TOPIC: 1C Combo Tokens- Feedback?

We've seen some numbers on the higher level cauldron combo tokens, but I haven't heard much about the Jar, Dagger or Spear. About one-third of our group created the Jar (and immediately used one charge), while the other party members (mostly first-timers) traded for red items.<br /><br />So, overall, were the 1C Combos viewed as a success?  Any idea on how many of these created, or which ones were more popular?

In my 16 hours in the B side training room, the Dagger was most popular, followed closely by the spear. The Jar of Courage came in third place by quite a bit. I believe we started each day with two full stacks of each one (about 15-20 in a stack). By the end of the day, there were usually just a couple daggers, half a stack of spears, and one stack of jars left.<br /><br />Interest was most definitely from the experienced players, and not so much from the new folks. (most of whom didn't know about them). People who wanted combos almost always walked into the room with the components already sorted out, walked up to the table as soon as I would let them, and said "I want X" and plopped the stuff down. A few groups came together to get a combo for a party-mate, usually the spear or dagger to better equip their rogue or druid, but most of the time the groups that didn't already know about them wanted +1 weapons, red armor, or healing.

<br />In my 16 hours in the B side training room, the Dagger was most popular, followed closely by the spear. The Jar of Courage came in third place by quite a bit. I believe we started each day with two full stacks of each one (about 15-20 in a stack). By the end of the day, there were usually just a couple daggers, half a stack of spears, and one stack of jars left.<br /><br />Interest was most definitely from the experienced players, and not so much from the new folks. (most of whom didn't know about them). People who wanted combos almost always walked into the room with the components already sorted out, walked up to the table as soon as I would let them, and said "I want X" and plopped the stuff down. A few groups came together to get a combo for a party-mate, usually the spear or dagger to better equip their rogue or druid, but most of the time the groups that didn't already know about them wanted +1 weapons, red armor, or healing.<br />

<br /><br /><br />I know that each player could make one trade in the training room, but did creating a 1C combo item count as your one trade or was it in addition? In the official combo tokens thread, it stated that: "Three “One Cauldron” tokens (1C) which will be fairly easy to craft and available to all players to "combo" at the beginning of their adventure during the training cycle. Each player in the party may trade for 1 of the three available 1C tokens per TD run."<br /><br />So did this mean that each player could:<br /><br />A.) Make EITHER one standard trade (3 commons for a very rare, or 2 commons for a rare) OR create one 1C token<br /><br />B.) Make up to one standard trade AND also create up to one 1C token<br /><br />C.) Something else<br /><br /><br />Most of the players (including me) were new and didn't know about the Combo tokens until after our runs. So I didn't know what the rules were in the training room. Thanks.

It is A.<br />Basically it was one transaction per player with the NPC/DM in the training room. So you could do 1 combo or you could trade for one token that they had in supply.<br /><br />Would you like the 'recipes' for the common combos?

I do not have exact numbers, but I think they went over well enough to keep and add to, however we will move trading out of the training area and place it somewhere else in the taven.<br /><br />Dave

<br />I do not have exact numbers, but I think they went over well enough to keep and add to, however we will move trading out of the training area and place it somewhere else in the taven.<br /><br />Dave<br />

<br /><br /><br />I like the idea of moving the trading to the tavern (from the training area) perhaps for next year or even this year's upcoming SoCal.<br /><br />However, I do like this year's trading system (3 commons for a red) far more than the previous year's system where reds became prohibitively expensive for new players (supposedly). Even if trading were moved to the tavern, perhaps you could still preserve the current system by limiting it to one per player (e.g. you get the back of your ticket stamped when you use your "one" discounted transaction). If people want to do additional trading, they could, but at market prices.<br /><br />It would also be nice if creating 1C items didn't take the place of your normal trade (b/c creating 2C and 3C items don't for example).

I'm very much in favor of moving trading outside the training room. It sucked up so much time new players should have been using for other things. Even limited to one per person, many groups didn't do all the trades they would have liked.<br /><br />That said, I'm still in favor of keeping the 1 per player trade limit, at least if we're giving them deals as good as the training room. Those red +8 heals would last approximately 10 seconds if there was open season on them on Wednesday night. With my modest collection, I'm pretty sure I have enough commons to trade for every single red the training room had at the start of the day at a 3:1 ratio.<br /><br />Of course, a seperate trader takes manpower, which goodness knows had in short supply this year. Has TD ever utilized "Generic" Gen Con volunteers? I'm not sure if they are available by request to assist with an event, but if so, it might be possible to have some of them assisting with the positions that take less specific knowledge of TD, such as bag check, doorman, or player wrangler, therefore allowing the TD-specific volunteers to focus on tasks that require their more intimate knowledge of the program. Heck, we might even wow them enough that they become TD volunteers specifically in the future Pipe dream?

Lesimony and dbradical are both GenCon volunteers from 2003 and look where they are now.  I wouldn't call either of them generic - though I know you meant no offence.  In my oppinion they are the best of the best.

<br />Lesimony and dbradical are both GenCon volunteers from 2003<br />

<br /><br />Really?<br />Woah.<br />I would have sworn  that both of them had been in this from the early Jeff-Con days, with how much they do, and how well they seem to know the TD set up. Dave, especially, I could envison in there with Jeff, Warren, Tom, Duggan, etc. figuring out how to build a better Dungeon, before TD even existed. <br />And the way Heidi runs a tavern... you'd think she was born in one! (er, maybe not )<br /><br />Thanks, both of you guys, for doing what you do for True Dungeon!!!<br /><br />(EDITS for typos.)<br />

Indeed, thanks to both!<br /><br />Aye, I couldn't think of a better word than generic, hence it being in quote marks. Definitely no offense met, and I too am amazed at how incredible they both are. The suggestion sremains though, poor choice of words non-withstanding.

Yes, Heidi and I were both conscripted volunteers from Gen Con when it first came to Indy in 2003.  So we both can blame our involvement on Gen Con (and Warren Carson, I think)  Coincidentally we both were parked outside of the event taking tickets, scheduling times, and listening to complaints about the registration system.  <br /><br />Just look how far we've come..... =D