Feedback about ReaperCon '16

[Rastl]

Oh heck. I'll chime in.

 

Overall the layout was well thought out. The classroom right next to the gaming area not so much but unless there's going to be a buffer of some kind that's going to happen. Moving the paint contest out of the nicely sheltered corner isn't very secure.

 

The lack of attendee paints is a BIG issue. Not only for ongoing projects and lack of space to bring them but for the lack of ability to try new colors. Please bring back or make it known that attendees can use the big paint rack as long as we behave and clean up after ourselves.

 

Announcements. Oh yes announcements. Except for that sweet spot in front of the stage they were difficult to hear. Somehow the announcements need to get more coverage be it additional speakers, group texts (by opt-in), or something but the need is there.

 

Speed painting was rather sparse. Use known volunteers to run it and keep it going all day long. Otherwise the table is empty and sad.

 

A minor quibble but the lights in the road cases in the Reaper booth are eye-searingly bright. Which is probably the idea but very painful when in there for any length of time. Filters would be appreciated.

 

Instructors need to speak up. They're competing against other classes and ambient noise. It may be more difficult on those teaching multiple classes but if we can't hear and keep asking for them to repeat themselves it slows things down.

 

Large signage is a must. The daily schedule by each set of classrooms in big big type. That way we know we're in the right place at the right time.

 

Did anyone else notice the dead cricket in the ladies room? He was there all weekend so you know they didn't do much more than minimal cleaning.

 

The new venue has possibilities. Reaper did a nice job on the layout and trying to accommodate all the things going on. Now that they've done it once some tweaking is in order.

[MissMelons]

Hmmmm not many complaints here.

 

The womens bathroom wasn't that awful but I chose one stall and stuck with it the entire con with no problems. Only once did i notice a lack of paper towels but it was resolved quickly afterwards.

 

I didn't feel cramped or claustrophobic so the open spaces between tables and aisles were nice.

 

The spaces around the gaming tables and vendor tables were nice too. I hate being scrunched in crowds.

 

The scale 75 guy was an amazing surprise. Can he come next year please? I think besides the reaper store, he got most of my funds.

 

Food choices were alright, though I had to go hungry meet and greet night and enchilada night. Well enchilada night I made my own chips, salsa and rice combo and munched on that. I feel you on the vegetarian options though mines more of a cheese intolerance.

 

Classrooms were spacious but a little awkward. I sort of liked the round tables from last year, though I understand why it was set up as a horse shoe this year. All of my classes were behind artist row so the noise was only bad when announcements were made. Nothing that is a deal breaker.

 

The tour was great, boneyard was overwhelming. I didn't get to buglips out to find some OOP goodies really.

 

My goodie bag was a bit bleh, I was missing my badge and envelope of reaper bucks and tickets, but it wasn't a big deal. I had great classes and was in good company!

 

 

I see the direction Reaper is going and it's fine. I'm not fond of the building itself or area but I think for them, they're learning what works as well. If they do it there again next year, I wouldn't be mad about it, though they do have a year to figure things out.

 

Do I see them going back to HGI? No. I think we can all agree that it's gotten bigger than that and has out grown that hotel.

 

Who knows. Maybe theyll settle on a different, bigger convention like hotel. :O

 

That is one thing we all agreed that we missed. Midday naps. Tired of conning? Take the elevator upstairs and take a nap. Just want to use the bathroom in the peace and quiet of your room? Take the elevator upstairs and go to the bathroom. Need to run for your life because MissMelons has run out of chocolate? Silly, you can't hide from that!

[Mr Melons]

So in no official fashion, for everyone disappointed in the paint rack. It's always been for the artists and I was informed by an instructor that it was primarily there to ensure instructors had enough paints for their classes. Many of them flew and it was there for those that were unable to bring enough. Allowing us to use "free paints" was just that....an allowance.

 

I was disappointed that it wasn't told to us earlier BUT after finding this out I was less frustrated. I had to scrounge from fellow forumites, but I was able to fix up much needed touchups thanks to them. Just have to remember to bring at least a pistol case of paints next time.

[Rapheal]

There was also a Burger King and a Taco Bell behind the Plaza Mall about 200 yards.

[Cranky Dog]

Something to consider for next year then, a local map of the surrounding area that shows all restaurants within walking/driving distance.

 

It could be posted in the guide or enlarged and by the doors.

[OneBoot]

So in no official fashion, for everyone disappointed in the paint rack. It's always been for the artists and I was informed by an instructor that it was primarily there to ensure instructors had enough paints for their classes. Many of them flew and it was there for those that were unable to bring enough. Allowing us to use "free paints" was just that....an allowance.

 

I was disappointed that it wasn't told to us earlier BUT after finding this out I was less frustrated. I had to scrounge from fellow forumites, but I was able to fix up much needed touchups thanks to them. Just have to remember to bring at least a pistol case of paints next time.

 

I appreciate knowing this, since had I been able to go this year I was planning on bringing far less paints than last time. Next year, I will be better prepared. :)

 

Huzzah!

--OneBoot :D

[Kheprera]

There was also a Burger King and a Taco Bell behind the Plaza Mall about 200 yards.

IxNay on the Toxic Smell around gamers congregating in enclosed spaces...

[Kheprera]

 

 

So in no official fashion, for everyone disappointed in the paint rack. It's always been for the artists and I was informed by an instructor that it was primarily there to ensure instructors had enough paints for their classes. Many of them flew and it was there for those that were unable to bring enough. Allowing us to use "free paints" was just that....an allowance.

 

I was disappointed that it wasn't told to us earlier BUT after finding this out I was less frustrated. I had to scrounge from fellow forumites, but I was able to fix up much needed touchups thanks to them. Just have to remember to bring at least a pistol case of paints next time.

I appreciate knowing this, since had I been able to go this year I was planning on bringing far less paints than last time. Next year, I will be better prepared. :)

 

Huzzah!

--OneBoot :D

Knowing this, since I'll be driving, I can bring a lot of paint.

[canuckotter]

Might as well throw in my own two cents...

 

The space was pretty good. Not perfect, but lots of light and space. The big communal seating area was fantastic because we could all get together and migrate around to different tables and come and go as we pleased.

 

I loved all my instructors. I learned a fair bit in each class, got good feedback, etc. Just lovely.

 

The great strength of Reapercon is the people there. I love the folks I was hanging around with - seriously, you people are wonderful - but I found i quickly ran out of reasons to go talk to other random strangers. I found that there were little clusters of people who knew each other and hung out together but I didn't necessarily see a lot of overlap. With the forumites forming sucha large and tight group, I worry that non-forumites might have been intimidated or felt a little excluded. Obviously if they'd come and talked to us they'd have quickly found new friends! But there weren't a lot of things to get people talking. If there were more opportunities for stuff like Pegazus's bingo game, that's be fantastic. Obviously not that exact thing, but it was such a good excuse to talk to people, and once a player found one or two forumites they seemed to immediately get introduced around to a whole lot of people. Maybe some similar, totally optional game might help give people an extra excuse to talk to folks? Ideally it'd be something that would lead to people having an excuse to sit down together for an extended conversation, like maybe if somehow finding a group of people would get you access to an extra paint and take session or something, or a speed paint... Something where you'd be sitting with the same people for a while and have an excuse to chat. Clearly I've thought this through really well.

 

The badges were pretty but I think they really needed a dedicated, clear(ish) space where people could write their names. Lots of folks had their names written on their badges but it was so hard to read that for the most part they might as well not have bothered.

 

For us forumites: we need a better way for other folks to find us. I met Egg of Coot at the airport on the way home and he basically hadn't found any of us. Maybe we could make ourselves a little banner or something that we could stand on a table so other forumites would be able to spot us easily?

 

I'm sure I'll think of more later, but for now that's what I've got. Overall, I was very happy with the way things were run and with my experience at the con. It was a blast and I'm already anxious for the next one to start.

[Darsc Zacal]

Maybe you guys need to wear

"I'm insert forum name here"

"Ask me about the Reaper forums"

Tshirts.

Edited October 26, 2016 by Darsc Zacal

[knarthex]

Maybe you guys need to wear

"I'm insert forum name here"

"Ask me about the Reaper forums"

Tshirts.

***Darsc is buying us all T Shirts!!!!***

 

It might look a tad bit silly ower my Drow costume though....  

[Rastl]

So in no official fashion, for everyone disappointed in the paint rack. It's always been for the artists and I was informed by an instructor that it was primarily there to ensure instructors had enough paints for their classes. Many of them flew and it was there for those that were unable to bring enough. Allowing us to use "free paints" was just that....an allowance.

 

I was disappointed that it wasn't told to us earlier BUT after finding this out I was less frustrated. I had to scrounge from fellow forumites, but I was able to fix up much needed touchups thanks to them. Just have to remember to bring at least a pistol case of paints next time.

It wasn't always for the artists. Way back in the beginning the con was at the factory where they also have their paint club. Therefore paints were available for everyone.

 

Things change.

[TGP]

Some spit balled ideas inspired by the Otter...

 

...If there were more opportunities for stuff like Pegazus's bingo game, that's be fantastic. Obviously not that exact thing, but it was such a good excuse to talk to people...

 

...Maybe some similar, totally optional game might help give people an extra excuse to talk to folks? Ideally it'd be something that would lead to people having an excuse to sit down together for an extended conversation... ...Something where you'd be sitting with the same people for a while and have an excuse to chat. Clearly I've thought this through really well.

This is worth thinking on. Someone else's comment involved more painter activities / more activities outside the gaming area.

 

Some kind of group terrain build might be a fun idea... ...everybody gets a few bricks, some gravel, some sand... ...maybe a dungeon crawl scratch build.

 

A Ship Naming Ballot: everybody out in the tables area suggests names for Pirate Ships, the ones Ron Approves advance to the next stage...

 

Something where the factions gather, maybe something involving 'negative voting' on the name or names of the ships of this new faction, maybe some kinda game that involves sinking pirate ships (but without leaving the painting tables). The one that survives is the official name of the River Wolve's flagship.

 

I have an old war games book with rules for naval combat. One idea presented in that book was to have a side view cutaway of the ship printed big and shot location was determined by throwing darts at the diagram. Darts that hit below the waterline cause flooding. Darts have to be earned somehow...

 

...possibly magnet tipped darts would be best.

 

A Paint And Crew event:

Large model ship terrain piece needed.

 

Hand out a random pirate mini, people take as much of the weekend as they want to paint the mini, the first 50? or 100? to be finished are eligible to crew a model ship that is on display in the painting area. This earns a ribbon and maybe a pirate lass mini?

 

The badges were pretty but I think they really needed a dedicated, clear(ish) space where people could write their names. Lots of folks had their names written on their badges but it was so hard to read that for the most part they might as well not have bothered.

This is easy to solve: Sharpie Marker + Blank Ribbon (Write a Name or Forum ID on the Ribbon!)(Make it a 5 inch wide ribbon? To fit the long side of the badge for a vertical space to write in?)

 

 

For us forumites: we need a better way for other folks to find us.

"Forum Dweller Bayou" sounds kinda swamp-sational. FDB Sign or banner over a table, that's where you go to get the forums ribbon? It would be kinda cool if there was a special badge for forum dwellers (not just a ribbon) or maybe a double depth ribbon...

[TGP]

 

 

I had an idea while looking at some of the ReaperCon photos on Facebook.

 

Reaper needs to create a backdrop that is the backer card from their blister packaging and a clear shell so that anyone that is in costume can have heir photo taken as if they are a mini.

I love this so much!!! I wanted to dress up as the Bonehenge babe this year, that would have been amazing

Mori, carry on working on the pieces to the costume. Her faction survived, right? So, next year's outfit sorted.

 

@Faekias, reposting your idea here. I will just add that a second Chronoscope blister backstop would serve the uncostumed portion of the crowd.

[skippen]

So in no official fashion, for everyone disappointed in the paint rack. It's always been for the artists and I was informed by an instructor that it was primarily there to ensure instructors had enough paints for their classes. Many of them flew and it was there for those that were unable to bring enough. Allowing us to use "free paints" was just that....an allowance.

 

I was disappointed that it wasn't told to us earlier BUT after finding this out I was less frustrated. I had to scrounge from fellow forumites, but I was able to fix up much needed touchups thanks to them. Just have to remember to bring at least a pistol case of paints next time.

 

Well, it was available before, and regardless of history, at a con where a lot travel to it, we needed to know earlier than the day of the show.  I brought lots of figures to paint, and really had no paint to do that with.  The fact that I personally know some of the artists help alleviate that but I hated to ask.  I was told that is was because too many paints wandered off and not back to the rack.  Fair.  But we have been told over and over there is no need to bring your own paint, and then that changed. 

Edited October 26, 2016 by skippen