to be determined)

But this is one of the things we are considering. Before we get to much in we thought we would pitch the idea out to you guys to see what you think of it.

If we had the show in October, late, or early November at Big Cedar and the rooms were reasonable (we are working on that) who would be interested in going?

This is how it would break down: A ticket would be $100.00-$125.00.

Your ticket would come with:

Access to main hall for 3 days of gaming (here)

$50.00 in games from Fat Dragon Games
$30.00 in games from Impressions
Limited edition TLG adventure

Friday dinner meal
Saturday breakfast
Saturday lunch
Saturday dinner
Sunday breakfast
Sunday lunch

We are still deep in the planning stages on this so have made no commitments, but would like to hear from you. Mark for instance does not like this idea...give me a hall and access to taco bell he says! hahaha

Come on back!
Steve

Team Mark.

I would definitely consider it. It sounds like it would be a fun atmosphere.

The website pics of the place look awesome. First question. What will it look like in late October, November? Us Florida Crew don't do the snow so much.

-Scott

There would probably not be any snow. It rarely snows in the Ozarks. That time of year the leaves are changing and it rains and is misty.

Steve

You do understand that there would be three days of gaming in a great hall at Big Cedar where your ticket includes your meals.?



Steve

I'm new to the forum, but I live in Fayetteville, so this sounds like a fantastic idea to me.

But this is looking like Q3/Q4?

Yes we have traditionally run the con in July and may return it to that date next year. But we would really like to move it off of Origins and Gencon. The summer months, with those two cons and with the smattering of smaller cons we go to, are very hard on the Trolls organizationally and doing TC in October eases thing greatly with us.

That would be Q4.

Steve

Sweet! Welcome to the forums and the game!

Your up in that neck of the woods, isn't October when the leaves are changing?

Steve

Here are some images







The entrance to the Hall:

I'm in. I could never guarentee going in October (that's a busy month for me), but the lodge looks good and Branson is pretty cool. If we LARP in the woods, ticks and all, even better.

~O

If the ticks in MO are as dangerous as the insects I've encountered in upstate NY, you may want to refer to them as Sir Dire Tick and move along.

At the moment I'd be a "maybe". That time of year can be tough for me to break away. Travel costs don't look as bad as I'd first feared, and are reasonably competitive with Little Rock that time of year, though more expensive - at least from a few minutes' research on Orbitz & Southwest. Meals included could be a plus, as long as there's some flexibility about timing. If it's "Your meal is free, but only if you eat in this 1-hour time block" then it becomes a much harder sell.

I'd also be curious about how it would stack up as a gaming venue. Tables (Big enough? Level enough when needed?), noise (Can I hear the gamemaster, or is the room a giant echoing cavern?), enough space so we're not crammed cheek-to-jowl like TC 2009? This is key, because remember, people are coming here to game - it's nice to be able to walk around sometimes when you need a break, but however nice the setting - I'm going to game, and am not at all interested in paying for a gorgeous setting that I'm only going to see through the windows. (For example, I left the hotel at GaryCon once, for a flying Walmart run because I'd forgotten toothpaste.)

Cost of the rooms is also going to be a big deal. For what it's worth, I tried looking at room prices and couldn't get anything for October. I was able to finally get a price for a "Premier King" room in September, and it was a whopping $309 per night. That's a definite no-go for me. Anything past $150 a night is going to be problematic - see above, I'm going to game and am unwilling to pay for atmosphere or amenities I'm not going to take advantage of. I'd ask you to keep that point in mind when looking at venues.

So, maybe. Definite style points for thinking outside the box. But remember what folks are really coming for.

CKDad has a good point. I'm not sayin that I don't like the idea of atmosphere. I'm just sayin that after $300 in tickets (two of us), the weekend would most certainly top a grand for us if we can't get good off season rates.

Wow... it looks really nice. Of course, my knowledge of American Geography isn't perfect so I looked it up. Short answer: Too far.

Driving from Montreal would make it about a 24 drive (almost 1400 miles) so that's no going to happen. The good news is that the return trip airfare is *almost* reasonable... hehe... who am I kidding. Round trip costs around $650 and it looks like the stay I would need (single person) would be an additional $550. Add $200 for spending cash and I'd be looking at $1500.

<sigh>

Not this year. But as 'expensive' as that seems, it's kinda not I suppose but it's all perspective. It's 3 days of gaming and meeting some people that would be nice to finally meet face-to-face. Now, to echo some of what was said, atmosphere and where you choose to game is awesome and all but at the end of the day, you'll probably be gaming. For this kind of retreat, I'd make it longer (say a week) to maximize my enjoyment of it... spend more to spend a few more days there and bring the wife along. Of course, I'd be adding another $1000 for the added company with the extra ticket and room occupancy charge.

Ow.

I haven't checked in a while but I'm pretty sure I could get a cool trip for 2 to London, England for that kind of change (or for just a bit more).



Say... we've got forests up here! Troll Con North!!! Montreal doesn't get snow till late fall (end of November) either. If you like to drink... we've got you covered. If you like specialty... um... 'dancers'... we've got you covered. Great food? Absolutely -- not only can you have the benefit of a real smoked meat sandwich, you can also try a *real* poutine! Don't know what a poutine is? You will by the time you leave!

I say Troll Con North all the way! I'll be glad to host the party and co-ordinate such an event!

M

Hey, I know that place! And now I'm almost sorry we gave up our townhouse apartment in Springfield!

Moriarty, that sounds pretty good to me! I can grab a $200 Westjet flight from Winnipeg and be there with bells on! No customs, no passport. Non-stop.
And "50" is one of my favorite beers, right behind Maudite and La Fin du Monde.

"All these positive waves, baby! Maybe we can't lose."

Those room costs are for what they have left. That's why we haven't picked a date yet...assuming we use Big Cedar. You can get rooms there on week days for about 99.00 and on weekend ends for 140-169. But we would have to book the block way in advance. Cedar is a huge resort destination. McBain is discussing with them seeing what we can do. But for the weekend in October, 25-27 that we have given them they only have Queen rooms left..these are 300 a night. But right now, the date for us is very flexible.

The costs for YOU guys are upper most in our minds and that's why something like this is only feasible if the room costs are on par.

Big Cedar is a choice but not the only one.

One of the other places we are looking at is Petit Jean State Park. This is about 45 minutes from Little Rock and the Meet, or Thing as the Vikings called it, would be set at the Mather Lodge which sits around 100. This picture below:



This is Davis' favorite. It would tickets only, up to 50 probably. The Lodge. This would be a limited ticket only Thing. But Ponca, where it is located, is deep, deep in the woods.

Steve

Oh yeah, and no joke, we are working on a Troll Beer for this convention! Grog! Included with ticket sale.



Steve