Ludophilia 7

Dates and location - TBD

After Action Review

Please leave comments below, so we can make next year as big a success as this year was.

Opine on the hotel, the conference room, date/times, how fantastic the beer selection and quality was... anything else we would want to know.

Look at this Line!

Our Brew-master's Official Ludophilia VI lineup

LAST REMINDER - 11 DAYS AND COUNTING!

Happy May Day!  Our long weekend of board games and craft beer tasting is now less than 2 weeks away!  One week from today I'll be packing up way too many games, and two weeks from today I'll be unboxing them back at home.  This will be the last reminder I send out -- if you have any questions, please ask now as I wind up final preparations!

WHEN?
Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15.  We open the doors at about 8:00am each morning and usually close down around midnight, or whenever we lose critical mass.  On Sunday, we'll probably be packing up around lunch time.  It's an open house, so feel free to come for as long or as short a time as you wish!

WHERE?
Country Inn and Suites, 2270 Point Blvd, Elgin, IL.  (This is NOT the same Country Inn and Suites as last year.  Be sure you check your directions.)  If you need a guest room reservation, call 847-426-6400 or 800-830-5222, or look online at http://www.countryinns.com/elgin-hotel-il-60123/ilelgin. Be sure to ask for the "Ludophilia" room block for a special rate of $110+tax.

HOW MUCH?
Admission is $10 per person per day, just to cover our room costs.  If you haven't paid in advance, please be sure to see me when you arrive to check in.  Whether you've pre-paid or not, make sure you get your door prize raffle ticket from me for each day you're present (Thu-Sat.  Prizes will be drawn Sat night.)

WHAT?
Most of the time will be spent playing board games, what else?  There's a large list of games already listed at http://tinyurl.com/ludo6lib. Feel free to add what you're bringing, or special games you want to request someone else to bring.

We also encourage everyone to bring their favorite and/or interesting craft beers to share.  I know Bill Dyer, our official brewmaster, has been hard at work creating a truly unbelievable selection of tasty beverages for us.  (Please remember to drink responsibly and do not drink and drive!)

But there's more this year:

* Beer Tasting Contest - Friday night.  Everyone who wants to participate can bring a beer to enter.  Please bring enough for 10-20 people to have a small sample, one entry per person.  Entries will be divided into 2 categories "Best Homebrew" and "Best Store-bought" with an informal as-blind-as-possible tasting for everyone who wants to judge.  Winner will be decided by simple plurality vote.  Prizes will be provided.  I will also provide the scorecards and tasting cups.

* Pizza Night - Pizza will be provided for all on Saturday night.  Preferences will be collected that day.

* Door Prize Raffle - As mentioned above, everyone will get a ticket for each day of paid attendance (Thu, Fri, Sat), and prizes will be drawn randomly Saturday night during pizza time.  Need not be present to win.  I have a nice stack of board game prizes to give away.

* T-Shirts - The t-shirts are in, and they look great!  If you ordered one, please see me to pick it up and pay ($15 per shirt).  I will have just a couple of extras for anyone who might still want one, first come, first served.  I also have a couple of extras from last year if you still want one of those.


I can't wait to see everyone again this year, returning friends as well as some new friends, I hope!  Please feel free to pass this information along to your friends and family.

Check out this lineup!

Our resident brewmaster, Bill Dyer, has been hard at work creating a killer lineup of hand-crafted beers specifically for Ludophilia!  These are all excellent, and you've got to come taste them for yourself!

Countdown!

How Long Until Ludophilia?

Order by April 2nd! Ludophilia 6 T-Shirts!

Ludophilia 6 is coming up fast -- 4 great days of boardgaming, socializing, and craft beer enjoyment.

    Date: May 12-15.

    Location: Country Inn and Suites, 2270 Point Blvd, Elgin, IL.

That means if we want to order t-shirts again, it's getting to be time!  I had my resident artist do up some illustrations along the same lines as last year's shirt, with the logo on front, and a "humorous" take on the back, which seemed to be well-received.  Take a look:

If you are interested in buying one or more shirts, please respond with your desired size(s) by April 2nd.  I will want to get the order in by the next week to make certain we have them in time for the fest.  No payment necessary at this time -- I'll collect when you get the shirt.  (BTW, I also have a few leftovers from last year.  I'll bring them if anyone wants an extra of those.)

This will be the same shirt from customink.com as last year, just a different color.  They're quite nice and high quality material -- 100% preshrunk cotton, "generous fit" according to the website.

The cost of the shirt is dependent on the number we order, so I will have to give you the final price after I collect up the orders.  But here are the estimated costs per shirt by total group order size:

10 shirts total - $21 each

15 shirts total - $17 each

20 shirts total - $15 each

25 shirts total - $14 each

30 shirts total - $13 each

35 shirts total - $12 each (this is where we landed last year - prices inch down from here)

VARIOUS REMINDERS

GAME LIBRARY - Please go to http://tinyurl.com/ludo6lib to add any games you plan on bringing to share, along with your expected attendance dates.  This lets us generate a list of what games will be available on which days.  You can also note games you specifically want to request other people to bring.

REGISTRATION - The admission cost remains the same as it's been: $10 per person per day, with a "buy 3 days get the 4th day free" bonus for those who pay in advance - that means just $30 for the whole weekend.  It's helpful for me if you register and pay in advance so I can plan on how many people will actually be showing up.  Please send a check to me at:
Brad Johnson
1517 Driftwood Lane
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

ROOMS - If you haven't reserved a room yet, call 847-426-6400 or 800-830-5222, or look online at http://www.countryinns.com/elgin-hotel-il-60123/ilelgin. Be sure to ask for the "Ludophilia" room block for a special rate of $110+tax.  (NOTE - This is NOT the same hotel as last year.)

FRIDAY NIGHT - Beer Tasting Contest.  If you're a homebrewer, PLEASE bring some of your best batch to sample.  If you're not, bring your favorite store-bought!  Or just be a judge!

SATURDAY NIGHT - Pizza will be provided for all!  (Everyone's on their own for food the rest of the time, as always.)

T-Shirt Design!

Your Stylish T-Shirt (Front side)

And an utterly appropriate (back side)

Game Library is up and More Fun being added this year!

It's leap year, which sadly means 1 extra day to wait until Ludophilia VI...  But it's only a little over 10 weeks away now!

WHAT IS LUDOPHILIA?

Basically, it's 4 great days of boardgaming and craft beer enjoyment.  Date: May 12-15.  Location: Country Inn and Suites, 2270 Point Blvd, Elgin, IL.

Check out the details previously sent in earlier posts below...

GAME LIBRARY

The game library list for this year is now up at http://tinyurl.com/ludo6lib. head on over to add any games you plan on bringing to the "Bringing" list, or add games you'd like to see if someone else can bring to the "Request" list.

ADMISSION COST

The admission cost remains the same as it's been: $10 per person per day, with a "buy 3 days get the 4th day free" bonus for those who pay in advance.  This is strictly to cover our costs.  If we collect the same amount as we have the last 2 years, we should be able to cover the cost of the room within our buffer.

You can registering by sending check or cash to me at :
Brad Johnson
1517 Driftwood Lane
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

That's just $30 now for full access to the entire 4-day weekend! I can also accept cash and check during the con, but booking early is the best way to make sure I can keep this running.

ROOMS

Many of us stay at the hotel to be near the gaming for maximum convenience.  Please make your room reservation by calling

847-426-6400 or 800-830-5222, or look online at http://www.countryinns.com/elgin-hotel-il-60123/ilelgin. Be sure to ask for the "Ludophilia" room block for a special rate of $110+tax.

Be sure to NOT confuse this with the Country Inn and Suites in Crystal Lake where we met last year!  Also, the conference room we'll be using is actually in the office building directly behind the hotel, just a few steps out the door and up an elevator.

MORE FUN

Since we have a few dollars in the bank from last year, I'm adding a couple extra features that I hope you'll like:

* Beer Tasting Contest - Friday night.  Everyone who wants to participate can bring a beer to enter.  Please bring a 6-pack or equivalent, one entry per person.  Entries will be divided into 2 categories "Best Homebrew" and "Best Store-bought" with an informal as-blind-as-possible tasting for everyone who wants to judge.  Winner will be decided by simple plurality vote.  Prizes will be provided.

* Pizza Night - Pizza will be provided for all on Saturday night.  Preferences will be collected that day.

* Door Prize Raffle - I'm collecting up a few games to offer as door prizes.  Everyone will get a ticket for each day of paid attendance (Thu, Fri, Sat), and prizes will be drawn randomly Saturday night during pizza time.  Need not be present to win.

T-SHIRTS

I expect to get t-shirts printed through customink.com again this year.  As soon as I have art finalized and loaded up, I'll send it out with a request for orders.

Continued Temptation...

We WILL lure you to Ludophilia...just feast your eyes on these:

Blueberry version of the popular "Crash and Burn Porter"

The Imperial Fleet, massing to attack your taste buds with overwhelming great flavor!

If this doesn't tempt you, I don't know what would....

From our resident Brewmaster, Bill Dyer:

Once again I will be providing a fine selection of homebrew. The lineup for this year...

Imperial Stout Destroyer - An oak aged imperial stout.

Ludophilia VI Barleywine - The second annual official beer of Ludophilia

Crash and Burn Chocolate - A chocolate version of last years Crash and Burn Porter

Crash and Burn Blueberry - Ditto, except blueberry.

Two Sheep For One Wheat - a fresh batch a my wheat beer.

Dark Hearted Ale - A black IPA inspired by Bells Two Hearted Ale

Cherry Vanilla Mead - Need a good name for this, will take suggestions.

And I will have limited quantities of Shai Hulud Spiced Mead and Ludophilia V Chocolate Oatmeal stout from last year.

Where else could you hope to have this kind of beer along with unlimited boardgaming?  Ludophilia VI is the place for you!

UPDATE:

We need a name

During Ludophilia IV, we had one of the hotel staff tell us it was so nice were helping people with that disease...

Needless to say, we pounced on that as the title of Ludophilia V - "Its Not a Disease!" However, we seem to be a bit short in the amusing-anecdotes-that-provide-a-name this time around.

Please provide your suggested titles in the comments section of this post.

We have a date and a place!

From our Founder:

As we bid adieu to 2015, we turn our hearts and minds to 2016, and with it, Ludophilia VI, coming again in May!  After overcoming a couple of scheduling snafus, I'm happy to say that I finally have a date and site booked!

WHAT IS LUDOPHILIA?
For any of you who have missed it until now, Ludophilia is the name we've given to our annual 4-day boardgaming (and craft beer sharing) extravaganza in the far northwest suburbs of Chicago!   It's much too friendly and informal to be called a "convention".  It's just an excuse for friends and friends-of-friends to get together in a large-ish hotel conference room with a few hundred board games and have the chance to strategize, socialize, and relax uninterrupted.  I bring a select library of games (and other people bring their favorites, too, of course), and then it's open house at the hotel Thursday through Sunday!  Set up your own lodging plans if you want to stay overnight, and everyone is mostly responsible for their own food and drink.  (Although see below.)

SAVE THE DATE
The weekend for Ludophilia VI will be Thursday, May 12th through Sunday, May 15th, 2016.  Please mark your calendars NOW!  I'll be sending out a few reminders and additional information as the time draws nearer. 

We typically play from 8:00am until midnight-ish Thursday through Saturday, but we'll most likely be packing up right after lunch on Sunday.

NEW LOCATION THIS TIME

As I said, I ran into some scheduling issues.  To make a long story short, our hotel from the last two years was actually booked for both of the weekends I tried to get.  So I found a different nearby Country Inn and Suites that can accommodate us with all the same arrangements as last year.  (All day room access, ok to bring to our own food and drink, a good-sized room, and basically the same cost.) 

We'll be at the Country Inn and Suites which is right at I-90 and Randall Road, 2270 Point Boulevard, Elgin, IL  60123.  Phone: 847-426-6400.  This might be a bit less convenient for some, but maybe a bit more convenient for others, particularly those who will be driving in from Chicago or O'Hare - it's right off the highway.

The conference room we'll be using is actually in the office building directly behind the hotel, just a few steps out the door and up an elevator.

Please be sure to NOT confuse this with the Country Inn and Suites in Crystal Lake where we met last year!  This is a different location!

If you will be staying at the hotel as I will, you can call 847-426-6400 or 800-830-5222 for reservations, or look online at http://www.countryinns.com/elgin-hotel-il-60123/ilelgin.  Be sure to ask for the room block for "Ludophilia" or, if that fails, for the "Johnson Game Group" (there could be some confusion over this - I asked for it to be fixed, but you know how that goes.)  I was quoted a rate of $110+tax for the group, which is better than what I see listed online, but if you can find a better rate at priceline or whatever, I say go for it.  Our room block closes after April 14, 2016, so make your reservations early!

ADMISSION COST
Once again, I'll be keeping the admission cost for everyone the same as it's been: $10 per person per day, with a "buy 3 days get the 4th day free" bonus for those who pay in advance. This is strictly to cover our costs. If we collect the same amount as we have the last 2 years, we should be able to cover the cost of the room within our buffer.

You can start registering now by sending check or cash to me at :
Brad Johnson
1517 Driftwood Lane
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

So send just $30 now for full access to the entire 4-day weekend!  I can also accept cash and check during the con, but booking early is the best way to make sure we keep this running.

NEW THIS YEAR

Since we've built up a small buffer in the bank, there are a few new fun things I'm thinking I'd like to do this year.  If you have additional suggestions, please let me know, but here are possibilities I have in mind:

• Pizza night - the club may buy pizza for the group on Saturday night
  
• Door prize raffle - get a raffle ticket for each paid day of admission and draw Saturday night for some prizes
• Opponent bingo prize - keep track of how many different unique opponents you play with during the weekend, highest count wins a prize
• Beer tasting prize - everyone who wants to participate brings a few bottles (or equivalent) of their favorite craft beer (store-bought, or better yet, home-brewed!), judges will be appointed, and top rated beer(s) wins a prize

Prizes (all board games, of course) would be provided by me -- I figure the treasury might be able to handle a budget of a hundred bucks or two, and/or there might be a few selections I could part with from my own trove.

I'm also expecting to do t-shirts again this year, for a nominal fee, if there's enough interest, and if I and my resident artist can come up with a suitable artistic vision.

Details on all of this will follow! 

I sincerely hope that you all can make it to Ludophilia VI, May 12-15, 2016.  Whether you can come for one day or the whole weekend, I think you'll find it to be a good time.  It's been really excellent for the last 5 years with so many fun people coming from all over the country (and Canada!) for some focused boardgaming!  If you have any questions or you'd just like to let me know your plans, please don't hesitate to email!  Also, if you have a friend whom you'd like me to add to the invitation and notification email list, please send me their contact information!

Ludophilia VI - 2016 Date TBD.