Re: Euro GenCon

At 20:14 15/08/96 +0100, Samuel Penn wrote:
>
>Anyone know what Full Thrust related things are going to be happening
>at Euro GenCon in a few weeks?
I don't think that the programme of pre-registered events has been
issued
yet. It will list any games which have been notified to the organisers.
I
would expect from previous years that no games of FT will have been
included
in the program. This however does not stop you from running one
yourself.

>
>Since it'll be the first ever roleplaying Con I've been to, I'm not
>even sure what generally happens at these things, let alone the
>specifics. Are there usually lots of anyone-can-join-in type games
>being run, or just the ones I should have booked for months ago?

European Gencon is a much smaller event than the American one, and has a
slightly different format. I'll try to describe it from previous events,
but
as it is moving to a new venue this year some things may change.

First of all, remember who runs EG. TSR. This means that the core events
run
by the organisers will have something to do with AD&D. You can expect a
number of AD&D Tournament events, which it is advisable to book for in
advance, or at the latest on arrival. This year I know that these will
include a Dark Sun Gladiator tournament as well as the more regular
events.

Beyond this the major events are those run by outside groups. These tend
to
be things like the Vampire freeform games. This year there will be a
drow
masked ball. Variuos games clubs put together this type of thing. A long
running success is an En Garde game, played throughout the event, with
turns
several times a day. Other games companies may also run games to plug
their
products, and there are various side-events like the auction and this
year
the film show.

Finally, and most importantly, there are the delegate-organised games.
Some
of these may be in the pre-reg programme, but most are not. THey are
advertised by putting up notices, and can be anywhere and anything. If
you
want to play FT the best thing is to run a game yourself. A large amount
of
space is left for delegates to run games, and it is really up to you how
to
use it. The majority of the delegate games are RPG & CCG with some board
games. There are very few miniatures games as a rule. Probably the best
way
to run one is to look at the programme when you receive it, pick a time
when
you fancy running a game (looking at what it clashes with) and run up a
notice to advertise your game. You won't know in advance where the game
will
be - so put on the notice that people should meet at the notice at the
time
you have decided to run the game. Put space on the notice for people to
sign
up for the game, and allow a few reserve places to cover for the people
who
fail to show.

A final few words of advice. EG96 will be totally chaotic. TSR Limited
(ie
the UK end) is a pretty small firm. Most of the planning is done by 2
(yes
two!) people. Even when everyone gets pulled in to run the event that is
still under 30 paid staff. Much of the other organsisation and legwork
is
done by volunteers. This year, with a new venue things will doubtless go
wrong. There will be queues to register, to eat, to do anything. People
will
be lost trying to find the rooms where games are being held. Don't worry
about that though. Just find games you fancy, and play them and enjoy
them.
Don't expect to sleep too much - the games go on late, sometimes very
late.
Enjoy.
>
>
>-- 
>Be seeing you,
>Sam.
>
>
================================================================
Cheers
Nick Meredith - nickm@discover.co.uk