Kansas City Game Day - A success! Photos on page 12.

[SteelDraco]

ghrezdd, perhaps you could tap into this KUGAR, and we could organize a *real* Kansas City convention. Given that there are probably over 2 million people in Kansas City, and surrounding environments, we should be able to organize an awesome con. We just have to dig them out of the woodwork.

*coughs* I can probably tap into KUGAR pretty effectively, since I'm the current president. Conventions are tricky, particularly in this region, and ESPECIALLY if KUGAR is involved. KulCon, which was a con in this area a few years ago, didn't go down well, as a result of poor management by some of my predecessors (as I've heard the story, anyway - I was a young'un at the time, though I was at three of the cons). There are some bad feelings left over from that era.

The difference between a game day and a con, as I see it, is that there are less expectations for a game day. With a con, people expect a dealer's hall, guests, all kinds of stuff. Game days are just that - you show up, you sign up for and play in a game, and then you leave. At the moment, I think it would be a good idea to start with a game day, and see how that goes. Conventions involve a lot more organization and effort. I've looked into a con before, and it's rough. Organizing gamers is like herding cats without the cattle prods - it's not a lot of fun. (I keed, I keed!) A game day is simpler; we just need a venue and game sign-ups. That means we get to skip much of the crap regarding conventions.

I can tap into the Lawrence and (particularly) Topeka gaming communities pretty effectively. I worked at the Gatekeeper in Topeka for about two years, and know most of the active gamers in town (I'm Dylan, should anyone have shopped there regularly.). If we do something like this, and want to get people outside ENWorld involved, we'll be able to.

 

[Moe Ronalds]

If a KC gameday is organized, I think me and my gaming group would love to go. We're all 12-14 so none of us has experienced a con/gameday before, but we're all anxious to. Also, I'll tell my aunt and uncle and my friend's aunt and uncle about it and see if it piques their interest.

 

[der_kluge]

Myths and Legends is actually out in Independence (near Noland Rd and Hwy 78). The two up North of the river used to be Amber Road and Comic Cavern. They are both long defunct.

As for Pirate Games, I'd just call information but, I wouldn't get my hopes up. They are notoriously bad at keeping their affairs organized.

Good luck on organizing your game day. And keep us updated but, to be honest, I think ShaunCon/ThunderCons problems are more a reflection of the Kansas City gaming community than the ability, or inability, of the RPGKC, to get their shyte together.

Whoa! Another lurker! Hello, Dante! More people from this area than I would have ever guessed!

I've long contended that ShaunCon/ThunderCon would be much better if the organizers actually gave a darn about running something other than RPGA games. But, it's all they seem to care about. November of '01 I went and ran several non-RPGA games, and I had people thanking me for "offering an RPGA-alternative", as one guy put it. I'm actually on their KCRPG email group, and I've discussed this with them many times, but they see it as someone else's problem - not theirs.

 

[der_kluge]

I might be interested, but I'm curious: what, if anything, is different about a Game Day vs. a convention?

Essentially, nothing, that I'm aware of. My hope is that if we start up something like this, that it could eventually grow into something bigger, and even garner convention status. I believe that the Game Days that others have organized have been fairly small affairs that are held at LGS's.

If you go forward with this, please keep us posted.

Absolutely! I'm psyched about it, personally. I'm gonna talk to the LGS owners as soon as I am able to get their thoughts on it.

 

[der_kluge]

*coughs* I can probably tap into KUGAR pretty effectively, since I'm the current president. Conventions are tricky, particularly in this region, and ESPECIALLY if KUGAR is involved. KulCon, which was a con in this area a few years ago, didn't go down well, as a result of poor management by some of my predecessors (as I've heard the story, anyway - I was a young'un at the time, though I was at three of the cons). There are some bad feelings left over from that era.

The difference between a game day and a con, as I see it, is that there are less expectations for a game day. With a con, people expect a dealer's hall, guests, all kinds of stuff. Game days are just that - you show up, you sign up for and play in a game, and then you leave. At the moment, I think it would be a good idea to start with a game day, and see how that goes. Conventions involve a lot more organization and effort. I've looked into a con before, and it's rough. Organizing gamers is like herding cats without the cattle prods - it's not a lot of fun. (I keed, I keed!) A game day is simpler; we just need a venue and game sign-ups. That means we get to skip much of the crap regarding conventions.

I can tap into the Lawrence and (particularly) Topeka gaming communities pretty effectively. I worked at the Gatekeeper in Topeka for about two years, and know most of the active gamers in town (I'm Dylan, should anyone have shopped there regularly.). If we do something like this, and want to get people outside ENWorld involved, we'll be able to.

At this point, it seems as if there is a fair amount of interest. When I am able (maybe this weekend), I'm going to drop by Tabletop, and then perhaps 31st Century, and see how many people each facility would be able to support. I think TableTop will be the better bet. I write for Mystic Eye Games, and, as Hal mentioned early on, he'd be able to score me some goodies to give out as prizes if we want to go that route.

I would imagine that we'd need volunteers to run games, which shouldn't be a problem. I would also guess that we could plan on it lasting just a day. I don't know that anyone has organized Game "weekends" just yet. Of course, it would be free, and I would imagine that a place like TableTop would be brimming with anticipation to do something like this. Anything that gets 30+ gamers in their store for an entire day is usually seen as a good thing.

I told Matt (a guy that works there) that if he and Phil (the owner) were ever serious about organizing a convention, that I'd put everything I could into helping it become successful. Who knows, perhaps this could be the catalyst that gets such a thing accomplished.

 

[der_kluge]

If a KC gameday is organized, I think me and my gaming group would love to go. We're all 12-14 so none of us has experienced a con/gameday before, but we're all anxious to. Also, I'll tell my aunt and uncle and my friend's aunt and uncle about it and see if it piques their interest.

Excellent, do you live in the KC area, Moe?

 

[thalmin]

Just wanted to wish you luck on your first game-day in KC. The store owners there should be jumping at the chance to host this. We have hosted 4 so far in the Chicago area (3 for ENWorld, 1 for rpg.net) and will be hosting the fith one this Feb. I am hopefully looking forward to many more.

 

[Dimenhydrinate]

Nickerson/Hutchinson here

I might be able to gather up as many as 8, 9 including myself, possibly more from my neck of the woods depending on the days and what not... I will be keeping my eye on you so keep us posted please.

 

[ghrezdd]

I will be making my regularly scheduled Table Top visit next week. I'll broach the subject to Phil also.

It's good hear that KUGAR is still going. I was in KUGAR during the first heady KULCON days... and KULCON II rocked. Unfortunately it went downhill quicklt after that.

I think we should just strive for a less pressure Game Day than a full fledge con.

Anywho, I will be glad to run at least one 4 hour game of HKAT! original edition. I might also run something else.

Who is/are going to be the official organizer(s)? I have no problem helping to organize.

 

[Moe Ronalds]

Excellent, do you live in the KC area, Moe?

Actually no, but I visit a lot (I have family/friends around here, and it's where I game.)