Looking at Possible PubCon Locations in Queens, New York

Damn, the post title looks official ;)

As we head towards the end of February and to March (and therefore closer to me putting down the gun and shield and spending more time with the pen and keyboard) there are a few things to touch upon. Tonight, I'll touch upon the one I hear the questions asked about the most:

PubCon

I'd like to get an informal PubCon set up for a saturday afternoon in late spring / early summer here in Queens. So far, I've "scouted out" three potential locations:

1 - a local pub (The Grandstand) where I know the owner. We would have to ensure that it's a day they haven't reserved the hosting room. Probably could comfortable fit 50 or so gamers. I'd be happy with a dozen ;) - close to the subway

2 - a Korean BBQ (Unidentified Flying Chickens) place with a dozen beers on tap and a basement that is used for overflow customer seating. Food is good as is the craft beer collection - close to the subway

3 - a local brewery (Finback) with about a dozen taps of it's own brewed beer. Does not serve food but encourages patrons to bring their own. The have board games available for customer use, so they should be open to gaming. Does occasional community events. Probably wouldn't charge for use of their picnic tables - not close to the subway

As I said, if we get this off the ground it would definitely be as informal as possible.

Thoughts on a NYC Area "PubCon"

+Joe D and I have been discussing the possibility of a NYC Area "PubCon" for more than two years now. Today, we hung for a bit both in Manhattan and Queens. While I would love to game in a pub with 40+ tap lines (Rattle & Hum) the place just isn't large enough and doesn't need our business.

Joe finally got to see the pub out by me today and although it only has a mere 10 tap lines, it also has a catering side that could probably hold 70 folks or so gaming comfortably.

We are considering holding an informal gathering in the fall or next spring (preferably a Saturday evening or afternoon) - reserved table or three and pay for your own grub and beer - to judge the interest and feasibility. Location would be near the subway and bus lines (because we wouldn't want to encourage drinking and driving.) If there was enough interest, we would work on organizing a more formal PubCon. Or, it might turn into a seasonal and informal Old School Gathering at a friendly pub. Depends on the interest shown.

Consider this post an attempt to judge interest on the informal gathering to judge interest ;)

(I've already told Rachel I'll be spending her B-Day tomorrow posting Post 5k / NTRPG Con gift recipients - and she didn't kill me)

Thoughts on a NYC Area "PubCon"

Yesterday afternoon (and a good chunk of the evening) I hung out with +Joe D and my beautiful wife Rachel. It was her first time ever to the Complete Strategist in Manhattan. She's a trooper ;)

Afterwards, we settled into Rattle N Hum, a truly amazing NYC Pub. Great place for a bite a and few brews after some heavy "game shopping".

Anyhow, to cut to the chase, Joe brought up the idea of a NYC PubCon. We've discussed this before (while at the same pub), so it's certainly something on our minds. I can guarantee you it won't be at Rattle N Hum, as the space is limited and the cost would be more than painful.

We are still in the early stags of brainstorming this. We figure Spring 2014 at the earliest, and probably one of the outer boroughs of NYC to keep the prices down. It would also be more of an informal con I suspect than a "professionally" run one - closer to a "gameday" with adult beverages and good food. Aimed at Old School Gaming, but not limiting itself necassarily to the OSR.

The place I have in mind is blocks from the subway, easily accessible by highway and has a legit (not hourly ;) hotel within walking distance. Not sure how many would need a hotel, as this would probably be one day only at this point, but just throwing it out there.

Just trying to judge the interest in this before working out more details (like how much it may cost us and finalizing a location).

Heck, my wife even said if we move forward with this, I need to teach her how to game so she can join in ;)

We're open for input...

PubCon Fall 2012 Recap - Pints, Grub and Dungeon!

Setting Up Dungeon! at the Pub

This afternoon was the first official / unofficial PubCon in NYC at Rattle N Hum, right across from the Complete Strategist. The party was so rocking that I had to call off tonight's gaming session. I'm beginning to feel the afternoon of beers and ciders in my head now, but it was worth it.

Alright, we call it a PubCon, but the turnout was small. Still, you need to start small to build bigger things, and we plan to make this big. Beer (and cider), great pub grub and gaming - how the f' can you go wrong?

I had a nice wheat beer, followed by a number of different ciders (including a delicious pear cider) and some insane shot that Joe the Lawyer has us drinking that had no right to taste as good as it did. I really can't tell you how much I drank, but I had 2 pints of seltzer to clear my system before leaving ;)

Anyhow, the four of us (told you it was small gathering - Joe, Tavis Allison, a young lady whose name escapes me and myself) foolishly ate and drank before deciding to pull out a game. I had brought Drinking quest 1 + 2, but at the rate we had been drinking , DQ would have put me down for the count. As Joe had just picked up a couple of copies of the newly revised Dungeon! game, we played a round of it.

The Inaugural PubCon NYC 2012 Attendees 

It was fun. The young lady won the first and only session, playing the role of the thief, I mean Rogue.

My few complaints? Why the need to change the classic "character classes" of the player's pieces? The old game did it just fine. Oh,and no PVP, so we couldn't stop the young lady from getting back to the starting area with her loot intact. Yes, WotC found a way to "carebear" even the revised Dungeon! board game ;)

We are already planning for PubCon II this spring. No date yet, but there will be a Sprint PubCon :)

PubCon This Saturday in NYC - Be There!

Remember No Fighting (and tip your waitstaff)

Here's the quick details for PubCon this Saturday (October 27th in NYC)


Saturday, October 27, 2012

Meet - First Location - Downtown Strand Book Store
Corner of Broadway and E12th Street
Time  1230 PM

Meet - Second Location - Complete Strategist Game Store
11 E33rd Street - Between 5th and Madison
Time  130 PM

Meet - Third and Final Location - Rattle N Hum (Pub)
14 E33rd Street - Between 5th and Madison
Time  230 PM (directly across from the CompStat)

Now, I'm not sure if I have an hour worth of game shopping in me (I may, or a I may not) so I might hit  Rattle N Hum a tad early. We plan on grabbing a table or two in the back. No, the staff does not know this is planned, but as we didn't know if it was going to be more than Joe and I and a few others, we figured we'd wing this the first time.

I'll be bringing Drinking Quest 1 + 2 with me, and if we get a half dozen or more to show up (not including Joe & myself - which means six others) we'll do a roll off to see who wins my copy of DQ2 (I'll order myself a replacement).

This is an informal gathering of like minded individuals. The only agenda is to have a good time ;)

Announcing PubCon NYC - October 27th - Mark Your Calendars!

Joe the Lawyer and I have been talking about doing a PubCon in NYC since we hung out for some drinks and grub across from the Complete Strategist this past summer one afternoon. We both figured if it's fun for two gamers to get together in a pub and tell war stories, how much better could it be with many more gamers in a pub telling war stories - and playing games.

So, this is the game plan so far - I'll make a more detailed post when we're closer to the date, but we both figured lettings our friends in the NYC Metro Area know about it sooner than later was best.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Meet - First Location - Downtown Strand Book Store
Corner of Broadway and E12th Street
Time  1230 PM

Meet - Second Location - Complete Strategist Game Store
11 E33rd Street - Between 5th and Madison
Time  130 PM

Meet - Third and Final Location - Rattle N Hum (Pub)
14 E33rd Street - Between 5th and Madison
Time  230 PM

I'll be bringing Drinking Quest 1 & 2 with me to play / demo / down my beers with. I'll order an extra copy to give away as a random prize for one of the players.

This is an informal gathering at best - unless we have a huge response to this, the game plan is to grab a table or two in the back of the pub and have a blast. If we have a huge response, Joe's a lawyer and I'm sure he can arrange a good deal for us ;)

Any quick and informal RPG you might want to bring should work fine.

In any case, mark your calendars, as we intend to have a blast!