Gaming Convention!

Ludophilia VI is on!  May 12-15 at the Country Inn & Suites in Elgin, IL

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 "Ludophliia" 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!  Please stay tuned to email and our blog at http://ludophilia6.blogspot.com.

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!