How to recruit quality GMs?

[Drawmack]

What if it were a bus or a car pool? Lexington is pretty centrally located at the cross over of I-64 and I-75. It's only a 3 1/2 hour drive for Origins and GenCon.

It was posted more as a joke. Actually I'm too far away for a bus or car pool or bus to work, about 12 hours drive time according to this .

Seriously, if I were within driving distance and you made it free I would do it. But let me remind that by free I mean free. If I'm expected to be there during a meal, the meal should be provided. I'm not talking a steak diner with all the fixings, a pizza from dominoes is fine. If I'm expected to run games for 10 - 12 hours you can't expect me to drive home afterwards so give me someplace warm to sleep, even if it's a cot in the back of the convention and a shower at your place the next day.

 

[Umbran]

If you're at all into LA (and the campaign's active players measure in the thousands), and have the means to get there, it's shaping up to be a must-attend event. Thus, this con is likely going to have relatively few "local" attendees, and will probably draw from all over the U.S., and beyond.

Here's the real question - do the people who run LA already have real data demonstrating that a large fraction of the players are willing to travel great distances (and thus spend a whole lot of money) to play?

Plans like this should not be based upon hopes and "probable" draw.

 

[devilbat]

The reason I stopped participating/supporting our local Con was because of the way the GM's were treated.

A few years back, I was asked to GM for a minimum of 2 sessions, and for that I was given free entrance to the Con. I agreed, and because the amount of GM's running RPG's was far fewer then the amount of attendees that wanted to play, I decided to run four, four hour slots. One Friday, two Saturday, and two Sunday. This constituted roughly half of the RPG sessions available.

Friday went off without a hitch, but Saturday the wheels fell off. I attended an "Ice Cream social" between sessions, and I had one of the organizers come up to me and tell me that I wasn't supposed to be there, as I was only a volunteer, and therefor didn't have full access allowance to the events. He was feeling generous though, and said I could stay. I laughed, and I blew this off as a jerky organizer.

After my last session that night, I tried to visit a few of the hospitality suites, where I was made welcome by the goth girls, but their overprotective gamer guy friends made a hasty retreat to the organizers, who promptly checked my badge, and requested I leave the area, as I was once again, "only a volunteer". By this point I was put off, and tracked down the gaming organizer, and told him what had been going on. His reply was, "well, that's the rules".

I couldn't believe the disrepect they showed toward their volunteers, and left the Con, skipping my Sunday sessions. I've obviously never been back.

I agree that having a stocked hospitality suite, free entrance, and a little respect, would get me involved in running at a Con.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

...I wold need to get at least 84 qualified and better than comptent judges who could run LA with all it's own uniqueness and quirks.
....
What would it take for you to commit to judging a living campaign set in Arcanis? Besides accomodations and entry to the con, what else could sway you? Every one has a price after all.

I have friends in Kentucky, but I live in Connecticut. So, plane fare.

I also have attended AnonyCon in the past and can vouch for the quality of the convention and its excellent staff, the DMs and the players. It's a great time. (Sadly, my wife asked me not to go due to the proximity to the holidays and I have to agree.)

What got me to go to AnonyCon and even volunteer for DMing Living Greyhawk (and get top marks from the players) was that they asked and they treated me right. They didn't know me from a hole in the wall, but I got a t-shirt, admission and had a good time. Met a lot of great folks too.

I also go to ICon every year on Long Island. Same reasons. They appreciate me running a game or three. They also feed me, which I consider a perk. I would do it without the food because of their positive approach.

To second what someone said, personal recruitment works best. If you go to other conventions, bring along an invite to yours. Hand it out to DMs that you see who are doing a good job and have their players entertained.

Do consider trying to get more than the 84 that you need. You will have some cancellations. Good luck! I hope that it goes well.

 

[Piratecat]

Also, ask the folks who lead LA module development who their favorite judges are -- then make sure to invite those people. The LA guys should know a lot of consistent, fun judges who show up at other cons. This should be your target group.

 

[kenobi65]

Here's the real question - do the people who run LA already have real data demonstrating that a large fraction of the players are willing to travel great distances (and thus spend a whole lot of money) to play?

Theoretically, yes; they've been talking to the player base about this for several months now.

As it is, they've got a player base who traveled from all over to go to Origins last summer, primarily to play LA there. As this would be an even bigger event for LA in particular, I don't think the concept itself is unreasonable (though the 500 number surprises me a bit; I think the LA player base at Origins was more like 250 or so).

 

[Ceresco]

The reason for that projected number, I suspect, is that this is being planned as the biggest convention ever for the Living Arcanis campaign, with key campaign-shaping events occuring during the modules played at this con.

If you're at all into LA (and the campaign's active players measure in the thousands), and have the means to get there, it's shaping up to be a must-attend event. Thus, this con is likely going to have relatively few "local" attendees, and will probably draw from all over the U.S., and beyond.

Correct. And I suspect that 500 is lowballing the numbers. Knowing what I know about marketing and how to sell entertainment, I think it might be even bigger.

edward-

 

[Umbran]

Correct. And I suspect that 500 is lowballing the numbers. Knowing what I know about marketing and how to sell entertainment, I think it might be even bigger.

Um, I dunno about that. Conventions typically don't have big advertising budgets.

Boston is a very sci-fi and genre media oriented town - we've got oodles of local colleges filled with students into the stuff. Arisia, a broad-interest science fiction convention in Boston, gets all of a couple thousand attendees every year. You're looking for a quarter of that number of people, but for a very specific, focused event, for non-locals. That's a much harder sell.

Which is not to say it cannot be done. It is simply more ambitious, and I'd expect it to be somewhat more work in outreach.

 

[der_kluge]

I don't go to Cons who only offer RPGA games. I definitely wouldn't GM at one.

You should really consider changing your focus to offering all kinds of games, not just "Living" games. You're going to get a much better response.

 

[Ceresco]

I don't go to Cons who only offer RPGA games. I definitely wouldn't GM at one.

You should really consider changing your focus to offering all kinds of games, not just "Living" games. You're going to get a much better response.

That is not what this con is about. It is a special event culmnating in the conclusion of a story arc that began in 2001.

LA is no longer affiliated with the RPGA as of the end of this year. That's why the catagory for this topic is Conventions. Direct from Henry Lopez:

Hello Everyone,

Earlier today I received a cordial phone call from Ian Richards, the head of the RPGA, in which he informed me that due solely to business reasons, Living Arcanis would no longer be supported or be part of the RPGA.

He also said that the current stock of Living Arcanis adventures could continue to be downloaded on the RPGA website until the end of February 2007.

So what does this mean to all of us?

In the short run it means that those who organize Cons and Game Days will need to download the latest Living Arcanis adventures from www.livingarcanis.com .

Those playing Living Arcanis adventures for RPGA points should report those games ASAP to garner said points.

And that should be about it.

As most of you know, last year Living Arcanis was not supported by the RPGA at any of the major conventions, so this has been a while coming. As such, PCI has been hard at work planning for just this eventuality. While I can't state the details at the moment (the big announcement will be late Spring 2007) I want to assure you that what will be unveiled then and premiering Origins 2007 is really exciting, not just for Living Arcanis and PCI but for the Industry as a whole.

So don't worry: bottom line is that you will still be able to get your Living Arcanis adventures as always for either Convention or
Game Day venues.

Living Arcanis is not going away because of this. In fact, not being a part of the RPGA opens up a few options that were restricted to us before. Exactly what those are and when they will be implemented is something I am hesitant to say at the moment – but I am excited about the possibilities.

I also want to be clear that there is no animosity between PCI and the RPGA. We had a good run with the RPGA and would not be as large or successful a campaign without it. But life is change and most of the time change, while a little scary in the beginning, is ultimately a good thing.

The future is very bright for Living Arcanis in particular and organized role-playing in general. I really wish I could tell you what we have in the works, but we made an agreement with our partners not to make an announcement until a certain time and I have to honor it.

But man, it is going to be REALLY cool!!!!

If you have any questions, feel free to post on [the LA-Talk mailing list] or email me personally at PCIHenry@aol.com . I will do my best to answer your questions frankly and as quickly as possible.

Pax Arcanis!

Best,

Henry Lopez
President
PCI

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Does this change your mind?

edward-