Article: Golden Demon US changes 2006

M

Malfoy

Guest
All I\'m saying, Jeff, is that in relative distances there are more GDs in Europe closer to each other than there are in the United States. Correct me if I\'m wrong (seriously) but Birmingham is closer to St. Denis than Atlanta is to Los Angeles. And I take issue when a European suggests that what the U.S. needs is fewer Games Days.

What we need is a more competitive system and by consolidating categories, of which there were too many I feel, we\'ve taken a step in the right direction. A more competitive atmosphere should be generated with more and more painters competing in fewer categories.

I see these new categories as being a good move, whereas taking a regional Games Day away would be a bad move.

Dave
 
Dragon Forge Design

Dragon Forge Design

New member
Originally posted by Malfoy
All I\'m saying, Jeff, is that in relative distances there are more GDs in Europe closer to each other than there are in the United States. Correct me if I\'m wrong (seriously) but Birmingham is closer to St. Denis than Atlanta is to Los Angeles. And I take issue when a European suggests that what the U.S. needs is fewer Games Days.

What we need is a more competitive system and by consolidating categories, of which there were too many I feel, we\'ve taken a step in the right direction. A more competitive atmosphere should be generated with more and more painters competing in fewer categories.

I see these new categories as being a good move, whereas taking a regional Games Day away would be a bad move.

Dave
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Actually Dave, I was one of the people saying take away a regonal US GD if that would help \"up\" the numbers at other shows. If there were three shows in the US Id pick, Baltimore (east) Chicago (midwest) and LA for the west. I think Baltimore and Atlanta are to close. Id love to know what the attendance stats were..as in how many people who attend atlanta live in atlanta..and how many come from oh say 5-10 hours away. Same goes for the other shows. Who drives in..or who flys in..something I bet GW has never looked into.

In all honesty I think the open is now a stupid category..its not well contested after, since you can\'t win the sword from it. Its sort of a place to now put things that have no other category (like battle scenes and duels) The open was really created to Give GW employess a place to play..but since the US has its own employee level of Competition why even have a open..why not kill it and make it a \"diorama\" category available for the sword.

As for combineing categories, Id rather see singles combined, units combined and large figures combined..at least \"scale\" would be consistent. Even vehicles..

Also please keep this in mind...its just my opinion.. and that means... Notta...
 
Dragon Forge Design

Dragon Forge Design

New member
Originally posted by Malfoy
And while I\'m at it- why is there a pirahna as my avatar?

Oh, I got it-reset \'em.
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When CA reworked the forms..all the avatars got reset..so he randomly gave everyone a avatar..If you want your own again you have to change it.
 
T

THuff

New member
Actually, Baltimore and Atlanta are still about an 8 hour drive apart. Since we don\'t have a great rail system, I don\'t know if there is any other way to safely transport your entries. I personally don\'t want to bring them through the airport for fear that some airport security guy will decide that the sword on a model constitutes a dangerous weapon and tell me I can\'t carry it on the plane.

As for how many travel to Atlanta, I know of several who came from the Memphis area which is a 7-8 hour drive to Atlanta. Not to mention the plan by several of our friends here to come from lower Florida this year. If you take away the event in the southern US, you effectively eliminate 1/4 of the people from a reasonable drive to the venue. As it is, there are still many locations in the country that are no closer than a 10-14 hour drive from any of the four events. The country is just too large to limit the events. Plus it is helping to expand the visibility of the hobby in the country.

As for the categories, I think I would have to agree that consolidating sizes might have been a better way to go unless they are trying to keep defined lines between the two games. Remember, no matter how you want to see it, every Games Day, US or otherwise, is a marketing tool to bring people into the hobby.

Although it will make it harder, I would rather see this happen to the competition. It helps ensure that when you see that Demon winning piece, it will still have that \"Wow!\" factor.


-Terry

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E

EricJ

Active member
I think they sort of need to keep the open catagory, for when someone shows up with a mini, which doesn\'t actually fit the catagory they were going for, to have a place they can still compete rather than just disqualifying them...

I am actually thinking more and more, that a system like Australia had this year might work to raise the level of the US competition. Aussies got a pretty nice high level this year from it (although I very much disagree with some of the judging). At least for a bit until maybe hopefully the hobby here grows to a level to support real games days, and then make them 2 days!

Or just leave it like it is, I believe it is slowly growing, and we\'ll come into ourselves in time :)
 
green stuff

green stuff

Active member
Message original : EricJ
At least for a bit until maybe hopefully the hobby here grows to a level to support real games days, and then make them 2 days!
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I have to disagree on the 2 day suggestion. 1 day is plenty enough. It\'s already tough as it is to stand all the sweaty kids. 2 days would be murder. But then again, I go for the painting competition, to get stuff in advance, and to get FW stuff. Gamers would probably be more interested in a 2 day GD.

In Europe, they all last one day.
 
Dragon Forge Design

Dragon Forge Design

New member
Originally posted by THuff
I don\'t know if there is any other way to safely transport your entries. I personally don\'t want to bring them through the airport for fear that some airport security guy will decide that the sword on a model constitutes a dangerous weapon and tell me I can\'t carry it on the plane.

-Terry
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Terry- I will put your mind at rest here I have flown many times since 911 (actually 14 days after 911 going over to GD UK and had no problem)with painted miniatures in my carry on luggage. Never once had the slightest of issues. They x- ray it as normal and if the question comes up I tell them they are painted toy soldiers, Ive once had to open the case and the screaners said \"cool\" infact they were more excited about my really big rubber bands and wanted to know where I bought them cause one guy wanted some.

They have now lifted restrictions so you can carry small sissors on flights and even small tools in your baggage. Painted miniatures will be no issue.
 
Dragon Forge Design

Dragon Forge Design

New member
Originally posted by green stuff
Message original : EricJ
At least for a bit until maybe hopefully the hobby here grows to a level to support real games days, and then make them 2 days!
Click to expand...
I have to disagree on the 2 day suggestion. 1 day is plenty enough. It\'s already tough as it is to stand all the sweaty kids. 2 days would be murder. But then again, I go for the painting competition, to get stuff in advance, and to get FW stuff. Gamers would probably be more interested in a 2 day GD.

In Europe, they all last one day.
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For about 3-4 years GD in Baltimore was a 2 day event, started noon on Friday to about 6 and then Saturday. Went well cause it didnt seem rushed. Demons was held on Saturday so if you only could attend Saturday you wouldnt miss them. Even the UK guests that came over said they though it was a great format cause it didnt feel \"rushed\"
The crowd on Fridays was pretty strong too. It made going to Baltimore worth while cause you could also spend a little time and see the city. Its held downtown near the inner harbor area which is very nice.

But you are right a 2 day format in Europe wouldnt work as many of the attnedants are bussed in and out on the same day.
 
E

EricJ

Active member
yeah, if you\'re flying there (or driving 6+ hours), for me, I\'d rather have 2 days, so everything isn\'t so rushed, and I might even take part in the gaming tournament as well! I can understand why in Europe 1 day might be better, but with distances as they are here, perhaps a different model would work better...
 
M

Malfoy

Guest
I agree with Eric that an Open category is a definite necessity. It serves as a \"catch all\"- where else is Jeff Wilson going to enter his entire Wood Elf army?

I also agree with my southern friend Terry that Atlanta\'s removal would be sorely felt. I\'ve been there twice now (drove from Chicago) and both times it was well-attended.

The two-day question is a tough one. I know some GW staffers who would love to do a two-day event, but there are others who are terrified by the idea. I think too much is stuffed into that one day and again I agree with Eric that I and some of my compatriots would be more likely to play in a tournament there if it were over two days.

Dave
 
D

Drafna

New member
all right guys i know that i am brand new to this board but heres something that might be a good thing to look at instead of putting the GD\'s is high population areas in my honest opinion woulden\'t it be better for example: instead of LA put it in oragan so people from both washington and western canada can actually get there without taking a plane.

i am sorry if this is a misinformed opinion but i don\'t know where the ones in canada are located i am really considering just going to one of those for the fact alone that one of the ones up there is probally closer.

thanks for listening and like i said its something to consider
 
Dragon Forge Design

Dragon Forge Design

New member
No If your going to pick cities for an event..any event you need to pick something cenral located to a large amount of population or an easy way for them to get there. So for the west coat the LA area is ideal.. like Chicago and Baltimore..even Atlanta too. But keep in mind the location GW chooses is also because they have a a central office in those locations. Its how they get the employees to run the shows, the product to sell and on and on.
 
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EricJ

Active member
Yeah, California is 34 million plus people, where oregon and washington combined is just about 8 million... I don\'t think it is wise to move to Portland or Seattle personally. The furthest north you could go is SF bay area, but even then most of the california population is in the bottom 1/4 of the state, so probably not wise either.

Personally I think the best move would be to actually move the thing closer to LA actually, or hell, move it near disneyland!! Get people there that way...
 
green stuff

green stuff

Active member
Originally posted by EricJPersonally I think the best move would be to actually move the thing closer to LA actually, or hell, move it near disneyland!!
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The ultimate evil : Mickey in Space Marine armor :p.
 
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