Archive for the ‘Conventions’ Category

Next weekend, I’ll be at MisCon 27 in Missoula, Montana, along with a couple of my cohorts from the Paizo office, Adam Daigle and John Compton. If you’re there, come check us out!

Here’s what I’m on deck for. In addition to this, I’ll be around to play games, chat, drink, and I’ll even have some prototypes to try out.

I’m Never Setting Foot in a Tavern Again. (Gaming)
Fri 2:00 – 2:50 PM, (Containment Room)
Pros and Guests: John Compton, Justin Farrington, Marc Johnson, Ryan Macklin

The journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single session. You only get one chance at beginnings, whether for an ongoing campaign or a convention one-shot. Discussion will focus on techniques for getting a game off and running, including tips on preparation, techniques and the judicious use and avoidance of cliches.

Guerrilla Warfare in RPGS (Gaming)
Fri 6:00 – 6:50 PM, (Containment Room)
Pros and Guests: Ryan Goble, Ryan Macklin, Rob McDonell (Illuminati Rob)

How do you GM a resistance-based game where the PCs must fight a guerilla campaign against established, entrenched bad guys? Can they sleep safely in the woods at night, sustain themselves by hunting and gathering, and gain the assistance of local farm folk? How do they build the requisite rag tag army? What about retribution against the peasants suspected of harboring them? How do they eventually kill the evil emperor and lift the people from oppression?

Opening Ceremonies (Geek Discussion)
Fri 7:00 – 7:50 PM, (Containment Room)
Attend our opening ceremonies and watch CthulhuBob cry. Also find out what’s happening at MisCon 27.

Pathfinder: Ask Me Anything (Gaming)
Sat Noon – 12:50 PM, (Containment Room)
Pros and Guests: John Compton, Adam Daigle, Kyle Elliott, Dave Gross, Ryan Macklin

Ask the Paizo guys anything you ever wanted to know about Paizo, Pathfinder, rocket science, theology, plumbing repair, whatever.

Working With Licensed Intellectual Properties (Gaming, Writing)
Sat 5:00 – 5:50 PM, (Containment Room)
Pros and Guests: David Boop, Jim Butcher, John Goff, Dave Gross, Ryan Macklin

A discussion of the issues and pitfalls of working with someone else’s property and dealing with fan expectations of said property.

Mental and Physical Health in the Community (Gaming)
Sat 6:00 – 6:50 PM, (Upstairs Programming 1)
Pros and Guests: Ryan Macklin

A discussion about gamers dealing with depression, anxiety, and physical ailments. Using personal experiences, we explore strategies to overcome it, including tapping into our communities.

Improvisational GMing Workshop (Gaming)
Sun Noon – 1:50 PM, (Upstairs Programming 2)
Pros and Guests: Ryan Macklin

Ryan Macklin will run a 2-hour, hands-on workshop on GMing techniques, based on the problems you’re dealing with today. He’ll help you find ways to address problems with preparation and adaptation, dealing with people at the table, and executing a smooth session. Get and keep your players hooked on your game while making your GMing easier with Ryan’s help.

Getting The Most Out Of Working With Editors (Gaming)
Mon 11:00 – 11:50 AM, (The Cave)
Pros and Guests: Adam Daigle, Ryan Macklin

Learn how to find an editor, establish a good rapport with them, and how to get the most out of that relationship. Lead by editors who are Industry Insider guests!

Closing Ceremonies (Geek Discussion)
Mon 3:00 – 3:50 PM, (Great Hall)

Come see CthulhuBob cry for joy and catch a sneak peek at what’s in store for you next year at MisCon 28 May 2014.

- Ryan

I was at NorWesCon over the weekend, which I enjoy going to. Let most lit-focused cons, it’s primarily to me a “panel” show — one where panels are pretty much what you do there. (Some gaming shows are like that as well, like DunDraCon or Gen Con, and some aren’t.)[1]

I love doing panels, probably more for the five minutes or so after a panel when you get to just randomly chat with people who come up than for the panel itself. But there’s something that has been rubbing me raw lately. Someone else summed it up well in a tweet:

So here’s my addition: It’s open season on all of you who raise your hand to “add a comment.” I’m no longer going to be nice about it.

I will cut you off if you aren’t getting to a question. If you say “I wanted to comment on the last person’s question” then I will tell you flat-out no, and that you can talk with that person after the panel. If you say “I have a comment and a question,” guess which one I won’t shut you down for. And if you sneak a fake question past me, I won’t address it and I will never call on you again so long as I remember your face. Trust me, I won’t be shy about letting you know that’s why.

Why take such a hardass stance on these assholes? Because they rob everyone else of time. Every time I have to say “I’m sorry, we can take only one more question” and several hands are up, those of you who didn’t get to ask your question have those people to blame. All of those people who shows off their need to look smart and show how they should be on the panel instead extoll a cost from us on the panel and everyone there to see the panelists.

This used to be something I would only do if I was moderating, but since I can’t guarantee the quality or “niceness” of the moderator on any given panel, from now on I’m just going to speak up.

If you want to offer a comment, offer one after the panel. Come up to us or up to whoever you wanted to offer that comment to.

There are exceptions. There are genuinely good comments, part of the reason I’ve been hesitant in the past to say anything. But I did the math this year, and that was maybe 1 good comment to 8 useless ones. The return isn’t worthwhile.

Some panels are built to be all about taking comments, and that’s cool if that’s what they attendees are there for. I’ve also solicited comments from the audience, in which case they’ve been, well, solicited.

But at this point, if you’re one of those time-sucking assholes who pops up with unsolicited comments, you can go fuck yourself, and I will be happy to let you know that.

- Ryan

[1] And yes, they got recorded.

Going to NorWesCon 36? Want to hear me flap at the mouth? I’ll be there!

System Matters: The Right RPG for the Job

Friday 1:00 PM, Cascade 2

Like the invisible hand of fate, the rules you use weigh on every aspect of your game sometimes in ways you aren’t even aware of. Are you using the right tool for the job, or do you always use the same hammer for every task? You may be sabotaging your game before you even sit down at the table.

John Harper (M), Ben Robbins, Chris Pramas, Aveloc Twiceborn, Ryan Macklin

Creativity and Disabilities

Friday 6:00 PM, Cascade 13

Whether your problems are physical or psychological, there’s no denying that being creative and creating art is difficult to almost impossible when a disability stands in your way. Come learn how different artists and writers work with, past, or through their personal disabilities and limitations to create their art.

Lillian Cohen-Moore (M), Ellen Forney, Julie Baroh, Ryan Macklin

Gaming & Community

Friday 9:00 PM, Cascade 12

Game communities have grown beyond small game clubs, web forums and IRC as social networking has integrated with game companies and created even more game communities. Our panelists will discuss social networking and creating a positive community via chat tools, web forums, Twitter, Facebook, and third-party news or blogs.

Bob Kruger (M), Erik Mona, Ryan Macklin

D&D vs Story Games

Saturday 2:00 PM, Cascade 12

D&D and Pathfinder may be the most well-known role-playing games, but indie games like Fiasco and Polaris are becoming more popular. Can these two genres co-exist in the same room together? What do they have in common, and what are the benefits and limitations of each style of play? Is it possible to like both? Industry experts and indie creators discuss the differences between traditional tabletop role-playing games, GM-less story games, and everything in between.

Ashley Cook (M), Ben Robbins, Erik Mona, John Harper, Jonathan Tweet, Ryan Macklin

BarCon

Friday through Sunday, wherever there is booze

You can also come drink with me and stuff! I’m happy to talk about whatever (barring real-world politics). Or maybe we’ll play a game of Hit a Dude. Whatever.

Ryan Macklin (M), other various humans

- Ryan

Now that I’m back from Gen Con, PAX is upon us! Here’s my (rather short & pleasant schedule):

The Art of the Table II: Return to the Table

Friday 9pm — Raven Theater
Ben Mandall, Jeff Fasenfest, Sage LaTorra, Ryan Macklin, Jess Hartley, Erik Mona, Robert Gifford, Mat Margalis

The Art of the Table is back to delve into the heart of what makes for a truly great experience at the gaming table! You’ve spent years harrying your players, running them ragged in diabolical adventures and fiendish dungeons… Or maybe you’ve left a trail of broken GMs and mangled quests in your wake. When rules knowledge is no longer an issue, how can focusing on such things as improvisation, in-character roleplay, and story structure help enhance a game? Does the alignment of your gaming table really matter? Just which house rules really work?  Come dig deeper into what makes a good RPG and what turns a good GM into a great one.

Running Mythender

Saturday 10am to 2pm — Room 301

I’ll be running Mythender for up to four people. It’s first-come, first-serve, and sign-ups are in Tabletop Hadquarters in room 204.

Indie Games on Demand

Room 305 and 306 — @pax_indie_rpgs

I’m not schedule to be on Indie Games on Demand specifically, but time I’m not spending wandering the hall or getting food will likely be spent here. So, if you’re looking to catch me, this is a good bet! (After spending most of Gen Con booked, I’m pretty happy to have loads of flexible time for PAX.)

Query: Looking for Crash Space

So I don’t have to drive into Seattle & deal with parking every day, I’m hoping some kind soul will have some crash space (even a floor) so that I can avoid such suffering.

- Ryan

[Will be updated as more info happens.]

So, here we are with another Gen Con. HOLY CRAP. Here’re a couple things:

• My Guest of Honor schedule is still posted here.
• If you’re wondering about alcohol at cons, I wrote about it last year.
• Don’t forget to check out Games on Demand, ICC 238.
• Adam Jury’s Gen Con attendance tips are fantastic.
• A bunch of collected advice thanks to #RPGChat.

Also, I’ll be at PAX this year. I’ll post about that…uh, when I get a chance. :)

See (some of you) at Gen Con!

- Ryan