My Suggestions for Next Year

[Library Ogre]

1) If you're going to have that many Texans, stock more Dr. Pepper. That stuff is like mother's milk in this state.
2) Stock dice, paper, and pencils. Someone will always forget some, and being able to buy them there is a great thing.
3) Table organization. While I realize space is limited, some more space between tables would be nice; I'd probably have put the "amphitheater" near where the main entrance was, and the merchandise and food near there. That frees up a lot of space for tables on the other side of the island.
4) Database of nearby restaurants. While the food was good at Open House, sometimes you want to get out and a) eat something else and b) talk to people without screaming.
5) Buy Amy some mace, to discourage the really creepy folks (like Bradshaw).

I had something else, but I cannot recall what it was.

[Killer Cyborg]

1) If you're going to have that many Texans, stock more Dr. Pepper. That stuff is like mother's milk in this state.
2) Stock dice, paper, and pencils. Someone will always forget some, and being able to buy them there is a great thing.
3) Table organization. While I realize space is limited, some more space between tables would be nice; I'd probably have put the "amphitheater" near where the main entrance was, and the merchandise and food near there. That frees up a lot of space for tables on the other side of the island.
4) Database of nearby restaurants. While the food was good at Open House, sometimes you want to get out and a) eat something else and b) talk to people without screaming.
5) Buy Amy some mace, to discourage the really creepy folks (like Bradshaw).

I had something else, but I cannot recall what it was.

Sound reduction through dividers or hanging blankets?

[Veknironth]

Well, my suggestions are with the schedule. I recommend not staggering the games as they were this time. Make 3 blocks for games and place all the games in them. For example 9:30-13:30, 14:30-18:30, 19:30-21:30. That would make it so that everyone could, if they wanted, play in 3 games a day and it gives an hour for the gam going over time or for having lunch between games. Also, being able to sign up for a game before arriving in Detroit would be great.

-Vek
"Maybe sign up here on the forums."

[MADMANMIKE]

Well, my suggestions are with the schedule. I recommend not staggering the games as they were this time. Make 3 blocks for games and place all the games in them. For example 9:30-13:30, 14:30-18:30, 19:30-21:30. That would make it so that everyone could, if they wanted, play in 3 games a day and it gives an hour for the gam going over time or for having lunch between games. Also, being able to sign up for a game before arriving in Detroit would be great.

-Vek
"Maybe sign up here on the forums."

I'm for that one; I was wanting to play in Julius's game on Saturday because I missed his Friday game, and then saw it was scheduled to start an hour before my slot was over; I tried to run it fast but it ended up taking the whole time, so I was without a game afterwards.

-Mike <8]

[Armorlord]

1) If you're going to have that many Texans, stock more Dr. Pepper. That stuff is like mother's milk in this state.

Actually, could ya'll bring some real Dr. Pepper up with you? Out this way it's the corn syrup stuff.
I miss the good stuff back in Texas.

[Elly_G]

Some ideas...

1. Do part of the auction as a silent auction (post what the reserve is) to save time.
2. Have other games like Jeopardy and Quiz-o running (with dice prizes)
(who's idea was that at the con? Great one!)
3. Sell dice, pads of paper and palladium pens.
4. Do sign ups on an easy access front board
5. Post a board for pick up games.
6. Provide a tri-fold handout with admission with the game charts printed in it.
7. Advertise who the go-to person is for any problems
8. Spread tables out just a little bit more
9. Add more hours to my day for more games

[Levi]

Well, my suggestions are with the schedule. I recommend not staggering the games as they were this time. Make 3 blocks for games and place all the games in them. For example 9:30-13:30, 14:30-18:30, 19:30-21:30. That would make it so that everyone could, if they wanted, play in 3 games a day and it gives an hour for the gam going over time or for having lunch between games. Also, being able to sign up for a game before arriving in Detroit would be great.

-Vek
"Maybe sign up here on the forums."

I was thinking the same thing.

[Elly_G]

Some ideas...

1. Do part of the auction as a silent auction (post what the reserve is) to save time.

They did actually do that with the "Buy It Now" prices. It just looks like most people held out for the live auction.

I have always liked the paper bidding way, better then just plain "buy it now". Just like bidding out loud, you still get the competition to drive up the price. But you are right- I'll have to scan that better next year.

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

There was a silent auction in '07.

Maybe they will do both next year?

~ Josh

[Mierin]

1) If you're going to have that many Texans, stock more Dr. Pepper. That stuff is like mother's milk in this state.

Actually, could ya'll bring some real Dr. Pepper up with you? Out this way it's the corn syrup stuff.
I miss the good stuff back in Texas.

If suggestions about beverages are all right, might I suggest a box of tea bags and a kettle? Not everyone likes coffee, and it would have been nice to have had something else to drink with caffeine in it besides soda.

[Augur]

1) If you're going to have that many Texans, stock more Dr. Pepper. That stuff is like mother's milk in this state.

Actually, could ya'll bring some real Dr. Pepper up with you? Out this way it's the corn syrup stuff.
I miss the good stuff back in Texas.

If suggestions about beverages are all right, might I suggest a box of tea bags and a kettle? Not everyone likes coffee, and it would have been nice to have had something else to drink with caffeine in it besides soda.

Pfft, Palladium Staff disregard this crazy canuck. She was too busy runnin' her yap--and not about EU!--to even drink anything anyway!

Seriously though, the free and copiously-flowing coffee was an INCREDIBLE BOON, thank you so much.


Ooh, I know she's gonna flame me for this! lol

[Nowhere65]

Well, my suggestions are with the schedule. I recommend not staggering the games as they were this time. Make 3 blocks for games and place all the games in them. For example 9:30-13:30, 14:30-18:30, 19:30-21:30. That would make it so that everyone could, if they wanted, play in 3 games a day and it gives an hour for the gam going over time or for having lunch between games. Also, being able to sign up for a game before arriving in Detroit would be great.

-Vek
"Maybe sign up here on the forums."

I agree that the way the games were staggered made it difficult to get to and from some of them.
I too think that a block system would work well. Much like a college course schedule. And if a certain GM wanted to run a double block Wormwood game, that could be fit in as well and still leave one other block available if players wanted another game that day.

As far as the sign up sheets go;
Putting them out daily (ie, put out Friday's on Friday morning, etc.) might be a good idea. Even with the schedule posted the morning games might be a little thin on players, though I think there will still be those that rush to the warehouse in the morning to get signed up.

Someone also suggested having the games be half "first come, first served" and half from whoever shows up at the table.

If I end up GMing, I plan on doing something like this;
Lets say I want 8 players for my game. I'll take the first 4 people signed up. If one of them is missing then names get bumped up the list. For the sake of explanation lets say the first 4 people show up and the sign up sheet has 12 spots on it. The 8 people left on the sign up sheet and whoever shows up at the table and wants to play, well they get to roll for a spot. Highest d20 rolls win the spots. I figure this is in the spirit of the game and will be totally random.

This is assuming that I have more than 8 or 10 people sign up for my games.

[Veknironth]

Well, Nowhere, that would work but they'll have to make each sheet have a clear limit. I saw sheets that had 8 spots and 12 or 13 people signed up. There were names in the margins. Of course, as the GM you can always deny people access to the game as you see fit. "Sorry, this game is full." seemed to work everytime. I'm with you, though, on a GM wanting to have a character or a few spots open just in case.

I'd like to see the sign ups be available before you arrive. The schedule is, so people will generally try to plan out their time. However, if it's a free for all the day of then you're going to have people stuck with no games. If I want to play in Gideon's Robotech game but it turns out to be full then I know I need to look for another game. It's best to know that when I am planning my schedule and be able sign up for something else rather than have to scramble and find any random game.

-Vek
"I still promote my own plan. Let's call it the Vek Game Scheduling System or the Vek System."

[Augur]

Another possibility which would be easy-squeezy-lemon-peezy...

Have the bored-as-heck staffer or volunteer who is "manning the door" have a laptop and be the scheduling GURU.

As you come in--early bird gets the worm!--you register for what game in which you wish to play.

When any one particular game is full, the sheet is printed and that game is closed--GM discretion only after that.

Centralizing an enormous national economy is IDIOCY. Centralizing something as simple as a games schedule should be frakkin' obvious.

[Killer Cyborg]

There was a silent auction in '07.

And an even silenter auction in '08.

[Nowhere65]

If the extended parking facilities are still available in the adjoining lots, perhaps one of those big pavilion style tents could be set up in the back parking lot and house additional gaming tables.

Obviously this would affect the cost of the OH but I would wager that most would take the increased ticket price in order to have the extra space.