The Road To NOVA: NOVA Over!

WOW! Its hard to believe it's over, but NOVA 2014 is a done deal.

6 days of hard work (I started Wednesday at 8 am and stopped Monday at noon) to create an event that was by far the best NOVA Open yet. Some may have seen this already but Mike Brandt, the CEO of NOVA Open LLC, wrote the following in the latest news letter.

To the NOVA Open's Great Sponsors, Staff, & Attendees:

THANK YOU!

The 2014 NOVA Open was easily our best and favorite so far. People attended from around the world to participate in our gaming tournaments, organized and open play, and seminars ~ to socialize and to shop. We added many new and innovative components to the NOVA Open, resulting in success, a million laughs, fun stories, and wonderful success. We saw truly fine art submitted to Capital Palette, watched incredible competitions, camaraderie, and connections formed, and sat back to enjoy the smiling faces of our attendees throughout the halls.

Perhaps most importantly, we achieved success in the greatest fundamental goal of the NOVA - helping raise awareness and resources in supporting worthy higher causes throughout the world. The numbers are still coming in, but early signs show the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation raising nearly $20,000 thanks to the generosity and participation of a compassionate, global force of tabletop wargamers.

I never imagined where the NOVA Open would go, and its Fifth Year didn't fail to once again surprise me with the warmth, imagination, sociability, and excitement of our staff, supporters, and attendees. We look forward to using your feedback and enthusiasm to fuel implementation of new ideas, further improvement of present successes, and planning for an even bigger and better NOVA Open 2015. As you enjoy the coming Autumn, we hope you'll think fondly on the memories built this past weekend, and join us in looking excitedly forward to the next year.

As usual, keep your eyes peeled for our annual survey, and let us know what we did right, and what we could do better moving forward. Also, mark your calendars - Labor Day Weekend of 2015 will be here before any of us know it! Also, keep your eyes on our regular newsletters ... we already have several exciting things set up that we just can't quite tell you about yet!

Thanks to all of you for making the NOVA something worth putting on every year. Stay safe, enjoy life, never forget the value of play to a happy life, and we hope to see you next year.

Mike Brandt, CEO
NOVA Open, LLC

I have decided to do a picture dump rather than my normal day by day coverage from previous years. Get ready for a bunch of pictures.

Part 1 Set up- Wednesday - Thursday morning

New Cases

Part 2-the Lounge
We took 2 rooms on the 18th floor and turned them into a VIP lounge but this year it was open to all guests. Coffee and doughnuts in the AM, Soda and sandwiches in the afternoon, and drinks till 1 AM. (we had an ABC license) Good times...

Part 3- Charity Armies
We raised almost $20,000 for our charities this year. Check out the set up...
This was a bonus item added to the Ultramarine army
the Nid and Ultramarine army displayed on the battlefield
This battlefield was a donation and sold at auction for $500.00

Part 4 capital palette
More pictures can be found here

Capital Palette (List of Winners)

Fan Favorite: Nicholas Pasch, Iguana
Best in Show: John Steining, Contemptor, killing Sons of Horus Knight
HISTORICAL/MODERN

Small Single
Gold: Frank Behrens, Gladiator
Silver: Alex Akers, "Et Tu, Brutus"
Bronze: Steve Carey, Danish Warlord

Large Single
Gold: John Brader, Panther

Collection
Gold: John Steining, Panthers
Silver: Alex Akers, Early War Gzbirjuger
Bronze: Richard Rush, WWII USMC

FANTASY/ALTERNATE REALITY
Small Single
Gold: Rhodes Davis, Forest Stalker
Silver: Martin Jones, Ulris the Defiler
Bronze: Alex Akers, Khador Warcaster

Large Single
Gold: Nicholoas Pasch, Dwarf Slayer
Silver: Martin Jones, Monique Denoir
Bronze: Alex Akers, Thorin Oakenshield

Collection
Gold: Kevin "Bogo" Bogucki, Dr. McMourning's Lab
Silver: Jeremy Bernhardt, Ninja Goblins
Bronze: Frank Behrens, Brun Cragback and Lug

SCIENCE FICTION
Small Single
Gold: Alex Akers, World Eaters, Pre-Heresy
Silver: Mitch Stevens, Nurgle Lord
Bronze: Martin Jones, Shasvasti Noctifer

Large Single
Gold: John Steining, Contemptor, killing Sons of Horus Knight
Silver: Martin Jones, J3FF
Bronze: John Steining, Sons of Horus Land Raider

Collection
Gold: Jeremy Dobbins, Ultramarines
Silver: Steve Carey, Ork Warboss with Retinue
Bronze: Joseph Johnson, Blood for the Blood God

Part 5 The Games

This is not a test (Demo)

Part 6 - Characters- We were able to get members of the 501st squadron to show up and support X wing for its 1st year at the NOVA! We also has one of our returning favorites Commander Bestian leader of the Human Faction of our Narrative Campaign.