TOPIC: End of an Era? (For me, at least)

I saw in the most recent newsletter that TD's offering for GameHoleCon includes:

Escape the Crypt: a 4 room adventure marketed as "EXCLUSIVE-to-GHC" and "Standard XP (with a 4-room limit) is available to all players. Non-Lethal, Normal or Hardcore difficulty settings."

Unless I'm mistaken, this is the first time that TD has offered an exclusive adventure worth XP to a non-GenCon event. Prior to this point, if GenCon was the only in-person Con you attended, you could still get all the XP for that year (assuming you did VTD as well, and played all the events on Hardcore or higher, and didn't die before the final room)

I recognize that this is very minor in the grand scheme of things, but I am sad that after 20+ years of arranging my vacations around TD's convention appearances, I'm finally going to have my streak broken by an event I cannot attend*, as it was announced after my vacation plans were already set.

(insert very small violin playing here )

Ah, well. It's been a very good run. Both Arcbat & I have made it to the final room on every TD adventure since its very first day in 2003, and have had the "Max XP Possible" for over 20 years. I wish him all the best in continuing his streak for as long as he can. (Tho I see he's a bit behind in entering his XP codes, just as I have been from time to time.)

Thank you to everyone who has adventured with me over the years, and helped me stay at the top for so long!


*Okay, I guess I could attend it if I prioritized TD over my career, and had a spare $1k to spend on very short notice. But I am not that much of an XP whore. Almost, but not quite

Maybe they will add the adventure to Gencon or perhaps Origins next year. Just tweak it and call it something else. I sure hope so also.

It is always a great time to see you and your help has been invaluable throughout the years.

Larry

Raven, I understand how you feel. It really is an end of an era, after doing every single XP adventure (including True Heroes) for more than two decades. You had an amazing run, something to be proud of.

It's like Cal Ripken's Ironman streak. Probably going to feel really weird on that "day off", but not sure that this 20-year record is going to be broken!

I have an idea - what about you virtually doing a run?

By virtually, TD gives you an exception to appear remotely (and does the same for any of the people who haven't missed any runs) and we have you appear via ipad. You participate in puzzle solving and your rogue just flanks for combats.

Fred

Raven - like Fred suggested, if you're open to appearing virtually, I'd be happy to pick up tickets to the 4-room dungeon and bring you along... like a tablet on a stick or something? lol

For real, though, that's a heck of a streak and I hope we can keep it up for you!

Personally, I wish XP was available at all the conventions. Players are paying a lot for tickets nowadays, doesn't seem fair they can only get XP at Gen Con. Some people might only be able to make Con's near them. If you are a paying player you should get XP regardless of where the Con is.

EDIT: Oops, someone pointed out u do get XP at other Cons. Shows ya how many Cons I go to outside of Gen Con.

Dungeons are too good to only use once. I hope they bring it to another convention in 2026.

Sad to hear. You'll always be max'd in my heart.

It seems to be inline with the greater good decisions the game has made over the last decade.

Larry Anthony wrote: Maybe they will add the adventure to Gencon or perhaps Origins next year. Just tweak it and call it something else. I sure hope so also.

It is always a great time to see you and your help has been invaluable throughout the years.

Larry

My expectation, when I see an adventure marked "Exclusive to [Insert Con]" is that it won't be tweaked & duplicated elsewhere, so I hope that won't be the case.

Even if it means that I (or other XP collectors) won't get our XP, I'd rather not see TD go back on an announcement like that.

Personally, I prefer it when the "Newbie friendly" adventures (ya know, the cheaper dungeons / 4-room starter dungeons / sealed pack runs) only give XP to newer players (like, people with <5000 XP or something) as it deters experienced adventurers from buying up all the tickets, leaving more adventures for new players. But in the case of GHC, where the events aren't selling out completely - at least not *yet* - I totally understand the choice not to do that. Plus, I expect it's a bit of a pain to code... tho I may be wrong there.

All said, I understand the decisions.. I just wish I'd known sooner.
And/or that I owned a teleporter.

Fred K wrote: I have an idea - what about you virtually doing a run?

By virtually, TD gives you an exception to appear remotely (and does the same for any of the people who haven't missed any runs) and we have you appear via ipad. You participate in puzzle solving and your rogue just flanks for combats.

Fred

While I understand TD has made exceptions like that in the past, I wouldn't want to see it become common practice. That's TD's call, though ; )

Oh, and I couldn't Flank! Sealed Pack run means no level boosters, so no L5 Rogue Powers.

I do really like the concept of allowing 1 UR TE though!
I think that's a great way to reward the folks who have purchased a TE at the PYP level, and want to get some return on their investment, without turning this into a treasure-generating adventure for the Avarice crowd. (I also realized: with a bit of planning you could put together a run where everyone brings a CoGF, and max your treasure at 7-8 chips : )

Honestly, I'd love to see this format again in the future, for new-player-friendly quests!

Horn of Plenty actually gives +6 treasure. Alas, I don't have one, only Charm of Avarice. (It would be nice if that counted as +6 instead.)