Checking Interest - L5R Benefit for Japan

[JoeGamer]

Hi Guys

This is Joe from Hattiesburg, MS. I'm considering holding a small event here with the proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross Japanese Relief Fund. All the details are currently fluid and subject to change. Originally I thought it would only be our very small group. I'd buy a box of boosters and starters to use for a sealed deck tournament, sending all funds to ARC. My employer may provide matching funds for anything I donate so I figured this would be a great way to raise as much as possible. Kuni Iceman05 insisted I reach out to you guys, Jackson, Mobile, and Biloxi to see if any of them are interested too.

If any of you are interested in joining us please let me know by email.

If not, I suggest you guys do something similar.

Also if anyone knows any of the Jackson and Mobile folks, please let them know what we want to do or pass their info along to me.

Thanks,
~Joe

[Kakita Hatashai]

Keep me in the loop if nothing more I'll definitely buy an entry, even if I can't actually get over there to join.  I'm very interested though.

[JoeGamer]

Right now we are looking at an April 2nd Constructed tournament with a min $5 entry with the stipulation that whatever you pay at entry will be donated. So you can pay $100 as an entry fee and it'll all go to the American Red Cross.

I currently don't have a prize lined up, but I was thinking about buying a box of cards and splitting that up amongst the top few folks. The more that are interested the more I'll get.

Thanks for your interest and generosity!

[Benjiro]

I may make the trip.  Will talk with the wife.

[Kakita Hatashai]

I'm just throwing this out there, because i'd love for this to work out.  I know this is unasked for, and you are more then welcome to ignore my questions/suggestions, but I would feel remiss if i didn't do this.  If I were looking to do this, I would get a feeling of how many people will attend, by going to the strange assembly website and the AEG forums to measure interest.  Also what kind of venue are you hosting this at?  What kind of attendence can it handle?  Have you thought about trying to do an online tournament ? More of a headache on your part, but its a cheaper venue.

Finally, I would contact Todd at AEG, or another AEG representative, and see if there is a way you can get some sort of arrangement for prize support revolving around them.   They could do a whole host of different things, and who knows you may end up arranging what would be the next chicago kotei in terms of helping out the charities!

P.S. I would also set the entry fee higher as well.  Once you get the prizes determined, I'd quantify the prize costs, for instance, if you determine you want to give the whole box away to first place, then a 20 dollar entry fee isn't that bad.  Thats how slot machines work, right?    I mean technically we are gambling in a sense.  I'm just saying "asking for donations" will ultimately get less money overall, because people will naturally skimp on their donations.  Its human nature.  So if you can raise the minimum, then that would be better for the charity.

Let me know if you need help doing any of this, I can volunteer some time to help.

[Rain]

I'd also be willing to toss in some extra prize support - and do an online donation if you are going to set that up as well. But absolutely - talking to AEG may get you some great incentive for people to come out.

[JoeGamer]

Thanks for all the input folks. I'll be very happy to see as many of you as show up.

I'll reach out to Todd. I've spoken to him before and he is very personable and approachable. I haven't strongly considered reaching out before simply because I never thought we'd have more than 6 people show up and didn't want to both the AEG folks with something so minor. And honestly I still don't imagine more than 20 folks attending. That said I do know that the L5R community is very generous and would be interested in any such venture.

Our local clan has the harder core members and maybe 6 occasional members. Our sister clan on the gulf coast has about 6 folks. The Coast Clan is a bit money shy at the moment, but I wanted as many folks as possible to take part, thus the low entry. Part of me wants to raise as much $$ as possible, but another part of me wants to open this to as many folks as possible. Those that want to donate $20 will. Those that can only donate $5 don't have to be excluded.

I can't do online. I'm simply not that coordinated nor do I have the time to get all those resources into play at the moment. I'm still trying to get all the other stuff finalized at the moment. I expect this to be a total cluster **** so if I manage to get this off the ground and am mildly successful I'll be more than thrilled.

I'll keep you all in the loop. Thanks again!

[Kuni Iceman05]

Hey guys...we are basically trying to nail down the venue... We have a place on the USM campus that we could have from 10-6 but that isn't much time. We are talking with the coast group to see if their store could host as it would give more game time.  Whichever we end up having to go with Joe or I will let you know and provide driving directions. Sorry it is taking so long ^^; Hope to see you guys Saturday!

[Kakita Hatashai]

Well as far as this weekend goes, it doesn't look like i'll be able to go.  Things may change, and I might show up last minute, but as it looks now i'm unavailable.  Let me know how i can donate and buy entrance into the tournament.

[grond]

I'm on call, so I won't be out and about, but hope you guys have a good turnout!

[JoeGamer]

Hey guys, if any of you do wish to make it I have posted details at http://www.unstored.com/. Sorry for the short notice. I see that some (all?) of  you are going to be unable to make it. I'm posting info anyway for those that might make it.

We are playing at Jak's in Biloxi, MS. They have the space we just don't have in Hattiesburg. Plus they are a stronghold store (also something we don't have in the Burg). Start time will be 11AM, cost is $5. I'll post my paypal info later if anyone wants to donate before April 7th and get their donation doubled.

One thing I could use help with is scoring. Is there an app or spreadsheet to help with scoring rounds? If the number is small it should be simple enough, but I'd like to know in the vein hope I ever get something larger going. Also any unsolicited advice is welcomed! Well except "next time try planning things more than 2 weeks out" ... I know that one already .

Thanks again!
~Joe

[Benjiro]

Well, some things popped up for me and I will not be able to make the trek.  Please make sure to follow through and get us your information so that we can donate.  And in the future, keep us informed if you do some other tournaments, we like to know what is going on.  We might be able to make a couple of them as well.

[JoeGamer]

I'll let you guys know in the future if we do anything else. Maybe next time I'll even give more than 2 weeks notice

Thanks for all the interest. L5R does indeed have the best fans of all game-dom.

[JoeGamer]

OK guys! I've setup a donation button on my website www.unstored.com. I'm only using this button for the Japan Relief Fund and I'll be taking it down after the 7th when I tally the funds and turn them in. I figured this would be the easiest way to gather the funds for everyone involved and ensure they aren't confused with other items.

Thanks again from everyone! We raised $171 at the tournament Saturday. It isn't a lot but it is a more than I could have done alone. My employer will be doubling what we raise too. Every little bit helps!

Thanks again,
Joe

[Benjiro]

$20 sent your way.  So how many folks showed?  Give us a little run down.