Flaxseed Lodge (PFS1)

Game Master Redelia

I found that even travelling on the tier one indentured plan my GenCon cost was close to $1,000.

It's not a cheap adventure even with GenCon entry and hotel paid for.

GenCon is on the list of conventions I want to visit. Usually it's the hotels that are killer on cons. I have to make my hotel reservations for D*Con a year in advance if I want to stay in the area without selling the house.

Already signed up as T4 HQ, I have my own room but don't think I could hit T3 without running into health/exhaustion issues.

I found that even travelling on the tier one indentured plan my GenCon cost was close to $1,000.

It's not a cheap adventure even with GenCon entry and hotel paid for.

By contrast, flying from Boston to Indy, I've done it for under $400.

Tier 2 GM
Bought groceries instead of restaurants
Controlled my impulse buys.

Ya, Boston is a lot closer than California.

From the west coast $350 is pretty much just the flight.

The $1,000 did not include purchasing any gaming products. Suitcase is full enough.

Could save a bit by skipping Scotty's Wednesday or the fancy leisurely breakfast Monday morning at Cafe Patachou but you'd regret trying to take away my morning hot tea or afternoon cold sodas.

I could probably knock a couple hundred off with more groceries but I find the social experience of eating with people to be a very important part of the trip.

Also I <3 food trucks.

Cali is still closer than Sydney :)

Cali is still closer than Sydney :)

This is going to sound horrible, but . . . I live 2 hours from Origins, 6 hours from GenCon, and have family and friends in both cities. And I've never been to either convention :-(

I am feeling you Shifty. Brisbane is no closer than Sydney.

Shifty wrote:

Cali is still closer than Sydney :)

This is going to sound horrible, but . . . I live 2 hours from Origins, 6 hours from GenCon, and have family and friends in both cities. And I've never been to either convention :-(

No, it doesn't.

There's a certain proximity where it becomes cost-prohibitive to do a thing unless one does a thing completely or not at all.

I take vacation to go to GenCon and other big conventions, so they are my 'vacation'.

However, there are several conventions in the 2-6 hour range that I do not and cannot attend due to transportation and work-scheduling concerns.

Gencon looks like a lot of fun, I'll get over to one at some point and take a bit of a sightseeing trip as well.

I suppose what I am keen to see is a 'full blown' con, I think the biggest Gaming convention we've held in Australia was in the hundreds, not thousands. The scale is what I'd be going to see.

still new to the convention circuit

Had I known the indentured servitude otion existed I would have signed up months ago. I really need to read the blog more often.

Mind you also saving more money to be able to go, as pirate Rob has said, it would the a large amount to go for me too.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I fling myself into helping out at Dragon Con, and that's nearby and still costs more than I wish it did.

I am GM'ing 7 slots. I think I might collapse if I do 8.

I am GM'ing 7 slots. I think I might collapse if I do 8.

Aren't there only a dozen or so slots? Do you even enjoy the convention while working that much?

This is my first time GMing at GenCon, so we'll find out! I enjoy GMing in person so I'm hoping it will go alright. I have most of Thursday off to go explore the exhibitor hall. Saturday will be rough as I'll be only GMing PFs.

How many hours of work is that compared to, um. The number of hours in the convention? I mean, at four hours per scenario, that's 32 hours! Uh... Do you get to sleep? D:

I find that I get really tired out after running just the one scenario! I mean, maybe it's different if you get to play in between, but currently, running two back to back would probably be difficult for me... (To be fair, I'm still just a fledgling, but holy cow.)

It's really cool to see people stepping up to help lighten the load, though! I gotta save money and prepare so I can maybe come next year or the year after. c:

There are only 10 slots, which is why I think the people working through 8 of them are insane. You'll be sleeping whenever you're not working, and not get to actually do or see anything outside of GMing.

If you enjoy GMing that much, then go for it, but that's why I've never volunteered to GM more than 4 at Gen Con. I want to have time to enjoy the rest of the convention while I'm there.

This year, I'm not GMing at all. I have a lot of friends coming in from WAY out of town (New Zealand being the farthest) who I obviously don't see often. Between wanting to spend time with them, and signing up to play a few other things, and being too old to go without sleep, I decided to skip GMing this time.

I GM all year. GenCon is my only chance to play. So thank you to the GM's who are, well, GMing!

technically with the new overnight there's 13 slots. ;p Though those people are crazy.

Actually, no.

There are a lot of people from overseas or that work third shift that those slots would be *ideal* for, as it would be minimal disruption to sleeping schedule to play then.

I strongly considered volunteering for HQ for it, but the timing just wasn't working right.

I am expecting to collapse at some point. I am doing 8 slots of the convention.

What I am looking forward to:

1) My first table of Starfinder as a GM.

Since there were games of Starfinder at PaizoCon, I don't think I am breaking NDA by saying that Starfinder is amazing. It is Pathfinder 2.0. It's gonna be great!

2) Meeting people that I would never otherwise get to meet!

3) Meeting the kids at my PSA tables and showing them a good time.

4) Getting a chance to GM for Wei Ji and TOZ on Sunday Night, when hopefully we'll all be slap-happy and relaxed.

____

I have not GMed anything since the Special, so that I could spend over a month in Prep. I am prepping HARD. The more work I do in advance, the better this is going to be for my tables.

I am not planning on any playing in my off slots. I plan to sleep, and if I can, get in a sanity swim. Food is my biggest concern right now. The grocery that I planned to use has gone away, and I CANNOT afford to drop 1000 dollars on this convention. I need to reduce my spending. My hope is to eat healthy grocery meals, and join people at restaurants and just drink tea or something.

We're in the middle of a kitchen remodel because our cabinets were falling apart, and have a daughter heading to college next year. Discretionary spending is tight.

But I get to be part of the Starfinder Launch, and that is exciting.

Hmm

Food is my biggest concern right now. The grocery that I planned to use has gone away.

Hmm

Just a couple of thoughts on how to get food: Safeway delivers groceries in my area. You might see if one of the grocery chains has delivery. With Safeway if you order far enough ahead, and give them a wide enough window the delivery fee is free or very small.

There's also Amazon for non-perishable food. You could have it delivered to the hotel front desk.

Have a blast. I'm jealous.

...

I do wish that they would let us have official Starfinder VOs.

Hmm

I wouldn't mind joining if they start this. I hope to run my own living campaign someday and helping to set up starfinder would be a great experience in preperation for that.

Sadly, I'm not sure I'd have time right now. I'm working 7 days a week, multiple shifts on some of those days and I'm still struggling (minimum wage seriously needs to be upped).

Ya, Boston is a lot closer than California.

From the west coast $350 is pretty much just the flight.

The $1,000 did not include purchasing any gaming products. Suitcase is full enough.

Could save a bit by skipping Scotty's Wednesday or the fancy leisurely breakfast Monday morning at Cafe Patachou but you'd regret trying to take away my morning hot tea or afternoon cold sodas.

I could probably knock a couple hundred off with more groceries but I find the social experience of eating with people to be a very important part of the trip.

Also I <3 food trucks.

You know what's close to California? Strategicon! If anyone is going to be there let me know!

I am already working 7 slots. I would do 8 except I work third shift and they scheduled me for all morning slots so I would be pretty cranky if I had to do an overnight too

I may just do Amazon Prime for non-perishable food. I'm a prime member. That may be my answer!

____

If you are already working a Tier 3 or above at GenCon, my plea was not aimed at you.

Gang, if you are attending GenCon, consider volunteering to GM a single slot. It won't impact your fun that much, and you will be saving all of our sanity. They just sent out an email to all of us who are already GMing to consider working extra slots -- even the Tier One GMs like me.

My sanity will not handle another slot. Please -- if you're going to be there -- volunteer for a game and get a nifty purple goblin shirt!

Hmm

I may just do Amazon Prime for non-perishable food. I'm a prime member. That may be my answer!

Trail rations, how appropriate!

I may just do Amazon Prime for non-perishable food. I'm a prime member. That may be my answer!

____

If you are already working a Tier 3 or above at GenCon, my plea was not aimed at you.

Gang, if you are attending GenCon, consider volunteering to GM a single slot. It won't impact your fun that much, and you will be saving all of our sanity. They just sent out an email to all of us who are already GMing to consider working extra slots -- even the Tier One GMs like me.

My sanity will not handle another slot. Please -- if you're going to be there -- volunteer for a game and get a nifty purple goblin shirt!

Hmm

Ok, now you've got me feeling guilty that I'm not GMing this year. I'll look at my schedule and think about it. Maybe I'll take a single slot on Sunday morning.

Food is my biggest concern right now.

Same. I am told that the food trucks are reasonable, but that there will be no time to actually GET to the food trucks.

I'm thinking we should coordinate with others in the same situation to address our feeding habits.

Why erm...not hold a vacation, and organize a Paizo Con in the Netherlands?

:)

How does one earn a GM boon at GenCon?

-Posted with Wayfinder

How does one earn a GM boon at GenCon?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Follow the instructions in this blog post to volunteer to GM. If you run 3 or more slots, you'll get a boon.

Ok, now you've got me feeling guilty that I'm not GMing this year.

Yeah, no. Stop that right now.

You are entitled to not GM any more than you want to GM, or not at all. (I'm in the latter category; first Gen Con in more than ten years for me and it's solely to sit at face-to-face tables with people I know online.)

That's a great reminder, Chris. I don't want to guilt folks... Just encourage them to consider joining the GM squad!

I'll back off from my arm-twisting now...

Yours,
Hmm

I'm going to GenCon solely for the PFS and SFS. Well, that's not true... it's the 50th and some long time online friends will be there, but my point was going to be: I should probably go to PaizoCon instead of GenCons. :)

That's a great reminder, Chris. I don't want to guilt folks... Just encourage them to consider joining the GM squad!

I'll back off from my arm-twisting now...

Yours,
Hmm

Signed up, for Sunday morning only. I didn't have much going on Sunday until the evening game you're running, so I figure if I'm too tired after being up early, I can nap in the afternoon.

Would someone please kindly mark table 140 as full.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Would someone please kindly mark table 140 as full.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Ditto for table 80

Hello Everyone --

I have heard that there may be some people who have signed up for multiple sessions of 1-00 Claim to Salvation. Gang, it is not an Evergreen and there are no replays for anyone in Starfinder yet.

Please... If you are currently signed up for more than one session of 1-00, choose the table at which you wish to play this excellent adventure, and then inform your other GMs that you are withdrawing from their table so that others can play.

The known Starfinder Evergreeens to date are:

1-01 The Commencement
SFS Quests - Into the Unknown

Thanks so much,
Hmm

Yeah free up a spot, then I can sign up to it :p

Hey Gang...

I have heard rumors that PBP Gameday scenarios have started dropping for some folks! Is this true?

Hmm

Nothing yet HMM

-Posted with Wayfinder

Yeppers. Got the 1 I didn’t already own today.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I got the Pathfinder module for gameday. I have not yet gotten the Starfinder Quests, though.

Nothing for me yet but I'll keep an eye out.

Don't know about the GameDay games, but I've just been officially approved as a first-time GenCon GM! Starting as a tier 8, might move up next year (who knows).

-Posted with Wayfinder

Welcome to the insanity of being a fellow GenCon GM!

Hmm

I do not yet have 7-10. c: I'll check once a day, tho? o:

Here's a question! I use HeroLab and am a bit confused about this. It says '1 action' instead of specifying whether it's a standard action or a movement action. :c I looked it up and it's typically a standard action, but since I'm looking at it for the cleric domain spells, I wasn't sure if it was... weird. Should I just treat that as a standard? o:

Also, yaaaaay, GMs for Gencon! c:

I do not yet have 7-10. c: I'll check once a day, tho? o:

Here's a question! I use HeroLab and am a bit confused about this. It says '1 action' instead of specifying whether it's a standard action or a movement action. :c I looked it up and it's typically a standard action, but since I'm looking at it for the cleric domain spells, I wasn't sure if it was... weird. Should I just treat that as a standard? o:

Also, yaaaaay, GMs for Gencon! c:

Domain spells are spells granted by your domain, and should not differ from other spells in how they are cast.. only in what slot they are prepared. In this case, True Strike is a Standard action to cast according to the PRD, so it is a standard action.

Aaaa, I think the "domain power is a standard action" covers it! c: Thank you so much for the clarification. ^o^