Rereading the GPNW '09 postmortem thread recently, I noticed that there was a real push for "limited signups"--ie not just counting on pickup games to occur at con time, but actually putting a limit on the number of slots a given player could grab in advance, to help minimize clique-building and make sure that nobody regretted filling up their entire schedule after the fact.

I'm not necessarily promulgating this rule myself (I like my clique), but I'm interested to know whether there will be any kind of attempt to put it into play, either strictly or on an honor-system basis.

Posted By: Ben Robbinssomewhere between 30-50%, by my estimates

I can't help but point out that at the first (and second, IIRC) GPNW, this was 100% of the games. I am just reiterating my preferences as I probably stated them in the aforementioned postmortem thread, but I still vastly prefer just showing up and knowing there will be games -- over showing up and noticing that all the really awesome games I would have wanted to sign up for are in fact already full, and were full within minutes of their being posted online. Which is what happened last time. Of course there were still lots of awesome pick-up games -- but I can't help but suggest that many of those games consisted primarily of people like myself who had assumed that the event was going to be operating on the same principle as previous years. Now that it is more widely understood that pre-registration is happening, I can't help but feel like the percentage of pick-up games is going to drop even further this year. I'll probably cave in and check the forums for games to sign up on, for example, though I fully expect to be scooped by people who are scanning them more regularly than I will.

It's not that I think anyone is going to end up without a game, but it does seem like the whole 'last minute Find-A-Game roundup' is getting more and more like a 'here's some leftovers' thing and further and further from a 'here's the basic organizing principle of our con' -- as it was in the first two years. Last year the pickup games were often good, but they also often had a bit of a desperation vibe in terms of getting people matched up and playing.

Obviously I understand there are good reasons for advanced sign-ups. But I still prefer the year two organization, which I remember as a mix of very informal pre-reg (like a tiny percentage of game slots) and everything else happening on-site once people showed up.

Thanks for clarifying, guys!

Posted By: philarosBut my point is, we're just providing the people who want to make plans in advance a way to do that, while those who want to show up and decide on the spot can and will still do that as well.

Well of course, but it is pretty disingenuous to suggest that the con organizers and the con website supporting advance planning is not going to increase the amount of advanced planning. You are sanctioning the activity, and promoting it, so obviously there will be more of it.

I guess my perception of 2008 as a player is that it was very different from 2009, even though the mechanism may have been theoretically the same. The great thing about 2008 vs. the first year was that the whole grid was laid out in advanced in a nice organized fashion -- it was much easier for everyone to figure out how to sign up, how to post games, etc. compared to the charming first-year free for all.

As far as 'the same thing' happening, with people at lunch or whatever, sure, I guess, but there seems to me to be a qualitative difference between expecting con-goers to be paying close attention to game signup during the con and expecting con-goers to be doing the same thing for a month-long continuous period leading up to the con. With staggered posting times, someone is not going to accidentally miss every game they want -- which is certainly an advantage of this year's method over last year. But I guess it also seems kind of perverse to encourage a situation where someone who wants to make sure they get into potentially 'must-play' games has to camp web forums more or less nonstop for the entire sign-up period, because there are no official (or so far, unofficial) limitations or structure on the online signup.

I think I suggested this before, but unofficially I think it would be great if GMs would simply only pre-book half the slots in their games. But who knows, maybe that's a half-assed solution. I am just wary of the possibility that the con will devolve into a two-track program (which it often felt like last year, though it loosened up by the last day) where the online-active people had one set of games and the just-showed-up people had another.

GPNW has evolved every year, and I think we'll continue to evolve.

This year I'm planning to put 1 or 2 scheduled games out there and then be ready to run the same games on an unscheduled basis for anyone who wants to play. I think it's awesome when people come to the con with something they're ready and willing to run at short notice. That's part of what makes a small community-based con great!

I'm looking forward to offering one or two things early and being ready to run pick-up games as needed. I have a much larger catalog of games I'm able to run at a drop of a hat relative to previous GPNWs.

J. Walton's coming? I was already planning to facilitate Geiger Counter as needed! :)

Anyone coming from the east coast again?

Riffing off another thread - Is there *any* chance that someone would consider running Savage Worlds at GPNW? I've got the Explorer's Edition, Solomon Kane, and Pirates of the Spanish Main and I've never gotten to play SW nor been able to convince either of my two main trad groups to give it a go. I've got too many other irons in the fire to learn and prep it between now and then, but I'd love to give it a go some day. I dunno, maybe GPNW is not the ideal place for SW, but if we can see Car Wars there (also awesome), who knows?

@Charlton: Cool, I'll look forward to meeting you. Hopefully we'll get NY and N Carolina for the trifecta! ;)

I think signup is also useful as a way for GMs to gauge interest in games. I'd be happy to run Dungeon Construction Kit demos most of the weekend if there were sufficient interest. With the signup, I can put up a couple of sessions. If they start to fill, I can add more sessions.

Any idea when the forums will open?

I support Joe in solidarity with lonely game hosts and his "No GM left behind" policy.

Posted By: Lee ShortAny idea when the forums will open?

Should be ready in about a week, give or take a bit.

Here's a question for the assembly: one category for all Brainstorming, or make a separate category for Requests / Wish Lists / Games I'd Really Like Someone Else to Facilitate?

Agree with Brendan.

Posted By: johnzoIf the D&D camel is in the tent, we can certainly squeeze in the Savage alpaca.

Johnzo, I've statted out the Savage Alpaca for you below. Still room in the tent?

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4 (A), Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8
Skills: Fighting d6, Guts d8, Notice d6
Pace: 8; Parry: 6; Toughness: 8
Special Abilities
* Fleet footed: Savage alpacas roll a d8 when running instead of a d6
* Kick: Str +d4
* Improved Frenzy: Savage alpacas may make two Fighting attacks each action at no penalty.
* Size +2: Savage alpacas weigh between 800 - 1000 lbs.

Back to the thread... I was less delighted with the outcome of the online registration last year and resulting "two-track" feel and am happy the GPNW crew is trying something different. My strategy this year will be to pre-reg one game slot I want to run, maybe try to pre-arrange one or two more on the forums, and then leave my dance card free for whatever happens in the moment. I'll just walk the con. You know, walk the con, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from "Kung Fu."

Michael, as far as I've seen it, there are a couple board games played throughout the weekend.
If you showed up and promoted board gaming and were really personable about it and made an effort to get people playing them...
maybe there'd be more.

Jungle Speed gets played at least once a year. Some other small games get played as well.

It's pretty specifically geared towards story games, though.

Thanks guys. Looks like i'll be waiting for Dragonflight or more likely PAX. I'll check out those 2 places Ben, thanks!