Chicago Game Day planning thread planning thread

Mark · Apr 5, 2004

buzz said:
Any shakage suggestions?

pensiv · Apr 5, 2004

before you decide to email me, just letting you know that this thread has caught my eye now.

I'm for continuing the 3-times-a-year frequency.

buzz · Apr 5, 2004

Mark said:
This thread isn't catching everyone's eye. Maybe contact people by email through the old Chicago Gameday threads and ask them to add input to this thread or to you by email.

Ah, not a bad idea.

Perhaps, once I get the official CGD Web site up and running, I'll set up an opt-in for people to be emailed directly about upcoming events, even if it's just a message pointing them to the current planning thread.

Mark · Apr 5, 2004

buzz said:
Ah, not a bad idea.

Perhaps, once I get the official CGD Web site up and running, I'll set up an opt-in for people to be emailed directly about upcoming events, even if it's just a message pointing them to the current planning thread.

You'll have the same problem getting them to see the new web site that you have getting them to see this thread. You're better off contacting as many as you can by email (as a one time thing) through the old threads and giving them the chance to sign up for future mailings.

Barendd Nobeard · Apr 5, 2004

You should run a tournament. A dungeon-crawl where two tables compete against each other.

Basically, have two groups working toward the same goal, but approaching the final destination from different sides. Then, the two parties meet in the "final" encounter.

You run one group in the main room, and one group in the side room, so each group doesn't know what the other group is doing. It works best if you have 2 DMs, plus a "runner/helper" DM to go between the two groups. The helper DM doesn't have to do much until the final encounter. Then it's a little crazy, but fun. As you go through Initiative, you have no idea what'll happen. Naturally, there are usually "interested third parties" there--not just the two groups of PCs.

That gives the DM something to add to the mix.

Combat is a *lot* more interesting when another group of players (instead of a DM) controls the "bad guys."

I play tested one about a year ago. In that case, the author just had a mirror image of the dungeon. Both halves led to the same final room, a large underground chamber. Since we were play testing, we didn't get to fight another group; we were mainly looking for things to tweak before he ran the actual tournament.

Just a thought.

Shadeus · Apr 5, 2004

Thread noted. I figure if I start the campaign now, I should be able to get a free weekend from the "boss" (aka wife) by June.

Trevalon Moonleirion · Apr 5, 2004

Barendd Nobeard said:
You should run a tournament. A dungeon-crawl where two tables compete against each other.

Basically, have two groups working toward the same goal, but approaching the final destination from different sides. Then, the two parties meet in the "final" encounter.

You run one group in the main room, and one group in the side room, so each group doesn't know what the other group is doing. It works best if you have 2 DMs, plus a "runner/helper" DM to go between the two groups. The helper DM doesn't have to do much until the final encounter. Then it's a little crazy, but fun. As you go through Initiative, you have no idea what'll happen. Naturally, there are usually "interested third parties" there--not just the two groups of PCs. That gives the DM something to add to the mix.

Combat is a *lot* more interesting when another group of players (instead of a DM) controls the "bad guys."

I play tested one about a year ago. In that case, the author just had a mirror image of the dungeon. Both halves led to the same final room, a large underground chamber. Since we were play testing, we didn't get to fight another group; we were mainly looking for things to tweak before he ran the actual tournament.

Just a thought.

This would be absolutely a wonderful thing to try... Any volunteers for writing an adventure that would be able to feature a little competition such as this? I'd gladly be a creative consultant/editor guy, but I'm not sure I have a ton of time to devote to actually writing something down. However, i would definitely be very interested in being one of the Co-DMs... Yeah this idea has me excited!!!

We could always adapt something already written for our own devious purposes too, I suppose... Of the dungeon crawls I have, and can think of right off the bat sitting here at this very non-euclidian iMac in the student Union's computer lab, I have Ruins of Undermountain, Ruins of Undermountain II, and the first two Rappan Athuks...not sure if I have the third one or not. Something homebrewed with lots of bears would be more fun I think.

Say Mark, you have anything decently worked up along the lines of that big island adventure you ran at the very first gameday?

Later,

Trev "very excited about hot game table vs. game table action" Moonleirion

edit...Say, you know for the final combat, we could spread out a big battlemap on one of the large minis tables if we have the space and the approval from our chainmail-bikini clad gamestore owner...

I'm still excited...well about the combat that is! [/]

Barendd Nobeard · Apr 5, 2004

Trevalon Moonleirion said:
This would be absolutely a wonderful thing to try... Any volunteers for writing an adventure that would be able to feature a little competition such as this? I'd gladly be a creative consultant/editor guy, but I'm not sure I have a ton of time to devote to actually writing something down. However, i would definitely be very interested in being one of the Co-DMs... Yeah this idea has me excited!!!

We could always adapt something already written for our own devious purposes too, I suppose... Of the dungeon crawls I have, and can think of right off the bat sitting here at this very non-euclidian iMac in the student Union's computer lab, I have Ruins of Undermountain, Ruins of Undermountain II, and the first two Rappan Athuks...not sure if I have the third one or not. Something homebrewed with lots of bears would be more fun I think.

Say Mark, you have anything decently worked up along the lines of that big island adventure you ran at the very first gameday?

Later,

Trev "very excited about hot game table vs. game table action" Moonleirion

edit...Say, you know for the final combat, we could spread out a big battlemap on one of the large minis tables if we have the space and the approval from our chainmail-bikini clad gamestore owner...

I'm still excited...well about the combat that is! [/]

I think it's more fun to use something that's not published. And, really, for a five-hour one-shot, the dungeon wouldn't even be that long.

But, if you decide to go the Rappan Athuk route, I have all three if you need to borrow the last one. (See how I not-so-subtely have committed you into doing this, Trev?)

buzz · Apr 5, 2004

Mark said:
You'll have the same problem getting them to see the new web site that you have getting them to see this thread.

Oh, this would be in addition to emailing them directly. It'd just be yet another way to get on the notification list.

buzz · Apr 5, 2004

Barendd Nobeard said:
You should run a tournament. A dungeon-crawl where two tables compete against each other.

Nice!

What are they competing for? Choice pick of the prizes?

Chicago Game Day planning thread planning thread

Mark

CreativeMountainGames.com

pensiv

Explorer

buzz

Adventurer

Mark

CreativeMountainGames.com

Barendd Nobeard

Explorer

Shadeus

First Post

Trevalon Moonleirion

Explorer

Barendd Nobeard

Explorer

buzz

Adventurer

buzz

Adventurer

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