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There is a gaming community here! :D

11/10/2011

8 Comments

 
So, for the first time since being up here in Grand Forks, I had the opportunity to hit up the "open" Warhammer 40k night at the local shop.  As I mentioned previously, this store is small.  Very small.  I've only managed to get a couple random games when I've shown up, with whomever was there.

But my eyes were opened to how big the community is here.  WAY bigger than I remembered it being back in the early 2000's.  There were 15-20 people crammed into the store on Tuesday night.  Some of whom I remember way back when from our Hobbytown USA days.  And I'm told there are probably another 10-15 players in the area, plus those that are on University of North Dakota's campus.  Which isn't surprising considering there are 10k+ people on campus every semester.

I didn't bring my army sadly, as I wanted to meet people and socialize, but I should have because they started an escalation league this week.  Wanted to feel my way around before I dropped the "I'm a competitive player bomb."  Sure enough, most of them are casual gamers, but I don't even care.  There are enough players to give me a good time and I can get my competitive gaming elsewhere (national GTs).  Though, the small few tournament players here have said they would be willing to help playtest things so long as I'm not one of those asshole WAAC gamers.  And it seems they agree I'm not.  They even notified me of several local tournaments coming up, so I'm going to be hitting those up as well.  :)

Anyway, I think I left a good impression.  Refereed a couple of games, gave some advice to a fledgling competitive player, and chatted for well into the night.  The shop owners are pretty cool too, as they are more than happy to stay open later if there are games or conversations going on (and told me as such).  Hell, the store closes at like 7 or 8pm, but we were there almost to 11pm.  Sounds like this is a common occurrence, but I'm not sure how I feel about the abuse of that courtesy.

In the next month or so, they are moving to a larger location, so the gaming space will be drastically improved.  As it stands now, there are only room for 2 6x4 boards and 1 4x4 board.  Which is fine, as they simply split the tables in half for the 500 point games.  They are trying to build on the recent resurrection of Warhammer 40k in the area (apparently everyone stopped playing in 4th Edition...imagine that), as well as getting more merchandise for other games like Malifaux and Warmachine.  I'm excited.  Now to just work on getting my Tuesday nights off...


Side note:  Tonight I'm going to catch up on the comments here on the blog.  I'm way behind.
8 Comments
loquacious link
11/9/2011 11:14:11 pm

^^^^^THAT^^^^^^ makes what I do worth it, every day.

So glad you found it.

Reply
Lucion
11/10/2011 04:53:58 am

wanted to share this. I think it is partly what makes Implausible nature so special.

"I try to apply this notion in the classroom as a teacher by welcoming the fact that education is a two-way process by which students and educators learn from each other in equal measure (in the same way that parents and their children do too). I'm also sure Sun Tzu, as a general, would have been very open to learning from his officers and troops as well."

It has a two way process, some other 40k websites are a one way process.

Reply
Algesan link
11/10/2011 01:20:08 pm

I don't see a problem with the "competitive player bomb", if you are cool, they will be cool. Even if you do kick their butts handily. Another way, "I like to play in some tournaments." My favorite thing to do at the end of a game is ask my opponent where I screwed up. Store games are also a great time to try that weird idea you have, even if it doesn't work.

Reply
John Stiening link
11/10/2011 01:37:50 pm

You say you are a competitive gamer, but that has a negative ring in my ears. Our game at NOVA was a complete blast, and as a player who played more games at NOVA than the last 10 years I enjoyed our game tremendously. Aiming to win, while ensuring an enjoyable game for both people is a different category in my mind.

Reply
Marshal Laeroth (Admin) link
11/10/2011 05:04:23 pm

@ Loquacious

I won't lie, I'm pretty excited. Seems to be a much more tight knit group as well, which was something lacking at my previous store. Perhaps it was the "City" attitude.

While I might be joining the ranks of store owner soon, I have to thank those of you out there that make it possible for guys/gals like me to enjoy ourselves. :)

@ Lucion

I've tried to make Implausible Nature an unique place for those in the Black Templars community. While I do run the website, I believe it does have a solid community following behind it. :D

@ Algesan

Well, I've had issues with it before. Never really mentioned previously, but at a store down in the Twin Cities (where I used to live), I waltzed into one of the stores and began chatting with the players there. One mentioned he was a tournament player, so not thinking before I opened my mouth (had only been talking to them a couple minutes), I said I was too. Which resulted in me getting challenged by their "Tough Guy". I made sure to make absolute sure that they wanted a full tactical game out of me, using a fully optimized tournament list.

Needless to say, after my Pre-FAQ Gunline list proceeded to table the dude's army, I was told by the store owner (a friend of the guy I just beat) that I was no longer welcome in his store. Apparently they didn't like their reputation tarnished. More likely, I hurt their pride too much. I laughed and haven't been back since. That is why I'm a little more careful about what I say around players I don't know. ;)

@ John

Hehe. Just because I'm a competitive gamer, doesn't mean I'm not after an enjoyable game for both of us. It is why I play: the close, hard-fought battle. If we can joke and mess around while we're playing, even better. I always try to facilitate that in my games. :D

Reply
carcharodon carcarias
11/10/2011 06:20:59 pm

I used to go mountain biking back in the day, the only advice I remember, apart from 'mind the rocks' was if you're the best in the group you'll get a bit better week after week, if you're hanging off the back you'll get a lot fitter faster.

I'm no competitive gamer (as Laeroth knows too well) but I'm happy to get tabled as long as I don't get my nose rubbed in it, and get to learn something from the experience. I've gone from knowing nothing in 40k to knowing why I get beat, that's huge!

I'm also lucky that the Throne of Skulls in the UK is set up to encourage guys like me to dip a toe in the water of competitive play, and that can only be a good thing.

I hope the Tuesday night sessions work off for you and can't wait to hear the results. As for me we are looking at getting quick skirmish games in at work during lunchtime, after all the more I play the better I get, well that's the idea ;p

Reply
Lucion
11/11/2011 08:56:39 am

Hey Carcarias, hows the painting going?

Reply
carcharodon carcarias
11/12/2011 04:59:18 am

@ Lucion

Lol, not good,started another EC (the original model) and the Castellan, black parts easy, robes and detail are calling to me but nothing yet! Maybe I'll get a few hours over the weekend, and I'll definitely get some photos up before the end of the year!

Reply



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