NASG'98 (Netrek Addicts Summer Gathering)

Some photographs were made too:

Sven Wallman wrote this report for us:

Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 16:24:31 +0200
From: Sven Wallman 
To: Multiple recipients of list 
Subject: NASG '98?

This mailing-list didn't work during NASG, so I think it's time to write a
small summary.

I arrived at Amsterday airport in the afternoon on Aug Wed 5th and the
first thing I saw was two well-dressed businessmen walking together,
holding hands. "Yes! This is where they are having NASG this year" was my
spontaneous thought.

I took the next train to Amsterdam and got off at the first stop where a
an individual in need of a haircut approached me asking me if I wanted to
meet his virginal sister. "No thanks, I'm Swedish", I replied. Oops,
turned out it was Pieter greeting me and asking me how the trip was.

We took the tram to the university (without paying!!). Such freedom. The
university was a big complex and the computer labs were equipped with
netrek-consoles (sparc workstations). Two vending machines were
strategically located in the hall, supplying us with Mars bars and Cokes.

Pieter, Erik, Frank and Henrik had installed a bronco-server, a
sturgeon-server and a paradise-server for us to play with. Heikko, Sven
Neuhaus, Dirk, Erhard and Kurt arrived Wednesday afternoon making the
gathering almost complete. A full game was played and the team with the
biggest amount of non-nasgers won. I think the "let's have 3
bombers"-strategy hurt us.

Most of us slept at Pieter's place. I told everyone with a loud voice
"This bed is mine because I'm the oldest and sleeping on the floor helps
build character something you non-Swedish dudes are in need of". 

Thursday 6th: We went up at noon, bought breakfast and went to the lab.
We played sturgeon, freeciv and bronco. Craig showed up and we played a
full game with a few subs. Data got horribly angry at his team because
they were busy shouting "things to do" to each other instead of responding
to his messages.
I was on the other team (2 subs). We had names like Gay Pride and Pretty
in pink. Playing with most of the team in one lab was great, enabling us
to do beautiful, synched oggs. Erik spoke to our subs (one Canadian and
one American) as if he was a born again-Christian. "Stay on target, 1!
What are you doing, 1! Det!!!! who is 1?? good work, 1".

the game ended in a draw in OT (11-9, i think).

The whole gang went to a bar where pretty blonde waitresses served us
beer. We discussed the DDs role in clue-games, gossiped about players not
attending, spectacular baseoggs and ballroom dancing. 

Friday 7th: Breakfast and off to the computer lab we went. Everyone logged
on to continuum, chose a team and ejected everyone who didn't have an
Admiral-char. "okay, let's eject a now". KIA was allowed to play, but got
ejected when he expressed a softspoken opinion about the way he got
escorted.

Pizza was eaten, sturgeon, freeciv and paradise was played. We played a
cluegame but we lost for some strange reason. Perhaps because all the
specialised base-players ended up on the other team. A sad day for gay
liberation.

We walked to redlight-district Friday night. Drank beer and watched
scantily clad women conduct business. "Three for 100" was a question 3
guys (non-nasgers) asked one girl. A confused drugdealer tried to sell us
his wares. Barry bought everyone beer at a bar (he rewls).
Someone (no names) asked Pieter if we could walk through the gay street so
we did that. 

Saturday: No trek for me. Everyone had gotten so decadent we didnt leave
the house till 3 pm. We walked to the park and some brave participants
took part in some kind of country'n'western "line dancing" organised by
Amsterdam Gay Line Dancers.

I took the plane back to Sweden that afternoon, but some of the NASGers
went on partying and playing.

I'd like to thank the organisers and especially Pieter for letting us stay
at his place.

We're thinking of having some kind of netrek-weekend in England this
autumn. I hope to attend that one too.

sven