Why aren't the bids higher for the fundraiser?

[Dextra]

I was just looking at the list of the various Dream Dates, and am baffled at how low the numbers are on some of the auctions. Is it because not that many people are going to Gen Con? Or are the snipers lying in wait for Sunday night?

Any winner of the auction gets invited to the VIP cocktail reception (free food, cash bar) before we open the doors to the general public, and reserved seating at the front with their publisher. Everyone else is relegated to first-come, first-seated status in the theatre-style seating at the back, but not the lucky winner of a Dream Date auction!

From that evening forward, you can smile knowingly at your gaming group and refer to everyone's gaming idols on a first-name basis... reminisce wistfully at the tear in Erik's eye, or feel superiour because you can hold your liquor better than Bill. And have the concrete proof to show you were there, because the swag is all autographed, and you'll be in the pictures, chilling with the Big Name pros.

Look at Fiery Dragon Production's auction : at least $50 worth of swag plus being immortalized as a counter by Claudio Pozas- and of course, hang out with those crazy Canucks. This is gamer gold, people! How many other EN Worlders can claim that honour?

Necromancer Games is giving away copy #1 of the numbered, SOLD OUT, Rappan Athuk Reloaded box set, and a copy of any winning product if their bid exceeds $350 (last year it hit $380 something iirc).

What better way to spend Ptolusmas than sharing a table with Sue and Monte Cook?

As for the product auctions, do you think it would help or detract from the Vampire: The Eternal Struggle lot if we threw in the Girls of the Camarilla calendar? :\

 

[Treebore]

It could also be because gas is so expensive. Claims to the contrary do not change the facts that 60%+ of americans live pay check to pay check and that high gas prices are putting a serious hurting on those 60% of americans and who knows how many more.

So I'm betting that the price of gas, and the resulting increases in the prices of food, have a LOT to do with it.

 

[DaveMage]

I'm not going to Gen Con. If I were, I'd be all over these.

I think it's a neat idea and hope it continues for when I *can* go to Gen Con.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

What is Gen Con?

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Lots of reasons, probably. Visibility, for one. I stumbled upon them by accident. I went back and checked and saw a notice on the front page, but my bookmark takes me right to the forums, so I'd have missed it there. Maybe a sticky top-side in the General forum would help, or a different .sig banner or avatar specifically for the fundraiser.

I've bid on a couple, but honestly, after $250 for airfaire and $1000 for hotel, plus food, plus wanting to spend some money on neato things (like Silk Road, which I'm looking forward to), I don't feel like going overboard to attend a cocktail party. I voted for the Ennies, I contributed a story for the fundraiser last year (and bought a copy of the hardcopy and .PDF of the collection), and I'm working the booth Thursday morning. I think the Ennies are important, but there's a limit to what I can contribute financially.

Also, given the large number of 'prestige' releases recently and in the near future, I expect a lot of people are in the 'Gee, $100 for Ptolus, or $100 for the Ennies'.

And of course, it is ebay, where sniping is the norm

 

[Umbran]

Is it because not that many people are going to Gen Con?

That's a big one, for me. All the really neat auction stuff does call for you to be present at Gen Con to get the benefit. I don't know, though, how many folks who aren't going to the con would be interested in supporting the awards...

 

[Jdvn1]

Reasons the bid isn't higher:
1. Not going to Gen Con.
2. Gen Con's expensive.
3. Gamers have already spent a lot of money on swag--none left.
4. No pictures to show how hot you people are.

 

[Dextra]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

BTW
http://www.enworld.org/ennies/graphics.html
has a whole whack of graphics, including some fundraiser ones.

As for the necessity of attending Gen Con, if you have a friend attending whom you trust, you could always have them take the seat and send you the swag.

I totally understand the financial crunch everyone is experiencing- heck, that's why I'm pushing the fund raising efforts so much (otherwise all the costs come out of my pocket, and I've got some pretty expensive -Irish dance, sending kids to schools that require uniforms, ahem- habits I need to cover). And please, don't get me wrong- if you're helping out at the booth and/or volunteered otherwise, voting, and generally spreading the word, you're doing the ENnies a great service, and I do appreciate it! (Unfortunately, it doesn't pay the bills )

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

BTW
http://www.enworld.org/ennies/graphics.html
has a whole whack of graphics, including some fundraiser ones.

Ahh. Heads-up -- the fundraiser graphics (actually, the first four reactangle banners) are blocked by my ad-blocker (but the other ones aren't) so I didn't see them. Other people might not be either.

 

[Ghostwind]

I'm sure the economics of actually going to Gen Con are a factor this year but there may be others. For instance, I see very little advertising about these auctions other than in the Marketplace and a mention here or there in other forum areas. This is something that needs to be right up there with the voting booth statement so that everyone sees it and is aware of it.

Another reason is that many of the books listed can be had for a lesser price with cheaper shipping on other ebay auctions if you are careful and patient. Yeah, I know the bundles can't be exactly duplicated, but those that are bundled are also products that haven't sparked a lot of discussion on these boards.

Regarding the Dream Date auctions, I think you have a case of apathy here. Of the publishers listed, only Exp. Ret. (Joe and Suzi) are very active on these boards. Monte and Clark both have name reputation helping to drive their auctions along with occasionally weighing in here, but everyone else is relatively unknown to the boards. I know the guys at Fiery Dragon are always around, but they really haven't been a visible force like they were in, say 2001-2002. Not everyone uses counters in their game and that may be affecting bids as this is what Fiery Dragon is now known for.

The White Wolf crowd mostly hangs at RPG.net, so unless there is a lot of hyping of the auctions there, the bids will probably remain low. The same can be said for Atlas' Dream Date because of Ars Magica supplement they are giving away. It has niche appeal.

If I remember correctly, there was a lot more publisher response for Dream Dates last year. This year it feels like, given the diversity of the nominees, not many are participating (or have been asked to participate maybe). This may also be affecting bids simply because there isn't anything listed that may appeal to Gamer X's tastes.

I know that for myself personally, if I was certain that I was going to be at Gen Con (and not tied to a nominated company already), only Fiery Dragon and Exp. Retreat's auctions appeal to me simply because I know them quite well and always have fun with them when we do see each other at Gen Con. All of the books listed for auction, I either already own or don't need. Both Monte's and Clark's auctions have exceeded my budget by a large amount already and the other currently listed Dream Dates either I don't know them or have no interest in them. This may be something that is being mirrored with other individuals also and a reflection of the current times more than anything.

I may be compeltely wrong, but that is what I think are some of the reasons why you aren't seeing the numbers you had hoped for.