Northern Wind 3; Staying in Springfield ?

[strikers_blade]

Some of you saw that John Lu might not bring the Northern Wind series in Springfield for 2006. Indeed, he wants to move it down South a bit. The thing I would like to know is what you guys think about this? Would you prefer to keep it here and if so, what would be needed to have you come to the event?

[Fox]

I would like it in ohio... but not at springfield

I see no reason for paying 90$ to play at a field we always play at...

[Big Clips]

Well, if the game is going to be moved to Ft Benning's Mekema MOUT, then hands down it is going to be a better option to have it there.

An event in Ohio would be nice, but half of the fun of national events is the travel, hanging out in a new area, and the comradere with other national players.

Regardless I plan to go. Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Alaska. Ill be there. I just need a time and place.

[nextmayor]

This has already been communicated to Lion Claws, but TAC will try to attend OPNW III, the op in GA, and OPI IV. However, with there being a Lion Claws event in July, August, and Sept/Oct. we might have to drop one of the events due to timing. If Lion Claws can get these events spread out (in regard to date), TAC MIGHT be able to attend all 3.

So, until we get more detail, it's hard for TAC to commit 100%, but we'll do what we can to attend OPNW III. We had a blast last year.

[CheGregory]

as long as ive got the money (99.9% likely unless i get in a freak accident), then ill go...Ohio would be nice, but anywhere in the North-Eastern U.S. would be alright

[Fox]

You do know how much a John Lu event costs, right Che?



As well, the 08th will attend NWIII in GA, or Ohio. Or, any replacement event that is in GA.

But, My reservations are still held about it's current location. The only draw for such an expensive game is the Comanders.

[monkey_slap]

id like to attend as well, even if it is in georgia. but when is this scheduled to go?

i have to agree with fox that paying $90 for a field we always play at is a bit redundant.

[CheGregory]

yes i know its $90, but still im balancing buying equipment for my band, and airsoft. doing both on a minimum-wage job......not so easy

id have to work 18 hours to get enough money to go to NWIII, and if i have enough money at the time then ill go

""Indeed, he wants to move it down South a bit.""

???what part about NORTHERN winds makes sense with that sentence???

[monkey_slap]

because the winds are from the north? just my thought...

[Fox]

Because he's changing the location of it.

Which is why it's still named northern Wind.


Either way, I, and the 08th will attend:

Irene IV
NW III
And the GA event.

Next year we're hopeing to go down to the Texas Event, Night Scorpion.

[Big Clips]

Originally posted by Fox
Either way, I, and the 08th will attend:

Irene IV
NW III
And the GA event.

Next year we're hopeing to go down to the Texas Event, Night Scorpion.

Thank you!

And the event cost is 140 for a new player and 90 for a vet of a past JL OP.

However, it is worht the money ten fold, you will not be disapointed!

[Iceman]

I disagree with that statement. OP: Irene 3 was worth the money, defienetly, but NW series????? I'm not so sure. $90 to play on a field that I have played on over a dozen times with no new wrinkles added into it?? Not so sure about that. I understand why it's so expensive, what with flying people in and hotels and such, but once that has been seen and done and all things are taken into concideration, I'd still rather go to a game there at half the cost and still have alot of fun.


However, with all that being said, I'll still probably go. I like the series and I like the people, I just kinda wished it was at a more exotic or interesting location.

[monkey_slap]

i have to say that id personally like to play somewhere that i havent seen before, but then again there are those in that area that would beg to differ. my point being that springfield may be a lustrious environment for those that havent been here before. they may love the hills, the forests, etc.

but id imagine that there would need to be something else. just a large forest is fun, but without effects/buildings or bunkers/vehicles it may get old fast. especially since this is an all day thing

[Lu]

Well if it is moved to Georgia, I am sure it will be at a good event site worth the cash.

[Hillslam]

Can someone rate past Northern Winds events? Setting them alongside another event like IRENE, how did they stack up?

An Irene class event I could see driving to Georgia for, but anything less.... dunno.

[Big Clips]

Originally posted by Hillslam
Can someone rate past Northern Winds events? Setting them alongside another event like IRENE, how did they stack up?

An Irene class event I could see driving to Georgia for, but anything less.... dunno.

Well, Irene and Northern Wind are really in the same class of events. However Irene is a compelation of all the best parts of each event and put into John Lu's Ultimite event.

Northern Wind, Irene, Lion Claws, and Hac Bao all fall into the John Lu Series.

Now, this year there will be many more it seems, but Irene's claim to fame as of late was the use of a MOUT site. And in my honest opinon no, that event cannot be topped.

[nextmayor]

Originally posted by Hillslam
Can someone rate past Northern Winds events? Setting them alongside another event like IRENE, how did they stack up?

An Irene class event I could see driving to Georgia for, but anything less.... dunno.

To start with, just due to the field, the last 2 IRENE's are hard to beat. The Zussman Training Facility will be almost impossible to beat, but the shut down air base of IRENE II (30 acres, 30 building) was pretty cool too.

In regard to OPNW, I have to say I had an awesome time there. The only other events I've been to that even come close were OP Blind Fury I and Distant Horizon. In the end though I can understand why people won't pay $90+ to play down at Springfield. It is one of the best wood land fields I've played at, but if you wait a couple of months you can play there for less money.

Team TAC is excited about OPNW III, but part of that has to do with seeing friends from around the country that we've met at other Lion Claws events.

So, IMO, DO NOT expect an IRENE type event out of OPNW. Just expect a very solid woodland event with players from around the region.

[Violator]

90 bucks for Springfield? No way.

[strikers_blade]

Well, we have been discussing about this for a while now and to sum up what John Lu's event are, I would say they are great but not for the reason that you guys could think.

First of, if you take two seconds to think and analyse the scenarios, you would think they are fairly simple, not too much complexity, enjoyable to do. I call John's scenarios "No risk" missions. Meaning he is taking to chances as far as someone screwing up the goals or getting complicated enough so everybody will get bored. It is the kind of scenario you would retrieve in most paintball field or casual airsoft events. Out of 5 (5 being complex and challenging) , I would rate the scenarios 2/5.

Second, the facilities. No need to say, what makes John Lu's event is the location of them. Lion Claws is based on a 7000 acres field, Irene is now based around Ex military base (I-2) and MOUT (I-3). Springfield is based on a challenging field, which is Springfield. Such fields are honestly hard to beat. In fact, we are getting spoiled for having such opportunity and the more we will play on them (i.e. I-3), the more we will think other fields don't worth anything, which is quite not true. Out of 5, I would definitely give a 4.9/5 for the fields.

Third, the mentality. For those that did not attend Lion Claws event, you can't really know what is John's Lu mentality about the sport. So if you enjoyed NW or Irene ways to be done, you honestly do not like what John can really do. At Lion claws, you wake up with the trumpet, everybody get in squad formation, platoon formation, battalion formation, etc. Everything is squared at 7am (or 8am, can't remember). You really get the seriousness of the event. You show up very relax but you get really quick into the "game". Personally, I love this environment because your adrenaline and your mindset will make you forget you have been running and climbing all days. I like to come back and being drained, mentality and physically. This is when the event is enjoyable for me. Irene series is getting close to this mindset but not enough to be noticeable. I don't know why such difference between CA and Ky though...maybe not enough real military people involved. As far as Springfield. Well, I have to say that you will see more "casual" players than actual military mindset players there...so don't expect too much discipline...unless it changes this year...if still available. Out of 5, I would give 5/5 for LC, 3/5 for Irene and 1/5 for NW.

Fourth, the cost. Yes, John Lu event can run high. Nw was the cheapest at 100$ or so. Then LC at 120$ and finally Irene 3 at 140$. You think it is expensive? eck, wait this year, we are expecting raises at 200$ for Irene and about 150$ for LC. NW would have most likely stayed at 100$ or up a little. Why so expensive would you say? Well, John is a businessman, so he is not doing it to break even. You then also add the insurances and responsibilities attached to it (rentals, field fees, restroom, etc). Even more, you have to pay a minimum of 3 hosts (2 commanders and John), meaning flights, hotels, cars, food, etc. So yes, such event can cost a lot for John.

Firth, the raffle. Well, John has always tried to get nice raffle for all events but the more it goes, the more he would like to get rid of them, thinking that raffles should not be the priorities for players to show up or not. Will he actually get rid of them? I doubt, since he is a good business man ;)

Now here is the question; Do John Lu's event worth the money and time? I guess it is a personal choice here. I personally enjoyed LC because you have the choice to play a "as close as" military simulation you can get right now and by the fact that you play with another 480 players in the field. Irene Series are great because of the field although at 200$/players, I might have to reconsider my participation due to the fact that at one point, we all have to say when too much is too much. Northern Wind, well, many things would have to change to make it worth money and time. More challenging missions, better mindset would be the first 2 things to change. the field is physically challenging so I am good with it.

2006 should be very special, as we will know more about John events but also because the bar has been set high at the end of 2005. Will we all have to adapt to spoiled players? will we have to get use to the field owner that are starting to know they can make more money from us? (do you think the army did not notice that Zussman could bring more money?). personally, I will not assume anything but one thing is sure, being an organizer in Springfield, we are thinking about some field improvement, which would include buildings and vehicles.....yeah...we have to keep up too ;)

[monkey_slap]

blade, how would you rank NW in milsim compared to Op Cold Toes?

5 being way more
3 being the same
1 being way less

[strikers_blade]

Cold Toes is a "casual" milsim event due to the fact that many players were new to it. Basing your answer on that event might not be a perfect thing. As NextMayor said, the Blind Fury serie is more in the line of milsim, even if we did not reach the level we would like yet.

Although, Cold toes has more restrictions out of the bath than John Lu's event, So I guess I could say CT is more milsim than John's event. If you attended Distant Horizon, that is another one which was more milsim than John.

[monkey_slap]

ah, then i dont think i would attend, especially for the cost. if it stays under $100 ill consider it and if theres a good turn out. but otherwise, it doesnt seem like anything special

[Hillslam]

I'll be going simply because I'm new and want to experience it all. I have another question though. I'd go to every event I can provided I can get away from work - not really worried about cost. And Georgia I could see driving to if I had to. But California. I've drove that cross country thing three times, and well, never again. So I'd fly. But my question is: how in the world do you fly with airsoft equipment as part of your checked luggage? Is it even possible? Any flyers with info?

[strikers_blade]

Strikers sent 13 guys at Lion Claws 3 last year. we shipped 1/2 ton and we carried about 1/2 ton too. On the way up there, we had mostly gear and electronic equipment in the baggages but few of us carried pistols and mags without problems. Obviously, they were tagged properly and NOT in the carry-on baggages. the half ton shipped was guns, bbs, etc. No incident there.

On the way back, those carrying mags and pistols on the way up, got problems and got their mags confiscated. some because they forgot them in their carry-on and some have been recalled on the speaker after baggage security scan).

So as you can see, it is still a hit or miss if you want to carry your stuff on plane. I personally prefer to ship as much as possible instead.

note: We shipped the stuff to one of our distributor :D

[Nosebuckle]

back on topic, I would like to see NW stay in Springfield. It is indeed a great field, but like Blade said, NW needs an upgrade. Not to make it like LC or Irene, since they are all different events, but tailor the event to the terrain. Now this past year John dropped the ball (but not really since he was ill) and the event was sorta "thrown together" at the last minute, so I understand the lag from this past year. But give John the time and health and he will create a spectaculat event, well worth your $100. It was good enought just to fight along side a distinguished hero like MSG. Mullin.

As for John hiking his prices up, I'm not convinced this will be a huge issue. I can undserstand him making a modest increase in prices due to his increasing demand (just look at the attendance figures for LC and Irene), but a saavy businessman like John, who is dedicated to spreading MilSim in the airsoft world, would not be foolish enough to push out the most dedicated players and teams. I agree that $200 is too much for an event. With his numbers increasing at every event, he really doesnt need to increase prices. $150 seems like good ceiling for these games.

[Captain Jackass]

As much as I like springfield, I would have to say having it somewhere else would be more appealing. I have never been to a NW or irene event but am very interested to do so. As said before, part of the fun is going somewhere new to explore and meet people. I think springfield is a great field but the last time I was there it was much smaller than previous years, dont know if that change is temporary or not. So a large event sounds better suited at an ample, different field.

[john]

I feel the event should stay where it is. Springfield is very large. I have been there several times and have never seen the whole AO. I feel that NW, as other John Lu events has to grow. Starting over at a new AO is a step backwards.

I like springfield for a number of reasons.
Most interesting is the amount of wide trails suitable for atleast 4wheeler transportation.

2nd is the ability to house 400 players maybe... ? I think a compromise can be reached. If the event cost less money we could schedule the date for when we knew we'd have 200+ people. That might attract more people from outside ohio. I feel OH players would respond to that too.

3rd
I have read more than one post where the strikers were talking about quick tear down structures etc. I don't see why they couldn't prep the field to make it more challenging.

4th location
close to 3 states maybe even fo :)

I don't think it's the field that needs to change. It's the structure/props etc.

Rent a chopper blade.

HNIC:D

[strikers_blade]

Well, John Lu events are not Strikers event so I guess I can't do much here :p ..prepping for our events is another story though...