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Has Paizo ever considered a special boon to recognize those that organize society play at conventions? I am doing that for the first time and am really understanding the work this entails. I really wish I would have looked to have a couple people help out instead of doing it all myself. Just dealing with the convention owner was a job in itself.
What I would like to propose is a boon that's progressive and you achieve more benefits as you organize more conventions. I would like to see it be retroactive as well, say 5 years or something, Paizo can decide that one. I know many organizers that have done a ton of work and are also VOs on top of organizing a convention.
What do others think? I really want to hear from convention organizers, but all input is welcome.
Venture-Agent, Minnesota
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Hey Troy —
I do appreciate how much work goes into organizing Conventions. I organize online ones and help out at local and regional ones.
However, I don’t think there should be a special boon for those who are the main organizers of conventions. Conventions should not be solo efforts — there should be many hands throughout the process. A first time convention often starts on one person’s vision. But soon if all goes well, others step up. You can have GMs, HQ and other volunteers.
I want the work to get spread around so that everyone participates, and I think that this boon would discourage that.
Hmm
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I just organized my first moderately large con (I have no clue how large it was in relation to other cons. 8 sessions across 4 days seems moderately large to me :-)). You're right, it was a considerable amount of work.
Hilary is probably right and I probably did too much of the work myself and should have delegated more. Although, even in hindsight, it isn't really clear what I should have delegated and what I should have done myself (knowing what and how to delegate is generally a problem when you're doing something the first time :-)).
My biggest issue with your suggestion is that I have no clue what the special boon (if any) would be. Most Con organizers are VCs or VLs so free swag wouldn't be of much use to them. As an experienced GM I already have more GM boons than I know what to do with. Lots of people seemed quite sincerely grateful for the work I put in so I definitely feel that my work was appreciated (that isn't meant to be facetious, btw. Knowing that your work is appreciated is QUITE valuable). I'm not sure what else could reasonably be done.
Do you have any thoughts as to what kind of boon you're thinking of?
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The Convention is in its 6th year and I have scheduled 37 event slots comprising of 44 tables, due to 2 specials, across 3 days of gaming. I know for me things were a bit harder due to my job as well since I am away from home for 5 days each week working 12hr days, not much time to do much.
Even though the con has been established, Society play suffered last year due to an organizing issue and I have had to start from nothing as I was unable to get help from prior organizing VLs. I have to give a shout out to Alan Brock, the Bay City, Michigan VL for assisting me in acquiring GMs, most from his lodge, and suggestions for advertising the Society play at the con. I'll be putting together a list of GMs that I hope to pass down to future organizers, once I get the okay from said GMs to do just that.
I don't see why such a boon would discourage people from helping or delegating. Do non-GM volunteers get anything now? I know that there are people that would like to volunteer, but have no interest in GMing. I personally have no way of rewarding them outside of trying to get them a free badge from the convention owner. From what I see, most GMs/volunteers only want to perform the minimum to get the free badge or just enough to get a boon. Due to our situation last year I see a boon as a good way to retain organizers or to get someone to take over as an organizer if someone steps down. One of the main reasons I stepped up was due to the fact that I was just starting up a lodge locally and most of the interest came from people picking up the small flyers I made and had at the convention. This year my lodge will have more visibility due to my involvement and I have plans to increase that for next year.
As for what the boon consist of, I would leave that for Paizo others to suggest here.
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As for what the boon consist of, I would leave that for Paizo others to suggest here.
Here's the problem. I don't think any of us have a clue what boon you could offer that would be different than the GM boon without being "better" than the GM boon.
As usual it's a case of "what might be helpful in one area can be harmful in another." In an area that desperately needs someone to step up then if the Organizer boon is particularly desirable that may be an incentive. But in an area that can only support a couple of conventions a year, the VC and VL will probably organize them. Possibly causing resentment from someone who would like to organize (and get the boon) but doesn't have the opportunity.
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As usual it's a case of "what might be helpful in one area can be harmful in another." In an area that desperately needs someone to step up then if the Organizer boon is particularly desirable that may be an incentive. But in an area that can only support a couple of conventions a year, the VC and VL will probably organize them. Possibly causing resentment from someone who would like to organize (and get the boon) but doesn't have the opportunity.
This is a good point.
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What if we had a boon that was given not just to the organizer, but also to helpdesk staff, and where applicable, setup and cleanup crew, distinct from the quarter's GM boon?
I was considering this as well, but it would have to be something lesser than the GM boon. I think more people are willing to do that than GM and they would still get a free badge depending on how many hours they work.
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It could still create some resentment. HQ positions are very limited. Most cons don't even have any outside of the actual organizer or perhaps their significant other.
The idea of an organizer boon has been a topic almost as long as PFS, but we've never come up with a reward that would not over-shadow other boons, be incentive enough to actually have value for organizers, and not create complaints from people who cannot (or won't) attend conventions. Convention "envy" is one of the reasons the RSP program was created in an attempt to somewhat equalize boon access.
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Off Topic, somewhat related:
So, I just survived the 1st con where I organized the Society events and did I learn a ton.
Next year I will be pushing for at least one additional free badge from the convention owner for a person to help with HQ.
Don't try to GM events as well as being the coordinator, as your job is never done.
Announce the beginning and end of slots.
Start Sunday slot later in the day.
Checkout list for maps and scenarios, I store each in magazine bags with backer boards and I found a couple empty at clean up. I really hope it is just a couple scenarios. I will find out is weekend after I finish unpacking.
Some of these are surely common 1st time coordinator mistakes. I also need to make a nicely worded "GO AWAY, Can't you see I'm trying to work?!" sign. Had a couple people that would pull up a chair to the other side of the HQ table and just chatter along.
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My first event was a 20 session retail convention built around running SFS #1-99, for which I was the coordinating GM for.
I had help, from Kinkos runs to setup/cleanup help to getting the pizzas laid out for everyone for the end of #1-99. I also tried to GM a session after #1-99 and that was a huge mistake (never again).
I would suggest that, to cover the cases whereas the coordinator and/or HQ staff don't get to play/GM many sessions, that they don't roll 19/20 for convention boons but instead simply get to pick one. That also takes care of needing these people to roll for 19/20 in front of witnesses.
Speaking of that, I came up with a novel way to distribute those boons and eliminate some chaos the HQ table; print 11x17" scrolls with copies of all the convention boons on it, go to each table and have the players roll, and if they get a 19/20 they win a scroll. Winners can read over their options from the scroll, then redeem that scroll for the boon of their choice.
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My first event was a 20 session retail convention built around running SFS #1-99, for which I was the coordinating GM for.
I had help, from Kinkos runs to setup/cleanup help to getting the pizzas laid out for everyone for the end of #1-99. I also tried to GM a session after #1-99 and that was a huge mistake (never again).
I would suggest that, to cover the cases whereas the coordinator and/or HQ staff don't get to play/GM many sessions, that they don't roll 19/20 for convention boons but instead simply get to pick one. That also takes care of needing these people to roll for 19/20 in front of witnesses.
Speaking of that, I came up with a novel way to distribute those boons and eliminate some chaos the HQ table; print 11x17" scrolls with copies of all the convention boons on it, go to each table and have the players roll, and if they get a 19/20 they win a scroll. Winners can read over their options from the scroll, then redeem that scroll for the boon of their choice.
Being the Overseer GM was not bad, as it was easy to make announcements and tally completed objectives while doing other stuff.
I think the coordinators and volunteers should have a chance at a boon but till have to roll.
You second boon idea is cool too.