Where do we go from here ?

I agree on the difficulty of finding a suitable urban site. Stalingrad needs to be epic, not second best. However, we're not out of time yet. Let's give it until the end of June and see what comes up.

No way should we just run 2 games this year, it HAS to be the three that we promised.

If we fail to find a site in time, I think that we could still do a Russian themed event in October, albeit a different battle. The new Close Action site that I linked to seems promising and I'm happy to recce it if someone else does the contact/PR with them.

Or, how about a "combined op's" game, to help swell the allied numbers? There was a bit of moaning on the organiser's section about the lack of games for yanks, why not get them to put their money where their mouths are and let them play alongside the Brit's? I've not been bowled over by the number of Russians for Schaulen so far, we'd look like twats if we failed to get sufficient numbers twice in a row.

I'll contact Close Action, I've known the guys for years since they used to come the WW2 days at Fireball.

I think Pete's got a very good point for a joint ops event. We could go back to Northern France or even something around special ops (Jeds or similar) so that we can effectively invent a scenario.

My only concern is that in October/November light and inclement weather will be an issue for a 24 hour event.

sounds good about close action. I'm not so sure about a made up scenarino with axis vs allies bit too sisk ish possibly? We did run a us event last year that wasn't over flowing with bookings either. Take your point about time of year and 24 hours though. Lets see if we can get a site first and then work out what we can use it for?

We did run a us event last year that wasn't over flowing with bookings either.

Joints ops might work better though.

Plus people really seemed to enjoy Devil's Hill which as SISKish. One a year to cater to the fucktardian masses wouldn't hurt and helps to keep the coffers filled - but this really ought to be the last resort if we're struggling to find anything tasty site-wise.

Bloody hell, FYI Devil's Hill wasn't the least bit SISKish, and was a historical portrayal and accurate within the bounds of making a 'game' and maintained the standards CIA has aspired to. If you are thinking of pandering to the 'fucktardian masses' and it "wouldn't hurt and helps to keep the coffers filled" then I'm glad I left when I did. Sheesh, that's what Josh is there for.

Sorry to poke my nose in here but this made my blood boil. CiA have never thrown on a game just for the sake of it and have never pandered to the lowest common denominator. If a job is worth doing it's worth doing well. CiA games aspire to be the games by which all others are compared to, leading not following. If you aren't interested in maintaining the standard then why bother - plenty of other crappish games to go to...

For the record, I never thought DH was sisk-ish. A couple of idiot players threatened the ambience but, that was it. I really enjoyed it and it's grittiness and, so did most of the players, who always take a sense of achievement from adversity (something which only CiA seem to offer).

I wasnt suggesting for a minute that we should run anything "for the masses", merely that we should consider alternatives if we can't reach the ideal for Stalingrad. A combined op's theme should attract the numbers and still stick to our principles of organisation.

In early October, it doesn't get dark too early, so, no need to worry about a 24 hour game as it's doable. As I suggested earlier in this discussion, let's leave it for a bit before we make any decision. If nothing else, it gives us time to research potential battles for an alternative scenario?

Bloody hell, FYI Devil's Hill wasn't the least bit SISKish, and was a historical portrayal and accurate within the bounds of making a 'game' and maintained the standards CIA has aspired to. If you are thinking of pandering to the 'fucktardian masses' and it "wouldn't hurt and helps to keep the coffers filled" then I'm glad I left when I did. Sheesh, that's what Josh is there for.

Sorry to poke my nose in here but this made my blood boil. CiA have never thrown on a game just for the sake of it and have never pandered to the lowest common denominator. If a job is worth doing it's worth doing well. CiA games aspire to be the games by which all others are compared to, leading not following. If you aren't interested in maintaining the standard then why bother - plenty of other crappish games to go to...

Good points, all well made.

Ignore my last, I had an absolutely shite day at work. I'm not really thinking constructively about all this at the moment.

Had a reply from Close Action. Grafton won't be available but promising news of a new site. Will reply to find out if it's urban.

Hi Stephen,
nice to hear from you.
Since taking over Grafton Park, we have a had masses of emails from reenactment groups, milsimmers etc. , all of whom want to use the site for events.
Obviously the historic nature of the site, and the numerous structures all add up to a venue that is perfect for WWII events.
There is ample on-site camping, and even mains water.
Because of this we will be running our own themed events in the new year, and you are all welcome to attend these.
The site is closed for pheasant rearing and shooting from June until January, and we then move to our other new site, details of which will appear on the website shortly. The other site is very exciting, and you are welcome to come and recce that one when we commence use.
regards,
chris

Eh by Heck ....no.....DH was accurate and not a SISK . it was a bit of a blatter, no probs with that .

Joint ops on a made up scenario is a bit lazy and as CW says is way behind us now .

So no Close Action ......other options .

BTW Jay ....some comments.

Yes. Blatter is a better description.

I'm waiting for a reply from CA about the other site they're announcing soon.

Cool ...just a little nervous about "sites not open yet", we've seen three fall through this year already. Hopefully thats our bad luck out of the way

Possible Crap Suggestion.

Despite all of my feelings to the contrary, could this be an option to do a co-organised event with someone? (Pregnant pause)..... Perhaps even Josh?!?

He's been trying to get us to do something like this for ages.

My personal feeling is that our planning styles and events are too far removed meaning you won't please any of both's core punters.

Worth raising though, even if it's just to all agree that it's a no.

It may just mean that it opens up a site as an option.

S

And I thought that I was the only one to dare think it! I considered floating the idea a while ago but then, remembered that gadge is part of Josh's organisation now. Josh's games aren't too far removed from ours in terms of ammo limits, regen and level of kit. However, they are REALLY far removed in terms of planning, organisation and player mindsets.

However, if it helped us to get, say, Catterick, for a Stalingrad game, I'd give thought to working with him in order to secure decent numbers and do the theme justice. But I'd want us to have the lion's share and final say of the organisation, so we stuck to timeframes, units involved (ie, no Japs, US Airborne, Waffen SS or Brits!).

By the way Steve, I've got a contact number for Swynnerton, if you'd be good enough to do your "thing" and perhaps make a tentative enquiry? Worth punting it as serious reenactors who use airsoft as a tool, rather than as airsofters alone. The commandant went apeshit after Distant Thunder, due to bb's being everywhere! (Perhaos worth making it a "bio" ammo only pitch?) The number is 01785 760643, ext 8422.

I can call, but it means we'd be limiting ourselves to AFRA members only because of insurance.

Maybe it may give a few people the incentive to join AFRA then. Also, might attract a few more "conventional" reenactors under the AFRA flag, especially for somewhere like Swynnerton.

Sorry for the lack of input recently - 1 week left of college and two assignments and an exam to be done in that time, so frankly, Airsoft is pretty low on the list till next Wednesday (12.30, on the dot!)

My brief thoughts:

Stalingrad has to be done right, or not at all. The site is proving to be an absolute cunt. Everything else, we know that we can put in place with the bare minimum of hassle. If we don't have a site for Stalingrad by the time that our summer event rolls around, time for a major rethink - possibly an early war event, as Op Ariel was?

As to joint ops, just to float the idea, but I think it's about time that there was a national WW2 event. Talk to Josh, Tim, Charlie, Beth & Ernie, Warren, the KGB lot as well - whoever runs a site that has WW2 players - and try and put together a *big* event for next summer. Not a fucking SISK (you wouldnt get Tim, Charlie, Beth & Ernie to agree to a SISK anyway)

Bit loathed to team up with Josh . His players are nob ends , he's a nob end , and he has two sites, Tuddenham , played to death and Norfolk with is small and dull . As to involving Gadge .....or BigUk's lot .. Not really .

Swinnerton , yes have a go , we can do the Afra thing if we put our minds to it .

Big National game - discussed this with Ernie , he'd be keen to do it ..in Falkirk . We can get players to go to Wales so Glasgow might be a stretch too far.

Other option are talk to Dalby about reenactor sites and do the Afra thing again . Anybody got his phone number ?

I'm going on holiday until the 31st from tmrw, so I'm not going to be able to contact Swynnerton or Dalby this week.

Having spoken to Guy at length about this, I am of the opinion that we should put it on the back burner until 2012, to give us time to secure a site and do the theme justice.

We can do a "camping with guns" or "CiA lite" event in October, to hopefully get some new blood in and show them what we are about.

Yep scrub stalingrad. We have some inteteresting new ideas for taking this forward .