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Friday
As I said to Brian William's
on Friday afternoon, “I'm not sure whether to play in the Diplomacy or try
a long game, like 1829 or Civilization. It's a shame the con doesn't last a
week.” “That's why we hold it in Birmingham,” Brian replied, “So it
seems like a week!”
A brief stroll round the
centre immediately afterwards confirmed Brian's remark. Birmingham today stands
as a monument to Victorian industrialist's taciturn functionalism mixed with
the, worst of sixties planning euphoria. The result is a series of old, robust,
rather dull civic buildings, modern concrete creations and tower blocks
separated by multi-lane, inner-city highways. The car and commerce rule, and in
this respect the Royal Angus suits its environment by being virtually
indistinguishable from a multi-story car park. Still, I always try to have a
walk round Brim on the Friday afternoon - I know I'll not set foot outside the
hotel once the con swings into action!
And that action starts with
Friday evening.
in the-bar. As mentioned elsewhere in this issue, this is the
friendliest time of the con as you greet people you rarely, if ever, see. Less
new faces this time, though Rob 'Reggae' Chapman was an old-timer I'd not met
before. However, this year the Friday evening jollifications were interrupted by
the much vaunted discussion of the Novice Package. The most notable feature of
this debate was the way in which John Marsden dominated it - by letter. JM had
sent Nick Kinzett a letter detailing his views which Nick read out as each point
was reached. It finished by giving the phone number where he could be contacted
at exactly the time we wanted to speak to him. Basically it was agreed (thanks
to RJW's figures in the latest Mad Policy) that Diplomacy was still the dominant
game, though other games should be mentioned, that RYODA should print it and
that JM should edit it. It was also agreed that nothing would be put on sale
until Paul had sold the last of the hundred outstanding present packages. Then
came that fateful phone call - and John refused to do it! It was finally agreed
that John Wilsman would re-edit the package with the reluctant Marsden, and
everyone ignored the non-appearing Malc Smith.
The second interruption of
Friday night was caused by the preliminary round of the MidCon quiz. This was an
en-mass round in which the NMR!, team of Ken, Richard Bairstow and myself (ably
assisted by Richard Morris) scored 25 out of 30 points and finished 6th - only
the top 4 qualified.
After that it was the hotel
curry., yet more beer and chat and table football, before retiring to our
slightly crowded room - we had Keith Black sleeping on the floor.
Saturday
Breakfast was, of course,
excellent. Unfortunately the efficient waitress asked for our room numbers -
Keith unblinkingly gave Chris Tringham's room and was just swigging back his
grapefruit juice when the waitress rushed up to him – “Dont drink another
drop!”
We froze. Would they throw
him out? Humiliate him? Prosecute? What about Ken and I, were we a party ma the
crime?
“There's a crack in the
glass!”
Keith decided against the
breakfast on Sunday, not reckoning that he could stand another shock like that.
My most important decision
was made at 9.30 when I accepted an invitation to play 1829 and thus ensured
that this year's Diplomacy championship, was not graced by my questionable
presence The line up for this game was myself, Richard's Walkerdine, Bairstow,
Morris, Cline, Ray Miller and Dave Thorby. The latter three were all reasonably
experienced players, while the former quartet were novices. We played this game
at a leisurely pace (wandering about the hall, drinking copiously, eating
'cheap' plaice and chips; etc.) until 5.30 when the Guildford Mob darts team
(Me, Ken and RB) made its brief and unspectacular appearance in the darts
tournament. After that it was table football until a small mob (mobette?)
departed for the Gaylord Indian Restaurant. This was ,a select Indian, and a
select group of Ken, myself, Paul Simpkins, John Dodds, Will Haughan, Simon
Billenness, Chris Tringham, David Long and a Huby. Excellent food, excellent
company.
Back at. the hotel the
semi-finals of the quiz took place. This was the real thing, with the teams up
on the platform having questions fired at them by John Dodds. In the first semi
the Newcastle team was narrowly defeated by Dolton's Demonsblood team featuring
an anarchic Mike Allaway, who was the most animated I have ever seen. Simon
Billinness will probably remember his reception for a while as well.... In the,
second semi the Blackmail team (featuring the most solid, chins-thrust-out team
imaginable) were far too worldly for the Last Stand group, but it did take Colin
Gamble to correctly guess a Diplomacy question for them to do it., The final was
close and low scoring, but the favourites of Blackmail eventually won, but only
after Richard Walkerdine had entirely. blown his credibility as hobby historian
with a succession of astonishing errors. I should like to point out that Dodds’
handling of the, event was a revelation; could this man be another Nicholas
Parsons?
After such excitement there
was nothing for it but to go back to the 1829! When we called ;a halt for the
night (about 2.00am) there were still 2 games of 1829, a Civilization, Nuclear
War., Poker and a couple of other games I didn't know still running. And the bar
was still open.
Sunday
9.30 saw us back at the 1829
table. To those who have never played this remarkable game it may well seem
incredibly boring ma spend the best part of 2 days on one game. However, I found
quite the opposite to be true. Unlike many games I found. that the actual
playing of the game was pleasurable, regardless of the result. However, I shall
save further comment for a game review. The most notable new arrival on Sunday
was Glover Rogerson and Philly. As ever, Glover failed to live up to his
expectations by being far too normal; I didn't realise who he was until after
I'd offered him a sample copy of NMR!
Eventually we called a halt
to our game and assembled for the presentations! The Diplomacy Championship was
won by Nick Carter, fittingly as he achieved a 21 centre Austria in the 2nd
round (a result eclipsed by a 25 centre France!). The results were displayed (in
reverse order) by Richard Morris' BBC computer - very impressive The last award
was the Pimley Award which, to cheers from the entire hall, went to successful
tournament organiser Paul Simpkins for his work on the Novice Package. This was
,a winner who appreciated his award, particularly after the flack he has taken
recently. It was a good moment. It was a good con. And it was time to leave.
NDC 1982
1. Nick Carter
2. Dave Dilling
3. Jem Clarke
4. Will Haughan
5. Niall Litton
6. Peter Northcott
7. David McRaith
Les Pimley Award 1982
Paul Simpkins
1982 MidCon Quiz
The “Blackmail” Team
(Mike Woodhouse, Colin Gamble, Richard Walkerdine)
1982 MidCon Darts
Tournament
The “Chimaera” Team
(Bill Dove, Richard Bass, Peter McDonald, Ray Miller)
1982 MidCon Beermat
Flipping Champion
David Long (44!)
Reprinted
from NMR! No. 34 (December 1982)
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