GZG ECC -- Ground Zero Games, East Coast Convention -- Schedule

Schedule

Friday Morning: April 1st, 2016 - 7pm to 11pm
Saturday Morning: April 2nd, 2016 - 9am to 1pm
Saturday Afternoon: April 2nd, 2016 - 2pm to 6pm
Saturday Evening: April 2nd, 2016 - 7pm to 11pm
Sunday Morning: April 3rd, 2016 - 9am to 1pm

Schedule Signups - Click on links at the bottom of signup page for details

	Table 1	Table 2	Table 3	Table 4	Table 5	Table 6
Friday Evening (7pm - 11pm)	Eye of Orcus	Stars at War	Squadron Strike Demo	Captain America: Rakatenbasis Ueberfall	The Thin Red Line	Open Gaming
Saturday Morning (9am - 1pm)	Open Gaming	Stars at War (continued)	Battle for Cormorant Moon	Mean Streets of Niihama	Secret Battles of WWII - Tale of Tentacles	Space Apes Attack!
Saturday Afternoon (2pm - 6pm)	Breaking Quarantine	Stars at War (continued)	The Martians are Coming	Bolt Actions Speak Louder Than Words!	Open Gaming	When Giant Monsters Attack
Saturday Evening (7pm - 11pm)	Nemesis Day	Stars at War (continued)	The Battle of Novus IV (Squadron Strike)	Falklands 1889	Kick the Can	The Last Stand of the JSDF: Breakthrough at Osaka
Sunday Morning (9am - 1pm)	Meanwhile, Off the Aleutians	Stars at War (continued)	Open Gaming	I'm Your Ice Cream Man, Try To Stop Me When You're Passing By	Open Gaming	Open Gaming

Special Events

Saturday Afternoon: Miniatures Contest

Friday Evening
Saturday Morning
Saturday Afternoon
Saturday Evening
Sunday Morning

Friday Evening

TABLE 1	Eye of Orcus
System	Emerging Suns
Game Master	Noam Izenberg
Players	2-6	Complexity	Introductory
The Pax Xeno surveillance ship Niff-Ugcam has been spying on the the inner Sol System from the Kuiper belt, hidden by the dwarf planet Orcus. An unknown catastrophe has killed the crew, but not before it relays a distress call home - one that has been intercepted by the humans. The Niff-Ugcam possesses critical intelligence about the Humans. The Paxx want it, the Humans want to keep it from the Paxx. A force from the Neu Europa Union is on its way to the Orcus-Vanth binary to secure the the information, arriving at the same time as the Paxx retrieval units.

TABLE 2	Stars at War
System	Stars At War Playtest
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	4+ (See Description)	Complexity	Introductory / Moderate
Ad Astra Games will be playtesting "Stars at War" at GZG ECC. This is a "fast campaign" game with two tiers of players. The campaign players will represent the CNOs of their respective factions, and will be moving fleets on the strategic map. Tactical players will also be needed to play the scenarios generated in Full Thrust: Continuum. If you're interested in being a campaign player, this will be a game that you'll participate in for the entire conventon, though there will be downtime to chat with other people and jump in and out of scenarios or other games. Most turns take about 10 minutes or less, but all turns are simultaneous. New turns can't be started until all scenarios are played. If you're interested in being a tactical player, you can hang out around Table 2, and scenarios should be popping up pretty regularly. The ships start out pre-constructed, and more advanced ships will be available as the campaign progresses and the CNO players allocate research development points. Fleet sizes have been picked to make small, easily managed scenarios; since it's possible for battles to involve multiple fleets, there can be some big, multiplayer scenarios generated. Most scenarios should take 2-3 hours to play from start to finish. For this first slot, the campaign players will be taught the rules of the playtest, and then start the play cycle. The play cycle is as follows: Unit Acquisition and Disbandment Phase Government Deck Phase Precursor Research Phase Diplomatic Phase Order Writing Phase Order Resolution Phase Peacetime Retreat Phase Tabletop Battles Phase Tabletop Battle Retreat Phase When there are no tabletop battles, the last two phases are skipped. This campaign game is meant for adults, many of whom have limited time to play minis games, and want to get the "fiddly stuff" out of the way rather than take away time from shoving spaceships around the map and rolling dice.

TABLE 3	Squadron Strike Demo
System	Squadron Strike
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	2-6	Complexity	Introductory
Learn to play Squadron Strike with the Empire/Directorate War setting, with a scenario meant to teach the basics of the game. Play time is 4 hours, of which the first 30 minutes or so will be teaching the game. If you'd like to help the game run more smoothly, please check out the Squadron Strike table demo at the Ad Astra vendor table, where we cover the basics of the game one-on-one. The Directorate DN "Concordance" is trapped in the Alpha Centauri system, the last remnant of a failed raid on the Empire of Brasil's forces. Having watched the rotation of ships over its exit wormhole, its commander is trying to make a break for it...but gets hit en route by a Magellan-class cruiser, two Rio de Janeiro destroyers and two Paloma-class missile frigates. (The scenario will be balanced for different numbers of players by removing unneeded Empire ships, and doing some damage to the DN before play begins.)

TABLE 4	Captain America: Rakatenbasis Ueberfall
System	Bolt Action
Game Master	Aaron Newman
Players	4-6	Complexity	Introductory
The Strategic Scientific Reserve has learned that Hydra plans to deploy a Doomsday weapon from a secret rocket base! With no time to loose, Captain America and the Howling Commandos spearhead an air assault deep behind Nazi lines to take the base before the rocket can be launched. But all is not what it seems! Tired of the relentless assaults against Hydra bases, The Red Skull leaked the information about the weapon himself, luring the Commandos into a deadly trap! An entire company of crack Hydra troops await the unwitting Allies, committed to insuring our heroes will never leave Rakatenbasis Ueberfall alive! No Experience Required.

TABLE 5	The Thin Red Line
System	Stargrunt
Game Master	Stuart Murray
Players	2-4	Complexity	Introductory
“Sir, we’re under attack!” “What! who are they?, doesn’t matter, code Red, go active on remotes, get everyone on station, NOW!" “BigTuna to RedDog. Carter, get your men to camp X-ray, hustle the eggheads to evac at LZ-blue then fall-back on basecamp. This is a priority mission, get on it, BigTuna out.”

TABLE 6	Open Gaming

Saturday Morning

TABLE 1	Open Gaming

TABLE 2	Stars at War (continued)
System	Stars At War Playtest
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	2+	Complexity	Introductory / Moderate
Reserve a spot to fight FT battles for the Stars at War campaign game! (See Friday Evening Description)

TABLE 3	Battle for Cormorant Moon
System	Full Thrust
Game Master	Jon Davis
Players	6-12	Complexity	Moderate
Federation and Klingon Empire starships simultaneously (how cinematic) discover a nascent and powerful Artificial Intelligent being on the moon of Cormorant. Both fleets beam down landing parties simultaneously. (of course) After typical Federation and Klingon posturing and cliched dialogue, the AI seeks to know the true path and wants to join either the Federation or the Klingon Empire. Cinematic movement, of course.

TABLE 4	Mean Streets of Niihama
System	Gruntz / The Department 15mm
Game Master	Mark Kinsey
Players	4	Complexity	Introductory
In this post-cyberpunk cooperative game, join Public Security Section 9 as they investigate a string of mysterious suicides by refugees from the Siak Republic. Each player will control two investigators and attempt to piece together the clues leading to a larger conspiracy. "Gruntz: Special Ops: will be used for combat and "The Department" for investigative and role playing elements.

TABLE 5	Secret Battles of WWII - Tale of Tentacles
System	Pulp Alley
Game Master	Scott Howland
Players	3-6	Complexity	Introductory
Set during the early days of WWII, a Nazi cult is attempting to use a collection of artifacts to open a dimensional portal at Stonehenge! Their goal is to draw out an otherworldly uber beast to use as a WMD in conjunction with the ongoing blitzkrieg. Play as the Relic Hunters, adventurers set to retrieve the artifacts; The Beyonders, occult specialists; Screaming Eagles' Commandos, British commandos; OSS strike team, a US elite squad; OR you can play as the Nazi cultist and their security squad. Can you complete your objective before the beast enters our realm, or is that your objective? A Pulp inspired skirmish game using 28mm scale figures.

TABLE 6	Space Apes Attack!
System	Tomorrow's War
Game Master	Jerry Acord
Players	2-6	Complexity	Moderate
“Hey, sarge, is it true we’re providing taxi service to the ‘space apes’ on this op?” “Check that - ever seen an ape in power armor? If the Karmans hear you calling them ‘apes’ they’re likely to rip you limb from limb. And yes, they’ve got intel on the situation and won’t share unless they can tag along.” “Master, is it truly necessary to partner with these… humans?” “Do not think of it as a partnership. The Path takes us where it may; our dealings with the humans merely one step in the journey. But should these humans cause us to stumble, rest assured they shall feel the wrath of the Karmans.” “Sir! The intercepted signal indicates the enemy has found intact Therian technology in the city ruins -” “Yes, we’re aware of that already -” “- and that they’re escorting a platoon of Karmans to the site.” “Well, now, this does change things. Step up the timetable, and let’s see what kind of welcome we can give our new guests.”

Saturday Afternoon

TABLE 1	Breaking Quarantine
System	Silent Fury
Game Master	Benjamin Bentley
Players	6	Complexity	Introductory
What were we supposed to do? Half the population was dead or dying - when the hospitals closed their doors we had to get off the planet. So yeah, we took a ship and we took our chances with the blockade. I've seen what the parasite does to people - I'd rather die in space.

TABLE 2	Stars at War (continued)
System	Stars At War Playtest
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	2+	Complexity	Introductory / Moderate
Reserve a spot to fight FT battles for the Stars at War campaign game! (See Friday Evening Description)

TABLE 3	The Martians are Coming
System	Emerging Suns
Game Master	Mark Kochte
Players	4-6	Complexity	Introductory
It's been 11 years since the end of the Mars Rebellion which resulted in the formation of the United Mars Provinces (UMP) after the horrific orbital bombardment of the Tinjar Vallis settlement by several Earth powers which wiped out the settlement to the last person. It did effectively end the war, as Earth suffered catastrophic political backlash from the incident. Since the end of the war, the Marsies have been exercising their rights and establishing their place in the Solar System, with tentative forays out to other stars. Meanwhile, old prejudices die hard, and a handful of Earth powers have been independently inciting small incidents with the UMP at scattered mining facilities or small colonies elsewhere in the Solar System. Finally one Earth power went too far and made a wholesale grab at a Martian mining operation on the mineral-rich asteroid of 121 Hermione. And the Martians have had enough.

TABLE 4	Bolt Actions Speak Louder Than Words!
System	Peter Pig’s AK-47 Republic
Game Master	Stuart Murray
Players	4-6	Complexity	Cinegrunt
NewsFlash: Our beloved Warlord Gran’Papa Tendi is no mo' Z'wete RAG (Zoswete Regional Gazette) 8/1/1974 “What sniper?”, the last words of Warlord Blessing Tendi. Warlord Tendi ruled over the I'Ndolee valley for the last ten years. Under the heel of his boot the I'Ndolee valley came to know peace and prosperity, at least for Warlord Tendi. Now it is all over! Trouble is now brewing in the valley, this correspondent has seen tanks and soldiers from three factions in the valley. We will soon see who will win the I'Ndolee valley. One thing our correspondent can be sure of, is that the downtrodden locals of I'Ndolee valley will welcome with open arms their new overlord, whoever will win. This news was brought to you by Bembuto Beer “Drown your sorrows with a Bembuto, Real men drink Bembuto"

TABLE 5	Open Gaming

TABLE 6	When Giant Monsters Attack
System	Destroy All Monsters
Game Master	Carl Scheu
Players	2-12	Complexity	Introductory
Come play in this battle Royal where each player gets to play a Godzilla like monster, as they vie to be the last monster standings. Knock down buildings launch acidic spittle at your foes, and stomp on any puny humans foolish enough to get in your way. Game is based on Home rules originally written by John Crimmins, rules are easily taught. Come play this old “banned” rule set written by a former GZG attendee.

Saturday Evening

TABLE 1	Nemesis Day
System	Silent Fury
Game Master	Benjamin Bentley
Players	6	Complexity	Introductory
This is the Captain speaking. The contacts have been identified as a Terminus class bombardment vessel and three escorts. They are on an orbital approach to Wuxung IV. We are the only squadron that can intercept before they are in range of the colony. I know some of you have family down there. Don't let them down.

TABLE 2	Stars at War (continued)
System	Stars At War Playtest
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	2+	Complexity	Introductory / Moderate
Reserve a spot to fight FT battles for the Stars at War campaign game! (See Friday Evening Description)

TABLE 3	The Battle of Novus IV (Squadron Strike)
System	Squadron Strike
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	2-6	Complexity	Introductory
One of the Ad Astra products coming up is Squadron Strike: Axanar, based on the Star Trek: Axanar fan film. Novus IV was a Federation outpost, rich with asteroids, and a prime target of the Klingon Empire. The Klingons had sent raiding forces to Novus IV trying to maximize civilian casualties and to break Federation morale; the prior two raids had been led by destroyers; this raid was led by D6s, expecting to make short work of the Hermes class ships patrolling the system. What they found instead was two part Federation trap...

TABLE 4	Falklands 1889
System	Emerging Suns 1889 / Aeronef
Game Master	Steve Barosi / Martin Connell
Players	4-6	Complexity	Introductory
Ever since the Royal Navy expelled Argentine citizens from the Falklands in 1833 Argentina has lodged official protests and claimed sovereignty over the islands. These protests have been summarily ignored by the British. Argentina has launched an offensive sending several airships with support from their Brazilian allies. They have wrested control of the islands from a small British naval presence and have established an airbase. Admiral Wellseley of Her Majesties Royal Air Navy has assembled a retaliatory force and is in position to engage the Argentine fleet.

TABLE 5	Kick the Can
System	Tomorrow's War (Modified)
Game Master	Jeff Aubert
Players	3-5	Complexity	Introductory
'Kick the Can' - an infantryman's term for ambushing a 'Mech. It's not as easy as it sounds. In most any environment the grunts are often little more than target practice for 'Mech pilots; it takes dense terrain and 'Mechs with no support to give the grunts a fighting chance. In this scenario, out of desperation or tactical necessity 2 scout 'Mortis' - class combat Mechs are taking a short cut through an urban area with no support. Facing them is a diverse array of infantry with lots of IAVRs (Infantry Anti-Vehicle Rockets), Power Armor troops and a few light Walkers and vehicles. They may only be Scouts, but they're still over 40' tall and tough...who's can is gonna get kicked in the end?

TABLE 6	The Last Stand of the JSDF: Breakthrough at Osaka
System	Giant Monster Rampage (1st Ed - Homebrew Additions)
Game Master	Jeff Zorn
Players	2-6	Complexity	Introductory
Godzilla and some of his buddies have come ashore just west of Osaka and have been sighted heading towards the city. The JSDF has deployed several Super X machines, maser tanks, and several of its most advanced Mechs to the area and dug in along the Yodo River. The civilian population has been evacuated, but wide spread destruction of the local infrastructure is expected. Scale: 1:1000+

Sunday Morning

TABLE 1	Meanwhile, Off the Aleutians
System	FMAS-Aircraft
Game Master	Damond Walker
Players	4-6	Complexity	Moderate
Major "Zed Hunter" Zeke Johnson was leading his flight of four aircraft on a patrol off the Aleutian Islands. A handful of years ago he was hunting Migs over the skies of 'Nam but all he was fighting today was boredom. Yes. The Soviets had ticked up their rhetoric. Yes. They had sent a few Bears close to the US Mainland. If you call 300 nautical miles close. It was just another day and another patrol. "Wouldn't want to bail out in this slop..." he muttered to his GIB as he checked his instruments for the 600th time. With a short burst of static ground control came on the net with, "Z Flight. Bogies. Bearing 270 your position. 35,000 feet. 100 nautical miles out." Zeke adjusted his instruments while responding with "Rodger. We'll check it out." With a short series of orders Zeke nosed his Phantom westward. Followed by his wingman and Captain Mike and his wingman. Just another patrol..

TABLE 2	Stars at War (continued)
System	Stars At War Playtest
Game Master	Ken Burnside (Ad Astra Games)
Players	2+	Complexity	Introductory / Moderate
Reserve a spot to fight FT battles for the Stars at War campaign game! (See Friday Evening Description)

TABLE 3	Open Gaming

TABLE 4	I'm Your Ice Cream Man, Try To Stop Me When You're Passing By
System	Axles and Alloys
Game Master	Scott Howland
Players	3-6	Complexity	Introductory
In the hot and dusty future, only one this is better than being shiny and chrome, its ice cream. Our local despot (Immortan Jon) awaits the latest shipment of the refreshing treat (just don't ask where they get the milk), rival gangs attempt to hijack the shipment before it reaches his compound. Are you MAD enough to hijack the frozen gold, of are you ready to ride in to Valhalla protecting Immortan Jon's tasty treats?

TABLE 5	Open Gaming

TABLE 6	Open Gaming

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