Rethinking On Board

[Pop goes the world]

After gaming tonight, and in light of a couple of discussions with fellow club members, I think we need to address a few issues the club is facing by having our meetings at On Board. It dawned on me today, while trying to conduct a game amidst the overbearing screams of the Magic players, that I am not enjoying my gaming experience at On Board the way I did at the HSC. I never thought I would say that. As soon as I was done with my game, a group of non-members rushed onto the table, setting up a 6 foot section for a game of 40K. By the time I had to leave to pick up my wife at 9, I was eager to get the hell out of there.

As I understood things, we were supposed to have semi-exclusive use of the gaming area on Thursday nights. I understand that the guys at On Board have a business to run, and likewise customers to appease, and I respect that. Yes, we agreed to allow people to come and watch us game, that is totally cool. My problem is rising from the fact that the Gaming area was fucking chaos today. It appears that certain patrons have gotten a little too comfortable, and have taken to spreading their shit out all over the place. The gaming tables were covered in unaccompanied miniatures and peripherals. The competing voices of obnoxious Magic players creates a din of noise over which one can barely hear the people who are interrupting your turn to ask questions like, "Is that a wizard? Cool! I am gonna grab it and look at it, even though it is in play!"

Before this turns into too much of a rant, I think we need to reevaluate our current gaming situation. Let's look at the pros and cons of gaming at On Board as opposed to the HSC...

On Board Pros-
-Nice Gaming Tables
-Lots of different terrain/ not having to lug terrain around
-Convenient Parking (though I am sure Vic might have a different opinion... )
-Attached Gaming Store (though the temptation to spend money might be viewed as a con)
-supporting the store with patronage

On Board Cons-
-Loud
-Obnoxious non-miniature gamers
-not secure (miniatures have a higher probability of wandering off)
-not exclusive
-messy- lots of books/miniatures/magic cards laying around
-semi-limited table space
-kinda stinky (see also obnoxious non-miniature gamers)
-there is no incentive to join (or stay a member of) our club to game at On Board, as one could do that whenever anyway.


HSC Pros-
-Exclusive
-Quiet
-Unlimited table space
-Illinois Room available Thursdays (as of right now), and newly remodeled w/ carpet
-secure (we know everyone there, have never had a problem with theft/ security guards)

HSC Cons-
-Lugging terrain around/not as much of it (though this really only applies to one or two of us)
-non-regulation gaming tables
-shitty parking

In short, we have run into some issues that we did not forsee with holding our meetings at On Board. Though I understand that our exec board is busy with school and such, and have other priorities, I think we need to address this issue sooner than later. As it is early in the semester, it is not too late to get a contract for the HSC, if we were so inclined. I know I am not alone in my sentiments, so I would like to open a dialouge about this issue. Let everyone know where you stand. If meetings for the rest of the semester are anything like they were tonight, I think I will be doing my gaming in private. If we are not proactive on this issue, it could result in the dissolving of our club.

I am not knocking On Board, it is a good store, I just question if it is the best thing for our club. What benefits does our club offer members if gaming is held at On Board? How do we justify our existance, especially in light of our recent introduction of a membership fee?

[Andrew]

The exclusivity of the gaming area was brought up by John last night, and since I hadn't heard any complaints, I thought all was alright. But now that I've heard what you've got to say so far, I can ask him to allow only us downstairs on Thursdays. I'm sure it won't be a problem, because those guys are there, every day, every night. They can take a break for one night. The reason to pay for being in the club would then mean that they could join us. Everyone who isn't a paid member just has to wait a night or go upstairs and play.

As for the peripherals, most of the books are the store's. The mini's are...Dave's? I dunno, one of the guys that's there alot. But we can ask for things like that to be removed to allow space for actual gaming, thus removing the need for bumrushing tables.

Personally, I was more concerned about model safety in the HSC. At least at the store, they are loud, but smart enough not to touch other peoples' stuff. I guess I'm used to that environment.

Other pros for us to be at OBG is that John is happy to run any campaign for us, so we, with our burdgeoning schoolwork, can focus on that. I know that's how all of our campaigns so far have been a little gimped.

So it looks like the majority of the issues at hand revolve around exclusivity. If we can gain that, the rest just fall into place.

[RARE CHOICE GAMES]

I think communication with OBG is needed...in order to make sure that our gaming experience at OBG is owrthwhile for the club. I agree with everything that Adam is saying.

Jon and Seth and the entire OBG staff are great people...but some people (magic players) have taken advantage of the situation and now have set up a live in arrangement at OBG. Shit if OBG had cots I do not think half of them would leave.

Our exec board needs to go in and straighten this out with OBG or we need to go to the HSC again. The gaming area needs to be exclusively for miniatures, I think, and the landing area (area with TV) and up stairs can be for magic.

Also club dues need to be collected...the exec board needs to make sure that though they are playing games that they are taking time to collect dues and make sure everything else is on order.

[heatseeker]

I know people were talking last semester about the use of space at On Board with random gamers using the tables as a personal storage space as well as the issue with why even have a club if it's not exclusive. I would definitely check with the HSC to see if you could get a room reserved, but maybe you should give it a few weeks at On Board to see if it lets up. This may have been a fluke since everyone is eager to game and there usually is nothing going on academically the first few weeks of school. I would say the only downside to the HSC is setting up tables and the long walk/parking. Other than that it was fine.

And gamer stench is never a good factor for gaming especially when it's magic players who haven't showered for weeks as they try to make the most unbeatable deck.

[Andrew]

Another pro - OBG wants to get lockers for us miniature gamers. Obviously a benefit of paying is the exclusive right to use them.

[bloodangellh]

I thought it was lockers for anyone that wants to use them? Personally, I probably wouldn't leave my stuff there even with lockers.

But yeah, it was getting hard for Adam and me to hear each other during our game. And I've been talking about the random crap strewn about the playing area for a long time now. I have randomly mentioned it to Jon on a few occasions, and he has said he's tried to get peopel to clean up their stuff. He needs some sort of policy and actually enforce it.

I understand that On Board is trying to be as gamer friendly as possible, but as a store they don't need to be tolerent of patrons who have turned into basic tennants.

Yesterday, I almsot got the feeling I get when I'm at a GW store (from the already mentioned obnoxious noise some gamers were making just to be...well...obnoxious) and lord knows I don't want that. If anyone even treid to let out a Waghhhhhh, I'd leave the store, right there and then. Yes, and the random people touching my stuff is not appreciated. Especially with some of the "Big Meaty Fists" that many gamers have.

[ddaypunk06]

but how would the lockers work. As far as I know the club dues are not being used to pay OBG for anything. Not even the space we are soaking up from them.

I agree with the fact that some people...well a lot of patrons...leave their stuff there under the tables. OBG is not their's and I think Jon and Seth should crack the whip a little. Thats just me.

I like having the tables, but with how it was last night, it didn't feel like NIMGC anymore...Shit I would be happy with spending a bit of club money on a few yards of felt or something and using them as playing surfaces on HSC tables. Felt is cheap at WallyWorld.

Yes having access to materials we could possibly buy is nice. But I am not happy that I have to kill people to get a table. Nor was I happy with people touching my stuff. Nor do I like questions...I barely know the game and I would preferably like to keep my concentration on the game. If you are a person who doesn't play at all thats kool if you ask. After all thats what this club is about. But truthfully a question every minute or so is not kool.

As of now I am not happy using OBG for club time. Thats my opinion. Also I think we should have a quick exec meeting this weekend. Yea I know its kinda random, but we should discuss this in person at a relatively cheap place if it involves food. We need to talk about OBG, finances and other ideas. Much more gets done when we are not waiting on posts and what not.

I am open after three tomorrow and I should be open on sunday too.

[RARE CHOICE GAMES]

I second Delso's motion for an exec meeting though my only role executively is running these boards...so my opinion dont count much but still I agree with him that meeting in person to discuss these things is needed.

[vicmohammad]

I have to say that I had all the same problems last semester about going to OBG that Adam H. brings up. I wish I had the guts to bring them up when we voted, but it was so clear cut I decided not to make an issue about it. I had even voted "no", then people talked about how much they wanted to do it, so I went "yes".

My biggest concern was the environment. Something that has gotten steadily worse. For one, I can't fucking hear anyone in that room. OBG usually has a DVD going, the stereo going, on top of the fucking insane Magic players. (Look, I don't want to bash any gamer - we're not the most socially effective people generally, but it's getting fucking ridiculous from the screaming et all.)

Personally, it seems to me that OBG is becoming too gamer friendly. Between the lack of a policy on leaving your shit everywhere and the people coming and man handling your own miniatures it's getting kind of ridiculous at the laid back atmosphere.

Finally, I think Adam H. is totally right in thinking - what do we get out of this as a team? There was a message on these boards that you had to pay $5.00 to play at club nights or something. I saw a bunch of people not in our club playing last night, which begs the question - what are we as a club getting out of this gaming night? I really miss the zen like quietitude of the HSC.

Mind you, this is all based on the experience of gaming at OBG and not my car being violated.

EDIT: I do want to still say that I love OBG and I enjoy gaming there, but more often gaming on a quiet Sunday afternoon as opposed to the insanity that was Thursday.

EDITED EDIT: Oh, and about lockers? I'm not leaving anything at OBG overnight. There is a reason I don't even bring my coat in anymore and keep my miniature box at my feet as a footrest whenever I am there.

[OBG!]

Alright, so there have been a lot of posts on this, and I wasn't originally going to reply, but I think that perhaps some of the posts are bordering on deragatory toward certain people, and so I'd like to clear up the air.

We (John and Seth) have already talked about the situation of last Thursday, and are going to make our gaming area exclusively for NIMGC from now on. That being said, we will have tables set up elsewhere in the store for the Magic players, and more than like there will be music. Our music has never meant to be overbearing , but if it seems too loud please just let us know and we'll turn it down/off.

As far as other people's belongings being left in the store we highly recommend that you not do that. That said, if people do leave their belongings here then we are not responsible for anything that is stolen or missing (which has apparently occurred in the past at OBG.) Any models/cards left down there are most likely the property of John, Seth, or Dave (John's brother), and if you need them moved, please don't hesitate to ask.

The only other thing I want to address, is that we cannot stop people from touching your miniatures. If you don't want your miniatures touched, just let the person know not to touch them anymore. If someone continues doing it, come talk to one of us and we will ask them to leave. That should become moot since only NIMGC members and staff will be allowed in the gaming area on Thursday evenings.

Hopefully nothing more needs to be said about the other people that were at our store on Thursday evening, and it will be up to the club if you wish to continue holding meetings here. We enjoy having everyone at the store, so we hope you choose to continue having your meetings at OBG.

Have a great night,
The Owners

P.S. The way it will work is if anyone wants to game with you, they will have to pay your club fees (and of course allowing them into the club in the first place is entirely your decision). Anyone else will be politely asked to leave the gaming area.