2022 End of Year Update – State of the Domain

Hi players!

There’s a lot of information in this post, please be sure to reach out with any questions or concerns or if you want to volunteer and get involved!

 First, WELCOME ALL NEW PLAYERS.  We are so excited to have you with us and we look forward to a great year of gaming in 2023.

To our players who have been with us for more than a year – THANK YOU.  Thank you for sticking with us through the pandemic and the on-line games.  Thank you for coming back to play with us in person.  Thank you for your continued financial and moral support even if you’ve not been participating in local games.

Game Attendance since April (in-person games):

2022VampApocLost
April12 8
May13 8
June10167
July10105
August11N/A5
September16123
October810N/A
November1615N/A
December1814N/A

I’m excited to see our numbers growing!  We have 34 members of the Domain (including Trial Members), and we hope to grow that in 2023.

Changeling the Lost is moving to a new site and weekend for 2023 (TBD) and if you want to check out a totally different kind of game, I encourage you to reach out to Aaron.

Annual Costs

Not including the occasional cost of props or credit card fees, here are the current fixed costs for the domain.  The Lodge has locked in our price for 2023, which is great news – it will remain at $250 per day!

CostItem
  95.88Word Press
  12.00.com Domain
  3,000.00Masonic Lodge Rental
  197.88MeetUp Premium
  3,305.76Total per year

Our Current Treasury:

 $  726Total Funds
 $  110Scholarship Funds
 $  616Available for Expenses

Our Site Fees for 2023:

Site fees go directly towards the expenses detailed above.  Any excess is held in reserve and our goal in 2023 is to rebuild our reserves.  The Domain’s large treasury reserve is what allowed us to return to gaming in person in 2022, even though our total intake each month has been less than our total expenses.  Unfortunately we’ve exhausted that reserve and so we need to manage our cash flows carefully in 2023.  Our standard site fee is increasing to $15 per day, but we have 4 tiers:

AmountTier
 $              –Scholarship
 $           10At Need
 $           15Standard
 $           20Patron

YOU select your site fee each session.  You do not need to justify your selection, and the scholarship fund is always available to pay for some or all of your site fee. Just select Scholarship on the Sign In Form. Bring a guest – a player’s first day is always free!

As a reminder, your current officers are:

Wendy – Domain Coordinator – nhma.dc@gmail.comThis is an elected position and my job is to make sure we have a place to play and that all staff and players are treating each other with respect and abiding by the MES Code of Conduct. I also am often the first point of contact for new players.  In 2023 I hope to focus more on member education – our organization has a lot of layers to it and understanding those can enhance your game experience.  My term is actually up in February, so if you think you want my job, talk to me about how to be Domain Coordinator!  But I also plan to run again because I like helping make our domain grow and our members and guests feel welcome.  I am looking for assistants, if you want to get involved, email me!

Dray – Domain Storyteller – nhma.dst@gmail.comThis is an elected position.  Dray is in charge of making sure our Venue Storytellers have what they need to run their games.  He is also the person you can go to if you have a concern about one of our Venue STs.  Venue Storytellers (VSTs) have a lot of influence over your game experience as a player, and we want to be sure there is someone you can talk to with any questions or concerns.

Chris – Vampire VST – nhma.masq2020@gmail.com

Dan – Werewolf VST – boston.apoc.vst@gmail.com

Aaron – Changeling the Lost VST – boston.lost.vst@gmail.com

Our Venue Storytellers are in charge of running their games.  Aaron is looking to grow the Changeling the Lost game, so look for more details on that for 2023.  Storytellers are elected by the players.  If you have a character, you get to vote for who your ST is.  If you think you might want to be an ST some day, ask about helping out as an assistant.  Storytelling is a skill and like any other, you get better with practice.  Our STs are elected for a 1 year term, so I know that towards the end of 2023, we’ll be looking for folks to step up and run for VST.  Which means you have almost a whole year to learn the job and decide if it’s right for you!

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you soon!

Game Site Change

We have moved out of the Crowne Plaza for the foreseeable future, and are currently hosting games at The Cambridge Masonic Lodge. All games will be hosted there, on the same schedule as before. Sabbat continues to be held at a private location.

The address of the new site is:
1950 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140  

Free parking is available in the indicated lot on Hadley Street, try to park as close to the fence as you can.

Do not park in the Credit Union parking lot – they tow!

There is also guest parking available at the hotel, but they charge a fee.
If you have accessibility issues and need to park closer to the Lodge, please email the DC by the Tuesday before each game weekend

Game Announcement – March OWOD Weekend

Saturday Game Schedule

Apocalypse: check-in begins at 1 p.m., game runs until 5:30 p.m.
Camarilla/IA Masquerade: check-in begins at 6:30 p.m., game runs until 11
p.m.
Site fee: $15 per person, flat rate
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 320 Washington Street, Newton, MA
02458.

Sunday Game Schedule

Sabbat: check in begins at 1 p.m., game runs until 6:30 p.m..
Site fee: $5 per person, though donations are requested to support the
domain.
Location: Please email the DC or VST for the location as it is a private
residence.

You can check in ahead of time here: https://goo.gl/forms/4MDF6E74Z2ZV7gWS2

Charity Reminder!

This month we are also collecting NEW books for Barbara
Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland Maine.  Books will be collected by
Miranda during Apoc and Masq on March 9th, and by Laura or an ADC during
Sabbat and Space. Prestige will be given for donations. As per the
guidelines in the Membership Handbook, for each $2 worth of items or money
donated to a local sanctioned philanthropy, 1 general prestige point will
be awarded. In lieu of books, any cash donations can also be given during
game time. The cash will be used to purchase other books, or small toys
such as coloring books or crayons to give with the donation.

Crowne Plaza Travel Notes:
– Don’t trust Google maps to get to this hotel.  It may sit directly on top
of Massachusetts Pike, but you still need to exit the expressway (exit 17
towards Newton).
– Please park in the connected garage and bring your ticket inside to get
it validated at the front desk for free parking.
– The 57 bus is a good option for public transportation, but please don’t
be shy in asking for a lift home if you are staying for the evening game or
headed to afters.

We hope to see you there!

February Space Game announcement

This Saturday, February 16th our Space game is scheduled to take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 320 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458.

Saturday Game Schedule:
Space: check-in begins at 6:30, game runs until 11pm
Site fee: $15 per person, flat rate
Check-in Form: https://goo.gl/forms/whkXKygpaokLjPaw1
Next month we will be back to our typical fourth weekend Space game. 

Crowne Plaza Travel Notes:
– Don’t trust Google maps to get to this hotel.  It may sit directly on top of Massachusetts Pike, but you still need to exit the expressway (exit 17 towards Newton).
– Please park in the connected garage and bring your ticket inside to get it validated at the front desk for free parking.
– The 57 bus is a good option for public transportation, but please don’t be shy in asking for a lift home if you are staying for the evening game or headed to afters.
Hope to see you there!

Charity Drive – Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital

During our March games the Domain of Shattered Antiquities will be hosting a charity drive for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland Maine. This drive was suggested and is being organized by Miranda Chadbourne.

Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital is a leading pediatric hospital north of Boston. Their Children’s Life Department organizes a “Take it and Read it Library,” a collection of books for children of all ages to choose a book to read during their hospital stay. These books stay with the child, and are not returned. These books are small gifts to all sick children and their siblings a way to get away from what’s troubling them.

We are asking for donations of NEW books. All books should be appropriate for readers between the ages of newborns to young adults.

In lieu of books, any cash donations can also be given during game time. The cash will be used to purchase other books, or small toys such as coloring books or crayons to give with the donation.

Books will be collected by Miranda during Apoc and Masq on March 9th, and by Laura or an ADC during Sabbat and Space. Prestige will be given for donations. As per the guidelines in the Membership Handbook, for each $2 worth of items or money donated to a local sanctioned philanthropy, 1 general prestige point is awarded.

If you have any further questions please feel free to the DC at nhma.dc@gmail.com.

Apocalypse Game Note-

This Book Drive has been sponsored by the players from “Teeth Around Your Neck” Apoc Pack, who will be hosting a baby shower for Amy Hofman. Should any player wish to have their character give a book for an in game baby shower, but is unable to donate to the book drive, index cards will be provided for the character to write which books would have been given.

Alternatively if players are interested in donating more than one book we will set up a table with up for grabs books to be given at the baby shower.

Shattered Antiquities at Arisia

The Boston domain will be running three recruitment games at the Arisia convention, January 18-20, Werewolf: The Apocalpyse, Vampire: The Masquerade, and Space: The Infinite Edge. The schedule and teasers are below. We hope to see you there!

Werewolf the Apocalypse

White Hill (4th), Saturday 7:30pm – 11:30pm

One of the few left, you have reached out to anyone who could hear you. From wherever you come from, you arrive here, the Sept of the Last Hope, Gaia’s last shred of existence on this decaying ball of dirt. You’re not alone, others have heard your call and joined you. The warder has made accommodations for the handful left. Now is the time to gather your allies, resources, and wits before you make the final push. You’ll need to strike deep at the heart of the Wyrm before hope is lost. 18+ only.

This game is outside of the regular chronicle, and will use a light version of the mechanics.

Space Infinite Edge

White Hill (4th), Sunday 1pm – 5pm

500 years ago one of the largest interstellar cruise lines left the Core to take the nobility on a cruise they would never forget. They succeeded, after a fashion; they received a signal from within the event horizon of a black hole. Investigating the signal brought the ship into contact with a powerful entity, which quickly possessed the ship. This mythos entity now feeds upon the souls of those who come on board. It loves Humanity. It always has, and it always will. 18+ only.

This game is run in chronicle, and characters played will earn standard and event XP.

Vampire The Masquerade

White Hill (4th), 7pm – 11pm

Boston Minds Eye Society. Gehenna was a lie. For centuries the forces of the Camarilla and the Sabbat waged a bitter war over the fate of vampire kind. After the dust settled and Caine did not return, the two factions are left to forge an uneasy truce. You take on the role of one of the ambassadors from the two factions meeting to craft the treaty in favor of your people. Can you secure the future of your faction or will your rivals claim dominance? 18+ only.

This game is outside of the regular chronicle, and will use a light version of the mechanics.


Boston Game Announcement – January 2019

Greetings!
This weekend we will be holding our OWOD games.Saturday Game Schedule:
Apocalypse: check-in begins at 1 p.m., game runs until 5:30 p.m.

Camarilla/IA Masquerade: check-in begins at 6:30 p.m., game runs until 11 p.m.
Site fee: $15 per person, flat rate
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 320 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458.
Sunday Game Schedule: 
Sabbat: check in begins at 1 p.m., game runs until 6:30 p.m..
Site fee: $5 per person, though donations are requested to support the domain.

Location: Please email the DC or VST for the location as it is a private residence.
Next weekend we will be running Apocalypse, Masquerade, and Space at Arisia! Please come help us make it great!
Crowne Plaza Travel Notes:
– Don’t trust Google maps to get to this hotel.  It may sit directly on top of Massachusetts Pike, but you still need to exit the expressway (exit 17 towards Newton).
– Please park in the connected garage and bring your ticket inside to get it validated at the front desk for free parking.
– The 57 bus is a good option for public transportation, but please don’t be shy in asking for a lift home if you are staying for the evening game or headed to afters.

Space Survey

Hi Space Players!
As most of us are aware, Christmas falls rather close to our game this year. Please fill out this survey and we’ll see about keeping our regular game date or moving it, based on who is available.
Please submit your responses by noon on December 8th so that we can let everyone know the plan during the Domain Meeting on Saturday.
Thank you!

Game Day Annoucement – OWoD Games & Domain Meeting

This weekend we will be holding our OWOD games and having a quick Domain Meeting between games. If you have agenda items for the domain meeting, please let us know. For our Space and Sabbat players, we apologize the domain meeting is not conveniently timed for your games but hope you can meet us there.

Saturday Game Schedule:
Apocalypse: check-in begins at 1 p.m., game runs until 5:15 p.m.

**Domain Meeting!** 5:15 p.m. right after Apocalypse.
Masquerade: check-in begins at 6:45 p.m., game runs until 11 p.m.
Site fee: $15 per person, flat rate
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 320 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458.
Sunday Game Schedule: 
Sabbat: check in begins at 1 p.m., game runs until 6:30 p.m..
Site fee: $15 per person, flat rate

Location: Please email the DC or VST for the location as it is a private residence.

Crowne Plaza Travel Notes:
– Don’t trust Google maps to get to this hotel.  It may sit directly on top of Massachusetts Pike, but you still need to exit the expressway (exit 17 towards Newton).
– Please park in the connected garage and bring your ticket inside to get it validated at the front desk for free parking.
– The 57 bus is a good option for public transportation, but please don’t be shy in asking for a lift home if you are staying for the evening game or headed to afters.

November Featured Game of the Month: Saturday 11/17

Space: The Infinite Edge

VST Email: st.sabbat.nhma@gmail.com

VSS:https://wiki2017.mindseyesociety.org/wiki/Boston_Space_VSS

OOC Notes:

  • Characters with any especially unusual approvals, plot issue items or PvP issues pertinent to their characters should contact the ST staff before arrival by email.
  • Players Characters who wish to engage in PvP especially physical conflict must have a member of the ST staff present, and have alerted the VST before any related action is taken.