Posts Tagged ‘conventions’

Here’s a thought for publishers out there of the small press stuff. For the past several years, I’ve flown around from convention to convention running indie games for people. Many of them try several games, like sampling a buffet. If I’m excited about a game, like I am right now about running Technoir tonight, I’d like to leave an physical impression on them as well as an experiential one, to maybe get them to check out the game.

So, publishers, how about this: make a one-page document that has fliers for your game on it. Make it so that one page will print out six, ideally 3×2 or 2×3, whichever. Make it easy to cut out after printing from a normal desktop printer, that doesn’t look weird because the outer margins are larger than the inner ones — take mandatory page margins into account. Put your game’s name/logo, your name/company name, website, and maybe one more line on it, and you’re done.

If you’re compelled to make a color version, also make a black & white version for those who don’t have color or are trying to avoid using whatever color you are because they’re out of that ink. Similarly, don’t make an ink-heavy version…or if you do, make an ink-non heavy version too (both to save the ink and to not have the end product have ripples from wet ink drying).

Here’s a text mockup:

Not that I’m a visual designer. That’s someone else’s job, like the wonderfully talented Jeremy Keller. Now, maybe no one will use it, but is there harm in throwing it out there and seeing what happens?

For those games that have related games, like the various in the GUMSHOE line, you could also use this as a space to direct to those games. (Edit: Kit adds a smart idea in the comments about tying this to a meeting/networking/friend-making element.)

By the way, you can totally check out Technoir’s free player’s guide at TechnoirRPG.com. :)

- Ryan

(I’m pretty sure I wrote about this idea years ago on my LiveJournal, but that was an eon ago in Internet time.)

A thing that the conventions in the San Francisco Bay Area tend to do regarding game sign-ups is a lottery system for knowing who’s in a given game. Here’s how they work:

• You sign up for a game, either for one game or a cascading list of preferences
• At some point, a “shuffler” assigns everyone to a game
• Often, before the event
• Sometimes, the morning of the day those games are to be run
• You eventually find out what games you’re in
• Sometimes before the event
• Sometimes first thing when the event goes live, for all the games
• Sometimes very shortly before the game happens

This is seen by some as better than a first-come, first-serve sign-up solution. But for the life of me, I have never seen it executed well. This is something that’s been on my mind since I’ve been managing the Nerdly Beach Parties, where I used a modified first-come, first-serve system.

Let’s talk about the problems lottery style causes:

Inability to Plan for Far Away Conventions

When you don’t know what your plans are for a convention, driving or flying to it becomes unworthwhile. Back when the Good Omens mini-cons were lottery-based, those were the Minicons at Endgame that my Sacramento friends & I intentionally missed.

Now, at least with the Good Omens cons, we found out a week or so before what games we might be in. But that doesn’t really help those who might fly up (as some of the LA indie crowd are starting to do with the Minicons) or negotiate with significant others for a weekend road trip.

Anxiety Triggers

Ever meet someone who finds comfort in knowing how their day’s going to be? If you’ve met me, then you have. I deal with clinical anxiety, and I honestly would rather know I’m not in a game (and thus know to make my own fun) than not know until it’s too late to effectively plan around it. Thus, when I find myself at a convention that does lottery systems (which only happens at cons I’m invited to be a special guest at, since I don’t elect them on my own), I never engage with the system. I’d rather cruise around and find stragglers for a pick-up game than deal with an anxiety trigger.

Selfishness

If you know how many slots are in a given game, and know how many slots are left open, in a first-come, first-serve situation you can add yourself to the list if there’s space or to a wait list. But a lottery system, you can add yourself to the list, possibly kicking someone else off of the game.

When you add your name in the hopes that you’ll get into a game that’s overfull, you’re hoping that you’ll kick someone else out of a game. That’s pretty shitty.

Mismanaged Expectations

Now, sometimes you don’t know the state of a game’s sign ups, which then causes worse problems about planning — you have no idea if you’re subscribing to a very popular game where your chances of being taken are slim, because everyone’s signing up for it since there’s no information about how full it is.

A similar problem happens when you don’t report slots filled/empty with first-come, first-serve. So it’s good to always display that, regardless of sign-up scheme.

Inability to Plan for Partner/Group Participation

Maybe you and your significant other prefer to game together. Or you and some good friends that you haven’t seen in months want to get into a game together. The lottery system could fuck you on that, and then you’re left with either playing in different games, or ditching on a game you wanted to in order to hang out with your friend/SO.

And the biggest problem…

It Doesn’t Solve Organizer Headaches

Sean Nittner is the head of the Good Omens minicons. He used to do the lottery system, but this past year decided to ditch it for the first-come, first-server system that Endgame normally uses. Here was his take on it:

I tried both first-come, first-served and shuffler methods. Gamers had legitimate complaints about both of them, but the issues with shufflers hit people right in the pocketbook. Gas, hotel rooms, and restaurant food is expensive. To pay all that while attend a con where you might not get into games is rough on the wallet. The experience is also a giant disappointment, especially considering the investment in attending a con. So, I know FCFS has legitimate faults, but it doesn’t make false promises and it allows you to plan how you spend your time and money informed rather than in the dark.

Plus, FCFS is far easier to administer than any shuffler system I’ve ever seen or heard of.

There you go. It is a lot less work to do first-come, first-serve. Sure, it has its own problems, but they’re problems people know how to deal with. When you don’t get into FCFS games, it’s partly on you, because you didn’t register in time or didn’t know in time, whatever. When you don’t in a lottery system, it’s entirely the convention’s fault that your experience sucks.

No system’s perfect. But lottery systems are a holdover from back when nearly every game was AD&D or Champions or a very small number of other games, thus shuffling people into one AD&D game over another was less drastic.

Here’s a question: do you support the lottery systems? Why? Justify its existence. Tell me why it’s a good idea, and not just an archaic holdover that’s designed to punish people who want popular games.

- Ryan

Guys! PAX is upon us! And if you’re going, you must stop by the Indie RPGs on Demand room there. The inestimable Sage La Torra is heading up an epicenter of awesome. I’ll let him take it from here. (With the emphases mine) I’ll be here quite a bit, either gaming or hanging out, so if you want to meet up with me, that’s a good place to look!

What is PAX Indie RPGs on Demand?

I’m glad you asked, writing device. PAX Indie RPGs on Demand is the place to go to play small press, cutting edge games. Show up and we’ll find you a game to play in.

Where is this hotness?

Room 306, just off the escalators on your way up to the main hall.

How do I get in on some games?

Just show up! Games will start primarily on even numbered hours (10 am, noon, 2 pm, etc.) but we’ll sign you up whenever you stop by. Games might even start other times if there’s players and space. You can also find out the latest news by following @pax_indie_rpgs on Twitter.

What kind of games can I play?

Well, it depends on who’s available when you come by, but some games that will be happening include: Apocalypse World, Fiasco, Burning Wheel, Mouse Guard, Dungeon World, Cat, Microscope, Lady Blackbird, Freemarket, The Wildlings, Blowback, Perfect, Maid, Drifter’s Escape, Cthulhu Dark, Tulip Academy, Geiger Counter, Polaris, On the Ecology of the Mud Dragon, Dogs in the Vineyard

So come on by, play some games, and see something new. And if you’re interested in these games you might also want to check out Friday’s The Art of the Table: GMing Beyond the Basics (Noon-1pm, Raven Theater) and Designing and Publishing a Tabletop Roleplaying Game (4:30-5:30pm, Raven Theater) panels.

You can also find out more at:

• The Penny Arcade forum thread about Indie RPGs on Demand
• The Story-Games thread

- Ryan

Several people have asked me about drinking at conventions. Apparently, I have some sort of reputation for being a, uh, who the fuck am I kidding? I have a Twitter account for drunk-me, @NightMacklin[1]. I have a giant flask that’s bigger that your head, which holds 64 ounces of bourbon (however that’s expensive to fill and heavy, so I only fill it to the 50 oz point. SUE ME.) And I’ve been known to walk around conventions, like some sort of Alpine Saint Bernard, hooking those in need up.

But to quote the venerable Walter Sobchak, “This is not ‘Nam. There are rules.” Gen Con is coming up, so I’ll talk that specific, but many of these things apply in general. Today, we’ll talk about bringing your own booze to the show.[2]

Know The Convention Rules on Alcohol

Before you go swinging around booze like it’s the day before Prohibition, find out how kosher that is. What we’re talking about are rules and laws regarding open containers. Conventions often have some sort of rule about this, either their own or inherited from the convention center or hotel[3] they’re held at.

Do a little effort to find out how cool that is. For instance, having an open container and bringing it non-convention center food & drink are apparently not kosher, according to this forum post (and we all know how reliable forums are):

http://community.gencon.com/forums/p/4391/46796.aspx

Not that I’m surprised. I found this by doing a quick google search on “site:gencon.com alcohol”. The only pages that came up where in the forums, and not in the other information. But really, the rules are more complicated. After all, if they weren’t, White Wolf wouldn’t have been able to do their bar in the dealer’s hall last year.

Keep in mind that there’s a difference between having a cover-your-ass policy and enforcing it. Some people won’t care as long as you’re not a jerk or in-your-face. Others are hardcore about enforcing every rule in the book. If you decided to break an alcohol rule (or, really, any rule) and get called on it, be cool. Put it away. There’s always time later to get your drink on. And it’s not worth you getting ejected from the convention. Do you really want your convention story when you get back home to be “yeah, I decided to argue about how I had a constitutional right to this bottle of Captain Morgan and they kicked me out?

Frankly, that’s a better story for what happened to your character that to you. Here are some other ways to keep you in the good.

Follow-up: Check out this post that briefly goes over some of the legalese of Indiana state law. It also talks about how you shouldn’t fornicate with corpses, so it’s pretty good advice.

Don’t Be a Dick

Wheaton’s Law applies strongly here.

Not Being a Dick During a Game

When I do drink at a game, I limit it to one shot, one I sip. The point isn’t to get drunk, but to enjoy a moment in time where I’m engaging in my beloved hobby while also enjoying an adult beverage.[4] But before I do, I ask two things:

• “Hey, does anyone mind if I do?”
• “Would anyone also care for some?”

I don’t ask when I don’t know other folks at the table, because I don’t want to put people in an awkward position. It’s only when I feel like the answer will be “totally cool” when I bother to bring it up. Use your inherent social gauge for if it’s cool or not.

And when you offer, pour for those who accepted before you pour your own. Again, this is not Walter’s ‘Nam.

Not Being a Dick in the Dealers’ Hall

Offer to people you know, and if you’re in a situation where they’re around others, offer to them as well. Take quick pulls from a flask or bottle; don’t make a big deal with as you’re walking around the convention hall.

Not Being a Dick in General

You might be around alcoholics and not know it, or around people for whom alcohol is a bad memory trigger. Shit happens. Respect that. Be magnanimous. Discretion is the better part of valor, they say.

Don’t offer to minors. I know, I know, but I gotta say it.

Offer once, but don’t be pushy. If people say no, respect that. I violate this rule with friends sometimes, but that leads to the next bit…

Know Your Limitations

And here’s where we heed the words of Saint Callahan: “A man’s gotta know his limitations.” This comes in two forms: knowing your body’s limits on consumption, and knowing your social limits. Some people can walk around the convention with a few bottles of booze on them without blinking an eye because that’s their function in their social circle. Others would look stupid, like they’re just drunks in constant need of a fix. (Some would argue that these are the same person. Whatevs. :)

Don’t get tipsy or drunk, especially during a game when people are relying in you to actually engage with others. Don’t be pushy or awkward about having it on you.

Use good judgement on when it’s cool to throw back. And if you don’t have a good sense of social cues, just don’t fucking do it.

It boils down to this: Don’t be a guy that causes concern.

Be Amusing

The best way to get out of an awkward social situation you’ve created, beyond just walking away, is to make a joke about it. Look at what’s engraved on my flask pictured above. People might not want to drink from it, but I get chuckles when they see it. It goes a long way to making me not look like a dick when I take a quick pull in front of them.

When In Doubt, Remember: After Hours

What I’m talking about is how to do the open container thing during a convention hall’s hours and at sanctioned events. Remember that there’s another time that’s more or less designed for this: after hours parties. Hotel lobbies, bars (though don’t flaunt your own stash there), suite parties, private games, things like that are great for drinking.

Final Word: The Litmus Test

If you think you’re pushing it, you are.

If someone else thinks you’re pushing it, you are.

If you’re pushing it, back the fuck up. Slow your roll, son.

Keep all this in mind, and people will not give you shit for carrying a small bar in your shoulder bag. (That said, it’s damned heavy. Stick to a small flask if you have back problems. I’m not kidding.)

- Ryan

[1] True story: I was told if I didn’t make it, it would be made on my behalf. And I wouldn’t know the password.

[2] A friend said of this post: “That’s possibly the thing you’re most qualified to write about.” Wow.

[3] To be fair, hotel lobbies are hives of scum and villainy. You won’t get busted for an open container inside, especially one with a hotel bar. Being disorderly, however, that’s no good.

[4] Admit, you thought I was going to finish that sentence with “…while playing a game.”

A couple of announcements!

Dresdacon II’s Coming Up!

I’ll be at Dresdacon II, at Endgame Oakland this June 18th. Want to chat with me? Want to play some Dresden Files? Want to enjoy the fine eateries in Downtown Oakland? Come on up!

We need some help, though. To quote Fred Hicks quoting Chris Hanrahan of Endgame:

Hey, folks. The fine folks over at EndGame are hosting a second DresdaCon event at their store on June 18th, but they’re short on GMs. Here’s the message from the store:

DresdaCon II needs a few more GMs!

We are rapidly approaching the deadline for GM signs-ups for DresdaCon II. We have space for 3 more GMs in each time slot. Yes, we are going for 16 games! Wanna help? Head over to http://endgameoakland.com/dresdacon for all the details.

Hope to see you there!

We’ve even made it easy for you to run, with the release of Neutral Grounds and Night Fears! So if you live in or near the San Francisco bay area, and are willing to run a game, please contact the store and let them know. And if you haven’t made it to Endgame before, you owe it to yourself — it’s one of the best gamestores in the nation.

I’ll be a Special Guest at Celesticon!

Celesticon is a San Francisco Bay Area convention happening this Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, 2011 at the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City. I’ll be there, along with James Ernest & Kenneth Hite. (As of the time of this post. Check out the special guests page.)

You can find out more about the show at the website, www.celesticon.com. I’m pretty excited to be there, and we’re working out what sort of shenanigans are in store for folks attending. Naturally, I’ll update as we get closer to time.

(Side note: after reading this blog post about writing bios, mine on their site feels anemic.)

Reddit Interview about Dresden Files RPG!

A few months back, Ben Woerner polled folks on reddit for questions to ask Fred Hicks, Leonard Balsera & I. The interview is up now! It’s a two-parter, done with the four of us on Skype, so take the audio quality as you will. It was a fun interview, and the questions were neat. A good group of folks there. Hope you enjoy!

- Ryan