Here is the schedule for sessions at Forge Midwest.

This year, it's important to stay on schedule. It's especially important because we're all in one room. That means it'll likely be a little noisy. I really want to keep on these 3- and 4-hour play slots so that everyone gets a chance to mix it up with a lot of different games.

Playtesting
The twist this year is that I'm insisting that the Meeting Room be dedicated to playtesting unpublished games in Session 3 (see below). This is an ideal gathering to get some input from some really motivated gamers, folks.

Basically, if you don't participate in a playtest for this session, I'm kicking you out of the room for that time! Get in on a game! Bring your game-in-progress!

I can name at least three games off the top of my head that can be playtested in this slot.

DESIGNERS COME PREPARED FOR THREE HOURS! Have prepared games, characters, situations, and so on, and make the most out of a motivated audience. This playtesting could really help you get some crucial feedback before the mad dash to publish for convention season. Also, I'll be eager to talk to folks about ashcan editions of games for my booth with Paul Czege at GenCon this summer.

Forge Midwest 2006 play schedule

SATURDAY

Session 1 -- 9:00 -12:00
Session 2 -- 12:30 - 3:30
Session 3 -- PLAYTEST SESSION -- 4:00 - 7:00
Session 4 -- 8:00 - 12:00

SUNDAY

Session 1 -- 10:00 - 1:00
Session 2 -- 1:00 - 4:00

Organizing games

Use this thread to organize specific games for the event. This includes the playtest preparations.

Oh yeah, have a hell of a lot of fun, too!

Well, I've already been informed by Jason Blair that I'm bringing Dirty Secrets, which is my detective noir game currently in design.  So I'll commit to having the necessary stuff to run that in Session 3.  The game takes 3-5 players, and I'm willing to observe to free up a slot.  So, anyone interested in being part of this?

Also, if there's interest, I'll run a Legends of Alyria game in a different slot.  It'll have to be Session 1 or 2, though, since I'm leaving Saturday evening.

I'm also interested in some Blue Moon and Jungle Speed.

I'll be running a playtest of 44 during the playtest session (session 3). I'm hoping Matt Wilson will be running Galactic at this time, possibly other times.

Also, I'll be running Nine Worlds during session 4 (Saturday night) and am open to running Dust Devils at other times either day.

Also, I'm going on vacation and will be offline March 16 through March 24.

Heya,

Quick note Matt.  We only have the room until 10pm on Saturday and until 2pm on Sunday.  Now I'm not sure they will turn us out at that time on Saturday, but on Sunday I'm pretty sure they will.  This was in the room contract I sent you over email.  You may want to adjust the schedule accordingly.  :)

Peace,

-Troy

Howdy.

I'll be running a playtest of my long-toiled-over game dungeonkind (past discussion of which can be seen <a href="http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=16392.0">here, <a href="http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17915.0">here, and <a href="http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=18008.0">here) on Saturday evening. It's new and improved, with dominoes!

Seth, I'd love to get in on a Legends of Alyria game.

I'd also love to play in a session of either The Shadow of Yesterday or Dogs in the Vineyard, as I've owned them both for over a year and have never managed to play either one.

Aaron

Okay, when I stop and ponder, I also want to play Agon, The Prince's Kingdom and Spione, none of which I own, but should.

Aaron

I would also be up for Spione, if it ends up being run.

Heya,

I plan on running a session of The Holmes and Watson Committee.  This is almost 6 months before its release, so it will be a sneak preview for any subscribers.  I figure in a two or three hours session, we'll nab at least two villains.  Looking forward to it!

Peace,

-Troy

I'm up to run Cat - whenever... I want to play at a table of Burning Wheel (or Empires) run by Clinton, I do.  I want to play Prime Time Adventures - and how about Dogs in the Vineyard?

Is anyone taking up a collection so that Vincent and (I'm afraid I'm going to misspell this) Meguey Baker can come?

I can run a table or two of Dogs; I'm not married to any time slots.

I will also have some pre-release Blood and Bronze there, and would love to either run it or see someone else do so.  (not a playtest; it's baked, but it's nominally unavailable 'till Gencon).

I wouldn't mind getting off my ass and learning what all this Burning Whatever stuff is like to play.

I may (may!) have a playable version of Reality Cops to hand, which would definately be a playtest.

James

Games I would really like to Play: Polaris, Don't Rest Your Head, It Was A Mutual Decision, Mortal Coil, Lacuna, My Life With Master, Mechaton.

Games I would be more than happy to play: Prime Time Adventures, Agon, Hero's Banner, The Mountain Witch, Dogs in the Vineyard (basically mostly stuff I've played a few times already).

Games I am willing to run assuming I am not playing something else: Agon (same adventure I'm running the prior weekend), DRYH (seat of the pants stylee).

Jungle Speed goes without saying.

Games I would love to play: Agon, Burning-something (would love to experience the rules in play), PTA, Mortal Coil

Games I would really like to play: DitV, Shadow of Yesterday, DRYH, Mountain Witch, SotC

Games I am willing to run: Mortal Coil, Mountain Witch, tSoY

Doyce, if you'll run tSoY, I'm in.

I'd be happy to run MLwM.

I'd participate in Polaris (since, y'know, no one runs it, really...)

James, I'd sign on for Death's Door.

My dance card seems to be getting filled up...

Aaron

Doyce wrote:
Games I would love to play: Agon, Burning-something (would love to experience the rules in play), PTA, Mortal Coil

I would love to play TSoY

Going back to the indy roots of this artform, I'd also be willing to run an oldskool, 1974, WhiteBox, Three Little Brown Books, self-made, bigass dungeon adventure. If enough people sign up, we can even have a Caller!

Aaron

Games I want to play: Polaris, Don't Rest Your Head, It Was A Mutual Decision, Mortal Coil, Lacuna, My Life With Master, Mechaton. ** EDITED to add Capes and Conspiracy of Shadows **

Games I would happily play: Prime Time Adventures, Agon, Hero's Banner, The Mountain Witch, Dogs in the Vineyard. ** EDITED to add The Shadow of Yesterday **

Games I am willing to run assuming I am not playing something else: Agon (same adventure I'm running the prior weekend), DRYH (seat of the pants stylee). ** Edited to add Universalis **

Jungle Speed (still) goes without saying.

I'm seeing Troy, Aaron/Kesher, and Dave/Nev asking for TSoY, and I'm down with running that.  I'd take one, maybe two more people for that.  Anyone else in?  Those interested, do you have a time slot preference?  I'll be around for all of them.

Would definitely like to do Agon, Nev.

And Galactic (peers at Matt, again).

And Jungle Speed?  Oh yeah.

Doyce,

I'd like to play in that TSOY game with you guys.

I will run my new game, Inuma, during the playtesting slot. It is made of magic and wonder.

My requests and offers are:

- Want to play (sort of in order): Polaris, My Life With Master, Spione, Legends of Alyria, Death's Door, Agon (all games I haven't played yet and own and want to play)

- Will run: Inuma, Swansong, Contenders, The Princes' Kingdom

Clinton wrote:
Doyce,

I'd like to play in that TSOY game with you guys.

I'd be up for some Death's Door. 

I'd also like to get in on some Agon, just to contrast it's Larger-Than-Life-Greek-Legendry with Blood and Bronze's Larger-Than-Life-Greek-Legendry.

James

Sure, put me down for the TSOY. I don't own that one, but I've heard good things. Time slot isn't particularly important to me, I plan to be around for the whole event. Frankly, I wish it were longer.

I'm hearing a lot of people wanting to play Agon... so I guess I'll step up and just run it. At least I will have a chance to run throught it and find out what needs retooling before putting it up to the higher standards of veteran Forgizens.. heh. The adventure I'm writing is geared for 4 players, no demigods (pregens, in fact), and I'd like to stick to that UNLESS I feel super comfortable after running it at CoDCon, and then I might be more flexible about that. The GM has a very specific budget in Agon that is based on the number and starting "level" of the PCs, but I can probably work around that if I need to by just piling on extra Strife. We'll see.

I see James, Clinton, and Doyce, which leaves room for one more (for now)...

I'll be bringing The Great Dalmuti too, if anyone gets interested in that.  I haven't played that game since high school :D

Peace,

-Troy

Hi folks,

I'd like to run Lacuna second attempt in slot one (09:00 to 12:00). I haven't played or run it before so it could go badly. I also will bring Silence Keeps Me A Victim for the playtest slot. This would be a not even close to being finished playtest. It will likely be more dialog than play.  I'd love for someone to run Burning Empires. I've read the book twice but the one time I've tried to run it went badly as I don't have a good enough grasp on the rules yet.

This thread is getting a bit confusing for me. I made this spreadsheet on my wiki. When you have a fixed time for a game feel free to add your game to that page. You don't need an account, anyone on the interwebs can edit that page, so please play nice. If you have any problems with it send me a P.M.

Clyde,

I'd love to sit down face to face and playtest or whatever about Silence Keeps Me A Victim.  count me in on that.

James

I'm in for Lacuna.

I forgot, did I mention I'm also interested in Spirit of the Century? Cuz I am. All these damn webcasts keep getting me psyched about this game and that... it's driving me mad, I tell you, MAD! @_@

Doyce, I'm certainly in for TSoY.

I'm not sure exactly when I'm leaving Sunday afternoon, so the last slot on that day isn't good, but any other time is fine.

James, I'd love to play Death's Door. I bought it last FMW, read it, had really good intentions to play it.

Aaron

This one is for Aaron/Kesher, Dave/Nev, and Clinton, for scheduling TSoY.  I'd like to do this during either the 2nd or 4th (slightly longer) slot on Saturday.  Chime in, guys.

Also, I'd like to have either a group email conversation or a forum thread (maybe over in CRN games?) to determine whether we should (a) do chargen at the table (b) do chargen/make decisions about preferred locale prior to play (c) go for total GM-pregens -- does that work?

Would I be the only one who would really prefer to NOT see all the games arranged and players sign up BEFORE the actual convention.

1) I'd hate for people who aren't in the electronic loop to arrive in Chicago and find most of the games were filled up weeks ago.

2) and the Con really had a nice "pick up game" kind of feel to it last year that was somewhat chaotic but left lots of room for mingling and such.

I personally would prefer a "game day" kind of atmosphere vs. a "preregistered" atmosphere.

Totally works for me -- I didn't know what the precendent was.

Actually, maybe that's the larger question I want to ask:  how do folks usually prep for this kind of convention?  Get some names and do some pre-con chargen to save time at the table?  Come with pregens?  Come with situation and some blank character sheets?  Maybe just try to remember some writing utensils and copies of the games you want to play?  What's the norm?  How did it go down last year?

I ask merely for information -- I'm cool doing it however it's Usually Done.

Hi Ralph,

A Games Day works well for those who are already connected into the network, or very socialable by nature, and would personally cause me no fear this year. However last year if it wasn't for the few scheduled games I got into and then lucking into Mike Holmes I may not have had much fun. I'm not socialable by nature, by nature I'm a Hermit. I had some friends who didn't preschedule games, who are more socialable than me, and apparently they spent some amount of time twiddling their thumbs, and not having fun. I'm not sure if they are returning this year.

Anyway, I think a mix will work well, but based on the present amount of scheduling, 3 games plus one getting worked out it looks like a majority of folks may agree with you, and we won't see really even a good mix of scheduled and pick up, but just pick up.

Hi Doyce,

From what I saw last year, people just made up characters and played. I certainly didn't experience the whole of the "get together," so my perception may be off. I think what may be more important is what type of gamemaster you are. I personally have never really done stuff with pregens, and when I have, even when the pregens are made by other people, my game has been flat. I'm not sure I can create interesting characters, and initial situation without help. You however may be really good at this and not at off the cuff gaming. Play to your strength.

Hi James and Dave,

Thanks, I look forward to seeing you.

Well, it's only been Done once, so there's not really any Usually.

That said, the first one was about half planned games and half pickup. Which sounds about right... I don't want to book the whole even up and leave no time for kibitzing and chatting or jumping in on something on the fly, but at the same time, I didn't get into as many games as I wanted last year because I didn't nail down enough. So it depends on your personal preference and whatever balance seems best to you.

I'd really like to try Capes, and Shock, and I'd really like to play some more Polaris. If planning ahead will get me into those games (or whatever else I listed), I will do so. But I am definitely leaving some space open for pickup whatever.

Oops, crossposting with Clyde... as he says, pickup games are more likely for folks who are well connected or at least very outgoing. For antisocial types like myself (who also spent some time thumb twiddling before falling back on Universalis (which was awesome, as it turned out)), some planning is advised.

And now that I've totally reiterated both Clyde AND myself, I'll shut up.

Oh, and I have no real preference for the TSOY game. Whenever everyone else wants to play is fine by me. I'd rather chargen at the table, (despite the fact that I have pregens for my Agon game), but if other folks have another preference, I'm cool with that.

D.

Valamir wrote:
Would I be the only one who would really prefer to NOT see all the games arranged and players sign up BEFORE the actual convention.

1) I'd hate for people who aren't in the electronic loop to arrive in Chicago and find most of the games were filled up weeks ago.

2) and the Con really had a nice "pick up game" kind of feel to it last year that was somewhat chaotic but left lots of room for mingling and such.

I'm all for pick-up gaming.  If anyone needs an extra player, I am willing to try just about anything.

Man, I was just over at a friend's last night and read most of the way through their copy of Watchmen (yeah, I never got around to it before, sue me).

I really, really want to play Capes now.

Regarding scheduling of events: It's meant as a pump-primer and a good planning guide, not as a limitation to be enforced.

All-or-nothing in either direction seems to me to be the real recipe for failure. Some folks will play scheduled games, some will play pick up games or go eat or play some Battlelore or whatever. Great!

Well, in that case, I'm also curious about the following games:

It was a Mutual Decision
Orx
Battlelore (I've played all the other Command and Color games, so I should be a pretty quick study)

I'm always up for some IWAMD. I can bring my kit (a set of black and white dice and a dry erase board). It's not necessary but it is easier to see than a regular sheet of paper.

Okay, thanks for the answers from folks -- with those answers in mind, I will simply say that, for the TSoY game that's been discussed, I'd like to run it in slot four on Saturday, but can also run it in slot two on Saturday.  The five of us can either officially decide on that now, or leave it for later.  Also: let's say group chargen at the table, and for a setting/situation, I have a mild (+1) inclination toward something in Maldor, a mild (-1) disinclination toward something in Qek (based simply on my shaky familiarity with their magic) and am otherwise equally interested in any locale for play.

And some Battlelore play sounds hot.

GreatWolf wrote:
Well, in that case, I'm also curious about the following games:
It was a Mutual Decision
Orx
Battlelore (I've played all the other Command and Color games, so I should be a pretty quick study)

Clyde wrote:
A Games Day works well for those who are already connected into the network, or very socialable by nature, and would personally cause me no fear this year. However last year if it wasn't for the few scheduled games I got into and then lucking into Mike Holmes I may not have had much fun. I'm not socialable by nature, by nature I'm a Hermit. I had some friends who didn't preschedule games, who are more socialable than me, and apparently they spent some amount of time twiddling their thumbs, and not having fun. I'm not sure if they are returning this year.

Thor wrote:
This worked really, really well at NerdNYC's last Recess event: Everyone submitted their games, a schedule was drawn up, but sign ups weren't held until the day of the event.

That way you can still schedule games, but people don't get locked out of the games before they even know they're happening. And it's still possible to do pick-up games.

Thor wrote:
This worked really, really well at NerdNYC's last Recess event: Everyone submitted their games, a schedule was drawn up, but sign ups weren't held until the day of the event.

GamerChick wrote:
My friend and I would also love to have some convo time with the great minds (which would be about everyone) because we're about to tackle writing our first game.  These students are looking for their teachers.

Blankshield wrote:

GamerChick wrote:
My friend and I would also love to have some convo time with the great minds (which would be about everyone) because we're about to tackle writing our first game.  These students are looking for their teachers.

I dunno if it's a good idea or a flop, but I've added a slot for a designer roundtable on Sunday morning (not married to that timeslot) to Clyde's sheet.  Will other designers be willing to sit with me and answer stuff?  Who knows!  Will anyone want to ask questions?  Who knows!  Will we all be crawling around like pale, sun-hating slugs if there isn't coffee?  Yes!*

James

*Or I will, at least.  'Cause I know I'll be getting my ass handed to me in Jungle Speed until at least 3 AM.

Hi Thor,

I added a preregistration yes/no line to the wiki. So folks who don't want to have pre-sign-ups can still list games, and they'll work exactly as you suggest.

Hi Doyce,

Google's spreadsheets was the first thing I thought of, but according to their documentation you have to add each person you want to share access with by email address, which would have made it not useful for this situation. If I'm mistaken and you know a way to make a Google spreadsheet public, P.M. me I'd love to know how.

Hi everyone,

I'm going to lock the wiki down on April 19th, around 20:00 central time, so I have time to make multiple print outs to bring with me when we come down Friday for Forge Midwest.

Blankshield wrote:
I dunno if it's a good idea or a flop, but I've added a slot for a designer roundtable on Sunday morning (not married to that timeslot) to Clyde's sheet.  Will other designers be willing to sit with me and answer stuff?  Who knows!  Will anyone want to ask questions?  Who knows!  Will we all be crawling around like pale, sun-hating slugs if there isn't coffee?  Yes!*

James

*Or I will, at least.  'Cause I know I'll be getting my ass handed to me in Jungle Speed until at least 3 AM.

Added a playtest session for Oath of Stars to the 4-7pm slot.

Some folks around here may remember a thread way back where we jazzed about the idea of a game which would feature interesting space dogfights.  Some good "committee-style" brainstorming got done there, and I riffed off a thread of mechanics here.

This is that game.

I've frankly given up on waiting for Driftwood to get back to me on the question of collaboration, given their status; I'll unabashedly (but without infringing shit) say that this game is totally inspired by, and was written to be a sister game to, The Riddle of Steel.  It's a seriously incomplete work at this point, but it's complete enough that I just ended a playtest campaign which ran for several months, to very good results.

I want to run a playtest for a different crowd than my usual, shake things out before I continue writing this.  And, Jake, the last I heard was that you weren't sure if you'd be able to make it.  But if you are, well, there's a spot reserved for you and plenty of folks who'll help me duct-tape you to your chair if necessary.

-------------

In separate news, I'd really love to get in on a game of Shock: if someone could be convinced to run one.  That and Agon are my requests, personally.  See you all there!

Dev the Neranged:

I'd totally dig being part of that Agon game. I loves me some Agon.

I'll hopefully have something to playtest in the playtest slot. Other than that, I'll probably consider myself part of the wingin' it crew. It'd be fun to game with friends I never see, but that aren't mean I won't rock the house at any table with some ass kicking happening.

Note to other playtesty folks: If there's other slots where you want to run additional playtests, I'd be a willing participant.

Man, I really hope this Agon game I'm putting together doesn't end up sucking, cuz I'm not going to have time to tweak it between weekends.

Heck, I'll be lucky to finish it in time for the first one >.< Figures this'd be the month we're pulling long shifts and working weekends.

On the plus side, if it does suck, I couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to give me advice on how to spruce it up.

Heya,

I may be late on Saturday.  I have some personal things to take care of in Chicago.  But I totally look foward to meeting all of you guys! :)
This is a really cool opportunity.

Peace,

-Troy

The bare bones locale info and R-Map for the ... TSoY... umm... thing... that I'm going to run: http://random.average-bear.com/img/TSoY_Brokedown-Castle.pdf

As mentioned in the doc, apologies for the non-period images.  I'm just taking visual notes for my own frame of reference.

Okay, lemme see...

I can easily run My Life with Master, Nicotine Girls, or Hero's Banner.

I want to run an Acts of Evil playtest if can get my shit together in the next couple of days. I'd like to run Dust Devils.

I'd love to play Swansong, Lacuna, Capes, With Great Power. I'd love to do some playtesting as well. Galactic? Bliss Stage? Inuma? Silence Keeps Me A Victim?

Paul

Okay.  Here's my consolidated post.

In RPGs:

I will bring Legends of Alyria and Dirty Secrets.

I would like to play It Was A Mutual Decision or Spione.

I am also willing to be talked into other games.

In boardgames:

I will bring my copy of Jungle Speed, plus Polarity and Blue Moon.  Maybe I'll bring Blue Moon City, too.

I would like to play Battlelore.

I am also willing to be talked into other games.

Doyce wrote:
The bare bones locale info and R-Map for the ... TSoY... umm... thing... that I'm going to run: http://random.average-bear.com/img/TSoY_Brokedown-Castle.pdf

As mentioned in the doc, apologies for the non-period images.  I'm just taking visual notes for my own frame of reference.

Heh. Steerpike.  And my fiance wanted me to use a picture of the actor from the  Tudors, in which he stars.  She was drooling a little, though, so I didn't. :)

Hell, Steerpike was hot.. I had to forgive the magnetism of his abdomen along with Dr. Prunesquallor.  And I'm straight.

Paul wrote:
I want to run an Acts of Evil playtest if can get my shit together in the next couple of days. I'd like to run Dust Devils.

I'd love to play Swansong, Lacuna, Capes, With Great Power. I'd love to do some playtesting as well. Galactic? Bliss Stage? Inuma? Silence Keeps Me A Victim?

Paul