This weekend we hosted NC Game Day XXVII. It was, as usual, a total blast. I got a chance to run some Old School Hack and play some Fiasco. These have become some of my favorite games to run at such events because they require little or no preparation (it's been a busy winter!). Chances are I'll do some more prep for the April (20th and 21st) NC Game Day since it is our "big event" stretched over 2 days of gaming. I’ll probably come up with a new Sky Galleons of Mars adventure.
These events are tremendous fun for me because I love gaming. But as we all know, games are made of people. I could go to the local game store for a pickup game if my focus was strictly on gaming every chance I get. But I love gaming most with friends I've made online, particularly the friends I've made at ENWorld and Circvs Maximvs. That circle of friends has grown over the years and I'm rather shocked when I take a step back and think about how far the NCGD has come from its humble beginnings.
It started over 10 years ago when I noticed there were people gathering around the US, notably in Chicago and Boston, for "Game Days." I love fun but I love it a little less when it is happening without me. This situation could not stand. I had also noticed there were a lot of people at ENWorld who had locations listed in or near North Carolina. So I piped up and (naively) said, "So these game days sound really fun. We should have one of those!" The overwhelming response was, "That sounds awesome, Rel! When and where will that be?" I suddenly found myself in charge of a thing I hadn't seen coming.
Luckily I had help from some really excellent folks. A poster named Mulkhoran helped me get things organized, NCSUCodeMonkey jumped in to secure us space at the university and our
illustrious Admin, Henry, got on board as well. I think that first one we had about a dozen people or so. Just enough to run two games at a time. A few years later we topped out at having upwards of 70 attendees. We have had people come in for the event from South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Iowa, California and Canada (it's nearly certain I'm forgetting some too).
Over time the NC Game Day has evolved and these days it's pretty much a one man show getting it organized. I noticed this time around that I hadn't organized terribly well and thought it was time for me to go over exactly what makes this thing great to get re-invested. I've also been asked numerous times to pass along what I've learned for those trying to launch their own events. This is worth reviewing as well because I've found these ideas have evolved too.
I've always said, "NC Game Day is FREE and it will always be FREE." I stand by this concept because it takes away a whole bunch of questions I don't want to answer. "What if I don't get into the games I want? What if I don't have fun in the games I got into? What if the GM doesn't show up? What if not enough people sign up to pay for the venue? What if so many people show up that you make a profit? Is this a business?" Screw that. I absolutely hope that everybody has a good time and I generally do whatever I can to make that happen. But I don't want to OWE somebody a good time. I'm there to have fun too and that doesn't involve having to spend time answering complaints. So the order of the day is "Be Fun. Be Generous. Be Awesome. But Game At Your Own Risk."
We were able to accomplish this in part because we have a free venue. Arranging space at our local university was a stroke of genius by Code Monkey and we are forever in his debt. We've
been able to keep this going through a number of different student and faculty volunteers over the years and the experience has always been excellent.
Another major tenet I live by and encourage is to be open to new people but remember that we are a community. I like to game with people I know. I have been to GenCon half a dozen times now. I always buy a badge. I have never played a single "official" game. That's because I prefer gaming with friends rather than strangers. They are more known to me and I'm more invested in their fun. But I also have greater expectations for the game based on what I know about the GM and other players. We all have a greater sense of obligation to each other. If somebody acts like an ass or no-shows for the game, they don't just walk away with no further consequence. They are going to hear about it on Monday at the messageboards.
This very much applies to the Game Day experience. I have heard time and again that the overall quality of the games run there is very high and the incidence of players and especially GMs not showing up is vanishingly small. We know and like each other. Nobody wants to let the team down.
This also means that I don't do a ton of advertising. The growth of the NC Game Days has been a very organic process. Anybody is welcome to invite anybody but I don’t hang posters all over town. I was once accused by an attendee of not doing enough to "get the word out." He was saying this because not enough players signed up for his game. I'm very sorry about that, but it's not my job to go pull people off the street so that your game will be full. It's your job to be such an awesome GM that players are clamoring for spots in your game. Or invite people you know to come play in your games and recommend other games you think they might like. If your game fails to draw players then take the opportunity to cancel it, play in somebody else's game, and hone your GMing skills.
I also tout the NC Game Days as social events as much as they are gaming events. Remember that part about community? We like talking to each other in person even more than we do online. Our Game Days include at least two or more gatherings to socialize, have a drink and eat corn dogs. Yes, corn dogs. And NC (Eastern style) BBQ, which is the best BBQ on the planet. Trust me on this. It may be the single best piece of advice in this column.
These social gatherings are a place to decompress after gaming, talk about what was fun or hilarious, discuss ideas you plan to steal for your games back home, and talk about how delicious NC BBQ is. I feel most proud of these events not when we're at the gaming table but when folks are gathered in my house. You can't hear the sound of any one person's voice (except somebody belting out a Rock Band song). All you hear is laughing. That is the pinnacle for me.
As I've written all this, I want to make sure I'm conveying that this is not the One True Way to host a Game Day. But it is my way. It is personal to me and these recommendations have worked well for us. That said, the NC Game Day is going to undergo some more evolution in the coming year and I'm pretty stoked about it.
I've come to understand my favorite gaming gatherings are ones where there are absolutely no lines drawn between the social portion and the gaming portion. These "house con"
environments, where everybody eats and sleeps and games under one roof, are tremendous fun for me and I decided that I wanted the bigger (spring) NC Game Days to reflect that kind of
atmosphere. The problem is that there is no way to easily house that many people in one building. I decided to take this thing outdoors.
There is a local park that has what amounts to a Summer Camp facility with cabins, a dining hall and modern restrooms. Plenty of space for the number of attendees we draw. It’s in a beautiful setting but with plenty of table space for us to run games. You could even opt to run them outside at a picnic table or around the campfire. And if you want to get away from the gaming for a little while and stretch your legs there are hiking trails all over the place.
One of the biggest draws, in addition to gaming, eating, and recreation all in the same place, is the price. It will cost each attendee less than $7 per day to stay there and I suspect the cost of food prepared in the dining hall will keep the total cost to under $20 per person per day. I really want to convey to the attendees “if you can afford to get here, you can afford to stay here.”
I know some folks aren’t into the whole camping/roughing it thing (although sleeping on a cot in a cabin with nearby showers and food being prepared for you in a kitchen is not very rough). The beauty is that this place is right off a busy road with numerous hotels and restaurants less than 15 minutes from the campsite. For those who like their creature comforts, they are still right around the corner.
I’m trying this on an experimental basis starting in 2014 but the concept seems really popular with both past attendees and with those who have been on the bubble. I’ll be sure and post in the future about how successful (or not) it was. Meanwhile I wish everybody tons of fun gaming in 2013 at home and at the various events you attend. To anybody thinking of starting up your own Game Day, I assure you that it can be some of the funnest gaming you’ll ever do and a great chance to meet new people or old friends face to face.
Do you host or attend a local Game Day or convention? What about it makes it worth the while? What could be done better?
These events are tremendous fun for me because I love gaming. But as we all know, games are made of people. I could go to the local game store for a pickup game if my focus was strictly on gaming every chance I get. But I love gaming most with friends I've made online, particularly the friends I've made at ENWorld and Circvs Maximvs. That circle of friends has grown over the years and I'm rather shocked when I take a step back and think about how far the NCGD has come from its humble beginnings.
It started over 10 years ago when I noticed there were people gathering around the US, notably in Chicago and Boston, for "Game Days." I love fun but I love it a little less when it is happening without me. This situation could not stand. I had also noticed there were a lot of people at ENWorld who had locations listed in or near North Carolina. So I piped up and (naively) said, "So these game days sound really fun. We should have one of those!" The overwhelming response was, "That sounds awesome, Rel! When and where will that be?" I suddenly found myself in charge of a thing I hadn't seen coming.
Luckily I had help from some really excellent folks. A poster named Mulkhoran helped me get things organized, NCSUCodeMonkey jumped in to secure us space at the university and our
illustrious Admin, Henry, got on board as well. I think that first one we had about a dozen people or so. Just enough to run two games at a time. A few years later we topped out at having upwards of 70 attendees. We have had people come in for the event from South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Iowa, California and Canada (it's nearly certain I'm forgetting some too).
Over time the NC Game Day has evolved and these days it's pretty much a one man show getting it organized. I noticed this time around that I hadn't organized terribly well and thought it was time for me to go over exactly what makes this thing great to get re-invested. I've also been asked numerous times to pass along what I've learned for those trying to launch their own events. This is worth reviewing as well because I've found these ideas have evolved too.
I've always said, "NC Game Day is FREE and it will always be FREE." I stand by this concept because it takes away a whole bunch of questions I don't want to answer. "What if I don't get into the games I want? What if I don't have fun in the games I got into? What if the GM doesn't show up? What if not enough people sign up to pay for the venue? What if so many people show up that you make a profit? Is this a business?" Screw that. I absolutely hope that everybody has a good time and I generally do whatever I can to make that happen. But I don't want to OWE somebody a good time. I'm there to have fun too and that doesn't involve having to spend time answering complaints. So the order of the day is "Be Fun. Be Generous. Be Awesome. But Game At Your Own Risk."
We were able to accomplish this in part because we have a free venue. Arranging space at our local university was a stroke of genius by Code Monkey and we are forever in his debt. We've
been able to keep this going through a number of different student and faculty volunteers over the years and the experience has always been excellent.
Another major tenet I live by and encourage is to be open to new people but remember that we are a community. I like to game with people I know. I have been to GenCon half a dozen times now. I always buy a badge. I have never played a single "official" game. That's because I prefer gaming with friends rather than strangers. They are more known to me and I'm more invested in their fun. But I also have greater expectations for the game based on what I know about the GM and other players. We all have a greater sense of obligation to each other. If somebody acts like an ass or no-shows for the game, they don't just walk away with no further consequence. They are going to hear about it on Monday at the messageboards.
This very much applies to the Game Day experience. I have heard time and again that the overall quality of the games run there is very high and the incidence of players and especially GMs not showing up is vanishingly small. We know and like each other. Nobody wants to let the team down.
This also means that I don't do a ton of advertising. The growth of the NC Game Days has been a very organic process. Anybody is welcome to invite anybody but I don’t hang posters all over town. I was once accused by an attendee of not doing enough to "get the word out." He was saying this because not enough players signed up for his game. I'm very sorry about that, but it's not my job to go pull people off the street so that your game will be full. It's your job to be such an awesome GM that players are clamoring for spots in your game. Or invite people you know to come play in your games and recommend other games you think they might like. If your game fails to draw players then take the opportunity to cancel it, play in somebody else's game, and hone your GMing skills.
I also tout the NC Game Days as social events as much as they are gaming events. Remember that part about community? We like talking to each other in person even more than we do online. Our Game Days include at least two or more gatherings to socialize, have a drink and eat corn dogs. Yes, corn dogs. And NC (Eastern style) BBQ, which is the best BBQ on the planet. Trust me on this. It may be the single best piece of advice in this column.
These social gatherings are a place to decompress after gaming, talk about what was fun or hilarious, discuss ideas you plan to steal for your games back home, and talk about how delicious NC BBQ is. I feel most proud of these events not when we're at the gaming table but when folks are gathered in my house. You can't hear the sound of any one person's voice (except somebody belting out a Rock Band song). All you hear is laughing. That is the pinnacle for me.
As I've written all this, I want to make sure I'm conveying that this is not the One True Way to host a Game Day. But it is my way. It is personal to me and these recommendations have worked well for us. That said, the NC Game Day is going to undergo some more evolution in the coming year and I'm pretty stoked about it.
I've come to understand my favorite gaming gatherings are ones where there are absolutely no lines drawn between the social portion and the gaming portion. These "house con"
environments, where everybody eats and sleeps and games under one roof, are tremendous fun for me and I decided that I wanted the bigger (spring) NC Game Days to reflect that kind of
atmosphere. The problem is that there is no way to easily house that many people in one building. I decided to take this thing outdoors.
There is a local park that has what amounts to a Summer Camp facility with cabins, a dining hall and modern restrooms. Plenty of space for the number of attendees we draw. It’s in a beautiful setting but with plenty of table space for us to run games. You could even opt to run them outside at a picnic table or around the campfire. And if you want to get away from the gaming for a little while and stretch your legs there are hiking trails all over the place.
One of the biggest draws, in addition to gaming, eating, and recreation all in the same place, is the price. It will cost each attendee less than $7 per day to stay there and I suspect the cost of food prepared in the dining hall will keep the total cost to under $20 per person per day. I really want to convey to the attendees “if you can afford to get here, you can afford to stay here.”
I know some folks aren’t into the whole camping/roughing it thing (although sleeping on a cot in a cabin with nearby showers and food being prepared for you in a kitchen is not very rough). The beauty is that this place is right off a busy road with numerous hotels and restaurants less than 15 minutes from the campsite. For those who like their creature comforts, they are still right around the corner.
I’m trying this on an experimental basis starting in 2014 but the concept seems really popular with both past attendees and with those who have been on the bubble. I’ll be sure and post in the future about how successful (or not) it was. Meanwhile I wish everybody tons of fun gaming in 2013 at home and at the various events you attend. To anybody thinking of starting up your own Game Day, I assure you that it can be some of the funnest gaming you’ll ever do and a great chance to meet new people or old friends face to face.
Do you host or attend a local Game Day or convention? What about it makes it worth the while? What could be done better?
