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I think that this is a great solution. However, before someone else makes it another blown issue, we will need to make sure "Con Organizer" is well defined. Doug Dalton is a Con Organizer, but I think he might actually a bit more as a convention owner. I don't know the particulars in the difference between organizer and owner - but being the financially responsible person, the person that is calling people to be the organizers of the different areas of a convention, seems to be a bit more work.
If mustering PFS tables is the simple answer, any home game GM could be listed as organizer. If mustering tables at a convention is what is required at Con Organizer, then Doug still doesn't qualify. From my association at NeonCon 2010, Doug was busy doing so many other things that he wasn't the PFS Con Organizer - that was Rene (with a little assistance from me). Thus Rene would qualify for the title. I see a lot of posts by people claiming to be Con Organizers. I don't know if this is the same thing that Doug has been doing with NeonCon. If there are stars for Con Organizer, he qualifies as a Five Star Organizer - especially if you include all the other things he made sure were organized at NeonCon. Plus you'd have to have Steve Pitcher and Mike Shields listed with Con Organizer - since Steve is the director of the con and Mike is the director of RPG's (I don't know their official titles).
In all, if it's already blown up and causing a problem we might as well make sure any issues that are raised now are looked at and their merit deemed, instead of having it come back yet again.
Venture-Captain, Missouri—Cape Girardeau
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I see a lot of posts by people claiming to be Con Organizers. I don't know if this is the same thing that Doug has been doing with NeonCon.
In regards to myself, I actually only organize play for two cons, both fairly small by comparison to DD. We seat about 5-7 tables at the local Cape Comic Con and 6-8 tables for Brewfest (not counting offering the Special!) on average, but this is only the numbers for Pathfinder. I would think of myself as only a "1 or 2 Star" Con Organizer, and that is by self evaluation.
I'm sure that the people at Paizo will find a fair and equitable way for ranking Con Organizers. Again, I have faith in them.
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Erik - Thanks for the kinds words. My contributions, such that they are, pale in comparison to those of the larger community across the US and the world.
All - As others have said, there are a lot of deserving OP organizers at the regional, local and individual level who deserve recognition for their contributions. Some are GMs. Some are not. Some are Venture-Captains. Some are not.
While I am glad to see the Paizo team move to formally recognize their efforts, I cannot emphasize strongly enough that I do not see this decision as "righting a wrong" or "fixing something that was broken". Rather, the community asked for some clarity and Paizo delivered, as they always do.
So, a heartfelt thanks to Team Paizo for jumping in and making PS even better than it was. Whatever the final solution is, I am confident it will be fair for everyone.
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Raised the question of "Con Organizer" vs. "Convention Owner" and all points in between.
This is a fair question. For the sake of clarity and to help put a framework around this issue, here is a break down of the history of OP at NeonCon and the principal roles of the organizers. For everyone's education (including mine), I'd love to see other show organizers do a similar break-down.
- NEONCON 2007: Pathfinder and PS was still just a gleam in the eyes of Erik & Jason. RPG OP was exclusively LG. I was the primary organizer, record-keeper and GM wrangler for about 130 tables of LG play. And, I wrote the regional interactive.
- NEONCON 2008: End of LG. Birth of PS Season 0. Still primarily responsible for organizing all RPG OP. If memory serves, we ran around 40 tables of LG and 50 tables of PS. This was also the first year of the down economy. Steve Pitcher (now Convention Director) stepped in to help. I logged all game records for the show.
- NEONCON 2009: Set PS module schedule. Wrote and ran PS Interactive (Cove of Secrets). Handed off table mustering to Mike Shields (now RPG Coordinator). Acted as Senior Rules Judge for PS. Brought in Erik Mona and Josh Frost as guests of the show and presenters at GamesU (now CreativeU). Logged all of the PS Scenarios.
- NEONCON 2010: Handed off primary PS planning, execution and logging to Rene Ayala (Phoenix VC) supported by Mike Shields, Steve Pitcher and Issak Haywood (Vegas VC). Brought in Jason Bulmahn and Sean K. Reynolds as Special Guests and CreativeU presenters. Paizo brought the AWESOME with the special "Design the Ninja & Samurai" sessions. All I did is say "Yes & Thank You".
- NEONCON 2011: More PS awesome in the works and yet to be announced. As the show grows, my primary role is to make sure that the publishers who've been there from the start (ie. Paizo), remain the focus of the show while bringing in new and deserving publishers as well (Wildfire, Crafty Games, etc.) while expanding our offerings to encompass the larger gaming and geek culture.
Throughout the year, I help organize Vegas Game Day (VGD) a monthly game day which now averages 4 tables of PS a month. And, once we change venues, we should see than number jump to 6-8. I also advocate PS play in our 5-6 local game stores and support Issak Haywood, our local VC by introducing him to local store owners and other contacts (like our GM pool).
Finally, I maintain vegasgamers.org, a website for local gamers with almost 700 members and a local PS group of 49 players (and growing). The site serves gamers of every stripe and helps them connect to find local games, FLGS and other gamers.
In addition to overseeing the ongoing growth/expansion of NeonCon, I became a dad in 2008 and again in 2010. So, family obligations have cut into my ability to run as many games or directly drive PS play as much as I have in the past. But, a beautiful thing happened along the way (in addition to my growing family). The community I helped nurture stepped up when I had to step aside, at least publicly.
Often times, I am now the "man behind the curtain" helping keep wheels in motion, rather than the public face I once was. Were it not for guys like Steve Pitcher, Mike Shields, Perry Snow and, now, Issak Haywood, stepping up, PS in Las Vegas may have died on the vine.
The Las Vegas story is certainly not unique. I am sure everyone who has ever owned or organized a con can relate. Roles change and evolve, especially if a show is successful and has plans for serious growth (as ours does).
For me, the personal accolades are nice, but really unnecessary. My concern has always been the local community that has supported PS from it's inception. When I ask for something from Paizo (or any other publisher) I am asking on behalf of the players and GMs in my community ... not myself.
And, Paizo has always been there to support us. ALWAYS. This is one of the many reasons PS gets so much love at NeonCon. It starts with awesome content (rules, scenarios, etc.) but the loyalty, at least here in Vegas, really comes from the ongoing support Paizo shows it's player base, not just here in Sin City, but around the world.
DD
PS: Thanks for listening to these (and other) ramblings. Somewhere in here, I hope there is something of value for current and aspiring event organizers, GMs and players.
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[list]NEONCON 2007: Pathfinder and PS was still just a gleam in the eyes of Erik & Jason. RPG OP was exclusively LG. I was the primary organizer, record-keeper and GM wrangler for about 130 tables of LG play. And, I wrote the regional interactive.
RPG OP hasn't been just LG since the early days of LG :P
I believe Shadowrun Missions was out then and I know Heroes of Rokugan has been going strong since 2000.
But, I'm nitpicking :P
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Raised the question of "Con Organizer" vs. "Convention Owner" and all points in between.This is a fair question. For the sake of clarity and to help put a framework around this issue, here is a break down of the history of OP at NeonCon and the principal roles of the organizers. For everyone's education (including mine), I'd love to see other show organizers do a similar break-down.
...
- NEONCON 2007: Pathfinder and PS was still just a gleam in the eyes of Erik & Jason. RPG OP was exclusively LG. I was the primary organizer, record-keeper and GM wrangler for about 130 tables of LG play. And, I wrote the regional interactive.
- NEONCON 2008: End of LG. Birth of PS Season 0. Still primarily responsible for organizing all RPG OP. If memory serves, we ran around 40 tables of LG and 50 tables of PS. This was also the first year of the down economy. Steve Pitcher (now Convention Director) stepped in to help. I logged all game records for the show.
- NEONCON 2009: Set PS module schedule. Wrote and ran PS Interactive (Cove of Secrets). Handed off table mustering to Mike Shields (now RPG Coordinator). Acted as Senior Rules Judge for PS. Brought in Erik Mona and Josh Frost as guests of the show and presenters at GamesU (now CreativeU). Logged all of the PS Scenarios.
- NEONCON 2010: Handed off primary PS planning, execution and logging to Rene Ayala (Phoenix VC) supported by Mike Shields, Steve Pitcher and Issak Haywood (Vegas VC). Brought in Jason Bulmahn and Sean K. Reynolds as Special Guests and CreativeU presenters. Paizo brought the AWESOME with the special "Design the Ninja & Samurai" sessions. All I did is say "Yes & Thank You".
- NEONCON 2011: More PS awesome in the works and yet to be announced. As the show grows, my primary role is to make sure that the publishers who've been there from the start (ie. Paizo), remain the focus of the show while bringing in new and deserving publishers as well (Wildfire, Crafty
Doug,
Just wanted to say that I appreciate all the work you have put in for Pathfinder Society and look forward to seeing you at Neoncon 2011, if not sooner!
Nathan Meyers
NYC
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You have answered all questions I can think of and now salute you fully recognizing your awesomeness.
LOL. Thanks. Right back atcha! Lots of awesome, passionate folks in the PS community.
Just wanted to say that I appreciate all the work you have put in for Pathfinder Society and look forward to seeing you at Neoncon 2011, if not sooner!
Thanks Nate! Going to PaizoCon this year? If all goes well, I'll be in for the whole show this year and will actually get to play!
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You have answered all questions I can think of and now salute you fully recognizing your awesomeness.LOL. Thanks. Right back atcha! Lots of awesome, passionate folks in the PS community.
Just wanted to say that I appreciate all the work you have put in for Pathfinder Society and look forward to seeing you at Neoncon 2011, if not sooner!Thanks Nate! Going to PaizoCon this year? If all goes well, I'll be in for the whole show this year and will actually get to play!
Off-hand, have the dates been set for NeonCon 2011 yet?
I don't have a horse in this race so I could not care one way or another what label you choose to award Doug Daulton, or how many stars and what not you give him. A whole book of stars would not be enough in my opinion.
I only know one thing, that Doug is a kind gentleman and all around awesome individual. His wife is just a doll.
I cherish the memories of the time in 2007 I attended NeonCon. It was a definate pleasure. (And as I recall Doug, your wife was very pregnant at the time.)
Maybe one day I will be able to come back to your convention.
You, sir, win the Dark Sasha's award for all around awesome guy. There are VERY few persons who have received this accolade.
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It should be. I linked it for you when you started the list.Can't see Google docs at work. It's on my convention list, right?Off-hand, have the dates been set for NeonCon 2011 yet?Yep. November 3-6, 2011 at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Registration will open by 06/01/11.
Then it probably is. All the cons are starting to run together in my head. NukeCon, NeonCon, etc.
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Just wanted to say that I appreciate all the work you have put in for Pathfinder Society and look forward to seeing you at Neoncon 2011, if not sooner!Thanks Nate! Going to PaizoCon this year? If all goes well, I'll be in for the whole show this year and will actually get to play!
Alas Doug, I will not be going to Paizocon this year, my two big/out of region cons this year are GenCon and NeonCon. Maybe next year...
Nathan Meyers
NYC
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Keep in mind that this debate has nothing to do with Doug as a person. Everyone agrees he is a great guy, does a bunch to support PFS, and runs a great convention.
The ultimate question is should the GM star system be used to recognize coordinators when it was originally set up for strickly GMing.
It sounds like the folks at Paizo are going to develop a system for coordinators to acknowedge their efforts as well, which is cool.
I agree with that approach. They are both different tasks, but both equally important to the game.
Regardless of the outcome, I will not lose any sleep over it. Not a big deal. Someday I will hit 5 stars. Oh yes, it will be mine!
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Weird thought get the 5 star people in a arena/challenge encounter!
A 5-Star Cage Match on PPV. I love it. Sounds like a NeonCon event!
Actually, this already exists in the form of Iron GM, which was a ton of fun and features Pathfinder as the default ruleset.
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Weird thought get the 5 star people in a arena/challenge encounter!A 5-Star Cage Match on PPV. I love it. Sounds like a NeonCon event!
Actually, this already exists in the form of Iron GM, which was a ton of fun and features Pathfinder as the default ruleset.
I think DougDoug is entertaining the thought of NeonCon 2011, as am I... this could happen. >:)
Also, Iron GM at GenCon 2007 got my wife into D&D and ultimately Pathfinder. Nic Logue did a great just running it then, and Mr. Helt was an AMAZING GM (who received a perfect score from our table).