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http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_category.php?catID=14

I can't believe this?

Now I am older (old enough to only say older with money to burn; but there is no way I would pay $350 to attend a convention for a single day, unless they are serving steak & lobster tail with a happy ending.

I've never been a fan of Blue Table. Their lv6 paint job is laughable as a premium service. That and their blatant abuse of washes.

And no, I wouldn't pay $350 for a 4 day con.

I misunderstood; I thought that was a a singe day entrance for $350 dollars, for 3 days I guess I'd pay it and they could drop the steak & lobster but I still want a happy ending!

I wouldn't consider it OTT if it included sleeping accomodations along with the food - especially if they catered to the particulars of my diet, but as it stands it's rather extravagant. I just attended a 2-day convention that had a $25 pre-event registration fee.

Single Accomodation, Twin bed. Rooms are shared with other Drop Pod attendees and may vary in size and style.

So, this is a single accomodation, but the room is shared with other Drop Pod attendees. Wouldn't the one rule out the other

I looked over that page and threw up a little in my mouth.

LOL!!! Is it april yet and someone didn't tell me?

<enhance your calm, folks; you can express your lack of personal interest in ways that are less like attacks on the folks at Blue Table>

muzzlehead wrote:I misunderstood; I thought that was a a singe day entrance for $350 dollars, for 3 days I guess I'd pay it and they could drop the steak & lobster but I still want a happy ending!

Draw a face on your hand and close the door. We promise not to look.

(I didn't say we wouldn't listen!!!)

Actually, I think this is the link you want (it has actual info about the event rather than just a storefront for the reservations):

http://bluetablepainting.blogspot.com/2011/02/valhalla-2011-season.html

This actually sounds interesting to me, if I had the time. I've heard Romeo & company talking about this event on 40k radio, and while expensive it certainly seems to offer a unique opportunity to game in beautiful surroundings on well-prepared tables. I mean, this is a full-on destination vacation geared towards gaming...that's pretty cool IMO.

I would prefer to visit the "destination" in my destination vaction. The thought of visiting that part of Utah and not being outdoors to enjoy it is a complete waste of a trip.

It's like a Skii vacation and warhammer convention all rolled into one. After looking over what is being offered and the accommodations, it seems like that steep price tag isn't as steep as one believes.

A queen setup like the one offered with that package runs at $300 a night...So that's $1200 in lodging alone. Add in the fact that there are no suites available for that time point, you're adding in some selectivity there as well.

To be honest, it is nowhere near worthwhile if you're going just for the Warhammer events; however, if you're a fan of winter sports and some fancy resorts, I think you've found yourself an all in one vacation. (Skiing, 40K, all you can eat and drink and your own jacuzzi with some of the suites...no to mention snow bunnies? Yeah, I may hate winter sports but that is one hell of a party!)

Ummm yeah go ahead and look at the blogspot post before you judge.

That 300$ includes 4 days of gaming, lodge accomodations, and catered food and drink.

That's pretty badass.

Not to mention, that house is absolutely killer.

My problem with an idea like this is that if I want to play a game, I can continue doing so at home or the FLGS, or even take a trip to play at a convention. If I am spending the kind of money required for this trip I would prefer to leave the gaming at home and take full advantage of the amenities and sites offered at this beautiful site.

You get the best of both worlds though. I mean how much wargaming can possibly go on? Plenty, I'm sure. But I guarantee the pace of play is going to be casual and narrative (as described) resulting in plenty of daylight to enjoy the amenities of the location.

Looks like an absolute blast.

Cottonjaw wrote:Ummm yeah go ahead and look at the blogspot post before you judge.

That 300$ includes 4 days of gaming, lodge accomodations, and catered food and drink.

That's pretty badass.

Not to mention, that house is absolutely killer.

I believe it's $650 with lodging. It's $350 without.

Its not like you're going o be doing 40K related stuff the entire time, if you are...well then you should just stay at home. I know if I were there, I wouldn't be inside for anymore than maybe 6 hours.

Lt. Coldfire wrote:I believe it's $650 with lodging. It's $350 without.

The $350,- package is the one where you get to share a room & twin bed with another random gamer

I must be blind then. I'm still seeing the $350 with no lodging and $650 with lodging

Lt. Coldfire wrote: I must be blind then. I'm still seeing the $350 with no lodging and $650 with lodging

Nope, you're right, there's a separate option for $325 which is just a deposit (half) of the drop pod pass, which in full is $650

The no lodging pass is listed as "day pass" and costs $350

Seems overpriced to me, personally, and if you read the fine print on the second link provided you'll notice the food served is buffet style, and although drinks are provided as well (but not alcohol, which isn't served). There goes the plan to imbibe your money's worth.

The terms of service contain the details, the two I mentioned:

We do not serve alcohol. This is a non-smoking facility. Areas are available for smoking outside.

Food will be provided buffet style for all meals. Snacks and beverages are included in the ticket cost and available self-service throughout the event.

It seems like a niche event for a certain group of people, and will probably do just fine. They aren't trying to sell out a giant block from what I can tell, just a small warhammer/outdoor getaway.

TBD wrote:

Lt. Coldfire wrote:I believe it's $650 with lodging. It's $350 without.

The $350,- package is the one where you get to share a room & twin bed with another random gamer

With slightly under 50% chance they are a member of the opposite sex!

If that matters to you.



Some company did an Alaskan cruise for wargamers a year or two back. I don't know how well it went but I can imagine a really good holiday given the right balance of wargaming against other fun and having a rest, with decent food and drink.

Here in the UK there are several Wargame Holiday Centres which are a bit like pony trekking except you refight the Peninsular War over a weekend or something like that.

Campaigns are an aspect of wargaming which I think Warhammer/40K players have tended to ignore in favour of tournament play.

Dragon Con's full four day pass is only $120.00. It doesn't include tournament entry fees, the "guest of honor" banquet, and a couple of other fee options. It does include "all panels, events, demonstrations, concerts, performances, contests, snacks and munchies in our Consuite (as available) and a host of other activities."

Here's a link to the list of Guests and Performers:


http://www.dragoncon.org/dc_guests_list.php

Individuals who will be present include: Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, John Ringo, Bruce Boxleitner, Carrie Fisher, Elvira, William Shatner, Earnest Borgnine, Stan Lee, Boris Vallejo, and a bunch of people I ain't never heard of.

Now, this isn't meant to be an advertisement for Dragon con. I haven't been to one in over a decade. I'm merely trying to illustrate how silly the $350.00 pricetag is for the event referenced by the OP.

Is Dragoncon being held in a ski resort? No? Then it's not targeting the same crowd.

On the one hand, we've got a small event being held in a fantastic location, with complete catering, and definitely targeting a sort of "destination vacation" feel. On the other, we've got a more traditional con, with a WHOLE LOT of attendees, and a bunch of good guests. There's no need to try and compare apples and oranges here.

Going to a gaming event at a ski resort is like going on a ballroom dance cruise. You're paying 30-50% more than the going rate for the package just so you can be there with people who share your interests. Not only are you paying for your own expenses, you're paying for the expenses of the "hosts" who are putting the event on and the profits those hosts hope to make on top of the total costs. I learned this when I taught at a ballroom dance studio and we annually sold Mediterranean cruise packages that cost about $2500.00 apiece, and if a teacher sold three or more packages, that teacher got to go for free.

I'd rather go to a gaming event or a ski resort, not a gaming event combined with a ski event.

Kilkrazy wrote:

TBD wrote:

Lt. Coldfire wrote:I believe it's $650 with lodging. It's $350 without.

The $350,- package is the one where you get to share a room & twin bed with another random gamer

With slightly under 50% chance they are a member of the opposite sex!

If that matters to you.

I must know how you typed that with a straight face.

It's a James Bond supervillain gathering of a wargaming meetup.

I like the idea and support the notion. Couldn't justify the expense myself but don't begrudge and wish a great time to those who can. Shawn seems a genuinely nice bloke with immense enthusiasm.

It is a new and innovative direction and a bold move by BTP, I hope they have every success with it and that it becomes a regular thing.


Knocking this seems a bit pointless, it's like saying 'how dare they charge that level of money for their painting', it's a secondary service, same as the bits guys or the other more modest events. You pay for it if you like it and you've the funds to do so.

The market will decide if this works or not.

TBD wrote:
The $350,- package is the one where you get to share a room & twin bed with another random gamer

So the happy ending is definitely possible...

Wait, you aren't actually sharing a twin bed right? The way I read the Drop Pod entry was that the fee included a room with twin beds and you would share the room with the other guests.

I would never pony up $650 to bunk down with a gamer. Especially a strange gamer. Ew.

Besides, one could get a similar experience for free in a local jail.

Plus free soap!

DarkTraveler777 wrote:Wait, you aren't actually sharing a twin bed right? The way I read the Drop Pod entry was that the fee included a room with twin beds and you would share the room with the other guests.

I would never pony up $650 to bunk down with a gamer. Especially a strange gamer. Ew.

Besides, one could get a similar experience for free in a local jail.

Plus free soap!

Just don't drop it

Just imagine one girl shows up to something like this and is literally mobbed by nothing but horny nerds.

If it wasn't so far away, I'd definitely be going to this... would rather game at a scenic, probably quiet location with fewer people and eating proper food and having the option for a hike or bike ride than at a ginormous convention hall with hundreds of people yammering away, obnoxious kids & adults running around screaming and making even more obnoxious comments, more cheetos and frito crumbs on the table than flock and toilets that a Plague Marine wouldn't go near... This event seems to be more "cultured"