Ludo-Outaouais 2024 - Frequently Asked Questions

In the beginning, the name Ludo-Outaouais was used for a boardgaming event hosted in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, and the name stuck to this day. (Though we also call it "Ludo 2024" for short.) In the past, a gaming club of the same name managed the event, but nowadays it's a registered non-profit named Ludo-Gatineau, that takes care of it.

The term is, admittedly, a bit vague. So to clarify, we're talking about people gathering to play tabletop board games, just for the fun of it.

Nope, not quite. There are many, many board games out there - probably more than you can imagine.
For starters, go have a look at the Board Game Geek website..

That's more like it - Catan is a prime example of a "typical" European-style, modern board game, and probably the one best known by the public at large. That being said, did you know it dates from 1995? Hundreds (that's hundreds) of new board games are being published every year...

I've piqued your curiosity? Great! Now come see us.

This simply means a gathering where people play whatever they want, with whomever they want, as opposed to organized tournaments.

In short, people volunteer to lend games from their personal collection. All you have to do is take your pick from this big library, recruit a few players, and go sit at an empty table to play. That's it! Rinse & repeat until you're too tired (unlikely) or the place closes (more likely).

Hey, I've got no qualms against Monopoly! It's the guy from the third question who didn't want to play! Monopoly gets more scorn than it deserves, especially since most people don't know all the proper rules, having learned the game via word of mouth.
But I digress: you-can-play-wha-te-ver-you-want, and that's that.

Ok, now you're pulling my leg. We'll never see the end of this FAQ at that rate...

Those two conventions do offer open gaming (and in fact, Ludo-Outaouais has been involved with both of them in some aspect or other), but only as a small segment of a much broader coverage (RPGs, wargames, etc). Ludo-Outaouais is only about board games.
In fact, that "open gaming" formula is used in many large conventions throughout Quebec: Les Jeux au Boute (Chertsey), Le Festival du Jeu de Longueuil (Longueuil), Le Délirium Ludique (Quebec City), and our own Ludo-Outaouais. People often attend multiple events in this "circuit".

Pretty much. (And let me point out that if you know about the GoF, you're probably beyond the scope of this FAQ section.)

People who attend open gaming events do so for several reasons:
Beginners get an opportunity to discover games of all sorts, as well as to meet new players whose tastes (and gameplay styles) differ from their usual circle of friends.
Seasoned players get the pleasure of seeing their old gaming pals from across the province.
Such gatherings also provide the opportunity to try games you otherwise wouldn't: new releases, rare out-of-print games, party games for large groups, etc.

Even if they aren't our main attraction, we do hold a few tournaments here & there. Our Triathlon (three games of different styles) is a favourite of players year after year. And it won't be the only tournament - there will be others.

That's perfectly understandable, especially since the players have grown to know each other, which can feel a bit intimidating for newcomers. However, attendees are very open to meeting new players - after all, we're all here to have a good time, aren't we? Just hover near the games library, keep an eye for groups looking to start a new game, and don't hesitate to ask if you can join them - they're likely to agree. And if that doesn't work, no harm done, just ask the next group!

Although the association's language of business is French, our yearly event has always aimed to offer bilingual support (successfully, it would seem, as we do have English-only speakers among our regulars). The worst that might happen is that some folks might not be comfortable enough English-wise to play with you, but once again, no harm no foul, just ask others. Badges will also have stickers to indicate what language(s) people are comfortable speaking.

Gluttons for punishment, aren't they?
More seriously, even if people do care for their games, the desire to share their passion with others comes first.
Ludo-Outaouais uses a computerized game borrowing system which ensures we know who borrowed what. In the past, attendees have been respectful of others' games, and the number of incidents has been minimal.

Ludo's game borrowing system can be queried to know whether a given game is in the library, whether or not it's currently available, and where to find it (approximately).

Great! You want to help sharing our collective hobby? Kudos to you! Make sure to contact the organizers, however. They already have access to a few extensive collections, and therefore will be more interested by new and/or rare games.
Shortly before the event, we'll publish a list of games already flagged as available, which might help you assess whether or not we're missing something.

Of course. You can simply keep those games with you, or in your car, etc.

We'll have people specifically holding game demos. And of course, many players will be more than willing to explain the rules of their favourite games.

Ok, hold it. In spite of the previous answer, it's important to understand that the average player will not remember the rules of every game he or she owns, especially if it's an older game that hasn't been played recently. But hey, those rulebooks are meant to be read every now & then, right?

What, you've never heard of the "LUDO 9001" standard?
Fear not, nobody's challenging your game-explaining skills. The phrases "Have you actually played it?", "When was your last game?", "How well do you remember it?" and "Are you comfortable explaining it?" are frequently heard near the game library, and are never meant to be rude.
Typically, the true intent of those questions is to figure out how much overhead will be needed until the game actually begins. It's an important detail that impacts play length significantly. The difference between: "I know that game - I can explain it in 5 minutes without even checking the rulebook" and "I know that game - if we sit down with the rules for 45 minutes we'll be good to go" is non-negligible.

Even though emphasis isn't on that aspect, a few local stores will be on site.
Attendees can also decide to sell some of their used games during the event. See our Bazaar for more details on that.

Depending on the year, we might be offering package deals with included meals. (Check out the registration page to know for sure.) Again, depending on the year, some snacks and beverages (fruits, water, juice, coffee) might also be offered, while others (chips, soft drinks) will be for sale.

So, hey, have you tried the latest game from Wolfgang Kramer?

Ok, here's my take on the matter. Everybody agrees that other people's games should be treated with utmost respect. However, event organizers aren't going to deploy a "snack police force" nor a "soft drink militia" - especially if you consider the game owner is often around the table, or nearby.
My advice would be to keep two things in mind: Do you know how much the game you're currently playing really costs? Would you be willing to cover that price yourself? Accidents do happen...
Finally, we strongly encourage you to make use of resealable bottles or mugs.

When an event offers free food and beverages, they usually come from sponsorships. Rest assured that your registration money is primarily to account for the facilities, and the meals when applicable.

You betcha!