Success!

Attendance was good, the beverage was plentiful and the gaming was high quality.

You moved where?!

No mercy is shown at this table, youngster!

It is not too early to start thinking about next year...

All the boardgaming you can handle, only 2 weeks away!

Do you know where you're going to be 2 weeks from now?  That's right!  You're going to be at Ludophilia III at the Comfort Suites on Higgins Rd in scenic Schaumburg, IL, enjoying 4 days of solid boardgaming pleasure!  Ok, Schaumburg really isn't all that scenic, unless you have a thing for malls, both strip and otherwise, but I'm hoping you'll be there for the boardgaming anyway!!

You should all know the details by now, but feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the location, the hotel, the gaming, or anything.

All you need to know right now is we'll have a wide selection of great games to play, starting at 8am on Thursday, May 30.  We'll be ordering pizza for dinner Friday, and I expect that to be the peak attendance time.  If you're looking for a little quieter and more casually intimate gaming time, then feel free to drop in as you choose Thu, Fri, Sat, or Sun during the day.  Definitely don't be afraid to bring a couple other gamers with you if you have friends or family who would like to join us!  The more the merrier.  (What will we do if we overflow the room?  If necessary, we should be able to seat some smaller, quieter games out in the breakfast area when it's not in use, or we can use our hotel rooms for small games if we're desperate.)

Remember we're asking for $10/person/day to cover the costs, but really, if you just drop in for a couple hours or something, no one's going to strongarm you, so don't be afraid to come by and meet the group.

Also, check out the game library list at tinyurl.com/ludo3lib.  If you really want to play something that's not on the list, let me know and we'll try to locate a copy.  (Or, of course, bring it yourself!)

See you in 2 weeks!

Your Top 3

What are the top 3 games you want to play at Ludophilia III?  The ones that will make you consider the weekend a failure if you don't get to play them....

I think mine are:

1) Clash of Cultures:  I bought this about 2 months ago and still haven't tried it.  It's a light- to moderate-weight Civ building game that looks like fun, but it's probably just a little too long to be popular at normal game days.

2) Magic Realm:  Mark Ashton, Bill Desmarais, and I have been playing online to try to get a grip on the rules.  I've been harboring a wish to learn how to actually play this game since I was about 15 -- at least it's been sitting on my shelf unplayed since then.  I feel like we finally are getting it, at least with the help of the RealmSpeak program.  Now I'd like to see if we could actually manage it unassisted and maybe with about a half dozen players...

3) Dune:  Another oldie, but definitely a goodie.  There will be no better time to play than with pretty much all of the best players I've ever known all in the same room together (assuming Joe Abrams and Glenn McMaster also appear as promised!)  Steve Quinn, John Tammes, and Scott Wennerdahl taught me how to play more than 30 years ago, I taught Bill Dyer, Lee Proctor, and Wray Ferrell, among others, and now Bill and I are teaching our kids, and the guys (and gals) at WBC have far outdistanced my abilities and teach me stuff every year.

Of course, there are tons of other games I want to play, too many to list.  Some of the new ones (new to me, at least) that I know other folks are bringing that I *really* want to try are T'zolkin, Terra Mystica, Great Zimbabwe, Netrunner, Pax Porfiriana, and Spartacus, to name a few.

Getting excited!

29 Days and Counting...

Hello Everyone!

Here we are in May already!  I can't believe how time flies, and it's finally looking like Spring....

Don't forget Ludophilia III is now less than a month away.  May 30 through Jun 2.  Hopefully all of your plans are in place and you're ready to go.  Here are a few things to remember:

LOCATION

We're at the Comfort Suites in Schaumburg, 1100 E. Higgins Rd.  (www.tinyurl.com/ludo3css)  Make a reservation now if you're staying overnight, and be sure to ask for the Ludophilia rate of $79/night.

ADMISSION

We're requesting $10 per person per day.  Technically, the buy-3-days-get-the-4th-day-free offer has expired, but just between you and me, if you still want to send $30 for all 4 days, I'll still accept it.  (Email me for my address if you don't have it.)  Otherwise, I'll collect money at the door.

GAME LIBRARY

A number of people have listed the games that they'll be bringing on our spreadsheet at www.tinyurl.com/ludo3lib.  This is very helpful to avoid unnecessary duplications and also to make sure that what you want to play will be there.  I have a large collection, but I'm only bringing a couple hundred games, so take a look and let me know if there's something you want to play that isn't already on the list -- I may have it!

FLIGHTS AND RIDES

Currently, I think I only know the travel itinerary for 1 person flying in (Steve Q).  If you're going to be arriving at the airport and don't already have a ride planned to the hotel, please let me know your plans (arrival time and airline), and we'll start making arrangements to get people picked up.

Pizza Night at Ludophilia

As my suggestion for me being treated to a full Swedish Massage or given two or three bottles of 30 year old Tawny Port went COMPLETELY UNHEEDED it appears consenus is that we have a pizza night this year - using the funds our Founder has scrupulously saved from last year.  Therefore we need two things decided;

1. What night shall it be? Thursday, Friday or Saturday? [right now Friday appears a leading contender];

2. From whence shall we procure this pizza? Schaumburg has many delightful pizza places - larger names such as Lou Malnati's Pizzeria or Rosati's Pizza, area favorites such as Moretti's Ristorante and Pizzeria or Papa Saverio's. If stuffed pizza is called for, there is always Giordano's. Note I have not referred to industrial places such as Little Ceasar's, Dominio's or Pizza Hut. But they are, obviously, omnipresent.
Please make your preferences known in the comments

Game Library Plannning and More!

We're down to only about 2 months before Ludophilia III is upon us!  Can you believe it?  Where is this year going?  I'm getting really excited for it, and I hope you all are too.  Everyone is welcome, whether it's just for 1 day or for all 4.  It's just meant to be a nice long weekend of gaming in a casual, open-house environment, free from distractions.  If you're sitting on the fence trying to decide whether to drop in or not, I sincerely hope you will make up your mind to come by.  It's a fun, friendly group who are definitely not afraid to teach and be taught all sorts of games, playing everything from the lightest Euros to some rather heavy wargamey choices, and lots of stuff in-between.  We love to meet friends-of-friends, so feel free to extend the invitation to other gamers and potential gamers you know.  If you'd like to bring your posse or your family with you, that's fine!

Just a few reminders and updates:

ADMISSION AND EARLY REGISTRATION

We're collecting $10 per day per person at the door to cover the costs of the room.  But don't forget that if you register with me by April 30th and pay for 3 days, you get the 4th day free!  Just send a check for $30 (or $10 per day if you just want 1 or 2 days) to me at:

Brad Johnson

1517 Driftwood Ln.

Crystal Lake, IL  60014

LOCATION AND DATES

The festivities will be running from 8:00am Thursday, May 30th, through 6:00pm, Sunday, Jun 2nd.  Remember that we're at the Comfort Suites Schaumburg (http://tinyurl.com/ludo3css, 847-330-0133).  If you're staying overnight, be sure to ask for the Ludophilia group rate (only $79/night).  You should make your reservations as soon as possible to be sure of getting that great rate!

GAME LIBRARY

We've updated the game library planning spreadsheet for this year at http://tinyurl.com/ludo3lib.  As a starting point, I've seeded it with most of my list from last year plus some new acquisitions since then.  Please go take a look!

* First, please update the "Attendees" tab to indicate your planned attendance.

* Then, if you are bringing some games to share, please add them to the list on the "Bringing" tab.  (The "Library" tab will automatically update.)

* If there is a game you really would like to play that you don't see on the list already, please add it to the "Requests" tab, no matter what it is.  Hopefully I or someone else will have it and can add it to the list to bring.

PIZZA

We're currently planning on using our modest excess funds from last year to provide pizza for dinner Friday night!  If you have a really good recommendation for pizza to order near the hotel, please let me know.

Hope to see you (plus a friend or two?) the weekend after Memorial Day, May 30 - Jun 2!!

March Update

Game Requests so far: 
Twilight Imperium, Dune, Diplomacy and Republic of Rome. One whimsical request for Empires in Arms, full campaign game...

Early Registration has been good so far - keep spreading the word!

One thing I would like to solicit in the comments to this update is something our organizer mentioned back when announcing this year's date. We have a modest amount left in the treasury from last year - should we apply it to general snacks/drinks/refreshments or pick a night and order a bunch of pizzas, complementary to the participants?  I regret to say that my original suggestion of sending me for a hour long Swedish Massage was rejected outright.

Any ideas for sponsorship or promotions is also welcome!

Februrary Update!

Just a reminder that Ludophilia III is only about 3 months away now!  I hope you have May 30 - June 2 marked on your calendar!

EARLY REGISTRATION

There are now 7 people (including myself) who have registered early for the whole weekend.  Don't worry, there's still plenty of time to take advantage of the "pay for 3 days get the 4th day free" discount.  Just send a check to me for $30 any time before the end of April, and you're in!  After that, it's still just $10 per person per day and you can pay at the door if you prefer to do that, no problem.

If you want to send a check, mail it to:

Brad Johnson

1517 Driftwood Ln.

Crystal Lake, IL  60014

NEW BLOG

Thanks to John Tammes, we now have a blog set up at http://ludophilia3.blogspot.com/ where I will post these announcements, as well as other information.  John has started a discussion of what games people want to see brought to the convention.  Please join the discussion and post your thoughts!  (We'll accumulate the inputs and create an organized library list as the date gets closer.)

HOTEL INFORMATION

If you're staying overnight (and who wouldn't want to for maximum convenience and minimum gaming downtime??), be sure to make your reservation at the Comfort Suites Schaumburg, http://tinyurl.com/ludo3css, 847-330-0133.  Don't forget we have a small block of rooms held for us at a great rate -- only $79/night.  Be sure to ask for the Ludophilia group rate.

See you in May!

Brad.

Game Requests? Sure, we'll take them.

As promised, we will take requests - if there is a game you want to see at Ludophilia, post it in the comments.  We also welcome those who are planning to attend to use the comments to drum up interest in anything they wish to bring themselves.

Have at it!

Ludophilia III - what is this?

Ludophilia - the "love of play".

In this instance, it happens to be the name of a small (but growing!) boardgaming convention hosted by the As Yet Unnamed Gaming Club of Crystal Lake, IL. The third annual instance at that.  Informally, it is being known as Ludophilia III - Bazinga!  (Ludophilia II was "Ludophilia II - This Time its Personal!" just beating out "Ludophilia II - Boadrgame Bugaloo" and "Ludophilia II - The Revenge"

The format is similar to the venerable boardgamegeek.com annual convention/gathering/mass gaming assembly.  Request someone bring something, bring it yourself, or just show up and have at anything that can gather enough players.  We have no set format, no tournaments, no set rules other than try not to get too loud in your boasting of victory, wailing in defeat, or laughter at some of the odd things you will see and hear.

Where and when is this highly desirable event being held you may ask?  May 30th - June 2nd at the Comfort Suites in Schaumburg, Illinois (5 blocks or so from Woodfield Mall).

I can expect to pay a King's ransom to be allowed in, right? Nay, you will not!  A mere $10 per day will get you in for all the gaming you can handle.  In fact, until the end of April, if you pre-register for all four days, you will get them for the price of three. You are always welcome to pay at the door. You can even request the Ludophilia group rate at the Comfort Suites (hurry, a limited number of rooms are set aside).

For those wishing a break from gaming (or as I do, to lick my wounds from a sound beating) for an hour or so, there is a Tilted Kilt location just across the parking lot.  There are numerous restaurants nearby, including several near Woodfield Mall.

This page will feature updates on the game library currently requested and more information as we get closer to the glorious 4 days of gaming.

If you wish more information or to be contacted - leave a comment.