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Well, we just finished with PFS at Origins and completed 110+ tables. Although these numbers were better than last year, they should have been significantly better. The expected table count should have been in the range of 150-175 tables. Over all PFS was successful given the limited resources and planning involved. The vast majority of players had a great time, they were able to receive phenomenal prize support from Paizo (special thanks to Erik Mona and Mike Brock), they won some convention boons and participated in two interactives to include a cameo of Judge Huang during Blood Under Absalom (a cos-player who volunteered complete with a mace, oni horns and armor). I'm confident that with the date shift to June, Origins will be that much better and we can expect 200+ tables at the con next year!
Some of the things that contributed to a depressed table count based on my observations were as follows:
1. Origins 2011 Convention Dates: Apparently the con dates right after the holiday weekend/OSU finals week decreased con participation. Although GAMA is saying attendance was up by 5% from last year I'm not sure if that's accurate. More than half of all RPG tables were empty. Even vendors complained that turn-out was low.
2. Lack of Coordination/Organization: Apparently there were some incorrect assumptions between the umbrella group that PFS fell under and the support they were supposed to provide to PFS. Thankfully the local VC and several other GM/VO's got together to make the most out of a bad situation with limited resources. After a tough first day things progressively got better as the con went along.
3. Lack of committed GM's: The lack of GM's was a sore point at the con as many of the regular GM's could not make it to the con due to real-life issues/con dates. Had there been just 5 additional GM's per slot we would have been able to run that many more tables every slot. Although no gamers were turned away from playing PFS, many 7 player tables were run during the con.
Of course there were some things that went very well:
1. Paizo provided unbelievable prize support to both players and GM's and this was a HUGE plus to the event. Many players left with prizes and boons and players were really happy!
2. We were growing new GM's out of the woodwork as players stepped up to GM at the con. Special thanks to every player who became a GM to ensure a table ran. We couldn't have done it without you.
Although this list is not all-inclusive, I'd like to personally thank the following folks for all their help during the con:
Russel Akred
Clint Blome
Derek Boobyer
Brent Bowser
Mike Brock - Thanks for the advice and support!
Michael Costello
Stuart Davidson
Michael Grancey
Geoffrey Griffith
Greg Hurst
David Kersher
Mike Lazar
Michael Linder
Art Lobdell
Mike McNerney
Wes Nicholson - For keeping us sane with the witty humor during those sleep-deprived 18 hour days!
Justin Ross
David Santana
Tracey Windeknecht
and lastly thanks to every player whose dedication and support of Paizo make PFS possible.
See you all next year. Here's to a bigger and better PFS at Origins in 2013!
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1. Origins 2011 Convention Dates: Apparently the con dates right after the holiday weekend/OSU finals week decreased con participation. Although GAMA is saying attendance was up by 5% from last year I'm not sure if that's accurate. More than half of all RPG tables were empty. Even vendors complained that turn-out was low.
Yeah, I'm highly skeptical that overall Origins attendance was up vs. 2011. I absolutely expect GAMA to put the best spin possible on attendance, but after all the complaints over the new date (also including the fact that many elementary and high schools have yet to end for the year), I saw nothing at the con to convince me that attendance *wasn't* down.
I spent most of my con up in the WotC / LFR area, and their turnout was way down, too (they had a grand total of 18 tables for the LFR battle interactive on Saturday, and I'm pretty sure they had close to twice that last year). My quick trips through the dealer hall also suggested to me that things were not nearly as crowded as in the past.
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Ditto what Mike said. Had a great time, thanks Organizers, GMs, and of course the players. (See my other post as well in McNerney's thread).
I'm not sure about prior attendence, but attendence looked really sparse on Thursday and Friday, especially in the dealer hall. It was awesome for me though, I got to demo several games quickly.
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June. You is teh awesome.
Thanks for letting me run some modules for you when I got bored with nothing left to do. (Had got my Catan stuff in)Pleasure to meet you, hope to game with you again
-Skip
Congrats June!
Can't wait to have you back in NYC!
I think overall attendance at Origins was down last year due to several problems Gama was having internally and with their registration system.
Nathan
NYC Player/GM
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That's a good point...not having event registration available until 3 weeks before the con may have discouraged some from attending.
I think overall attendance at Origins was down last year due to several problems Gama was having internally and with their registration system.
Yes Mike, that was a major reason I did not go last year...after going 4 or 5 years in a row straight. And having a great time those previous years.
Nate
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At a certain level the judges did receive vouchers, as I put all mine toward food at the con. At eight tables I know I received sixty dollars in vouchers.
I did hear some grumbling that attendance was down this year, likely due to the time shift, meaning that parents still had kids in school (Although locally that shouldn't have been a problem, I mean, we had like maybe one school day this year). Although I'd place some of the blame on the economics of it all.
However: It was a blast. Going to do it next year. Thanks to everyone who got this going and kept it on track through the con.
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Hey guys thanks for all the Kudos! Sorry for the late reply, I was away taking care of a family emergency and just got back to the states.
I just want to say that this was a TEAM effort and no one individual was responsible for Origins' success. It was many people working together to ensure we had the best con possible.
While I'm catching up with the boards I'll respond to a couple of things:
@Tracy - I have the last 7 sessions that occured on the last sunday slot, I will turn them in to Art to report.
@Mike Lidner - Same as Tracy above.
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Looks like there's about 34 sessions missing from reporting (assuming 120 tables) including the one table I ran :P
I know Art was having trouble reporting them during Origins.
Art, who has the missing log sheets, has been sick since Origins and had not been able to post them. I spoke to him today and he will input them as soon as he is able. Anything you need or just to inquire, email me off list at vtlrokktor@yahoo.com