GenCon d20 Pick up games

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I'll vote for having a rally point as well. Since I'm sure my schedule will change once I'm at the Con, I'd like to know that if I've got free time, I can just drop by and see if anyone else is around and free for a game.

 

[Nine Hands]

A rally point will be a good idea. I don't have any games scheduled and probably won't at all

 

[Crothian]

Okay, so what easily found place can we use as a rally point?

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Okay, so what easily found place can we use as a rally point?

It should be someplace were there won't be torrents of people. Like i'd say in front of the ticket counters for example, is not a good choice.

 

[d20Dwarf]

A rallying point will be a good idea but a schedule for some of us is also going to be necessary, I think.

Really the point of pickup games is to fill in some gaps or play some games when you have nothing to do. Trying to coordinate a schedule for that sorta defeats the purpose, Control Frea....err, Mark.

A rallying point is the best idea, unfortunately its tough because we aren't familiar with the new convention center.

I suggest the Fantasy Flight Games booth as a good rallying point.

Actually a better idea is the Wizards.COMmunity area in the castle, if they have it this year. They always set up comfy chairs and couches around their internet connections, which is a great place to lounge.

 

[Crothian]

We mighty want a place that other people aren't going to gather at

 

[Mark]

Really the point of pickup games is to fill in some gaps or play some games when you have nothing to do. Trying to coordinate a schedule for that sorta defeats the purpose, Control Frea....err, Mark.

A lot of people will know where the gaps in their schedule are ahead of time, Wil. There's no need to be nasty about my wanting to set up some games for people and make sure that there is reason enough to do so as early as that can be determined. If there is also a rallying point for people who don't have the abiltiy or desire to set up pick up games between their already scheduled events, that's no problem either.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

A lot of people will know where the gaps in their schedule are ahead of time, Wil. There's no need to be nasty about my wanting to set up some games for people and make sure that there is reason enough to do so as early as that can be determined. If there is also a rallying point for people who don't have the abiltiy or desire to set up pick up games between their already scheduled events, that's no problem either.

If possible, I'd like to set up 1 or 2 games that I can plan for, just as I can plan on the games that I have regestered for.

I'd also like to be able to drop in and play a game (any game, not just D&D or a d20 game) when I've got a hour or 2 free. I'll be bringing some easily portable games (Munchkin, Kill Dr. Lucky, etc)and I'm sure I'll be picking up some things there, so I'll be wanting to try them out.

As for a rallying place, a fairly quiet area where everyone else isn't going to be gathering as well would be best. Maybe we should have some sort of "calling card" to let others know we are ENWorld people looking for pickup games? I'm not sure what it should be, maybe a "Hello My Name is:" tag with ENWorld and our Username?

 

[der_kluge]

In year's past, the pickup games area has volunteers working. Basically, you can walk up to them and ask them if they know of any games starting up, or if you're running a game and looking for players, you can ask them to keep an eye out.

I would simply suggest that whoever runs the first pickup game for EnWorlders to pick a dark corner somewhere, and tell the coordinators. Be sure to mention that its specific for EnWorlders looking to game.

We'd probably want to try to establish a specific time so that a lone GM didn't show up and wait 7 hours for some other EnWorlders to magically appear looking to game. I imagine that most people won't really even look to start gaming until Thursday PM.

Of course, that's not to say that if other gamers aren't looking to game that you don't invite them, but just gives a slight priority to EnWorlders first.

 

[Mark]

When we get closer to Gencon we can make some inquiries about where we can most likely set up an area for pick up games. It will probably be in one of the larger areas already designted by the Gencon staff for pick up games. It will be easy enough to create a map from existing floor plans to be sure everyone knows where it will be.

I doubt that rallying in the dealers room and then walking as a group ten or fifteen minutes to try and locate an open table is a very good idea. Not only does it sound like a pain in the ass, but anyone who would wish to locate those games and watch over shoulders or be included if they are short-handed would have no way to find them.

I think we're better off having the rallying point near where we propose to run the pick up games so we can facilitate more interaction as the games are ongoing and so we can coordinate staking out a number of tables for those games in advance. In a lot of cases an open slot for a pick up game will be no longer than four hours (less if someone wants to squeeze a quick lunch/meal into that free time.) Anytime that is used up searching for a table to play means less time for play.

Let's try to make this as easy on ourselves as we can when it comes to getting from plan to play.