[EconoCon 2006] Game Design Symposium

[mearls]

Econocon is a small, college game club convention held at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. I believe that Jared is going, and I'll also be there as a guest.

The convention organizers asked me what sort of events I want to run, and I'd like to try putting together a sort of RPG design symposium. My concept for it is that we would alternate play sessions with discussions of theory and design. I really want to expose people to new games, and then talk about the games in terms of their design goals and how they achieve their goals (or perhaps miss them, depending on what happens in a session).

I'd love to have any New England or New York area designers participate. I think this would be an interesting exercise for designers and players. I have to admit that my motives are at least partly selfish - it would be great to talk shop with people in a relaxed environment.

[mearls]

I realized I forgot to include the con's date:

April 22 and 23, 2006.

[Jared A. Sorensen]

The convention organizers asked me what sort of events I want to run, and I'd like to try putting together a sort of RPG design symposium. My concept for it is that we would alternate play sessions with discussions of theory and design. I really want to expose people to new games, and then talk about the games in terms of their design goals and how they achieve their goals (or perhaps miss them, depending on what happens in a session).

I'll be there for sure (although that's where I had my kidney stone problems a few years back!). The symposium sounds great...count me in.

[Brennan Taylor]

I am definitely interested, but the dates are uncomfortably close to one of my wife's comprehensive exams next Spring. Let me know if you do this again, though.

[Luke]

it is on my to-do list.
or my leash is choking because Jared is tugging too hard.

-L

[lumpley]

I'll come.

Lord willing and the flood don't rise.

-Vincent

[Joshua A.C. Newman]

Hooray! I'm'a go in a carful of friends while not fleeing a flood!

Also, I look forward to meeting you, Mike.

Their website's a pigmess, but here it is. If someone knows of a more... not broken one, can you post it?

[Nathan P.]

This sounds cool.

I can't make a committment for this far in the future, but I'll keep it in mind when figuring out my spring. The website keeps timing out when I try to check it out, though. Do they have an RPG track outside of the panel as well?

[Emily Care]

I'll be there in the carful.  I want to shake Mike's hand, too.

--Emily

[mearls]

Cool! Glad to see there's some interest.

I'm going to shoulder as much of the burden of organization as possible, since I'm sort of building things beyond what they expect me to do. I'll set up an email list to discuss the con, what we want to do, and what would be useful for people. It would be great to meet and talk design for a weekend. I'm really looking forward to this.

[mearls]

Hey all,

Nathan and Joshua: could you guys send an email to my work account, mike dot_here mearls at wizards.com? I didn't see email addresses in your profiles. Thanks!

Everyone else: I have your addresses and will start an email discussion when I hear from Nathan and Joshua.