Ashlands school is holding a craft fair on 29th of March. I thought it might be a good idea hire a table, hand out some leaflet about the club, and perhaps get people playing some games.
I'm probably going to run some games of Bang!. If anyone would like to join me and run either a simple participation game, or a small demo, let me now.
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Geeks Together
If there are any gaming clubs or gamers who would like me to link to them on this blog I would be more than happy. Just contact me with you blog, website, forum, Facebook page and I will do the honours.
As it has been a sunny day in Ilkley, I thought it appropriate to post a picture of the foot bridge to Middleton woods.
I suspect the river was higher today, but no matter.
The invitation to gamers and games clubs in West Yorkshire - and beyond - to send me links for the blog was in part due a conversation with Jon at the Beyond Monopoly website, who has been helping me with some technical issues to do with this site, and also offering advice about starting a gaming club.
One of the things I want for this site, other than being a focus for the club, is to be a resource for gamers in the local area. In modern parlance, a hub. Being somewhat of a niche hobby, it is easy to get involved in active and exciting smaller groups and forget that there are wider pools of gamers. As is evidenced at shows and conventions.
Whatever the reason, it would be nice if groups were to reach out to each other, and in doing so bring new people in to what is a very entertaining and absorbing hobby; whether you are a wargamer, historical or fantasy/sci-fi, a role player, board gamer or card player, of the Magic the Gathering variety perhaps.
At which point it is time for a commercial break - like us on facebook, follow us on twitter, join the forum, tell your friends....
A link back would be nice....
As it has been a sunny day in Ilkley, I thought it appropriate to post a picture of the foot bridge to Middleton woods.
The invitation to gamers and games clubs in West Yorkshire - and beyond - to send me links for the blog was in part due a conversation with Jon at the Beyond Monopoly website, who has been helping me with some technical issues to do with this site, and also offering advice about starting a gaming club.
One of the things I want for this site, other than being a focus for the club, is to be a resource for gamers in the local area. In modern parlance, a hub. Being somewhat of a niche hobby, it is easy to get involved in active and exciting smaller groups and forget that there are wider pools of gamers. As is evidenced at shows and conventions.
Whatever the reason, it would be nice if groups were to reach out to each other, and in doing so bring new people in to what is a very entertaining and absorbing hobby; whether you are a wargamer, historical or fantasy/sci-fi, a role player, board gamer or card player, of the Magic the Gathering variety perhaps.
At which point it is time for a commercial break - like us on facebook, follow us on twitter, join the forum, tell your friends....
A link back would be nice....
Monday, 24 February 2014
A Competition
One of the iconic images of Ilkley is the Cow and Calf rocks that sit high above the town.
For those that don't know the landmark in question here is a picture...
I have been thinking about a logo, as twitter and facebook keep pestering me for a picture. And I guess it would look good on the forum too. So I got to thinking what would be good image that ties together Ilkley, wargames, historical and fantasy/sci-fi, role playing games, board games and card games.
Hence I came up with the Cow and Calf to represent Ilkley, and the brilliant idea of using Photoshop to transpose a dice in place of the calf; maybe with a meeple running away screaming from the tumbling dice.
Unfortunately my technical skills are not up to the challenge of creating this image, nor do I have the requisite software.
So I was hoping that a kind reader would do it for me.
Please....
For those that don't know the landmark in question here is a picture...
Hence I came up with the Cow and Calf to represent Ilkley, and the brilliant idea of using Photoshop to transpose a dice in place of the calf; maybe with a meeple running away screaming from the tumbling dice.
Unfortunately my technical skills are not up to the challenge of creating this image, nor do I have the requisite software.
So I was hoping that a kind reader would do it for me.
Please....
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Why Ilkley
I was asked the other day why I wanted to establish a gaming club in Ilkley.
The question needs slight alteration, as to me the question is 'why now would I try and form such a group?'
The germ of the idea comes from my virtual trips around the interwebz to various forums over the past few years and seeing threads from people in Keighley, Skipton, Otley, Guisley, Shipley, Ilkey, Burley in Wharfedale, Silsden and other surrounding towns looking for people to play games with.
Then there was the spin put on the opening of Little Lane Children's Centre by local media, that it wasn't fair that the council was spending money on things for babies and young children, when there is nothing for teenagers to do. Which is not to say that the intention is for the gamers group to be some sort of youth club, but I do recall an interview with Lawrie Stewart, of GCN, on the Bad Dice podcast in which he said that young people with a hobby were less likely to get in trouble. I remember thinking, as I passed the teenage girls being interviewed outside the Children's Centre, "I bet they would enjoy a game of Carcassonne."
And I have been impressed by the number of community activities within the town since moving here. Gaming is a very sociable activity, and a gaming group would be an excellent addition to the social fabric of the town. Offering the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, men and women, young and old, and spend a pleasant evening trying to save the earth from a Pandemic, scheming to get them eaten by a dragon, or hacking up their painstakingly researched and painted Vikings.
Though I guess, the reason is partly selfish, as I am in the process of building a WWI trench system to play Through the Mud and the Blood. And I would like somewhere local to play with it. It being rather heavier than I expected - though quite why I thought cutting a 6 by 4 sheet of hardboard into squares, screwing inch by inch batons to it, fitting sheets of foam core and covering it with plaster and sand, would be lighter than the component parts, I can't say.
Still...
Like us on Facebook, join the forum, follow us on twitter.
The question needs slight alteration, as to me the question is 'why now would I try and form such a group?'
The germ of the idea comes from my virtual trips around the interwebz to various forums over the past few years and seeing threads from people in Keighley, Skipton, Otley, Guisley, Shipley, Ilkey, Burley in Wharfedale, Silsden and other surrounding towns looking for people to play games with.
Then there was the spin put on the opening of Little Lane Children's Centre by local media, that it wasn't fair that the council was spending money on things for babies and young children, when there is nothing for teenagers to do. Which is not to say that the intention is for the gamers group to be some sort of youth club, but I do recall an interview with Lawrie Stewart, of GCN, on the Bad Dice podcast in which he said that young people with a hobby were less likely to get in trouble. I remember thinking, as I passed the teenage girls being interviewed outside the Children's Centre, "I bet they would enjoy a game of Carcassonne."
And I have been impressed by the number of community activities within the town since moving here. Gaming is a very sociable activity, and a gaming group would be an excellent addition to the social fabric of the town. Offering the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, men and women, young and old, and spend a pleasant evening trying to save the earth from a Pandemic, scheming to get them eaten by a dragon, or hacking up their painstakingly researched and painted Vikings.
Though I guess, the reason is partly selfish, as I am in the process of building a WWI trench system to play Through the Mud and the Blood. And I would like somewhere local to play with it. It being rather heavier than I expected - though quite why I thought cutting a 6 by 4 sheet of hardboard into squares, screwing inch by inch batons to it, fitting sheets of foam core and covering it with plaster and sand, would be lighter than the component parts, I can't say.
Still...
Like us on Facebook, join the forum, follow us on twitter.
Saturday, 22 February 2014
30 is the Magic Number
The networking continues...
Given that the club is intended for general gaming - board and card games, RPGs, wargames historical and fantasy/sci-fi - I am conscious that a critical mass of interest is required before committing to concrete plans such as renting a hall, getting boards, crisps and coke, etc. At a very simple level, this is two people with armies for the same game, enough adventurers to make a party or the required numbers for a board game. Obviously someone intending to play D&D, might well play a board game, or join in a wargame, or whatever; but equally I am aware that this is not ideal.
The club has the facebook page, the forum, the twitter account, and each of these media is attracting interest to varying degrees.
The magic number I am looking for is 30. As 30 people expressing interest should in theory offer enough permutations of gaming interests to make a decent fist of the start up.
Not that I'm kidding myself that at the start there won't be the situation Steve from the Overlords described on the recent Independent Characters podcast, of him sitting alone in an empty hall waiting for someone, anyone, to turn up.
Given that the club is intended for general gaming - board and card games, RPGs, wargames historical and fantasy/sci-fi - I am conscious that a critical mass of interest is required before committing to concrete plans such as renting a hall, getting boards, crisps and coke, etc. At a very simple level, this is two people with armies for the same game, enough adventurers to make a party or the required numbers for a board game. Obviously someone intending to play D&D, might well play a board game, or join in a wargame, or whatever; but equally I am aware that this is not ideal.
The club has the facebook page, the forum, the twitter account, and each of these media is attracting interest to varying degrees.
The magic number I am looking for is 30. As 30 people expressing interest should in theory offer enough permutations of gaming interests to make a decent fist of the start up.
Not that I'm kidding myself that at the start there won't be the situation Steve from the Overlords described on the recent Independent Characters podcast, of him sitting alone in an empty hall waiting for someone, anyone, to turn up.
Friday, 21 February 2014
Women Welcome
While the hunt for members and a venue proceeds - like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, join the forum, link to the blog, engage random strangers at bus stops - well maybe not the last one...
I wanted to take an opportunity to state the bleeping obvious. Namely, that women are welcome.
Perhaps this is something that these days is assumed, and even saying it sounds rather patronizing. But it occurred to me that in my advertising efforts I have listed wargaming, historical and fantasy/sci-fi, before RPGs, board and card games. And, since words matter, that it might given the impression that button counters and list building powergamiers might be viewed as somehow more important. And given certain prevailing stereotypes, etc.
I'll stop digging...
I wanted to take an opportunity to state the bleeping obvious. Namely, that women are welcome.
Perhaps this is something that these days is assumed, and even saying it sounds rather patronizing. But it occurred to me that in my advertising efforts I have listed wargaming, historical and fantasy/sci-fi, before RPGs, board and card games. And, since words matter, that it might given the impression that button counters and list building powergamiers might be viewed as somehow more important. And given certain prevailing stereotypes, etc.
I'll stop digging...
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Home Hunting
The hunt for a venue continues.
One of the problems of trying to start a group in a busy town like Ilkley is that many of the best locations have already been hired out. This problem is somewhat compounded by Christchurch building a soft play area in Riddings Hall - which means that while the building work is being done, existing groups will be expanding into the available spaces.
Still, it was only the first exploratory expedition...
Amusingly when I mentioned the group was for wargamers, historical and fantsay/sci-fi, RPGs, board and card games, there was a slight intake of breath and the upward twitch of an eyebrow. Perhaps I should just pitch it as a men's bonding group - which it certainly is not, women gamers are most welcome - but I suspect that it would raise fewer suspicions. Clearly the view that Nerd is the new chic is not so widespread as I was led to believe.
One of the problems of trying to start a group in a busy town like Ilkley is that many of the best locations have already been hired out. This problem is somewhat compounded by Christchurch building a soft play area in Riddings Hall - which means that while the building work is being done, existing groups will be expanding into the available spaces.
Still, it was only the first exploratory expedition...
Amusingly when I mentioned the group was for wargamers, historical and fantsay/sci-fi, RPGs, board and card games, there was a slight intake of breath and the upward twitch of an eyebrow. Perhaps I should just pitch it as a men's bonding group - which it certainly is not, women gamers are most welcome - but I suspect that it would raise fewer suspicions. Clearly the view that Nerd is the new chic is not so widespread as I was led to believe.
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Lists
So the advertising campaign continues.
I am working my way around various local and gaming forums, posting the links for the Facebook page, the twitter feed, the blog, and of course the forum, getting the word out about Ilkley Gamers Club, and the efforts to bring regular wargames, historical and fantasy/sci-fi, Role Playing Games, board and card games to the town.
I'd be grateful if anyone has any suggestions of forums and blogs that I could add this information. Being a mainly a wargamer I am not aware of which are the hot places for RPGs, board and card games.
It would be even better is people would post links on their own blogs.
The good news is we are starting to get retweets.... YAY.... the wargaming acorn is sprouting.
The next task is to draw up a list of possible venues - again if anyone has any ideas, feel free to share (preferably via the forum) - and then to start emailing them to find out how much it would cost.
I am working my way around various local and gaming forums, posting the links for the Facebook page, the twitter feed, the blog, and of course the forum, getting the word out about Ilkley Gamers Club, and the efforts to bring regular wargames, historical and fantasy/sci-fi, Role Playing Games, board and card games to the town.
I'd be grateful if anyone has any suggestions of forums and blogs that I could add this information. Being a mainly a wargamer I am not aware of which are the hot places for RPGs, board and card games.
It would be even better is people would post links on their own blogs.
The good news is we are starting to get retweets.... YAY.... the wargaming acorn is sprouting.
The next task is to draw up a list of possible venues - again if anyone has any ideas, feel free to share (preferably via the forum) - and then to start emailing them to find out how much it would cost.
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Insert Slogan Here
And the feedback flows in.
- Check spelling and grammar on the blog - I can't see that happening, but maybe when the club gets going someone will be willing to take over this job to the satisfaction of the pedants.
- Provide contact information in addition to the forum, the blog, the Facebook and now twitter -which I presume means an email, so here it is, ilkleygamersclub@gmail.com
As this whole business is pretty much up in the air at the moment, I had hoped that interested parties would sign up to the forum in order that a discussion would ensue as to the how, where, when and who. But perhaps that was optimistic. And I accept that the forum does look rather uninviting at present, as it is completely devoid of content - and who wants to be the drunken uncle at a wedding by hitting the dance floor first? However, it was only set up yesterday, and I will be adding topics and stuff shortly, specifically to find out what people would want from a club, when would be the best time to meet, venue, etc... unless of course my cunning plan kicks into gear and people interested in starting a club sign up, and start the conversation - even if it is just to arrange games among themselves in the meantime.
For those put off by the approval thing on the forum, it is simply there to stop spam, the same with the comment approval on this blog.
Again, I invite people interested in getting involved, to sign up to the forum, like us on Facebook, email a question (I can't say I will have an answer), leave a comment on the blog, follow us and retweet on Twitter, propagate the links, chat in the pub if need be... though no more moaning about spelling ;)
Let me see, what was some of the other feedback?
Oh yes meta filters and using keywords to catapult us up the search results.
The plan is that this blog will reflect the activity of the club, so that sort of data will generate itself in the long term. For the time being I'll stick with the general: the club is for top table wargaming, historical and non-historical/sci-fi/fantasy, RPGs, board and card games - though maybe not LARPers.
Hopefully that should do for now.
- Check spelling and grammar on the blog - I can't see that happening, but maybe when the club gets going someone will be willing to take over this job to the satisfaction of the pedants.
- Provide contact information in addition to the forum, the blog, the Facebook and now twitter -which I presume means an email, so here it is, ilkleygamersclub@gmail.com
As this whole business is pretty much up in the air at the moment, I had hoped that interested parties would sign up to the forum in order that a discussion would ensue as to the how, where, when and who. But perhaps that was optimistic. And I accept that the forum does look rather uninviting at present, as it is completely devoid of content - and who wants to be the drunken uncle at a wedding by hitting the dance floor first? However, it was only set up yesterday, and I will be adding topics and stuff shortly, specifically to find out what people would want from a club, when would be the best time to meet, venue, etc... unless of course my cunning plan kicks into gear and people interested in starting a club sign up, and start the conversation - even if it is just to arrange games among themselves in the meantime.
For those put off by the approval thing on the forum, it is simply there to stop spam, the same with the comment approval on this blog.
Again, I invite people interested in getting involved, to sign up to the forum, like us on Facebook, email a question (I can't say I will have an answer), leave a comment on the blog, follow us and retweet on Twitter, propagate the links, chat in the pub if need be... though no more moaning about spelling ;)
Let me see, what was some of the other feedback?
Oh yes meta filters and using keywords to catapult us up the search results.
The plan is that this blog will reflect the activity of the club, so that sort of data will generate itself in the long term. For the time being I'll stick with the general: the club is for top table wargaming, historical and non-historical/sci-fi/fantasy, RPGs, board and card games - though maybe not LARPers.
Hopefully that should do for now.
Monday, 17 February 2014
The Guantlet
Welcome to the Ilkley Gamers Club blog.
At present this is a bit of a paper exercise to try and drum up enough interest to make a regular gaming club both active and feasible. Therefore I invite gamers in Ilkley and the surrounding areas to get involved and help to make this club happen.
There is a Facebook page and there is now a forum. So people can start interacting with each other, and arrange to play games, while we try and work out the when, where and how of the actual club itself.
At present I have no hard and fast plans for the club, beyond trying to make it exist.
But a couple of things that would be nice, and perhaps raise our profile, would be to try and help the museum in some way. And in October to raise money by taking part in the Extra Life charity event.
This invitation goes out to all gamers; historical, GW, Privateer Press, Mantic, Spartan, Warlord, D&D, euro board gamers, magic the gathering etc, etc, etc, whatever your preference, the aim is to create a club that is fun, friendly, as inclusive as you want it to be, with a positive outlook on gaming.
So spread the word.
And get involved.
At present this is a bit of a paper exercise to try and drum up enough interest to make a regular gaming club both active and feasible. Therefore I invite gamers in Ilkley and the surrounding areas to get involved and help to make this club happen.
There is a Facebook page and there is now a forum. So people can start interacting with each other, and arrange to play games, while we try and work out the when, where and how of the actual club itself.
At present I have no hard and fast plans for the club, beyond trying to make it exist.
But a couple of things that would be nice, and perhaps raise our profile, would be to try and help the museum in some way. And in October to raise money by taking part in the Extra Life charity event.
This invitation goes out to all gamers; historical, GW, Privateer Press, Mantic, Spartan, Warlord, D&D, euro board gamers, magic the gathering etc, etc, etc, whatever your preference, the aim is to create a club that is fun, friendly, as inclusive as you want it to be, with a positive outlook on gaming.
So spread the word.
And get involved.
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