So Dro, Thor and I are thinking about hitting Essen this year. Anyone been to Essen? Anyone exhibited at Essen?

Also, if we do go, would anyone be interested in joining us? Or be interested in having your games represented by us at the convention?

-L

PS If we do go to Essen, we are also planning to do a brief Burning North tour of scandanivia -- perhaps a mini-con at an agreed upon location? Any of the scandanavians have any thoughts on that?

I've been to Essen. (Back in 2002 or 2003, to play the EC Settlers of Catan). Thus I missed the first* day, basically. Also, we didn't see the last day. So basically I had 1 day of walking around.

It's huge. You can't even see every stand in one day - and with this, I mean 'glance at'. (Ok, you could, technically, but it'd be rather pointless)

It's diverse. 2nd hand stalls, small game developers, big game developers, activities, LARP-esque people wandering around. It's also a place for good buys/mark-downs (as opposed to say the Dutch Con at Eindhoven each year, which is basically a combination of 2nd-hand and full shop prices.) TONs of demo's to participate it.

Had a nice chat with Klaus Teuber (then obviously to my interest).

The atmosphere's very good, I think.

Knowing the Germans, scheduling, organisation, etc. will be smooth.

*IIRC, stand-holders have one extra day before the general public convention.

edit: oh, and if you go (or a bigger Forge delegation), I will give serious thought to going and helping out. When's Essen?

That's so off-the-wall idea that I can hardly believe it. Won't your expenses run to some 500 bucks for fligths only? Not that Essen isn't worth it... I've never been there myself, but my pals in the boardgame society wouldn't miss it for all the world.

That aside, if you'll come to Helsinki, we'll surely have a mini-convention (as well as some habitation arrangements for you). I haven't yet decided whether I'm going to Essen myself, but if Luke's there, that certainly weights some.

Tobias wrote: When's Essen?

I could've looked myself, of course. :)

The 'official' Spiel link (from the organisers, Merz-Verlag).

I'm not sure 'a very large game fair' is a good description - if I remember correctly, it's the largest of them - in the world.

Hmm, Germany is a lot cheaper to visit for me than the US, so if I hoard pennies for flights I could turn up and help.

-Matt

I would love to have you rep Masters and Minions at Essen, and also throughout the Burning North (where Eero's review in Alterations has already begun to spread the word!)

Right, I can definitely make it. Possibly with some others in tow.

The main concern is that Ocktoberfest might cuase difficulties booking hotels and so on closer to the date.

-Matt

There is a good chance Evilyn and I may go.

Matt wrote: The main concern is that Ocktoberfest might cuase difficulties booking hotels and so on closer to the date.

Frank T wrote: Oktoberfest is in Munich, that's a good 600 km from Essen.

Ok, I've finally got in touch with the Essen people. The time to book is now.

If there are any companies that would like to partner up and split a booth for this show (it'd be about $300 apiece), PM me immediately.

-L

If this is a go, PM me (anyone) who needs a booth monkey. It's too far in the future to commit to right now, but if I have the time, I'd gladly help out. I have no game of my own to push, so owning a chunk of the stand is not of interest to me.

By that time I should have BW under my belt (to a small degree, probably, but still). Already played Uni, hopefully will have played DitV then as well. Also own MLwM and Dust Devils. (Just read those). As well as Clinton's fantasy romp, and basically most free .pdfs developed over the last years at the Forge.

Fluent in English and Dutch, hokey in German and French, if that matters to anyone.

I'm in for booth monkeying. Luke, does that require anything from me, or should I just book as if I were attending as normal?

My plan is to combine Essen with a holiday mooch round that part of Germany.

-Matt