Lobby for a Convention Only Region! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lobby for a Convention Only Region! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cobain
12-03-07, 02:05 AM While LFR is still in its infant stage, we should ask the developers to designate a special region to be played at conventions only.

If you've been following the thread about "Saving Local Conventions", you might find yourself concerned, as I am, that many of the wonderful, self-sacrificing folks who run local conventions are having a hard time seeing LFR's draw of out of town gamers to the conventions.

Apparently, most of the cost effectiveness of Local Conventions depends on hotel rooms rented by out of towners staying at the same hotel as the convention. (Much more on this in the feed about Saving Conventions)

My proposal is to have the developers designate a special region for conventions. Similar to the concept of a 'Core' region, this region would draw in a significant number of players from, hopefully a wide area, for the chance to play in the 'Convention Core' region. I leave it up to the designers and all of your suggestions what this region should be or what could possibly make it special enough to make people travel to participate in its adventures...
MatteBlack
12-03-07, 02:14 AM I think the idea could have some merit but, would hope that it would be based on adventures that take advantage of larger format gaming not just offer special accesses as a draw. Perhaps a war torn region where interactive battlefields would make sense.
gomeztoo
12-03-07, 11:42 AM I personally think it is better to use interactives for this, especially as conventions are the best place to actually hold interactives.
A 'convention only' region sounds a bit weird. Possible, but who are that regions' volunteers? And why would a convention in my region run that region's scenarios?
MatteBlack
12-03-07, 01:40 PM I personally think it is better to use interactives for this, especially as conventions are the best place to actually hold interactives.
A 'convention only' region sounds a bit weird. Possible, but who are that regions' volunteers? And why would a convention in my region run that region's scenarios?

Form discussions on other threads, I think most conventions would jump at the chance to have some sort of cool exclusive content as a draw.
Reneshat
12-04-07, 01:46 AM I think it might be more beneficial to have 1 or 2 of the modules by in region only, while the majority are play anywhere. This way, if you hit an out of town convention, you not only get the specials, but also have a chance to pick up that years two in region only modules. That effectively increases the draw of out of town conventions, still leaves a ridiculous amount of open play opportunities, and doesn't require a large amount of extra work. A convention only region could still be taken care of by in region conventions, and that doesn't give as much of a help towards room numbers as out of region conventions do.
gomeztoo
12-04-07, 02:34 AM Form discussions on other threads, I think most conventions would jump at the chance to have some sort of cool exclusive content as a draw.

But less so if it is content regarding a region that is basically. 'foreign'.
Besides, ALL cons would run those. SO why visit a con in your region when I can go to a Con in mine? It would still not draw people from outside the region.
MatteBlack
12-04-07, 09:41 AM But less so if it is content regarding a region that is basically. 'foreign'.
Besides, ALL cons would run those. SO why visit a con in your region when I can go to a Con in mine? It would still not draw people from outside the region.

I know overnight stays at the hotels help drive con viability but, getting more bodies in the door will certainly help offset the loss of out-of-region drawing power. For me, I go to cons I can reasonable get to whether or not it is in region. The opportunity to play many adventures over a weekend tends to drive whether I stay at a con or not. Because I happen to live near a border and like my in-region conventions, I find that I end up staying at my local region cons and make daytrips to the out-of-region ones.

Keep in mind those regions will be larger and travelling out of region will in most cases be a larger ordeal. Not everyone goes to all the local Cons around them now as it is. In the end, I think we should be striving to get more folks playing and going to cons than specifically promoting travel and hotel stays.
Cobain
12-04-07, 04:05 PM But less so if it is content regarding a region that is basically. 'foreign'.
Besides, ALL cons would run those. SO why visit a con in your region when I can go to a Con in mine? It would still not draw people from outside the region.

I would visit an out of region con if I didn't have one in my region at that time. Or perhaps I was away on business and missed a con, so because I still want to play in the con region mods, I would be willing to travel to make up the missed mods.

I don't think that a con only region would be a big enough draw in and of itself, but I think it could help to raise interest in conventions. I like the idea of designating a really war-torn region that would lend itself to interactives and specials. I think that would work perfectly.

Also, if there happens to be enough convention only material, that players can fill most of a weekend with mods unplayable at home, then I truly believe more people would be willing to stay at the hotel. (I live an hour and a half away from the two cons I annually attend, but I book at least one and many times two rooms so I can enjoy my weekend without the commuting.)
CdrcJsn
12-05-07, 06:09 PM I used to travel to a lot of out of region conventions. I have also organized quite a few conventions myself here in the Pale.

I never attended one because of the draw of a special interactive. Those really only appeal to local regional players. In fact, in several of the cons I went to or organized usually had at least one or two tables of out of towners playing a regular regional when the rest of the convention was playing the interactive. I, and several people I know who travel, have made decisions not to play interactives from certain regions because they're never playtested (unlike those from our region which are the bestest of the best :D ).

The main reason I attend out of region cons was to play new modules that I didn't have access to back home. The draw of 8-10 new modules is usually sufficient draw for me, premieres or not. If only 3-4 of the mods at a convention were unique (i.e. I can play the rest at home) then I probably won't bother.

Getting to play with friends I've made across the country is also a bonus.

Getting access to unique stuff at the premiere of a mod might influence my decision, but not to a great degree. People who got cool stuff for LG due to Undermountain for example turned me green with envy, but if there were only 2-3 unique stuff at a convention (whether unique access or unique play opportunities) it probably won't be enough incentive to make me go.

A convention only region might be enough to save the RPGA only regional cons, but I have a sinking feeling that it won't happen regardless of how beneficial it would be.

1) Admins have already been chosen. I don't know how much of a hassle it was to Chris Tulach to choose the admins, but from all accounts he's been busy with other projects and might not have the time to do host another round of applications.
2) Losing the small RPGA regional cons won't cost players. They'll just migrate to smaller game days and events hosted at bigger (non RPGA)conventions, so in the end it won't really hurt play numbers in the short term.
gomeztoo
12-06-07, 03:03 AM I never attended one because of the draw of a special interactive. Those really only appeal to local regional players.

I never had that feeling, but I manage to engross myself in other region's events enough so that I enjoy their interactives. Onnwall's interactives were a lot of fun (freeing Longbridge, being the only total-success party when storming teh Gates of Gildenlae, seeing Scant blow up), and this year's Ekbir's one was priceless.
In addiiton, in LFR, if everyone can play all regionals, interactives on Cons will be aimed at everyone who played the regionals - not just locals. So their draw may be bigger, since people may have played the regionals of the Dalelands that make 'The Battle of Highdale' that more interesting.

Perhaps I am not a conventional player though. I can't play metaregionals nor regionals in most of Europe (France excepted), yet I do visit GenCon UK when possible. This year, I played mostly Cores, one Core Special, Undermountain (testing my Zakharean anthropologist), and the Open Fiesta slot.
So I do think interactives can be a draw.
But as said, my motivations may differ from that of most other gamers.
CdrcJsn
12-06-07, 04:43 AM So I do think interactives can be a draw.
But as said, my motivations may differ from that of most other gamers.

I didn't mean to imply that nobody goes out of region for interactives. I'm just giving my experience as a con goer and con organizer.

In every con we've had in the Pale that I've been a part of as a judge or coordinator (which is almost all of them) where we had the interactive running in one slot, there are usually at least one or two tables, mostly of out of region players, that play regular regionals instead of the interactive.

I like interactives that are well written, full of local flavor and have campaign consequences. I dislike hastily written last minute battle interactives that are not playtested and serve no real purpose other than just to hand out another AR. I've flown thousands of miles in the past to attend the former. Unfortunately I've encountered the latter so many times that Interactives in general leave a bad taste in my mouth, enough that if I don't know the author, judge or con coordinator, I usually will opt for a regular scenario rather than play one.
gomeztoo
12-06-07, 06:25 AM My experience with GenconUK or BorderCon is the reverse: I do not recall any tables outside the interactives unless people miss them because tickets sold out.
(Note though that GenconUK didn't have interactives this year)
Kithran
12-06-07, 06:39 AM My experience with GenconUK or BorderCon is the reverse: I do not recall any tables outside the interactives unless people miss them because tickets sold out.
(Note though that GenconUK didn't have interactives this year)

Correct, Gen Con UK didn't have an interactive this year. We were not allowed to run any regional or metaregional material outside the open fiesta slot, and we couldn't run an interactive then. Also if we were able to run an interactive I would have argued against it, instead tried to get a regional premiere as this would have given more overall play opportunities (given the fact Onnwal has not had a full complement of regional mods).

Kithran
MiyaMarc
02-14-08, 01:43 PM That's a great idea!
Who would write adventures for this "convention region"? Local convention organizers? Or would a series of special mods be made available?
ceregon
02-14-08, 03:47 PM While I'm one of those who sounded the alarm about RPGA only conventions, I don't think this idea would work.

If there is a "convention-only" region, I would simply play those events at my local convention(s). I would not need to travel and I would not need to stay in a hotel (thus generating the all important "room nights"). I recognize that not everyone lives within commuting distance of a convention, but I'm sure more do than do not.

Bart Scott
Coordinator for Theocracy by the Bay (63 room nights and counting this year)
MwaO
02-14-08, 05:13 PM Why not something along the lines of the following:
Have 6 or so mods a year, of which, any convention can run 2 of them.
The next year, anyone can play them.

Then, for the conclusion of story arcs, have them only playable in region, online or at a convention until the next year - assume that each region has two or so of these per year. Each convention has the option of picking one out of region set of mods to run.

That basically gives conventions a lot to offer - they can run as an example an out of region set of mods and conclude the story arc in the year of the mod's release. They'll have a couple of mods that most other conventions won't have. And with the interactive, you get something interesting as well. But no two conventions should be exactly the same.

And that limits the amount of griping about special convention only access - there isn't any except the interactives. Yet there's a compelling story reason to go to a convention - not having to wait...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cobain 12-03-07, 02:05 AM	While LFR is still in its infant stage, we should ask the developers to designate a special region to be played at conventions only. If you've been following the thread about "Saving Local Conventions", you might find yourself concerned, as I am, that many of the wonderful, self-sacrificing folks who run local conventions are having a hard time seeing LFR's draw of out of town gamers to the conventions. Apparently, most of the cost effectiveness of Local Conventions depends on hotel rooms rented by out of towners staying at the same hotel as the convention. (Much more on this in the feed about Saving Conventions) My proposal is to have the developers designate a special region for conventions. Similar to the concept of a 'Core' region, this region would draw in a significant number of players from, hopefully a wide area, for the chance to play in the 'Convention Core' region. I leave it up to the designers and all of your suggestions what this region should be or what could possibly make it special enough to make people travel to participate in its adventures...
MatteBlack 12-03-07, 02:14 AM	I think the idea could have some merit but, would hope that it would be based on adventures that take advantage of larger format gaming not just offer special accesses as a draw. Perhaps a war torn region where interactive battlefields would make sense.
gomeztoo 12-03-07, 11:42 AM	I personally think it is better to use interactives for this, especially as conventions are the best place to actually hold interactives. A 'convention only' region sounds a bit weird. Possible, but who are that regions' volunteers? And why would a convention in my region run that region's scenarios?
MatteBlack 12-03-07, 01:40 PM	I personally think it is better to use interactives for this, especially as conventions are the best place to actually hold interactives. A 'convention only' region sounds a bit weird. Possible, but who are that regions' volunteers? And why would a convention in my region run that region's scenarios? Form discussions on other threads, I think most conventions would jump at the chance to have some sort of cool exclusive content as a draw.
Reneshat 12-04-07, 01:46 AM	I think it might be more beneficial to have 1 or 2 of the modules by in region only, while the majority are play anywhere. This way, if you hit an out of town convention, you not only get the specials, but also have a chance to pick up that years two in region only modules. That effectively increases the draw of out of town conventions, still leaves a ridiculous amount of open play opportunities, and doesn't require a large amount of extra work. A convention only region could still be taken care of by in region conventions, and that doesn't give as much of a help towards room numbers as out of region conventions do.
gomeztoo 12-04-07, 02:34 AM	Form discussions on other threads, I think most conventions would jump at the chance to have some sort of cool exclusive content as a draw. But less so if it is content regarding a region that is basically. 'foreign'. Besides, ALL cons would run those. SO why visit a con in your region when I can go to a Con in mine? It would still not draw people from outside the region.
MatteBlack 12-04-07, 09:41 AM	But less so if it is content regarding a region that is basically. 'foreign'. Besides, ALL cons would run those. SO why visit a con in your region when I can go to a Con in mine? It would still not draw people from outside the region. I know overnight stays at the hotels help drive con viability but, getting more bodies in the door will certainly help offset the loss of out-of-region drawing power. For me, I go to cons I can reasonable get to whether or not it is in region. The opportunity to play many adventures over a weekend tends to drive whether I stay at a con or not. Because I happen to live near a border and like my in-region conventions, I find that I end up staying at my local region cons and make daytrips to the out-of-region ones. Keep in mind those regions will be larger and travelling out of region will in most cases be a larger ordeal. Not everyone goes to all the local Cons around them now as it is. In the end, I think we should be striving to get more folks playing and going to cons than specifically promoting travel and hotel stays.
Cobain 12-04-07, 04:05 PM	But less so if it is content regarding a region that is basically. 'foreign'. Besides, ALL cons would run those. SO why visit a con in your region when I can go to a Con in mine? It would still not draw people from outside the region. I would visit an out of region con if I didn't have one in my region at that time. Or perhaps I was away on business and missed a con, so because I still want to play in the con region mods, I would be willing to travel to make up the missed mods. I don't think that a con only region would be a big enough draw in and of itself, but I think it could help to raise interest in conventions. I like the idea of designating a really war-torn region that would lend itself to interactives and specials. I think that would work perfectly. Also, if there happens to be enough convention only material, that players can fill most of a weekend with mods unplayable at home, then I truly believe more people would be willing to stay at the hotel. (I live an hour and a half away from the two cons I annually attend, but I book at least one and many times two rooms so I can enjoy my weekend without the commuting.)
CdrcJsn 12-05-07, 06:09 PM	I used to travel to a lot of out of region conventions. I have also organized quite a few conventions myself here in the Pale. I never attended one because of the draw of a special interactive. Those really only appeal to local regional players. In fact, in several of the cons I went to or organized usually had at least one or two tables of out of towners playing a regular regional when the rest of the convention was playing the interactive. I, and several people I know who travel, have made decisions not to play interactives from certain regions because they're never playtested (unlike those from our region which are the bestest of the best :D ). The main reason I attend out of region cons was to play new modules that I didn't have access to back home. The draw of 8-10 new modules is usually sufficient draw for me, premieres or not. If only 3-4 of the mods at a convention were unique (i.e. I can play the rest at home) then I probably won't bother. Getting to play with friends I've made across the country is also a bonus. Getting access to unique stuff at the premiere of a mod might influence my decision, but not to a great degree. People who got cool stuff for LG due to Undermountain for example turned me green with envy, but if there were only 2-3 unique stuff at a convention (whether unique access or unique play opportunities) it probably won't be enough incentive to make me go. A convention only region might be enough to save the RPGA only regional cons, but I have a sinking feeling that it won't happen regardless of how beneficial it would be. 1) Admins have already been chosen. I don't know how much of a hassle it was to Chris Tulach to choose the admins, but from all accounts he's been busy with other projects and might not have the time to do host another round of applications. 2) Losing the small RPGA regional cons won't cost players. They'll just migrate to smaller game days and events hosted at bigger (non RPGA)conventions, so in the end it won't really hurt play numbers in the short term.
gomeztoo 12-06-07, 03:03 AM	I never attended one because of the draw of a special interactive. Those really only appeal to local regional players. I never had that feeling, but I manage to engross myself in other region's events enough so that I enjoy their interactives. Onnwall's interactives were a lot of fun (freeing Longbridge, being the only total-success party when storming teh Gates of Gildenlae, seeing Scant blow up), and this year's Ekbir's one was priceless. In addiiton, in LFR, if everyone can play all regionals, interactives on Cons will be aimed at everyone who played the regionals - not just locals. So their draw may be bigger, since people may have played the regionals of the Dalelands that make 'The Battle of Highdale' that more interesting. Perhaps I am not a conventional player though. I can't play metaregionals nor regionals in most of Europe (France excepted), yet I do visit GenCon UK when possible. This year, I played mostly Cores, one Core Special, Undermountain (testing my Zakharean anthropologist), and the Open Fiesta slot. So I do think interactives can be a draw. But as said, my motivations may differ from that of most other gamers.
CdrcJsn 12-06-07, 04:43 AM	So I do think interactives can be a draw. But as said, my motivations may differ from that of most other gamers. I didn't mean to imply that nobody goes out of region for interactives. I'm just giving my experience as a con goer and con organizer. In every con we've had in the Pale that I've been a part of as a judge or coordinator (which is almost all of them) where we had the interactive running in one slot, there are usually at least one or two tables, mostly of out of region players, that play regular regionals instead of the interactive. I like interactives that are well written, full of local flavor and have campaign consequences. I dislike hastily written last minute battle interactives that are not playtested and serve no real purpose other than just to hand out another AR. I've flown thousands of miles in the past to attend the former. Unfortunately I've encountered the latter so many times that Interactives in general leave a bad taste in my mouth, enough that if I don't know the author, judge or con coordinator, I usually will opt for a regular scenario rather than play one.
gomeztoo 12-06-07, 06:25 AM	My experience with GenconUK or BorderCon is the reverse: I do not recall any tables outside the interactives unless people miss them because tickets sold out. (Note though that GenconUK didn't have interactives this year)
Kithran 12-06-07, 06:39 AM	My experience with GenconUK or BorderCon is the reverse: I do not recall any tables outside the interactives unless people miss them because tickets sold out. (Note though that GenconUK didn't have interactives this year) Correct, Gen Con UK didn't have an interactive this year. We were not allowed to run any regional or metaregional material outside the open fiesta slot, and we couldn't run an interactive then. Also if we were able to run an interactive I would have argued against it, instead tried to get a regional premiere as this would have given more overall play opportunities (given the fact Onnwal has not had a full complement of regional mods). Kithran
MiyaMarc 02-14-08, 01:43 PM	That's a great idea! Who would write adventures for this "convention region"? Local convention organizers? Or would a series of special mods be made available?
ceregon 02-14-08, 03:47 PM	While I'm one of those who sounded the alarm about RPGA only conventions, I don't think this idea would work. If there is a "convention-only" region, I would simply play those events at my local convention(s). I would not need to travel and I would not need to stay in a hotel (thus generating the all important "room nights"). I recognize that not everyone lives within commuting distance of a convention, but I'm sure more do than do not. Bart Scott Coordinator for Theocracy by the Bay (63 room nights and counting this year)
MwaO 02-14-08, 05:13 PM	Why not something along the lines of the following: Have 6 or so mods a year, of which, any convention can run 2 of them. The next year, anyone can play them. Then, for the conclusion of story arcs, have them only playable in region, online or at a convention until the next year - assume that each region has two or so of these per year. Each convention has the option of picking one out of region set of mods to run. That basically gives conventions a lot to offer - they can run as an example an out of region set of mods and conclude the story arc in the year of the mod's release. They'll have a couple of mods that most other conventions won't have. And with the interactive, you get something interesting as well. But no two conventions should be exactly the same. And that limits the amount of griping about special convention only access - there isn't any except the interactives. Yet there's a compelling story reason to go to a convention - not having to wait...