Wizards not going to Origins???

[Belen]

This is an excellent move on Wizards part. Origins long ago became fairly useless in growing the hobby. Attending the ALA will be a huge boon for them. They can network to librarians and promote their library program. It is a net win to have librarian introduce kids to D&D and provide a safe place to play and to get people interested in going to libraries.

Origins is not worth the time in comparison.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

I know I've seen mentions of the WOTC/Public Library thing before, but is there a web page detailing the program? I'd love to get something like this going in my local library.

 

[Crothian]

This is an excellent move on Wizards part. Origins long ago became fairly useless in growing the hobby.

So, conventions are only good if they grow the hobby? I'm not sure Gen Con grows the hobby either. And its also not like they have to choose one convention over the other. Wizards with their fan program and size can easily support two convnetions at once.

 

[naturaltwenty]

Wizards and Libraries - It's a new promotion

I'm working with my library to get this started. I'll assume that it's a marketing move pure and simple. They already attend GenCon for their large gaming convention so why do two in close proximity vs. branching out for future market share. Get'em started young. The average 12-14 year old does not have the capital to spend on going to a convention but they can definitely go to the library for free.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/library

Afternoon Adventures With Dungeons & Dragons FAQ



The Afternoon Adventure with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS program will include everything librarians need to start regular gaming programs in their library with the original pen-and-paper roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D for short). Players assume the persona of fantasy characters and pursue magical adventures, confronting and solving problems using strategic thinking and teamwork. For three decades, D&D has appealed to an ever-increasing population of fans for its use of imagination and storytelling over competition. This free program will include a Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game (a $24.99 value), instructions for starting a D&D group in the library, a guide to using D&D as an introduction to library use, recommended reading lists, and other practical resources.

What is D&D?
A worldwide pop culture phenomenon for thirty years, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D®) is a game played with books, paper and pencils. Players create characters that go on a journey together through a fantasy realm to discover treasure, fight monsters, and triumph over adversity. Teens love D&D because it’s exciting. Educators love D&D because it thrives on creativity, imagination, and cooperation (with a bit of math and reading thrown in).

I’m a librarian, where do I go for more D&D books for my library?
For more D&D titles, as well as all other Wizards of the Coast fiction, please contact your book distributor.

I’m a librarian, how can I receive a kit?
To receive an Afternoon Adventure kit for your library, please call 1-800-613-3791, or send an e-mail with your name, address, the library you’re from, and how you found out about the program to: libraries@wizards.com. One kit per library please and quantities are limited.

Where can I find a library that’s running the Afternoon Adventures program?
Please contact your local library to find out if they are running the program, and if not, please have them contact us for a kit at: libraries@wizards.com.

I’m a parent, and I love the afternoon program and want to get more D&D books and related products?
To find more Dungeons & Dragons books and related accessories, please visit your favorite hobby or bookstore. If they don’t carry D&D, ask them to!

What if I have rules questions about D&D?
For rules questions about D&D, please visit our knowledge base.

Downloadable materials


About Dungeons & Dragons
Welcome to Our Program!
How to Host a D&D Adventure Afternoon in Your Library
How D&D Taught Me to Use the Library
D&D Adventures in the Library
For rules questions about D&D, please visit our knowledge base.

Later,

Greg Volz
Natural Twenty Gaming
www.naturaltwenty.com

 

[diaglo]

I don't think anyone will make the claim Origins is like Gen Con and its not like they only have to goto one. But looking at what I have as the conventions they are going to:

.Winter Fantasy Feb 22 - 26
.NY ComicCon Feb 24 - 26
.GAMA March 13 - 16
.E3 May 10 - 12
.BEA May 19 - 21
.Wizard World East June 2 - 4
.ALA June 24 - 27
.San Diego ComicCon July 20 - 23
.Wizard World Chicago Aug 4 - 6
.GenCon Indy August 10 - 13
.GenCon SoCal Nov 16 - 19

I have no idea what ALA is but it ends as Origins begins. So, are they choosing that over Origins?

where's ASM General Assembly? The 106th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology will be held in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL from May 21-25, 2006.

 

[Belen]

So, conventions are only good if they grow the hobby?

When they already have their own convention, then yes.

Origins has made itself irrelevant. The awards ceremony is a joke and I get the impression that they are as friendly to D&D as the RPGnet crowd, although I could be wrong there.

It is a FAR better strategy to put your resources into the ALA. That can make a real difference.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

where's ASM General Assembly? The 106th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology will be held in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL from May 21-25, 2006.

Too close to the BEA convention, but I heard they will attend ICACC Sep 27-30 in San Francisco. They will be presenting a keynote speech entitled "Paladins, Clerics and Cure Disease: A New Force In the Global H5N1 Battle."

 

[Crothian]

Origins has made itself irrelevant. The awards ceremony is a joke and I get the impression that they are as friendly to D&D as the RPGnet crowd, although I could be wrong there.

People don't go to Origins for the Awards least in my many years of going there I've never talked to someone who did. And there are plenty of D&D games being run, RPGA events, and fan D&D events. I've gone to Origins every year since its been in Columbus and I've never seen it to be unfriendly to D&D. I've seen people be unfriendly, but I see that at Gen Con as well. But the convention always has plenty of D&D games. What makes you feel Origins is unfriendly to D&D?

 

[freebfrost]

I think the problem is oversaturation of the market.

When Origins and GenCon were 2+ months apart, and in distant cities, it was obviously wise to attend both conventions as they were much more likely to have a different consumer base.

Now you have the two biggest conventions, barely 30 days apart, and a whopping 180 miles from each other...

It seems that the benefits of going to both conventions was finally outweighed by the costs of attending both conventions. The incremental loss of people only attending Origins probably was no longer worth it.

 

[kenobi65]

Too close to the BEA convention, but I heard they will attend ICACC Sep 27-30 in San Francisco. They will be presenting a keynote speech entitled "Paladins, Clerics and Cure Disease: A New Force In the Global H5N1 Battle."

ROFL!