Nah, it wasn't bad. Quite the opposite really. It was FUN.
Pacificon Convention Report
Pacificon is in the Bay Area, which is where Zombiesmith is located. Zombiesmith is the maker of Quar. So I reached out and said "hey, I'm gonna be at Pacificon, soOOOoo if you were thinking of going to Pacificon as a vendor, then I have a GREAT idea...How bout I run a bunch of Quar games all weekend long on my nice terrain boards for you?"
"Go On..." said Zombiesmith, and I went "well, that's basically it....."
And a deal was struck. I would spend all weekend hosting Quar games and Zombiesmith would reward me for the effort by giving me an exorbitant amount of store credit. At least I thought it was an exorbitant amount. I am hesitant to state actual numbers as that seems gauche, and I am nothing but the epitome of sophistication. Lets just say it's enough to keep me steeped in Quar for a while. Especially at the glacier slow rate of painting that I am known for...but not enough to purchase one of everything in the store.
So my con experience was: All Quar, All the Time.
Being the Busy Bee that I was, I neglected to take any pictures. But other folks did. Here they are collected for your enjoyment. So enjoy them, I guess.
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| Extra credit. Count how many times I'm pictured pointing at the table... |
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| Kinda counts |
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| definitely counts |
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| doesn't count |
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| hard to tell, but that counts That's my hand pointing behind the tree... |
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| These aren't my figures. A guy named Nate spent a lot of time at the Zombiesmith Paint and Take, painting up his troops. I had to let him use them in a game. |
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| not pointing... |
Hopefully Zombiesmith got a few more sales. I got to cosplay and pretend like I was one of the Gaming industry. So maybe it was a win-win? I didn't really ask for numbers. Pacificon in general is kinda a small con with regards to miniature games. It seems to do more Board and roleplaying.
We talked briefly about doing it again for Dundracon, which is held in the same place but at a different time of the year, and reportedly has more miniatures gaming. We'll see how it goes. Maybe its the start of meing being some sort of game booster. Maybe it's the end. Maybe it's need more experimentation.
I enjoyed hanging out with Mr HeadZombie and Mr AB (the head rules writter) and being mistaken as a member of Zombiesmith when I'm really just an euthiastic fan of the game. And if I didn't correct everyone then so be it...
For my haul, I picked up yet another box of Quar that I don't have:
So another Quar faction. Ending my convention experience of All Quar, All the Time with yet more Quar. I'm nothing but consistent.
End Note
When I got home the wife told me that a shelf in the hobby room had come off the wall. It was full wqargaming rule books which survived the fall but it also had half of my very LARGE, Very COOL, very EXPENSIVE Viking Great Hall. And of course, being the most expensive thing on the shelf and the hardest to replace (notwithstanding the company that made it is gone) it did not survive the fall so well....
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| trust me, there are snapped pieces everywhere.. |
I'm gonna have to think about what to do next...I mean, of course I'm gonna have to fix it...couldn't possibly just throw it into a tub and put it in the garage and forget about it right....right?
Double thanks for writing a comment.
Till next time.
Four pointings? There's a photo which has a blurry hand in the background but I couldn't say for certain it was (a) yours and (b) pointing so didn't count it.....
ReplyDeleteGlad it went well and you were rewarded. Bummer about the Viking hall....
Neil
Thanks Neil. To tell the truth I lost track myself in all the excitement. 😀
DeleteThe images look good Stew, your Quar and board are a great ad for your new employers! Very good idea by you to approach them and good of them to provide remuneration in Quar products!
ReplyDeleteThe issue with the shelf is a real bstrd! Hopefully one day you get the building out of that hypothetical tub and fix it up.....
Thanks Kieth. Let’s hope the Headzombie thought so as well. 😀
DeleteThe shelf did come out of seemingly nowhere. In truth the building is sitting on the floor still right where I gathered all the pieces. Waiting for its fate.
Shelves are the enemy of miniatures, which is why we have tables to pile things on instead.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on cozying up with ZombieSmith! Did you get any of the as of yet unreleased miniatures to influence us with? Dying (slowly) to see what the Creevish sprue is like, and what how the tanks build up.
Thanks David. I’m starting to think shelves are the enemy too. Or at least my poor ability to anchor them correctly. A mere 6 years and down it comes. 😀
DeleteIn regards to Quar secrets…as a playtester I’m kinda sorta privy to some secrets. 🤫
Stew, I hate to see your post end in tragedy when the comedy was working so well. I bet you had the best layout of the con. Did you walk away with any rewards? I hope so. At least, Iron Man award for hosting games. How many games did you wind up hosting?
ReplyDeleteThanks JF. I wouldn’t go as far as to say the BEST table at the con but would go as far to say one of the better ones. No rewards sadly. Pacificon doesn’t really do prizes.
DeleteI was scheduled to run the game for 5 times for 6 players each time, but Saturday was more like 4 times as I would play a smaller game using 1 corner or 1 2x4 of the board and run people through the rules, play a few rounds before resetting and doing it again for someone else. Saturday night saw an enormous 8 player game. Sunday was busy as well with two scheduled games and one pick up in between.
I’m fairly confident that I earned my store credit. 😀
Kudos to you for your hard work running games and promoting the Quar! Wishing you all the luck with the viking hall. I hope repairs are feasible.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill. I'm sure some sort of repair is feasible. Can't bring myself to thoroughly check though. 😁😆
DeleteYour Quar boards look more magnificent each time I see them Stew. Bad luck with the shelf. I'm sure with your modelling skills you will be able to fix it. Putting it in the garage seems a bad idea as it will no doubt lurk at the back of your mind until you do manage to fix it, like the Gauls I have been needing to rebase for the past five years.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence. Even if I do manage to fix it, it'll never be quite the same you know?
DeleteI question the need to fix it honestly, as I rarely use it. and when I do it's just something that sits on the table. looking really pretty. damn, I need to fix it. 😁
Great photos of the games and your efforts looked a success. A shame about the Viking great hall, is it repairable?
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil. Who knows? I haven't looked to hard other than gather up the pieces... It's like a broken heart, it'll mend when it's time. 😁
DeleteHa! See a lot of fun here ;)
ReplyDeleteBTW, have to try Quars someday!
thanks Michal! I think Quar are fun, but that's just me. 😁
DeleteGood to see the Quar entertaining the public after all of the hard work of bringing it together. Shame about the Viking Hall,.
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm. Turn on your comments already. This is not the first time my Quar have entertained the public, but this is grander outing. 😁
DeleteSounds like a fine day out and your terrain and figures looked wonderful—particularly the trenches and I spied one of the new trench hills didn't I?! I was thinking, before I read the caption, that I did not recall that you had one of those cool looking tanks, let alone two. Then you got a box that included them as the 'thank you' for your free demo. game. Beaut.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed how you got a guest pointer to stand in for you in the 15th photo.
I know that you are father of the century and husband of the year, but what is it about wives breaking stuff when one goes away? Whenever I go somewhere my wife tells me that the shed door fell off, the fence broke, the house fell down or some such. Just seems to 'happen' to occur when my back is turned...
That's a real bummer about that viking hall. It looks beaut and *has* to be repaired. Sorry.
Best wishes, James
("That's why we have tables to pack things on." Lasgunpacker get's comment of the post, what belly-laugh-inducing ripper!!)
Thanks James. Why YES and well spotted, I did use my newly made trench hills to give some more variety in heights and thought they worked rather well.
DeleteStrange thing about wives breaking things while we are away. Usually, it's stuff that annoys her. "looks like that cabinet just broke and we'll need a new one. Just as well as I've always hated it." One time she told me that the dishwasher broke and needed to replaced, and I was like "i guess, but this time I'd like a younger model and a blonde" and sure enough, the old dishwasher was fine. 🤣😆😁
Thanks for another huge belly laugh! You are such a snag.
DeleteFantastic table Stew! No wonder you seemed to have a lot of people around your game. I tried counting how many times you were pointing but always go distracted by new details I saw in the photos.
ReplyDeleteWell done on being a Quar influencer... a Quarfluencer? 😁 Bet the Kardashians are furious they didn't get the Zombiesmith deal 😂
Very sad about the book shelf, just have to go and get something larger and more expensive so it doesn't happen again.
Thanks Ben. I doubt that I've reached influencer status. But I could be getting in on the ground level. But Quar and it's nerdy players will never be able to compete with Sexay lady.
DeleteI can't get anything larger and or more expensive, the great hall already was VERY big and I don't think there has been a MDF kit that size since from anyone, and the company that made it (4Ground) is gone, so in effect the hall is now priceless.
Shame that I just left it in its broken state....😁
You can use it as is and call it a ruin 😂
DeleteGreat looking game, lovely figures and terrain, get you being in the Quar inside track, on the Quar does sound a bit masonic, do you have a funny handshake or special sign? Pity about your viking hall but at least with your newly acquired terrain scratch building skills repairing it will be a doddle, not a dogs dinner! I did once watch my all lead 40k nurgle army drop in their box over 8' to the terrazzo floor of my garage, ouch! So I feel your pain!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain. No funny handshake or anything, though now I think we ought to have one.
DeleteA doddle only sounds marginally better than a dogs dinner. what a funny language you speak. 😁🤣
when the box fell, did you open right away or did you have to prepare yourself first? I might be tempted to leave it closed. Then it's be like a Schrodinger's Nurgle Army. 😁
I like Schrodinger's Nurgle army! I took a deep breath opened it , closed it ,walked away and eventually addressed it with a bucket of super glue!
DeleteBest Iain
Well, the fact that others took enough pictures of your game to float a report tells you that it was a goody (particularly the look!). Bravo! And by the way that the hobby operates, I think you can probably call yourself part of the industry now (that and four bucks will get you a small coffee somewhere...).
ReplyDeleteBad news on the shelf: when I was at a convention, I returned home to find a tree had come down in our back yard (missed the house, thankfully, so no figures or terrain were damaged: guess I was lucky...).
Thanks Ed. That's a nice way to think about it.
DeleteAs you are part of the industry with successful rules writing, I'll consider myself an Intern in the Industry. 😁
Terrain and games looked bloody good mate. Well worth all the effort. Would’ve loved to count your pointing poses but as an ex accountant I refuse to count anything unless I’m being paid to do so. Loved the little tanks - but I’m still not sure what the critters are fighting over?! Btw has anyone done a preaching to the Quar joke at any point so far?
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark. Quar fight over the same things people fight over: form of government, power structures, resources, and etc…. The short story I used to introduce the sides goes “these guys over here want to save the world by keeping it the same. These guys over There want to save the world by breaking it.” 😀
DeletePreaching to the Quar took me a minute to get.
Well done. I really enjoy running games at shows, sure, it’s exhausting and I’ve discovered my voice is good for two days, after that it’s shot. On the upside, it’s great to watch people play and enjoy the game. It needs a good looking table and yours was certainly that. I think if you can engage players in a game on an immersive tabletop and watch the games unfold it is immensely satisfying, not just for the participants but also for you as GM. People say it’s nice to ‘give something back’ to the hobby, but I find I enjoy it as much as any other part of the hobby. Great stuff, but what a bummer to come home to the shelf disaster…..
ReplyDeleteThe pictures all look fantastic and I'm really glad to hear you had a good time as well. It doesn't get any better than that. You did a great job of doing an "action" pose in all the pictures too. What excellent refereeing you must have been doing! :)
ReplyDeleteMy heart sinks when I see that beautiful terrain damaged. I'm so sorry to see it, Stew! I'm guessing that was from 4Ground? That will be very difficult to repair, but if anybody is up to the task, it is you, my friend.
A great looking game Stew and certianly one I would be attracted to if I saw it at a show:). Shame about the damaged building and I hope you can repair it OK...
ReplyDelete