Chicago Gameday XI is 7/9: Planning thread!

[FCWesel]

Man, I hate you FC.

Well, tell us how it was!

First off, I won't give away spoilers.

I enjoyed it. Very much so. I can't wait for it to be September, just so I can see it again, for the first time. (Since this was not the finished edit.)

Joss had a "thank you" presentation (on screen, he wasn't there) that was really cool.

 

[pvt. patterson]

buzz, go beg amazon.com for stuff(you never know you might get stuff)

 

[Quickbeam]

Well, if every DM would write up a quick story hour, we could at least experience the other slots vicariously (if not directly).

It's not hard to write a story hour. I just started one (see .sig). I'll bet Quickbeam can have his written in the car before you guys hit Detroit!

Another good reason for JD to drive this time.

 

[buzz]

Anyone have any other suggestions or ideas for Gameday? Ways to make it better? Things we've been doing that we should definitely keep doing? Stop doing?

 

[FCWesel]

Anyone have any other suggestions or ideas for Gameday? Ways to make it better? Things we've been doing that we should definitely keep doing? Stop doing?

This is REALLY just off the top of my head, but what about maybe a "table" that does a 3 hour game of which 4 could be run (two in the morning, two in the afternoon)?

Obviously, that's not a lot of time, but if it were limited to say four players and had pre-made charactersm it might make for a few encounters...more of a "get to know this system" then anything else.

For Example. Someone decides to do this and decides that they will run A mini-session of Exalted in the first half of the Morning Slot and a Mutants & Masterminds in the second half of the AM Slot, then simply repeat that process (of the same two sessions and "plots") in the afternoon slot.

This way folks can get a small experience with a system, enough to give them an idea or wet a whsitle (if you will).

Like I said, it was a idea off the top of my head.

 

[rowport]

This is REALLY just off the top of my head, but what about maybe a "table" that does a 3 hour game of which 4 could be run (two in the morning, two in the afternoon)?

Obviously, that's not a lot of time, but if it were limited to say four players and had pre-made charactersm it might make for a few encounters...more of a "get to know this system" then anything else.

For Example. Someone decides to do this and decides that they will run A mini-session of Exalted in the first half of the Morning Slot and a Mutants & Masterminds in the second half of the AM Slot, then simply repeat that process (of the same two sessions and "plots") in the afternoon slot.

This way folks can get a small experience with a system, enough to give them an idea or wet a whsitle (if you will).

Like I said, it was a idea off the top of my head.

I think FCWesel has a great idea, here. (Why is it that I keep wanting to read "Weasel" instead of "Wesel"? I am sure it is my problem...) Personally, I love GameDay for the chance to play different RPGs than my usual- since my normal group is so diehard D&D that means pretty much *anything* is different. <sigh> But, back on topic, I really like the idea of short "taste" games. I think that might be tough to design from a DM POV, though?

My suggestion is to take a few minutes after the two sessions are complete for each DM to summarize the game for the other GameDayers. There are always games that I wish that I could play- tough choices!- and while reading about some on-line here at ENWorld helps fill the gap, I think hearing about the games live would go a long way. I also like Barend's idea for Storyhour bits after GameDay concludes. In fact, I will volunteer to write player perspective Storyhours (with my respective GMs' permissions, of course) to kick off the concept! Who is with me?? Hoo-rah!

 

[FCWesel]

I think FCWesel has a great idea, here.

But, back on topic, I really like the idea of short "taste" games. I think that might be tough to design from a DM POV, though?

Actually it is very quite easy. You make up three encounters for a game, though you'll likely only use two of them, a few pre-made characters and just drop the group in the middle of something. These games are not about plot they are about an encounter or two at most.

As for the GM's explaining their games thing, I have to say I am not up for that. First off, you'll never get everyone's attention for any one game (we can barely do it for the prize thing) and frankly I don't want to use up "my time" doing that...and then wait for the outher 5+ GMs do the same thing. Even at 5 minutes each, that's a half hour of time. You also have the fact that folks won't stay "till the bitter end" or don't come in the AM.

Nah, I would encourage anyone interested in a game, but not playing to ask about it at lunch-break. I know if I have time I can try to give a short rundown. And if one of the Game Day'r's can't, there's alkways the expert staff at Games Plus...Who can also show you where it is on the shelf so that you might buy it.

 

[Ninjacat]

I agree with Rowport; I think some "mini-sessions" could be a really nifty way to introduce new players to new games, etc etc. I have a feeling this is something that probably needs some kicking around to work the kinks out of, but perhaps this extra time between set-up and sign-up threads now has a purpose past pizza? (And can I alliterate much more?!?)

I'm betting between the lot of us we have QUITE a number of games to introduce, and I can personally attest to the fun of just jumping into something for a one-shot con-type-setting.

*glances at Reidzilla and whistles innocently*

Looking forward to seeing where we can go with this idea, on GameDay itself (in prep for the next one already, mwahaa...) if not sooner on this very thread!

 

[Mark]

Maybe kick it around then discuss it with everyone else (at the gameday, over breakfast, lunch, etc) as an idea for the next (November?) gameday? Are slots six hours long now (to accomodate two three-hour mini-slots)?

 

[buzz]

I like the idea of an RPG "hors d'oeuvre table".

Are slots six hours long now (to accomodate two three-hour mini-slots)?

If you include the meal break and the semi-official end time of 9-9:30pm, each slot runs five hours. Sure, some games tend to run longer, but not according to the "official" schedule.

Ergo, a half-slot is 2.5 hours. For demo'ing a game, that's reasonable, I think. The GM would have to be good about checking their watch, of course.

The upside to this idea is that people who want to show up before lunch, but who may not want to be up an at 'em at 9am on a Saturday morning, can come at noon and still participate in an almost-full Gameday.

The downside is that those who sign up for the first mini-slot, but may not want to sign up for anything in the second, have about 3-4 hours to kill before the prize drawing and the afternoon slot. Granted, it's not hard (for me at least) to kill many hours browsing Games Plus, but I'm just sayin'. It seems like, if someone is going to go hors d'oeuvre, they should fill their morning or afternoon with them.

Since we have the time, it would be possible to implement something like this for 7/9. We can either add a table and dedicate it to these mini-games, or if someone would like to forego their submitted event and replace it with mini-games, that's also do-able. Or, we can just wait until the fall. It's up to you, GMs.

It would seem to me that the easiest implementation would be to have two GMs running these mini-games, and each simply runs their mini-game twice back-to-back (or four times if they want to go all day). That way players aren't limited to a single time slot in order to try out a game, and the GMs only need to prep a single scenario. Just a thought.