The Forge Archives

Hi all, it's time to start getting prepared for the con- It's only a month away, so if we start now we'll have a killer crack team of Elite Booth Monkeys  ready to run games at the drop of a hat.

By Booth Monkeys, I mean both the people like me who are not selling any games themselves, but are there to help, AND the people who are there and have bought in to sell their games.  In other words, All Forge Booth members.

Here's the thread that lists the final tally for folks and games at GenCon:
http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=15671

QuoteSorcerer
Elfs
Trollbabe
My Life with master
kill puppies for satan
Dogs in the Vineyard
Capes
Breaking the Ice
May Contain Monkeys
The Mountain Witch
Under the Bed
Primetime Adventures
SNAP
With Great Power
Polaris
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds

Most likely going to be there but not confirmed:
PALADIN
The Shadow of Yesterday
DONJON
Universalis

Last year, we had two problems:
1) A lot of people who were "familiar" with games, but not confident or experienced enough to run them.  So we had otherwise excellent GMs standing around handing out fliers, or we had situations where someone asked for a demo of Game X, the booth folks looked around uncomfortably at each other, and would run to get the author.
2) We had several authors pimping their own game, but couldn't run any other games. No big, but it would be better to get the game list out so that we can find if these folks can/will run other games too.  Otherwise, a lot of games go under (or un-) represented.

I want to compile a spreadsheet of who can run what. This will help us for two reasons:

1) We will know At Any Time who can run what.
2) It will show off our weaknesses, so that we can invite the game designer to (if they are going to GenCon) run us booth monkeys through a quick demo, or (if they are not going) send us a comp copy or demo materials.

So, what I'd like to see from other booth participants is a list. Please jump in with the answers to these three questions:

From the list above,
1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?
2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?
3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?
4) Finally, what can you NOT run? (due to time constraints, not having the game, not being comfortable enough with the game to run it, etc: don't be ashamed, not knowing/running a game is totally fine).

Remember, if you sign up here under 1 or 2, you'll be expected to run demos of it. If you don't know a game and won't have time, that's fine, but be open to sit in a "train the trainer demo" if the author runs one for us, or if we receive demo supplies from the author.

Remember, we're looking for 15-20 minute demos for 2-3 players that you can run with minimal preparation (or pregenerated information like characters, etc that you bring yourself).

Thanks for your cooperation!
-Andy

Edit: (added a|state)
Edit: Removed Burning Wheel, EABA from list above: Greg reports that between he and booth money demos are taken care of.  Luke reports that between him, Thor and Droz BW demos will be taken care of.  But feel free to confirm if you can run these games anyway.

Can I just add that a|state will also be on the list as well as I approached Ron at the 11th hour (i.e.: on the very final day for requests to be included on the booth)!

Cheers
Malcolm

I'm up first:

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?
Elfs
Breaking the Ice
PTA
Polaris
Dust Devils
TSOY (original)
Universalis

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?
Sorcerer
My Life With Master
kill puppies for satan

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?
With Great Power
Nine Worlds
The Mountain Witch

1-2 Other New Games (I'll leave my slate clean for 1-2 more slots for new games that haven't been sold yet, if I can get my hands on a pre-release copy).

4) Finally, what can you NOT run?

Trollbabe
Dogs in the Vineyard
Bruning Wheel
EABA
Capes
May Contain Monkeys
Under the Bed
SNAP
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
Paladin
Donjon
a|state

OK, here we go:

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?

a|state. Well, no surprises there then.

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?
Dogs in the Vineyard (although advice would be appreciated)
EABA (as above)

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?
Sorcerer

Possibly The Mountain Witch

Sorry if this is a relatively short list on my part.

4) Finally, what can you NOT run?

Trollbabe
Burning Wheel
Capes
May Contain Monkeys
Under the Bed
SNAP
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
Paladin
Donjon
Elfs
Breaking the Ice
PTA
Polaris
Dust Devils
TSOY (original)
Universalis
My Life With Master
kill puppies for satan
With Great Power
Nine Worlds

Quick note: Greg has just informed me that he thinks he and his booth monkey will be able to take care of any EABA demoing needs.

Cheers
Malcolm

I can run right now with no hesitation:

Dogs in the Vineyard
Breaking the Ice
Primetime Adventures
Polaris

Requires prep from the author:
Sorcerer
Trollbabe
Capes
Under the Bed
The Shadow of Yesterday
Universalis

Not going to happen:
Elfs
My Life with master
kill puppies for satan
May Contain Monkeys (actually, this is the company name.  game name is "sweet dreams")
The Mountain Witch
SNAP
With Great Power
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds
PALADIN
DONJON

I'm familiar enough with most games to be able to talk about them, but I'm not comfortable enough to run hardly anything. So, here's the short list of things that I could probably run with a little help from people who know more than me.

Polaris
Dogs in the Vinyard
Sorcerer

Admittedly, I hadn't planned on running anything. Really, I'd sort of planned on standing around in some crazy outfit to draw people in where I could then talk to them, find out what their interested in, and refer them to the right people. Sort of like last year. As I said in my other post, anyone who wants me to be able to help represent them should send me a blurb about the coolness of their game. Hook me. The more impressed and exited I am the better I'll be able to help.

Oh, sort of off topic, but applicable: I have a medium sized dry erase board that could be useful for writing down when various demos are starting. Should I bring it, or is this angle already covered?

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?

Trollbabe
Primetime Adventures
Dust Devils  
The Shadow of Yesterday
DONJON
Universalis

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?
Sorcerer
Elfs
My Life with master
Dogs in the Vineyard
Conspiracy of Shadows - except I don't know the revised stuff that well.
PALADIN

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?

I either own these games or have seen them in action or have read draft rules, but haven't played them enough to be really solid. I could easily pitch them, but a demo would be shaky.

The Mountain Witch
Capes
Polaris
Nine Worlds

Some of these new games I might even have trouble with the pitch, so anyone who has a new game at the booth, I'll want to watch you give a demo of your game.

Here are my unfortunately very short lists:

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?

PTA
Universalis

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?

Dogs in the Vineyard
My Life With Master

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?

Nada

4) Finally, what can you NOT run?

Mounain Witch
Sorcerer
A|state
Trollbabe
Burning Wheel
Capes
May Contain Monkeys
Under the Bed
SNAP
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
Paladin
Donjon
Elfs
Breaking the Ice
Polaris
Dust Devils
TSOY (original)
kill puppies for satan
With Great Power
Nine Worlds

I'm more than happy to help out with logistics type stuff (maybe handling purchases?  I worked in a game shop for many years so I'm retail and customer friendly), as well as pointing folks to better informed people/authors, but I'm afraid I'm not a great person to run demos.  I'm willing to try and learn any of the above systems that folks want to prep me for, at least to the point of being able to describe them (I'm already at that point with Dust Devils, TSOY, Trollbabe, Sorcerer, With Great Power, Donjon, and Burning Wheel), but definitely would not be able to run any of them by the con.

Sorry I can't be more help on the demo front,

John Marron

Ready to run
Sweet Dreams
The Big Night
(as Ben mentioned, May Contain Monkeys is the company name)

Ready to get ready to run
Anything.  I have the time, and the practice groups, to prepare any demos if I have materials beforehand.  Are there any of the games on the "Not going to happen lists" that especially want someone else doing demos?  

I've got PDFs of both my games, and 15-minute demo scenerios, ready for anyone wo's interested.

Can do now:
Breaking the Ice
Primetime Adventures
Dogs in the Vineyard

Will be able to by the con:
Polaris
Under the Bed

Could do with prep from author: (and demo prep materials from the author would be good for the ones I already know too)
My Life with Master
kpfs
Donjon
Universalis
Sorcerer
Trollbabe
Elfs
Mountain Witch

Really don't know:
SNAP
With Great Power
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds
PALADIN
The Shadow of Yesterday
DONJON

Ack! Poor Ron seems to have credited an in-design game with being finished. The MMORPG d20 project is no where near completion, so no need worrying that.
Per the Neo titles (Imp, Final Twilight), I'll give some demos Wednesday for anyone interested (I guarentee I can teach you Imp in ten minutes or less!), though I'll handle any Twilight demos for the con, tis a CCG and takes a bit to get accquinted with.

As for other stuff, I'll be hanging around the booth most of the time, so can possible chip in some. I'll sit down for any test demos folks want to run so I can be better educated myself ^_^

Hey Allan-

Quote from: Allan
Anything.  I have the time, and the practice groups, to prepare any demos if I have materials beforehand.  Are there any of the games on the "Not going to happen lists" that especially want someone else doing demos?

I'd say look around, get an idea of the strengths and weaknesses out there, and maybe pick up and learn a few games that people haven't mentioned so much in the "Can Run at the Drop of a Hat", yet that you are interested in.  Even if you are interested in running a demo of a "popular" game, that's fine- There will be lots of GMs to demo those games, as there will be lots of people interested in playing.

QuoteI've got PDFs of both my games, and 15-minute demo scenerios, ready for anyone wo's interested.

You heard him, folks!  (Please PM Allan if you are interested and have time)

Conspiracy O'Shadows (now Irish like me wife) is available online cause the revision is all Creative Commonsized.  Well the rules are and anyone that has any questions I got a forum here (covered in cobwebs, but its there) where you can ask.

Keith

I know Andy really asked for what booth monkeys can run, not what every booth participant can run, but since everyone else is doing it:

Can run
Sorcerer
Elfs
Trollbabe (see a trend here?)
Donjon
The Shadow of Yesterday (new Fudge edition premiering!)
Dogs in the Vineyard
The Mountain Witch
kill fluffies for the big guy (this sounds like a mob game. Hmm...)

Would really like to be able to demo, but need prep/help from author
Breaking the Ice
Polaris
Primetime Adventures

Oh yeah and...

Can Run
Sorcerer
Elfs
Trollbabe
My Life with master
kill puppies for satan
Dogs in the Vineyard
The Mountain Witch
Under the Bed
Primetime Adventures
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds
PALADIN
The Shadow of Yesterday (Unless it is revised then move it to the other list)
DONJON (can even do it with gothic horror vibes...)
Burnign Wheel
Universalis

Need Prep
Capes
Polaris
With Great Power
Kayfabe
The Imp Game
Final Twilight
a|state

Keith

Quote from: Clinton R. Nixon on July 17, 2005, 10:34:17 AM
I know Andy really asked for what booth monkeys can run, not what every booth participant can run, but since everyone else is doing it:

Hey man, yeah I couldn't go back and change that title.  But yeah, I'm looking for every person manning the booth: No-selling Monkeys, Game-selling designers, Primo Booth Pass folks, etc to chime in here.  It'll help us all get organized as a team, and find our strengths and weaknesses before we show up. 

Better to find out now than getting there and realizing that only Designer A has the skills to pimp Game B...

Thanks!

Can do now:
Burning Wheel
Dogs in the Vineyard
Sorcerer

Will be able to by the con:
With Great Power...

Could do with prep from author: (and demo prep materials from the author would be good for the ones I already know too)
Universalis
Nine Worlds
The Shadow of Yesterday (could run old edition now, but not new)
Capes

Really don't know:
Elfs
Trollbabe
My Life with master
kill puppies for satan
Breaking the Ice
May Contain Monkeys
The Mountain Witch
Under the Bed
Primetime Adventures
SNAP
With Great Power
Polaris
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
PALADIN
DONJON

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?
Dogs in the Vineyard
The Mountain Witch
Primetime Adventures
The Shadow of Yesterday
DONJON

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?
Universalis
My Life with master

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?
Conspiracy of Shadows

4) Finally, what can you NOT run?
(These are the games I am unfamiliar with. I could probably still run any of them if given the proper prep material.)

Sorcerer
Elfs
Trollbabe
kill puppies for satan
Capes
Breaking the Ice
May Contain Monkeys
Under the Bed
SNAP
With Great Power
Polaris
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
a|state
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds
PALADIN

Whew, do I feel like a slacker.

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?
Universalis (assuming the revisions haven't taken effect yet..?)

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?
*wincing*... er...

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?
*eyeing that big "absolutely" with trepidation, then backing away in shame*

4) Finally, what can you NOT run? (due to time constraints, not having the game, not being comfortable enough with the game to run it, etc: don't be ashamed, not knowing/running a game is totally fine).

Okay, I might be getting a group together to practice on. If I can do that, I will be practicing one or more of the following on them:

PTA
MLwM
Sorcerer

I will do my best, with or without a play group, to familiarize myself with these games (they are the ones I own) before Con time, but as for running demos, I really do not feel confident enough in my GM skills to run them at the drop of a hat without having at least participated in a demo or two myself.

On the same note, anything I can sit in on a demo or two of at the con I can probably learn well enough to demo myself. I'm not a total lameass, just extremely rusty to the point that I no longer am certain I can run a game just from reading the rules. Maybe after running a few demos and shaking the dust off I will be back in form, I don't know. But I don't want to lay claim to any of that ABSOLUTELY up there and then fall short.

Any help or advice or anything from any authors would of course be appreciated.

Many apologies for having such weak forge-fu.

But I'm really good at carrying boxes and furniture ^_^ So there's always that to fall back on.

I am seeing people say they want preparation for a Capes demo (for instance) and I'm immediately wondering "How much can I give them, and what, to be most useful?"  Is that, perhaps, something meriting its own thread?


1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?

Capes
Dogs in the Vineyard
Polaris

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?

My Life with Master

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?

Sorcerer
Breaking the Ice
Primetime Adventures
PALADIN
The Mountain Witch
With Great Power
kill puppies for satan

4) Finally, what can you NOT run?

Elfs
Trollbabe
Under the Bed
SNAP
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds
The Shadow of Yesterday
DONJON
Universalis

Can run right now:
Sorcerer
Trollbabe
My Life with master
Dogs in the Vineyard
With Great Power
Universalis
PALADIN

Can't run at all:
Dust Devils
DONJON
Capes
kill puppies for satan
Elfs
Breaking the Ice
May Contain Monkeys
The Mountain Witch
Under the Bed
Primetime Adventures
SNAP
Polaris
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Nine Worlds
The Shadow of Yesterday

I won't be able to bone up on anything before the con. Finishing WGP takes priority.

Just a short addendum to my last post on what I can/cannot run.

Still absolutely, totally and utterly able to run a|state. However, I'll have to downgrade the others I suggested to 'can run if given prep materials', due to pressures of time (work, writing, other commitments) before the con meaning that I don't really have the time to prepare demos for other games. If provided with materials in advance, though, I'm more than happy to run stuff.

Cheers
Malcolm

1) What can you run RIGHT NOW with NO HESITATION?

Dust Devils
Nine Worlds

2) What can you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con?

The Shadow of Yesterday

3) What could you ABSOLUTELY prepare yourself to run by the con, if you received enough prep materials from the author?

My Life With Master
Primetime Adventures
Sorcerer
Trollbabe

4) Finally, what can you NOT run? (due to time constraints, not having the game, not being comfortable enough with the game to run it, etc: don't be ashamed, not knowing/running a game is totally fine).

Elfs
Trollbabe
kill puppies for satan
Dogs in the Vineyard
Capes
Breaking the Ice
May Contain Monkeys
The Mountain Witch
Under the Bed
SNAP
With Great Power
Polaris
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
PALADIN
DONJON
Universalis
a-state

Question: Is the No-Press Anthology going to be sold again this year? I would like that, since it's one of the easy sells (especially since I consider it the best money I spent last year- easier to hype stuff you own/play yourself, of course).

If so, would I be correct in assuming no demos will be expected for NPA games?

D.

Hm. I'm still not utterly confident in my ability to run any of the above. I'll be coming off the plane after hitting WorldCon and MythCon/Tolkien 2005 in the UK, so I doubt I'll be able to prep. Do you have any use for a shill, someone you can grab for random demos to fill them out, and, maybe a day or two into the con say, "Okay, you run this one, and I'll sit in to see you're on track," and if that goes well, we'll know I can run whatever it is? I'd say the ones I'm likely to need the least coaching on (but will need rules/prep sheets in front of me) are PTA and DitV.

-Lisa (who has, um, I think 11 days before Josh and I fly out to the UK, presuming no last minute crises from parental health issues to bombs to random subway baggage searches turning up something someone thinks is a sign that I'm secretly a terrorist)(And still to book a couple days of lodging somewhere in London on each side of  MythCon.) (And a manuscript I promised I'd read and comment on.) (I'm insane, aren't I? Why am I doing this again?)

Hello,

Folks, lose the idea of a "shill." If people are playing in the demo who also know and like the game, they are not shills and there is no need to hide their status. They are just playing the demo and having fun - and helping sell the game. A shill is a deception. We don't need deceptions. Fellow players are fellow players, a good and honest thing.

To be absolutely clear: booth person A gets a couple people for a demo, but a third would be extra good. Booth person B hops in. This is not shilling. It is demoing, participation, and honest sales.

Best,
Ron

Whoops, missed your post, Nev. As for NPA, well, that's a damn good question. I was sort of expecting it'd be sold at the booth. Is it?

And if so, then demos for its contents are certainly welcome.

Best,
Ron

Quote from: Ron Edwards on July 22, 2005, 12:00:39 AM
To be absolutely clear: booth person A gets a couple people for a demo, but a third would be extra good. Booth person B hops in. This is not shilling. It is demoing, participation, and honest sales.

My apologies, Ron. That was what I meant. I just could not figure out the word for it.

-Lisa

You may also wish to consider having people who can PLAY these games in a demo.  If one or two people want to try a game, it would help to have someone familiar with the game to act as a player.  Most RPGs are not played one on one.  Such players should have characters ready to play and be very familiar with the product itself.

If such players could be the RPG equivalent of a "booth babe", all the better to lure the fanboys.  Low... perhaps.  Effective... almost certainly.

For those interested, I've made cheat sheets for Infinite Armies and three pairs of demo decks, enough to play a few turns and get a feel for how it works. Will gladly show anyone interested, and likewise, I'll have to pigeonhole a few people to get fully up to speed on their systems.

Greg Porter
BTRC

I can run:
Under the Bed
Primetime Adventures

I'd like some prep on:
Dogs in the Vineyard (just cuz I haven't played in a month or so)

I'm unlikely to be able to run:
Sorcerer
Elfs
Trollbabe
My Life with master
kill puppies for satan
Capes
Breaking the Ice
May Contain Monkeys
The Mountain Witch
SNAP
With Great Power
Polaris
Final Twilight
The Imp Game
MMORPG
Kayfabe
a|state
Conspiracy of Shadows
Dust Devils
Nine Worlds
PALADIN
The Shadow of Yesterday
DONJON
Universalis