Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, another year down----another year my gaming group and I made the trip to Adepticon. This year we attended the Team Tournament as Opposing Forces and had a great time.

Some personal highlights;

----Our (Mike Ash/AshAxe and I) Siege of Terra Won best Team Display---linkage http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/357145.page
----Our team received a perfect/excellent sportsmanship score over all 4 rounds, only 6 (?) teams accomplished this----Really proud of this!
----Received 2nd in the Black Library award
----Dan Abnett, Nathan Long and some other Black Library guys came over to our table, commented on how awesome it looked---Abnett signed a Heresy book---Long a Gotrek novel. After telling him that I ran the Emperor/Custodes army on the table Abnett promptly signed the Horus Rising book "To Ryan--Your Emperor Must Die!"
----Got to meet/see many Dakka members again---Yak, Mann, GMM/Brandon, Lorek, and many more. All great guys!
----Mathieu Fontaine class was great! He's laid back, pretty funny---and I learned quite a bit.
----Got to bs with Dave Taylor again. Dude's a credit to our hobby---great guy and I always look forward to seeing him again.
----The swag bag!! Free Battleforces in each one? PP be my kind of crazy! Always impressed by the free loot from Adepticon---and each year they raise the bar.



Some constructive feedback;

----Sportsmanship score was non-sequential on the scoring sheet. The first two games of the TT I had to stop myself from circling the top one----when I meant to give them a perfect score. Probably better if it went from best----worst---top--bottom
----ATM was down (again). This is two years in a row---and I know it's the hotel, not the Con---but worth mentioning
----Forge World line was ill placed. I'm not complaining of a wait (As I was lucky enough to not have one)----but the line stretched around---bottled up the walk way to other vendors (and even blocked a few). Forge World almost needs a corner unto themselves if they come back.
----Availability of food early in the morning----since the con has the no outside food/drink policy---it would be cool if the hotel sold food very early---before the tournament begins. The lack of energy drinks kind of sucks too-----I'm so used to gaming with Monsters/energy drinks---it would be nice if they sold some variant. I don't think I'm in the minority here either---as I believe Monsters are nerd fuel.

----This last one is to all that attended, not the organizers----PICK UP YOUR DAMN TRASH!! Our team found a friggin banana peel stuck under a GW crater on a table and each time we traveled to a new one----someone had left their empty cups/beer there. Not to mention the printer center----where someone printed War/Peace then littered the floor with it. That's pretty damn embarrassing---whomever did those things---get some respect. It looks bad on the entire event when you do that gak.


Some general ass kissing;


Thursday night registration = awesome---keep it.

You guys ran another terrific event. Hank, Greg, Matt (and all the others that gave free time to run this)----you guys simply rock and make it a great gaming experience each year (going on 3 for me now). I know that there must be a tremendous amount of time given to this event---time away from kids/family---and I know our gaming group appreciates it. Two new guys came up with us this year----they couldn't believe how well ran it was and how great everything looked. Many thanks for making room for our table---and being quick to answer questions.


Another great Adepticon---and we'll definitely be looking forward to 2012. Thanks again!

I have to second pretty much everything in this. It was amazing. I actually felt kind of privileged to help clean up the hall afterward (since I was staying over Sunday anyway), but there was too much garbage left around. Folks should police their crap better.

AoE, you guys help keep the bar high for amazing displays, and really added to the event yourselves. Congratulations on a well-deserved prize and high scores.

Tournaments in America sounds so much better than ones in UK Shame it would cost far far too much to go to one.....

Team Sweden (four guys from the Swedish ETC team) came out this year, and did really well. They got Best Sportsmen in the Team Tourney, and one of them qualified for the round of 16 on Sunday in the Championship. Awesome guys. They said it was totally worth flying to the US for, they're definitely coming back next year and bringing more guys.

AoE - all very valid points of constructive criticism. Many of the logistical ones we have already been discussing. The only tournament-related one on there, Sportsmanship scoring, seems to to have caused a bunch of confusion, not only in the order in which it was presented, but in the execution of the scoring. Old habits die hard. People are just used to quickly circling a positive mark if they had a decent game. I feel confident saying people simply did not read the Sportsmanship scoring language or use the marks as intended. While I think the system is incredibly simple and works on paper, people need to actively participate in it before it can work. I am sure we didn't do the best job explaining the new system ahead of time to brace people for the changes, but even if we did I doubt the results would have been much different.

For this year I have no issues with people being overly liberal with positive marks. I think that was definitely the way a majority of players used them, so the scoring is simply weighted in that direction. A few players were bound to run into multiple opponents that might have actually read the mark language and therefore received more Average votes/lower Sportsmanship score.

I think a good tweak to this system would be to incorporate the classic favorite opponent vote while doing away with Positive marks all together. Results sheet would only have Average and Negative marks. Then, after Round 4, each player could vote for one Favorite Opponent who would then receive a single positive mark. The player with the most positive marks would wins like normal. Positive marks could still contribute a specific amount of points towards overall (yet have no impact on the W/L/D record).

It would be a little extra bookkeeping for the TO's, but I think it would force the system to work properly and truly award the person with the most votes as opposed to the liberal avalanche of positives we saw this year.

Team Sweden was good times. So glad those guys made it over.

I've made 8/9 of the Adepticons (and I lament missing 2005). Exhausted as I invariably end up, I would never dream of skipping again. The lead-up is kind of like the anticipation of Christmas when you're 6.

The hotel stepped up the food this year, and I thought it was hugely improved. I know that the Adepticon staff had to engage in spirited negotiations to get them to reduce prices/improve selection, and I hope that the results showed that it was a Good Change. ($6 Heinies are still criminal, though.)

Matthias wrote:For this year I have no issues with people being overly liberal with positive marks. I think that was definitely the way a majority of players used them, so the scoring is simply weighted in that direction. A few players were bound to run into multiple opponents that might have actually read the mark language and therefore received more Average votes/lower Sportsmanship score.

I think a good tweak to this system would be to incorporate the classic favorite opponent vote while doing away with Positive marks all together. Results sheet would only have Average and Negative marks. Then, after Round 4, each player could vote for one Favorite Opponent who would then receive a single positive mark. The player with the most positive marks would wins like normal. Positive marks could still contribute a specific amount of points towards overall (yet have no impact on the W/L/D record).

I'd like this refinement. I did read the new sportsmanship language, and tried to apply it, but I know most people didn't, and many still don't understand that "average" does not equal "dinging someone on sports." If adopted for the Team Tournament, though, it could be interesting to pick one "favorite opponent;" it's not unusual for the different halves of the team to have different feelings about their opponents, at least in my experience.



And as someone who has spent Sunday evening for two years running picking up trash, I have to second the request - PLEASE don't leave your garbage lying around. It's disgusting. After the poker party was actually worse, on a garbage/body ratio; we need more garbage cans in there for that event, as a lot of waste is being generated.

Mannahnin wrote:I have to second pretty much everything in this. It was amazing. I actually felt kind of privileged to help clean up the hall afterward (since I was staying over Sunday anyway), but there was too much garbage left around. Folks should police their crap better.

AoE, you guys help keep the bar high for amazing displays, and really added to the event yourselves. Congratulations on a well-deserved prize and high scores.

Hey, thanks! We hoped it would enrich the event a bit. We had a lot of fun building it---and will certainly have a great deal of fun playing on it.

Matthias wrote:
I think a good tweak to this system would be to incorporate the classic favorite opponent vote while doing away with Positive marks all together. Results sheet would only have Average and Negative marks. Then, after Round 4, each player could vote for one Favorite Opponent who would then receive a single positive mark. The player with the most positive marks would wins like normal. Positive marks could still contribute a specific amount of points towards overall (yet have no impact on the W/L/D record).

It would be a little extra bookkeeping for the TO's, but I think it would force the system to work properly and truly award the person with the most votes as opposed to the liberal avalanche of positives we saw this year.

I think that sounds good. I was always a fan of "Chart by exception" regarding sports scores. IE---everyone is assumed to have full sportsmanship score---and there is only a negative option on the card which requires explanation to the judge when you hand it in. Then vote for your fav opponent.

Janthkin wrote:
The hotel stepped up the food this year, and I thought it was hugely improved. I know that the Adepticon staff had to engage in spirited negotiations to get them to reduce prices/improve selection, and I hope that the results showed that it was a Good Change. ($6 Heinies are still criminal, though.)

And as someone who has spent Sunday evening for two years running picking up trash, I have to second the request - PLEASE don't leave your garbage lying around. It's disgusting. After the poker party was actually worse, on a garbage/body ratio; we need more garbage cans in there for that event, as a lot of waste is being generated.

I forgot to mention the plus side of the food---and yes it was much improved when available (Plus come to think of it, it was cheaper with their meal deals). My only gripe, if I was forced to label it as such, was the availability in the morning. People wander the hall very early waiting for doors to open---then it's registration/judging time---would be cool to have breakfast available earlier. This is hardly a complaint though---and more a nitpick.

I would still like to see Monsters for sale there----I think the hotel would make more coin off those than rental of the rooms!

Looks like I played against your team in the 40k TT AoE. I was a member of the all pod wolves team "Checkmate Hobbies".

Marius Xerxes wrote:Looks like I played against your team in the 40k TT AoE. I was a member of the all pod wolves team "Checkmate Hobbies".

Let me correct that for you--------you were a member of the beautiful, gorgeously painted and well fleshed out (in terms of fluff) All Pod Wolves team. Great looking army, great personalities behind them. I played the Custodes force---you didn't happen to run the Lucius Pattern Dread Drop Pod of Doom ™ did you?

Matthias wrote: The only tournament-related one on there, Sportsmanship scoring, seems to to have caused a bunch of confusion, not only in the order in which it was presented, but in the execution of the scoring. Old habits die hard. People are just used to quickly circling a positive mark if they had a decent game. I feel confident saying people simply did not read the Sportsmanship scoring language or use the marks as intended. While I think the system is incredibly simple and works on paper, people need to actively participate in it before it can work. I am sure we didn't do the best job explaining the new system ahead of time to brace people for the changes, but even if we did I doubt the results would have been much different.

For this year I have no issues with people being overly liberal with positive marks. I think that was definitely the way a majority of players used them, so the scoring is simply weighted in that direction. A few players were bound to run into multiple opponents that might have actually read the mark language and therefore received more Average votes/lower Sportsmanship score.

I think a good tweak to this system would be to incorporate the classic favorite opponent vote while doing away with Positive marks all together. Results sheet would only have Average and Negative marks. Then, after Round 4, each player could vote for one Favorite Opponent who would then receive a single positive mark. The player with the most positive marks would wins like normal. Positive marks could still contribute a specific amount of points towards overall (yet have no impact on the W/L/D record).

It would be a little extra bookkeeping for the TO's, but I think it would force the system to work properly and truly award the person with the most votes as opposed to the liberal avalanche of positives we saw this year.

.

Hey Matthias - I think you are dead on with the sportmanship thing. I personally hate to give someone anything but highest marks unless they do something to deserve it. The favorite opponent or ranking your opponets after all games are over - seems to be the best way to me. You'd have to make sure it was on the last scorecard to be handed in to make sure people fill it out. Great to hear that you guys saw it to and are looking to improve.

On the overall win-lose format and the whole qualifying thing for Sunday - I'm still mulling it over. I think I like the old method better of scoring overall. Haven't decided yet if I dislike the new format or if it's just different and I need to get used to it.

The only other thing I saw and think you might want to talk over with folks is that Sunday felt pretty anti-climactic in comparison to past years. In past years - Gladiator was kinda the warm up event, the Team Tourney is the premier event, then the Individual Champs was the icing on the cake. This year by the time Gladiator rolled around - I was beat and just couldn't get up for it (literally - forgot to set my alarm and woke up at 9:30). Not sure how to address that - but think it definately took some of the luster off Gladiator.

Thanks to all the guys who worked so hard to run a great event though - the planning and coordination was top shelf as always.

This was my first year going to Adepticon and I had a blast. I mainly went just to see what all the fuss was about and meet up with some people I haven't seen in a while.

Somehow I got talked into playing in the 40k tournament and made the top 16 on Sunday. Needless to say I didn't win, but had a good time and I have to say that this was the best and most well run event I've ever been to.

Thanks go out to Matthias and his crew for putting on a convention that surpassed everything I'd thought it would be. Winning the charity raffle Nurgle army was the cherry on top a great weekend.

On the hotel food: I was very happy with it this year. In the past, I've felt that they've gone out of their way to rip us off. Not so this year. I had something different for every meal, the lines were reasonable, even in the short break times that we had, and I felt the prices were very reasonable for a convention. Whatever negotiations were involved in this, kudos.

As with other years, I met a ton of people I've only conversed with online before, as well as those from past cons. Getting to play against MVBrandt and HulkSmash (in spite of my momentary lapse) was good times.

On the sportsmanship scoring: I think one reason there may have been too many 'positives' is that if I play a really good game with someone in round one, and then have even more fun in round two, I can't go back and say round one was only average. If the desired result is that receiving multiple negatives DQs someone, while allowing only one best vote per participant, having that vote at the end of all games is probably the best way to do it, although by the end of four games, I have a hard time remembering the first one.

I stopped in on Friday and Sunday. I didnt get to play this year due to my army being in no shape to put on a table. I did wait in line for 2+ hours for forgeworld and they had almost everything I wanted. All the vendors looked to have a good amnount of stock and non of the prices were to over the top. I picked up some of the majic scult stuff from the CMoN booth. Cant wait to try it out.
The tables looked pretty damm amazing for having 250+ set-up. Eveeryone seemed to be having a blast.
ohh AoE, your guys "Seige of Terra" table was amazing.
I went backk on Sunday because i bought a bunch of the charity raffle tickets. I ddint win the Nurgle army but I did get some of the new Mantic Elves for KoW.
I am not already working on my army so I can hit the tables next year.

AgeOfEgos wrote:

Marius Xerxes wrote:Looks like I played against your team in the 40k TT AoE. I was a member of the all pod wolves team "Checkmate Hobbies".

Let me correct that for you--------you were a member of the beautiful, gorgeously painted and well fleshed out (in terms of fluff) All Pod Wolves team. Great looking army, great personalities behind them. I played the Custodes force---you didn't happen to run the Lucius Pattern Dread Drop Pod of Doom ™ did you?

No that wasn't me unfortunately.

I was on the other table playing against the Dante/Khan combination. You had a great group of teammates as well sir!

Marius Xerxes wrote:

No that wasn't me unfortunately.

I was on the other table playing against the Dante/Khan combination. You had a great group of teammates as well sir!

Hey thanks, I'll be sure to pass that along. They said the same of your entire team----great guys to roll dice with.

I can't recall one of your teammates name----but after he dropped that damn Lucius Pattern Dread next to my Land Raider (Which I had moved 12" and smoked in preparation)---then proceeded to roll a six to hit---six to pen---six to blow up----he said 'LUCY YOU HAVE SOME SPLAINING TO DO'. Made me fething crack up even though he just blew up 1/4 of my army.

AgeOfEgos wrote:

Marius Xerxes wrote:

No that wasn't me unfortunately.

I was on the other table playing against the Dante/Khan combination. You had a great group of teammates as well sir!

Hey thanks, I'll be sure to pass that along. They said the same of your entire team----great guys to roll dice with.

I can't recall one of your teammates name----but after he dropped that damn Lucius Pattern Dread next to my Land Raider (Which I had moved 12" and smoked in preparation)---then proceeded to roll a six to hit---six to pen---six to blow up----he said 'LUCY YOU HAVE SOME SPLAINING TO DO'. Made me fething crack up even though he just blew up 1/4 of my army.

haha that's funny! I hadn't heard that story! His name is Mike and is the team captain. Don't think he visits forums though.