Indie Games on Demand

Hey folks. Just wanted to share some success with this format over at Strategicon Orccon 2017 (Feb 17-20).

Specifically on Saturday that weekend, we ran a very loose RPG Games on Demand. We had a set of sessions for the morning and afternoon time slots, and had 16 people / 4 tables for the morning (The Quiet Year w/ Lego, Fiasco, Swords and Wizardry, Dread) + 10 people / 2 tables in the afternoon (Forget-Me-Not: Murder Hobo, Dungeon World), and another ad hoc table in between sessions of 4 people playing The Quiet Year w/ Lego.

We did it very much like the Donut at GoPlayNW, where we just gathered up, gauged a number of GMs and volunteers, pitched some stuff, and then gamed.

I did have to do some double-duty due to a low number of GMs (kicked off a Quiet Year then ran Dread in the morning; kicked off Forget-Me-Not then ran Dungeon World in the afternoon), but otherwise it felt quite successful.

What worked well : We had a good thoroughfare space which got us attention, but was still tucked away enough for non-interrupted play. I made about a dozen GoD sheets that get people to stop and read, and helped get folks thinking and excited to game (see attached image). The support of Jim Sandoval who heads RPGs here is exemplary. Word seems to be spreading and excitement is building.

What could use work : Need more GM critical mass. Better communication in the con book. Signage to prevent spillover from the open gaming room in taking our tables. Signage for the area in general. (most of this Jim’s gonna take care of; it was a learning experience)

That said, as we try to grow this over at Strategicon (next one is Gamex 2017 in May), I think I’d love some discussion of options or what works at other cons, just to get ideas.

Anyways, thought I’d report here in case other useful feedback and discussion helps.

Originally shared by Michael Sands

This is for people within reach of Wellington, New Zealand in January:

Would you like to help facilitate Games on Demand at Kapcon 2017? (see https://kapcon.rpg.net.nz/)

Necessary qualifications are:

– You would like to run some games, and okay with exactly which game it is being decided right then on the day.

Low-preparation games are obviously stars here, but games/adventures with prep done in advance are great too (as long as it can be played on demand!) You also get to claim the GM’s reduced entry fee and preferential game picks.

My plan this year is to have each facilitator offer either 2 or 4 games, which I’ll use to make a menu of games, with a picture and game info.

I’ll be aiming to do something like this: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5pV27F3R0veSkNFWTBZWUhzM1k

Have a think about if you’d like to take part, and let me know (either PM here or email to mike@genericgames.co.nz).

No need to decide which games or how many sessions you would like to facilitate yet – we’ll do that later.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5pV27F3R0veSkNFWTBZWUhzM1k

Games on Demand is happening at DragonCon! We are in the AmericasMart building 1 , second floor, up the escalators to the right. Can’t miss the sign!