June OGM / BALASA! Session Report

[Victor Kh'BaHzur]

GREETINGS!


   Despite the nearly last minute announcement for the OGM, we got 76 participants to show up!


   Games played this month were the following (based on my notes and my hazy recollection on what was played when).  Games in all caps are protoypes.  If I missed any game please reply to the thread and I'll correct this post.

Navia Dratp	Cookie Fu
Family Business	Bang!
Ghost Stories	Wasabi
Honor of the Klingon*	Tsuro
Marrakech	Give me THE Brain
Kramortha	The Downfall of Pompeii
Risk Express	New World of Darkness
Monopoly Express	Betrayal at House on the Hill
Clans	Small World
Draco & Co.	Frank's Zoo

*A game variant based off Honor of the Samurai

   It was good to see participants of BALASA! play boardgames, and OGM peeps join the tournament.

   Formula V started a few minutes after the planned start since Nabs was recruiting other people to participate (only 2 drivers in the leaderboard was present) and had 2 of them agree to be the super subs of existing teams.  Go here to check the leaderboard.

   Thank you for those that took the time to teach others how to play games they love - go here to see who taught what this month, and here for the running tally.



   Lastly, I would like to give a big thanks to the Philippine Go Association for participating with the OGM, and to Ms. Lambino of NASCAP for passing by and discussing with us about their possible participation in future OGMs.


'til next month,
Your OGM Host/Coordinator,
VJ

[MarkPoa]

Congrats on a successful OGM, guys!  Were the 76 participants OGM only or a mixture of the Balasa and OGM participants?

I was hoping to play Go, but my sister wanted to play board games. Oh, well, another time, maybe.

My thoughts:

Positives:
* Venue was surprisingly accessible.  It only took an hour from Paranaque (I was expecting more) and this included the waiting time when I picked up two friends in Makati.
* Lack of cantina was hardly noticed due to the many food outlets. And hey, even the reception committee seemed to have more time to play because of it.

Negatives:
* Restrooms in the 2nd floor.  SM Malls really have poor designs for CRs.  Going to the bathroom quickly was difficult for some of the long games.
* Music in the area made it hard to hear some of the rule explanations.  Extra kudos for the patience of some tutors for explaining over the sounds.


EDIT:  As an aside, can anyone tell me how to get from SM Marikina to Libis quickly?  I followed the sign in SM Marikina and ended up in Sta. Lucia mall. :/  Since the route I know from Sta. Lucia going to C5 was through Cainta, I took it, but I don't think it's supposed to be that way.

Suggestion for signage:  What OGM is about and an invitation for onlookers to play games for just P50 each.   I noticed people were curious, but hesitant to go in.  I'd be in the same situation if I happened to just pass by. Of course, the downside here is that participants need to be extra careful for people who would enter with intent to steal stuff.

[Victor Kh'BaHzur]

Congrats on a successful OGM, guys!  Were the 76 participants OGM only or a mixture of the Balasa and OGM participants?

   Although the 76 participants were a mix of BALASA! and OGM people, the fact that there was cross-pollination - tournament players played games as they waited for their companions to finish, while OGM peeps joined a tournament - in my opinion, I'd say that it's an overall OGM count.

   After all, the OGM does cover all tabletop games.

I was hoping to play Go, but my sister wanted to play board games. Oh, well, another time, maybe.

   We'll be inviting the Philippine Go Association to participate in future OGMs, so hopefully you'll get your opportunity.  Barring that, Aerol and Adam know the game well enough to be able to teach you.

   I was taught the game, but I'll be hard pressed to teach it.  I find it "worse" than Chess - especially in the analysis paralysis department.  But that's just me.

My thoughts:

Positives:
* Venue was surprisingly accessible.  It only took an hour from Paranaque (I was expecting more) and this included the waiting time when I picked up two friends in Makati.
* Lack of cantina was hardly noticed due to the many food outlets. And hey, even the reception committee seemed to have more time to play because of it.

Negatives:
* Restrooms in the 2nd floor.  SM Malls really have poor designs for CRs.  Going to the bathroom quickly was difficult for some of the long games.
* Music in the area made it hard to hear some of the rule explanations.  Extra kudos for the patience of some tutors for explaining over the sounds.

   Thanks for the feedback, it is greatly appreciated.

   I'm sure everyone agrees regarding the adventure one has to take just to get to the bathroom, but I'm sure that eventually we all got to learn to plan ahead.

   As for the music, it just so happens that MSI had a week long display in the area.  Normally it's a quiet area - it's distance from the primary traffic area means that the hubbub doesn't reach.

EDIT:  As an aside, can anyone tell me how to get from SM Marikina to Libis quickly?  I followed the sign in SM Marikina and ended up in Sta. Lucia mall. :/  Since the route I know from Sta. Lucia going to C5 was through Cainta, I took it, but I don't think it's supposed to be that way.

   Paging anyone that lives in or near the area and visits the place regularly...

Suggestion for signage:  What OGM is about and an invitation for onlookers to play games for just P50 each.   I noticed people were curious, but hesitant to go in.  I'd be in the same situation if I happened to just pass by. Of course, the downside here is that participants need to be extra careful for people who would enter with intent to steal stuff.

   Brel also had a similar suggestion, and I'm sure that others will have something similar to suggest as well.  I find that's a good sign that participants are thinking of ways for the OGM to get promotion / notice by the passer-bys.  We are aware of that and will make sure that it's addressed on future events held at a mall.

   Kudos to Tybalt for taking the effort to engage those people that were curious.  I should've done the same thing, but was wasted. 


   As for security, I agree that we'll need to be extra vigilant when the OGM is held in a mall, since there will be strangers about.

"Still wasted til now..."
See what kind of Deviant I am...
Into CCGs?  The P·U·G·S welcomes every and all CCG players.

[Rolf]

Congrats on the successful event, guys

We'll be inviting the Philippine Go Association to participate in future OGMs, so hopefully you'll get your opportunity.  Barring that, Aerol and Adam know the game well enough to be able to teach you.

That would be nice I've been studying the game for a few months now, and I still suck.  Would be nice to play with you guys

[ChineezPnoy]

I was hoping to play Go, but my sister wanted to play board games. Oh, well, another time, maybe.

At least u wer a gud ahia to ur shobe 4 doing so   

My thoughts:

* Music in the area made it hard to hear some of the rule explanations.  Extra kudos for the patience of some tutors for explaining over the sounds.

Gosh, was it obvious I was almost screaming dat time 
As Vic sed, it just so happens a vendor was still doing their thingy.

EDIT:  As an aside, can anyone tell me how to get from SM Marikina to Libis quickly?  I followed the sign in SM Marikina and ended up in Sta. Lucia mall. :/  Since the route I know from Sta. Lucia going to C5 was through Cainta, I took it, but I don't think it's supposed to be that way.

I'm w/ u also on this.  I also got lost on d way there
>_<
Some of d regular members I spoke to also said they still need to figure out how to get home frm that out-of-the-way mall.

...
Of course, the downside here is that participants need to be extra careful for people who would enter with intent to steal stuff.

That happened in a few conventions I worked at (even abroad).

Maybe use d tables to form like a one-way access square formation to hold ppl's baggage w/ d exposed table side used for registration & the farthest table side (closest to d gaming area) to display d games ppl brought?

Altho it might make d displays harder to read (4d small print) but I guess it shud make the exposed games difficult to b lifted by passers-by.  Watever works I guess.

Ppl will tell u its hard to get it perfect @ d 1st try in a new venue but rest assured d organizers der r capable peeps in making things better.

Mad props for d table cloths, u guys sure take care of d details 

[Nychuus]

Next time I hope I won't be sick. Does that mean I get to go first in Paranoia?

Speaking of next time, is the next OGM's venue still at SM Marikina?

[Rolf]

Paranoia?   You mean Pandemic

There's no official word yet, but I'd guess it's probable that Marikina will be used next month.  Don't quote me though.

[Tybalt]

I just got word that we're go for the OGM on July 18 at SM Marikina. Details to follow.

[Tesseract]

EDIT:  As an aside, can anyone tell me how to get from SM Marikina to Libis quickly?  I followed the sign in SM Marikina and ended up in Sta. Lucia mall. :/  Since the route I know from Sta. Lucia going to C5 was through Cainta, I took it, but I don't think it's supposed to be that way.

Suggestion for signage:  What OGM is about and an invitation for onlookers to play games for just P50 each.   I noticed people were curious, but hesitant to go in.  I'd be in the same situation if I happened to just pass by. Of course, the downside here is that participants need to be extra careful for people who would enter with intent to steal stuff.

(Here I am, Viktor)

Directions From SM Marikina to Libis:
Exit the parking lot.
Follow exit signs and note that there are signs that point the driver to go to either Antipolo Sumulong (you don't want to take that) or C5/Libis (this one you follow). I suggest you drive moderately slow so that you can catch the signage. It doesn't hurt to also ask the ticket booth lady or the guards. They are very friendly.
You will get to a small two-lane road that will lead you to the overpass (Macapagal Bridge). Take that and stay on the road.
You will climb the overpass - go straight until you hit a Y-road. you are on the right track if you pass by the military camps on both sides of the street.
Take a left, and follow the flow of traffic. You'll get to Libis soon enough.

If all else fails, let me know when you're going to the next meet in SM Marikina. Call my cell, I can give turn-by-turn directions

[Brel]

Thanks for the directions Tesseract! 

[Tesseract]

For those who aren't sure how to get to the venue, please feel free to contact me via my cell, or contact Adrian (The Other One). We live in the area and can help you.

Unfortunately, the sis and I have family activities this Saturday. If we make it to OGM today it'd only be because the family get together ended early.

Here's a SUPER SHORTCUT:

Take the MRT purple line and get off the Santolan (end) station. From the Santolan station you can walk to the mall.

SM Marikina is the only structure built in the area, you can't miss it. It is surrounded by grass and the river.

The walk is safe to use, and well-lighted in the evening. However, it's quite a walk (leave your heels at home). If it's raining I really do suggest you bring an umbrella (open walkway), a jacket and water-resistant bags (if you're bringing your games). Oh, and rain-worthy footwear.

If you are driving, my quick-and-dirty instructions are to follow the purple MRT line to get to the end terminal at Santolan. From there you can visually navigate to the mall.

Viktor, I'll email you a map I made. I'll apologize in advance because it is NOT to scale (for the nitpickers out there). But I put in some landmarks that would hopefully help our folks from the South (Makati, Ortigas, Pasig).