Since MKM abandoned us and Ovino is now only a shadow of its former self, we're left with only two Vintage events in Europe: Nebraska's War (announced December 13-16 this year) and EW EU (last one with again a disappointing showing) Looking for alternatives (incidentally Andrea came to me at EW EU with the same idea) I thought about the 4Seasons Tournament and approached the TOs.

4S had a lot of nice features: it's a (unsurprisingly) 4-stops Legacy and Modern tournament at its second complete run. Numbers have been increasing, especially with L reaching in the last one 170+ players coming from around EU. It's always held in the same venue in Bologna, city in the center of Italy with its own airport.

TOs are Legacy specialists and would be more than happy to host a Vintage event, L has of course the premier Sunday slot, Vintage would have to be concurrent to that or Modern on Saturday. I guess that for attendance is probably better to be on Sat then to overlap with the other Eternal format.

In the end I posted all this to have some feedback and gauge the interest in it, since beginning with a really low turn out could just kill it right away. Barring any unexpected circumstances we are definitely doing it, but we have the option of kicking off on 1-2 September or wait for the next one in December. Starting as soon as possible will obviously give the thing more time to grow, but I fear for the attendance since it's so close to August, it might be too short of a notice and I had confirmation that the guys from the other Italian Vintage League won't be able to come. Waiting for the next one might give us more time to spread the word, but has the risk of the Old School side event they started having in the June one growing too much and get us buried under the attendance comparison.

I'm not related to TOs in any way, just want to play more Vintage, come half July will talk with them and finalize the decision. Tagging some that migh tbe interested.

@Prospero @PeAcH @Thiim @Twiedel @stsung @francois-f @albarkhane @Nightowl974 @matori @Timewalking @nsammael @babau

Hi Log, really nice initiative. The dates however are too close for my taste to try to organize something for people who travel to this events and probably has the rest of the year already planned. The problem with November date is that it's very close to Nebraska (and I already know some people who are going there). I know there is some kind of excitement to try to build this asap, but maybe waiting until the beginning of 2019 around February would give it a little more space and also some time for people to see if it is worth to go. Additional hype would also help gather some people. I will reference this post in Twitter to see if people come with any ideas or would like to share their opinion on the matter.
Europe needs some Vintage tournaments back and I'm glad you are on this

The winter stop of 4Seasons has been confirmed to me being 1-2 December, so definitely close to Nebraska's War.

I'd not know how hard is to schedule such a trip since Bologna for me it's less than 1h by car, but as soon as I had just mentioned the possibility, friends from Belgium promptly booked their flight, even if only for Legacy in the end. @PeAcH

It seems we could try to set up sort of a side event or just outright skip it to 2019.

That sounds great! I'd be up for it. I'm not entirely sure how many of us from our country can attend though (2 of us plan to attend Nebraska War but the rest didn't seem to be interested). I'll ask players around.

Bologna is easily accessed and very a nice city and usually cheap which would make it perfect for us to go. Both September and December seem rather too close (September because many people already had plans for July/August) and December because of Nebraska War being held in December as well.

(also would appreciate if Vintage would be held during the Modern event not Legacy since I'd also want to participate in that and many others most probably as well).

@Log this is great initiative and I really hope it will have positive outcome.
I am afraid that you cannot count on me at least until end of this year since I am waiting another child, and I'm pretty much locked out of traveling.

I had a chat with the TO and we both agreed to delay beginning to host Vintage to 2019.
There is not much time to prepare for September and the December one is too close to Nebraska's War.
Our League together with the other Italian one might try to set up something smallscale like a side event for the December one, but the real thing will start next year.
The first 4 Season will be in February and by the December one and Nebraska the dates will be already set, I'll keep everyone updated.

Hi
Sorry for the belated feedback but I'm reading this thread for the very first time. As me and my teammates (including françois f) are living really far away from Europe, attending to multiple events in the year is just undoable (12 hrs flights to Paris).. We try to aim at the biggest event in the year (though it's been disappointing to me) and send some players. We really can't do much better.
Still I'm very delighted to see there still some Vintage lights burning in Europe. Those days have been sad for European Vintage and trying to recreate a dynamic is a really good thing !)

By the way, is there a European vintage site that is commonly used by European players? If not, there should be one where the events, dates and locations could be posted and "gathered"!) It would thus attract random wizard travellers or encourage teams to venture into a trip..

I truly encourage you to keep up with the good work,
looking forward seeing you at a vintage event to come.

If nothing for EW EU changes, soon Nebraska's War will become the biggest Eternal Event in EU. Already had more players for Legacy in 2017 than this year in Paris, if you're not after the painting you should definitely come and take the chance to visit Tuscany too.
Or else, I regret having to say this, but one'd better off saving some money and time and then travel overseas to a proper Vintage event in the US.

There are the remnants of the Italian Vintage forum of old, but not even our healthy Legacy community uses it anymore.
Sadly there is no use for an European Vintage forum, there aren't many groups of players around and definitely not many events to announce. As I said after MKM abandoned us we are left with two laughable Ovinos, one questionable EW EU and Nebraska's War, hence me approaching 4Seasons to have their Legacy raising popularity help us.

Unless you count the monthly leagues, there is one in Barcelona, one on the East coast of Italy and our in Florence, but since long are gone the days of the 300p Ovinos US are the Vintage Homeland now and one should just follow TMD.

I totally agree with you about your vision of vintage in EU.
US is definetly the place to go if we, Europeans, want to have a vintage blast. The florishing time of European Vintage is a thing of the past, and I don't know how it could be undone.

I believe the local scene is the first step to go for a "revival". I live on a remote french (volcanic and tropical) island in the middle of Indian ocean. When I came back there, 4 years ago, there had not been vintage events for years!! Still some beacon remained alight and we fought to create a thus small but devoted comunity. Now some of us try to travel to a "big" event every year.

Some friends told me that Vintage around Paris had been almost "dead" for months (in terms of tournaments). I know that a group still shuffle old staples in the south but not much in France, as far as I know !(

I am really glad to see that people like you around EU try to keep it alive. I somehow know how much work it takes ..

By the way, I will sure consider going to Tuscany (and NW ) one day, and I will spread the word to my wizard friends !)

Cheers

@nightowl974 I can only agree with your analysis about french Vintage. We managed to keep a small communauty in Lyon and we are playing once a month (btw you are much welcome if you happen to be around). Beside that and the once a year EW, there are no other tournaments in France that i heard of for a very long time.