Catan and winning a trip to Gencon.

[clancampbell]

Among the various multitudes of games I play, I really enjoy Settlers of Catan. I think it's the multi-player aspect of it, in that while you can play 1v1, it's more suited for 3 or 4. So, with that in mind I was excited when I found a place that hosted a Catan event. Not just any event, but an event with a chance to win a trip to Gencon, the mecca for gamers!

Here's how it works, there are two events which this store calls pre-qualifiers. Each pre-qualifier hosts 16 players. Players are dvided into groups of 4 and play a game of Catan. The 4 winners then advance to a semi-final round, where the top 2 finishers in that earn a seat in the final. After these 2 events the final 4 come back at a later date for the final game, the winner of which earns/wins a trip to Gencon and a seat in the North American Catan Championship at Gencon!

I attended one of these events last year, and while I won the opening round, I didn't do well enough in the semi-final to earn a spot in the final. This year I did much better, and have earned a seat in the final! Now only one game stands between me and Gencon. I hope I win. I've been wanting to go to Gencon for 10 years now, and there has always been something that stands in my way. Mostly financial reasons, but there have been other things. I wanted to share my pendingpossible good fortune with my fellow scapers. While this isn't related to scape, it could be. If I win, I'll be sure to enter some scape events while at Gencon.

Wish me luck and stay tuned for the results!

[Jim]

Nice! May the robber be only under your control...

[SirGalahad]

Congratulations and good luck!

May you always have the longest road . . .

[tom]

Wow, Clan! Awesome job. I had completely forgotten about this pre-qualifier. I hope you make it so we get play a game at GenCon together! Good luck!

[Yodaking]

Good luck! I wish I knew of such an event close to me, I would have tried to win a trip to GenCon too. I am pretty good at Catan and play online, under the same name if anyone is ever looking for a game. Last couple of days I've been playing the seafarers version, it is a different kind of challenge.

[spidysox]

Grats on your success Clan! Here's hoping it continues and that you get to experience GenCon!

[chas]

I was just washing out my GenCon T-Shirt from last year, which was the only time I ever went (or probably ever will). Its loads of fun, and you meet great people. There are lots of board game discounts too, especially at the Cool Stuff booth. Almost the only large company who didn't offer any was Fantasy Flight; guess they didn't have to!

The downtown area of Indianapolis is fun to explore and the people very friendly. I was having lunch at the public seating in a mall, and a woman from a store we'd ordered from came by, took my ice tea, and went back to her store to get me a refill! Without us asking. Good luck.

[King of Blanks]

Very cool, Clan! Best of luck to you in the game!

May you always have wood for sheep...

[Auggest]

Originally Posted by chas

I was just washing out my GenCon T-Shirt from last year, which was the only time I ever went (or probably ever will). Its loads of fun, and you meet great people. There are lots of board game discounts too, especially at the Cool Stuff booth. Almost the only large company who didn't offer any was Fantasy Flight; guess they didn't have to!

The downtown area of Indianapolis is fun to explore and the people very friendly. I was having lunch at the public seating in a mall, and a woman from a store we'd ordered from came by, took my ice tea, and went back to her store to get me a refill! Without us asking. Good luck.

Fantasy Flight is a manufacturer where as Cool Stuff is a retailer. Manufacturers will very rarely discount items to the general public because it really makes retailers upset when they do. The thought among retailers is "why should I buy a game from a company when they will only come along and undercut me and I'll get stuck with all this inventory". Often manufactures won't even sell items and again, if they do, it's almost always full retail.
.....Andrew

[Onacara]

Manufacturers all sold product at GenCon last year with the exception of WotC who did not sell MtG purposely last to support the retailers who carry their products. (Learned this from talking to one of the marketing guys from WotC while online at Starbucks.)

Fantasy Flight last year though took it a step further and went around and "banned" anyone else in the convention center from selling their products in the dealer room.

For the most part the manufacturers offer discounts there two ways. Either by a coupon in the swag bag or given out at certain events (AEG for example had a coupon in the swag bag and then a 50% off one item coupon that you got as part of the swag bag from their Big Game Night event) OR later in the day on Sunday when they wanted to move stuff so they didnt have to ship it back home.

[akden]

Originally Posted by clancampbell

Wish me luck and stay tuned for the results!

Awesome! So when is the next game?

[Hahma]

Good luck Clan, hope you make it to GenCon. I enjoy Settlers of Catan too, though I don't get to play it enough and have only played the base game (which I own) and have tried the Hunters and Gatherer's one as well once and enjoyed that.

Actually, this year will be my first trip there, but only for the day on Saturday. I only live 2 hours north up I-65, but there has always been something going on that I couldn't get out of during Con time. So I'm going to take my nephew down to see what all the hubbub's about.