*Stupid Poll mechanism! Note TWO Saturdays are available; the forum re-arranged my options!
POLL
Roll up roll up gentlemen! I've got us a nice little venue smack bang in the centre of Bristol 10 mins walk from Temple Meads train station and with parking on site: a sea scout hut just across the harbour with centre of town only 5 mins walk :-) The question now is WHEN can the majority of people make the event or would PREFER it to be? Please only choose from the options above as i've already slotted this one into the UK Epic Tourney Calendar and moving it to any other month would make little sense.
DETAILS
Timing
What's more I've even better news for you! Firstly hall hire is only £100-120 for the entire day from 9am till 11pm, as such we'll move terrain in and get set up at 9 and in order to save people really early morning drives/train journeys the event will start at 10am. Trains from london typically take less than 2hrs, i can't speak for anywhere else; Cardiff is just across the water.
Places
Although I'd like to do more the size of the venue and the fact that this is the first time I've run an event means i'm being realistic from the start; the event is limited to 16 places, probably on a first come first served basis. At least 12 people have already expressed a certain interest and Bristolians have recently been poking their nose into our epic games at the club so interest is rising! A member of Bristol Vanguard will be on hand to fill the gap if we have odd numbers.
Scoring
For the sake of simplicity and completeness we will be using the swiss scoring system already in use at the majority of Epic UK events. The accolades up for grabs are 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place, Most Sporting, Painting Awards, Dice of Dave/Consolation Prize! It would be nice to get some small trophy's made.
Format
3 3000pt games, 2 and a quarter hours to play each one; small break in between each. tea, coffee and biscuits provided; a fridge and microwave on hand for people to heat food and chill beer (you are free to bring your own :-) ) It's ambitious but gaming should be done by 6/6.30 and awards etc finished by 7. Please see below for something 'special' that will happen if people would like to stay on :-)
Gaming
Chroma is currently developing his Epic Scenarios Supplement; being a friendly tournament whereby players are going to be able to
1: use a larger variety of lists than normal (i.e. Tau, Tyranids, Necrons) in order to try them out in a a competition like environment
and
2: Use more than one army during the day (if they so wish; army's allocated to game 1,2 and 3 BEFORE the event begins)
i see this as a real opportunity to make the event leading into the years true competition a special one; as such (this can be discussed later) my current plan is that each of the 3 games will be a scenario as opposed to the standard Grand Tournament; my hope is that this will encourage different type of lists and a riskier air to the event ÂÂ
Something Special!
 AKA: Hanging Out
Yes, yes; i know that the event will be running till at least 7pm but we've got the hall till 11! As such if anyone would like to stay late/overnight (cheap backpackers just round the corner) then several options unfold:
-Curry and booze after gaming; either home cooked at the hut or a restaurant.
-Visit pub
-sit around and play more games till late
-Do something and then meet at my place next day for even more friendly gaming.
If anyone would be interested in any of the above then let me know and we can discuss.
Cost
This event will require hall hire, a small amount of petrol to be used, nibbles and prizes. Additionally the Vanguard are investing in several sets of Epic Terrain (hand built in house :-)) of which a SMALL amount of the money raised will be offset. As can be expected this is a not for profit tournament, however with smaller numbers price goes up a little bit: expect to pay around £15 for a day (or more) of gaming.
All feedback welcome below.
Yrs,
Ryan