View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Mike Fleet Captain
Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 1675 Location: South Carolina
|
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I am a teacher who is 50 and enjoy playing FedComm with young people, but perhaps that's because the age group I work with are 14-15 years old. I have had a similar problem with scheduling any games away from the school. I am very hesitant to do that because of appearances. Heaven forbid that we should schedule a game in anyone's home! We have used a meeting room at a local public library with pretty good success when we could not meet at school.
One problem we've had in using school facilities is the time constraint. About the only time I can justify playing is on Fridays after school because no one is worried that the time spent playing the game will interfere with time doing homework. Add to that the fact that we have to be out of the building by 5:30pm at the absolute latest and that only gives about 1.5 hours of good playing time.
Pinecone, I would suggest that you try to find a teacher (or school media specialist) who might be willing to either host game sessions on Fridays after school or who might want to be the sponsor for a school organization dedicated to playing either Federation Commander or strategy boardgames in general. I will be returning to school on Monday after Spring Break ends and can hunt up a short document we have used to justify our gaming club. We don't get funds or anything; we just get official recognition as an authorized extra-curricular school organization. Basically all that means is that we can use school facilities after normal school hours while under the supervision of a faculty sponsor (and we can get our picture in the yearbook if we want to). |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Paul B Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 240
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Don't forget you can play Federation Commander online. There's even a free version which lets you use the four ships as the First Missions demo does. This is assuming your parents will let you join up to this. But I think there's probably a few people on there at least. If not you can try to find some opponents for online play in the appropriate forum. Of course playing live in person is always superior, but do what you can right? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kang Fleet Captain
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1976 Location: Devon, UK
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
The other thing you could do, Piney, is to post on the players-wanted thread in this forum, but without giving too accurate a location. Again, ask your parents for advice on that.
btw, welcome back - good to read your posts again _________________
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kang Fleet Captain
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1976 Location: Devon, UK
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Mike wrote: | Pinecone, I would suggest that you try to find a teacher (or school media specialist) who might be willing to either host game sessions on Fridays after school or who might want to be the sponsor for a school organization dedicated to playing either Federation Commander or strategy boardgames in general. I will be returning to school on Monday after Spring Break ends and can hunt up a short document we have used to justify our gaming club. We don't get funds or anything; we just get official recognition as an authorized extra-curricular school organization. Basically all that means is that we can use school facilities after normal school hours while under the supervision of a faculty sponsor (and we can get our picture in the yearbook if we want to). |
And that's a good idea. FC is short enough to be played in an after-school session. We had a Wargames Society at my school, but that was back in the days when teachers were allowed to be human.... plus it was a boarding as well as a day school, so after-school clubs were de rigeur for such an establishment. Got to keep the inmates entertained or else they get up to all sorts of mischief
Oddly, the staff member nominally in charge of the Wargames Soc was never really seen there; we used to run it ourselves in the main. He was just a figurehead, so to speak. Incidentally, that staff member was a History teacher. I think that they tend to be more sympathetic to people who are trying to understand warfare in today's Politically Correct climate _________________
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
DorianGray Lieutenant SG
Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Chevy Chase, MD
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If you're near a city, you should be able to find some players.
If you go to college, you probably have a boardgaming group that would be interested in FedCom. on campus.
Post in the local retailers section of the forums asking for players near your area.
Go to origins and other boardgaming conventions.
I just turned 20 and in school so I finally have the liberty to go to Origins this year. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MajerBlundor Lieutenant SG
Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 123
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We had a game club in high school which met after school in the library. And my sons (1st and 3rd grade) are in a chess club which meets every Thursday after school in the library. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
pinecone Fleet Captain
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 1862 Location: Earth
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry to get back so late (It's back to school today ), but I found someone in my class who has played FC in a camp before. We've arranged to get together over the weekend to play.
Also, there are several members of my class showing intrest in going to the new Star Trek movie! That might be a time to introduce them to the game. The future of FC for me looks bright.
Thank you for all the suggestions (and kind comments). If the game becomes a school favorite, I may try to get a club started, but even without that I'm glad to have several potential new players interested. I'll post updates as they come in . |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kang Fleet Captain
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1976 Location: Devon, UK
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well done. Battlegroup Piney here we come _________________
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bolo_MK_XL Captain
Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 836 Location: North Carolina
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Piney,
Carry a set of the rules to school, photocopied if worried over losing or having them messed up (maybe just scenario sets, you can pore over to get used to how it should be played) --
A couple spare cards (ship that wouldn't regularly get used if you worry over them) ---
Study or review them to yourself during down time, this type of activity has a tendency to attract the nosy types (might get one interested), their colorful enough for others to notice --- |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jeffery smith Lieutenant SG
Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 197 Location: Bothell,WA
|
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject: problem: can't find any new recruits |
|
|
the problem for me is not one of finding recruits. i found a local group that i joined but i can't make it to the site of each game (i am apparently the only one in the group with this problem ) due to transportation issues (and now my work schedule has added another obsticle ) _________________ fun fun fun in the sun sun sun |
|
Back to top |
|
|
DorianGray Lieutenant SG
Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Chevy Chase, MD
|
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
pinecone wrote: | Savedfromwhat wrote: | pinecone wrote: | wedge_hammersteel wrote: | You are a young person and you use words like amongst.
Do what Eric suggests. |
First Comment: So?
Second comment: See qoute:
pinecone wrote: | Mabey, I'll have to talk to my parents about that |
|
He was pointing out that you are unlike most other kids your age, you can speak English, in other words it was a compliment dingus Btw good to see you around again pinecone. |
Thanks! I took a break from FC and started playing pokemon cards for a while (I can't find anyone to play that with either! ), but with breifing 2 coming out soon, I had to get back into the FC groove .
Hey, I wonder if it would be eaisier to teach people to play with those unrefitted ships... |
ugh, please don't mention Pokemon here ever again. No one will take you seriously. Now even I am questioning your age, and I just turned 20.
It reminds me of 10 year old kids playing Warhammer 40k ... when they clearly do not have the maturity and patience to play a game of that complexity (or paint their armies without being pathetic for that matter...)
much less Federation Commander. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
djdood Commodore
Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 3418 Location: Seattle, WA
|
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Eh. Go easy on the Piner. He's a young 'un, but a good 'un. _________________
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
pinecone Fleet Captain
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 1862 Location: Earth
|
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
DorianGray wrote: | pinecone wrote: | Savedfromwhat wrote: | pinecone wrote: | wedge_hammersteel wrote: | You are a young person and you use words like amongst.
Do what Eric suggests. |
First Comment: So?
Second comment: See qoute:
pinecone wrote: | Mabey, I'll have to talk to my parents about that |
|
He was pointing out that you are unlike most other kids your age, you can speak English, in other words it was a compliment dingus Btw good to see you around again pinecone. |
Thanks! I took a break from FC and started playing pokemon cards for a while (I can't find anyone to play that with either! ), but with breifing 2 coming out soon, I had to get back into the FC groove .
Hey, I wonder if it would be eaisier to teach people to play with those unrefitted ships... |
ugh, please don't mention Pokemon here ever again. No one will take you seriously. Now even I am questioning your age, and I just turned 20.
It reminds me of 10 year old kids playing Warhammer 40k ... when they clearly do not have the maturity and patience to play a game of that complexity (or paint their armies without being pathetic for that matter...)
much less Federation Commander. |
Please don't Necromance ever Again. It gets people upsett (trust me, I know). Seriously though, don't you think that was a little uncalled for? And I am used to being a "nerd." I'm a middle schooler who likes star Trek (case Closed). So you can think what you want, but I am allowed to expand my field of Gaming.
And the ressurection of this thread reminds me: I showed my friend how to play again, and he caught on quick. We didn't finish, but he had some fun. hopefully we can play a full game next time. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
malleman Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette, LA
|
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Pinecone,
I have had students of mine fantasize all day about their game. Talk about it all day, make trades, get the latest info in magazines/internet, sit on the sofa watching tv all weekend; you know really getting into it (loved reading the stats). Not once did I consider those students nerds just because they enjoyed fantasy football.
I also had students who wore distinctive clothing, spend money on the latest gadgets, and talk about their weekend at camp with their buddies. Never did I consider them nerds just because they enjoyed hunting.
As far as Pokemon goes, I had a couple of students who were repeating seniors (which means 18+ in age) bring their cards to class. They enjoyed the artwork and would reproduce the images on the computers to make 81/2 X 11 inch cards. I would not allow them to play in class. Now both of these students were in a band (notice not the band ), and were very much liked. Go figure.
One thing that I have noticed is that everyone has a little "nerd" in them. Only confident people share it.
I consider Pokemon a gateway game, you know one of those games that leads to bigger addictions like the SFU
Dorian,
Not trying to start anyting, but I was looking at some of the D&D minis I painted when I was about 10. I am sure glad that I didn't let someone discourage me with a thoughtless remark. Like I tell my students sometimes, "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all."" Something to keep in mind. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kang Fleet Captain
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1976 Location: Devon, UK
|
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
malleman wrote: | One thing that I have noticed is that everyone has a little "nerd" in them. Only confident people share it. |
That is a beautifully perceptive thing to say. I will keep that one and perhaps use it myself
Edit: In fact, I'm putting it on Facebook right now. With the appropriate credit, of course _________________
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|