Training weekend 2013

peculiar goings on!

Chris is VERY pissed off with Tony...

Glad to see it's a non starter though. We need to sort out a recce fairly quickly for this site.

They have open days on Sundays 6th and 20th of this month - I can do the 6th.

However, I'm pretty sure the site will be perfectly suitable for a training day so the recce shouldn't affect the announcement of the event (though a recce before the event for planning would be ideal, but maybe not vital?)

I can't do the 6th. Didn't we say we'd recce for an event at the training day?

Didn't we say we'd recce for an event at the training day?

Oh bugger, you're right! I forgot about that, sorry. I just thought it might be an idea to have a look at the site, for working out what modules can be taught and, where.

I had another idea for the training, a scenario that they used to use when I was an Army recruit. It's a dusk/night scenario, which involves plonking a lantern down on a prominent feature, which the trainees have to get to, using stealth and fieldcraft, whilst being hunted by the DS. It was very rough and tumble in the army but, for the players, we can tone it down to the DS using pistols to "tag" them if discovered. When they are discovered, they start again and, if they reach the objective, they join the DS, a bit like a game of British Bulldog, with a twist.

That's fine but if you feel there is anything you need preparation for Pete then there is time to get along for a look around before the day. If you are happy to wing it then that is cool as well!

Banner?

Heh, that dusk training sounds pretty much like I thought "Hut 9" would work out!

Scrolling back I see CA are letting us in the night before - does this mean we can wait for players to arrive? Can we push it earlier so we can run noon to noon?
Its's going to be hard to get players to turn up first thing Sunday morning.

As long as we get there a few hours before the punters, I'm happy to wing it. If we run it noon to noon, we also have the chance to do a recce after they have all left on the sunday.

Next thing we need to decide upon, is pricing. If CA want £500, we'll need 20 punters at £25 each, minimum.

Yes, that would be if we hire the site exclusively, in which case we could run noon to noon. There is an open day planned for that Sunday though.

If we just did a 'turn up in the evening if you want to stop over' and run on Sunday only then we would only be charged £25 per head regardless of numbers of participants.

So, can we get 20 paying players minimum? Noon to noon would be very nice but a gamble.

I'm not certain that we will get 20 paying punters, so, doing it on the one day would be safer but, more hassle to work around the open day. What sort of time will they let us be there for on saturday?

I'll ask. Chris is on holiday at the moment so I'll chase next week.

The site's massive though, so we could effectively be there and not see them all day.

OK, Chris has confirmed that we can use Grafton from midday to midday at £25 per head with no minimum.

Their game is running on the Sunday and he'll give us the details of where they're going to be so we can avoid them.

So, it's a goer and I think we should announce immediately.

Oooh, that's great! How much shall we charge - it will be nice to get a little back into the kitty + cover expenses - £30 doesn't seem to be unreasonable?

I think £30 is absolutely fine. I'd even go up to £35-£40. After all, it's a full 24hr/weekend event.

Okies, I'd be happier at £35 than £40 - partly because price is another disincentive to book, partly because of a 'training' day's perceived value and partly because there aren't large costs to recoup. I'm not saying they are valid arguments from our POV but I'm looking at it as a punter.

Updated Grafton Park Special Training Centre banner:

Pending Pete's fleshing out how about this as an opener:

Welcome to Comrades in Arms training weekend "Grafton Park Special Training Centre". This event will run from noon Saturday 2nd to noon Sunday 3rd March at Close Action's large Grafton Park site near Kettering, Northamptonshire - nice and central for the convenience of travelling players. This will allow us to get some quality training under our belts as well plenty of time to put what we have learned into practice in battle simulations and exercises plus have the benefit of unrushed travelling to site on Saturday morning and from site Sunday afternoon.

The will be as exciting and challenging as a normal day event, but with the opportunity to learn more about the tactics and techniques of infantry warfare. Training weekends offer a relaxed and stress-free way to explore new ideas, build on old skills, try out new kit and build a team spirit. If you haven't got stuck in before or perhaps felt on the periphery of WW2 airsoft games then here is the chance to get to know your comrades and them get to know you too. We will be having a convivial social on Saturday evening to relax and unwind, always a pleasure to get away from work and family once in a while! An early evening exercise is planned so that is something new and different to the norm.

I think it would be good to say something about the day being a exciting and challenging as a normal day event, but with the opportunity to learn more about the tactics and techniques of infantry warfare.

All looks good to me.

Hmm, we need to think about bookings and Paypal don't we.

Do you want me to do the accounts again? I'll dig out all the old paperwork.

The treasurer@ww2airsoft.org.uk or info@comrades-in-arms.co.uk emails both work for our PayPal account, I'd prefer the latter though as that was the one we used last. Though I've not been able to log into the email accounts for either for ages. Has anything changed with them Dave?

Yes, please add a booking section - no need to unlock anything, just click on the LOCKED button and post away.

I'll double check on the info@comrades-in-arms.co.uk address and come back to you.