Event Descriptions    by: A. Y.
12/15/99    10:40 AM

I'm in the process of creating my events for the 2000 convention season. (It never ends! NEVER!!! ;) )

I'd be interested in hearing comments on the following topic:  What makes you decide to play in a con event from the descriptions in a con's registration book?  Does only the game system (AD&D, WoD, etc.) matter? Will a detailed game description cause you to try a game you might not otherwise play? If a favorite game system is being run multiple times in a given slot, what will make you choose one over another?

Thanks!
  A. Y.
  SJ Games North US MIB RD/Cheapass Games Demo Monkey
 

Untitled    by: J. K. in response to Event Descriptions
12/15/99    11:25 AM

At a Con I usually go by the system, such as Shadowrun, or Call of Ctuhlu or whatever, I also try to pick at least one game I have never played to try.  The main thing that catches my eye though would be the type of game. I flip right past the Collectable Card Games, & the Board games and go right to the RPG section in the schedule.

  -J.

People are more violently opposed to fur than to leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.

 

Untitled    by: M. K. in response to Event Descriptions
12/15/99    11:38 AM

Lots of factors here to consider.

  1. At certain conventions, I know there's going to be a game that I absolutely, positively *have* to play. For example,
there's a fellow who runs a fairy-folk commando GURPS game every year at DragonCon. He's a great GM, I like GURPS, I love the game concept. I make time for it every year and it's usually the session I enjoy most.

  2. One of the things I like about conventions is the opportunity to play new game systems (and also those systems I don't get to play at home). So I try to schedule a session or two for new or rarely played games.

  3. I pay attention to game descriptions! So, yes, I will sign up for a session I might not ordinarily have if the description piques my curiosity.

  4. I'm something of a geek - I'll chart out all the games I'm interested in and figure out what games I can play during which sessions. I'll also find out what games my friends are playing and try to get a game or two in common with them.

Hope this helps!

  M.

Untitled    by: A. M. in response to Event Descriptions
12/15/99    12:09 PM

I usually look first at the system and then at the GM's name to see if I recognize it. I'm pretty cautious about games run by "staff" or any equivalent because I've seen too many of those go horribly wrong (like the people who showed up to run a 4 hour game even though they had to leave at the 2 hour mark to catch a plane). I next look to see what experience level is required. I don't want to try a new game only to find that there's nobody willing to walk me through the rules or that I'm
frustrating the other players by causing delays. I also want to know whether or not the game uses pregens (which I infinitely prefer for convention games because of the limited time available). I won't play in any of the sorts of games that have you generate a character to be used in all events run by that GM or group. I think that that defeats the purpose of playing scenarios at conventions.

I give a lot of consideration to the event length and timing. I'm unlikely to sign up for an 8 hour event, for example, unless I'm pretty sure I'll like it or can get out easily with time to sign up for something else. I'm also unlikely to sign up for something that's out of synch with the other things I want to do. If there are a lot of events that I'm interested in that start at 8 am and noon, I'm probably not going to play in something that runs from 10 am to 2 pm because it means that I can only fit in one event instead of two. I might take something that ran from 10 am to 4 pm, however because it wouldn't seem so limiting (Yes, I know that makes no sense. It's true nevertheless).

The blurb and event title are the last things I look at. I don't expect great revelations from them, but I do look for clues that will tell me something about the style of the scenario. I like to try new things, but I get bored in combat or rules intensive scenarios. Blurbs are very difficult to write and aren't generally indicative of the GM's ability to run a game. I prefer fairly simply event descriptions, and I think it's a good to state certain things outright, such as the edition of the rules, limitations on characters, expected level of violence, that sort of thing.

When I'm looking at planning my schedule for a large convention with a lot going on, I'll actually create a spreadsheet. I'll note the events I'm interested in and put them down in every slot that they're running. Then I'll look at each day and figure out what I can actually do and which events I'm most interested in and start narrowing things down.

I hope some of that helps.

Untitled    by: G. R. in response to Event Descriptions
12/15/99    12:52 PM

Even when I've never been in a games con (living in Argentina makes it a bit harder ;-) ) I'll try to help you based on common sense:

  ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
>makes you decide to play in a con event from the descriptions in a con's registration book?

Usually depends on my mood. Also the possibility to know people and share experiences with them

  --------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
>only the game system (AD&D, WoD, etc.) matter?

Not only. I wouldn't play a game based on "western" stories, no matter how good the system might be. And even when I loved the books, I wouldn't play "Lord of Rings" because many friends told me the system is awful.

  ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
>a detailed game description cause you to try a game you might not otherwise play?

Definitely YES!

  --------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
>a favorite game system is being run multiple times in a given slot, what will make you choose one over another?

What other activities are scheduled at the same time?  Does one of them interest me more that playing?

  ----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
this can help. Sorry if there are grammar or spelling mistakes. I'm not English native speaker.
Kisses from Argentina!

  G. R.
  Buenos Aires, Argentina

Untitled    by: I. E. in response to Event Descriptions
12/15/99    6:10 PM

An interesting and detailed game description would definitely get me to try a game i might not otherwise play. It would also make the difference between one game of a certain system over another. At cons, I try to play a mix of games I am familiar with and like and games I am unfamiliar with, in both cases, I try to get into the ones that sound the most interesting. Recognizing the GMs name might also influence me, but there are not that many GMs whom I remember by name, so the description is really the most important part. I personally like games with interesting situations, excitement and lots of role-playing. I'm less likly to go for something that is just hack and slash, and I also don't really go for the other extreme where it's all unraveling of intricate plots with little or no action--takes too much concentration for the mushy state my brain attains at cons given little sleep and much madness. Interesting juxtopositions of game systems can also snag my attention, like the one recently which was a combo of paranoia and call of cthulu, or the Toon/Dr. Lucky game (which I imagine you are familiar with, being a Cheapass Demo Monkey). One tactic that some people use at cons to get folks interested in their new system is to have players sit there and generate characters. while this might convince me that character generation is not too terribly time consuming, compared to gaming, it's very boring. A better method is to have a kick-ass adventure: If I like the concepts behind it all and have a good time playing, I'm much more likely to care what the process of character creation is like.

Re: Choosing Games    by: J. R. in response to Event Descriptions
12/16/99    5:48 AM

The very first thing is the game system. I don't travel all that way and pay for two nights in a hotel and food out all the damn time, just to play a whole bunch of new games and have a n okay time at best. I will for just about any sacrifice, play games which I know I like. This isn't actually all that important, since all the systems I like aren't popular games at 'cons anymore. (least not the ones I know.) I do try to get into a new game every year. For instance, this year I'm gonna try GURPS. Nope, believe it or not, I've never played it. I recently fell in love with RoleMaster, so I thought I'd give GURPS a try. Companies even tend to have similar games, so I will even avoid a system based upon its parent company. Secondly, I try to game with my friends. Also, I'll try to play systems I don't always get to. Like at VisionCon I try to play Shadowrun, cuz I don't have the time to join the group I do know of where I live.

Finally, I think A. hit the nail on the head with her last paragraph. The description shouldn't really bother that much with the plot line, as much as it should tell me the level or rp, combat, rule-changes, etc.

Never Been to a GameCon Was: Event Descriptions    by: M. K. in response to Event Descriptions
12/30/99    5:35 AM

Dear A.,
  Hopefully this won't be a reply to old to care about. (smile) As the subject header states, I've never been to a GameCon or any convention where gaming happened (unless you count playing magic the gathering while selling comics at a comic convention.) I'd love to go, but I don't know, ever, when they are happening. I live in Vancouver, BC and if you or anyone knows where I could find info. on GameCon's in the Vancouver, BC and anywhere in northern Washington state, I'd be interested. As for what games I might play if I could go... I would gravitate to AD&D, especially if they are looking for experienced players, if a game is looking for beginners I, personally, would go for anything fantasy based or that has an interesting occult/goth theme. Then again, if it sounds like an interesting game, regardless of genre, I might try it out just for fun anyways. I love RPG'ing and enjoy the 'acting out of a character' about as much as I do developing the character through game play.
  Take care,
  M.

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