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Joe Johnson, Jesse Farmer, and myself (Brian White) took the long road up to the Windy City this year to participate in the Chicago Grand Tournament. We rented an SUV for the drive, none of us having a car big enough to fit all of our armies and clothes, to leave Thursday morning (7/27) and return Sunday morning (7/30). We decided to crash at my place the night before since it would be easier to make sure everyone was up and ready in time, and there wouldn't be any problems leaving cars somewhere for several days. Well, at least stay at my place, sleep on the other hand was not for everyone. Joe, who was driving the entire way, got a grand 3.5 hours of sleep while Jesse and myself got next to nothing doing some finishing touches on his Tau and building the display board. Good thing we had a long car ride to sleep, keeping Joe company with our snores!
With some bad weather, an interstate closed for no apparent reason, and hitting Chicago in rush hour traffic, we still made the trip in just over 12 hours. But the day wasn't over yet for Jesse - he still had 36 firewarriors to finish! From the moment we arrived until we were walking out the door the next morning, he was busy highlighting with orange. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera... but Joe remembered his!
(Never mind what Joe was doing in that position, but be sure Jesse liked it)
We arrived to the GT early, wanting to make sure we were able to register on time and get settled before our first game. They had sold out their tickets, with 140 on the 40k side and 100 on the fantasy side. Things started happening quick, our first game starting almost immediately after we registered. The table assignments we being dolled out in incremental order, so we all got to witness each other's first game. I drew a Necron player, Jesse got a Dark Eldar army, and Joe Black Templars. Jesse and myself started out well, both with a massacre, while Joe ended up on the receiving end of one. They were all fun guys, though, and were enjoyable games.
After setting up our armies for the judges to review for the Player's Choice vote (which Joe was obviously picked for, with his great looking Kroot Merc's), we had time for a quick lunch before heading back. Our second games went much like the first. I drew a Chaos army, Jesse a Space Wolf drop pod army, and Joe Necrons. Jesse got a massacre, myself a crushing victory, and Joe a crushing loss. With little time to spare between games, Joe managed to get some pictures of the better armies before we were back at it again. Jesse got a crushing loss against a Night Lords army, despite a few stupid moves on my part, I managed (with not a little luck) to pull out a marginal win against Black Templars, and Joe actually got a massacre against Necrons! Go Chickens!
Done for the night, we started back to the hotel to unwind and get some food. Started back, anyway, when someone (Joe) ran the car out of gas.... In 95+ degree very humid heat. So after pushing the car down what we soon learned to be a dead-end, we had to walk to find a gas station, buy a gas can, ~1.5 gallons of gas, and walk back. It only took us.... uh, yeah, about 2 hours in that heat after standing up playing 40k all day. At least it gave us yet another reason to rag on Joe. Almost worth it!
After getting back to the hotel near 11 pm and watching Jesse eat half a pizza in his sleep, we were soon waking up again for another early start. Joe got a draw and another loss (marginal this time) against Chaos and Deathwing, I got a marginal victory against Chaos and a crushing loss against Eldar, and Jesse got a draw and a massacre against Necrons and Blood Angels. With all of the games out of the way, we knew we weren't close to placing in the top finalists, so our only hope for an award was Joe's Kroot for best painted. They seemed to be a shoe-in, though, far and away the best looking army there.
It also gave us some time to walk around games day, look at some of the beautiful Golden Demon entries, and see a few of the new Eldar and O&G models. Some of the new eldar are looking mighty nice!
When the awards came, Joe took overall Best Painted and got a little plaque. We were very disappointed with the very poor quality of the awards given out. A plaque for best painted and best overall with a piece of paper for 2nd and 3rd overall, and that's it. With 240 people at $89/ea, you figure they could spring for something a little nicer, but that's not here nor there. Either way, Congrats, Joe, well deserved!
As the event wound down, we all started to prepare for the long haul back. A fourth early morning in a row saw us out the door too early for my tastes, exhausted to the bone. Someone, I won't say who (because it's me!) lost the directions back and had to find a new route quick, but other than that small mishap, and Jesse's little gas problem, it was an uneventful return trip. We got back in 11 hours, not bad with an hour stop for a late breakfast.
Unfortunately, the trip was now over and Monday was fast approaching... we all had work to get back to, and so concludes our little Chicago adventure. Maybe it will see us again when Adepticon rolls around!
Brian
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(The morning of)
(Poor Chickens!)
(Some took displays very serious!)
(See More)
(See More)
(See More)
(See More)
(Jesse - the day after)
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