SFR, Inc.

[ddicerc]

OK, East Coast DDers, it's time to start planning for Dreamation. This con is held at the Hilton in East Brunswick, NJ (easily accessible from Exit 9 of the NJ Turnpike), and will run this year from Jan. 25-28, 2007.

I need to know who might be interetsed in attending and/or helping out with events. Right now, here's what I expect to be happening:

Events
Championship-style event (possibly the 2nd annual NJ Open)
Battlefest
Sealed Box (hopefully featuring the new starters!)
Novice (at least one, maybe two)

The official debut of the new Dragon Dice Starter Sets (assuming the boat gets here in time)

An SFR sales table (or our products for sale in the vendor's hall, if my contact stocks up again) and demo table

Dragon Slots!! (Fresh from GenCon 2006)

We could add an event or two if there is enough interest, players, and help.

You also will get first shot at knocking off the defending World Champion (not that that's so hard, right, Derek?).

You can get more info at the Double Exposure web site, www.dexposure.com.

If you are interested, please post here so I can gauge the potential response.
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[Tinytode]

Amanda and I are in. I need to get some revenge after my defeat to her at Dexcon . I've also managed to get some guys from Dark Tower to consider coming.

Anything I can do to help, I will. Also, could we run a hero battle (3 Health units only) this year if the new starters aren't ready? I played one recently, and they are a lot of fun.
_________________
"If toast lands butter side down and cats always land on their feet, what would happen if you strapped butter toast to the back of a cat and dropped it off a building?"

[Tinytode]

Was wondering if we could run single race at Dreamation now. I have actually recruited 3 serious players, but all three have specialized in a particular race. They are planning on coming to Dreamation, and I figured Single Race would give them equal footing in at least one event.
_________________
"If toast lands butter side down and cats always land on their feet, what would happen if you strapped butter toast to the back of a cat and dropped it off a building?"

[ddicerc]

The event listing isn't set yet, so I could add and/or change to that.

If anyone would like to help either run events or help at the demo table at Dreamation, let me know. Mike D. has to work that weekend (priorities, priorities), so right now it'd be me and Pelter Boy. If that just is too scary to contemplate, drop me a PM or e-mail me at DDiceRC@aol.com.
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[DEEPBLUEB2]

[DScottOBrien]

If I may ask, what are Dragon Slots??
_________________
D Scott O'Brien
Dice Junkie
Anal-retentive rules scrutinizer

[piMaster]

Dragon Slots is SFR's version of a slot machine. You roll 3 Dragonkin champions and you are awarded a prize depending on what you roll. You always get a prize.
_________________
"Everything Brad said is correct." - Chuck Pint

[DScottOBrien]

Any change of a TSR Unseelie being among the prizes?
_________________
D Scott O'Brien
Dice Junkie
Anal-retentive rules scrutinizer

[ddicerc]

Here's the latest on Dreamation:

We'll be holding the Region 4 Dragon Dice Champioships in conjunction with Double Exposure's Regional and National Championship series. I'm waiting for the final details, but I believe the winner of a regional championship gets some kind of bump in the national championships. And yes, we will be holding a National Championship event in July at DexCon. NOTE: These are not SFR events, but Double Exposure events. However, they have the full support of the SFR board.

There will be two preliminary rounds and a championship round. We will have a Novice event.

Now the bad news: the new starters won't arrive in time for Dreamation. (I'd tell you where they are right now, but then Chuck would have to send out a Morehl hit squad to take me out.) I still have a Sealed Box event on the schedule. We can do one of two things:

1) Run it as a Sealed Box Plus, using Spanish starters and kicker packs.

2) Try to change it to Battlefest or Single Race.

If you are going to be there, and have an opinion on this, let me know by Friday the 19th at the latest. I can't promise we can change the event, but I'll see what I can do.

I will be taking preorders for the new starters and white dragons at Dreamation. If you order there. I can promise you some special considerations I can't advertise here, plus I will have a couple of convention specials available only to Dreamation attendees. I'll also have a small selection of dice available for sale, and one of the vendors there usually carries some DD products as well.

We will also be playing DRAGON SLOTS-the hit game from GenCon 2006. This is your chance to stock up on some promo dice for just a buck a toss!

See you at the con!
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[chuckpint]

[DScottOBrien]

What's the admission price for Dreamation?
_________________
D Scott O'Brien
Dice Junkie
Anal-retentive rules scrutinizer

[ddicerc]

All the convention information is on the Double Exposure web site:

www.dexposure.com
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[DScottOBrien]

Are there going to be any new promo dice at the Dragon Dice slots?
_________________
D Scott O'Brien
Dice Junkie
Anal-retentive rules scrutinizer

[chuckpint]

Nope, we don't have anything new in just yet. However, I did send to Steve an ivory dragon to use as a tournament prize. It's the first one off the mold! It's not a prototype, but a production sample.
_________________
You can never have too many dice.
First Place at the first ever Daemon Dice sealed starter tournament.
Battlefest tied for first GenCon 2012
Single Race Champion GenCon 2008-2009, Sealed Box Champion GenCon 2007,2009,
My collection is 21,500 Dragon Dice, 20,000 Daemon Dice, and others (too many to count).

[ddicerc]

Dragon Slots will feature Frostwing and Scalder promos, Red and Blue DKCs, and Bronze Medallions. No ultra-rare promos, although there are some nice FR/SC rares available. Basically, there will be three prize levels: Basic (retail $2-$3), Special (retail $5-$6) and Super (retail $15-$20), going by the prices on the SFR web page. I have a limited amount of dice available for the game (especially the higher levels), and some of the Basic ones will also be used as prizes for the Novice event. It's a great way to stock up on these promos if you have none or just a few, and a way to potentially get some nice trade bait as well.

BTW, in addition to the first Ivory Dragon (with signed Certificate of Authenticity), the winner of the regional will get a free registration for DexCon in East Brunswick, NJ in July, plus an automatic slot in the National Finals. (This event runs by Double Exposure format, rather than SFR format. Don't argue for a spot in the World Finals due to any DE event you play in. Nationals is going to be a separate entity from Worlds.)
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[Tinytode]

Since we don't have the new Starters yet, would it be possible to run a Single Race event instead. I have a couple of people interested in that event from playing at Dark Tower.
_________________
"If toast lands butter side down and cats always land on their feet, what would happen if you strapped butter toast to the back of a cat and dropped it off a building?"

[ddicerc]

Back from my trip to set up the SFR table at Dreamation...

I remembered everything tonight, except the signs that say "SFR" and "Dragon Dice". We have the corner table right outside the board game room. I'll be arriving at about 4:00 (I can't get out of subbing tomorrow, since I'm subbing for my wife!). So until then our table is covered by a blue tablecloth. There'll be plenty to keep you busy until I get there.

There are few pre-reg signups, but at Dreamation it's easy to sign up for an event-go into the Board Game room, find the sheet for the event you want, and sign in! The Sealed Box event is being changed. There will be two options:

1) Single Race (as per SFR rules)

2) Sealed Box Surprise! (You buy a Spanish starter and a random kicker (it will be Frostwing, Scalder, or Treefolk) and build your army with that.)

All details will be posted at the SFR table, which is right outside the board game and collectible game rooms.

One thing I didn't know is that you can only enter one of the two preliminaries for the regional, not both. (That's Double Exposure rules, not mine.) So all the DDers may want to negotiate which prelim they'll be playing in. (I'd really appreciate it if Derek and Robert were not in the same one...gives me more options for help.) I may run an unofficial side event during one if we have enough players and a space.

Yes, I have the ivory dragon for the regional winner. It will be on display at the SFR table, along with some other pre-production samples of the new dice.

Bring your money for preorders of the new starters and white dragons. There will also be a limtied quantity of boxed dice for sale. We usually also have at least one vendor who carries our stuff (and aside from con specials, I wouldn't mind if you bought from him to encourage him to keep carrying our stuff!). I also set up the "Dragon Slots" promo dice giveaway-just $1 a toss, and every die is guaranteed to be a retail value of $2 or more!

We will also have a "Demo With the Champion" running much of the weekend. I'm not above any gimmicks, and having the reigning World Champion doing demos will look like a big deal-to anyone who hasn't already clobbered him at DD.

See you tomorrow!
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[ddicerc]

We're just sitting down after getting home from Dreamation (and catching up on the chores Mom had for all of us). A good time was had by all. We got to run some demos, break in some newer players, and hold the Region 4 Championships for Double Exposure's National Game Competition Circuit.

First, the main event: Derek Macchia won the regional, despite Jonathan Braun's best efforts to throw the game to his brother (sort of). In retrospect, Derek and Robert realized that Robert would have had a better shot at winning if his brother had been his normal self and just shot at him with his Frosty missiles, giving his Undead a chance to roll a Cantrip and snatch an 8th face via Night Moves. Still, it was a good, tight competition. Nine players entered, and Derek now has a seat in the National final to be held at DexCon in July. More importantly, Derek is now the proud owner of the very first ivory dragon! (I'm betting you'll see a picture of that baby on the forum very soon...)

WE INTERRUPT THIS STORY TO BRING YOU AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: I spoke with the president of Double Exposure, and he wants me to let him know in May how many players I expect for the National. We basically doubled our DD participation at Dreamation from 2006, but I'd love to see twice as many as that come for the National. Double Exposure provides a trophy and prizes for the winners of their National events (they hold about 30 championships), and I"m sure I can get SFR to provide something nice as well. Even more importantly, we're trying to build the reputation of the game and its community with the gaming community at large, and I'd love to see a big showing this summer. This will be the second biggest Championship event of the year, next to Worlds, so if you live on the East Coast and can't make it to GenCon, here's your chance for a "major" victory!

We had three players for our Novice event, and six (or seven?) for the Single Race event. Amanda Gildersleeve was our Single Race champion, but I don't have the Novice winner's name. Derek and Robert ran all of the events except for the regional final (since they were both playing), including running the qualifier that the other one played in.

On the sales side, I did well with a number of kickers, and the retailer who had DD merchandise in the Dealer's Room sold out everything he had. We even had a few preorders for the new Starters and white dragons.

In talking to people, there were a number who expressed interest in the new starters, and are looking forward to them. Hopefully they will take my advice and ask at their local game store! I ran the demos with homemade versions of the new starters, and they went very smoothly. The 18h armies make the demos move a little faster, too.

I also had on hand a small number of preproduction samples for display. All comments were very favorable. (OK, we all wish the goblins weren't so muddy, but the new Swampies drew raves.) So see what you missed if you skipped the con?

I actually got to play something this weekend, although it wasn't Dragon Dice, and shocked some old friends by proving that although I was rusty, I could still play a little- as in, I won the event.

Excitement builds for DexCon. I'd love to see as many East Coast players as possible there. (Heck, I'd like to see some players from around the country fly in. While Central NJ isn't much to look at, you can easily drive or catch a train into New York City for some sightseeing, while getting a great gaming experience.) I've been to Origins and GenCon, and while DexCon doesn't compare for sheer size and major company presence, the people from Double Exposure run a great con, take care of their exhibitors and GMs, and even provide a free Con Suite with snacks and soda all weekend for everyone. Hope to see you all in July!
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)

[DEEPBLUEB2]

[ddicerc]

I am looking into places we can hold additional regionals, but there will be an open qualifying round at DexCon. Under their setup, a regional winner gets an automatic seat in the finals. However, while that works for many board games, the length of our process makes it tough to have a large final round unless we go straight Swiss (which we might, even though you lose the multi-player game in the process). I'm also looking into whether we can seat our regional champs in the semis instead. Of course, that assumes more than one regional champ to seat...
_________________
Steve "DDice" Braun
The Diceman's Gaming Pages: http://ddicerc.weebly.com
2014-2015 U.S. National Champion
(Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...)