NagoyaHammer - A discussion (or not...)

[ashmie]

I think the problem is there are too many games and you just need to all decide on playing one game thoroughly for a year. I recently tried this with video gaming and got myself one of the highest rankings in the world for Ghost Recon. In the past I've just been the casual gamer and not tried to take my gaming too seriously but this time I thought I'd follow the advice of my power gaming buddy Harry that was to choose one game and get really good at that one game. For 2018 why not just choose one system that everyone plays ie 40k or Blood Bowl and just go all out. The other games can happen at mates houses but the main game whatever it is happens week after week for a year and the armies grow and grow like days of yore.

In terms of getting new blood and players for the hobby with all respect and not meant in a negative way you can make it less cliquey and more inclusive by not over vetting players and not micro managing events to the point where people are afraid or too cautious about showing up. Provide a space where people can game and game in the style that suits the individual. I think this is needed in a society that always puts the good of the group first. Sometimes it's good to have a break from that and game in the style you enjoy.
I always enjoyed The Winter Blitz events. How about another one of those for folks who can't get home for Christmas.
I for one will keep posting here whenever I have something positive to share that is hobby related. I know I'm not in the country atm but I enjoy sharing what I've been up to with my fellow sisters of battle in the rising sun.
Don't get down folks. There's always a Summer lull, they will be back. Keep the faith.
Guilty of not reacting to others posts, I will make more of an effort.
How about a FB page for you guys, or a Twitter account at least. Use the the medium of you tube and social media to promote a bit. I think you need a promotions dept. I will help if I can guys.

[The Other Dave]

Currently there are a lot of games on offer from dozens of different makers and there are new ones coming out all the time. Some retread well-worn ground, others are innovative and unique some fall halfway between. Perhaps one of the reasons we have splintered as a group is because GW isn't the only game in town anymore. We have found games more tailored to our individual tastes and replaced the games that only generally fit our ideals. As more games come out, with more choices for minis, scales and materials, I think we will see this issue get bigger and bigger.
So, should we just call a moratorium on new games? We already have a situation where we have more choices available than opportunities to play. But, speaking for myself, I think that this kind of limit would bring about stagnation and boredom as we became locked in to particular games. There is already something of a mindset of 'Everyone has X, so everyone should play X' at bigger events and indeed in this thread. It is a good short term solution, but if you revisit the question next year, everyone still has X and no-one has Y, so X will always be played.

This is sort of the balance, isn't it? I think a full-on moratorium might be too much, but asking people to restrict new projects to side meetings might be appropriate.

But really, after talking through it, I think it'd be much better to "suggest people do things" than "tell people not to do things," you know? Like "Let's all try to play one of the 'big games' each time we come to the games day" or what have you. Heck, we could even leave interpretation of 'big' up to the individual - the (lack of) structure in our group means this is really all a gentlemen's agreement type thing anyway. To some extent, even if just three or four of those of us who show up basically every month have an informal agreement to focus on two or three popular games, it could do a lot for the issues you raise in the OP.

[Primarch]

This is sort of the balance, isn't it? I think a full-on moratorium might be too much, but asking people to restrict new projects to side meetings might be appropriate.

But really, after talking through it, I think it'd be much better to "suggest people do things" than "tell people not to do things," you know? Like "Let's all try to play one of the 'big games' each time we come to the games day" or what have you. Heck, we could even leave interpretation of 'big' up to the individual - the (lack of) structure in our group means this is really all a gentlemen's agreement type thing anyway. To some extent, even if just three or four of those of us who show up basically every month have an informal agreement to focus on two or three popular games, it could do a lot for the issues you raise in the OP.

As you say, the whole thing rests on getting informal agreement rather than imposing rules and regulations. Again, for those of us without a car, managing two games can be a struggle unless terrain is available from others. I'm good with playing BA, Malifaux (or Saga) on a regular basis, but allowing for the introduction of new games every now and again or having space to play the smaller games will help to keep things fresh.

I think the main thing is for everyone to be able to decide what they spend their time and money on without worrying that by the time they get everything ready the game won't be gathering dust on everyone else's shelves. Given the hype for Newcromunda in the run up to NagoyaHammer, I don't think it has been mentioned much since. Without Underdweller organizing the Shachi Bowl, would many people have gotten much use from their BB teams?

Of course, I am my own worst enemy in this regard, if I played a different game every month, I still wouldn't play all the games I own. Heck, this thread should be titled "Prim's Poor Decisions - A discussion (or not...)" Immediately after buying something I'm already planning a different new project or three. Which I guess also makes me the villain of this thread. At the very least this thread is encouraging me to re-evaluate my collecting and spending habits.

I doubt we will know if 40K is going to remain popular down the line until people really start playing it, fingers crossed it will regain it's spot on the Joshin tables. (but not to the extent that I am left on my lonesome in the corner I hope ). The non-Jus* parts of the forum have been positive about the changes to the game, and some Spevna Stances seem to be forgotten, so that's good. In the middle of January, there is an event specifically for people to blow the dust off their collections and bring along something old or even something new.

*Because Jus has always been positive.

So maybe the first order of business would be to sit down and have a chat with the other half of our gaming community and find out what they would like to play and how they think we can co-operate more closely. And after that, build some communication channels between us, so that everyone can be better informed about what games are available and have a better chance of finding a game. Sadly, I won't be at next week's event due to attending the aforementioned Tsu event where this whole conversation originated. If the chance for a discussion does arise, I hope someone will take it. I'd like to see stronger ties between the groups.

In the meantime I'm off to dust my gaming shelves and start figuring out what I should be doing with my own collection.

[jehan-reznor]

Well, as an outsider who only comes once a year, almost made it to plamo but i had a vomit incident that my weekend was mostly spent at home.

I consider my self mostly a collector and have more systems than i can shake at, although i have a few friends nearby i can play with, it doesn't happen much. Got the new 40k box and the rules don't do it for me.
There are a few active groups in osaka, mostly playing Warmachine and Malifaux.

In my opinion the group needs young blood and more Japanese players, too many ojiisans now

[The Other Dave]

So maybe the first order of business would be to sit down and have a chat with the other half of our gaming community and find out what they would like to play and how they think we can co-operate more closely. And after that, build some communication channels between us, so that everyone can be better informed about what games are available and have a better chance of finding a game. Sadly, I won't be at next week's event due to attending the aforementioned Tsu event where this whole conversation originated. If the chance for a discussion does arise, I hope someone will take it. I'd like to see stronger ties between the groups.

Getting some communication going is part of my plan for Sunday, certainly. As for communication channels, the dream would be to find a single online forum or communication tool that everyone can use, but then who wants to migrate at this point? Inertia is a heck of a thing.

[Konrad]

For me, Naghammer is a room once a month and a forum where we can shout out, "Who's coming?" and "Who wants to play what?" "That and to complain , " Ygods, ymore Yelves in 40K...." I'm not a organizer-type, nor do I have the time or Japanese skills to, so I'm not going to lead the charge to expand the club or whatever. Just get me a a table once or twice a month to plop my toys on.
And I'd be keen on some Frostgrave next month! Might even have some Pantheon of Chaos Thugs to put in there. Should give Itakura a shout.

[Primarch]

Getting some communication going is part of my plan for Sunday, certainly.

So...

[YellowStreak]

As it looks increasingly like my time in Japan will be coming to an end mid next year, I kind of avoided commenting. But ToD and I did discuss this a little on Sunday while gaming and I think the lack of a centralized communication platform causes a real divide with the Japanese players using Mixi and the largely non-japanese here or on facebook. I think solving that issue would go a long way towards bringing the groups together.

A lack of regular venue is probably also a factor that makes 'growth' more difficult, but one area that is much harder to solve.

[The Other Dave]

Yeah, "formal" conversations didn't work out on Sunday - everyone got their heads down over their games pretty quick, and I'm all non-assertive sometimes.

[Mike the Pike]

I spent a lot of time navel gazing and waffling on and in about this very topic.
Then I thought, why I don't walk three feet and ask Kondou-san if he wants a game of BA st next month's event. Then I went back to the game I was playing with Sugiura-san, Marui-san and Nakagawa-san, which was great fun. It's. It's not really that hard.

P.S. a lot of us are on Line. Why not use that?