Origins will take place from June 23 – 27, this year.
Keep an eye on this thread for information about D&D Offerings at this convention!
How does Origins usually work? I know that EvilHat is debuting the Dresden Files RPG using the FATE system, which intrigues me, but I am definitely a D&D guy.
My wife just planned a trip wine tasting with a friend for the week of Origins, so I am free to do what I want! What should I expect? How do I sign up for games? Any tips on hotels?
Please, for a con newbie (first big con, really), please impart some wisdom.
Looking forward to responses so I can get booked!
1. Sign up early (www.originsgames.com)
2. If you don't care about being close to the con and their expensive hotels, Priceline or Kayak is your friend.
3. Sleep is often optional.
4. If you go without sleep, make sure you have caffeine
5. Remember to eat.
6. Shower at least once a day.
7. non-gamer size T-shirts sell out quicker than gamer sizes.
8. Don't grope the booth babes
9. Make sure you have time and money when entering the dealers room, you'll think you died and went to heaven
10. Have fun
How does Origins usually work?
Well, last year, event registration was *awful*, and they are completely rebuilding their event system.
To register, you need to do two separate things:
a) Buy a badge
b) Buy event tickets
In theory, you should be able to buy a badge right now...but I can't find an obvious link on their (new) web site for doing so.
Unfortuantely, the GAMA Trade Show (run by the same people) is going on right now out in Vegas. You might want to poke around on their site next week and see if you can find someone to ask about purchasing a badge. (One interesting note...they have a Facebook "fan page", and someone from GAMA seems to be good about respodning to questions posted on that fan page.)
Their site says that event tickets will go on sale in "April", but I wouldn't hold my breath on that. If it does happen in April, I'd bet on the end of the month, and I'd think May would be more likely.
What should I expect? How do I sign up for games?
What *should* happen is that they'll post the event schedule some days before event tickets go on sale. As you build a schedule, try to have alternatives, since some events (particularly some RPGA events) *will* quickly sell out. That said, it's entirely possible to play games all weekend without pre-registering for events (you can buy "generic tickets" online, or at the con), but if you have certain games you really want to play, best to pre-register for them.
Expect that, when event registration goes live, it'll be very slow. (They're trying an experiment in which different types of games go on sale on different days, which may help.)
The con officially runs Thursday-Sunday, though there'll likely be a number of games running on Wednesday, as well.
Any tips on hotels?
Two hotels are directly connected to the convention center: the Drury Inn and the Hyatt Regency (which is where we always stay). The Drury looks like it may be sold out (it's not very big, and it's very popular with gamers), but it looks like there may still be rooms in the Hyatt Regency. The Crowne Plaza is across the street from the Hyatt, and I think there's a walkway to the convention center (looks like the Crowne Plaza also still has rooms).
The other hotels listed on the Origins site are all within a few blocks of the convention center.
My wife and I stayed at the Hampton Inn last year and were quite happy with it. It appears to already be sold out this year. I was able to get a room at the Hyatt though. That was just a couple of days ago, so I'd like to think that there are still rooms.
Chad
Just saw the GenCon offerings. Any idea about Origins yet?
I'm hoping for something better at Origins since GenCon is now off the schedule.
GenCon seems to have nothing for H2 or H3. Hope Origins won't be like that.
I am also curious as to what the process for Judge Signup is, if there has been a solicitation yet or not.
/bump for great justice!
GenCon judge signups have gone live... I am guessing the Big Show is taking admin precedence right now.
You know, holding hands, singing, joint free-form RP. That kind of thing. Everyone levels at the end, though. Probably.
* (Since I've never been to Origins and won't be this year, it has always been a think piece for me. I move zig)
Dave's more or less ready to start taking judge signups, but is waiting for some final info from GAMA(Origins) and WotC.
If I were a gamblin' man, I'd bet his patience will run out sooner or later, and that signups will begin regardless in the near (next week or two) future, info gathered or no.
Quote:
John Ward: Origins Events will be posted on the website for everyone to see on Monday Morning. The list won't be complete as we are still waiting on a few submissions. Thanks everyone!
So, who all is attending, what events are you looking forward to, and what should I, as a newbie to Origins try to get in on? Are there any great must-see events? Awesome parties? Anything that I have to do, such as Tracy Hickman's Killer Breakfast at Gen Con? I want to make the most of my time at the con, and I want advice, please!
I will be running my level 6 Stormheart Goliath Warden and my level 3 Tempest Style Githzerai Monk in some LFR games, I plan on trying out the Dresden Files RPG, but other than that, I just want to have a good time, maybe hit some parties, et cetera. Help me have fun!
Are the ADAP2-2 events made so they can be re-played with the same character? Such as:
ADCP2-2 Heart of the Desert: Clash of Titans (P1-P2)
ADCP2-2 Heart of the Desert: Race against Time (H1-H3)
Could the same 14th level PC play ADCP2-2 ...Clash of Titans at P1 (11-14), then again at P2 (14-17)?
Just planning events out - any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
A pretty nice line-up! For those that are interested, I see the following:
LFR Offerings:
ADCP2-2 Heart of the Desert: Race Against Time (H1-H3)
A great race has been called in the desert of Calimshan. The genasi and humans of Memnon, Calimport and Almraiven are competing to see which one can finish first in a race through the desolate Calim Desert, and they’re looking for adventuring companies to do the racing. Are you and your companions up to the challenge? A Living Forgotten Realms adventure set in Calimshan for characters levels 1-10.
ADCP2-2 Heart of the Desert: Clash of Titans (P1 – P2)
A great race has been called in the desert of Calimshan . The genasi and humans of Memnon, Calimport and Almraiven are competing in a race through Calim Desert . That race is just one match; another, much more dangerous, takes place in the Elemental Chaos. It is a match that requires truly powerful and resourceful champions. Are you and your companions up to the challenge? A Living Forgotten Realms adventure set in Calimshan for characters levels 11-17.
AGLA2-2 First Strike
The time is now! The Thayan forces of Undumor threaten to flood the Yuirwood with hordes of undead. The Simbarch Council seeks heroes of great renown as Aglarond prepares to deal with this threat. A Living Forgotten Realms adventure set in Aglarond for characters levels 14-17. This is the conclusion of the "Circle of Stones" major quest, which began in AGLA1-5 Silver Lining and continued in AGLA2-1 The Undumor Connection.
DRAG2-2 This Gathering Storm
Thievery, deceit and treachery are the lifeblood of commerce in the Dragon Coast. Piracy is all but officially sanctioned. So what happens when the unspoken rules are broken? A Living Forgotten Realms adventure set in the Dragon Coast for characters levels 1-4.
EAST2-2 Sibilant Whispers
A mad warlock prophesizes a dark fate for the East Rift. His clues lead you to a demon-controlled region of the Elemental Chaos, where sinister forces plot doom for the dwarves. A Living Forgotten Realms adventure set in the East Rift for characters levels 11-14.
LURU2-2 Shadows of the Knights
The Uthgardt Barbarians are on the move, but not against their longtime enemy orcs. This time they are raiding frontier towns and merchant caravans. What has caused this new aggression? A Living Forgotten Realms adventure set in Luruar for characters levels 7-10.
QUEST2-1 Stir Not the World's Doom
When an ally falls to corruption, the horror you thought long buried begins to stir again and sets off a race against time that will take you from the ruins of Darkturret to the frozen wastes of Fimbrul. A Living Forgotten Realms adventure that is the sequel to the Embers of Dawn mini-campaign set across Returned Abeir for characters levels 11-14. Playable only by characters that have completed the three tasks specified on the In Slumber Remain Player Reward Card.
LFR Open Play
Get a table together and play any released one-round Living Forgotten Realms adventure in our library. Great chance to pickup something you missed or make some new friends.
Non-LFR Offerings:
D&D Classics: Ringing from the Deep
At first it started as an occasional murmur, but soon the noise grew to a cacophony, like a thousand dwarves clanging their war cymbals over and over. The ringing stirred the drow into a frenzy, and all that is left are a few of you-misfits of the Underdark. To survive, you must band together and seek out alliances in a world of treason and deceit. Perhaps deeper down you can find the source of the madness and snuff it out, or tap into it for your own revenge. A heroic-tier D&D adventure with special monstrous characters provided.
Learn to Play D&D
Have you ever wanted to give D&D a try? Maybe you’ve played a past edition of the game and want to check out what’s new. Our friendly staff will guide you through your first steps in world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game. Stop on by, make your D&D character, and play through your first adventure. Everything’s provided!
Classic Delve - Ruins of the Spectral Glade
The deadly woods of the Spectral Glade hold ancient ruins and priceless treasures. Will your hero vanquish the evil at the heart of the forest and claim its riches, or become just one more nameless corpse? A D&D Delve for 3rd level characters - get as far as you can in one hour. Characters are provided. Play as often as you like and earn prizes!
DM Challenge: Zombie Apocalypse
This DM Challenge is a special one-time event running only at Origins! DMs create their own 4th-level adventure around a timeless classic theme - an undead plague! Players gather to test their mettle against the adventures created, and rate their play experiences to determine the best adventure of the evening. 4th-level characters are provided. For more information on this event, please visit baldmangames.com/origins.
So with the Event Listing for Origins up, a question...
Are the ADAP2-2 events made so they can be re-played with the same character? Such as:
ADCP2-2 Heart of the Desert: Clash of Titans (P1-P2)
ADCP2-2 Heart of the Desert: Race against Time (H1-H3)
Could the same 14th level PC play ADCP2-2 ...Clash of Titans at P1 (11-14), then again at P2 (14-17)?
Just planning events out - any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
I do not believe so. Unless I'm told different the same title and code means same adventure.
For this one, I do believe that the two parts are separate. This would suggest a PC can play the H1 verstion and not the H2 version, but could later play the P1 version. I think that is cool if allowed, but it will take an admin or the author(s) to confirm.
In the past, Origins has hosted Living games on the Wednesday of the con. This year I see a ton of role playing being offered on Wednesday, but no LFR. Does anyone know if there will be LFR mods offered on Wednesday at Origins? I need to know, I am currently planning on going down to Origins on that Tuesday. If there are no LFR mods, then I will delay until Wednesday.
Thanks,
Lary Wesley
In the past, Origins has hosted Living games on the Wednesday of the con. This year I see a ton of role playing being offered on Wednesday, but no LFR. Does anyone know if there will be LFR mods offered on Wednesday at Origins? I need to know, I am currently planning on going down to Origins on that Tuesday. If there are no LFR mods, then I will delay until Wednesday.
Hey, Lary! (Mike Mistele here.)
You'll recall that, during the LG days, Origins was limited to running Core and Special modules, and that's what the RPGA ran from Thursday through Sunday. On the Wednesday of Origins, they usually had some local co-ordinators step up to organize a slate of Veluna regionals and VTF meta-regionals...modules which couldn't be run during the main convention, and which were of appeal to many Origins attendees, who were attending from other regions.
With the lack of regional restrictions in LFR, that same appeal / need isn't there. IIRC, there wasn't an LFR slate on Wednesday at last year's Origins, either.
I think, as a result of that plus other factors (the new Shattered Empires, WH, etc), those guys have dropped trying to do LFR on Wednesday.
Either way - yeah, nothing 4E going on on Wednesday.
-VIC
Actually, there was LFR on Wed run by The Gathering folk. It was just limited selection (older mods only) and a little understaffed (we had almost three tables of players and one judge for the evening slot).
I think, as a result of that plus other factors (the new Shattered Empires, WH, etc), those guys have dropped trying to do LFR on Wednesday.
Either way - yeah, nothing 4E going on on Wednesday.
Ah, my mistake. Thanks for clarifying, Vic.
It does look as though whoever stepped up to offer LFR on Wednesday last year isn't doing so this year.
Interested parties can register here: baldmangames.com/origins/judge_sign-ups....
Just wondering about signing up for the events. I do not really want to register and then be able to sign up for the events I wish. I cannot even tell if they have the signups going yet for the roleplaying stuff. Is there any way to find this out or when they start taking the sign ups for that?
Terry
Just wondering about signing up for the events. I do not really want to register and then be able to sign up for the events I wish. I cannot even tell if they have the signups going yet for the roleplaying stuff. Is there any way to find this out or when they start taking the sign ups for that?
Event registration has not yet begun; they have yet to announce an exact date for it, other than "in May".
You can check their web site (originsgamefair.com) for updates; I tend to check every day or two, to see if there are any updates, and I'll try to post in this thread when the date for event registration gets announced.
They make more cfrequent announcements on their Facebnook page. I have to say they're really dropping the ball on registration.
Yeah, I check the FB page regularly, too. And, I agree, this is getting pretty silly.
My one hope is that they're ironing out the bugs int he new reg system and that next year will be smoother. After all, isn't this why they went with the new reg system int he first place?
My one hope is that they're ironing out the bugs int he new reg system and that next year will be smoother. After all, isn't this why they went with the new reg system int he first place?
It was. "Opening Day" for event registration had been difficult for the past several years, and, last year, it was atrocious for most people; I had friends who spent 6 to 8 hours trying to register for events.
At so many cons, there is at least some mention of Wizards of the Coast being there and running some sort of games to preview Dark Sun and whatnot, but I haven't heard anything about this.
I would love to play Dark Sun, and the selection of D&D games being offered at the con are few and far between (there are quite a few duplicate slots, after all). Can anybody offer up any more info? I have heard time and again that Origins is the 2nd largest gaming convention, but what can I do if I am primarily a D&D player and want to dabble in other systems and not the other way around?
Thanks!
I just realized something -- is WotC not going to have any presence at Origins at all this year?
At so many cons, there is at least some mention of Wizards of the Coast being there and running some sort of games to preview Dark Sun and whatnot, but I haven't heard anything about this.
I'm not sure what you mean. AFAIK, WotC won't have a booth in the exhibit hall...but that's no different than it's been for the past several years at Origins. (And, these days, WotC has a booth at *very* few conventions, anyway. GenCon Indy, maybe PAX, and that's about it.)
At which other conventions have you heard that either WotC will actually have reps there, or that they'll be running Dark Sun previews?
The RPGA *will* be there, with Dave Christ (wavester) running the show for them, as he does for all the big conventions. At Origins, the RPGA is running 9 different "events": 6 LFR adventures, a "Classic" (a full 4-hour adventure with pre-generates characters), a "Delve" (a one-hour, two-fight mini-adventure, with pre-generated characters), and a "Learn to Play D&D" tutorial. This is a bit, but not tremendously, smaller from their 12 offerings at GenCon: 7 LFR adventures, a Classic, a Delve, an "Arena" game set in Dark Sun, the tutorial, and the D&D Open (which *always* runs only at GenCon).
For a new player (i.e., someone without an experienced LFR character), the RPGA has four events for you at Origins (not counting the tutorial), as two of the LFR events can be played by new players. That, true, is one place where it's a bit thin, compared to GenCon, where you could play 7 different events (everything but 4 of the LFRs).
No, there's not a Dark Sun preview at Origins...I have to guess that's because the book isn't coming out until August, at GenCon. And, as far as I can tell, the only Dark Sun "event" that'll be at GenCon is that "Arena" event.
I would love to play Dark Sun, and the selection of D&D games being offered at the con are few and far between (there are quite a few duplicate slots, after all). Can anybody offer up any more info? I have heard time and again that Origins is the 2nd largest gaming convention, but what can I do if I am primarily a D&D player and want to dabble in other systems and not the other way around?
It sounds like you have a lot of interest in Dark Sun, so it doesn't seem like you'll be able to get any satisfaction in that regard at Origins. And, it's true that you cannot fill an entire Origins schedule with nothing but "official" WotC / RPGA offerings (unless you really want to spend several days doing nothing but the Delve over and over again). But, beyond the "official" offerings, there will be a *ton* of other people running D&D games at Origins -- I just sorted the event catalog, and found 163 events listing some variation on "Dungeons and Dragons" or "D&D" as the rules system. If you're willing to try Pathfinder (Paizo's revision of the 3.5 rules), that'd add another 72 events to your possibilities. I'm pretty confident you could play nothing but D&D at Origins.
That's pretty good given the game comes out in August!
Origins announces the opening of Event Registration for Origins Game Fair 2010. You can begin registering for events at the following times: Tabletops – Wednesday, May 26 at Noon Eastern Time Role-playing – Thursday, May 27 at Noon Eastern Time All other events – Friday, May 28 at Noon Eastern Time.
More detailed information will be posted on the registration page of the web site before the events go live as this year’s registration process is significantly different from what you have experienced in previous years.
For the Thursday morning DRAG2-2 slot, I will be playing my lvl 4 Githzerai Stone Fist Monk.
For the Sunday morning LURU2-2 slot, I will be playing my lvl 7 Goliath Stormheart Warden.
I am also playing Zombie Dice, Munchkin, Munchkin Quest, Are You A Werewolf, 2 Dresden Files games, and I will have a Board Room ribbon so I can learn some new games. What else are other people playing?
- DRAG 2-2 in the morning, with either my dwarven greatweapon fighter, or my warforged artificer
- ADCP 2-2 in the afternoon, with my genasi wizard
- LURU 2-2 in the evening, with my half-elf inspiring warlord (his final Heroic-tier module!)
Will be playing Chronicles of the Shattered Empires (the "sequel" campaign to Living Arcanis) on Friday and Saturday.
Will be largely playing with a group of friends from across the country -- we meet up at Origins and / or GenCon every year to play together.
If someone from RPGA administration could address this situation and a resolution, it would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Charles Peacock
Better late than never, this thread is coming unstuck.
Say goodbye, Con Season 2010.
Looking forward to Con Season 2011.
Say goodbye, Con Season 2010.
Looking forward to Con Season 2011.