Planning for ENWorld Chicago Gameday 24 (Saturday, November 14th)

[buzz]

This thread is for planning purposes only. A separate thread will be created for player sign-up closer to Gameday. A link to that thread will be posted here.

Gameday 24 Planning

This is the planning thread for Chicago Gameday 24. If you're interested in running an event for Gameday, or just have planning help to offer, this is the thread for you. If you're confused, go here to learn more about Chicago Gameday.

The Time, The Place, The Basics

Gameday 24 will be held on Saturday, November 14th. Events start at 9:30am. Gameday 24 will be hosted by Games Plus, a.k.a., Earth's Greatest Game Store™.

Gameday has two event slots that are 4-5 hours each: a morning slot from 9:30am to 2:30pm, and an afternoon slot from 3:30pm to 8:00pm (and beyond). We typically run six events in each slot, with 4-6 players plus GM in each event. GMs may request more/fewer seats in their event, but we have found that 4-6 players per event is ideal.

If you do not have an ENWorld Community Supporter account with Private Messaging enabled, please make sure I have your email address. Feel free to email me.

Current Event Lineup

Morning: 9:30am - 2:30pm

1. Don't Rest Your Head, ekb, 6 seats
2. Descent, Mark, private room
3. Unhallowed Metropolis, Sir Brennen
4. D&D 3.5, GORAK
5. D&D 4e, Vyvyan Basterd
6. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3e, Games Plus
7. FATE, buzz

Afternoon: 3:30pm - 8:00pm

1. D&D 4e, Trevalon Moonleirion
2. SWSE, Paul_Klein
3. Supernatural, Ninjacat
4. Triune, WJMacGuffin
5. Reminiscence Error 404, Reidzilla
6. The Pool, Tim C Koppang
7. Iridium Light, HinterWelt, private room

Submitting and Running an Event

How do I sign up to run an event?
If you would like to run an event for Gameday 24, please post a proposal in this thread.

What info should I provide as part of my proposal?
At the minimum, we need to know:

• The game system you will be using
• How many players will be accomodated
• A catchy title
• An event "blurb," i.e., a basic summary of your event
• Whether you want to run the event in the morning or the afternoon

Optional, yet helpful info you can provide includes:

• If there is a particular table you would like to use
• Whether your event expects prior experience with the rules
• Whether your event is or isn't suitable for all ages
• Whether pregens will be provided
• Links to said pregens (PDFs, Word files, etc)
• Links to info about the game system
• Links to any other files you'd like to offer potential players
• Any images you might like included in the final event description

How long should my event last?
Your event should last at least 4 hours.

If you are running an event in the morning, it should not run longer than 5 hours, as you will be taking time away from the lunch break.

Events run in the afternoon may last longer than 5 hours, but please be respectful of: a) Games Plus's hours of operation, and b) the needs of players who may be reliant on the Metra scheudle.

When do poeple sign up for my event?
A separate player sign-up thread will be created in a few weeks. You will be notified in advance of the sign-up thread going live.

May I screen potential players?
Pre-approval of player sign-ups is not allowed. By volunteering to run an event, you're agreeing to run it for whomever signs up. Thankfully, everyone who comes to Gameday is totally awesome.

What if I want or need to cancel my event?
Once the sign-up thread begins, GM volunteers have until one week before Gameday in which they may remove their event from the schedule. After that point, the schedule is set, and you are expected to come ready to run your event, regardless of whether anyone has signed up for it. Barring genuine emergencies, of course.

May I run more than one event?
I would ask that people initially refrain from submitting more than one event. I want to give as many people as possible the chance to submit an event before GMs start doubling up. As soon as we see there is room available, GMs can add second events.

Suggestions

If you have suggestions, recommendations, or ideas for enhancing the fun of Gameday, please feel free to post them here and we'll open up discussion.

[ekb]

After GD23, I proposed running a game of "A Dirty World" set in the The Prisoner's Village. So that's what I'm going to do.

Actually, no I won't.

I don't like saying that I have a hard limit of potential players (everyone should have a place at the table, yo). And ADW isn't a great fit for the type of story I have in mind. And I'm not sure how much cognitive frission will occur with the remake of The Prisoner due next month.

I've also been asked to do yet another "play this with that."

Here's the deal, chummers -
Mr Johnson has screwed all of us,
somehow, someway.
So somehow, someway...
Mr Johnson must pay.
System: Don't Rest Your Head, with some custom hacking to fit it into Shadowrun's 'Verse. Rules system changes in a nutshell: Madness Talents get split into Edge and Cyber/Magic Talents. The initial questions change a bit, but otherwise it's DRYH by the book.
Dice: DRYH calls for a special blend of colored d6s. I'll provide, if you don't have 3 white, 6 Red and 6 Black for yourself. If either doesn't fit your fancy, I'm sure you can find such dice for sale in the other room.
Age Appropriateness: PG/PG13. The central story is about doing not-very-nice things to Mr Johnson...
Familiarity with System: none needed.
Familiarity with Setting: a tiny bit is helpful. But not much more than is on the wikipedia page, really.
Pregens: none. We'll be doing chargen at the table by answering some simple questions and then assigning a few things based on those answers. Really, it only takes about 5 minutes. Okay, 8 if people are futzing about.

{Better blurb and artwork coming as I collect them and edit this post. Be seeing you...}

[Mark]

I'd like to run an RPG (probably D&D3.5 with pregens) in the private room with five player seats in slot one, please. Let's call it "The Great Sewer Splashfest" Thanks.

[buzz]

I am stunned—stunned, I say—that someone beat Mark to first post.

[ekb]

Originally Posted by buzz

I am stunned—stunned, I say—that someone beat Mark to first post.

Milliseconds of practice, my friends...

Actually, my connection didn't give me the usual hassles I have with ENworld... nothing more than that.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by buzz

I am stunned—stunned, I say—that someone beat Mark to first post.

You're stunned? Imagine how I feel!


Actually, though, please make my RPG slot one. I'm thinking of running a huge Minis game in slot two on the front minis table unless we get tons of GMs stepping up this time. I have something I want to playtest for conventions that I think people will like.

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

Sign me up for another high level 4e D&D romp. After spending the hours I spent in photoshop and character builder crafting those characters, I plan to use them for at least the next 5 gamedays :-p

System: D&D 4e
Slot 2
6 Players
19th level Pre-Generated characters provided.

I might post them early and have people claim them in advance just to give everyone a chance to become familiar with their characters. Cheap prize for best in-character performance/action.

Story details will be forthcoming.

If there's any interest in a table vs. table slugfest like I or barendd nobeard have run in the past (and there's room in the store), I might switch gears and run that instead.

[Reidzilla]

Hey all,

I'll take a morning slot. If the evening doesn't fill in a week or so, I have an idea for another event.


Reminiscence Error 404 – Going Down
Groggily, you awake to an annoying buzzing sound... It’s the elevator panel sounding an alarm because you are leaning on the Close Doors button.

You feel like you have been asleep for days and you don’t quite remember who you are. It’s like bits and pieces of your memory have been shaken loose like a jigsaw puzzle tipped on its side. It feels like a few pieces that don’t belong have been forced to fit as well.

Your dress shirt and slacks are soaked with spilled coffee, cold and damp.

You are not alone in the elevator. The others look just as bad as you feel.

Now something is banging on the doors trying to get in. It sounds… inhuman.


Originally created for the Game Fu 4 RPG creation competition, Reminiscence Error 404 is a game set in a near future / cyberpunk world where everyone's memories are corrupted by a virus. Unlike the original competition rules, this event will be taking place during the Purge. Characters will be created at the table. No EXP or dice necessary, just be ready for a bit of indie fun.
4 players.

[Paul_Klein]

Star Wars Saga
5 seats
4th level

Operation: First Breach
A military adventure set during the heart of the Clone Wars.
If you own Galaxy at War... don't read the last chapter

Evening slot
Pregens can be provided, but feel free to make your own character using any of the published Star Wars Saga supplements. No restrictions on character creation. Pilot characters (unfortunately) won’t figure too much in this adventure. 32 point buy. As you are on the side of the Republic, probably think about either a Jedi or a military-type (clones too!).
Prior experience is great, but unnecessary.
Suitable for all ages.

One player will randomly “win” their choice of a brand new Star Wars Saga Core Rulebook (2nd printing with errata incorporated), the Ennie Award-winning Clone Wars Campaign Guide, or the newly-released Galaxy at War supplement (the book from which this adventure is derived). Purchased from Games Plus, on me.

[Reidzilla]

We haven't done a prize drawing/book swap in ages. How does everyone feel about doing that again?

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Reidzilla

We haven't done a prize drawing/book swap in ages. How does everyone feel about doing that again?

Curt (thalmin) is the first to ask about that and unless he is up for it, it probably shouldn't be up for a vote.

[Sir Brennen]

'Kay... gonna throw my dice in the ring:

Game System: Unhallowed Metropolis
Players: 5 (may accomodate a 6th if players fill early)

Title: Sanctuary
Blurb: Through contacts with upscale connections, you've learned that some ponce from Hyde Park is seeking individuals to act as security at his upcoming soirée. The promise of a pound sterling apiece was enticing, but for a bunch of East End scratters, the free buffet sealed the deal. So off you go, through the stench of the sooty smog and beneath the hum of the Tesla towers, toward old Doc Johnson's pub, to sign up for the easiest money you've made in a fortnight...

Set two-hundred years after the advent of a zombie Plague, Unhallowed Metropolis is an apocalyptic Neo-Victorian dystopia written by Jason Soles and Nicole Vega. Inspired by the works of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Louis Stevenson, and painstakingly researched by the authors, Unhallowed Metropolis provides a rich role-playing experience steeped in alchemy, mad science, and undeath.

Slot: Morning
Table: Any
Experience: None (Published intro scenario)
Ages: T+ for zombie gore and morally questionable heroes
Pregens: Yes
Links: to come.

[Ninjacat]

Woo-Hoo, GameDay!!

Spectrum Games seems to be on hiatus, so no CAHsn2:ATM yet, unfortunately. That being the case, I'll be running another Cortex Supernatural adventure:

And On the Seventh Night...
Cortex Supernatural, PM slot, 6 players
Further info available at: Ninjacat's RPG Page

Las Vegas is known as the City of Lights, but you know there's more than a little darkness in a place whose other name is Sin City. There may be a pattern forming in the Southwest; people die in LA everyday, that's just life. But what are the odds of an overpass collapsing and killing nearly 100 people and injuring 50 more, and a gas main exploding the next day, killing almost 500 people—both at exactly seven pm?

Whatever it is may have moved on to Las Vegas: seven gruesome accidents, all on the same day, roughly on the hour from one to seven pm...and Ash's research indicates there may be other related "coincidences" throughout the region. Whatever's going on, it's definitely big if it's going from one metropolis to the next, and if it's heading east across the country...

And On the Seventh Night... is a Cortex RPG in the setting of the CW's Supernatural television show. No familiarity with the system or show is required, but it could prove useful. The only thing you really need to know is that the supernatural is real: ghosts and demons, hauntings and possessions; all real. And some of those who know about it fight back, Saving People, Hunting Things...

[GORAK]

Now what is all the
BUZZ


about!!!

Anyway, it's great to have Gameday 14 right around the corner!
Here's my event for the morning slot:
MORNING SLOT
3.5 D&D Core rules only
2nd level
Up to 6 players
Pre-generated characters will be provided.
TITLE- "The Blight of Winterhaven"
A dark plight has befallen the peaceful community of Wnterhaven, a small peaceful frontier trading town in the farthest northern reaches of the realm at the base of the Dragonspine Mountain range. A strange sickness has claimed the lives of many townspeople in the last couple months and none of the local healers and herb-wardens have a clue as to its origins, much less a cure. Even more unsettling has been the disappearance of many bodies from the local burial grounds- some even within days of their interment. Typically, the town has enjoyed a peaceful existence for many years apart from the occasional incursion of ice orcs or barbarian tribes from the North. The town elders are extremely concerned of their situation and are seeking the aid of a band of brave adventurers who are willing to investigate this strange phenomenon and destroy the evil force at work before any more innocent lives are lost.
.......
Links to PDF files of the pre-gen characters will be posted a couple weeks before Gameday. New or experienced players to 3.5 D&D ruleset are welcome to play. Players should bring their own pencil, paper and D&D dice with them. A copy of the 3.5 D&D Player's Handbook would be helpful too.

Thx
GORAK
(Joe)

[sw3333]

Hi Buzz.

I think I've missed a Gameday or two, but I'd like to run again.

I see there's already a SW Saga game, so I'll branch out and run a Mutants and Masterminds game.

5 players for a morning game, pregens will be provided.

Blurb on the plot to follow.