I'm looking for interest in developing the first annual "Paizocon". It will start off very simple; a bunch of Paizonians renting rooms at the same hotel on the same weekend and bringing lots of Paizo games to play. If there is enough interest, we can book a few conference rooms and invite special guests.
The first question that has come up in discussions is location. There are currently two main options: Seattle (closer to Paizo) or Vegas (more centrally located).
The second is time of year. What time of year is good for everyone?
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I would think that early summer would be best to facilitate those people on break from school and to dodge major holidays. Also, depending on the venue, it might be nice to schedule them around or near other major cons going on so people could do both. Just a few thoughts.
Seattle has two summer cons: Dragonflight and PAX. Of the two, I think that Dragonflight is a lot more tabletop gaming oriented.
Are there other summer Seattle cons that I've missed?
If it was in Seattle, I'd probably go. I live only 3 hours away, so it would be easy enough, and really just depend on getting time off work.
If it were in Vegas, I'd have to fly... but flights to Vegas are a dime a dozen, so...
Whereas I'm interested, there are still significant expenses for me (live on the East Coast). So pick a date please, and if I can attend, great. Perhaps Paizo get togethers at other conventions might not be a bad thing either? (Course I'm relatively new as a poster, so I'm speaking in a general way since I don't know folks well here.)
Although I probably wouldn't be able to attend something coming up this year, since you're thinking small for starters, which does make it more difficult to justify serious travel, how about two Cons - PaizoWest and PaizoEast? Or even regional - midAtlantic PaizoCon I might be able to do.
I'd definitely go to a Paizocon in Seattle. Despite the two cons you mentioned (Dragonflight and PAX), I've often felt left out of all the big goings-on that seem to occur in the more eastern conventions (like GenCon and Winter Fantasy).
It always struck me as pretty odd that WotC was neglecting their own back yard like that.
What if we just submitted a bunch of events to Dragonflight? Maybe we could even arrange for a dedicated Paizo room, if we were running enough stuff to merit it.
I'd volunteer to GM at that.
There's one additional thing about Vegas that makes it an awesome choice.
Huge crazy awesome rooms for dirt cheap.
The assumption all through Nevada is that people going there are going to blow huge amounts on gambling and...well other stuff, so they practically give away great big huge highroller rooms in awesomely beautiful hotels and will like hand you a whole boiled lobster in butter sauce as you come in the door. It's really pretty nice.
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There's one additional thing about Vegas that makes it an awesome choice.
Huge crazy awesome rooms for dirt cheap.
The assumption all through Nevada is that people going there are going to blow huge amounts on gambling and...well other stuff, so they practically give away great big huge highroller rooms in awesomely beautiful hotels and will like hand you a whole boiled lobster in butter sauce as you come in the door. It's really pretty nice.
Depending on where you go.
A lot of places in vegas love to charge absolute exorbiant rates just to make people feel as if they're in a high-class hotel. Vegas is run by corporations these days, not the Mafia, after all, and to that kind of Grim Ruler, any profit is a good one...
That said, I do know I work at a place where the hotel is dirt cheap. Can't say about the room quality because I've never stayed there, though.
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Whereas I'm interested, there are still significant expenses for me (live on the East Coast). So pick a date please, and if I can attend, great. Perhaps Paizo get togethers at other conventions might not be a bad thing either? (Course I'm relatively new as a poster, so I'm speaking in a general way since I don't know folks well here.)
Our new poster brings up a good point. We should have a Paizo event/Get together at Gencon next year.
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I'd definitely go to a Paizocon in Seattle. Despite the two cons you mentioned (Dragonflight and PAX), I've often felt left out of all the big goings-on that seem to occur in the more eastern conventions (like GenCon and Winter Fantasy).
It always struck me as pretty odd that WotC was neglecting their own back yard like that.
It is about the history and how things developed. Gencon grew out of a war gaming convention and Gary Gygax took it over eventually in Wisconson (it might have been at Lake Geneva where TSR was). It has always been in the midwest and then it moved to Milwaukee because it outgrew the Wisconson Venue and then to Indianapolis when it outgrew the Milwaukee venue.
And I thought but am not positive that WotC does not even run it anymore. I believe another group picked it up a couple of years ago.
Also, the other cons are not run by WotC either... Now there is something in I believe in LA but nothing substantial here. I looked at the picutres on the Dragonflight sight and it appeared to be a lot of board games. Not that I do not like some board games (Diplomacy is my favorite - was 3rd this year at Gencon) but I did not see any photos that seemed to be RPGs.
This grew out of some discussion in DMCHAT. I believe that the centralized location was pushed to facilitate people from both US coasts. This of course does not take in account any foreign Paizo fans, to which I apologize.
I think that Vegas was presented not for it's geographic location, but for the thought that there may be cheap facilities and perhaps better deals for a flight in, as many airlines offer regular flights there for the casino and general tourism. If anyone here works in the travel & tourism industry, it might be nice to have an inside track on travel costs from different regions.
As for Paizonian support, well that's undecided at this point. Certainly they aren't promoting the event, and I'm not sure we want to ask them too. I'd personally much prefer a user-run event. I know at the least that there is a NYC Paizo meetup on a regular basis and I would not be surprised to hear of more like it. I'd say coordination between the regional groups would be the best starting point. I don't think looking to Paizo for prizes and/or other "Schwag" is out of the question, but I will say that if we have a success for the first gathering, and can say to them "We had XXXX number of fans get together last year", they will be more likely to support future endeavors.
Personally I think that the time frame for the gathering as the first item agreed upon. A solid date will dictate availability, weather, travel costs.
Lastly, to whomever brought up the idea of starting with a Paizo "room" or section of an existing Con... this might not be a bad idea. It would at least be an indicator of interest amongst us.
Truth is, I wouldn't travel for a Paizocon. I'd be very interested in playing in a GameMastery adventure run by the actual writer, but not enough to drop the money to go out of state to do it.
However, that's just responding to the generalities. What's the proposed schedule of events at a PaizoCon? Are there really any Paizo adventures we could complete in one sitting?
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Truth is, I wouldn't travel for a Paizocon. I'd be very interested in playing in a GameMastery adventure run by the actual writer, but not enough to drop the money to go out of state to do it.
However, that's just responding to the generalities. What's the proposed schedule of events at a PaizoCon? Are there really any Paizo adventures we could complete in one sitting?
see - just like how the story makes what is in the adventure, the adventure makes the length of the play... so you could pick the ROTRL table1 and sit the whole con and make it through the 1st 2 adventures, or ROTRLtable2 and do PF 3and 4 or ROTL tabe3 and do the end of the path
edit: post # 500 YAY!
Now there is something in I believe in LA but nothing substantial here. I looked at the picutres on the Dragonflight sight and it appeared to be a lot of board games. Not that I do not like some board games (Diplomacy is my favorite - was 3rd this year at Gencon) but I did not see any photos that seemed to be RPGs.
They had several rooms full of RPGs at Dragonflight 2007, and there have always been lots of RPGs any year I've attended (most years since 2000). The web site might be created by boardgamers or something, but there are always lots of other types of games.
Very excited about this. This would be very cool. Definitely add me to the guest's list. I'd probably be more up for a hangout oriented convention, with vendors and speakers (since family and kids would be coming too) rather than just straight games the whole time. Something more like GenCon or a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Convention and less like D&D Day. Just don't want the entourage getting bored and wrecking havoc.
Though either way I wouldn't miss it. If need be, we'll take turns. Vegas in the summer would be great for us, just so long as we have enough advance warning that we can get the time off.
Sweet!
Just don't want the entourage getting bored and wrecking havoc.
This is when you break out Kill Doctor Lucky, another fine Paizo & Titanic Games product...;)
Sweet! I'm in for Seattle.
Just don't want the entourage getting bored and wrecking havoc.
So take a day for the meetup/convention and let your ilk run rampant... there might be a thing or two happening around town.
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Now there is something in I believe in LA but nothing substantial here. I looked at the picutres on the Dragonflight sight and it appeared to be a lot of board games. Not that I do not like some board games (Diplomacy is my favorite - was 3rd this year at Gencon) but I did not see any photos that seemed to be RPGs.They had several rooms full of RPGs at Dragonflight 2007, and there have always been lots of RPGs any year I've attended (most years since 2000). The web site might be created by boardgamers or something, but there are always lots of other types of games.
Thanks for the clarification. I have never attended. Maybe I should get my group together this year and do a mass invasion. We could all play together for once...
Just an update; in January we'll finalize a location and date. Now's the time to join and provide feedback.
CEO
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Just an update; in January we'll finalize a location and date. Now's the time to join and provide feedback.
If you guys decide to have this in Seattle, there is a really, really good chance that Paizo would get involved. We have talked about having a convention like this in our back yard, but have lacked the staff to put it all together. Let me know how the planning comes and if there is a way we can participate, then we will. Heck, there may even be a chance to see the Death Star Theater and Vic's and my Star Wars collection! :)
-Lisa
Heck, there may even be a chance to see the Death Star Theater and Vic's and my Star Wars collection! :)
-Lisa
Yay! *squee*
I would totally be up for going to this although I would have a hell of a time explaining it to my wife, although she does have an aunt in Tacoma....
I could probably swing it though.
Yay! *squee*Heck, there may even be a chance to see the Death Star Theater and Vic's and my Star Wars collection! :)
-Lisa
agreed!
I was toying with the idea of norwescon becuase of it's proximity to Seattle and that GenCon is always the same weekend that the university I work at opens.
The first question that has come up in discussions is location. There are currently two main options: Seattle (closer to Paizo) or Vegas (more centrally located).
As a slight quibble, a central location would be Omaha or even KC.
Vegas is a convenient location.
Have I mentioned the many amenities that Omaha, Nebraska (don't look at me like that) has to offer? Good food--check that excellent food, a world-class zoo, great NCAA and Major Junior level hockey, AAA baseball, some nice museums and shopping (for those with SOs who don't game), many convention centers and even a couple casinos across the river...
Oh, and we're generally pretty affordable, too.
Just an update; in January we'll finalize a location and date. Now's the time to join and provide feedback.
If you guys decide to have this in Seattle, there is a really, really good chance that Paizo would get involved. We have talked about having a convention like this in our back yard, but have lacked the staff to put it all together. Let me know how the planning comes and if there is a way we can participate, then we will. Heck, there may even be a chance to see the Death Star Theater and Vic's and my Star Wars collection! :)
-Lisa
Such a quandary surrounding location. To be true to the message, a Washington location seems right. We are gathering to celebrate Paizo, let us celebrate in their backyard. However, this tends to alienate people that are from points east (and west) making their travel longer & more expensive. However, the die hards will attend regardless.
I'll have to grind the gears a little harder on this one.
Heck, there may even be a chance to see the Death Star Theater and Vic's and my Star Wars collection! :)
-Lisa
This alone tempts me
Why don't we decide then that we'll do a con-within-a-con in Seattle, running a bunch of Paizo-based games at an existing con, and add dinners and what-have-you. Being in Paizo's backyard will mean that the Paizo folks will have an easy time showing up and participating.
If there's interest, we could also have a dedicated con in Vegas or Omaha or whatever. This would take a lot more work, since it would involve all of the logistical planning in addition to just running games. It just seems that no matter what else we run we might as well do a Paizo room at Dragonflight or whatever too. It's just not that much more work, and it would let all the Seattle-based Paizo people show up for the weekend without paying travel expenses.
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Why don't we decide then that we'll do a con-within-a-con in Seattle, running a bunch of Paizo-based games at an existing con, and add dinners and what-have-you. Being in Paizo's backyard will mean that the Paizo folks will have an easy time showing up and participating.
If there's interest, we could also have a dedicated con in Vegas or Omaha or whatever. This would take a lot more work, since it would involve all of the logistical planning in addition to just running games. It just seems that no matter what else we run we might as well do a Paizo room at Dragonflight or whatever too. It's just not that much more work, and it would let all the Seattle-based Paizo people show up for the weekend without paying travel expenses.
This sounds like a great way to get it started and then when we have enough people showing up we can branch out in coming years. Next thing you know we have a dedicated Con. I know there are enough people buying Pathfinder to make it happen in future years. I am psyched. Feel like I am on the ground floor...
Norwescon is March 20-23 (perhaps a little soon).
Dragonflight is August 8-10.
PAX is August 29-31, but is primarily for console and on-line games, as I understand it.
There might be others, but I think that those are the big three. Of these, I've only ever been to Dragonflight. Anyone have any more comments to make on the other two? Are there other Seattle cons we should be considering?
(It was at Dragonflight 2000 where I first met Erik Mona, in fact.)
Paizocon in Australia!!
**Wakes up and wipes the drool, off face and laptop**
Whazzat... ahhh daydreaming again ;)
I had the same daydream about the UK to!!
Although in Seattle, I could pretend I'm on a Shadowrun.
Shadowrun LARP? :P
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Norwescon is March 20-23 (perhaps a little soon).
Dragonflight is August 8-10.
PAX is August 29-31, but is primarily for console and on-line games, as I understand it.There might be others, but I think that those are the big three. Of these, I've only ever been to Dragonflight. Anyone have any more comments to make on the other two? Are there other Seattle cons we should be considering?
(It was at Dragonflight 2000 where I first met Erik Mona, in fact.)
What would it really take. Contacting the people running things and setting up a room for a Paizo event? Ask some of our favorite people from Paizo to join us? Select some DMs from our fine group on the boards - and have some fun. Play some Stonehenge, Kill some Doctor, play some D&D Paizo style. Do something in appreciation for the Paizo staff (who is your favorite staff member?) or an award for the fine APs they produce for us. If March is too short of time frame then let's go for August but we are bumping into Gencon at that point and the Paizo staff are going to be very busy with their schedule and getting ready to go to Indiana.
Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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I'm going to be at Norwescon, regardless. My wife's on the ExecComm, and I am a minor, minor member in the ConComm. If those on the boards here attend Norwescon, we can at least meet up with each other. Room parties are undergoing an extreme crackdown at the hotel this year. To rent a party room is $300 a night, plus a $2000 damage deposit. And you have to hire bonded movers to move the furniture out of the room. Me-ouch!
However, we can have a group of 10 people in a private room with no issues. Also, we can try and reserve/overrun the gaming room(s) for a Paizo event one of the nights. I could talk with the guy running the gaming track this year, and see if we could have a "Paizo Night". It would probably even gain a lot of steam if Paizo did a little sponsoring of it (i.e., swag and such, providing some board games, maybe demos of Stonehenge, etc.) and a few of the Paizo folks came and ran some one-shots or something. Heck, I'd LOVE to try that Killer Dungeon they had at GenCon.......for that matter, I'd love to see Stonehenge played!
I guess what it will take is 1) Norwescon staffers to agree to said event, 2) Paizo staffers to agree to participate in said event, 3)Paizo-fans/messageboarders to come to Norwescon.
If you are planning on coming to Norwescon then let it be known on the Norwescon thread
What would it really take. Contacting the people running things and setting up a room for a Paizo event? Ask some of our favorite people from Paizo to join us? Select some DMs from our fine group on the boards - and have some fun. Play some Stonehenge, Kill some Doctor, play some D&D Paizo style. Do something in appreciation for the Paizo staff (who is your favorite staff member?) or an award for the fine APs they produce for us. If March is too short of time frame then let's go for August but we are bumping into Gencon at that point and the Paizo staff are going to be very busy with their schedule and getting ready to go to Indiana.Norwescon is March 20-23 (perhaps a little soon).
Dragonflight is August 8-10.
PAX is August 29-31, but is primarily for console and on-line games, as I understand it.There might be others, but I think that those are the big three. Of these, I've only ever been to Dragonflight. Anyone have any more comments to make on the other two? Are there other Seattle cons we should be considering?
(It was at Dragonflight 2000 where I first met Erik Mona, in fact.)