Not signed in (Sign In)

Vanilla 1.1.4 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Podcasts: Narrative Control - Episode 9 - Previews and Running your own Convention

Bottom of Page

1 to 8 of 8

  1.  
  1. Administrator
     

    Hi, and welcome to Narrative Control. This week's episode has two segments. The first half covers using previews to prime your next game. The second section is a review of my experience running Good Omens Con. I review all the steps and hopefully offer up some useful advice.

    Hosts: Sean Nittner and Justin Evans

    Length: 23:48

    Liner Notes

    [00:28] Show Introduction: Previews and Running Conventions.
    [01:32] RPGpodcasts.com Bumper
    [01:54] Part 1. Definitions of Preivews
    [02:04] Okay, the real Definition of Previews
    [02:14] Justin's Bleeding Edge Stuff
    [02:57] Modeled after previews to TV shows, designed to get players excited about the next game.
    [03:48] How Justin uses it in his game. Players create brief (vague) scenes for the next game.
    [04:35] Incorporating them into the next game.
    [05:08] Can be difficult if you don't know how long the game will be.
    [05:48] The players end up giving you fuel for the games.
    [05:59] What if you can't find a place to fit the preview in? Does it feel forced?
    [07:48] What about players framing their scenes including the preview?
    [08:50] Allowing the players to fill in the details.
    [09:58] Sean has requested scenes in advance form players. Mixed results. Do previews ever have these troubles?
    [11:03] Keep the previews short and vague.
    [11:33] Authoring other player's characters into your previews?
    [12:30] Players enjoy the spotlight being put on them.
    [12:51] Sean's superior math skills
    [13:05] RPGpodcasts.com Bumper
    [13:12] Part 2. Good Omens Con
    [13:42] Stats: 60 attendees, 14 games, and a Guest GM: Carl Rigney
    [14:16] Covered by 2d6Feet.com
    [14:28] Instant Pre-Order for Don't Loose your Mind
    [15:30] The History of Good Omens Con
    [15:48] Both Cons were Chartiy Events: Alemeday Food Bank
    [16:49] First starting thinking about this early 2005
    [17:38] Location. Find a place to host the con. EndGame hosted our con. They Rock!
    [19:12] Date: Pick a date where there aren't other convetions going on
    [19:42] Round up GMs.
    [20:26] Coordinante the game sign ups.
    [21:12] Feeing of running a con is great. A chance to give back to the gamer community.
    [21:20] Sean's Mantras - Scratch someone elses back first.and "Free is Good!"

    Links:

    RPGpodcasts.com
    Good Omens Games
    2d6Feet.com
    Don't Loose your Mind
    EndGame

    Direct download: NC_Episode_009.mp3

  2. Member
     
    Hey, guys! I'm a new listener and wanted to say you've got a great podcast!

    Regarding your talk about running a con, I've been trying for the past couple years to put together a food drive/gaming con in my area, with little success. (Usually it's a lack of time to plan or a lack of location that prevents it from getting off the ground.) I'm glad to hear that you've been able to do some good on your end. Now that I've listened to the latest episode, I'm feeling alot more confident I can get it going! Thanks for everything, and happy broadcasts!

    Nick
  3. Member
    • CommentAuthorrlamond
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2008
     
    I am really enjoying your podcast!

    The previews segment is great. I have seen the previews in the mechanics for Prime Time Adventures, but it never occurred to me to hack that system into another game. I enjoy working from the inspiration that players throw out onto the table. I'm going to try this for my next game.

    Robin
  4. Administrator
     
    Posted By: darquehope Now that I've listened to the latest episode, I'm feeling alot more confident I can get it going! Thanks for everything, and happy broadcasts!
    Hey Nick, that is awesome, glad you are enjoying the show. In just the last month or so I've seen a lot of gamer-run conventions popping up, and I'm really exited about more people doing it.

    I think the all the notions that a convention must be huge, must be run every year, and must run across an entire weekend are all barriers to gamers getting together for some fun. When people like you or I or any other gamer eager to meet new people and have a day of fun run one of these cons it erodes those barriers a little more.

    That said, lets get down to the meat of it. What city are you in? If you are in the Bay Area, I really like the Alameda County Food Drive (http://www.accfb.org/) but regardless you should be able to google your city (maybe county) + food drive and find something local.

    The next and probably hardest part is finding a venue. If you're in a college town this shouldn’t be too bad. Universities are full of open spaces and gamers, an excellent combination. If not, the next thing I'd look for is your friendly local gaming store (FLGS) and see if they either have a space of their own or if there is a space they regularly use for their own events. Barring that, there are a lot of "community" centers, so long as you're willing to let younger kids into the convention and keep the games PG, you can probably find one that will welcome you to use their space. All hypothetical right now, let me know where you're trying to do this and I'll brainstorm some more relevant ideas.

    Sean
  5. Administrator
     
    Posted By: rlamond I have seen the previews in the mechanics for Prime Time Adventures, but it never occurred to me to hack that system into another game. I enjoy working from the inspiration that players throw out onto the table. I'm going to try this for my next game.
    Hey Robin. Rock on with your previews on!

    You and another listener who emailed us caught the source as PTA. Thanks for this, I'll make mention of it in an upcoming episode so I can make fun of Justin I can direct listeners to the source.

    Let me know how it goes when you use it in your game. One recommendation I have that we didn't mention in the podcast is to talk about this with your players before hand. If at the end of the game, when they are collecting dice and packing away character sheets, you spring it on them, they may be annoyed or at the very least at a loss for what to do. What I would tell them is that regardless of where the story is at the end of a session, just describe a scene that you would like to see. In this way, previews act like another kind of flag (this is the kind of stuff this player wants) for you as the GM.

    Good luck and let us know how it goes.

    Sean
  6. Member
    • CommentAuthorJustinEvans
    • CommentTimeNov 4th 2008 edited
     
    Posted By: SeanNittner
    You and another listener who emailed us caught the source as PTA. Thanks for this, I'll make mention of it in an upcoming episode soI can make fun of JustinI can direct listeners to the source.


    ...err...I was just testing you?

    I read too many game books I guess. They start to blur together...maybe that's why I hack their system bits together. Still I should have known it was PTA, I mean, come on!


    Posted By: SeanNittnerOne recommendation I have that we didn't mention in the podcast is to talk about this with your players before hand. If at the end of the game, when they are collecting dice and packing away character sheets, you spring it on them, they may be annoyed or at the very least at a loss for what to do.


    Good point. I actually remind my players that they should be thinking about previews at the beginning of each game to give them time to get into the groove...and to see how their previews for the current game got worked in.

    To give you an example, here are the previews from my last Cadwallon game:

    Sword and spear clash on a windmill...
    A naphta cannon ball explodes...
    Glanaar’s hammer smashes through wood and stone...
    Clone FE-186 breaks down after being tortured...
    On a moonless night Karinda and Solhim stand before an empty grave...
    Leod, a House Lostariel account steward delivers something to the Userer’s windmill...
    Pisos flees down a tunnel...
  7. Member
    • CommentAuthordarquehope
    • CommentTimeNov 17th 2008 edited
     
    Posted By: SeanNittnerThat said, lets get down to the meat of it. What city are you in? If you are in the Bay Area, I really like the Alameda County Food Drive (http://www.accfb.org/) but regardless you should be able to google your city (maybe county) + food drive and find something local.


    Well, I live in Connecticut, and I've decided on the Connecticut Food Bank (http://www.ctfoodbank.org/) to receive the food. They will distribute the food throughout the state to shelters and such who need it.

    The next and probably hardest part is finding a venue. If you're in a college town this shouldn’t be too bad. Universities are full of open spaces and gamers, an excellent combination. If not, the next thing I'd look for is your friendly local gaming store (FLGS) and see if they either have a space of their own or if there is a space they regularly use for their own events. Barring that, there are a lot of "community" centers, so long as you're willing to let younger kids into the convention and keep the games PG, you can probably find one that will welcome you to use their space. All hypothetical right now, let me know where you're trying to do this and I'll brainstorm some more relevant ideas.


    I do live in Waterbury, a city that has a few colleges either in town or a short drive. I just don't know how to approach them. Unfortunately, with a budget of nil, I can't afford to rent the space, so I have to rely on whatever venue to donate the space. Considering it is a charitable event, I may luck out.

    Well, I'll leave it at that for now. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Thank you for the support!
  8. Administrator
     
    Hey Nick. I went digging around Waterbury and found a guy Bill Collins who posts one a lot of forums. I emailed him and got some good stuff:

    Email from SeanHiya,

    I found your entry on ENworld that said you were in Connecticut and I’m wondering if you can share some local knowledge. Someone on our forums is trying to host a mini convention to run a few games. He’s looking for a venue and I suggested looking at local game shops that have a play space and asking if they would host it. He lives in Waterbury and I’m wondering if you know any places in or near that area where he might hosts a one day convention?

    Thanks,

    Sean

    And I got back this:

    Email from BillHello Sean,

    Nice to make your virtual acquaintance. I am from the Hartford area. I don't know the proprietors of any game shops in the Waterbury area, but I do know of one place that sells some gaming materials. I've never been there. I believe it's called Cave Comics in Newtown. Also, there should be a thread on board somewhere that I used to hang out on that mentioned one or two other places. Let me try to get more information.

    A one-day convention sounds pretty cool. If a game store doesn't work out, it may be possible to find other venues. If your friend needs any DMs, I'd be interested. I run a lot of convention games. What system(s) would these be for?


    Sounds like he might be interested and I looked on Cave Comic's webiste and it looks like they host Warhammer 40K and Magic game days so if they are close, I bet they've got the space.

    Cave Comics info:
    http://www.cavecomics.com/
    57 Church Hill Rd. Newtown CT. 06470 USA
    Phone: 203-426-4346
    Email: cave.comics@snet.net
    Hours: M-Sat. 11-7 Sun 12-5

    Bill's email address if you want to follow up with him: bill dot collins at gmail dot com

    Hope that can help some.

1 to 8 of 8

  1.