[Deptheads] Strategicon - Dice and Ribbons and Pins Oh my!

[Victor B]

The "party games" badge ribbon and the other ones that have been given away in recent years were cool, but not strategicon funded. Individual people, game companies, vendors and groups bring and pass out badge ribbons at cons. That is how con badge ribbons work. One con Patrick was giving out "Socal Gamers" Badge ribbons. A LARP we had gave out badge ribbons to participants that said "I survived the zombie Apocalypse". 
Badge ribbons are usually always limited in quantity and you have to put at least minimal effort into getting/collecting them. Someone may require you to answer trivia to get their badge ribbon. Most times it is attending their event to recive their ribbon.
 
Anyone is free to purchase and pass out badge ribbons. The convention purchasing badge ribbons for a specific dept., person, or group was the issue. And we need several sources and groups giving out badge ribbons for it to be a success.
One source giving out badge ribbons doesn't work. Fandom cons make badge ribbons work because many groups participate, and on their own dime. Fandom is primary and gaming is optional. Huge cons like gencon make it work because groups and game companies give out badge ribbons for visiting them as well as special events giving out badge ribbons as the reward. 
 
Encourage local groups, individuals, clubs, etc. to bring badge ribbons to pass out (for their events, to promote their group or game, to advertise, to be silly, etc). Remember..part of the fun is seeing a ribbon, asking the person where and how they got it, and locating the person handing them out and earning that ribbon (attend the event, answer trivia, trade badge ribbons, or whatever). I have around 35 "Equestria" badge ribbons with a pony head on right side. I will bring them to gamex or gateway, wear one, and give them out to anyone who comes to me and asks for one and can answer a 'my little pony' trivia. I also have some hall costume contest ribbons that I will pass out to people wearing costumes. The con does not have to fund or organize everything we do.
 
Btw....The cost for 2 to 100 badge ribbons is .33 cents each and the breaking points are at 1000 (.20 cents each) and 2500 (.18 cents each). Large cons with 15,000+ attendees buy in bulk even just to award them to a 10% of their attendees, and fandom con attendees don't mind paying a lil extra for badge ribbon since fandom cons are about fandom first and gaming is optional. Lots of good ideas and suggestions but all within the same budget that takes into consideration rooms, dice, dealer dollars for prizes, volunteer food & perks, badge ribbons (several dept. giving them away) and other expenses per department. Badge ribbons however are easy to implement since they don't require the con paying for them in order for people/groups to bring them and pass them out....and I will be one of those people next con. Won't be alot of ribbons passed out but if enough people and groups do it then it will catch on.
 
 
V
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