Chicago Gameday XVIII Planning Thread: Nov 10th is our date

[thalmin]

On a different note entirely, November 3rd is World Wide Play D&D Day. We are signed up for this event, and could use a couple of DMs, and of course players. If anyone would would like to help us out, please let me know.

 

[Mark]

I was asking you to give up an event, not just a table. But it's a moot point, now.

Ah, well, the part that confused me was the comment about the uncomfortable table that was being offered for use. Even if I did not slide over to the hightop table, the same miniatures table would have been the one being offered. I chose the private room in the second slot because I plan to run a possibly longer RPG event in that slot. The semi-minis related D&D / d20 thing in the mix for the first slot can be scaled back to fit on the hightop table, though sticking with the big miniatures table suits me just fine as well.


As to adding events, I've seen the place packed, with all tables going, and it can indeed get noisy but is obviously possible. And limiting the number of players per table to five defeats the purpose of adding an extra game, IMO. Sure, adding an event can add some variety, but the ability to accomodate more players was the point, I had thought. As Pb said, we were turning away players last time, so adding a eighth event with four players (+5 gamers with GM accomodated) then removing one seat from the other seven tables (-7 gamers accomodated) would be a net loss in the number of gamers accomodated.


As far as the noise level, I think part of the problem might be the seating of the DM/GM. As with most of the tables, it is best for the DM to sit with his back to a wall. The players only have one person they mostly have to focus on and hear but the DM/GM has five or six voices wafting toward him, sporadically, and if he is seated such that he is toward the center of the room, if becomes that much more difficult and the sound from other tables becomes that much more intrusive.

 

[buzz]

Ah, well, the part that confused me was the comment about the uncomfortable table that was being offered for use.

Apologies for the confusion, Mark.

And limiting the number of players per table to five defeats the purpose of adding an extra game, IMO. Sure, adding an event can add some variety, but the ability to accomodate more players was the point, I had thought.

True, true. I'm just wary of trying to accommodate eight tables of 6-7 players each. That's 48-56 people in the game area, which I think would degrade the whole Gameday experience for everyone. I want to find room for more people, but not at the expense of making Gameday feel like the typical overcrowded GenCon event hall.

But, I dunno. What do other people think? Eight events?

If we go eight, I would strongly argue for a hard, six-player limit, save for events in the private room, or maybe the far tall table in back.

As far as the noise level, I think part of the problem might be the seating of the DM/GM. As with most of the tables, it is best for the DM to sit with his back to a wall. The players only have one person they mostly have to focus on and hear but the DM/GM has five or six voices wafting toward him, sporadically, and if he is seated such that he is toward the center of the room, if becomes that much more difficult and the sound from other tables becomes that much more intrusive.

On the flip side, when all the GMs are against the wall, you've got a row of people, each 5'-6' apart, all talking at the same time, most of the time.

I found it interesting that, last time, Bill Corrie/HinterWelt sat himself in the middle of his table. He was at the minis painting table, on the long right side, with his back to the small windowed office. I liked this because: a) it put him as far as possible from the GM at the next table, and 2) it put him as close as possible to all his players. Granted, this setup is a bit problematic if you're using a battlemat and GM screen. Still, I thought it was a strategic placement.

Ergo, the takeaway here would simply be to position yourself with an eye to how others are setting up.

 

[buzz]

The Enemy of My Enemy is…Who?
Qin: The Warring States
...
4 Players

How many players are the rest of you planning for? I was thinking 5 for my BW event (just 'cause, not due to the limit thing Mark and I are talking about).

 

[FCWesel]

If we go eight, I would strongly argue for a hard, six-player limit...

Yeah, I agree. 4-6 players is usually the best range. At Gen Con this year we only did 6 Player tables for all the MWP events. Anymore then that becomes...bleh, for everyone.

 

[FCWesel]

On a different note entirely, November 3rd is World Wide Play D&D Day. We are signed up for this event, and could use a couple of DMs, and of course players. If anyone would would like to help us out, please let me know.

Hey Curt, shoot me a email with the details, I might be able to help out and run a game.

 

[TracerBullet42]

How many players are the rest of you planning for? I was thinking 5 for my BW event (just 'cause, not due to the limit thing Mark and I are talking about).

I will be running for 6 PCs.

 

[TracerBullet42]

Hey Curt, shoot me a email with the details, I might be able to help out and run a game.

Likewise, Curt, I could probably help out.

 

[Pbartender]

True, true. I'm just wary of trying to accommodate eight tables of 6-7 players each. That's 48-56 people in the game area, which I think would degrade the whole Gameday experience for everyone. I want to find room for more people, but not at the expense of making Gameday feel like the typical overcrowded GenCon event hall.

But, I dunno. What do other people think? Eight events?

That's why I was wondering about just adding my event as an 8th event in the evening at the "prize" table... I was planning on running for just 4 players.

 

[buzz]

That's why I was wondering about just adding my event as an 8th event in the evening at the "prize" table... I was planning on running for just 4 players.

Are there even enough chairs, particularly tall ones? Otherwise, people would have to stand to play at that table.

GP needs to host a fundraiser to buy themselves a good set of barstools.