I'm of a mind that it might be worth running at least one invitation-only game this year..."off lottery" so to speak...for just the reason. Basically, I too have bombed out on lottery games almost every time. Last year, my one lottery pickup was miniature painting with Sean (which was fun, but disappointing when you'd like to join one of the actual games that also get advertised). I kind of feel guilty soaking up a lottery spot, though. And only marginally less if I'm at least contributing to the lottery by running some games for others.
Regardless, the con is growing by leaps and bounds and it's becoming even more difficult to land something you'd really like to experience like Erik's "Spire of Nex" or Wes's "Bastardhall" game. I don't mind running games myself now and then (both lottery and non-lottery), but I too would like to play as a player from time to time. The last couple of cons, that's usually boiled down to a single Sunday PFS game...which is fine, but usually I prefer to play a non-PFS scenario. I almost had a chance to participate in the awesome "Paladin in Hell" game conducted out of one of the con-goer's hotel rooms last year. Unfortunately, I got sick on some fisherman's stew from earlier in the day and had to bow out.
So, keep an eye on the PaizoCon forums as we get closer. I may just advertise an "off lottery" game the same way the Play-by-Post games get advertised here on Paizo's messageboards. Once I find the right mix of players, I'll invite to play in a hotel room or whatever space we can grab...even if it's in a lobby or something.
Just my two cents,
--Neil
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That's a good idea and a good point, Neil. I think one of the problems with the Coast Hotel was that its size didn't allow for as much "off lottery" gaming. Hopefully, the new site will make that more of an option.
At present, I'm planning to attend and have already purchased my tickets. As long as my schedule doesn't change too much, then I should be able to make it for all three days. However, it's the Navy and things change, so I won't know for sure until later in 2012.
Since I'm not 100% I can't put myself on an official schedule, anyway, but I do plan on running a game, maybe two. If all goes well, I'll have something interesting that I'll want to share with my fellow Con attendees.
Totally agree regarding the lottery - was not planning on using it again. While I enjoyed running a game, if I didn't have my own room set up, I would have shut the game down because we already had two DMs screaming over each other at tables right next to mine. Which brings me to the problem at hand:
The issue I'm finding is space; At the former hotel, they had nice rooms available with plenty of space - and better yet, they were nice enough to provide a long table and chairs. Unfortunately, the new hotel has no suites (available) and frowns on any re-configuring of the room. So, no chairs and people sitting on the floor around a bed. Ugh.
I am trying to work something out with the Residence Inn next door which does have suites - The issue I think we may have is late night games may get us kicked out due to noise unless Paizo can help us block a set of suites. I'll send an email to Jeff to see if he would consider it. The events person for the Marriott is the same person for the Residence Inn.
Call me picky, but I think a good game benefits from decent seating and space (without having to over-shout the viking DM at a table 2 feet away).
If I can't make the room stuff work, I (and A Paladin in Hell) probably will stay home. Cheers,
~D
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This actually sounds like a waaaaaaay better idea. Creating a game that is better than anything at the Con. Why not? We certainly have the genius to put it together with all the talent walking around the Con. We could even prep it properly before the Con even begins by running a thread that ramps up to the Adventure.
Now I think I am actually excited about playing my first game at a convention, PFS aside.
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32
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I think MORE people submitting games to be placed in the lottery is really what needs to happen. Last year, I was new, unknown, and submitted an off the wall PF Modern game and I still got my game into the lottery. Granted, nobody seemed to want to play it and I spent my Sunday morning sitting there for nearly an hour hoping someone would show up, but I got a game into the lottery.
But seriously, more games would be great. There are plenty of people in this community that I would love to have as a GM for a game or two. As it is, unless they invite me to their game (unlikely as I am still pretty unknown,) I won't have that luxury.
Last year I wasn't able to sign up for alot of the games because I volunteered to run two of the PFS games and there were panels I really wanted to see. This year I want to run one lottery game, and try for lots of lottery games and plan my weekend around those.
If I get lucky and find myself invited to a private non-lottery game, I would feel great and attend. However for someone like me who isn't really known well the lottery practically my only chance to snag a non-PFS game.
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I think MORE people submitting games to be placed in the lottery is really what needs to happen. Last year, I was new, unknown, and submitted an off the wall PF Modern game and I still got my game into the lottery. Granted, nobody seemed to want to play it and I spent my Sunday morning sitting there for nearly an hour hoping someone would show up, but I got a game into the lottery.
But seriously, more games would be great. There are plenty of people in this community that I would love to have as a GM for a game or two. As it is, unless they invite me to their game (unlikely as I am still pretty unknown,) I won't have that luxury.
Last year I wasn't able to sign up for alot of the games because I volunteered to run two of the PFS games and there were panels I really wanted to see. This year I want to run one lottery game, and try for lots of lottery games and plan my weekend around those.
If I get lucky and find myself invited to a private non-lottery game, I would feel great and attend. However for someone like me who isn't really known well the lottery practically my only chance to snag a non-PFS game.
That is also a good point. The problem is that some games are going to be more attractive than others. If no one puts your game on their list of options, then you're not going to get any players.
I imagine that submitting events for the lottery doesn't necessarily exclude people from running off-lottery events, as well. Perhaps the answer would be for GMs to submit their events to the lottery, then see if they get folks signed up to play. We should get lottery results far enough ahead of the Con for GMs to know if their games will have players.
If no one signed up, then that event can be offered as an off-lottery event elsewhere, providing an outlet for folks who didn't get enough games to play in.
Of course, now that I think about it, what if the lottery had more than one round? After the first round of picks, the games that aren't full could be offered up for a second round, allowing folks to pick from the remaining options.
One of the problems that we noticed last year is that people didn't want to submit a game of their own to the lottery until they had seen what events were going on. This is something that we are taking into consideration for next year's schedule.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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You have to recognize that it is a *lottery*... and everyone generally wants into the same few games. If 500 people sign up for one game that 6 people get into it's not that tough to calculate the odds.
You gotta play to win right?
Unlike the real lottery, you don't have to pay to enter (or rather you are paying as part of your Con entrance fee).
I think MORE people submitting games to be placed in the lottery is really what needs to happen.
I completely agree. In addition to just getting more sessions going, Id hope for two things -
More Paizo team run adventures. Maybe its me, but it seemed like there were more sessions run by Paizo employees in 2011 than in 2010 (or maybe scheduling was better).
GMs running lottery games don't have tiny maximums. Some games lend themselves to 2 or 4 member parties. It might not sound like much of a difference but if a few 4 member parties could become six member parties, that means more people get the games they want. If you want a tiny maximum, how about running two sessions of it? I wouldnt want this mandated, just taken to heart :-)
Id like to see some way to advertise an ad hoc session, so people know you aren't just a lonely looking guy sitting at a table. What about reusable plastic stand ups that say "Game Forming, Please Ask!" or the like?
Last PaizoCon Bill Webb ran an ongoing S&W game which started on some unused tables in open gaming area and moved into the cafe. He took all comers who wanted to try out the old school style type of game using the rules crafted by Matt Finch. Many came and played and on occasion had to create new characters, sometimes several times. It took all of five minutes or so to create new characters, so losing one to the deadly nature of the campaign wasn't such a huge problem. All who came and stayed seemed to enjoy it. The survivors decided to name the group The Demon Biter's Guild. Those who experienced the encounter this refers to will understand why.
I don't know if he will be able to do the same at this new venue. I suppose that depends on Paizo's set up and how many open gaming tables they have. He mentioned last year that he would start off where the group left off.
Chief Technical Officer
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...More Paizo team run adventures. Maybe its me, but it seemed like there were more sessions run by Paizo employees in 2011 than in 2010 (or maybe scheduling was better).
One of our goals for PaizoCon 2012 will be creating more opportunities to interact with the staff. To that end, we'll probably have employees run more short games instead of a few longer ones.
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Again, I rather just create something now that I can look forward to. I no longer want to participate in the lottery and I could care less about it. I dislike it. More games in the lottery would be of little interest to me because I won't be in the ones I want anyway. I want something more certain and I rather just put something exciting together and enjoy the Convention than go for a fourth year of "I didn't get it again" disappointment. I see videos of a lot of people having a great time playing with Paizo personalities and I wish I could be there. I am done wishing. Tired, tired, tired of it. I don't want to whine about it or any of that. I just give up on the idea of it. If I eat a bunch of great lunches with the gang and sit and watch seminars, I guess that is that. If something brilliant could be put together before the convention, that would be even better. I guess nothing is better than your first PaizoCon. The Grand Convocation got me around a lot of Paizo people in a very short period of time. Went to bed that night saying, damn, how did they do that? That was the best and I don't think anyone understood how exhilarating that was. It was a Disneyland Tour De Force for me and a true introduction to what Paizo is about.
After such a memory, it really is hard to feel that way again.
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That's a good idea and a good point, Neil. I think one of the problems with the Coast Hotel was that its size didn't allow for as much "off lottery" gaming. Hopefully, the new site will make that more of an option.
At present, I'm planning to attend and have already purchased my tickets. As long as my schedule doesn't change too much, then I should be able to make it for all three days. However, it's the Navy and things change, so I won't know for sure until later in 2012.
Since I'm not 100% I can't put myself on an official schedule, anyway, but I do plan on running a game, maybe two. If all goes well, I'll have something interesting that I'll want to share with my fellow Con attendees.
If you could run a FairyTale for my family Paris, I would be most indebted to you. My wife's best memory of the previous Con was your game. My daughter will be there this time and she is three years younger than my son. The whole family will be coming and my wife would not want to miss such a game if you ran it...off the lottery for sure.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I ended up missing the cutoff for submission due to some miscommunication with Hyrum combined with other writing deadlines, so I wasn't able to run a couple of lottery sessions as I usually would. I may just run the sessions I was planning to do last year.
I would encourage people to volunteer to run sessions. Iz fun! The new hotel will be a longer commute for me, since I live in West Seattle (and it don't make no sense for me to get a hotel room when I live local, although I know some people will), but I should be down for some sessions this year.
I didn't get anything in the lottery this year, but I *DID* pick up tix to play in Ed Greenwood's "Mouse Hunt" game from someone who had gotten the lottery but couldn't go. I was supposed to play in "A Paladin in Hell" at the same time, but, c'mon, it's ED GREENWOOD!!!
I have played at least one session of "A Paladin in Hell" the last two years, though, and I certainly hope Big D can work out the logistics to make it happen this year at the new place.
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For enterprising GMs, there's always the Sunday post con gaming slot. Eric Tillemans ran I3-Pharaoh two years ago, and I ran it last year. Plus lots of Society games going on.
I am trying to work something out with the Residence Inn next door which does have suites ...
I know, I know, resurrecting a dead thread ...
I was just looking at the Residence Inn and ... honestly, I'd rather have one of those rooms, and they are the same price as the Marriott for non-suites. Dang.
One thing that could be done, as a group, request rooms to be together. They can't always do as requested, but I know they will try, actually.
The good thing about Marriott, they try to keep their guests happy.
One thing that could be done, as a group, request rooms to be together. They can't always do as requested, but I know they will try, actually.The good thing about Marriott, they try to keep their guests happy.
Well - then give it a try. I went ahead and picked up a two room suite. If it looks like we can get rooms next to one another and the chances of getting kicked out go down, the Paladin may find his way to Hell after all. The one thing I still need to figure out is the table and chairs. The hotel seemed totally confused as to why I needed this. Worst case is to buy them and bring them in - but it runs the risk of tripping some policy or another. We'll see. Paizo has not been able to help out (no response) as of the last time I tried reaching out. ~D
I am thinking about running something on sunday afternoon as well if there is interest. I ran a 20th level one shot adventure last year and may run that again or something else this year as well. I will post more after I get my plane ticket and know how late I will be around.
thanks
Kelly
The one thing I still need to figure out is the table and chairs. The hotel seemed totally confused as to why I needed this.
Bah, do it 'family style'. Use the sofa and the coffee table. The 2-room suite has a dining table with 4 chairs. That's plenty with the sofa, desk chair, and over-sized chair.
You'll be fine!
From this blog here, there will be six slots of Pathfinder Society at PaizoCon (and you won't want to miss the return of the Grand Convocation). I'm not 100% sure if the Pathfinder Society events are going to have a sign-up ahead of time or not (this is one of the details that will be hammered out shortly).
Darksmokepuncher, we'll be having a sign-up for fan-run events in the next few months.
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There will be many PFS events running throughout the show; just show up at the PFS area at preannounced times (every few hours), and we'll get you into a game!Are society games lottery signup, or are they going to be more organized like using a warhorn site?
So that's a no, you're not going to be more organized and have premustered signups? Some people come a long way to conventions - I live near sacramento, california, and I'm not in the mood to drive to a convention two states away if the PFS is going to be as chaotic as it was two years ago. Some judges were running mods cold, with little prep, and sometimes were very late to games.
Organized play should be ORGANIZED. Warhorn is a great tool if you choose to use it. You can tell early what mods are in demand and what aren't. You can switch judges well ahead of time, or plan your number of tables better. Tables can be mustered according to level and party balance better. It makes a better experience for players, and saves time from last minute decisions.
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There will be many PFS events running throughout the show; just show up at the PFS area at preannounced times (every few hours), and we'll get you into a game!Are society games lottery signup, or are they going to be more organized like using a warhorn site?
So that's a no, you're not going to be more organized and have premustered signups? Some people come a long way to conventions - I live near sacramento, california, and I'm not in the mood to drive to a convention two states away if the PFS is going to be as chaotic as it was two years ago. Some judges were running mods cold, with little prep, and sometimes were very late to games.
Organized play should be ORGANIZED. Warhorn is a great tool if you choose to use it. You can tell early what mods are in demand and what aren't. You can switch judges well ahead of time, or plan your number of tables better. Tables can be mustered according to level and party balance better. It makes a better experience for players, and saves time from last minute decisions.
Pathfinder Society is going to be organized. I've already drafted up the schedule and assigned GMs to all 150 tables of Pathfinder Society. The GMs already have their badges, as well as scenarios they are running that have been released. I have a meeting today to discuss this very thing regarding player sign ups for slots.
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Pathfinder Society is going to be organized. I've already drafted up the schedule and assigned GMs to all 150 tables of Pathfinder Society. The GMs already have their badges, as well as scenarios they are running that have been released. I have a meeting today to discuss this very thing regarding player sign ups for slots.There will be many PFS events running throughout the show; just show up at the PFS area at preannounced times (every few hours), and we'll get you into a game!Are society games lottery signup, or are they going to be more organized like using a warhorn site?
So that's a no, you're not going to be more organized and have premustered signups? Some people come a long way to conventions - I live near sacramento, california, and I'm not in the mood to drive to a convention two states away if the PFS is going to be as chaotic as it was two years ago. Some judges were running mods cold, with little prep, and sometimes were very late to games.
Organized play should be ORGANIZED. Warhorn is a great tool if you choose to use it. You can tell early what mods are in demand and what aren't. You can switch judges well ahead of time, or plan your number of tables better. Tables can be mustered according to level and party balance better. It makes a better experience for players, and saves time from last minute decisions.
Thank you Michael, that's good news. I look forward to hearing how PFS signups will be handled.
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I'm not asking to sign up for a game. I'm just asking if a warhorn site or equivalent will be set up for signups.
When we are ready to announce signups, and the system used for it, it will be announced. There are several options being considered. I'm not going to go into what has been discussed but several options are being looked at. I have no further information to offer you until I can give concrete specifics.
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I'm not asking to sign up for a game. I'm just asking if a warhorn site or equivalent will be set up for signups.When we are ready to announce signups, and the system used for it, it will be announced. There are several options being considered. I'm not going to go into what has been discussed but several options are being looked at. I have no further information to offer you until I can give concrete specifics.
Fair enough, thanks.
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I've never been to a PaizoCon before so.....
....lottery?
If there are too many players for a table, lots are drawn and the loser(s) are sacrificed to the purple golem. ;)
Actually, it's all done via code alchemy. The formula of which is closely guarded.
<shakes fist at Gary, reconsiders, hopes Gary did not notice so "SELECT * FROM attendees_tbl WHERE board_name NOT LIKE zylphryx" does not show up in the lottery code and sneaks out of the thread>
Thanks Gary! While a big part of me coming is the opportunity to just meet so many awesome people face to face, it might be cool to get in on some official stuff.
Otherwise, I might be stuck out in the hallway with Sebastian.
Yeah, I'm thinking the Skittles would pile up fast....
Thanks Gary! While a big part of me coming is the opportunity to just meet so many awesome people face to face, it might be cool to get in on some official stuff.
Otherwise, I might be stuck out in the hallway with Sebastian.
Last year was my first time at PaizoCon, and let me assure you, the best part is getting to meet the awesome people face to face (and not just the Paizo staff...although they're awesome too).
I didn't get anything in the lottery last year (kinda like buying tickets in Real Life [tm], actually), but still had a blast. PFS games aren't lottery games, so there's usually something you can play, and there are pick-up games wherever the participants can find room.
Basically, the only way you're stuck out in the hallway is if you choose to be.