NOVA Open 2013, Aug 29-Sep 1, Washington D.C: Don't Miss Out - Get Registered Now!

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**Warlocke21**

Save the date: August 29-September 1. Get registered now - don't miss out!

The NOVA Open 2013 is almost here and slots are going fast! This year will be bigger and better than ever - with more game systems, more events, more vendors, more seminars, a revamped miniature painting competition, and as ever, it's all only a few short blocks from downtown Washington D.C. museums and monuments.

Register Early: Save $5 on a Weekend Badge; Pay just $40. After August 17, 2013, Pay Full Price of $45 for a Weekend Pass

For more info: NOVA Open August 15 2013 Newsletter and Schedule
Previous Newsletters - Sign up to receive additional details and updates directly through our newsletter or by joining the NOVA Open Facebook Group

Book your room now! Room rates for 2013 are the same as the 2012 rate ($85/night): Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
Special Perks for NOVA guests continue, including: - New & Additional gaming space, expanded vendor space, half-price parking, half-price room internet, $4 beer specials ~ ALL WEEKEND LONG
Don't forget, this is also a great chance to visit Washington D.C. GEEK NATION TOURS is a sponsor and special tour operator for 2013: Click here for tour plans!

For any specific questions, contact novaopen@gmail; I or other NOVA Open staff will also be updating this post and thread over the coming months with additional details as they become available.

**MVBrandt**

First off, news to share with the community that is important to me:

The NOVA Open finally formalized the creation of the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation yesterday. This is a formal 501c3 and all the other appropriate "jazz." The long and short is we started off playing outdoors on picnic benches to raise money for Breast Cancer. We're going into our 5th annual August event since that first day with a formal charitable foundation established to allow us to properly send all our profits to doing greater good in the world. At the very least this year, we'll have an at-NOVA raffle for a Stiffneck Studios army, the proceeds from which will benefit Fisher House. We're also finalizing the raffle of a professionally painted pink Warmachine/Hordes army, the proceeds from which will benefit the fight against Breast Cancer (specific charity being finalized). We're also cooking up some activities on another broader charity army front, and hope to raise money generally to support Doctors Without Borders.

One of the reasons we got into spending all the time and energy it takes to put on a convention every year was to hopefully enable gamers and hobbyists to be drivers in making a real positive difference in the world. We really hope this year will be the big first kick in that direction.

Some updates on registration, Magic the Gathering, Geek Nation Tours, etc.

From
http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2013/01/registration-opens-in-two-days-key.html

Registration is variably hot and heavy for NOVA events ... but it's important to know the components that are highest demand / lowest quantity, and that kicks off with the VIP bag.

Text from the blog post ...

This is a CRAZY week for us.

EDIT: Just as an aside; Ed Sloman, who runs the awesome Baltimore area game shop Games and Stuff, has been granted Premium Event status by Wizards of the Coast for the two biggest (of a TON) of the Magic Events he's running from Thursday all the way through late Sunday at NOVA this year. There's a 300-player Saturday event (starting cap), and a 200-player Sunday event, each of which will be a Premium Event. I have NO IDEA yet exactly what this means, except that it's apparently a really awesome thing.

The final 40k GT and Invitational primer is complete, and it's DRAMATICALLY different in some key ways, as a direct result of awesome feedback from a veritable avalanche of players.

Please join our Facebook group ... there's a lot of healthy discussion kicking off there already, and we'll be putting a lot of stuff up.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/498362146882835/?fref=ts

I think that's the link.

We have a LOT of people lining up for VIP bags this year.
The swag inside gets better
If you have one already, or even if you don't, you'll be able to choose between a KR Kaiser2 Shoulder Bag, or a KR BackPack2. They each hold the same amount of minis. The Backpack is more convenient to carry around if you don't have one already, while arguably the Kaiser2 has better pocket space. I have one of each myself.

The Bag will be limited edition and NOVA kitted up again. Also, KR is doing something cool.
If you buy a VIP bag, starting LAST year .. any NOVA you attend in the future (whether you VIP again or not) will carry a bonus voucher from KR personalized for you that grants you a KR modular case (the building block of their system, and around a 50-55 dollar value) free with the purchase of one. Basically, KR's giving NOVA VIP people a lifetime annual $50-55 value, as long as they've VIP'ed once. Who knows what they might do for multi-VIP's in the future.

Also, you'll have to list not just your shirt size for this year's VIP bag, but the army you play (if you play one). I'm not telling yet why that might benefit you, but imagination wandering is fine.

Anyway, VIP bags are something you'll want to snag fast ... no idea how long they'll last, but some people have let us know they're lining up for reg this year not b/c of fear of the GT selling out, but out of fear of the VIP bags selling out.

Finally, and this is a big one ...

Geek Nation Tours has been working with us to design a really awesome tour of DC, Old Town Alexandria, and Gettysburg National Battlefield Park. It's a week-long trip bracketing the NOVA and wrapping up on Labor Day, and I'm not going to spoil the details. Suffice to say, if you are traveling to the NOVA (And if you have a spouse or a girlfriend who wants to join as well), you'll really want to check it out before you confirm your flights and such. It actually has me excited, and I'm not the type to usually geek out (heh) over this sorta thing. Teras, who runs Geek Nation, is also pretty awesome in that he was sure to get some tips from the locals on the really best places to eat and drink. Stay tuned ... we'll link up his tour on the NOVA site when he finishes polishing it off, which should be ready to go before registration opens on Friday.

PSA done, back to finishing up edits on all our event primers!

**DarkCorsair**

Slightly off topic, but still relative enough; will the prep tournament this Saturday be using the primer packet?

**MVBrandt**

It will use the final primer package, which should go live today or tomorrow.

Every game system primer, the Capital Palette art competition rules, and all seminar descriptions and info will all be live on site just prior to registration.

**MVBrandt**

Registration is Open.

VIP bags are selling very quickly. The first five were purchased in the early, early AM.

Newsletter with ALL primers, and tons more:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=8i9inqiab&v=001vd12ggE3Xa6boSQG9QOwXxG8oNTCSyUrL2Z1zLVA0P4H2dck-gtT0bphABm4mikYdAEmxP5fzKIiR3ocm7q6e1XeyG3PBqNRB39GxgzipNg%3D

**nkelsch**

what is the difference between 'army' swag and 'standard' swag for the VIP bags?

**MVBrandt**

We're working on that little tool. Basically, if you put in the notes what army you have, some of your VIP swag will be custom tailored to your army. Think ... would you rather get a random custom crater, or an Orky one that matched your vehicles? Would you rather get an orky gaming aid, or a generic one? Yada yada.

Update - this is the first year where we've seen tons of different events competing w/ the 40k GT for sales volume at all, much less on day 1. It's pretty exciting from an org point of view, but make sure you reg early - especially if you're looking at seminars, or smaller events. We've already sold a bunch of tickets to things like the Narrative, Trios, and even Infinity.

**zedsdead**

Tickets bought for my son and i. Mike cant wait for the NOVA This is the event i plan to travel to on a yearly basis.

Plan on looking into the GEEk tours thing as well. Never seen gettysburg or DC so looks like a great opportunity to do so.

**quiestdeus**

Warlocke21 wrote:
You can book your room now for 2013! Room rates for 2013 are the same as the 2012 rate ($85/night).
Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
Special Perks for NOVA guests continue, including:
- New & Additional gaming space, expanded vendor space, half-price parking, half-price room internet, $4 beer specials ~ ALL WEEKEND LONG
And much more!

Any details on the hotel situation? I just went to book my room and the lowest rate I was offered was $180 a night... a bit more than $85

**MVBrandt**

Jamie didn't put the actual hotel room block link haha.

Use this:

https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=10404571&utm_source=NOVA+Open+Newsletter%3A+December+15%2C+2012&utm_campaign=December+15+2012&utm_medium=email

**Widowsbane**

Got my pass today for the grand tourney and the narrative...(anticipation building)...hopefully some of my homies will come with this year...Can't wait for this event again!!!...THANKS to the NOVA staff for your hard work!!...

**whigwam**

Registered for the 40k GT. Looking forward to the first GT I won't have to book a plane ticket for..!

**MVBrandt**

Registration Update:

Masterclass Painting Seminars, and Tectonic Craft Studios Build-Paint-and-Take Terrain Seminar are all selling at a rate that will see sooner sellouts (Each class only has 15-20 spots, hence the sooner sellouts).

There are I think only about 15-20 VIP bags left (of 80).

**djdarknoise**

zedsdead wrote:
Tickets bought for my son and i. Mike cant wait for the NOVA This is the event i plan to travel to on a yearly basis.

Plan on looking into the GEEk tours thing as well. Never seen gettysburg or DC so looks like a great opportunity to do so.

Ed, I demand that we play again.

-Jared

**Chancetragedy**

So this is probably a dumb question but I just searched the website and could not find an answer. So if I can't do one of the GT's for 40k because I can't get there friday. Will there be open gaming tables during the weekend to try and get games with people? And if so is it just open whenever, or only specific times(I looked at the nova schedule and it doesn't say anything)

**MVBrandt**

Anytime you can get a game, you're allowed to game. We keep the hall open 24/7, so you can even game overnight.

For 40k in particular, we set up exactly 128 gaming tables. In each year, we've sold all 256 tickets by go time, but there are always a substantial number of no-shows for any number of reasons. So, barring something unexpected, there are always a few tables open in the hall.

Additionally, the Narrative event (which includes competitive and casual components, depending on personal preference) happens during the evenings, and you can skip a night ... so, you could skip Thursday and participate Fri/Sat/Sun, if you're able to play Friday evening.

Hope that helps some; the schedule also obviously includes tons of seminars, and one-off gaming events.

**Chancetragedy**

Hey thanks mvbrandt, I'm looking forward to my first visit to nova, just bummed I can't get there for Friday.

**MVBrandt**

Update re: FW; will reflect in primer shortly:
NO FW rules for GT
40k-Approved/Unique for TT
Open for Narrative

**Hulksmash**

So no FW for Invitational and Grand Tournament but yes for the Team Tournament and Narrative but they are unique? The way your formatted it was weird

**MVBrandt**

Sorry Brad, you're right.

Invitational and GT are NO FW rules
The Team Tournament = Unique (a la AdeptiCon)
The Narrative = Wide use / no restrictions other than "40k Approved"

**MVBrandt**

Would you attend an American Craft Beer and/or Cocktail seminar at the NOVA? Learn about the history, styles, and tastes of them from experts ... then enjoy an hour of socializing in the Presidential Suite while redeeming tickets for your favorite taste made whole?

Look for registration on these two seminars to open around March 15, with limited spots (likely 20 / seminar), on Friday/Saturday evenings, presuming we go forward with turning them on.

We might also throw some hobby-related celebrity education and conversation in during the latter part of each.

**Reecius**

Frankie and I are gong to Burning Man this year otherwise we would be there for sure.

Good luck with the event! I am sure it will be awesome.

**MVBrandt**

Just in case anyone hasn't read the primers, the 40k GT is at 1850, as of last Oct/Nov. Someone heard at a semi-popular 40k news site that we were still at 1999+1, and that is not true (per primer, website, etc.). Probably should have it in this post ....

GHOSTIN!

**MVBrandt**

For the sake of sharing a little excitement, the 40k GT has sold as many spots in a month as in 4 months last year.

A small # of VIP bags remain (9 of 80); reminder, anytime starting last year you acquire a KR/NOVA VIP bag (which is itself a KR Backpack 2 the first time, and your choice of several KR bags in second and subsequent repeat years of VIP'ing), you'll get a lifetime annual KR coupon valued at $55 anytime you attend a subsequent NOVA (whether or not you VIP again after the original time).

Finally, for anyone who has always wanted an app that will show you every tournament / shop / gaming event going on near you at any time, as well as a place to host army lists for opponents / gaming / etc., as well as the ability to then click that army list and have an optimized set of custom foam cases sent to you for it ... well, support the KR Kickstarter for funding a free app that does just that:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1665056583/free-app-for-the-miniature-wargaming-community-by

**MVBrandt**

10 VIP bags remain ...

Cool additional note; VIP bag purchase now includes access to a special VIP lounge Friday - Sunday, in the Hyatt's Presidential Suite, with access to special bar cocktail and beer selection and pricing.

This will tie in to the types of things our experts will be teaching in the Friday/Saturday evening Beer and Craft Cocktail Seminars.

**Empchild**

Screw vending i love the sound of that !!!!!

**MVBrandt**

I think Vendors would probably be welcome, Alex

Dramatically revised and updated army appearance scoring process, and dramatic changes to GT scoring, coming soon to this thread and whiskey40k.

**morgendonner**

One less vip bag remaining.. can't wait!

**Nicorex**

Well I guess I better get my butt into gear. I just signed up for the 40K GT. Now I just have to build and paint an army.

**DarkCorsair**

I'll need to be a bit more careful about my army selection this year; I made the mistake last year of going with an army I realized I didn't really like, and then had to play 13 games with it