Crete Games

[Colonel Kilgore]

That is a very good thought, Mike.

Can you please report back on the situation around the cafe and toilet areas downstairs?

I'm assuming all players need to be masked, as they're in a shop / indoor space?

Taking the whole space upstairs would be a small price to pay for peace of mind, and also add a little to Entoyment's depleted coffers.

Simon

[Big Mike]

Stewart,
We are playing WW2 PBI, Colin is fielding his Russians vs my Germans.
I will report back to Simon on the Entoyment option.
Mike

[Stewart 46A]

Thanks Mike, have a good game.


Stewart

[Leslie BT]

Hope you enjoyed your game Mike with Colin.
We are well here but their have been flareups in Brittany and the Spanish border is difficult.
We have seen lots of incomers this past month, and no problems here as yet.
Everyone wears masks or visors.  135 euro fine for the wearer and the business owner!

Crete is that open or is it still a closed island?

[Traffic]

Do you have any plans for the Tavronitis Bridge ?  I have some DFS-230 gliders which should be painted up by the end of August.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Thanks Si.

I have a 3D-printed girder span courtesy of Antioch Bob, and Sean is making the river Bank that will form the left-hand edge of the Maleme table.

Would you like to be included in the circulation list for the next iteration of the scenarios and special rules?

Simon

[Traffic]

As to the wider Crete stuff. I am happy to help proof read and provide some kit if needed. I have four gliders and a pair of Bofors.  Our company offices are at Tower park so a weekend in Poole/Ashley Cross in September is possible but only as an observer, I haven't played PBI for ages.

I was looking for a model of the bridge myself. And someone very kindly has designed one for me after I asked about it on one of the 3D printing groups.  He is extremely talented .....I asked last night and he had knocked this up by this morning.



It will be a publicly available file (I hope).

[Colonel Kilgore]

Si,

That is indeed impressive work!

Simon

[Leslie BT]

So Mike whats happening at Entoyment  after your game with Colin.

How are they managing for gamers?

It does not look like I will be over before next year.  Its all becoming too complicated.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Gentlemen,

The time is fast approaching for a go/no go decision on the Crete playtest day, currently planned to be held at Entoyment on Saturday 26th September.

Big Mike has kindly done some close-up reconnaissance, having recently played there with Colin, and (gently, I hope - I have no reason to believe illicit methods were employed) interrogated the management.

To summarise Mike's report:
- the Entoyment management is more than happy for our event to go ahead as booked
- we could take the whole upstairs room from 09:00 to 18:00 for £80, thus isolating us from the other occupants of the shop (other than for refreshment and calls of nature)
- we could respect social distancing on the upper floor if we had 8 players spread across 4 tables
- masks are mandatory in the shop below, other than when eating or drinking
- the shop itself is likely to be busy, and social distancing "down below" may well be dubious
- at a recent Warhammer event, all players were provided with clear visors - we could do the same ting

An event of some kind on 26th is therefore definitely feasible, if sufficient people are up for it.

On the Crete specifics:
- thanks to Stewart's order earlier this year, we should have enough mats to play on, and I've done the hills, airstrips and buildings (other than Ben & Dave's ice cream factory) for the first 2 tables: we should be able to gather enough scenery for the other bits and bobs
- we can probably cobble together enough 8th Army and assorted German stand-ins for most of the forces

On the downside:
- we know that some of our number (including Dave & Ben, and Les) won't be able to make September or indeed any time this year
- Mike wouldn't feel comfortable with more than 2 people at any given table, but 2 out of the 3 scenarios call for 2 people per side, given the size of the table and forces involved
- my family is pretty uncomfortable with the whole idea of this going ahead in September, given the uncertainty about the current prevalence and likely further spread of the virus once people come back from their holidays, children go back to school and more of those who are still fortunate enough to have jobs return to them.

I'm really torn. I don't want to let down those that have been busily painting stuff (particularly the lovely new paras that the upcoming campaign anniversary - and indeed this games day - have inspired Martin to sculpt) in time for this test day, and yet this does all feel a little bit soon to be gathering as a sizeable group given the current state of the pandemic. There is nothing particularly special about the current date, other than it was one that we all thought we'd be able to make when we discussed things last November (before anyone had even heard of Covid-19)! The playtest and actual games day will in any case go ahead some time: if not on 26th September, then we'll have more time to complete our forces and scenery, while allowing the rest of our number to join in the fun.

So, I really would welcome thoughts from those that have signed up for the Crete day(s) about what you would like to do regarding 26th September, please - that's Martin, Stewart, Mike, Miles, Sean, Les, Ben & Dave and John.

Many thanks,

Simon

[martin goddard]

I am happy to swing both ways on this one Simon.
If I were to give a preference, i would say "delay".
If it goes ahead then that is fine too. Maybe the room would be closed to non players??

This is a bit like the D day decision.
martin

[Stewart 46A]

Simon,
At the moment  I am happy to play on the 26th but as you have said the virus is on the increase and further restrictions may be put in place when holiday makers go home and kids go back to school.
It is only a game after all and healthcomes first.
Can we delay until late October?
We could even use the WWW in November to play test .
I know it isn't a definite yes or no but following Martins thread , you are Eisenhower, the decision is yours. 

Stewart

[John Watson]

I am open minded on this. As things stand I would be happy to proceed, but if things deteriorate then I would have reconsider. My red line is that I will not wear a mask for more than about 15 minutes at a time and so if this became mandatory then I would have to drop out. If you want to run it at a later date I am fine with that. I have Desert Rats for some of the scenarios and could substitute Greeks if we are short.

On the subject of the virus though (and this is based on no scientific knowledge whatever) I believe that the potency of Covid-19 will decline over this winter. That is not to say that there will not be an increase in cases, but I think it will be less deadly. After this winter I think cases will drop considerably and by winter 2021 Covid-19 will be similar to SARS virus. It will not have been cured but it will be not more virulent than seasonal flu. The difficulty may come with persuading certain groups of society to return to normal (whatever that is).
Just my thoughts.
John

[Colonel Kilgore]

Thank you for your thoughts so far, chaps. I look forward to hearing from the others.

Simon

[DorchesterBede]

Simon

As I understand it the 26th September is a dress rehearsal for the main event next year so hopefully we will have been through the worst of this by then. Given the amount of work some people have put into this it would be a shame if the rehearsal event is poorly attended not because people are not interested but because they have health concerns. I'm not around on 26th so probably have a bit of a vested interest in this being postponed, is there the possibility of different groups trying out the tables one Saturday at different locations just to see how it works and then trying the full rehearsal later this year or early next year (pandemic permitting). In many ways the bit I enjoy most about RFCM events is the social aspect and I can't help thinking this will be reduce by the need to social distance.

I must admit that I would not be interested in attending an event if I had to wear a face mask all day, wearing them at work for relatively short periods is bad enough. I have played a couple of one to one games over the last month and as long as players are sensible, resisting the urge to move the opponents figures for them, have and use hand gel - kissing the opponent is strictly prohibited - then gaming is possible.

My vote then is to postpone - but I have vested interest

Chris