Gen Con 2011 PFS Area


Pathfinder Society

5/5

This year PFS will be in the expansion area of the ICC on the second floor, just across the hall from the main exhibit hall.

Being the nerd that I am, I decided to do a little math and look at our new play area.

Last Year: Rooms 126-128
5245 sq. ft.
20-ft. ceilings
36 Tables

This Year: Rooms 231-234
7140 sq. ft.
15-ft. ceilings
45 Tables (p.s. I *own* Table 38)

36% increase in square footage. 25% increase in tables being run simultaneously.

As loud as it was last year, I'm really worried about the 15-ft ceilings. FWIW, 2009 had 12-ft ceilings (101-103).

ICC Floor Plans

1/5 **

Kyle Baird wrote:

This year PFS will be in the expansion area of the ICC on the second floor, just across the hall from the main exhibit hall.

Being the nerd that I am, I decided to do a little math and look at our new play area.

Last Year: Rooms 126-128
5245 sq. ft.
20-ft. ceilings
36 Tables

This Year: Rooms 231-234
7140 sq. ft.
15-ft. ceilings
45 Tables (p.s. I *own* Table 38)

36% increase in square footage. 25% increase in tables being run simultaneously.

As loud as it was last year, I'm really worried about the 15-ft ceilings. FWIW, 2009 had 12-ft ceilings (101-103).

ICC Floor Plans

2008 & 2009 both had 12-ft ceilings...it was a mess.

Btw, are they still remodeling that place? :P

Grand Lodge 3/5

Kyle Baird wrote:

(p.s. I *own* Table 38)

Hmmmm.... pretty sure that I was sent there as often as you ;)

Dark Archive 4/5

The one time I was sent there last year, no one showed up to play :(


Aren't these rooms kinda.... off the beaten path? I liked the area last year MUCH better than the year before, but still, I am not sure I've ever even walked past these rooms before.

Grand Lodge 3/5

TwoWolves wrote:


Aren't these rooms kinda.... off the beaten path? I liked the area last year MUCH better than the year before, but still, I am not sure I've ever even walked past these rooms before.

I don't know if these rooms were even open last year. As you may remember, the convention centre is undergoing renovations.

I'm pretty sure that the dealer hall is moving this year, so we may actually be right near it again, just upstairs.

2/5 *

bugleyman wrote:
2008 & 2009 both had 12-ft ceilings...it was a mess.

In 2009, in some of my sessions, people were screaming at the top of their lungs. I don't think 100' high ceilings are going to help with that.

Paizo Employee CEO

TwoWolves wrote:


Aren't these rooms kinda.... off the beaten path? I liked the area last year MUCH better than the year before, but still, I am not sure I've ever even walked past these rooms before.

They've moved the entire convention over to the new convention center. You will be able to look over the railing from the PFS room and see the exhibit hall on the floor below. At least that is what I've heard. We will have a big banner proclaiming the PFS hanging from the railing as well. As far as I can tell, we are very centrally located in the new building.

-Lisa

Dark Archive

Lisa Stevens wrote:
TwoWolves wrote:


Aren't these rooms kinda.... off the beaten path? I liked the area last year MUCH better than the year before, but still, I am not sure I've ever even walked past these rooms before.

They've moved the entire convention over to the new convention center. You will be able to look over the railing from the PFS room and see the exhibit hall on the floor below. At least that is what I've heard. We will have a big banner proclaiming the PFS hanging from the railing as well. As far as I can tell, we are very centrally located in the new building.

-Lisa

So, is the $2 raise in game prices used to pay for the high profile rooms?

3/5

OK, so the Dealer Hall is a stone's throw away from the PFS area. Great! Now with the five hour time slots that started last year, if you're playing/GMing morning and afternoon slots, is there realistically any time to get out and wander the dealer hall?

Still making my GenCon plans. Just know to lock myself in the PFS room on Saturday to avoid all the traffic.

-Swiftbrook

5/5

Swiftbrook wrote:
Now with the five hour time slots that started last year, if you're playing/GMing morning and afternoon slots, is there realistically any time to get out and wander the dealer hall?

I did 10 slots last year. I managed to find a little bit of time to run to the Paizo booth between the afternoon and evening slots, but that was just to buy a flipmat I forgot.

I had a few hours on Sunday to wander the hall, which was plenty since it wasn't my first time at the show. If you're a first timer, I recommend dedicating an entire slot to the dealer hall.

2/5

Any chance we could get an Idea about who wrote each senerio? Clint Broome was my first DM and I love him as a DM.... Some of you others arn't bad either.

Contributor

cowboy ken wrote:
Any chance we could get an Idea about who wrote each senerio? Clint Broome was my first DM and I love him as a DM.... Some of you others arn't bad either.

I hope to have the details up later today or tomorrow.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *

Soliloquies wrote:
So, is the $2 raise in game prices used to pay for the high profile rooms?

I remember it being $6 in 2009. Didn't make 2010 but doubt prices went down that year. My recollection is collecting three generics. Generics were $2. Again, as far as I remember.


Soliloquies wrote:
So, is the $2 raise in game prices used to pay for the high profile rooms?

The costs are set by Gen Con on the games, we're not charging anything. It basically comes down to $2/hour for each event.

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Soliloquies wrote:
So, is the $2 raise in game prices used to pay for the high profile rooms?

Prices have been $2 an hour for awhile now. I think prices increased from $4 - $6 for Paizo events because they went from a 4 hour window to a 5 hour window (which they round to six hours).

5/5

How does $6 equal $2/hr for a 5 hour event? I'm confused by your fiendish monkey math.

And to clarify for everyone else new to Gen Con, Paizo doesn't get any of the money you're paying for the slot, Gen Con LLC does.

In fact Paizo is paying Gen Con to offer these games. And they're also paying the GM's to run them (with store credit).

We, as players, are paying to enjoy the unique experience and indescribable energy that flows through the convention and PFS play area in particular.

Silver Crusade 5/5

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Kyle Baird wrote:

How does $6 equal $2/hr for a 5 hour event? I'm confused by your fiendish monkey math.

And to clarify for everyone else new to Gen Con, Paizo doesn't get any of the money you're paying for the slot, Gen Con LLC does.

In fact Paizo is paying Gen Con to offer these games. And they're also paying the GM's to run them (with store credit).

We, as players, are paying to enjoy the unique experience and indescribable energy that flows through the convention and PFS play area in particular.

Kyle, My friend. Have you ever considered a position in sales?

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Kyle Baird wrote:
How does $6 equal $2/hr for a 5 hour event? I'm confused by your fiendish monkey math.

Bah...$2 a slot, not an hour.

So 5 hours = 3 slots = $6.

There, math is hard.

The Exchange 5/5

Ryan Bolduan wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
How does $6 equal $2/hr for a 5 hour event? I'm confused by your fiendish monkey math.

Bah...$2 a slot, not an hour.

So 5 hours = 3 slots = $6.

There, math is hard.

Don't we always round down in Pathfinder? Of course if BobBob is running, you will get your full 6 hours in ;p

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Doug Miles wrote:
Ryan Bolduan wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
How does $6 equal $2/hr for a 5 hour event? I'm confused by your fiendish monkey math.

Bah...$2 a slot, not an hour.

So 5 hours = 3 slots = $6.

There, math is hard.

Don't we always round down in Pathfinder?

Not when it's 1d3 damage and somebody rolls a six sider.

5/5

Ryan Bolduan wrote:
Not when it's 1d3 damage and somebody rolls a six sider.

I will be sure to remind Doug that he owes you a kick to the shin at Gen Con.

5/5

Nobody's commented on the 25% increase in tables offered. Hopefully that's enough so we don't have to have 7-player tables.

5/5

For another perspective, WotC is offering 620 tables of RPGA 4E not including delves, intros, or specials. Paizo is offering 405 tables not including the Special.


Keep this up and maybe next year PFS can get the BIG room!

3/5

Kyle Baird wrote:
For another perspective, WotC is offering 620 tables of RPGA 4E not including delves, intros, or specials. Paizo is offering 405 tables not including the Special.

How times have changed. I just pulled up an old GenCon event file. In 2007 WotC offered the following:

500 tables of D&D Open
315 tables of Living Greyhawk
233 tables of other RPGs including Undermountain and Star Wars.
-----
1048 tables total.

Looks like the total number of tables hasn't changed much. And PFS is running 45 tables at the Friday night special 270+ players playing the same adventure at the same time!

-Swiftbrook
The math guy

1/5 **

Rene Ayala wrote:
Soliloquies wrote:
So, is the $2 raise in game prices used to pay for the high profile rooms?
I remember it being $6 in 2009. Didn't make 2010 but doubt prices went down that year. My recollection is collecting three generics. Generics were $2. Again, as far as I remember.

Same here. I also didn't make 2010.

5/5

Guess what?! I got a fever, and the only prescription is more Delve!

Mr Baird mentioned something, Delve....

I like the PFS Boon's last year. It was fun.

We need more Delve.

Late night Delve, morning Delve, Delve between slots. Delve=more pathfinder.

3/5

Kyle Baird wrote:

This year PFS will be in the expansion area of the ICC on the second floor, just across the hall from the main exhibit hall.

snip

36% increase in square footage. 25% increase in tables being run simultaneously.

I'm not sure that's enough! We're 30 minutes into event registration for GenCon and over 200 of the tickets for the Friday night Special have already been claimed. Just over 60 left. Many events have already sold out ... I'm seeing several sold out per page I pull up. Note, there are still Many available, and just because an adventure is filled in one slot does not mean that it wont be available another slot.

The GenCon system is running slow - as I expected.

Watching with interest.

-Swiftbrook

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ***

Swiftbrook wrote:


The GenCon system is running slow - as I expected.

Definitely as expected, but I think this new system is an improvement over past years.

Once the initial "run" is over, I expect it'll work well.

Grand Lodge 2/5

Bob Jonquet wrote:
Swiftbrook wrote:


The GenCon system is running slow - as I expected.

Definitely as expected, but I think this new system is an improvement over past years.

Once the initial "run" is over, I expect it'll work well.

I found it to be pretty painless overall!

Shadow Lodge 4/5 ****

Kyle Baird wrote:


Last Year: Rooms 126-128
5245 sq. ft.
20-ft. ceilings
36 Tables

This Year: Rooms 231-234
7140 sq. ft.
15-ft. ceilings
45 Tables (p.s. I *own* Table 38)

36% increase in square footage.

Yes Kyle, but it's only a 2% increase in cubic feet :Þ

5/5

Mark Garringer wrote:
I found it to be pretty painless overall!

Not I. A lot of the Call of Cthulhu events are considered "tournaments" and tournament tagged events are allowed to overlap. So I spent an hour cleaning out my cart and figuring out exactly what we were going to attend. By the time I did that, a few of the PFS games I wanted to sign up for were booked. CrAzY!

It's all good though, having those events sold out forced me to volunteer for a couple of slots. Muhuhahahahahaha!

Dataphiles 5/5 5/55/5 Venture-Agent, Virginia—Hampton Roads

Kyle Baird wrote:
Mark Garringer wrote:
I found it to be pretty painless overall!

Not I. A lot of the Call of Cthulhu events are considered "tournaments" and tournament tagged events are allowed to overlap. So I spent an hour cleaning out my cart and figuring out exactly what we were going to attend. By the time I did that, a few of the PFS games I wanted to sign up for were booked. CrAzY!

It's all good though, having those events sold out forced me to volunteer for a couple of slots. Muhuhahahahahaha!

Poor PC's may they rest in peace or have 16 PA on hand.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

I am not playing This year, Just GMing and spending a few grand in the dealers room.

I think I will do that every other year, GM less next play more.

3/5

Dragnmoon wrote:
Just GMing and spending a few grand in the dealers room.

Um, wow. I guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My budget is under $500 for everything. A five day getaway from kids, home and summer work for some gaming fun. At the Paizo booth, I'll probably spend out of pocket the same amount I get for GM credit. Lots of cool Paizo products coming out this summer.

But I am trying GMing at GenCon for the first time, playing less. Looking forward to the new experience.

Just checked the event slots. Pathfinder is filling up nicely. About seven events every slot are filled. 23 left for the special. Wow, we're really going to have close to 300 gamers in the same room playing the same scenario. It's going to be awesome.

See you at the table.

-Swiftbrook

Sczarni 4/5

Swiftbrook wrote:

Just checked the event slots. Pathfinder is filling up nicely. About seven events every slot are filled. 23 left for the special. Wow, we're really going to have close to 300 gamers in the same room playing the same scenario. It's going to be awesome.

See you at the table.

-Swiftbrook

thanks for the heads up - just bought mine, down to 22 tickets left

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Swiftbrook wrote:
Um, wow. I guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My budget is under $500 for everything. A five day getaway from kids, home and summer work for some gaming fun. At the Paizo booth, I'll probably spend out of pocket the same amount I get for GM credit. Lots of cool Paizo products coming out this summer.

I save over the whole year for Gen Con, spend very little at Paizo since I get everything in Subscriptions.

This is what I have gotten the last 2 Gen Cons

Gen Con 09
Gen Con 10

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/5

Dragnmoon wrote:
Swiftbrook wrote:
Um, wow. I guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My budget is under $500 for everything. A five day getaway from kids, home and summer work for some gaming fun. At the Paizo booth, I'll probably spend out of pocket the same amount I get for GM credit. Lots of cool Paizo products coming out this summer.

I save over the whole year for Gen Con, spend very little at Paizo since I get everything in Subscriptions.

This is what I have gotten the last 2 Gen Cons

Gen Con 09
Gen Con 10

It's like gamer trick or treating!

5/5

CHELAXIAN SCUM!

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Smug Smiles wrote:
CHELAXIAN SCUM!

I did not give you permission to use one of my Pics!... wait... you called a Chelaxian a scum... carry on.

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ***

Smug Smiles wrote:
CHELAXIAN SCUM!

Todd doesn't make lists, but he's the center of pictures

The Exchange 5/5

Bob Jonquet wrote:
Smug Smiles wrote:
CHELAXIAN SCUM!
Todd doesn't make lists, but he's the center of pictures

awwwwwww It's nice to see Todd in lights ..

Scarab Sages 2/5

The one thing about Indy that you can count on is construction, that's what i've learned by living her 11 years. So count on the Convention Center still being under some sort of Construction.

Dark Archive

So.... Small increase in space... Large increase in tables... Lower ceilings... I guess I will get used to the DM screaming at me from 3 feet away... and this time I will not be using his dice as breath mints... maybe... should still be fun... with the shiny mints...

3/5

Chot wrote:
So.... Small increase in space... Large increase in tables... Lower ceilings... I guess I will get used to the DM screaming at me from 3 feet away... and this time I will not be using his dice as breath mints... maybe... should still be fun... with the shiny mints...

Space 5245 sq feet (2010) to 7140 sq feet (2011) = 35% increase

36 tables (2010) to 45 table (2011) = 25% increase
Space per table 2010 = 145.7 square feet
Space per table 2011 = 158.7 square feet

Lower ceiling ... yep.

I love numbers :-)

-Swiftbrook

Sczarni 4/5

Swiftbrook wrote:
Chot wrote:
So.... Small increase in space... Large increase in tables... Lower ceilings... I guess I will get used to the DM screaming at me from 3 feet away... and this time I will not be using his dice as breath mints... maybe... should still be fun... with the shiny mints...

Space 5245 sq feet (2010) to 7140 sq feet (2011) = 35% increase

36 tables (2010) to 45 table (2011) = 25% increase
Space per table 2010 = 145.7 square feet
Space per table 2011 = 158.7 square feet

Lower ceiling ... yep.

I love numbers :-)

-Swiftbrook

So if they add 5 tables a block, we would have the same amount of space.... but lower cielings

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