TOPIC: my experience... not good

Matt wrote: I kinda like the idea of a mystery shopper maybe 2x a day depending on DM shift changes? A email/website for immediate feedback on the experience cards would be nice. Setup a address that can be mobile accessed and watched during con to make it more relevant to fix issues as they come up.

+1 vote on the Mystery shopper idea, for a multiple of reasons.

It would be fairly cheap. $416 a day if you hit each dungeon 2 times.

In my professional life, I've learned (several times over) that nothing beats 'walking the floor'.

Shoppers could be given specific token sets, to verify the party card was filled out correctly, and the coaching rooms were running smooth.

They could verify that training rooms were efficient, and that new players were given the tools they needed to understand what was going on.

Not that *I* encountered any mouthy/frustrated/dead tired DM's .. but I've read here that people have. The idea that someone reporting directly to 'your boss' could be in your current room is a strong motivator to landing on the 'courteous' side of your decision tree. That will only benefit everyone.

It will also allow TD to correct problems immediately.
Puzzle tweaks, clarifications on what is/isn't allowed.
I'm betting the whole "lava boots/poison resistance - your tokens are useless" issue could have been addressed on Thursday, and the grumbling disillusionment from new players wondering why they burned their feet wearing lava-walking boots could have been avoided.

The best reason however, is that nothing beats perspective.
A 'shopper' can get a much better feel of how a room is *really* running, instead of how folks think it is running - and make recommendations quickly, instead of waiting until the next 25% of the Con is over.

In an event that is pushing over a hundred people along every 12 minutes .. being nimble is a HUGE advantage.

Kirk Bauer wrote:

Kaledor wrote:

MasterED wrote: So there is thread regarding resistance tokens and combat/puzzles. http://truedungeon.com/forum?func=view&catid=5&id=229503

You experience is clearly why there should be a feedback mechanism players can use to rate the DMs. This way Jeff can improve the quality of the volunteers for the rooms.

Ed

He has said the same thing I have been saying ... let other people play and drop th ghosting which is one of the issues.

But he seems to be talking about people doing 10+ actual runs, which doesn't sound like ghosting. Personally I can't see myself doing that many runs, even for the treasure, but some people do.

I posted a thread about community-organized newbie runs, I'm at least going to try that out next year. Perhaps I buy the whole run out and offer 9 slots to newbies.

Many people aren't on top of event registration enough to get TD tickets, or they don't know about it until they get to GenCon.

Jeff does not control who buys tickets.
Jeff does not have the ability to limit how many tickets players get for multiple runs.

The ONLY thing Jeff can do is lower the rewards for ghosting players which would penalize people who legitimately failed to fill a space and do not want new players due to negative experiences.

bpsymington wrote: Providing an opportunity for feedback again would probably be a good idea. Comment cards would be good, or perhaps the XP cards could give a link to a forum thread for feedback, or an email address for providing feedback.

I've been wondering if just having the DM write their name on the back of the party card as the group leaves might work.

Brad Mortensen wrote: everyone who is reading this can be a mystery shopper.
If you're on a run, take responsibility. Report exceptional behavior, good or bad.

Eldar wrote: if you have an issue say something as soon as possible if not for your own benefit then for the others that will be running after you.

Hear, hear!!!

Milambus (Jake) wrote:

bpsymington wrote: Providing an opportunity for feedback again would probably be a good idea. Comment cards would be good, or perhaps the XP cards could give a link to a forum thread for feedback, or an email address for providing feedback.

I've been wondering if just having the DM write their name on the back of the party card as the group leaves might work.

I'm always suspicious of solutions that involve Jeff giving us even more free stuff.

I don't think Jeff should have to give away thousands of dollars in free tickets and assorted rewards for a mystery shopper program.

But Jake's suggestion is great. If some of us just asked each coach/trainer/DM to write their name on the back of the party card, that in itself would be a form of accountability that would improve behavior. And if we wrote comments after their names... We don't need forms, and we don't have to make this complicated.

If you want to give feedback, just do it, either in the moment or to an AC afterwards. Don't wait to be bribed to do it.

I never really figured it was about paying a player to do it, more of a spot check by 'unrecognized staff'. Giving up the profit from that run, as opposed to giving it to some random person.

Think 'Quality Control'.

I will most certainly make more of an effort to point out issues I think were 'wonky' next year, (I made sure to tell someone this year about the three DM's that I thought were outstanding!) but lets be honest .. as players .. our opinions are biased to some degree - and without first hand experience of someone who can effect immediate change by offering direction, our voices are less likely to help unless a situation is egregious.

But I totally agree that it does need to be balanced out with a 'low impact' .. there is enough going on already

Milambus (Jake) wrote:

bpsymington wrote: Providing an opportunity for feedback again would probably be a good idea. Comment cards would be good, or perhaps the XP cards could give a link to a forum thread for feedback, or an email address for providing feedback.

I've been wondering if just having the DM write their name on the back of the party card as the group leaves might work.

I like this idea!

Steve wrote: I never really figured it was about paying a player to do it, more of a spot check by 'unrecognized staff'. Giving up the profit from that run, as opposed to giving it to some random person.
Think 'Quality Control'.

Giving away a ticket you could have sold is exactly the same as paying out money. Either way, it's money off the bottom line. Then there was talk of unspecified "thank you" rewards on top of that. So yes, a secret shopper program as described would cost Jeff real money.

Ever notice that you usually pay more for an item that advertises "free shipping?" That's because there is no such thing as "free" in business; there are just things you pay for without noticing, or whether you use them or not.

Is there any need for writing their names on the card? We can find out who is in the dungeon by looking at Jean's list of who is assigned to the dungeon. The party card has the time of run on it.

When I coach I tell the players who I am.


I think comment cards at the end of the dungeon would be more useful.
We certainly don't want the players writing on the party card.

George wrote: Is there any need for writing their names on the card? We can find out who is in the dungeon by looking at Jean's list of who is assigned to the dungeon. The party card has the time of run on it.

Yes in theory you should be able to find the entire line up from Jean's list.

Yes some changes get made and I think Jean updates her list based on that.

Real time coordination of this data would have to be done by ACs.

I think comment cards would be much easier.

George wrote: Is there any need for writing their names on the card? We can find out who is in the dungeon by looking at Jean's list of who is assigned to the dungeon. The party card has the time of run on it.

There is more explicit accountability by the DM's, since they know parties have their name.

Looking at Jean's list might be a hassle, as opposed to knowing exactly who it is.

There might be occasional substitutes that might not be reflected on the official schedule.