If you’re interested in hosting an event at Board Game Bash, then contact Jonathan about getting on the schedule.  We’d love to have you!  Planning for the 2013 convention is under way, so if you have a tournament or event idea, then it’s never too early to start talking about it.  Whether it’s something you’re interested in running or something you think the convention should do, just let us know!

Until the 2013 schedule is made, the 2012 schedule will remain online to give an idea about what happens at the convention:

Friday, August 3, 2012

6:00 PM: Advance ticket holders can check in and get started

7:00 PM: Regular door admission opens

8:00 PM: Munchkin tournament
3 rounds, each with a different Munchkin variant.  16 players in round 1 (Munchkin Zombies), 8 players advance to round 2 (Munchkin Axe Cop), and the final 4 players will go to round 3 (fantasy Munchkin with every single expansion ever produced)

8:00 PM – 1:00 AM: Werewolves of the Dark Arts Demo Session
Werewolf is a classic social game of death and deceit.  Werewolf-expert Tobias returns to the convention to show his variant of the game.  Each player will be assigned a unique role which will place the player on the side of the innocent villagers or the violent werewolves.  Fight for your side!  Each game is fairly short, so feel free to stop by any time while the event is happening to join a game.  Since this is a louder, social game, play will be taking place outside of the gaming rooms in the lobby of the convention.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

9:00 AM: Summoner Wars tutorial
Dave will teach the ins and outs of playing Summoner Wars to get you ready for the tournament.

10:00 AM: Summoner Wars tournament
16 players will draw a random race and play it in 4 rounds of single elimination action.  Dave has all the races, so each player will have a different race.

1:00 PM: No-Ship Math Trade
Looking to trade games but find it hard to arrange a bunch of individual trades?  So did a bunch of folks, and thus the Math Trade was born.  In short, it’s a massively efficient way for games to be traded amongst folks in a large group.  You post your haves, people then say what they want, and a computer makes the internal trades so that everyone ends up with the best possible trade.  BoardGameGeek has a fabulous Math Trade Guide you can look at for more information.  We’ll be doing our own version of the trade at the convention, but you have to do some stuff in advance, so be sure to read the post and sign up.  There is also a great discussion thread going about the trade over at BGG.

1:15 PM: Flea Market
After the Math Trade has wrapped, the flea market will begin.  This is another way to transfer games.  Basically, just set up what you have, set a price, and see what folks want to do.  It’s very informal; just grab some table space and show off what you have.  If you still have some stuff left over after the Math Trade, this is for you!  (Or if you’re looking for some good deals on games, this is well worth checking out.)

2:00 PM: Dominion tournament
32 players will play 3 games with the top 4 advancing to a final game.  All expansions are fair game.  Every player will get something for playing, with the winner getting an exclusive prize from Rio Grande.

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: The Expanse launch and demo
Emerging from a long development, The Expanse is seeing its official launch at Board Game Bash!  A card based game of space exploration for 2 to 4 players, The Expanse is all about taking your ship and discovering new interstellar phenomena.  The game’s designer, Andrew, will be there in person to show off the game and teach players how to play.  Play time for the game is about 30 minutes, and Andrew will answer all your questions about the game.

3:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Khet demo
Combining chess-like strategy with the awesomeness of lasers (YES, LASERS!), Khet is a cool game that can appeal to many stripes of players.  Myke Hritz, President of the Alamo Network of Khet Hobbyists (ANKH), is coming out to show off the game and teach it to players.  He can teach the game to a brand new player in just 3 minutes, so come check it out.  Oh, DID I MENTION THE LASERS???

4:00 PM: Wings of Glory event: World War 2 Battle of Britain
This is the first of two Wings of Glory (formerly Wings of War) events from Steven Duke.  Up to 14 people (yes, 14!!!) can play in this, and the rules can be learned in just 5 minutes.  It’s a great session for novice and veteran gamers alike.  Game time will be 2 hours, and a prize will be given to the best pilot!  Note that players can also come and go as they please and do not have to stay for the entire session.  The mechanics are flexible enough to allow for you to play as much or as little as you like.
These scenarios take place in fall of 1940.  The Axis side will be invading Great Britain trying to bomb key targets.  The British must deploy their limited resources to defend their targets and stop the Germans.  Dogfight using cool looking, painted minis over a 6 by 10 foot map.  Yes, that’s 60 square feet of gaming space.  Two scenarios will be played, with the second being a free-for-all featuring brand new planes just released by Ares!

5:00 PM: Thunderstone tournament
Get crawling down that dungeon in this deckbuilder.  20 players will play in 5 games of 4 with the top player in each game going to a final round of play.

7:00 PM: 7 Wonders tournament
28 players will be narrowed to a winner over three games.  The top two players from each table will advance, along with the three top scoring third place players.  Two tables (14 players) will then play, with the top three (and top scoring 4th place player) will advance to the final table, where a single winner will emerge.

8:00 PM: Wings of Glory event: World War 1 Balloon Busting and Bombers
This is the second of two Wings of Glory (formerly Wings of War) events from Steven Duke.  Up to 14 people (yes, 14!!!) can play in this, and the rules can be learned in just 5 minutes.  It’s a great session for novice and veteran gamers alike.  Game time will be 2 hours, and a prize will be given to the best pilot!  Note that players can also come and go as they please and do not have to stay for the entire session.  The mechanics are flexible enough to allow for you to play as much or as little as you like.
In the air above France, you will fight in two scenarios.  First, each side will have valuable reconnaissance balloons protected by a fighter screen.  Each side wants to sink the other’s balloons, but watch out for fire (both enemy and friendly) from the anti-aircraft units on the ground.  Second has the Germans flying a heavy bomber in, and the Allies are out to stop it.  This will also be on a 6 by 10 foot board (yes, 60 square feet!!) using awesome painted minis and featuring brand new planes just released by Ares.

7:00 PM – 1:00 AM: Werewolves of the Dark Arts Demo Session
Werewolf is a classic social game of death and deceit.  Werewolf-expert Tobias returns to the convention to show his variant of the game.  Each player will be assigned a unique role which will place the player on the side of the innocent villagers or the violent werewolves.  Fight for your side!  Each game is fairly short, so feel free to stop by any time while the event is happening to join a game.  Since this is a louder, social game, play will be taking place outside of the gaming rooms in the lobby of the convention.

9:00 PM: Fritters’ Five Favorite Four-Player Card Games
It’s getting late, and you’re looking for some fast games.  Here’s your spot!  Christopher and Matt have gotten together to make a great tournament consisting of five quick card games.  With $200 in prizes available for the tournament, it’s sure to be worth your while.  They ask that participants be familiar with the rules for all the games, and are hosting demonstrations of the games every Tuesday at South Austin Game Night (at Rockin’ Tomato on S. Lamar meeting from 6 to 11 PM) from now until the convention.  You can also read the tournament rules here, as well as rules for all five games:  No Thanks!, Category 5 / Slide 5, Turn the Tide, Thor / Botswana, and For Sale.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

10:00 AM: Memoir ’44 tournament
Play this combat simulator.  Because this is a longer game, we’ll only be doing three rounds with 8 players in single elimination.  Also, since it is such a long event, this will be a largely self-run.  For that reason, this is only open to people who already know how to play Memoir ’44.

1:00 PM: Cheapass Games discussion and demonstration
Cheapass Games has moved from making cheap games to making free games printable online.  Jim Tarsi is going to discuss the company, and then host a demo of some of their games.  There will be a special prize drawing, and the only way to enter is to attend the demo!

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Werewolves of the Dark Arts Demo Session
Werewolf is a classic social game of death and deceit.  Werewolf-expert Tobias returns to the convention to show his variant of the game.  Each player will be assigned a unique role which will place the player on the side of the innocent villagers or the violent werewolves.  Fight for your side!  Each game is fairly short, so feel free to stop by any time while the event is happening to join a game.  Since this is a louder, social game, play will be taking place outside of the gaming rooms in the lobby of the convention.

4:00 PM: Small World tournament
Show your domination of the lands in the Small World tournament.  16 players will play over three rounds with the top two from each game advancing to the next round.  After three games, the Small World champion will be crowned!  Everyone that plays will get a special prize from Days of Wonder with an extra special prize for the winner.

6:00 PM: Lords of Waterdeep tournament
Waterdeep: a haven of mystery, adventure, and intrigue.  In this quick cube-placement game, you’ll be a member of a shadow council of lords running the city, sending adventurers on quests to complete your goals.  The tournament will take up to 20 people playing 4 copies of the game.  Winners of the first game will advance to the finals in a second game, along with the top scoring second place finisher.

8:00 PM: Convention closes.  Hope you had fun.

Note that the convention is open the entire weekend through the night on Friday and Saturday.  You can game for 50 hours non stop if you want, though we highly recommend meals and showers.