[Deptheads] After Action Report

[Eric Burgess]

I hear over a half-dozen complaints that there was not enough room for board
games open gaming (all on Saturday) and I wasn't even at the BG HQ. It was
mobbed that afternoon.

...ERB
www.boardgamebabylon.com

On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 3:30 PM, DB <noldor at gmail.com> wrote:

> John is absolutely right that we need to make open gaming space.  There are
> many people I know who look forward to the con as a staging area for their
> own gaming experiences.  Basically, these are folks who are looking for
> space to run stuff off schedule.  We didn't have open gaming area for rpgs
> this time (it was integrated into the rest of the rpg space) and we did get
> complaints.  I imagine the problem is just as bad for board-games.
>
>  On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 11:43 AM, <evil5757 at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Open Gaming I feel is getting pushed under the rug again because we don't
>> have space for it.  Many of us, including myself and I believe Victor,
>> started going to conventions and hanging out in the open gaming are because
>> it was so full of life and energy.  We need to get that back and make open
>> gaming as important of a section of the convention as any other department.
>> How is the question, so I am offering ideas to work off of and grow off of.
>> We just need to address the fact we are turning a blind eye to open gaming
>> that violates 2 of the written rules in the Con book.
>>
>> I agree that the Flea Market is fine now, but we need to put in our back
>> pocket the possibility of changing is.  As we get busier, the Dealer's will
>> actually enjoy a break in the middle of the day to restock and rearrange
>> their table, get food, sit for a change, etc.  As our economy is slumping,
>> the choice of bringing more staff is not feasable to most dealers, so giving
>> them a break period would actually be welcome at some point.  Janice is the
>> one who can get the feel for how the dealer's feel about how things are
>> going, and when it gets to the piont where they need a break we will look
>> great in their eyes if we have a solution ready when it happens.
>>
>> You don't know until you see the con books I've saved how much I agree
>> with you about the con books.  I still love grabbing one and looking through
>> it and remambering Luaus in Cleveland, Live gaming in Concord, everything
>> that madedifferent conventions special.  Problem is, here we are with our
>> least busy convention, and we are out of convention book space without going
>> bigger on the book.  over 10% of that book is dedicated to a winners list,
>> so do we remove it or what else do we remove from the book to accomodate our
>> growth?  We need to do it for Gateway so we will know if we have it right
>> when we will NEED it for Orccon.
>>
>> John
>>
>> PS, Yeah, I also loved the pre-reg list in the book.....made people
>> pre-register to get their name in it.  First year we did it in Pittsburgh
>> the Pre-reg doubled the following year.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Victor B <fhoenix88 at yahoo.com>
>> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>> Sent: Sat, 31 May 2008 9:51 am
>> Subject: Re: [Deptheads] After Action Report
>>
>>    thanks for your input
>> I will just address where we differ
>>
>> 1. Open gaming is under control.
>> Nomatter what you list or post you will have people that will plop down in
>> the first available empty space and open game.
>> Happens at comic con, gencon, dragon con, etc. Posted speed limits are up
>> yet people ignore those too. '
>>
>> 2. The flea market is fine. Making it more like a dealer's room steps on
>> dealer's toes.
>>
>> 3. Winner's list is like ribbons- many people love it. They see their name
>> in the con book and are immortalized forever.
>> Their accomplishment is acknowledged in a sovenir. The con program is a
>> sovenir that many people keep from each con, ballgame, theatre show, they
>> attend.
>> People like seeing their name in print for something positive. Some cons
>> even print the pre-reg attendees.
>>
>>
>> V
>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: "Evil5757 at aol.com" <Evil5757 at aol.com>
>> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:57:55 AM
>> Subject: [Deptheads] After Action Report
>>
>> Gamex 2008 After Action Report
>>
>>
>> I want to concentrate this After Action Report on 3 items that need
>> attention for Gateway, with 1 General comment:
>>
>> Program Book
>> Foyer Usage
>> Boardgames/Miniatures Ballroom
>> General
>>
>> PROGRAM BOOK
>>
>> I went over the program book and have the following insight and
>> recommendations.  Our program book must cater to the "lowest common
>> denominator," our first time attendees.  Old Strategicon staff meetings
>> answered many questions about events with "the attendees know what it is."
>> We need to look at this book from a new person's point of view.  A person
>> who doesn't know what Uno or Settlers of Catan is but is looking for a fun
>> family game. A person who has never tried a RPG and is looking for one with
>> some of their interests in it.  A person who loves Civil War history, but
>> has never played a miniatures simulation of one.  An anime fan who has heard
>> of the new CCGs and comes here to try them to see if they like one.  Please
>> read it with nothing taken for granted and no pre-knowledge as you follow
>> along.
>>
>> Convention policy: Bonding – we need to add the days/times that
>> reimbursement is available.  After re- reading our policy, we may be losing
>> volunteers because they can't stay until Monday to get their reimbursement.
>> We may need to look at having Volunteer Reimbursements each day if possible,
>> or at least Sunday early afternoon.
>>
>> Troubleshooting Staff – In the age of communication, I suggest making a
>> comprehensive list of all Staff cell phones that other staff carries.  If
>> someone has a question about Miniatures and can't find Jose or Robyn, they
>> can contact any of us and we can make a quick call and might be able to get
>> a quick answer for any problem or at least let the person know when Jose or
>> Robyn will be back to answer their question.  If implemented, we can include
>> this is the paragraph associated with this title.
>>
>> Convention Rules –
>>
>> #2 – Until we get a permanent Open Gaming space, we need to let people
>> open game in the departments as space permits.  As we already allow them to
>> do this, the rules needs to change to something like "Never use the table
>> space in any room for open gaming until you have coordinated with the
>> Department Headquarters.  There may be a planned event for the space you
>> take and we don't want to stop any games or move anyone if we can help it."
>>
>> #7 & Radisson Hotel Rules #1 – Often I see people playing games in the bar
>> area.  As this action breaks both rules, (is Open Gaming a convention
>> organized activity anymore, and if it is, #1 disallows it being in the bar)
>> we need to address how we are going to handle it and state it plainly here.
>> Without dedicated Open Gaming space, we need to let people know EXACTLY
>> where open gaming is and isn't allowed.  If Open Gaming is a convention
>> organized activity, we need to organize it and make a place for it.
>>
>> #13 – ADD – We need to write a policy/guidance for people handling unruly
>> or disruptive attendees.  If someone gets out of hand and someone else
>> "handles it," we can be at liability for not telling everyone "Don't handle
>> it yourself, get one of us" or something to that effect.  We have been very
>> fortunate and have had no incidents since changing ownerships, but it only
>> takes once.
>>
>> General – All of the rule, rights of officials, and everything numbered is
>> too bunched up and more difficult to read than it needs to be.  We need to
>> space between each numbered item to make it easier to read and give a more
>> professional appearance.
>>
>> Event Registration – I suggest adding a line such as "Please cancel your
>> event sign-up if you determine you will won't be attending an event as soon
>> as possible so others may sign-up in your place."  If we give them this
>> reminder, it may help events with limited number sign-ups such as RPGs and
>> Miniatures events.
>>
>> Game Auction – I didn't see anything that spoke to "lot viewing" times or
>> availability…do we have it or do we want to add it?
>>
>> Flea Market – this is an idea with both positive and negative.  I have
>> been with conventions that had an alternate plan for flea market in making
>> it an event itself.  What would happen is that a room would be set aside for
>> flea market sellers and opened for 2 hours a day.  It actually attracted
>> more people to the sellers (limited time, more competition, planned event)
>> than when tables were just "there."  The Dealer's Room actually liked it,
>> because it would allow them to send someone to get food or whatever and not
>> lose customer service.  One convention the dealer's actually asked if we
>> could officially close the Dealer's Room so they could get an actual dinner
>> and not worry about booth staffing.  Either way, after the flea market
>> closed, the Dealer's room got more business than any time of the day with
>> people who didn't find anything in flea market and had cash to spend.  The
>> way we do it now is fine, but do we want to try this?  Maybe we can do flea
>> market one way Saturday and one on Sunday and see how everyone reacts?
>>
>> Product Policy – We are growing, we are attracting attention.  I spoke
>> with Zev a bit before the convention with Heather and he mentioned about
>> manufacturers coming out here and his belief that we could get them to do it
>> now.  Continuing with the policy of product exclusivity by letter, we
>> eliminate a reason for the manufacturer themselves to come out to
>> Strategicon.  We also cheapen the effect of the manufacturers that do come
>> to Strategicon (We came out here and they just wrote a letter?).
>>
>> Master Schedule – Add subtitle "Full event information can be found
>> alphabetically in it's department's section following this schedule."
>>
>> Master Schedule – Font usage.  Do we want to explore using different fonts
>> to denote basic event groupings?  Such as all Puffing Billy events being one
>> font, Youth games being another font, Suggested Beginner Games another font,
>> etc?  If so, we would want to keep it to 5 or 6 fonts (including regular
>> events), so what groupings do we want to highlight?
>>
>> Event Descriptions – We need to add Day/Time played to ALL events.  I
>> found a game that I had been waiting to see then spent 4 minutes looking
>> through the Master Schedule to find it.  We also need to add Event Duration,
>> Max Number of Players, and GM for each event.  Miniatures and RPGs need to
>> have the Game System listed IN BOLD as well so people can scan the
>> descriptions and find systems they like easily.  More importantly, the
>> chances of them missing a system they were looking for would be diminished
>> significantly.  Another addition to each event applicable would be "This
>> event has all materials you need provided" or something like that,
>> encouraging people to try new games they normally wouldn't.
>>
>> Event Descriptions – After each department header, list where sign-ups for
>> events in that department occur.  If possible, also put when event sign-ups
>> are accepted (such as up to 4 hours before each event, anytime during the
>> day of the event, etc.).
>>
>> Event Descriptions – Would it be an advantage for us to list specific
>> events as their own grouping?  We could have had all of Steve's events in a
>> separate listing at Orccon, or Zev's events and the Puffing Billy events
>> this convention.  We have a lead on getting a Battletech tournament with up
>> to 50 people next convention, so they could be for Gateway.  I would suggest
>> the order of "Convention Special Events," then the regular departments
>> alphabetically.
>>
>> Event Descriptions – When a game has a revised and/or re-published
>> version, such as Axis and Allies, we need to print what version or subtitle
>> of that game will be used.
>>
>> Gamex 2008 Directory – Add what department holds events in each room to
>> the convention map.  Also, denote where the Department HQ is in each room so
>> it can be found easily.
>>
>> Food – Suggested additions would be a map of the area with eating
>> establishments numbered, hours of operation, and a book with menus at the
>> reg desk.  This can be done with an easel, a large map, and a binder on a
>> chain attached to the easel, saving space in the book.
>>
>> Winners List – This is an established Strategicon tradition, but takes up
>> over 10% of our program.  I suggest moving this list to an easel in the
>> Dealer's Room and using the space in the book for current convention
>> information.  This sucks for me, because I actually got into and  won an
>> event at Strategicon for the first time in 7 years, but I will sacrifice
>> having my glory in the book for 9 more pages of Gateway information.
>>
>> This is just what I caught.  I suggest everyone go through everything that
>> relates to your department.  Next, think if you feel comfortable with a new
>> attendee reading the information on events in your department and having not
>> just a clue, but an excellent idea about what is happening in your
>> department.  Lastly, send suggested changes to the list so we can help you
>> by brainstorming different ideas with you.  My team came up with ideas I
>> hadn't thought about in over a year, simply with a fresh perspective on
>> issues.  As a team, we can work out any issue any department wants to
>> improve upon.
>>
>> FOYER USAGE
>>
>> As long as we are at the Radisson, this is our only true visual area.  We
>> need to look at what events are located there.  They need to be visual
>> events or REALLY special events.  I agree with the 4e demos being held
>> there, it brought energy and "new shiney" feel to the area.  Honestly, when
>> I discussed my department with Eric over a year ago I told him I would be
>> making them so they would be visually attractive and designed for an area
>> like this.  A large scale Settler's board would be appropriate for this
>> space.  I have to question using this premier space for flea market tables
>> and overflow for scheduled events.  If people are arguing about needing this
>> space, then we need to allocate it for events that will use it
>> appropriately.
>>
>> BOARDGAMES/MINIATURES BALLROOM
>>
>> We need to look at redesigning the Ballroom to separate these departments
>> East/West instead of North/South.  Boardgames is healthy, lively and
>> growing, while Miniatures is shrinking.  Allocating the farthest section of
>> the convention to them where only people meaning to go there will not help
>> them get healthy.  Also, if nothing else, the airwall needs to open up to
>> allow the air to circulate and not freeze the miniatures area out as it is
>> doing currently.
>>
>> IN GENERAL
>>
>> What EVERY department needs to do is look at their events and see what is
>> missing.  We need to see what systems and/or games are missing from our
>> schedules, go to chat groups/ websites, whatever and solicit GMs.  For
>> instance, there were no Conan RPG events, so RPGs would go to Conan Yahoo
>> groups and say something like "we would really like someone to come to our
>> convention and run some Conan games to introduce more people to the system"
>> and see what we get.  Miniatures could do the same for Confrontation,
>> Boardgames to revive the old Avalon Hill Classics or something like that,
>> etc.  If we can fill and keep 2 voids in each department each convention, by
>> Orccon 2010 we will truly have a complete gaming event base we can be proud
>> of and webgroups will talk about.
>>
>>
>>
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