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August 29 - September 1, 2019
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy Arlington, VA 22202
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February 15, 2019: Year 10; Edition 4
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Hello, All ~
OUR FEB 15 NEWSLETTER -
THIS ONE
- IS AMONG THE MOST CONTENT RICH . . . READ THOROUGHLY!
NOVA Open Registration is once again just around the corner, opening formally on March 1, 2019, at 8PM US EST time. This is a big moment in the year for us, as months of effort by our key staff and leads develops into a rush to grab the most exciting registration items. We're all a little extra emotional this time around - IT'S OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY! To celebrate, we're cooking up some extra special activities and surprises for the convention proper as we look back on a decade of fun, family, and supporting good causes in style.
As you prepare to attend, take time to look through our web cart (
novaopenstore.com). Pay special attention to the events and seminars you most want to participate in. Be ready to snag them quickly when registration opens.
Tonight, at 8PM US EST, 233 SuperNOVAs from the last three years are queued up to participate in our Early Bird SuperNOVA First Fifty event. For those who aren't in that small group, do not be dismayed! On March 1, there will still be 100 SuperNOVA bags to go after - and why wouldn't you since it's the coolest VIP bag program around? There's a certain strategic skill involved with winning a SuperNOVA, though - hovering the keyboard at 7:59PM US EST! We know there's fierce competition since the line up of 100 people with SuperNOVAs in their cart can happen in the first few seconds.
Remember, the SuperNOVA is not yours until you finish to checkout process ~ and that involves making some FAST selections (study the first article below). I also want everyone to know that NOVA Open staff and volunteers share your boat; as much as we hope they'll grab a SuperNOVA if they want one, there is no advantage. We wish all hopefuls good luck.
If you miss out on the SuperNOVA when formal registration opens on March 1, consider going right back into the cart and nabbing a DwarfNOVA. These 100 second-tier bags have grown in size and value since introduction in 2017; last year, they went quickly, as well. The final swag possibility for NOVA Open goes to the First Four Hundred (time-wise) who purchase a Convention Access Pass (CAP). They will receive our premium swag bag complimentary with their registration - totally awesome!
OF SPECIAL NOTE: Move quickly to lock in your space for the Fantasy Flight Games Grand Championships, 40K Narrative and Grand Tournament, 30K Horus Heresy, and hobby seminar activities. These all tend to sell out, often within a couple hours - sometimes even minutes. This doesn't really even cover the gamut -there's just too much NOVA Open to discuss. Every year, we are surprised by the increasing number of early sell-outs. The reason for bringing this up is underscored by the hotel sell-out in January - which happened 7 months before NOVA Open 2019 and 2 months before opening registration.
If you aren't certain about who to bring, keep in mind we are located a short Metro ride from Washington, DC, where monuments and museums are mostly free to the public. If you're into history, the surrounding hills are covered with National Battlefield Parks like Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg. Our amazing Charity Lounge (with panoramic views of Washington, DC) creates an awesome atmosphere to enjoy all weekend long and underscores the NOVA Open's commitment to its sister organization, the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation. Enjoy a full schedule of events while tasting amazing craft beers and cocktails. It's THE place to socialize with family, old and new friends, fellow hobbyists, board game fans, and industry experts - mingling with the staff from NOVA Open and parent companies alike. Plan to attend the Saturday night live band event with Embry Group - an annual crowd pleaser and one I am proud to be part of.
It’s impossible to cover all the awesome things that happen at NOVA Open every year, and we get busier and busier each time around. RESEARCH & PREP are key to a successful registration. On March 1, be ready so you don’t miss out on any of the cool activities we're providing in 2019. Please help us make this year our very best and most special ever!
Welcome to the 10th annual NOVA Open!
Mike Brandt, NOVA Open CEO
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ATTENTION 2016-18 SUPERNOVAS
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EARLY BIRD SUPERNOVA TODAY AT 8PM
How do I make sure I'm able to purchase a bag TONIGHT?
If you're on the list, you received a special email on Monday, February 12.
Be Prepared: You need to make sure you have access to the
novaopenstore.com
user account you purchased the bag with. That's how we'll be tracking you. Once you've taken care of this, study the store set up and be ready to tell us (1) which KR bag you choose; (2) what game you play; (3) what faction you represent; and (4) your shirt size.
This special, exclusive, Early Bird SuperNOVA will be available only to 2016-2018 SuperNOVAs beginning at
8:00 PM EST
sharp on
Friday, February 15, 2019
.
The pre-sale will end February 25th at 12:00 AM.
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REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 1ST!
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We're just 2 weeks from the opening of registration for NOVA Open 2019.
- If you've been to the NOVA Open in the last few years, you'll see that the registration process has not changed significantly. PLEASE make sure to use your existing account to register; adding a new account every year tends to cause confusion for everyone. If you've forgotten your password, it's better to do a reset than to set up a new account. If you have trouble with the reset process, email [email protected] BEFORE March 1st and we'll help you out.
- If this will be your first NOVA Open, WELCOME! Our registration process is easy, although deciding what events to choose from our many options may be a little more difficult! Here's what you'll need to do:
- Go to novaopenstore.com.
- Set up an account.
- Select your pass - you'll need a Convention Access Pass, a SuperNOVA, a DwarfNOVA or a day pass (or passes) before you can register for any events. Add the pass to your cart.
- Select and add to your cart any/all events, seminars and merchandise you wish to purchase.
- Read the terms and conditions.
- Check out via PayPal.
Once you've registered, you can change your schedule of events using our drop/add feature. You can also use our self transfer feature if you choose to transfer any of your events to another player (can not transfer merchandise). You will get a receipt for your purchase, but will NOT get tickets or passes online or by mail. All registration is electronic. All you'll need to do is show up in August and check in at our registration desk.
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100 SUPERNOVAS AVAILABLE MARCH 1
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As mentioned above, 50 SuperNOVAs are available tonight, February 15th ~ but
ONLY available to those who were SuperNOVAs in 2016, 2017 &/or 2018.
No Worries!
100 additional SuperNOVAs
WILL be available to everyone when registration opens on March 1st. If you're interested in snagging one of these exclusive and awesome packages, remember that all 100 will sell out in less than a minute, so don't delay! Be ready the second registration goes live.
Here are some additional tips that might help you get one of the 100 on March 1st:
- Log in and click on access passes with your cursor hovering over Super NOVA before 8:00 ET.
- Be prepared to add it to your cart the second it goes live & check out immediately. You can go back and add anything you want to your cart later, but don't try to do it all at once.
- Also, as you check out you need to choose your bag (review the pyramid to identify your choices),put in a shirt size and tell what game system & faction you play. Know what you want to say for all those things before 8:00 or you'll miss out. If you put in something that you want to change, you can email [email protected] a day or two (NOT weeks later) after March 1st and we can change it for you.
Click the
updated images below to learn more about why you want to be hovering the keyboard at
8:00pm EST on Friday, March 1, 2019.
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WARHAMMER CHAMPION TOURNAMENT
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NOVA Open - EVEN BETTER! is our inaugural Warhammer Champions event in the US. It will be at the Hyatt Regency as a Pre-Con Two-Day event for 100 players. The registration fee of $40 will be donated to the
NOVA Open Charitable Foundation - so plan to arrive early this year and join in the fun while supporting a great cause! Join the Warhammer Champions crew for an incredible selection of side events featuring drafts events, beginner sealed deck events, league, constructed and sealed tournaments.
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Pre-Order Pricing: $23.00
Pre-order your commemorative 10th Anniversary NOVA Open T-Shirt when registration opens at 8:00 PM MARCH 1ST! This is the best way to guarantee you have the size that works for you. Pre-sale items can be picked up during convention check in.
Two-Sided ... Hmmmmm? What's on the back?
FINAL PRE-SALES: JULY 1, 2019 - RESERVE THE SIZE YOU WANT BEFORE THEN! $25.00 AT THE CONVENTION!
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Marc Raley, NOVA Open's 30K lead, believes in the generosity and compassion of those who attend the convention. To that end, he has created another awesome shirt design, "NOVA Heresy 2019. " The shirt is available now for pre-sale.
Proceeds from the sale of each shirt, over and above cost, will be donated to the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation. PRE-ORDER FOR $25.00; a limited number of shirts and sizes will also be available at NOVA Open 2019 for $30.
FINAL PRE-SALES: JULY 1, 2019 - RESERVE THE SIZE YOU WANT BEFORE THEN!
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Pre-Order Pricing: $22.00
The Commemorative 10-Year Anniversary Mug will undergo a Deep Etch! According to Mike, "It's Sexy!" This is a proof photo - next time, the real thing.
Pre-Order your NOVA Open Beer Mug when registration opens at 8:00PM MARCH 1ST! Bring your 2019 NOVA Open beer mug to the Foundation Lounge during the convention and get $1 off every draft beer you order! Pre-sale items can be picked up during convention check in.
FINAL PRE-SALES: JULY 1, 2019 - $25.00 AT THE CONVENTION
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CONVENTION ACCESS PASSES (CAPS), DAY PASES & PREMIUM SWAG BAGS
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- A Convention Access Pass (CAP) is required to attend the NOVA Open; it is good fro Wednesday-Sunday. Single day passes are also available if one does not wish to attend the entire convention.
- CAPs and Day Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable items.
- The Early Bird pricing on the CAP is $50 (until April 15th); the cost will go up to $60 at 11:59pm EST the night of April 15, 2018. Each Day Pass is $20.
- There are two upgrades available which require the purchase of a CAP: SuperNOVA and DwarfNOVA. When you place an upgrade in your cart, a CAP will automatically be added and you will purchase both at checkout.
- The only people who will receive one of the NOVA Open's Premium Swag bags will be the "First 400" who purchase CAPs (and all 150 SuperNOVA upgrades). This is based on registration date alone.
- If a "First 400" cannot attend: The swag bag is forfeited unless arrangements are made ahead of time with Marti Seraphin (customerservice.com) for a friend to pick it up. NOVA Open will not ship.
- Use of board games from the NOVA Open library and/or participation in side events scheduled in that hall are free to those with a Pass; however, Board Game tournaments which confer prizes will require a nominal fee. If Board Game activities are planned in the Foundation Lounge, two drink tokens will be exchanged for a required $10 registration fee, as the Lounge is a fundraising venue for NOCF.
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CART DROP-ADD FEATURE & SELF-TRANSFER
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NOVA Open has a strict no-refund policy; however, if you find you'd like to make changes to your cart, you have two options: Drop-Add and Self-Transfer:
- The NOVA Open online cart allows attendees to drop and add most events and seminars. Sales of tangible merchandise (SuperNOVA, DwarfNOVA, shirts, coins, mugs, etc.) are final.
- Self-Transfers allow you to transfer non-tangible items in your cart (with the exception of CAP or Day passes) to a friend with a novaopen cart account.
- Drop-Add and Self Transfer features will be available throughout the convention, with certain restrictions (see public no-refund policy below).
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2019 NOVA OPEN GAMING EVENTS
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BEGIN PLANNING FOR MARCH 1
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The 2019 NOVA Open schedule is just a few items from being finalized!
Make it a point to check back here often for additions/changes.
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EVENT PRIMERS FOR NOVA OPEN 2019
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What game and events are on your NOVA Open radar this year? Study the list to help prepare for registration on Mar 1st!
Primers can change up until and after registration, and leads are highly responsive to commentary and input.
with your thoughts or questions.
We'll track changes in the newsletter and within each draft primer doc, so you're always aware of any tweaks and updates moving forward.
Click any event title to see the Primer. If your event is not linked here, visit
novaopenstore.com in a few days - they will be available for viewing there.
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INFINITY IS BACK AND BIGGER THAN EVER!
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We continue to expand in attendees and planned activities every year. 2019 brings our largest Infinity events ever! The NOVA Open Infinity team will be hosting multiple types of events: Narrative, casual, and (of course) ITS tournament events between Thursday and Sunday. Two seminars with
Corvus Belli's own Gutier Lusquiños are scheduled ~ plus Aristeia! Events, Infinity: After Dark, 2 ITS events, and an Infinity narrative event. New terrain, more staff, more awesomeness!!! Do not miss out!
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ARMADA GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP
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NOVA Open will be hosting the 2019 Star Wars Armada U.S. Grand Championship! This tournament is open to all Armada players, new and old. There will be two heats, with the top eight players from both days playing in the finals. This is your chance to play outside your local group and square off against some of the best players in the country. All prizes will be supplied by FFG. As an official Grand Championship, the top four players will secure seats to the 2020 Armada World Championships!
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Necromunda Narrative is the premier campaign that spans three (3) days and countless battles from the darkness of the Underhive to the dizzying heights of the Strangers Spire. Get ready for more monsters, deeper intrigue, and off-world trade prospects
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The Greying Legion and their minions return again to give the Horus Heresy community a packed schedule of gaming for NOVA Open 2019. The week's events will be fought from the Neo-geddon system to the galactic East of the Istvaan system. Representing the beginning of the Warmasters March on Terra, Opening Salvo and Shadow Raids -Centurion begin the week with narrative gaming that will set the tone for the weekend. The Opening Salvo event will be larger games that focus on challenging rival players and will feature most (if not all) of the Primarchs, sons of the Emperor of Mankind. While Opening Salvo represents the large scale opening battles of the Neo-geddon campaign, Shadow Raids allows players to lead smaller strike forces in the fan made Centurion Mode. These small armies feature plenty of infantry, walkers and skimmers which will be working to execute strategically important objectives for the weekends campaign.
The team is bringing back many favorites, to include the Big Blam (bring out your superheavies!), Zone Mortalis - Mortals Minoris (close quarters space station / underground battles), Bromance Bash (fan favorite doubles event) and Strike Team: Survival (small scale skirmish). This year also introduces the first Horus Heresy themed Adeptus Titanicus: Princeps Formal event at the NOVA Open, providing Princeps the opportunity to command their Legios in the name of their faction all while dressing for the occasion!
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The Age of Sigmar Narrative Team invites you to join us for a NOVA Open narrative experience in the continuing story of Dawnland. Though set in the realm of Ulgu, this year players will battle across all 8 realms as falling shards of Godbeast tear open the veil between realms. Join us for realm-themed tables and custom battleplans, tying in the story of your city-state’s rise to power. You’ll need a 1,500 point army and a custom hero on a 50 mm round base or smaller. This story will culminate into an enormous siege on Friday night, where only one team will stand triumphant. One city-state will rise to become the prominent power in Dawnland. The only question is, will it be yours?
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Board Games at NOVA Open has an exciting slate of events to announce, drawing from feedback and game tournament requests from attendees to create our roster of events. In addition to running demos, we will also host a two-round Scythe single elimination tournament, a Terraforming Mars two-round single elimination tournament, a multi-round Catan tournament, a Shards of Infinity two-round single elimination tournament, two Giant Jenga tournaments, and with more events possibly to be announced. We will also be expanding our library hours this year to allow for more hours of fun. We hope to see you there!
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At NOVA Open 2018, we had the honor of running the first major Kill Team events … ever! Kill Team is back in a big way for NOVA Open 2019, with multiple different ways to play. We will have small tournaments that fit into a single morning or afternoon, open play (including campaign games), and a 6-round Grand Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. We will be taking full advantage of the new official competitive play pack from Games Workshop, Kill Team: Arena, which was developed with heavy input from the play testers on the NOVA Open team.
Act Quickly when Registration Opens on March 1. All Kill Team events were sold out before the game was even released last year. He who hesitates . . . !
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NOVA OPEN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
NEWS
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VOLUNTEER/INTERNSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
2019 TERRAIN BUILDS (dates are subject to change)
START BY JOINING THEM TOMORROW
9am - 5pm
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March 9
March 23
April 13
April 27
May 11
May 25
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June 8
June 22
June 29 (if needed)
July 13
July 27
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HOTEL BLOCKS FOR NOVA OPEN 2019
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LOOK WHAT THE HYATT'S DOING FOR THE NOVA OPEN
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- Entire Hyatt Event Space Reserved for the NOVA Open
- Room Rates at $98 (single occupancy)
- More double rooms available in the NOVA Open Block
- Cell Reception Available in All Areas of Hotel
- 50% off In-Room Wi-Fi
- Free In-Room Wi-Fi for Gold Passport Members - Sign Up Today
- 50% off Valet Parking
- 20% off Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at the Hotel Restaurant, Cinnabar - Show Your Convention Badge!
- $4 Hyatt-Selected Beer for NOVA Open Guests THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EVENT
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The Hyatt Regency Crystal City
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA, 22202
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Book at Renaissance Today Going Fast!
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NOVA Open Blocked 100 Doubles
We Can Add More at the NOVA Open rate
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LOOK WHAT RENAISSANCE IS DOING FOR THE NOVA OPEN
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- One half-block behind the Hyatt ~ you can't get closer to the convention
- Renaissance is a 5-Star Property
- Doubles and Kings Available
- Book at $98 per night
- 20% off bar and restaurant - must show badge
- Free wi-fi for Marriott Rewards members - click to join now
- Cell Reception Available in All Areas of Hotel
- Complimentary Shuttles to DCA and Metro
- Massive parking garage; 50% discount for self-parking
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The Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, VA, 22202
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Atlantis Games and Comics
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