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I will be organizing PFS play at Dragonmeet again. With the experience from last year I aim for the following:
2-3 tables in the morning slot
4-6 tables in the afternoon
If there is more interest / I can get enough GMs, then I will try to set up more tables.
The current schedule should allow some of the GMs to play in the morning, GM in the afternoon - or to have time to browse/shop in the morning and GM in the afternoon. I will GM both sessions - but still look forward to volunteer GMs. I do have several who volunteered to help out - you should get an e-mail from me soon.
From my last year experience - if you play/GM both sessions - you just don't have time for anything else.
If you are interested to come - either as player or as gamer - drop a note here. Especially if you want to play a higher tier. I would like to offer at least one higher tier game in the morning and afternoon. But this might need the most coordination to ensure we have a table full of compatible levels and a scenario they haven't played yet.
For any questions - drop me a message.
Thod
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All
Here is an update. I got a confirmation from the organizer. PFS will have 5 tables reserved throughout the CON and an additional one that should allow us to handle the table setup (who plays where) ourselves. This will mean extra work - but should be more flexible.
I also have already 4 GMs who are willing to run games. I still need to reach out to a wider audience - but already I have one concern less - getting enough GMs.
This doesn't mean that I'm not looking for more !! If you want to GM - let me know, We will find a table for you. Having a spare or reserve GM would be a dream for any organizer :)
The next steps - I need to decide on scenarios. Any suggestions welcome - if none will appear here, then I will just decide. My order is - GM preference first, then wishes from players - and then my dictatorial verdict.
So now we need PLAYERS !! Hope many can make it.
2Rob: My cunning plan is one day to sit with Theodum and Jaz on a table that you GM. Kerstin still loves to tell how she played at your table last year. Unlikely this will happen at Dragonmeet - but one day ...
Thod
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Looking to play a pm slot (3-4 would be nice), willing to GM, however I'm only familiar with playing a few PFS modules.
Miranda
Sounds great !! Could you please contact me directly (added contact information in Thod's profile). We could then discuss what fits best.
I have currently four GMs - additional ones are always welcome. I'm also trying to get a level 3/4 table together. You therefore fit perfectly either way.
Are you only around in the afternoon? I know it is demanding - but play one slot / GM one is what I did last year.
Thod
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Here is a quick update:
I plan three tables in the morning and five in the afternoon. I do have four GMs confirmed. I would love to add you Miranda for an afternoon slot as GM as I'm one short.
Additional GMs are Very Welcome !!!!
If you plan a tier 1-2 just drop by at the day and as long as you are early enough we should have a table for you. We will have multiple different scenarios. I'm currently discussing them with the GMs.
Right now I plan one tier 3-4 table / different scenario in the morning and afternoon.
This one is already half full.
If you want to play higher - let me know ahead of time and I try to accomodate you. Also if you want to come as a group it would help if you let me know ahead.
I plan to bring some 3D scenery along as at PaizoCon.
More updates as they unfold.
Thod
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Here is a quick update:
I plan three tables in the morning and five in the afternoon. I do have four GMs confirmed. I would love to add you Miranda for an afternoon slot as GM as I'm one short.
Additional GMs are Very Welcome !!!!
If you plan a tier 1-2 just drop by at the day and as long as you are early enough we should have a table for you. We will have multiple different scenarios. I'm currently discussing them with the GMs.
Right now I plan one tier 3-4 table / different scenario in the morning and afternoon.
This one is already half full.If you want to play higher - let me know ahead of time and I try to accomodate you. Also if you want to come as a group it would help if you let me know ahead.
I plan to bring some 3D scenery along as at PaizoCon.
More updates as they unfold.
Thod
Thod, if you don't mind s first time Con DM (although fairly experienced at running normal gaems) I'll volunteer for one or other slot. A possible problem is a lack of miniatures, although I can manage to bring a battlemat.
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Thod, if you don't mind s first time Con DM (although fairly experienced at running normal gaems) I'll volunteer for one or other slot. A possible problem is a lack of miniatures, although I can manage to bring a battlemat.
Paul
Great !! You are welcome as a GM. And no worries about first time CON GM. I remember last year Dragonmeet. There was a first time CON GM and a first time CON organizer for PFS and he hadn't even played in a CON before.
He did good enough to be back organizing again and this time we will have even a lot more of tables.
Thod
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Hi Thod
Haven't heard anything recently from yourselves.
Can you please confirnm I'm GM'ing an AM slot so I can book coach. (Can't GM PM in case I have to catch earlier coach back from Victoria)
Also, in the next few weeks, can you send me the scenario I'll be running?
Thanks
Paul H
PS - Oh, and if it could be arranged that my ticket is drawn first for the Prize Draw again......... :) LOL
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Hi Thod
Haven't heard anything recently from yourselves.
Can you please confirnm I'm GM'ing an AM slot so I can book coach. (Can't GM PM in case I have to catch earlier coach back from Victoria)
Also, in the next few weeks, can you send me the scenario I'll be running?
Thanks
Paul H
PS - Oh, and if it could be arranged that my ticket is drawn first for the Prize Draw again......... :) LOL
Paul
Sorry - my fault. Somehow I must have dropped your name.
NO PROBLEM - you are confirmed now for a morning slot. And I also checked and took care I have your e-mail address.
I will decide the scenarios on the weekend. I'm at Dave's place on Saturday and should meet up with three of the GMs. Just let me know any you prefer. I will try to cater for them.
Thod
PS: all the GMs coming - please advertise and ensure we also have players !!
PPS: Just send you an e-mail
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I don't really know anything about Dragonmeet, but from I've been able to dig up it sounds interesting and I'll try to be there! I haven't GMed enough recently to feel comfortable to volunteer for that, but definitely plan to be around as a player for some PFS. :)
Sounds great !!
Could you (and any other players interested) drop me a note and send me the following details:
Name
Character class and level
Scenarios played
This will help me to pre-assign you to tables. You can just show up and play on the spot - but sending me a message helps me to organize and ensures that you have a place on a table reserved.
Thanks
Thod
PS: Berik - no problems with not much GM experience lately - come and play this year and I keep you on my list for next year. I'm sure Dave (our UK coordinator) is always keen to have another GM for PaizoCon - even if it is only a one slot GM / reserve GM.
PPS: Just looked at your profile and it seems you aren't registered yet. You can get a code at the event - but I would recommend to download the PFS rules and generate a character ahead. While I will have pre-generated characters I know that most serious players like to generate their own - and unfortunately there just is no time doing that at the event.
I will be there with Andrina.
Andrina Dunstan Fighter 5 Taldor
#4: The Frozen Fingers of Midnight
#5: Mists of Mwangi
#11: The Third Riddle
#15: The Asmodeus Mirage
#17: Perils of the Pirate Pact
#19: Skeleton Moon
#24: Decline of Glory
#47: The Darkest Vengeance (PFRPG)
#49: Among the Dead (PFRPG)
Pathfinder Society Special: Year of the Shadow Lodge (PFRPG)
#51: The City of Strangers—Part I: The Shadow Gambit (PFRPG)
#52: The City of Strangers—Part II: The Twofold Demise
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Fantastic DM Wellard. Good to see some higher level as well. If there is enough interest I could try to have a tier 3-4 table as well as a tier 5-6. Your are likely on a table with Jazz - you met her dwarves fighter last year.
As I'm getting ambitious here now - I remember the difficulty to fill my single table in the morning last year - I would recommend for everyone also to have a low level character as backup. There will be more low level play as a lot will be come and drop in.
One bit I forgot is: Do you want to play the morning or afternoon slot or both.
2everyone else - email is Paizo_at_loesel_freeserve_dot_co_uk
I love messages here but you might prefer to send your listing directly to me.
Thod
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All
Seems I was distracted elsewhere - can't believe another month has passed. Here is the current plan:
Morning Sessions
Mists of Mwangi:
Deliriums Tangle:
The Bloodcove Disguise:
Reserve:
The Bloodcove Disguise
Voice in the Void:
Tier 5-9 game tba.:
Afternoon Sessions
Voice in the Void: Jens
Delirums Tangle:
The Bloodcove Disguise
Rescue at Azlant Ridge
Reserve:
Mists of Mwangi:
Tier 5-9 game tba:
Could I please ask Miranda, Paul Watson and Berik to drop me an e-mail (info in my avatar details). I don't have your e-mail details (unless one of you is Andrew and got an e-mail yesterday) and need to finalize who is GM for what scenario.
We do have 6 tables total. 5 for gaming - one for organizing - but if there are enough players (and GMs) we can use all tables.
It would also be good if players start to send me interest / book a slot. While you can book on the day, this will ensure you have a slot and makes my life just a lot simpler.
Thod
What time slots are we using? 1030-1430 and 1500-1900 would seem to be the most logical..I'll be cpming down from Yaork and should make it down by 10 but have to be on a train by 20.30.
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What time slots are we using? 1030-1430 and 1500-1900 would seem to be the most logical..I'll be cpming down from Yaork and should make it down by 10 but have to be on a train by 20.30.
This sounds approximately right. The issue is - while I'm the organizer for Pathfinder Society - that the overall organizer tends to be 'slow'.
The reason I wrote morning slot and afternoon slot is - there will be two slots - and I don't yet know the official times. Your guess above is as good as my memory from last year.
Knowing that you come will ensure I keep a place reserved for you in a higher tier game.
Here is the deal right now:
a) I do have confirmation that we have 5 (+1) tables
b) I do have a rooster of GMs - THANKS to all of them !!
c) I'm trying to get all organized smoothly - having modules ready, having a program, etc.
d) I try not to panic because of everything not in my control
I don't have a clue how many people will show up. Do I have too many players and need to send GMs looking to do something else or do we get overwhelmed (or the first in the morning and the latter in the afternoon_
Slots are short - so GMs need to look for time and try to move the game ahead.
We do have our own mustering table - so we can be flexible and might have to make last minute decisions on the fly.
If not all tables are full in the morning, we might even start some of the 'afternoon slots' early. Provided the organizer doesn't mind.
Be flexible, be happy - it will be a great event again - at least that's the plan.
Writing all this I realize - why did I volunteer again to organize??
Thod
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Just a week to go - and all slowly shapes up.
There are currently 5 players with lvl 5-7 characters. It seems all of them would like two games. We therefore should have one higher level table filled - fingers crossed.
If you also have experienced characters - please let me know. You will be more difficult to put into slots as some beginners who could just play any free slot.
I also did some advertisement of the UK roleplayer boards - two of the players are from these boards.
Still no info up in regard to schedule / games information. Anyhow - it is more up to date what you read here or at the UK roleplayer boards.
Looking forward to meet some of you in London next week
Thod
Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean
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I hope things went well. Sorry not to make it down, but trying to recover from an insane week here. :(
Shame you weren't there Charles. (Hope you had a relaxing day)
It went very well. Congratulations to Thod for organising everything - much appreciated, it all went smoothly and we had lots of players (old and new) having fun.|
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I will give a more detailed report later. Here are a few of the highlights.
We had six full tables in the morning. As far as I can tell that represented thirty five players and six GMs. This was double the number I had booked.
In the afternoon we filled four tables with a little bit more than twenty players - off course I could add the table that was still running from the morning well into the afternoon session.
The small hall was a very good location. Thanks to the organizers. To a certain degree it was actually sad that we had the hall all for ourselves in the morning. While it is great that we had six tables bustling with players I feel sorry for other systems that didn't get enough players signed up or didn't even have a table.
I will report later today - but I would estimate well over thirty first time PFS players. Let's hope we keep as many as possible and see some again.
Dragonmeet is challenging - you do have many walk in customers. And you have only three and a half hour slots. That makes it hard for GMs - and most of them who did two slots played through with the half an hour pause used to finish the scenario and also to carry on well after the official time.
Thanks therefore to all the GMs who made it possible. And thanks to your flexibility.
There were some issues with us lacking enough new numbers for all the new people showing up. I'm also not sure if everyone got his cronicle sheet. If you read this because you didn't get a number, your game isn't reported properly, you want some help - my e-mail is in my profile. Just click on my avatar and send me a message. I'm sure we can sort it out.
And hopefully I will see a few again. Conception is just two month to go - and I'm. Glad I'm just a GM there.
What else - Wintergreen managed to get two steps closer to his third star. As far as I'm aware he only needs one more. A shame we had to leave - I'm sure we could have got enough players together for a late evening game. Maybe next year.
Thanks also to all players - after all - it's for you that we do this.
Thod
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Thanks everyone for the games yesterday, in particular the excellent David & Rob for GMing the games I was in, and especially to Thod for organising things -- nice to be playing organised orgplay rather than the usual dis-orgplay for a change! :)
I would estimate well over thirty first time PFS players. Let's hope we keep as many as possible and see some again.
Were you and/or Wintergreen able to capture newcomers contact details (eg email)? It was very positive seeing so many new people, and hopefully they can be lured to some of the regular PFS groups (or Paizocon).
Dragonmeet is challenging - you do have many walk in customers. And you have only three and a half hour slots. That makes it hard for GMs - and most of them who did two slots played through with the half an hour pause used to finish the scenario and also to carry on well after the official time.
A problem not just with Dragonmeet, but with other similar-format events. Playing any game in both slots leaves very little time to see the rest of the con, and this is worse for those GMing in both slots. Dragonmeet (and other one-day cons) should (IMO) probably make more provision for games starting earlier & finishing later -- 2x 3.5 hour slots, starting at 10:30, and with only half an hour between them is rather optimistic.
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I was impressed by Thod's organisation of a very successful event.
I did see two categories of player, the PFS regulars and the new players. Two sessions are fine for the regulars, new players really only need one session, as they'll want to at least check out the trade stands. My impression was that most new players didn't play both sessions. I'd suggest an overlapping 12-4 session for new players if there are sufficient GM's especially if the morning session was over-subscribed.
It may be worthwhile co-ordinating with one of the traders to have more Pathfinder material available, I wasn't able to get the initiative tracker as someone had already bought their only copy on hand! There didn't seem to be any Core rulebooks for sale either.
I will be wanting to definitely GM at ShadowCon assuming PFS is attending again (hopefully). I'll keep an eye out for announcements here.
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Miranda
I will have a look what we can do next year. The 12-4 session sounds good - but there are some issues. I would like to ensure there actually happens some mixing of old/new players. On a different board I already ran into issues of being accused of favouring people who know 'the secret handshake' and of elitism.
It also means that organizers can use this tables only once. It's their cost - they pay for the space and the tables - but I'm mindful of it. It also means that you need more GM's. Not every GM wants to come for a single game and only GM. Most will either want to GM twice or GM once / play once.
Something that I might want for next year is a fully occupied sign up table with a dedicated person - sending people to tables from 10:00-10:45 - then switching to seminar mode / encounter mode / help desk mode until 13:00 and then back to sign up mode again until 14:15.
The seminar mode / encounter mode / help desk mode could be helping with getting an individual character together / explaining the society / explaining the difference to D&D / allowing drop in people to just to a single encounter / skill challenge to get an idea of the system.
Off course - this would take away a full slot for one GM.
The idea to team up with a trader also occured to me. If anyone knows a trader who is likely to be at Dragonmeet 2011 - please let me know. It would be a win/win for both sides. I just would need to check with the organizers that this would be okay. Don't want to step on someones toes and only realize it too late.
Well - that's next year.
Jens
Great job Thod..sorry I had to rush off at the end but trains are something I have no control over.Next year I might be back to staying in London overnight again.
oh...we won by the weay for those who were not present...there was no Living Forgotten Realms happening at all..
PATHFINDER RULES!!!!
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I would like to ensure there actually happens some mixing of old/new players.
Absolutely (I say, having only played high level games with experienced players). If we'd known in advance that one of new players would be a cute girl I'm sure there'd have been more interest in playing 1-2 :)
On a different board I already ran into issues of being accused of favouring people who know 'the secret handshake' and of elitism.
There are some people on the UKRP forums who have their heads stuck rather too far up sowhere their heads shouldn't be stuck. I wouldn't worry about them.
Something that I might want for next year is a fully occupied sign up table with a dedicated person ... this would take away a full slot for one GM.
That's something I'd probably be happy to do, whereas I probably wouldn't GM; if you're looking for someone for this next year I'll probably volunteer.
The idea to team up with a trader also occured to me. If anyone knows a trader who is likely to be at Dragonmeet 2011 - please let me know.
The ones that seem to be most regular are either indies (Pelgrane Press, Post Mortem, etc) or non-RPG (Pagan Angel, House Atreides, etc), may be best to chat to Angus -- kill 2 birds with one stone.
More generally it's probably worth chatting with Kithran and/or Creighton & getting their input on what's likely to work best.
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Wellard
I agree with your conclusion. Taking all tables with sign ups I to account and assuming full occupancy we managed to represent 23% in the morning and 20% in the afternoon of all full slot gaming activity. Real numbers are likely higher as not all tables will have been full.
But we should be mindful and not gloat. Othervice we really fall into the trap of elitism and might drive away some people on the fence who haven't yet decided to try out Pathfinder.
Callum - thanks for the offer. I hope I remember it in ten or eleven month.
Dave - same to you. Leisure games sounds good to me.
Thod
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BTW I did chat to Leisure Games early in the morning to make sure they had Pathfinder stuff on board. I wanted to check that if I sent people down to buy from them then it wouldn't be a wild goose chase.
I guess that wasn't early enough. Next year I'll try to remember to chat to them before the event so they can get a whole display available.
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Miranda
I will have a look what we can do next year. The 12-4 session sounds good - but there are some issues. I would like to ensure there actually happens some mixing of old/new players. On a different board I already ran into issues of being accused of favouring people who know 'the secret handshake' and of elitism.
It also means that organizers can use this tables only once. It's their cost - they pay for the space and the tables - but I'm mindful of it. It also means that you need more GM's. Not every GM wants to come for a single game and only GM. Most will either want to GM twice or GM once / play once.
This was really for anyone who wasn't going to play PF full-time and wanted to try other things at the Con. can't comment on the organisers, my observation was that there were quite a few empty tables in the small hall.
Something that I might want for next year is a fully occupied sign up table with a dedicated person - sending people to tables from 10:00-10:45 - then switching to seminar mode / encounter mode / help desk mode until 13:00 and then back to sign up mode again until 14:15.The seminar mode / encounter mode / help desk mode could be helping with getting an individual character together / explaining the society / explaining the difference to D&D / allowing drop in people to just to a single encounter / skill challenge to get an idea of the system.
I think some clear signup instructions/notices would fix most issues, for beginners a scenario choice is a bit confusing, but a clear start time is essential.
I like the idea of a simple encounter to demonstrate the basic mechanics and use of the character sheet, has anyone tried that before?
Nevertheless, Dragonmeet 2010 was a great success thanks to your efforts.