CPT Aus 2015 - Wrap up

We did it!

The dawning of a new day sees me sipping coffee, contemplating roti for lunch, and  looking back over last night's amazing event, analysing just precisely how awesome it was.

 Spoiler alert: it was EPICALLY awesome!

The attendees were blown away with the prize stash, the auction items, and all the other things on offer. 

The standout round of the night was Truth by Consensus, wherein tables were presented with and either/or question - for example, Terminator 2 or Aliens, Best ninja turtle - and whichever answer was chosen by the most tables became the right answer. The reactions from the attendees were marvellous and passionate. And they were clearly all insane, because the room chose Terminator 2 over Aliens. Madness.

All of the auctions went really well. with the SDCC Devastator and a 15 year limited edition Pinny Arcade pin being hotly contested.

I realise by now you're all yelling at me for burying the lead, so I'll come out and say it. We didn't equal our target of funds raised from last year, we didn't even just beat it, we smashed it. All together, we raised $5720! 

This is an awesome result, and we literally couldn't have done it without the support of our amazing sponsors, dedicated admin and org team, and all of our tops attendees. You're all amazing.

Thanks hugely once more for you collective and inidividual fabulousness, and we're already looking forward to CPT Aus 2016!

Our home

Time for another story.

Games Laboratory is the FLGS you would build in your dreams, if your dreams were my dreams and what the heck are you doing having my dreams, they're my dreams dang it! Get your own dreams!

*ahem*

Located on Little Lonsdale Street, Games Lab is three levels of awesome. First, there's a games store with several tables for playing and a great selection to choose from. There's also a refreshment fridge, snacks, and even lockers for temporary hire.

Above that is an events space, where many, many people could gather to play Magic:The Gathering, Warmachine, or any other game you care to name. It's also a great place for a trivia night, just by the way. 

And below them both you'll find the Alchemist's Refuge. A comfy, welcoming bar with a fantastic choice of boutique beers, furniture that comes straight out of the better sort of gentlemen's club, and an expertly-curated games library to play as you sip a brew.

In case you're thinking all this is just "oh, he has to say that, they're the venue", you should all know that last PAX Aus weekend, I spent not only the day of the event at Games Lab, but most of the following day, the Sunday night after PAX closed, and even the Monday after that at Games Lab. Also, the one time I went down to Melbourne to see a Tripod show and spent ages at Games Lab. It's a great place, is what I'm saying.

James and his crew know games, know how to engage people about and with games, and are super supportive of Child's Play Trivia Australia.

It really is everything you could want in a games shop, a place where hardcore alpha gamers can puff their chests at each other, where dubious other-halfs can be sucked in with a gateway game, and where curious newbies can have their horizons expanded and their minds blown.

Really, you should just go there.

http://gameslaboratory.com.au/

Our major sponsor

As part of the wider content we can include on the website, we thought we'd share some stories from the history (all 26 months' worth) of CPT Aus.

Our first story is the epic experience we've had with our major sponsor: Wizards of the Coast.

Before last year's event, I'd not really had much experience with contacting prize supporters. All the other trivia nights I'd run had either been on behalf of the Social Club at work - and so all the prizes were bought - or on behalf of people who were managing the prize scrounging themselves, and so they just needed me to write questions and be the MC for the night. I had no idea what to expect, and just sent a whole bunch of emails to the kinds of companies I'd like to see the wares of on offer at a trivia night.

Making contact with Wizards was a straightforward process, and the speed with which they responded to me was genuinely surprising. A few emails back and forth - including a couple to Jamie from Child's Play because reasons - and I was talking to the amazing Will. From the get-go he was enthusiastic and positive, with great ideas to elevate the night and generosity of prize support that saw us with SDCC exclusive Magic cards and a signed set of three 5th Edition D&D rule books to auction. The auction items alone accounted for 1/4 of our funds raised last year. Coupled with the giveaway Magic sample decks, masses of Nerf, and general great vibes and game tweak suggestions, the contribution of Wizards to the event cannot, and will never be, overstated.

In short: Wizards care about the community, they care about supporting the event, and they care about giving attendees the best possible experience. We're very lucky, and extremely grateful, that they're our major sponsor.