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So I had a Terrible experience today with the Pathfinder Society. The Game Day event at Gamer Empire in San Diego was a disorganized cluster today. It was suppose to start at 11:00 AM, the Captain didn't show up until 11:05 AM, there were more players then tables reserve, and these are players that signed up ahead of time so they should they should have capped the sign ups or reserved more tables. The captain didn't attempted to marshal anyone or organize the table, that task was left up to the players. There were also not enough judges for the players that showed up. When it because clear that there were not enough judges, or tables even if there were enough judges for me to get into the event that I signed up weeks ahead of time for I left disgusted.
Yes I understand that stuff happens and that sometimes there are extra walk ins that you can't account for. But I feel comfortable saying that 95% or more of today’s crowd had signed up ahead of time so that does not excuse the lack of judges or organization at today’s event. And if this had been the only time that the Monthly game day was such as mess I would have written it off as bad day. Unfortunately every game day event I have been to at Game Empire has be this disorganized, and today’s was by far the worst experience I have had at an event.
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Pholtus Step up and be part of the solution. Since this is not the first time you'vr experienced the same issue bring it up to the VC. Offer to help in a small way if your schedule permits.
This has happend at a con that I went to and I just stepped up and got things going by helping the frazzled coordinator a little. somtimes a little help will go a long way to make everyone's time enjoyable. Including yours.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Here's my bad game day experience. We had a bunch of people back out and our table got cancelled. My wife and I showed up just to have a looksee because we knew our game was scrapped. It turned out even the one table that was there was barely full and two of the players had already played the scenario but didn't realize it until they showed up.
So we did a quick survey and found an agreeable scenario people hadn't played, I bought it, downloaded it, and ran it cold.
As Shivok suggests, the community is built by people stepping up and helping out.
I posted this because the VC did not come across across as being overwhelmed or frazzled but came across as though he didn't give a crap. My schedule doesn't permit me a lot of time for gaming and so I was rather pissed off by the experience I had. When I brought up the fact that I was displeased with how things turned out, I got a pretty much “sucks to be you” attitude from the guy.
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Pholtus Step up and be part of the solution.
First, I will say that I understand that being proactive and direct can often help make things better.
BUT!!! My point ( I don't know if it is also the feeling of the original post) is that *WE* shouldn't have to. The purpose of going to an event is that it is something that is supposed to be organized by someone else. It is clearly not a case of the organizer losing his 3x5 cards, or something like that. This is a planned event that aparently is known about for months at a time with a website for sign up.
Yes, we are responsible for whether we have fun or not, but, this is something that we are being called for. THEY are putting together something that is supposed to be "organized play" ... if they're not capable of doing it, they should pass it along to someone who can.
I for one do not appreciate a *fan* being blamed for not taking on responsibility that is supposed to belong to someone else. He had every right to leave disgusted, and he did the right thing by going through Paizo, and letting them know that their Captain is not doing what he's supposed to (and told them he would) do.
It's just like a Customer Service call. Don't talk to some local schmo who can't or won't get anything done. Let the company know. And make it clear that your patronage depends on it. Maybe, they'll do something to make it right. Who knows, when the manager comes to your table after you sent your entree back, maybe you'll get a free desert!
Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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Ugh. I feel for you, Pholtus. We in Denver have long held to the "sign up, and you are guaranteed a spot" theory for game days. We also get GMs well ahead of time for all our tables, and make sure they have everything they need to run their games. I have many times been chastised on these boards for supporting a stance where walk ins will only get seats if the tables aren't already full of advance sign ups. You, sir, are why I adhere to that policy.
I wish you good fortune in finding your way out of these doldrums.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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I have many times been chastised on these boards for supporting a stance where walk ins will only get seats if the tables aren't already full of advance sign ups.
Seems like a great policy. I'm not sure why people would criticize it.
Yeah, I definitely agree that registered players should get preferential seating (so long as they show on time).
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Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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I have many times been chastised on these boards for supporting a stance where walk ins will only get seats if the tables aren't already full of advance sign ups.Seems like a great policy. I'm not sure why people would criticize it.
Honestly, I don't know why they criticize it. But there are a lot of coordinators who simply schedule the day with a location, announce it to the community, and then wait for it to happen. When 20 people show up, they try to recruit GMs on site and figure everything out on the fly. Sounds like my own personal version of hell, but to each their own, I suppose. *shrug*
Eric, Pholtus, I wish you guys luck in working out your differences.
