Chapter Lead Update: February 2009

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Feliz Ano Novo! Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! Prosit Neujahr! Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! Godt Nyttår! Manigong Bagong Taon! S Novim Godom! Happy New Year!

(Okay, so it’s a little late for New Year’s greetings, but I couldn’t let all that Googling go to waste. Plus, I have a story to share …)

I closed out the old year and rang in the new in the best way possible: gaming with my family and friends. My wife, two sons, and I hosted a party for a group of sports and gaming enthusiasts who get together at a different location every year. We had a ball.

Early in the evening, I noticed a group of the kids huddled around another kid, who was playing a game on her Nintendo DS. Now, I’ve played my share of video games, but the sight of such passive activity set my warped gamer brain to work. In pretty short order, I was sitting at a table with a group of kids, enjoying a game of TransAmerica (one of the kids had brought this game), and listening to old 78s on our vintage Columbia Grafonola. A totally unplugged New Year’s – priceless.

The looks on the kids’ faces put it all into perspective for me. When those kids get a little older, I want to slap a battlemap down on the table and roll initiative. I want to take them to my Friendly Local Game Shop and throw down. I want to go to regional and national events to take our best shot at the trophy. I want them to play with other skirmishers from all around the world. That’s what it’s all about for me.

I want to keep this game alive. This game. This community.

We’ve taken some pretty tough blows this past year, but we remain—unbroken. We will keep this community alive, for us and for future players, to enjoy for many years to come. Here’s to 2009!

Call for Chapter Masters

If you’ve checked out our Google Map, you’ve seen that our call for Chapter Masters has garnered an impressive, international response. We have been blessed with the support and talent of some long-time community members, as well as some enthusiastic newer members. I love seeing all those little virtual pushpins. But I want more.

Are you that local guy or gal who keeps everyone informed of the latest scuttlebutt on the forums? Are you the one who always knows the dates for the next tournament or league night? Are you the one that is holding the local scene together? If so, you’re already doing the work of a Chapter Master, so why not be recognized and rewarded for your efforts? Chapter Masters will:

• Communicate with local players regarding the Guild, membership, benefits, etc.


• Help the Chapter Lead (that’s me) to maintain rosters for each Chapter


• Communicate member feedback to the Chapter Lead


• Keep local players and store personnel informed regarding the latest rules, resources, and local/regional/national events


• Act as tournament organizers and judges—or help to ensure that those roles are filled

Interested parties should Contact Us. Please tell us your name, chapter location or area, play locations, and regular play times.

Online League

DDM Guild’s Online League will pit Guild Chapters against each other in a heroic struggle for fame, glory, and prizes! As the name indicates, Online League will be played online using virtual meeting tools like the Vassal Game Engine. Online League will feature a variety of formats, including Sealed play and the Guild’s monthly campaign scenarios.

Sign-up for Round 1 of our Winter 2009 Online League will be posted on Wednesday, March 4. For the time being, sign-up and reporting will be hosted by Hordelings. Read through the entire article for full details regarding Online League.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge those who have kept The Eternal Campaign going strong for 215 weeks and counting! Their tremendous work is appreciated and clearly has influenced the design of the DDM Guild’s Online League. Thank you. Guild members, while you’re visiting Hordelings to sign up for Online League, I highly recommend checking out the EC for a very unique and fun style of DDM play.