<tangent>
I think the problem of con scenarios isn't how the cons organise them.
Its, simply, that we're volunteers. Every last one of us
jack-a-monkeys. Your RPG co-ordinator is doing it cause he's part of a
group organising the con or he's been picked by the con director. The
GMs are anywhere from staffers who aren't illiterate all the way up to
Iron GMs. And your scenario writers are sometimes dilligent and lucid,
and sometimes people pestered by RPG co-ordinators desperate for
numbers. I've been a staff GM, i've been a writer, like most of us,
and i've had clear and well written scenarios in on time, and then
I've handed 16 pages of chaotic sprawl to an RPG co-ordinator a few
hours before it was supposed to run and then hid somewhere (sorry
Aongus).
Blessed are those who volunteer their time; they're the lifeblood of
cons. In theory, a goon lifting truss at a trade show in the RDS gets
€80 for up to 4 hours work, whereas we do 10 - 30 hours of minionry
for free. And are expected to run 2 - 3 games back to back, often
without knowing the system or even being able to understand the
scenario, which reads like a Junior Cert essay.
But...that does mean its difficult to start waving deadlines and
insisting on rewrites from game writers. Writers do it for the fun of
writing, or because they want to get in free. And when you're not a
student any more, paying into cons isn't quite so daunting as before.
If a writer feels he's getting dicked about, he can just walk, or not
write any more. Plus, a lot of people writing are somebodies mate.
End result? The amount of pressure an RPG co-ordinator can put on his
writers and GMs is pretty minimal. I've never been an RPG
co-ordinator, but i've yet to see one who wasn't a ball of stress and
knives on a con weekend. And understandably so.
<end tangent>
I think a system for smaller games, where people can pick, or even
request said system or setting, would be good. This also is something
for cons to do some market research well in advance. As previously
noted, your D&D and Cthulhu will always get players and many tables,
as will games by well known authors. But something where newish
players can get away from the usual systems and settings would be cool
- especially for those people who don't have a gaming society to try
such games, or a gaming group at all.
It'd be a pain for RPG co-ordinators, sure. But I'd imagine there's a
rake of people who'd be dying to play Unknown Armies or something
similar, and whose only opportunity to do so is write a scenario for a
con; which is pretty frustrating when you want to be a PC for once.
Something where you can go to a con, request "SLA" and in 2 hours if
there's enough players, there'll be a game ready and waiting would be
cool. Within reason, of course - anything that might have a scenario
written for a con in the last 10 years, for example.
And i think we could do with more writing workshops. Plenty of writers
with potential who only learn after a few scenarios experience; some
of those will get scared off in their early efforts. A couple of
seasoned writers i know have mentioned bringing back that idea, and
apart from being a way to pass on some knowledge, its an excuse for a
social night too.
- Nuge
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