PaizoCon UK 2013

[theshoveller]

Paz wrote:

A great weekend of gaming! This was my third PaizoCon UK; the first one was great and each year is an improvement on the last.

I concur.

[Dazylar]

Snorter wrote:

As long as you're a better passenger and navigator than Gaz and Martin.

Swinging onto B'ham Queensway, "You needed to be in the right hand lane, to turn off 100 yards back..."
"GNNNNNNN!"

Turns out I'm worse:

"Oh yeah, I can get you there..."

10 minutes later.

"I have no clue where we are."

lol

[terry_t_uk]

Just to add my tuppence worth.

Great organisation, great GM's, great players.
Even havingmy character killed didnn't dampen the experience.
Lots of new friends, lots of old friends
Can't wait for the next one :-)

[Wintergreen]

Thanks everybody. Truly awesome to see you all and despite my efforts I'm sorry I couldn't meet every single one of you.

Siege of Diamond City was a fantastic special event - particularly enjoyed seeing the Venture Captain and Seeker characters aiding other groups!

[Rob Silk]

You were brilliant one and all! This year it was our goal to make it a truly international event. It was so good to get so many lovely people from Denmark, France, Germany, Slovakia, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and America. Please come again and bring all your friends.

We were so grateful to our GMs. This year we had such support that we could spread the load and let (almost) all our GMs get a chance to play, as well as referee. Please keep volunteering. You were awesome.

In early October we meet to plot and plan next year's event. Please make sure you let us know of anything that you would like to change -- anything that you would like more of -- anything that you would like to have less of -- anything that wasn't clear. We will prepare an online survey so you can give us feedback but we are open to any comments in any form.

[John Stout]

Only one comment - let's get even more players there! :D

[Findas]

Pretty much what everyone else has said already - it was simply a great weekend of gaming!

Thanks to Dave and Rob and Pete and Tonya and everyone else who organised a brilliant convention.

Thanks to all the GMs and players who gave life to the weekend.

Thanks to Paizo for their support.

And as for Rivalry's End:

Thanks to Grandmaster Torch for nothing, you b******
(my character is shattered, but nicely done Paizo, it's one I won't soon forget)

[DigitalMage]

I had a really good time at PaizoCon UK, especially after not attending last year (it clashed with Continnuum).

Thanks to those who GMed for me and the players who played alongside my characters (Jarn Moonson, Human Fighter on Saturday morning, and Grelow Harnson, Half-Orc Druid on Sunday).

Also thanks to those who played Halls of Dwarven Lore with me GMing - apologies for the overrun, it didn't help having the fire alarms going off and having to evacuate. If any of you are on here and have any tips or feedback please feel free to PM me.

Thanks to the organisers for doing such a great job and making everything run smoothly, Rob Silk even returned my name badge (plus blu-tack!) after the paper fell out of the holder :)

Thanks to Paizo and Mike Brock for the goblin mini and presumably for the free novel.

the only slight downside was me only realising after we started that Rivalry's End was the Shadowlodge finale scenario and I ideally should have played it with my Shadowlodge character and not my Andoran character! Doh! It was too late to change then, as my Shadowlodge character was only level 3 and we were playing subtier 6 to 7.

As for suggestions for next year...

Please try to avoid clashing with Continuum again - as Continuum is only every other year, I will likely choose that over PaizoCon UK.

Is there any possibility of extending the con to a third day, perhaps starting on Friday (even if only for the afternoon and evening slot)? I know some people arranged to game on Friday, it would be great if this was not something people had to arrange privately.

[Wintergreen]

Thanks for the feedback everybody. Please keep it coming, both here and via the PaizoCon UK website.

The suggestion of extending it to a three day con seems a popular one. At the moment, cost of the venue is the main factor we have to consider. The ticket price is calculated to try and cover that cost, but it doesn't always work out as enough. If we increased the price to make it three days would people still be interested?

[Paz]

David Harrison wrote:

The suggestion of extending it to a three day con seems a popular one.

I think the Friday night balti is a really important part of the event. Would you do that on the Thursday instead, or have games on Friday afternoon (and maybe Friday morning too) and the balti after that slot?

Arriving before Friday evening would be difficult for me; while I'd have no problem with the event being extended to allow for more gaming for others, I'd be annoyed if it meant I missed the meal altogether.

David Harrison wrote:

At the moment, cost of the venue is the main factor we have to consider. The ticket price is calculated to try and cover that cost, but it doesn't always work out as enough. If we increased the price to make it three days would people still be interested?

Price-wise, I assume a Sat/Sun ticket would be cheaper than a Fri/Sat/Sun one?

[Wintergreen]

I agree that the meal is an important part of the event.
While we try and keep the price down, offering GM discounts, etc the venue hire cost is the major factor and what I pay for the room hire doesn't get discounted or varied by numbers of people. So if we wanted to have gaming on the Friday we would need to hire a room big enough for those attending on the Friday and cover that cost with the increased ticket cost. Much as I would love to, I can't continue to subsidise PaizoCon UK out of my own pocket ;)

[Paz]

David Harrison wrote:

While we try and keep the price down, offering GM discounts, etc the venue hire cost is the major factor and what I pay for the room hire doesn't get discounted or varied by numbers of people. So if we wanted to have gaming on the Friday we would need to hire a room big enough for those attending on the Friday and cover that cost with the increased ticket cost.

I understand that the venue cost is fixed. I just wanted to check if people were expecting the event to cost a flat fee, or if there would be a 'day rate' (like there has been the last few years, with a Saturday-only ticket costing approx. half of a full weekend ticket), even if weekend-only people end up subsidising three-day attendees due to the numbers involved.

Quote:

Much as I would love to, I can't continue to subsidise PaizoCon UK out of my own pocket ;)

And I certainly wouldn't expect you to. When it comes down to it, for me at least, the entry fee is smaller than the hotel cost and comparable to the fuel cost. I imagine most people would be willing to pay a little bit more to make sure Europe's premier Pathfinder Society event at least breaks even.

I just want to make sure that people who are asking for more slots/days are aware of the implications.

[Wintergreen]

Cheers Paz.
Yes this is very much a quick brainstorm but it does help to be clear about the implications for the suggestions.

Planning for expansion is difficult. The more people we have in the same number of rooms helps to get closer to covering the cost but makes the experience less pleasant and so people are less willing to pay more. Having an additional room or a room for an additional day is a considerable price increase.

Then any increase in numbers or game slots requires additional GMs and additional scenarios, some may have to pay for another night's accommodation, there needs to be sufficient scenarios.

My first concern is wondering if enough people would be interested in an additional day to make it viable.

[Snorter]

Snorter wrote:

As long as you're a better passenger and navigator than Gaz and Martin.

Swinging onto B'ham Queensway, "You needed to be in the right hand lane, to turn off 100 yards back..."
"GNNNNNNN!"

Dazylar wrote:

Turns out I'm worse:

"Oh yeah, I can get you there..."

10 minutes later.

"I have no clue where we are."

lol

"I know where we are.

We're in that place I always end up, whenever I follow the hotel's map, that I swore I wasn't going to do this year."

I got to lob a bomb at your head, so we're even.

[Dimitris Stavropoulos]

I want to thank all co-players, GMs (especially the one tolerant to the madness that was our special) and the organlisers for providing a truly memorable con. We had taken a break for a couple of years and it was a great one to return to, as it has only filled us with desire for the next con that we can attend and further play our characters. Keep up the good work Paizocon UK!

[Paz]

Snorter wrote:

"I know where we are.

We're in that place I always end up, whenever I follow the hotel's map, that I swore I wasn't going to do this year."

Exactly where you want to be, except the other side of the central reservation/security barrier/bollards?

[terry_t_uk]

An extra day hanging with your crazies - count me in

[John Stout]

I would certainly be more than willing to fork out extra to attend a proper three day event, and would be willing to don my GM hat to help out.

[Natty Grastik]

2nd year at PaizoConUK, last year being my first ever con. This time I really did enjoy it a whole lot more, meeting new players, old friends, having a go at being a GM and playing some great games, with some very good players and excellent GMs. It's a top Con and I plan to be there next year, I'd book my tickets now if I could.

DigitalMage wrote:

Thanks to those who GMed for me and the players who played alongside my characters (Jarn Moonson, Human Fighter on Saturday morning, and Grelow Harnson, Half-Orc Druid on Sunday).

I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed Grenlow Harnson in our group of mainly finely dressed, clean and tidy Pathfinders. Actually it was probably my favorite game of the weekend, but don't tell anyone. Hope we get the chance again next year.

John Stout wrote:

I would certainly be more than willing to fork out extra to attend a proper three day event, and would be willing to don my GM hat to help out.

Can't wait to see what sort of hat it will be, my money's on a Tam....

Really good to meet you at last, having pbp'd for a couple of year. hoping the 3 Nevis Lodgers will end up on the same table some day.

I'm with you on the 3 days too, a couple of extra games in the morning and afternoon followed by the curry night sounds really good. Doing that might also allow more people to attend painting workshops or How to be a better GM workshop and still get the games in.

David Harrison wrote:

Much as I would love to, I can't continue to subsidise PaizoCon UK out of my own pocket ;)

Hoping I'll have the money, but I wouldn't mind paying a bit more, I certainly don't want to have you put your hand in your pocket Dave. You do loads for the Con anyway without that. So a small price increase to make sure we pay for the venue gets my vote.

The only other thing off the top of my head, would be if ever there was a profit, then the money goes either to the next con or to charity.

[Andy Brown]

DigitalMage wrote:

the only slight downside was me only realising after we started that Rivalry's End was the Shadowlodge finale scenario and I ideally should have played it with my Shadowlodge character and not my Andoran character! Doh! It was too late to change then, as my Shadowlodge character was only level 3 and we were playing subtier 6 to 7.

Might have ended up playing down if you'd used that one, though that might have meant missing out on me trying to

Spoiler:

use Disable Device on a Clockwork Soldier

[Wintergreen]

Natty Grastik wrote:

The only other thing off the top of my head, would be if ever there was a profit, then the money goes either to the next con or to charity.

That's always been the plan from the start and is what I said to Paizo when I first proposed the con.

[Rob Silk]

Thank you all for your comments. They are very valuable to us. We always run an online survey to collect feedback from you good people ready for our meeting in early October, at OddCon, when we plan the next year's PaizoCon and other events. Please give us your feedback on our 10 question online survey. There's plenty of space for extra comments.

[Salkhar]

As much as I'd like a third day, it's not really practical on my minion/slave salary. If we go down that route, I hope the extra day will be optional.

Anyways, great job to all my GMs. It was a fun weekend all around.

The hall did get a bit loud though... :s

[Wintergreen]

Yes, if we went for a third day it would be completely optional. We continue to do one and two day tickets.

[Auke Teeninga]

Friday morning/afternoon at the Gosta Green was a big succes. If Paizocon Friday isn't on a graduation day maybe they can host multiple tables for heavily addicted gamers! ;-)

[Wintergreen]

PaizoCon Friday :D

[Auke Teeninga]

David Harrison wrote:

PaizoCon Friday :D

Yeah, the term "Good Friday" was already taken... :-(

[Wintergreen]

Genius!

(And just to warn you Auke, Pete Pollard and I have worked out your secret!)

[Charles Evans 25]

Just to point out a practical problem with extending to three full days, it may rule out attendance by families with children. Some schools didn't finish until the Friday PaizoCon UK had its balti night this year, and other schools were still going several days after PaizoCon UK finished. To run a three day schedule it may be necessary to move the weekend or accept that not everyone who would like to attend will be able to do so for the entirety.

[Valiant]

I had a great time!
My only suggestion is to make PaizoConUK 365 days a year. I met great people and was honored to be a GM on sunday on such a great event! Love you all.

[Nidome]

The more days the merrier!
The only reason I didn't volunteer to GM anything this year was because I was expecting to have to be at work that weekend and only a last minute postponement of the project enabled me to go.

[Paz]

David Harrison wrote:

Thanks for the feedback everybody. Please keep it coming, both here and via the PaizoCon UK website.

As a sequel of sorts to my post from last year, I wanted to give my highlights and lowlights from the event. I want to preface this by saying that the highlights massively outweighed the lowlights, and the event was hugely successful; I just wanted to give some (hopefully) constructive feedback where I could to make PaizoCon UK 2014 even better!

The highlights:

- All the games I played in were great!

- Sign-up and mustering. A huge improvement on last year. The biggest difference was on the special, where the room went from 'empty' to 'all players seated' in a matter of a minute or two.

- The support and organisation around the Special. The projector screens, and the GM crib sheets with tear-off strips (who did these?), along with Al Rigg's GM help document, made this flow extremely smoothly for such a complex event.

- The special guests, such as Mike Brock, Richard Pett (I finally got my copy of WBG signed!), all the artists etc. really make this feel like a special occasion.

- It was also nice to be able to take away little bits and pieces like the wooden tokens and goblin minis.

- More durable kazoos!

The (minor) lowlights:

- The fire alarms! Not your fault, clearly, but the last thing I needed after a hot drive down on Friday was to be stood at the muster point while everyone else was having a cold drink at the pub!

- There was still some confusion around the boons and prizes; different slots/GMs seemed to be doing things differently:
1st slot (GMing): I got given a 'boon ticket' to award to a player; I gave it to the most entertaining player (as judged by me)
2nd slot (playing): All players (and GM) got a ticket asking them to name 'most entertaining player' and fill in the GM name, then give a rating. It wasn't clear what was being rated (the player? the GM? the game as a whole?); I assumed the whole game experience.
3rd slot (special, GMing): Same as slot above
4th slot (playing): Players rolled off for 'boon ticket'
5th slot (playing): Nothing in place
I must admit that I didn't see the note about this topic on the sheet that came with our badges until too late. Also, it wasn't clear what boons GMs were entitled to, but I asked about it and got one in the end.

- The tables in the upstairs room were huge; people at the far end had trouble hearing the GM. We ended up moving one of the four table sections out of the way to make the table smaller.

- GMing at a small table for the special was tough, but we coped with it, and none of the players complained. All things considered, it was preferable to being split into different rooms.

- Players signing up as a certain level PC, then turning up with a higher level PC because they'd levelled up in the meantime. It might verge on stating the obvious, but do people need to be told to put down the likely level of the PC when the game is played, rather than when they sign up?

- As a GM for the special, I wanted to get going with role-playing the first scene as soon as players started sitting down. But people came in and started getting out character sheets and dice, digging out minis, chatting about spell selection, etc. for a few minutes. Maybe players could be told to use the time waiting outside the room to make sure they're 'ready to go' as soon as they sit down?

I'll say it again: the few items above did not detract from a great gaming experience, and I look forward to coming along next year!

[Rob Silk]

We have entered all the reports for all the games but there were quite a lot of reports with missing details, names and factions that didn't agree with the database etc.
Please check your entry is correct on the Paizi database and then check your session reports. It's much easier to put them right now than in six months time. Thanks to all the GMs who checked and handed in their reporting sheets. I think we have a complete record for the event!

[Salkhar]

All my character's games seem to recorded fine. I usually find one or two missing each con I go to (probably my fault as my handwriting is dire).

Out of interest, who do we thank for the free Book?

[Wintergreen]

Salkhar wrote:

All my character's games seem to recorded fine. I usually find one or two missing each con I go to (probably my fault as my handwriting is dire).

Out of interest, who do we thank for the free Book?

Paizo Convention Support.

[Funky Badger]

Rob Silk wrote:

We have entered all the reports for all the games but there were quite a lot of reports with missing details, names and factions that didn't agree with the database etc.

Please check your entry is correct on the Paizi database and then check your session reports. It's much easier to put them right now than in six months time. Thanks to all the GMs who checked and handed in their reporting sheets. I think we have a complete record for the event!

Issues reported to you, or via the Paizo system?

[Wintergreen]

Funky Badger wrote:

Rob Silk wrote:

We have entered all the reports for all the games but there were quite a lot of reports with missing details, names and factions that didn't agree with the database etc.

Please check your entry is correct on the Paizi database and then check your session reports. It's much easier to put them right now than in six months time. Thanks to all the GMs who checked and handed in their reporting sheets. I think we have a complete record for the event!

Issues reported to you, or via the Paizo system?

Paizo will just pass them on to us, so it is quicker to report directly to us.

[Funky Badger]

David Harrison wrote:

Funky Badger wrote:

Rob Silk wrote:

We have entered all the reports for all the games but there were quite a lot of reports with missing details, names and factions that didn't agree with the database etc.

Please check your entry is correct on the Paizi database and then check your session reports. It's much easier to put them right now than in six months time. Thanks to all the GMs who checked and handed in their reporting sheets. I think we have a complete record for the event!

Issues reported to you, or via the Paizo system?

Paizo will just pass them on to us, so it is quicker to report directly to us.

Sorted - I'll email over to Rob...