Gary Con XII

Necron 99 · Post June 28th, 2019, 9:19 pm

I received an email today with my badge registration code/discount for next year's attendance. Gold badges are slated to be $185, the discount is good for $85.

My actual point, however, is that according to the email, badge registration will be 12pm, Central Time, on Saturday, July 27th. Since I have the discount, I'll shoot for another Gold badge for next year's attendance. After that, it'll just be a matter of submitting events this fall, then the big rush for event registration in Feb 2020.

Ancalagon · Post July 1st, 2019, 11:25 pm

Necron 99 wrote: ↑June 28th, 2019, 9:19 pm I received an email today with my badge registration code/discount for next year's attendance. Gold badges are slated to be $185, the discount is good for $85.

My actual point, however, is that according to the email, badge registration will be 12pm, Central Time, on Saturday, July 27th. Since I have the discount, I'll shoot for another Gold badge for next year's attendance. After that, it'll just be a matter of submitting events this fall, then the big rush for event registration in Feb 2020.

Wasn't the gold badge for GCXI priced at $160? If so, a $25 jump in one years time reminds me of Dragon Con membership price hikes.

Thanks for the info about July 27th. I'm still kicking around which game system to run at GCXII....

Necron 99 · Post July 2nd, 2019, 7:43 pm

Yeah, either 160 or 165. I hope this doesn't become a usual thing, especially since we're not changing venues and we're not adding anything to the con, that I'm aware, that should warrant a large price increase.

The more things like this keep changing, the more and more it feels like Gary Con is getting away from "Gary Con".

Ancalagon · Post July 2nd, 2019, 10:28 pm

Necron 99 wrote: ↑July 2nd, 2019, 7:43 pm Yeah, either 160 or 165. I hope this doesn't become a usual thing, especially since we're not changing venues and we're not adding anything to the con, that I'm aware, that should warrant a large price increase.

The more things like this keep changing, the more and more it feels like Gary Con is getting away from "Gary Con".

GC is getting away from "GC" and has been for a few years... this is just another step in the "growing" process... unfortunately.

grodog · Post July 3rd, 2019, 9:31 pm

Agreed!

At some point GC will fully jump the shark and I'll likely drop it for NTX, and TBD other cool old-school con....

Allan.

Ancalagon · Post July 3rd, 2019, 11:55 pm

grodog wrote: ↑July 3rd, 2019, 9:31 pm Agreed!

At some point GC will fully jump the shark and I'll likely drop it for NTX, and TBD other cool old-school con....

Allan.

If you know of any cons with a more old school vibe to them (besides NTX) please share with us.

Necron 99 · Post July 13th, 2019, 4:01 pm

I mentioned to Anc the other day that I had something of any idea for running an adventure at GCXII. The adventure I have is tentatively titled, The Tower at the Edge of Twilight and would be run using AD&D, AS&SH, B/X or possibly DCC.

I've also toyed with the idea of running adventures using completely different game systems, something outside of the old-school games. Maybe some Tolkien inspired adventure using The One Ring, or something more savage like 2d20 Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed, perhaps grim Old World using the new Warhammer 4e, or even some Nordic/Viking styled adventure via Trudvang Chronicles.

Last year I ran sessions of Solomon Kane using AS&SH and it seemed to go over very well, I could expand on that world by designing up a new adventure.

Then, there's another side in my brain that thinks, "I've been running for the last three years, maybe in 2020 I won't run anything and just play for a change."

Tough choices.

Necron 99 · Post July 14th, 2019, 6:36 pm

On the Gary Con forum, Luke gave updates about badges, but also explained a new system for Events next year.

We have heard lots of feedback from you on the Featured Event System used over the past few years. A few people liked it, but many more did not. So after some thought and help from JT at TTE, we have come up with a new system that resolves the concerns people had while retaining the benefits.

All events will simply be events- no Featured or Regular category. We will have the same badge types and same registration process with a Premier one week before Platinum registration. One week after Platinum will be Gold registration and then a week after that Standard registration. We will open up a percentage of seats in all games at each registration period. Something along these lines:

Premier (Diamond Badges) 50%
Platinum (Diamond and Platinum Badges) 65%
Gold (Diamond, Platinum and Gold) 80%
Standard (All) 100%

This system alleviates the issues of artificially limiting registration for some events that were coded Featured, so GMs will have an equal footing to have players sign up for their games. It also ensures that every person will have the opportunity to get into a game whether you have a diamond or silver badge. And it retains the benefits of earlier registration for gold and above badges. We believe this will be a great improvement for all and are very excited to implement it for GC XII.

Ancalagon · Post July 14th, 2019, 7:24 pm

I'm cool with doing away with "Featured" and "Regular" events. Seems fair to just make them "Events" and let them fill up first come first served.

However, I'm not down with artificially limiting access to events. IMO if a higher level badge (gold, platinum, diamond) is purchased (at a higher price) the badge holder should be able to sign up for an event when the badge type in question permits access as long as seats are still available. Limiting access in this fashion is a disservice to folks laying out extra $$$ for a higher level badge and knee jerk reaction to complaining silver badge holders who can't or won't lay out the extra $$$ to snag a gold badge or higher.

Ancalagon · Post July 20th, 2019, 2:25 pm

Necron 99 wrote: ↑July 13th, 2019, 4:01 pm I mentioned to Anc the other day that I had something of any idea for running an adventure at GCXII. The adventure I have is tentatively titled, The Tower at the Edge of Twilight and would be run using AD&D, AS&SH, B/X or possibly DCC.

I've also toyed with the idea of running adventures using completely different game systems, something outside of the old-school games. Maybe some Tolkien inspired adventure using The One Ring, or something more savage like 2d20 Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed, perhaps grim Old World using the new Warhammer 4e, or even some Nordic/Viking styled adventure via Trudvang Chronicles.

Last year I ran sessions of Solomon Kane using AS&SH and it seemed to go over very well, I could expand on that world by designing up a new adventure.

Then, there's another side in my brain that thinks, "I've been running for the last three years, maybe in 2020 I won't run anything and just play for a change."

Tough choices.

I considered using different game systems for GCXII such as MERP, Mythras, HackMaster 4e, and WFRP2e. C&C is pretty much out for a few reasons... one of which is that I've been running it for my home group for the last year and I'd like a change of pace behind the screen for GCXII.

Last time I ran MERP was early 90s for 3-4 weeks as a break from the norm for my group at the time. I don't think the options for spells are going to fit the type of adventure I have in mind for GCXII. I'd still like to dust off the MERP at some point... maybe at Origins or some other con in the future.

I've never run Mythras but the more I read about the game system the more I wouldn't mind taking it for a spin. However, I don't want to do so at a convention like GC until becoming proficient with the game. Sitting down at a table with a GM who doesn't have a solid grasp on a game system after laying out the time and $$$ required to reach an out-of-state con is not my idea of a good time. I don't want to be that guy for anyone!

HackMaster 4e is a blast! I loved playing in an all-too-short campaign back in the 00s with the unluckiest character I've ever created. RIP Bonecrusher! But since HM4 is basically AD&D 1st and 2nd with KenzerCo house rules added, why not just run AD&D at GaryCon?

I loves me some Warhammer Fantasy RP 2e! But I've no idea if there will be enough folks at GCXII who feel the same to fill up sessions. I ran C&C last year and one session only half-filled... which may have been the result of it being a 5-hour session compared to the standard 4-hour offerings. WFRP2e might be in the same bag with MERP, something I'd try running at a different con.

This is by no means written in stone, but I'm now leaning towards running AD&D again GCXII using pre-gen PCs of 5th to 7th level from the old Iron Circle group. As this is Gary Con we're talking about, I'm thinking why not run some AD&D, a system I enjoy and an offering for those interested in the old school goodness. I came up with an adventure idea based in Greyhawk that I gave the working title The Skull of Tamoachan. That should ring a bell for a few folks.