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My two friends and I have been planning a Gamesday trip, ever since we found out it was going to be in Chicago this year. The two of them are married and have children, and we thought it was time that we finally do a guys trip. We'll be taking a train from Kansas City and staying near the convention.

Aside from all the obvious things stated on the GW website, what are some things that we should expect? We've never been to a convention like this before.

Should each of us bring a small army for gaming?

Do I need to bring a lot of cash for my shopping spree at the Forgeworld booth?

If I don't need to bother bringing an army for gaming, should I at least bring my own dice and tape measure?

Thanks!

From what I saw two years ago, GamesDay was quite fun: there was a setup to build your own terrain for 40k and you got to keep it: I ran into a student of mine there and he was walking away with $200 of free terrain he built. There was also a custom figure station where you could make 2 chaos figures, combining fantasy and 40k parts of everything plastic (warriors, marauders, spawn, chaos marines, possessed, berzerkers, etc). There was a thing called 'warhammer in a flash' which was a 500pt skirmish game, armies on parade, etc. I absolutely LOVED it when I went then.

Of course, with everything else that's happened this year...you may be able to expect a box at the front door where you can just drop your wallet, credit cards, and possibly your left kidney as a donation to GW. They probably need it more than you do.

In all seriousness, back to the first part, GW should put up an itinerary on their website: they did last year. It'll let you know what they have going on, but everything I mentioned from 2 years ago was on last year's itinerary, so you can probably plan for that stuff. And the Forgeworld booth will be mobbed: you'll stand in line half the day. Don't waste your time there, enjoy the free stuff-it's something you won't ever see again from GW. So stuff to bring:

-cash for any warhammer models you want (there MAY be a discount on OOP models, but not on anything else)
-Small warhammer army of your preference
-tools to play

Any other questions, feel free to PM me and I'll tell you all I remember. I may try to go again this year...but most likely not. Chicago is a bit of a hike for me when I'm now disillusioned with GW.

If you're making a trip to Chicago for a GW related trip, make it Adepticon rather than Games Day. Just my personal advice.

My Suggestions:

If your going to buy FW be aware that the US prices may be higher in some case than the current conversion rate, check before you go.

You can bring an army if you want to play on GW store built tables or you can join us at the club tables. If you want to play with your models you can bring 500 points to our tables (look for the club snake eyes banner)

They have a lot of other workshops, Terrain, conversion station to create your own unique mini. Armies on parade if you want folks to judge your painted army
I am hoping they have the carnival of chaos again this year. GW folks will give out tickets you can use to play games for prizes.

shameless plug, come play at the Snake Eyes table! we'll be recording models killed and top 3 that day will get a fully painted 500 point force of Orks, imperial or chaos/daemon. their choice.

Here's one and two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdP8j8tiiU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSDBQ6JUwC0

now if i can just figure out how to get open flame on the 3rd board without burning the place down.... Mikhalia, any thoughts?

while you're there stop by woodfield mall to see the smallest fficial GW store in the world i went there this past weekend.. 16 hour drive there and 16 hour drive back but worth it to go to ACEN (anime central)

Kilgore19d wrote:My two friends and I have been planning a Gamesday trip, ever since we found out it was going to be in Chicago this year. The two of them are married and have children, and we thought it was time that we finally do a guys trip. We'll be taking a train from Kansas City and staying near the convention.

Aside from all the obvious things stated on the GW website, what are some things that we should expect? We've never been to a convention like this before.

Should each of us bring a small army for gaming?

Do I need to bring a lot of cash for my shopping spree at the Forgeworld booth?

If I don't need to bother bringing an army for gaming, should I at least bring my own dice and tape measure?

Thanks!

I want to add my 2 cents on the club tables. My club has done one for the last few years in Baltimore and Toronto, we are not going to Chicago this year, it's just a bit too far. However the clubs put in a lot of time and effort for very little reward, beyond showing off their cool games, terrain and miniatures. Take advantage of it.

A small force is a good idea, also make sure you have one cool independent character with you, we saw a theme last year on gladiator style games and they were pretty cool.

The forge world lines are crazy, there is usually a mad rush as soon as the gates open so people can get it out of the way.

Go on a scwag hunt, the scenery make and takes and other competitions are a great way to pick up some free stuff.

Both the GW booth and Forgeworld booth will take credit cards so you don't have to worry about cash if you don't want to, outside of food.

The in Games day Food tends to be stadium food so it is not a bad idea to plan for a lunch break for something decent to eat if you are so inclined.

Well if US Games days are anything like the UK Games Days you can expect the following:

Huge overcrowding that ensures it is impossible to get anywhere near any of the games or events without constantly being pushed or shoved by hordes of people.

Finding it impossible to talk to any of the design team or sculptors as you have to scream to make yourself heard when in conversation with anyone.

Huge but unsatisfying waarggfest type games that are poorly controlled and end up with you having to scream to get anything done and having to put up with being constantly elbowed in the crotch by kids. Said games also always seem to be designed by people whose idea of good scenario design is ‘stick as many miniatures on the table as is physically possible’. Hence the games are impressive to look at but dull as ditchwater to play.

Take my advice and head to a non GW Wargames show instead. They are generally both cheaper and a superior experience.

You should have gone to Adepticon instead...

Short of playing in a GT or waiting in line at FW, or picking up scraps of terrain at the make and take, the better experience for real "guys weekend" of gaming, buying stuff, and guy things in CHi town would have been Adepticon.

I'd save your funds and go to Adepticon in 2012 instead.

You will see Ahriman of the Thousand Sons drive a 12 foot long Warpcruiser into the webway to lay some smackdown on the Dark Eldar and steal one of the ancient war engines of Vaul from a million year old shrine.

or

You might see cunning Dark Eldar lay a trap for the Chaos Forces and ambush them as they pop out of the warp and are funneled into
"The Arean of Great Pain and Spikey Bitz". It's the 'must see' event of the year onf Payperview!

then again, Ahriman might know that, and he made sure to bring...



but of course the Dark Eldar know that too, and they have their own surprises.....

Several tables of interlocking games and a couple thousand miniatures to play with. Dice, tapes, miniatures all provided.

More pictures and an unfolding story at Teamsauron.com

Kilgore19d wrote:My two friends and I have been planning a Gamesday trip, ever since we found out it was going to be in Chicago this year. The two of them are married and have children, and we thought it was time that we finally do a guys trip. We'll be taking a train from Kansas City and staying near the convention.

Aside from all the obvious things stated on the GW website, what are some things that we should expect? We've never been to a convention like this before.

Should each of us bring a small army for gaming?

Do I need to bring a lot of cash for my shopping spree at the Forgeworld booth?

If I don't need to bother bringing an army for gaming, should I at least bring my own dice and tape measure?

Thanks!

You can email Forgeworld ahead of time and send them a list of what you want. Then they'll have everything gathered up for you ahead of time and yyou can pick it up from a seperate line at your leisure.

Also: The Forgeworld prices that they charge at events are slightly different than what is on the website. Check their printed catalog that they put out at the beginning of the year. You can have one sent to you by contacting Forgeworld. Check the current exchange rate, it may be better to just order what you want and have it sent to you. Especially if you're going to get enough to get free shipping.

Bring what you feel safe carrying. Remember that people have had their stuff stolen at GD's in the past. It's unfortunate, but you need to protect yourself.

Thanks a lot for the input guys! I'll be sure to check out the club tables, and forgo the Forgeworld purchases!

Someone beat me to it. I was going to mention you will see Mikhaila being energetic at one of the most epic displays that will blow away anything GW puts together. Why is this? Because that's how he rolls!

Seriously though, if you have never been to a Games Day its worth seeing what its about. I recommend bringing at least 1000 pt army, maybe consider a 2000 pts army if its easy to transport. Would I buy forgeworld there? if you are going to buy it anyway, if its should pads, minor parts, I would. But if its whole kits I would not unless you have a easy way to transport it home.

If you leave your army at home, i'd bring some extra dice and tape if you have them. I like using my own. I will usually have a small bag with me with tape measure i don't mind losing, and some random dice. Why? it makes it easier for everyone.

If I kept my army small, say 500 points, should I follow the FoC for WFHB and 40K? I'd like to bring both types so I could get max participation.

I can't actually remmeber if the UK Games Day had a bring and play section last time I went. Which was 2004.

I've been *strains brain* five times total I think, and I've never found time to play a game, not even the display battles.

Not sure how long the US one is, but in the UK its 10am to around 4pm, so by the time you queue to buy something, go to a seminar, look around the Golden Daemon displays etc, its soon gone.

On saying that, if I knew there would be folks at the UK Games Day looking for a game, I'd consider taking a case with 500pts ish.