Wargames Clubs Post Covid

[Orcs]

Not wishing to be the prophet of doom here, but I am wondering what the future is regarding wargames clubs.

I know from my shooting club that we have had to instigate all sorts of rules and one ways systems in addoition to the sensible wearing a mask and social distancing. We have also had to produce  a risk assessment  running to 4 pages and those attending have to sign a Covid 19 liability acceptance form

Have any of your clubs started again yet.
Have you any Good suggestions on how we can get clubs running again.
What do you think the future holds for your Club?

[Orcs]

Our Club at Tring is still closed. We are paying a nominal monthly payment to the church that owns the hall for our storage.

We have not got together as a club although we have provisionally booked a larger hall for all day games in the next few months. I suspect that would involve all attending wearing masks and social distancing at least by the width of the table. Although I am not sure they will go ahead anyway

Several of our members are in the "at risk" age group, so I suspect they will not attend for some time. I am not keen on wearing a mask for the entire evening (although I fully appreciate its needed) so would probably not attend until the situation has improved to the point where this is not needed.

I am not sure If the situation stays as it is for another 6-12 months what will happen to the club.

On a personal level I am fortunate that both sunjester and I have the ability to game at home. I have had a couple of games with two friends who I trust at both my house and theirs.  We keep our distance and fortunately have downstairs loos that we designate just for visitors, keeping the risk down.

[Steve J]

No longer a member of a club, but still no sign of safe FtF gaming at home due to our situation. Honestly I can't see it changing until there's a vaccine .

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Both Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard are still closed. Maybe new year before we have news.

[jimduncanuk]

I had ditched club appearances about 10 years ago when I retired. I can play at home, leave a set-up as long as I like, drink alcohol (although I'm T-total) and not have to load/unload the car before each visit.

I used to see all my old chums at various shows but that has stopped because of the virus risk.

[Dave Fielder]

At the Exmouth Imperial Wargamers in Devon, there has been a return to games in the pub albeit with restrictions and caveats such as (1) Being willing to attend, (2) Not having any conditions that put you at risk, (3) Wearing masks where necessary (same rules as per pubs and restaurants), (4) One person per side to help social distancing issue, (5) Observe social distancing and sanitising hands, (6) Providing own dice and rulers. There is a degree of risk, as there is with all activities in society but reducing the risk as best as possible allows games to occur. It remains under review and we've only had a few weeks back, it seems to be working OK.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Deeside Defenders still closed -, and may have moved by the time we reopen

[toxicpixie]

We meet in a local sports & social centre, and it's not heavily used but their room hire is basically one reasonably large room at a time. However we were pushed for space a lot recently anyway - at one point we had about twelve regular members and I could baggsy an easy eight foot table just to play a two player figures game without being awkward; now we're hitting 30 ish and running out of room to squeeze games with half a dozen people clustered in close.

So whilst the centre is reopening and we're doing risk assessments and taking stock from members of what they want to do, it's going to be awkward.

We'll be on disclaimers and sign offs no matter what, BUT we're also probably going to have to consider a pre-booked rota system, essentially - so we can manage who will be there on the night and keep a good size spread both between tables AND keep space AT tables for people not to get too close. We might be able to spread out into other rooms, but depending on the centres desperation that could be paying again for each one or (we're hoping) they'll be glad of warm bodies in their doing *anything* and (hopefully, if it's not folded completely) buying drinks instead of staying away and rotating each week...

It's likely to be masks, sanitizer, wipe downs at start end and probably in between, no borrowing dice or offering snacks about and locking stuff in the cupboard a week between games so as not to carry potentially contaminated stuff round and round...

We're looking at October at the earliest, but it's not likely I'll be down till next year I think as we're still isolating pretty hard (I've underlying wheezing at the best of times, partner has vulnerable & elderly parents). I actually suspect quite a lot of our members will be slow to return despite being desperate to roll dice as we've a large umber of people with either age or health related conditions which would see them f*cked royally if they caught Covid-19 :/

[Smoking gun]

I play wargames at my friends house literally around the corner. He has a specially built wargames building in his back garden with a cloak room and a 12 x 6 ft table, we are limiting our sessions to 4 participants, two 1 on 1 games, rather than our more usual 8 player games. We have two sessions a week now to allow everyone a chance of game.

There is a club in the town which has opened since the lockdown but I haven't been as it can get quite busy.

Best wishes,
Martin

[Wulf]

Our boardgaming club (which includes a bit of wargaming) has of course been closed since this all started. We meet in a Masonic Hall, which has plenty of space for up to 20 people or more to social distance, but the problem with boardgames is you regularly have 4, 5, 6 people round a table all of whom have to be in reach of the game board. Whether we start up again will depend on the willingness of the owners to let the hall for our activity and the willingness of the members to attend! Paradoxically, we may see more wargames & other 2-player games in future, if any at all...

[hammurabi70]

Using a church hall is a pain as it has to go by diocesan rules that are driven by insurance requirements.  Ironically we are looking at reverting to meeting in a pub like the old days when we will be able to meet for club gaming.  The irony is we would prefer and probably be 'safer' in the church halls but are denied access at the moment.

[Bren]

Carlisle Gamers is back up and running. An online pre-booking system is in place as well as the other restrictions already mentioned in other clubs. The financial situation was looking grim for a while but things are picking up again now, especially with the CCG guys who have returned in droves (those chaps always seem more rabid about their hobby than do wargamers).

[toxicpixie]

I must see about online booking options, well reminded. We've a lot of luddites who may balk at such though

[Orcs]

I must see about online booking options, well reminded. We've a lot of luddites who may balk at such though

Our chairman does not do internet or computers at all

[Wulf]

I don't know how many of our club actually READ all the online chatter, but only a small fraction of them contribute...