Some observations based off a dataset this morning, the day after initial signups:
- There is an obvious issue with competition between core and norm slots being in direct competition and having equal representation.
- Any "Core" game that isn't 1-5 or 1-2 is very, very underpopulated, to the point where the game seems very unlikely will not occur.
Dataset:
spreadsheet
Some numbers from the above dataset:
All games
Core games are at 20% capacity.
Norm games are at 83% capacity.
Levels 1-2 and 1-5
Core games are at 41% capacity.
Norm games are at 92% capacity.
Levels 3-7, 5-9, 7-11
Core games are at 5% capacity.
Norm games are at 78% capacity.
Please consider revising the PFS schedule.
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Personal anecdotes of limited utility:
- I am coming from out of state, intending to game at PaizoCon with friends. I found that I will not play with them in any of the normal PFS slots (other then the Specials) due to the limited availability of normal slots. I attribute this in fact that I made the egregious mistake of waiting until Friday evening to sign up.
- My intended roommate (not one of said friends, but a Seattle local) has not been able to find available games, and has decided to abandon Friday and Monday due to limited game availability. I might pursue the same option, were not the added difficulties associated with being out of state.
- I am considering abandoning all my games (barring PFS specials) to run Eyes of the Ten in all slots for a number of other players (about 6 ) who wish to game but cannot find adequate slots to fill their schedule. I did very poorly in the lottery, so I have no "desirable" games to prevent me from this course of action.
Thanks for doing this analysis, Tangaroa. When it was originally proposed to do all scenarios in Norm and Core versions, I wondered where all the higher-tier core characters would come from, and this data set definitely suggests they're not coming at all.
I added a couple of calcs to your sheet (thanks for making it editable!) for the higher-level games and got even starker results:
Levels 5-9, 7-11
Core games are at 2% capacity.
Norm games are at 74% capacity.
Levels 7-11
Core games are at 3% capacity.
Norm games are at 85% capacity.
Setting the percentages aside and just looking at absolute numbers, this represents a total of 4 people signed up for 27 tables at the 5-9 and 7-11 tiers combined! The Open Registration window has been open for less than 24 hours so this may change, but we have a pretty sizable sample at this point, so it's unlikely to change radically.
This suggests to me that there are at least a dozen tables (and probably far more) of Core scenarios that could be switched to Norm without negatively impacting anyone. So, echoing Tangaroa's comments:
Please consider revising the PFS schedule to allow for more Norm play.
As someone intending to play primarily CORE at PaizoCon, I agree with the above analysis... I'd suggest giving until May 7 (halfway through registration), then making the call for the upper tier tables.
I didn't start playing core right away when it was available, but I still plan to play a 3-7 or two. There are others more dedicated who probably will have at least 5-9 capable characters. I doubt any/many who can only play 7-11 though.
Giving this a wee bump, in the hopes that the Paizo scheduleers will take a look and perhaps give an answer.
I just looked at the PFS schedules, and it does seem there are now more Norm games than Core ones. Did that get changed? If so, did the change get announced?
Global Organized Play Coordinator
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I haven't changed anything in regard to the schedule. If we don't have any players for those core 7-11 games, we can always seat players who want to play it in normal mode on sight. It doesn't change the way the GM runs the game so it shouldn't be a problem.
It sounds like the course of action suggested is:
a) if there is a high level slot of a game you desire in NORM but is only open in CORE leave that slot open
b) at the con, approach the PFS coordinating table and sign up on the spot for said game.
If this is what is being suggested, I believe it will be a confusion generating experience at the convention and will cause unnecessary delays.
It is also going to encourage people to sign up and jump ship if a more desirable slot becomes available in a CORE version of a game.
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Global Organized Play Coordinator
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It sounds like the course of action suggested is:
a) if there is a high level slot of a game you desire in NORM but is only open in CORE leave that slot open
b) at the con, approach the PFS coordinating table and sign up on the spot for said game.
If this is what is being suggested, I believe it will be a confusion generating experience at the convention and will cause unnecessary delays.
It is also going to encourage people to sign up and jump ship if a more desirable slot becomes available in a CORE version of a game.
I appreciate the feedback. However, we want to offer people the same chance to play Core as they have normal games. I have an exceptional HQ staff and there won't be confusion or unnecessary delays caused by filling tables that don't make under sign ups. If people want to jump ship, it will happen anyways. It has happened the last three years. We handle the situations when they come up. Last year, we averaged marshaling the entire room in 7-9 minutes for each slot, which also included walk ups and people not originally scheduled to play.
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Global Organized Play Coordinator
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I'd prefer to play NORM but all the slots are full. What is the likelihood of walk-up success at getting into a NORM game? Will you be putting together additional tables for Walk ups?
Right now I"m signing up for CORE games where I can but would drop those for others to get into if walk-up is likely.
We will sit walk ups until all tables and/or GMs are utilized.
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Looking at the current core games, it looks like maybe 2 5-9 tables and no 7-11 tables are going to happen, but signups arent done yet, so I wait hopeful. I'd love to play in more of the new ones, since by the time I could sign up, all the games i can play for credit except Tapestry's Toil were filled for standard campaign.