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View Full Version : Ziggurat Con (in Iraq, June 9, 2007)



BabbageCliolog
2007-04-16, 01:11 AM
Ziggurat Con (http://www.gamegrene.com/node/790) is going to be held in Iraq on June 9th. I'm going to send something, just have to figure out what! :smallbiggrin:

Here's the info from the website:

When President Bush ordered troops to Iraq, he probably never imagined that he would be ultimately be responsible for what very well could be the very first D&D convention/game day ever held in a war zone. Ziggurat Con, being held June 9 from 1200 to 2100 hours at Camp Adder/Tallil Airbase, is open to all allied military personnel and civilian contractors in Iraq.

"Here in Iraq, we do many things on the different Forward Operating Bases to help keep our spirits up," said SPC David Amberson, the Con's organizer. "Here at Camp Adder/Tallil Airbase, we have lots of sports activities -- baseball, football, dodgeball, kickball -- and we work with many marathons across the US like the Boston Marathon. This is a great way to improve morale among the troops, but what about those who prefer Role-Playing Games?"

The Con's historical landmark "mascot" -- the Ziggurat that gives the Con its name -- can be found on the post, and hails from the ancient city of Ur. Nearby is the house where it is believed that Abraham (a large figure in the Bible, the Koran and the Torah) was born. Cool digs for a Con -- if not for the fact that there's a war going on. Amberson, however, emphasized the need for soldiers to relax and kick back with enjoyable activities from time to time.

"There is a deeper sense of camaraderie in a war zone than you see back home," said Amberson, who is a supply soldier with Alpha Company, 86th Signal Battalion. "You eat with these people, work with them on a daily basis, and can even share a tent with the same people. When work is over for the day, we can sit back, relax, drink our favorite sodas, eat our favorite snacks, and play a bit of D&D. This helps us relax in a very stressful environment. We found a place where we can go somewhere far away from the IED's, mortar attacks, and gunfire, without ever leaving the safety of our camp. The next step was only logical."

Miss Joy Brown, an employee with KBR who works with MWR (the army’s Morale Welfare & Recreation Department) has graciously allowed service members to use part of the Community Activity Center to hold the Game Day. The Ping Pong room will be set up for RPGs (Role-Playing Games, not to be confused with the rocket propelled grenades which share the same acronym), and the DVD Movie room will be playing Anime Movies all day in support of the event.

"Miss Brown has expressed her support of the soldiers who are planning this event, and who keep her in the loop," said Amberson. "In many events, MWR does the running around, trying to get supplies and support; however, in this case, it is the service members themselves who are contacting the publishers and manufacturers. This makes it a real event for the service members, by the service members."

The largest problem with running a Con in Iraq, of course, is that there are no local stores or game publishers, and few game books on the post. Even dice are in short supply, with many soldiers breaking the unwritten taboo held by many gamers and (gasp!) sharing dice. Thankfully, many game publishers have also lent their support, and have agreed to supply game products to help the Con along. aethereal FORGE, Sovereign Press, Final Redoubt Press, Goodman Games, Paizo Publishing and Steve Jackson Games are among those that have thrown in their support for the convention. But Amberson indicated that the soldiers could definitely use more.

"This convention is currently in drastic need of prizes and giveaways for the troops," he said. "Everything donated will go directly to the troops, or to MWR to use as loaner books for the soldiers."

For more information, contact SPC David Amberson at the following address: david.amberson (at) iraq.centcom.mil

Donations can also be sent to SPC Amberson directly at the following address:

SPC David Amberson
A Co 86th Sig Bn
APO, AE 09331

"We thank you all back home for supporting us, and we promise that we will try to come back home safe and sound," said Amberson.

Con organizers pictured above:

Standing: SPC Jerrel Barber, Mr. Jeff (JB) Brown, SPC Christopher Watkins, PFC Samuel Dennison, SGT Gary Decker, SPC Kathleen Hirsche
Seated: SPC David Dennison, SPC Konrad Schlarbaum, DPC David Amberson
Others not pictured: SPC Matthew Joslyn, PFC John Gilbert, Mr. Raymond Knapp, CPT Andrew Heymann, Miss Joy Brown

TheOOB
2007-04-16, 01:29 AM
Wow, I'm intrigued and impressed, if I wasn't dirt poor I'd probally donate something.

Dervag
2007-04-16, 01:48 AM
My god, that's awesome. I second TheOOB's motion.

Logic
2007-04-16, 04:01 AM
Friggin' great. I go to the sandbox a month too late to attend a con.

Kurobara
2007-04-16, 07:35 AM
A friend of mine's FLGS (Pandemonium Books in Boston) is organizing donations via PayPal to buy books, dice, etc. for Ziggurat Con.

You can send donations via PayPal to [email protected] (mark them as IRAQ DONATION), or those who are in the area can buy things directly.

http://community.livejournal.com/pandemonium_bks/94371.html

Were-Sandwich
2007-04-16, 12:20 PM
This sounds cool. I'm too selfish to donate anything except encouragement, but I hope this goes well.

On a side note: I really just can't picture american military personnel playing D&D. I really can't. Must be one of them stereotype dealies.

Lord Iames Osari
2007-04-16, 01:40 PM
Tell that to wxdruid and Logic, Were-Sandwich. Hm. I could probably donate some of my dice and books. I have lots of dice. :smallsmile:

wxdruid
2007-04-16, 01:43 PM
grrrr, to bad I can't get there from here.

KIDS
2007-04-16, 01:46 PM
I personally know one AirForce officer who's playing D&D. Why wouldn't military personnel play it?

It's an awesome thing, I'm really going to check what I can send via PayPal, considering my remoteness :(

Belteshazzar
2007-04-16, 01:55 PM
Awesome! I almost wish I was there. Kinda, Maybe, If I wasn't here anyway. But anyway 20% of the people I know who play DnD are Armed and Forceful. The make some of the best tacticians in the games I games I played. Of course my numbers could be off because I live in a military town.

Lord Iames Osari
2007-04-16, 02:01 PM
I personally know one AirForce officer who's playing D&D. Why wouldn't military personnel play it?

It's an awesome thing, I'm really going to check what I can send via PayPal, considering my remoteness :(

Actually, wxdruid was just telling me that it doesn't cost any more than mailing things inside the US - although to send boxes you do have to fill out a customs form.

Quincunx
2007-04-16, 03:01 PM
Were-Sandwich, military personnel are everywhere. . .or at least it bloody well seems like it sometimes. Just when I think I know my Internet acquaintances. . .Anyway. D&D is portable, doesn't need electricity, infinitely variable, and calls like a siren to geeks of all stripes and patches. If you're thinking of sending snacks, check with a site like anysoldier.com for the latest rules and regulations on foodstuffs.