Tom Vasel
United States
Homestead
Unspecified
Top 100 Games of all Time
Dice Tower Convention, July 2012!!!!
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Hooray! It's that time of year again - the BGG Secret Santa! Well, Christmas is still a while away, but if we want this to run smoothly, we got to get it started now.
If you want to sign up for the BGG Secret Santa, we invite everyone to get involved. But before you do, please read the following guidelines to make sure that we are all on the same page.
1.) We invite all to join, closing it on November 19th. At that point, each person involved will have a random name and address sent to them. Players should check the BGG profile and choose a game off of that person's wishlist and send it to them, so that it arrives by Christmas.
2.) All involved should update their wishlist (NOT want list) of games. Please have at least ten currently available games on your list, and try to have some of them fall within a reasonable price range. If you only have high priced, hard-to-find games on your list, don't be surprised when you don't get them.
3.) Secret Santa is all about the giving, not the getting, so be prepared that the person who is sending you a gift may be a jerk and not do so. Most people last year did a good job, but idiots do abound - and I urge you NOT to join the Secret Santa unless you plan to send a gift; this isn't "get a free game for nothing" club. Those who don't send gifts, and then won't respond to follow-up emails from us may have their accounts suspended, as we don't want the name of BGG besmirched by greedy folk.
4.) You should buy one game for the person who you are giving a gift to, and not a dinky game like a card game - use Ticket to Ride as a good control measure. However, there is no problem with going above and beyond - sending two, three, or even more games! And what makes it really cool is if you can personalize the gift somehow. Examples and ideas can be found on this geeklist.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/17908. Some really nice stuff was given out last year.
5.) This is an international Secret Santa. Everyone from all countries is welcome to join. Realize that you very well may be given someone from a foreign country, so be prepared to factor shipping into your gift. Some have complained about this in the past, but I am determined to keep this event truly international, and those who don't want to get involved are welcome to start a localized Secret Santa in their countries. I love the fact that BGG is pulling the whole international community together - and this is a really neat indication of that fact.
6.) I will add any online stores (from whatever country) wish to get involved in the program. Please notify me if you run an online store and want to get involved in the program.
An early Merry Christmas to all who get involved, and let's see how much fun we can have!!
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Larry Mendel
United States
Laguna Hills
California
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
oh cool!!! I'm in!!!
Gantrell
"KMG365"
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Don't hate me because I'm beautiful
United States
Chula Vista
California
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Ditto! I just signed up.
Can't wait to find out who I get to be Santa to.
My first time for this.
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Counting down to the London Marathon
United Kingdom
BRISTOL
but I'd rather live in the south of France
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Excellent! Thanks for running this, Tom. 
I appreciate it may be a little more expensive at the moment for a US resident to buy and ship a gift for a UK resident than vice versa, but I endorse Tom's comments about the international aspect of this. Last year, I received a gift from Chile and I had never even communicated with anyone from Chile before - either on BGG or elsewhere.
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skippen
United States
Greeley
Colorado
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
In again!
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Scott Alden
United States
Dallas
Texas
Aldie's Full of Love!
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
I'm in!
We need a new microbadge too - if anyone has a good one post here, and I'll pick my fave - and give you some geekgold for the effort.
We have a lame one in the system for now - but I can update with your masterpiece.
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Steven Packard
United States
Palmdale
California
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Thanks for doing this again, Tom. I'm especially glad that you're starting it earlier this time. It seemed like the last two years there was a bit of a time crunch, especially for international recipients. I'm looking forward to shopping for a new friend again.
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John Erickson
United States
Winona
Minnesota
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
I'm in.
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Almost signed up last year but then regretted it after seeing so many posts of people having fun with this, so will definietly sign up this year.
Hopefully the 200+ games on my wishlist will give secret santa enough choice
Thanks for organising this again Tom
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Oh! Look at my wrist! Gotta go.
United States
Central Point
Oregon
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
In.
Great fun last year.
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Sheldon Florence
Canada
Vancouver
British Columbia
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
I'm interested in participating but also poor and high shipping costs internationally may be the deciding factor. I can justify dropping $30 - 40 on a game but another $20+ for shipping is too much (especially if I have to get the game shipped to me and then off to wherever in the world).
I was wondering if it would be cool if I found an online merchant in the same country as the giftee and had them listed as the sending location with my own address listed as billing. It may end up cutting into the secrecy of the whole secret santa thing but could also tip the scales towards my contributing.
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Melissa
Australia
Melbourne
Victoria
Best wishes to you all for 2011. xxx
Mostly offline, but trying.
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
BGG Secret Santa rocks! 
Thanks for organising this again, Tom.
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Susie_Cat
United Kingdom
Oxfordshire
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
polkeroo wrote: I was wondering if it would be cool if I found an online merchant in the same country as the giftee and had them listed as the sending location with my own address listed as billing.
I was wondering that - did this happen at all in previous years? Even sending it straight from the suppliers to the giftee would save the postage which would be good, especially since we are having postal strikes in the UK at the moment...
I'm sure Nick (Moviebuffs) from Shire Games would consider being involved in this way for the UK end. I don't know him personally, but I know he is active on BGG and he has an excellent reputation for going that extra mile for customers.
Susie_Cat.
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Nick Fisk
United Kingdom
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
Come on the mighty Seagulls! So excitied about our first game at the Amex in August after 14 homeless years ....
Erm ... ahem .... Here goes: "Come to Shire Games! If you've never been before, now is the perfect time to come along, as we've just moved to a huge new shop in Stoke-on-Trent! Come along, stay a while and play some games! "
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
I'm in!
Woohoo!!
Oh ....
Shire Games in the UK will once again get involved.
That means that any games bought for the BGG Secret Santa will be anonymized (if that's a word) and gift-wrapped in nice sparkly Xmas paper before sending on.
Have fun all!
N.
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Nick Drochak
United States
Issaquah
Washington
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
What a great idea. I'm definitely in and love the idea it's international. I'm in Japan, but I don't mind shipping anywhere in the world.
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Nick Fisk
United Kingdom
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
Come on the mighty Seagulls! So excitied about our first game at the Amex in August after 14 homeless years ....
Erm ... ahem .... Here goes: "Come to Shire Games! If you've never been before, now is the perfect time to come along, as we've just moved to a huge new shop in Stoke-on-Trent! Come along, stay a while and play some games! "
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Susie_Cat wrote: polkeroo wrote: I was wondering if it would be cool if I found an online merchant in the same country as the giftee and had them listed as the sending location with my own address listed as billing. I was wondering that - did this happen at all in previous years? Even sending it straight from the suppliers to the giftee would save the postage which would be good, especially since we are having postal strikes in the UK at the moment... I'm sure Nick (Moviebuffs) from Shire Games would consider being involved in this way for the UK end. I don't know him personally, but I know he is active on BGG and he has an excellent reputation for going that extra mile for customers. Susie_Cat.
Great minds ...... etc
N.
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Andrew Breitenbach
United States
Salt Lake City
Utah
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
polkeroo wrote: I was wondering if it would be cool if I found an online merchant in the same country as the giftee and had them listed as the sending location with my own address listed as billing. It may end up cutting into the secrecy of the whole secret santa thing but could also tip the scales towards my contributing.
Yes, I can indeed verify this happened last year. I in fact helped a guy in Australia try to find a domestic store in the US to have the games sent from -- his Secret Santa was in the US. (Don't know how much of a help to him I ended up being in the end, though.) There are times when this is impossible because of the location of your target, but oftentimes this is possible.
Just be sure to find the store in the actual country of the target -- VAT is not your friend! 
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Andrew Breitenbach
United States
Salt Lake City
Utah
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Will there be a special "Secret Santa" username which anyone can log into to taunt their targets with? That was one of my favorite parts last year.
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
My wife asked me about this only two days ago and I said I didn't expect to hear anything before early November. I was pleasantly surprised to see this already. Ok, let's go and make sure that wish list is updated properly then. Er - that's right, the Essen reports haven't shown up yet, I'll have to wait at least another week before I do that.
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Phil Harding
Australia
Ashfield
NSW
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Thanks Tom, I'm in!
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Susie_Cat
United Kingdom
Oxfordshire
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Moviebuffs wrote: Susie_Cat wrote:
I'm sure Nick (Moviebuffs) from Shire Games would consider being involved in this way for the UK end. I don't know him personally, but I know he is active on BGG and he has an excellent reputation for going that extra mile for customers.
Susie_Cat.
Great minds ...... etc N.
Thanks Nick - I've never been called a great mind before!
Count us in too...
Susie_Cat.
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Chris Johnson
United States
Azusa
California
One of Alabama 3's finest songs, especially the versions on the single this image is from...
Sweet Pretty M*th*rf*ck*ng Country Acid House Music - All night long!
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
I haven't yet decided on whether I'm doing this, but I did recently have to do a shipping quote that might be relevant for those worried about potentially shipping abroad from the US.
Remember, the USPS has substantially increased rates from last year; just over 5 pounds (I'm The Boss + packing materials) from the US to Greece was just under $40 or $52, depending on the speed desired.
Yes, you could easily be spending more on shipping than on the game(s).
Just something to think about. (And a darn good reason to *not* be requiring involuntary international shipping, but I don't expect Tom to get off of that particular hobby horse.)
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Tom Verdonck
Belgium
Edegem
Antwerp
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
I'm in again, this was so much fun last year !
Thanks a lot for organizing this once more Tom !!!
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Neil Cook
United Kingdom
Burton on Trent
Staffs
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Missed out on this last year as I was still new to the whole 'BGGSS' concept. Aint gonna be making that mistake again... I'm in
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T. Nomad
New Zealand
Winnipeg/Auckland/Cheonan
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Re: BGG Secret Santa 2007
Well done, former fellow-countryman!
Now that I realise we can use local gamestores (is there a list of "shops BGG loves" anywhere?) to deliver the gifts, I'm in, too!
QUESTION: Is the name we enter on the form our BGG username, or our IRL name?
Happy Chanukah, everyone!
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Top 100 Games of all Time
