Committee Meeting Minutes

Committee Meeting 04/06/15

In Attendance: Tegwen Hammersley, Max Brown, Rosie Cook, Thomas Irving, Tom Parker, Patrick Clarke-Williams, Elly Brine.

1. Are we going to do GIAG again? If so, when and what?

• Tegwen’s proposal: have it during the second week of term.
• There will be Impact, Changeling and boardgame sessions.
• The application has already been sent off.

2. Fresher’s Fair. Where will it be, and who will be there?

• It will be in the James Dining Room.
• Various people will be on shifts to run the stall. Tegwen, Rosie, Max, Elly (globophobia allowing), and Thomas are all willing to take these shifts.

3. First Convention. Should we have a more structured layout of events with a timetable? Activities for newbies? Should times of games be announced beforehand with an online sign-up? Should there be boardgames of Sunday when LARP is going on?

• We ask people at socials and via email if they would like to run something, then put a timetable together based on that. 
• There will be cardgames and LARP sessions for newbies. 
• There will be an online sign-up with priority for newbies. Some spaces will be left free. 
• Boardgames will be on Sunday.

4. When will tabletop day and the WTS megagame be next term?

• Tabletop day will be the Saturday of Week 7.
• The WTS megagame will be Saturday of Week 6.

5. Are there still things running over the summer? If so, what?

• There is a summer LARP. Anything else (tabletop games etc) will have to contact if they require room bookings).

   
6. Missing boardgames. What are we going to do about it? Should we report it as a crime?

• Cannot report as a crime as it is now too late and would lead to inconveniences.
• Missing boardgames will be replaced as soon as we are given a budget from YUSU.
• In future, we will create a system for borrowing boardgames at convention involving a sign-out list and a responsible person.

7. Movie nights. Should we have these? If so, when?

• Potential plan to run these once a month with three ‘taster sessions’ to gauge interest.

8. Socials. At the moment, ours are relatively low-key. How can we make them more popular?

• The first few socials for next term will be ‘Fresher Friendly’ with lots of encouragement for newbies to return.

9. GM workshop. Will we have one? If so, what will be involved?

• We will ask people if they are interested in the idea of GM buddies to help new GMs find their feet when it comes to running games.
• Games where half of the players are Freshers and half are non-Freshers will be encouraged.

10. Logo competition?

• Yes!
• Funding has already been requested.
• New logo should be kept somewhat in-line with the old one.
• Merchandise could then be made from the new logo.
• Deadline will be the end of August.

11. Facebook page?

• Yes!

Week 9: Tabletop extravaganza incoming!

Monday 19:00 - Magic the Gathering in W/243
Monday 20:00 - Boardgames in W/035E and W/035F
Wednesday 13:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh in W/306
Wednesday 19:00 - Impact in D/L/002 and D/L/003
Thursday 20:00 - Social in Derwent Bar
Friday 18:00 - Tabletop Double-Day W/301, W/304, W/306, W/307, W/035E, W/035F
Saturday 12:00 - Tabletop Double-Day W/301, W/304, W/306, W/307, W/035E, W/035F
Saturday 12:00 - Wargames in G/002  
Saturday 19:00 - Changeling in W/301, W/304, W/306 and W/307
Sunday 12:30- Impact in D/L/116

Tabletop Day

Tabletop day this term will be spread out over the course of Friday evening and Saturday. Due to time clashes on Saturday, people will have to leave the upstairs Wentworth rooms (W/301, W/304, W/306 and W/307) at roughly 18:30 so that the Changeling session can be run. However, anyone is free to continue using the downstairs Wentworth rooms (W/035E and W/035F) for tabletop games if they so choose. Please ensure that all items including rubbish are taken out of the upstairs rooms before 18:30 on Saturday.

Society Meal

The society meal will be running on Thursday of Week 10 and will be at Wagamamas. Please contact the society as soon as possible if you want to come so that we can book.

New Logo Competition

Fancy yourself as a bit of an artist? Why not enter the competition to design a society logo! Ideally, this should be kept somewhat in line to the former society logo, but other than that, let your imagination run free! Deadline for entry is at the end of August.

Week 8: For Songs Hereafter and for Glory

Monday 19:00 - Magic the Gathering in G/010
Monday 20:00 - Boardgames in James SCR
Wednesday 13:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh in W/243
Wednesday 19:00 - Impact in V/120, V/123, V/139
Thursday 20:00 - Social in Derwent Bar
Saturday 10:00 - Multiverse on the field (rooms W/304, W/306 and W/222 booked as a back-up)
Saturday 12:00 - Wargames in G/002  
Sunday 12:30- Impact in D/L/116

The Multiverse session on Saturday is the final one of the year, and the plan is to have it taking place entirely on the LARP field. If anyone would like to crew for this, please let the refs know in advance and it would be much appreciated.

A new Facebook page has been set up to make it easier to find a tabletop game in York!

Interested in Game Development? More information from Dev Soc below:

Dear Science Fiction and Fantasy Society,

As your society's pursuits fall under one of the many interests and disciplines of the video game development industry, DevSoc would like to offer members of SF&F the opportunity to attend a free Introduction to Game Development course: "The DevSoc Beginner's Boot Camp".

We will be taking a back-to-basics approach meaning that we will be introducing participants to all the tools and skills necessary for them to build a game from the ground up. We will also be on hand during open development time to answer any additional questions that attendees may have.

The boot camp will be run during the afternoon on the Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of Weeks 9 and 10 in the Ron Cooke Hub on Heslington East.

If any of your members are interested, they can join the Facebook group for the event here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/456008664578136/

Any questions or queries that your members may have can either be posted in the Facebook group or directed to us by e-mail to devsoc@yusu.org.

Finally, those who do want to sign up can do so here (spaces are limited):

http://goo.gl/forms/xeHijWh0YI

Participation in the event is free for all students and membership with DevSoc is not required.

Week 7: Onwards We March!

Timetable

Monday 19:00 - Magic the Gathering in G/002
Monday 20:00 - Boardgames in James SCR
Wednesday 13:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh in W/243
Wednesday 19:00 - Impact in V/120, V/123, V/139
Thursday 20:00 - Social in Derwent Bar
Saturday 12:00 - Wargames in G/002  
Sunday 12:30- Impact in D/L/047

Nerd East

This coming Saturday (May 30th) there is a Roleplaying and Gaming convention taking place in Durham. There will be traders selling LARP kit, games, talks and plenty of other activities. More information can be found on their Facebook page or on the society forums:

HorrorCon UK 2015

Furthermore, Yorkshire is hosting the first ever Horror Convention on 11 and 12 July in Rotherham. £15 day ticket, £27 weekend ticket

Confirmed Guests:

• Gunnar Hansen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
• Dacre Stoker (Great-grand-nephew of Bram Stoker)
• Mike Peel (Special Effects)
• Caroline Munro (Hammer Horror)
• Martine Beswick (Hammer Horror)
• David J Howe (Author - Dr Who non-fiction books)
• Sam Stone (Author - Killing Kiss)
• Paul Kane (Author - The Arrowhead Trilogy)
• Marie O’Regan (Author - Mirror Mere)
• More to be announced

Week 6: Over the Halfway Mark!

Timetable

Monday 19:00 - Magic the Gathering in W/307
Monday 20:00 - Boardgames in James SCR
Wednesday 13:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh in W/304
Wednesday 19:00 - Impact in V/120, V/123, V/139
Thursday 20:00 - Social in Derwent Bar
Saturday 12:00 - Wargames in G/002  
Sunday 12:30 - Impact in D/L/116

Since there were a few people who initially went to the wrong rooms last week despite email notifications (including me), it is worth pointing out that, as noted above, the rooms for Impact on Wednesday have once again changed due to exams.

Another note about boardgames:

After asking around, it seems that we are still missing a considerable number of boardgames since convention. Specifically, these are:

• Alhambra
• Castle Panic
• Civilization
• Galaxy Truckers
• Ghost Stories
• Munchkin
• Stone age
• Ticket to Ride
• Zombie Flux

If anyone happens to know the whereabouts of any of the above, please do get in contact.

Week 5: Exams Will Come But There's Still Time For Fun

Timetable

Monday 19:00 - Magic the Gathering in W/306
Monday 20:00 - Boardgames in James SCR
Wednesday 13:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh in W/304
Wednesday 19:00 - Impact in G/020, G/013, G/010, G/002
Thursday 20:00 - Social in Derwent Bar
Saturday 12:00 - Wargames in G/002 
Sunday 12:30- Impact in D/L/116

Note that many of the above may have changed due to exams.

An urgent announcement about boardgames:

After convention, it was noted in the society email that several of the boardgames had gone missing. Since then, they have not reappeared, nor have still not been given any information on there whereabouts. Furthermore, it has been noted that the society boardgames seem to have depleted as of late; it is estimated that we now have a quarter of the numbers we once did. If anyone has boardgames at home which once belonged to the society, it is incredibly important that you let us know so that we can arrange a way for these to be brought to conventions in future.

An announcement from Paul Donovan about a potential game:

Watch the Skies is a megagame: a fast-paced, 8-hour game of international relations, conflict, high-level diplomacy and alien invasions designed for upwards of 40 people.

There's an awesome video review of the first one here (60 players): http://www.shutupandsitdown.com/videos/v/susd-play-megagame/

And another for the second game (300 players): http://www.shutupandsitdown.com/blog/post/susd-play-watch-skies-2-pt-1/ ;http://www.shutupandsitdown.com/videos/v/watch-skies-2-pt-2/

I'd very much like to support one here in York, and think there is definitely space to run a game on campus some weekend.

The game would require:

• Somewhere between 5-7 referees for the smallest game (40ish), up to around 35 for the largest (300ish).
• A hall large enough for all the players, with a separate space nearby for the aliens to form their secret plams.
• A large projector screen would be useful.
• Large laminated world maps; pieces for the military commanders; a printed rulebook for each player; a printed guide for each referee; various other bits, pieces and gubbins I don't even know about yet (all at a cost).
• The purchase of the game itself (£20).

I'd be proposing to run this some time in the first term next year, with priority booking for first-years. My suggestion would be to have a small entry fee (reduced if already a society member).

If you are interested in getting involved, please send an email to the society.

Week 4 Won't Be a Bore! (unless you're revising...)

Timetable

Monday 19:00 - Magic the Gathering in W/234
Monday 20:00 - Boardgames in James SCR
Wednesday 13:00 - Yu-Gi-Oh in W/306
Wednesday 19:00 - Impact in D/L/008, D/L/003 and D/L/002 
Thursday 20:00 - Social in Derwent Bar
Saturday 10:00 - Multiverse in W/304, W/306 and W/222
Saturday 12:00 - Wargames in G/002  
Saturday 19:00 - Changeling in W/301, W/304, W/306 and W/307
Sunday 12:30- Impact in D/L/116

A few non-Society events...

On Saturday 9th May, from 16:30 onwards, a sci-fi and fantasy pub meet is taking place in the Brigantes Bar in York.

In association with the British Fantasy Society (BFS) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), we are pleased to announce another open pubmeet event for the Yorkshire region. Our guest authors for the evening, reading from their own work and fielding questions about their careers and writing in general, are Mark Morris and K T Davies, and we'll also have Lee Harris running a bonus 'Ask the Editor' spot for all your editorial queries and advice.

More details can be found on their website.

And there is an announcement and invitation from the University of York Linguistics Society:

On Wednesday, 5th May, the Linguistics Society has an interesting public lecture from a research student here at York on speech technology. We would, therefore, like to cordially invite your society and its members to the talk at a discounted rate. We will be starting at 18:30 in V/045.