TOPIC: Thoughts about event and timing

Fred K wrote: Last year, I was part of the install team for TD at GHC. We were done fairly early Wednesday. Assuming a similar number of volunteers, the dungeons should be done well before dinner Wednesday.

There has never been a GT run done while other runs are happening. This would be the first time. It also means Jeff would be needed for typical con chaos. This is also the first time it would conflict with other ticketed events (unlike Gencon which doesn’t officially start until the next day.)

As I understand it, it would just be a vanilla version of the regular dungeon along with the GT swag bag. If that’s the case, I’d rather it be virtual where we could, at least, not have it conflict with other events if the event will be like any other run we can schedule (especially for ghc which doesn’t sell out of runs.)

Fred

You are mistaken. You might not have been around then. Some GC GT runs were on Thursday.
Unfortunately GHC it will be Thursday. There is no perfect solution.
Wednesday night last year at GHC after all hands meeting. Rooms were still being done. Monsters were still being put together and tested.

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Fred K wrote: Last year, I was part of the install team for TD at GHC. We were done fairly early Wednesday. Assuming a similar number of volunteers, the dungeons should be done well before dinner Wednesday.

There has never been a GT run done while other runs are happening. This would be the first time. It also means Jeff would be needed for typical con chaos. This is also the first time it would conflict with other ticketed events (unlike Gencon which doesn’t officially start until the next day.)

As I understand it, it would just be a vanilla version of the regular dungeon along with the GT swag bag. If that’s the case, I’d rather it be virtual where we could, at least, not have it conflict with other events if the event will be like any other run we can schedule (especially for ghc which doesn’t sell out of runs.)

Fred

You are mistaken. You might not have been around then. Some GC GT runs were on Thursday.
Unfortunately GHC it will be Thursday. There is no perfect solution.
Wednesday night last year at GHC after all hands meeting. Rooms were still being done. Monsters were still being put together and tested.

I didn't get to play with the monsters being first year as a volunteer last year - I didn't know they went that late. We were done (with a few changes needed once stuff was found) with dungeon dressings by around lunch. I didn't know the GT runs were ever a time other than Wednesday. That must have been before my time (pre 2015).

My goal is just to encourage additional thought about how to approach this so it feels special like the GenCon Golden Ticket run. Running it at the same time as other runs and doing it in the morning isn't ideal. The 11a timing blocks out all morning events, any events starting at noon, and probably all the 1p-5p events. 2/3rds of Thursday gets eaten up by that start time of a 3 1/2 day con. Giving up all those events we'd hope that the GT run itself be pretty cool The swag bag is nice but that can be done any time - the event itself is the draw.

In terms of timing:
9a Thurs would allow for Thursday noon events to be possible/10a would allow 1p Thursday events to be possible. Having it run just after the last runs Sat night could work as well.
In terms of making it different/cool (various random ideas):
1. Have the two groups compete with each other - the one who finishes fastest or hits some other milestone can deliver a boon to everyone at the con from a list they choose.
2. Have some random NPCs join the party for the run to be goofy or different. Grunnel comes to mind - but others could work there too.
3. Have the run be true grind instead of a regular run.
4. Let things the PCs do in the run impact the rest of the con for that dungeon. Ex - "Oops - that fireball destroyed this wall flooding the room from here out" or "your duck goes through the wall revealing a secret passage anyone can find now."
5. Have the theme of the run be we are hunting Grunnel/GibGub/whomever We get a special boon if we catch him.
6. Room 8 is just a box that we are instructed to set up outside the entryway of the TD area. It turns out to be a giant inflatable duck menacing everyone.

Thoughts?

Fred

Fred K wrote: The 11a timing blocks out all morning events, any events starting at noon, and probably all the 1p-5p events

It seems to me the same thing could be said about any run at any con. No matter what time your TD run is, you won't be able to participate in another event for at least two hours after your TD game starts.

We don't select the times for GT runs by throwing darts at a calendar. There are many, MANY factors that go into it, most of which the general public is not aware. Please don't presume we haven't thought about our GT players.

Druegar wrote:

Fred K wrote: The 11a timing blocks out all morning events, any events starting at noon, and probably all the 1p-5p events

It seems to me the same thing could be said about any run at any con. No matter what time your TD run is, you won't be able to participate in another event for at least two hours after your TD game starts.

We don't select the times for GT runs by throwing darts at a calendar. There are many, MANY factors that go into it, most of which the general public is not aware. Please don't presume we haven't thought about our GT players.

Also running earlier that is asking the volunteers to come in. Get in costume/ make up. Then sit for 2 hrs after the run before the next run.

Druegar wrote:

Fred K wrote: The 11a timing blocks out all morning events, any events starting at noon, and probably all the 1p-5p events

It seems to me the same thing could be said about any run at any con. No matter what time your TD run is, you won't be able to participate in another event for at least two hours after your TD game starts.

We don't select the times for GT runs by throwing darts at a calendar. There are many, MANY factors that go into it, most of which the general public is not aware. Please don't presume we haven't thought about our GT players.

I'm sure the timing was given a good deal of thought. I get starting much earlier means more volunteer time (same thing as going late.) That definitely creates conflicts that make sense to avoid.

It doesn't sound like the scheduled times were compared to other events (especially the premium events), though. Indicating there will always be conflicts isn't quite accurate. Yes, a 2p run conflicts with events from noon to 4:30p but a11a run conflicts with events from 8a to 5p for anything running 3 hours or more. Putting the runs at 11a (or, similarly at 4p or 5p) creates the largest possible blocking of other events possible. I don't think that was intentional.

I'd be happy to swap around runs my group bought to arrange for other times if there is interest.

Fred