Despite the slings and arrows of an outrageous pandemic, with the Omicron variant running rampant... Cancon 2022 went ahead.
For the first time, this was a ticketed event, a requirement of ACT health for contact tracing, even though that has gone by the board, with hundreds of cases per day rather than a handful. Tickets were only $2 each, just enough to cover the $1.12 cost of issuing them, and the rigmarole of having to produce photo ID, registering, displaying the ticket QR code, using the contact tracing app to track both the site, and each of the 6 pavillion areas used... well it cut numbers attending by 2/3. Which was the intent, in order to stop a sulerspreader event.
The organisers had to submit a Covidsafe plan, volunteer Marshals roaming the pavillions to gently but firmly enforce masking sanitising game boards and miniatures, checking registration for attendees moving to the hucksters area, second hand stalls (with limited occupancy at any one time for both), and so on. All under the watchful eye of roaming ACT health inspectors.
Under the circumstances, it went rather well. Far better than I expected, better even than I hoped.
The first 2 days we got 4 games in each day, the last half day another 2. So we cycled over 20 visitors through, and all asked where they could get the game afterwards. A blast was had.
The games were all stripped down racing versions of the usual multi table multi map, bombers giants, Martians etc. games involving 6-10 players that we usually have. 2 Ares Lycra mats on 1 6x4 table, for ease of disinfection. 4 aircraft each game, which were either early 1917 late 1917, early 1918 or late 1918. Usually single seaters only, but sometimes a single and a 2 seater on each side and one 2 seater only.
Mother and son, Albatros D.II and Nieuport 17 in early 1917. Also appearing, Roland C.II and Sopwith Strutter.
Set up and waiting for trade in the socially distanced environment.
Late 1918, SSW D.III, Sopwith Camel, Fokker D.VII and SE5a
Late 1917. A Halberstadt CL.II just bought by the participant from one of the hucksters that was selling them off cheap at $5 a pop (they went within minutes, darnit) , an Albatros D.II, an RE8 and Bristol F2b.
Early 1918, Fokker Dr.I, Sopwith Camel, Hannover CL.II and a Breguet 14.
As can be seen, the damage decks were quite incendiary.
Bookmarks