The First Annual Convocation of the Wargame Explorer Society
SKU:
$1,300.00
$700.00 - $1,300.00
per item
IT'S A BIG HOUSE FULL OF FOOD AND GAMES. We want you to join us for this wargame retreat: come and play the games that we bring, play the games you bring, and generally enjoy each others’ company.
June 9-15, 2024
June 9-15, 2024
About the Event
At The Wargame Explorer I review a lot of games, and I catch the odd chance to play here and there, but not nearly enough. Here I am, immersed in wargaming, and yet the opportunity to get together with a bunch of like-minded wargamers seems far too elusive.
So, working with my brother, the brilliant writer Dan Wells, we are putting together a wargame retreat: The First Annual Convocation of The Wargame Explorer Society.
We’ve rented a house and it’s awesome. It’s a large vacation/family reunion home in Salt Lake City, Utah--just a 20 minute drive from the Salt Lake City international airport. It has twenty-four beds, tons of tables and couches and sitting rooms, and a giant kitchen with multiple fridges, ovens, stoves, and coffee makers. I’ve hired my friend Donna, who caters food for events, to stay onsite and make food for us all week. We will have all the time, space, meals, and snacks that we could possibly want—the time has come for games.
IT'S A BIG HOUSE FULL OF FOOD AND GAMES. We want you to join us for this wargame retreat: come and play the games that we bring, play the games you bring, and generally enjoy each others’ company.
Dates and Times
Check in for the event will be Sunday, June 9, 2024 between 6 pm and 10 pm.
Dinner will not be served Sunday night. Meals will start with breakfast on Monday, June 10th and end with breakfast on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
Check out will be at 10 am on June 15, 2024.
Tickets and Pricing
A ticket gets you two things: registration for the retreat (which includes food for the week) and a bed in the house. If you would like to share a bed with someone, only one person purchases the bed ticket; the other person purchases a “no bed” ticket.
King Bed: $1,300
Queen Bed: $1,200
Twin Bed: $1,100
No Bed: $700
“No Bed” tickets require one of two situations:
1) You are sharing a bed with someone else. The other person must have purchased a regular ticket for a queen or king bed. There is a limit of two people per bed.
2) You are staying off-site and commuting to the event. Please note that unless you live nearby, this is not likely to be cost-effective; we are trying to keep our prices cheaper than you would get at a hotel. Please also note that there is limited parking, and if you drive yourself you might need to leave your car in a nearby park, and walk or shuttle to the event.
*If you buy a “No Bed” ticket, we will contact you directly to work out the details of your specific
situation.
COVID Policy
Every attendee, upon arrival, must show proof of a negative Covid test no more than 48 hours old. Masks will not be required; you can wear one if you want, but we’re sharing a house for a week so I don’t know how effective a mask would actually be. While on site, if you start to feel sick you will need to take a Covid test (provided for you); if you test positive, we will quarantine you from the other guests and work with you on the best next steps, which might include moving you offsite. In general: be responsible and respectful, be aware of the risks you are taking, and be prepared for the consequences if something goes wrong.
Harassment Policy
Everyone will treat everyone else with respect and humanity. We will not enumerate a list of all the things you should and shouldn’t do, just be mature and kind and don’t make anyone uncomfortable. If you feel uncomfortable about a situation or person, please talk to me (Rob) or Dan and we will work to resolve the situation. If someone ruins the experience for others and refuses to change their behavior when we talk to them about it, we'll kick them out and we won’t feel bad. Games are only fun when everyone is having fun, so let’s make sure everyone has fun.
Hygiene Policy
Everyone needs to shower AT LEAST every other day, and use deodorant every day. We’ve been to too many cons too many times; we know what this house will smell like if we don’t stay clean. This will all be on the honor system.
Refund Policy
If you cancel before May 5, 2024, you can get a full refund. If you cancel before May 26, 2024, you can get a half refund. No refunds will be offered after May 26, 2024.
FAQ
How do the beds and rooms work?
The house has twenty-four beds of varying sizes. Almost ALL of them are in shared rooms, with two or three beds each. The beds available are 7 King, 5 Queen, and 6 Twins. As part of your registration, you will have the opportunity to request a specific roommate, or to give specific details about what shared situation might make you most comfortable. We will discuss these requests with you privately through email.
What games will be played at the Convocation of The Wargame Explorer Society (CTWES)?
We plan to have game boards ready and playable for Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Warcry, Star Wars Legion, Bolt Action, Konflikt 47, Aeronautica Imperialis, Dystopian Wars, Mordheim, Blood Red Skies, Legions Imperialis, Warhammer The Old World, Warmachine, Hordes, and more. We'll be starting a Discord for registrants to talk to each other before the event and discuss what games they're most interested in playing.
And if you want to bring your own game that we haven’t mentioned—bring it! We’d love to see you be a game advocate for something like A Song of Ice and Fire, or Star Wars Shatterpoint, or anything else that you love.
Is the CTWES a tournament?
CTWES will have competitive games, but it is not an organized tournament. In fact, the intent of CETWS is to be as welcoming to newcomers as possible. This is not a cutthroat competitive scene--it's a place to enjoy each others' company while playing great games.
We do plan to have campaigns going with some of the games that have the most interest: there may be a Warhammer narrative campaign that all the retreat's games will affect, and we hope to have a Mordheim campaign that lasts for several days, if there is interest.
Will I need to bring my own army?
In most cases, yes. At CETWS, we will have quite a few games playable for people who don't have their own armies/kill teams/warbands, and we definitely intend to get you involved in games that you've never played before. But if you want to play Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, Bolt Action, or big games like that, then bringing your own army is the best idea. And, if you are bringing your own army, make sure you’re bringing up-to-date rules for it.
We will TRY to have a number of Combat Patrols available for Warhammer 40k and maybe half a dozen Bolt Action armies. We also hope to have dozens of Mordheim models for you to make a whole host of warbands. That said, bringing your own armies is the best way to guarantee you'll be able to play the big wargames.
On the other hand, we’ll have sets of games like Dystopian Wars and Aeronautica Imperialis which you can play simply using the contents of the two-player box. IF YOU HAVE GAMES LIKE THESE YOU WANT TO PLAY, PLEASE BRING THEM!
Will there be other games there besides miniature wargames?
Yes! We will embrace wargames that don’t use miniatures as well as miniatures games that aren’t wargames! Advanced Squad Leader, Memoir 44, Undaunted: Normandy, Massive Darkness, Zombicide, Rising Sun, several games in the COIN series, and so on. If you have any games like these that you want to bring, bring them! The more the merrier!
Are there Friendly Local Games Stores nearby where I can get hobby supplies?
Yes! There are several FLGSs, but the best one in the Salt Lake Valley for virtually any miniature wargame is Gajo Games, located at 9420 S Union Square, Sandy, UT. It's a relatively short drive from the CETWS retreat house.
Will there be hobbying in addition to gaming?
If you want to paint models some of the time, then bring your models and do it! There is ample table space. We plan to have a big selection of Citadel and Vallejo paint there, and some cheap brushes. If you want something special, like a desk lamp, a better brush, a wet palette, or a particular color of paint, then make sure to bring it. Just remember to be VERY careful, because if we get paint on the rental home's tables or floors it will get pretty expensive.
If I come to this event, will I get to play a game with Rob or Dan?
We will do our very best to play games with everyone who wants to, but we guarantee nothing. Come for the games you’ll play all week, not for the handful of games you might play with us.
What amenities does the house have?
Aside from the bedrooms, the kitchen, and the gaming spaces, there are also nine bathrooms, two laundry rooms, a pool table, a ping pong table, a hot tub, a huge yard, a covered porch with outdoor tables, an outdoor grill, multiple outdoor firepits, and two kitchenettes with extra fridges.
Can I bring my own snacks or food?
We will have food and snacks for the week, and Donna is excellent at accommodating for allergy and dietary needs. But if there's something that you really want to bring--for example, if you can't live without a full 12-pack of Coke Zero--you are welcome to bring it. For allergy purposes, please do not bring anything with peanuts in it.
What about food allergies?
All food will be prepared in one kitchen. While we will make every effort to accommodate for food allergies, we cannot guarantee that there won’t be cross contamination. Donna is great at providing dairy, meat, and gluten free options, but you need to make sure that you communicate your dietary needs in the registration information and be responsible for your own health and safety.
Will there be alcohol?
This is a dry event, so no alcohol will be allowed on the property.
Can I smoke?
This property has an absolutely NO smoking/vaping/e-cigarettes policy.
How will we organize everything?
When you register, we will take your email address and invite you to a Discord server. JOIN THE DISCORD SERVER. That’s where we’ll be planning, scheduling, sharing updates, and more. If you’re not on the server, you’ll miss a lot of vital information.
Where is the event?
A big house in Salt Lake City. We’re not sharing the address publicly; we’ll let you know in an email after you register.
Transportation from the airport?
This is not provided by the event, but the venue was chosen in part because it is easily accessible. The best means of transportation will probably be Uber or Lyft for about $30. You can arrange with someone in the Discord to share an Uber if you arrive at the airport around the same time.
Can I bring my kid?
No small children will be allowed at the event. You must be at least 16 years old to attend. 16-17 year old attendees must be accompanied by a responsible adult who also has a ticket to the event. You must be at least 18 years old to attend the event on your own.
Can my friend come for just one night?
That’s a feature we might add for future events, but this year the answer is no.
At The Wargame Explorer I review a lot of games, and I catch the odd chance to play here and there, but not nearly enough. Here I am, immersed in wargaming, and yet the opportunity to get together with a bunch of like-minded wargamers seems far too elusive.
So, working with my brother, the brilliant writer Dan Wells, we are putting together a wargame retreat: The First Annual Convocation of The Wargame Explorer Society.
We’ve rented a house and it’s awesome. It’s a large vacation/family reunion home in Salt Lake City, Utah--just a 20 minute drive from the Salt Lake City international airport. It has twenty-four beds, tons of tables and couches and sitting rooms, and a giant kitchen with multiple fridges, ovens, stoves, and coffee makers. I’ve hired my friend Donna, who caters food for events, to stay onsite and make food for us all week. We will have all the time, space, meals, and snacks that we could possibly want—the time has come for games.
IT'S A BIG HOUSE FULL OF FOOD AND GAMES. We want you to join us for this wargame retreat: come and play the games that we bring, play the games you bring, and generally enjoy each others’ company.
Dates and Times
Check in for the event will be Sunday, June 9, 2024 between 6 pm and 10 pm.
Dinner will not be served Sunday night. Meals will start with breakfast on Monday, June 10th and end with breakfast on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
Check out will be at 10 am on June 15, 2024.
Tickets and Pricing
A ticket gets you two things: registration for the retreat (which includes food for the week) and a bed in the house. If you would like to share a bed with someone, only one person purchases the bed ticket; the other person purchases a “no bed” ticket.
King Bed: $1,300
Queen Bed: $1,200
Twin Bed: $1,100
No Bed: $700
“No Bed” tickets require one of two situations:
1) You are sharing a bed with someone else. The other person must have purchased a regular ticket for a queen or king bed. There is a limit of two people per bed.
2) You are staying off-site and commuting to the event. Please note that unless you live nearby, this is not likely to be cost-effective; we are trying to keep our prices cheaper than you would get at a hotel. Please also note that there is limited parking, and if you drive yourself you might need to leave your car in a nearby park, and walk or shuttle to the event.
*If you buy a “No Bed” ticket, we will contact you directly to work out the details of your specific
situation.
COVID Policy
Every attendee, upon arrival, must show proof of a negative Covid test no more than 48 hours old. Masks will not be required; you can wear one if you want, but we’re sharing a house for a week so I don’t know how effective a mask would actually be. While on site, if you start to feel sick you will need to take a Covid test (provided for you); if you test positive, we will quarantine you from the other guests and work with you on the best next steps, which might include moving you offsite. In general: be responsible and respectful, be aware of the risks you are taking, and be prepared for the consequences if something goes wrong.
Harassment Policy
Everyone will treat everyone else with respect and humanity. We will not enumerate a list of all the things you should and shouldn’t do, just be mature and kind and don’t make anyone uncomfortable. If you feel uncomfortable about a situation or person, please talk to me (Rob) or Dan and we will work to resolve the situation. If someone ruins the experience for others and refuses to change their behavior when we talk to them about it, we'll kick them out and we won’t feel bad. Games are only fun when everyone is having fun, so let’s make sure everyone has fun.
Hygiene Policy
Everyone needs to shower AT LEAST every other day, and use deodorant every day. We’ve been to too many cons too many times; we know what this house will smell like if we don’t stay clean. This will all be on the honor system.
Refund Policy
If you cancel before May 5, 2024, you can get a full refund. If you cancel before May 26, 2024, you can get a half refund. No refunds will be offered after May 26, 2024.
FAQ
How do the beds and rooms work?
The house has twenty-four beds of varying sizes. Almost ALL of them are in shared rooms, with two or three beds each. The beds available are 7 King, 5 Queen, and 6 Twins. As part of your registration, you will have the opportunity to request a specific roommate, or to give specific details about what shared situation might make you most comfortable. We will discuss these requests with you privately through email.
What games will be played at the Convocation of The Wargame Explorer Society (CTWES)?
We plan to have game boards ready and playable for Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Warcry, Star Wars Legion, Bolt Action, Konflikt 47, Aeronautica Imperialis, Dystopian Wars, Mordheim, Blood Red Skies, Legions Imperialis, Warhammer The Old World, Warmachine, Hordes, and more. We'll be starting a Discord for registrants to talk to each other before the event and discuss what games they're most interested in playing.
And if you want to bring your own game that we haven’t mentioned—bring it! We’d love to see you be a game advocate for something like A Song of Ice and Fire, or Star Wars Shatterpoint, or anything else that you love.
Is the CTWES a tournament?
CTWES will have competitive games, but it is not an organized tournament. In fact, the intent of CETWS is to be as welcoming to newcomers as possible. This is not a cutthroat competitive scene--it's a place to enjoy each others' company while playing great games.
We do plan to have campaigns going with some of the games that have the most interest: there may be a Warhammer narrative campaign that all the retreat's games will affect, and we hope to have a Mordheim campaign that lasts for several days, if there is interest.
Will I need to bring my own army?
In most cases, yes. At CETWS, we will have quite a few games playable for people who don't have their own armies/kill teams/warbands, and we definitely intend to get you involved in games that you've never played before. But if you want to play Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, Bolt Action, or big games like that, then bringing your own army is the best idea. And, if you are bringing your own army, make sure you’re bringing up-to-date rules for it.
We will TRY to have a number of Combat Patrols available for Warhammer 40k and maybe half a dozen Bolt Action armies. We also hope to have dozens of Mordheim models for you to make a whole host of warbands. That said, bringing your own armies is the best way to guarantee you'll be able to play the big wargames.
On the other hand, we’ll have sets of games like Dystopian Wars and Aeronautica Imperialis which you can play simply using the contents of the two-player box. IF YOU HAVE GAMES LIKE THESE YOU WANT TO PLAY, PLEASE BRING THEM!
Will there be other games there besides miniature wargames?
Yes! We will embrace wargames that don’t use miniatures as well as miniatures games that aren’t wargames! Advanced Squad Leader, Memoir 44, Undaunted: Normandy, Massive Darkness, Zombicide, Rising Sun, several games in the COIN series, and so on. If you have any games like these that you want to bring, bring them! The more the merrier!
Are there Friendly Local Games Stores nearby where I can get hobby supplies?
Yes! There are several FLGSs, but the best one in the Salt Lake Valley for virtually any miniature wargame is Gajo Games, located at 9420 S Union Square, Sandy, UT. It's a relatively short drive from the CETWS retreat house.
Will there be hobbying in addition to gaming?
If you want to paint models some of the time, then bring your models and do it! There is ample table space. We plan to have a big selection of Citadel and Vallejo paint there, and some cheap brushes. If you want something special, like a desk lamp, a better brush, a wet palette, or a particular color of paint, then make sure to bring it. Just remember to be VERY careful, because if we get paint on the rental home's tables or floors it will get pretty expensive.
If I come to this event, will I get to play a game with Rob or Dan?
We will do our very best to play games with everyone who wants to, but we guarantee nothing. Come for the games you’ll play all week, not for the handful of games you might play with us.
What amenities does the house have?
Aside from the bedrooms, the kitchen, and the gaming spaces, there are also nine bathrooms, two laundry rooms, a pool table, a ping pong table, a hot tub, a huge yard, a covered porch with outdoor tables, an outdoor grill, multiple outdoor firepits, and two kitchenettes with extra fridges.
Can I bring my own snacks or food?
We will have food and snacks for the week, and Donna is excellent at accommodating for allergy and dietary needs. But if there's something that you really want to bring--for example, if you can't live without a full 12-pack of Coke Zero--you are welcome to bring it. For allergy purposes, please do not bring anything with peanuts in it.
What about food allergies?
All food will be prepared in one kitchen. While we will make every effort to accommodate for food allergies, we cannot guarantee that there won’t be cross contamination. Donna is great at providing dairy, meat, and gluten free options, but you need to make sure that you communicate your dietary needs in the registration information and be responsible for your own health and safety.
Will there be alcohol?
This is a dry event, so no alcohol will be allowed on the property.
Can I smoke?
This property has an absolutely NO smoking/vaping/e-cigarettes policy.
How will we organize everything?
When you register, we will take your email address and invite you to a Discord server. JOIN THE DISCORD SERVER. That’s where we’ll be planning, scheduling, sharing updates, and more. If you’re not on the server, you’ll miss a lot of vital information.
Where is the event?
A big house in Salt Lake City. We’re not sharing the address publicly; we’ll let you know in an email after you register.
Transportation from the airport?
This is not provided by the event, but the venue was chosen in part because it is easily accessible. The best means of transportation will probably be Uber or Lyft for about $30. You can arrange with someone in the Discord to share an Uber if you arrive at the airport around the same time.
Can I bring my kid?
No small children will be allowed at the event. You must be at least 16 years old to attend. 16-17 year old attendees must be accompanied by a responsible adult who also has a ticket to the event. You must be at least 18 years old to attend the event on your own.
Can my friend come for just one night?
That’s a feature we might add for future events, but this year the answer is no.