Feedback about ReaperCon '16

[canuckotter]

I had another thought! This one is about registration though, rather than the con itself.

 

A few of the classes ("Painting hot chicks", for example ) sold out almost instantly. Folks who were at work and not in a position to obsessively hit refresh didn't have much of a chance to get the classes they really wanted. Now that it's happened that way once, it's likely to keep happening every year. My suspicion is that there are a few classes that were exceptionally popular and a lot of others that were popular but not overwhelmingly so, but all the classes went pretty quickly because people were desperately trying to register for the one or two classes they really wanted and just filled up their other spots at the same time. If we could separate the "must-have" registrations from the "nice-to-have" registrations, the class sign-up might be a lot less of a mad, frustrating scramble for everyone.

 

So, as one possible suggestion... What about a pre-registration step? Give people a week-long period to pick one or two classes they really want and sign up for a lottery for those spots. So, for example, I'd have pre-registered for "Painting hot chicks" and "Bones convert 'n' take". When the week is up, everyone who pre-registered in a class gets put into a draw for the available spots for that class. If there are enough spots for everyone, then great! If not - again, "Painting hot chicks" comes to mind - a simple bit of code would randomly select names from pre-registrations until all the spots are full. Once all the classes are sorted out, everyone gets notified, and then the system goes quiet for a day or two before normal registration opens up. The folks who won their spots in the pre-registration lottery have one week to pay for the class, and if they haven't done it yet, they lose their place.

 

The main point here is that for most people, the frantic rush to sign up is based on one or two really exciting classes; by switching to this sort of system, there's no longer any rush for the really exciting classes. You've got a solid week to pre-register, and it doesn't matter when during that week you do it; then you've got a couple days after pre-registration to adjust your plans based on whether or not you got the class you really wanted, before signing up for the rest of the classes you're interested in. Some people will still scramble to finish registration the minute full registration opens (ie probably me - I'm excitable ) but for a lot of people it'll be a lot more relaxed and removes one of the big sources of stress people had in the lead-up to the con.

 

The downside is that it's more complicated, and likely will lead to more questions for Reaper staff... but I think the improved sign-up experience would be worth it, personally.

 

What do other folks think?

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

I've already talked to Bryan about this, but for demo's or open play tables, it would be nice to see a list of who signed up for the table when.  The Frostgrave table was an open table but evidently people could sign up for it on their itinerary but I didn't know that they had.  So I would have a demo going on and have someone come up and say that they had signed up for a slot.  I ended up being able to work around it, but that is just a suggestion.

[Mr Melons]

I had another thought! This one is about registration though, rather than the con itself.

 

A few of the classes ("Painting hot chicks", for example ) sold out almost instantly. Folks who were at work and not in a position to obsessively hit refresh didn't have much of a chance to get the classes they really wanted. Now that it's happened that way once, it's likely to keep happening every year.

This happens every year and it only gets worse the higher the attendance. Not even more classes helps this. After people's first ReaperCon they learn to prepare for the rush.

 

My suspicion is that there are a few classes that were exceptionally popular and a lot of others that were popular but not overwhelmingly so, but all the classes went pretty quickly because people were desperately trying to register for the one or two classes they really wanted and just filled up their other spots at the same time.

Most of the veterans plan in advance and have primary class choices and backups for those prepared the first day the schedule becomes available a week in advance.

 

If we could separate the "must-have" registrations from the "nice-to-have" registrations, the class sign-up might be a lot less of a mad, frustrating scramble for everyone.

 

So, as one possible suggestion... What about a pre-registration step? Give people a week-long period to pick one or two classes they really want and sign up for a lottery for those spots. So, for example, I'd have pre-registered for "Painting hot chicks" and "Bones convert 'n' take". When the week is up, everyone who pre-registered in a class gets put into a draw for the available spots for that class. If there are enough spots for everyone, then great! If not - again, "Painting hot chicks" comes to mind - a simple bit of code would randomly select names from pre-registrations until all the spots are full. Once all the classes are sorted out, everyone gets notified, and then the system goes quiet for a day or two before normal registration opens up. The folks who won their spots in the pre-registration lottery have one week to pay for the class, and if they haven't done it yet, they lose their place.

so what you are suggesting is a pure RNG selection for classes people pay for. If you bought a burger and wanted a burger, but I give you a chicken sandwich or an apple pie (which you might both enjoy) how will this end well?

 

The main point here is that for most people, the frantic rush to sign up is based on one or two really exciting classes; by switching to this sort of system, there's no longer any rush for the really exciting classes. You've got a solid week to pre-register, and it doesn't matter when during that week you do it; then you've got a couple days after pre-registration to adjust your plans based on whether or not you got the class you really wanted, before signing up for the rest of the classes you're interested in. Some people will still scramble to finish registration the minute full registration opens (ie probably me - I'm excitable ) but for a lot of people it'll be a lot more relaxed and removes one of the big sources of stress people had in the lead-up to the con.

It is honestly only stressful to new/first timers. Not knowing what to do is the primary source of stress. Once they learn the ropes they will have a better understanding of it making it far less crazy. Take this from people who have been doing it for years.

 

The downside is that it's more complicated, and likely will lead to more questions for Reaper staff... but I think the improved sign-up experience would be worth it, personally.

 

What do other folks think?

Honestly, they have had this method for some time and every year it gets better and more refined. Your first year it's "man I only got one class I wanted". Your second year it's "woohoo I got 3 on my list!" etc.

[amuller33]

Some spit balled ideas inspired by the Otter...

 

 

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?

 

I think this is a great idea! a community fun project.. probably best to stick to reapers theme, but the options are limitless... mass zombie attack, a village of mouselings,  heck you could do the entire caves of Chaos Dungeon. id support this idea... SOMEBODY MAKE IT SO!

[canuckotter]

 

If we could separate the "must-have" registrations from the "nice-to-have" registrations, the class sign-up might be a lot less of a mad, frustrating scramble for everyone.

 

So, as one possible suggestion... What about a pre-registration step? Give people a week-long period to pick one or two classes they really want and sign up for a lottery for those spots. So, for example, I'd have pre-registered for "Painting hot chicks" and "Bones convert 'n' take". When the week is up, everyone who pre-registered in a class gets put into a draw for the available spots for that class. If there are enough spots for everyone, then great! If not - again, "Painting hot chicks" comes to mind - a simple bit of code would randomly select names from pre-registrations until all the spots are full. Once all the classes are sorted out, everyone gets notified, and then the system goes quiet for a day or two before normal registration opens up. The folks who won their spots in the pre-registration lottery have one week to pay for the class, and if they haven't done it yet, they lose their place.

so what you are suggesting is a pure RNG selection for classes people pay for. If you bought a burger and wanted a burger, but I give you a chicken sandwich or an apple pie (which you might both enjoy) how will this end well?

 

Nope. It's "We have 10 burgers but 50 people who want a burger. Everyone gets a raffle ticket, we pull 10 tickets out, those people get burgers and the other 40 go back to look for other options." 

 

And I should point out that other than missing out on "Painting hot chicks" I got every class I wanted, even though it was my first year. I was prepared for the registration scramble and it mostly worked in my favour, so my suggestions aren't remotely about being disappointed. If anything, this reduces my odds of getting the classes I want next year - but it means that the folks who work midnight shifts and are asleep when registration opens, or who work warehouse or factory or customer service jobs and can't get a break when registration opens, or who catch a really bad flu and have passed out when registration opens... those folks still have a shot of getting the class they want. Don't get me wrong, I'm greedy. I want the things I want and I'm not shy about going to get them. But I do think it's unfair for many guests that some of us have the ability to drop what we're doing and scramble for classes the minute registration opens.

[Mr Melons]

I've already talked to Bryan about this, but for demo's or open play tables, it would be nice to see a list of who signed up for the table when. The Frostgrave table was an open table but evidently people could sign up for it on their itinerary but I didn't know that they had. So I would have a demo going on and have someone come up and say that they had signed up for a slot. I ended up being able to work around it, but that is just a suggestion.

I ran into this problem when I ran games too. It would have been so much easier to go "Charles and Sue haven't shown so I can take walk ups". After thinking about it though, it's basically Reaper releasing personal information to their GMs that are not Reaper personnel. You could argue for forum handles which are public domain but not everyone that signs up for stuff is on the forums.

[Mr Melons]

 

 

 

If we could separate the "must-have" registrations from the "nice-to-have" registrations, the class sign-up might be a lot less of a mad, frustrating scramble for everyone.

 

So, as one possible suggestion... What about a pre-registration step? Give people a week-long period to pick one or two classes they really want and sign up for a lottery for those spots. So, for example, I'd have pre-registered for "Painting hot chicks" and "Bones convert 'n' take". When the week is up, everyone who pre-registered in a class gets put into a draw for the available spots for that class. If there are enough spots for everyone, then great! If not - again, "Painting hot chicks" comes to mind - a simple bit of code would randomly select names from pre-registrations until all the spots are full. Once all the classes are sorted out, everyone gets notified, and then the system goes quiet for a day or two before normal registration opens up. The folks who won their spots in the pre-registration lottery have one week to pay for the class, and if they haven't done it yet, they lose their place.

so what you are suggesting is a pure RNG selection for classes people pay for. If you bought a burger and wanted a burger, but I give you a chicken sandwich or an apple pie (which you might both enjoy) how will this end well?

 

Nope. It's "We have 10 burgers but 50 people who want a burger. Everyone gets a raffle ticket, we pull 10 tickets out, those people get burgers and the other 40 go back to look for other options."

 

And I should point out that other than missing out on "Painting hot chicks" I got every class I wanted, even though it was my first year. I was prepared for the registration scramble and it mostly worked in my favour, so my suggestions aren't remotely about being disappointed. If anything, this reduces my odds of getting the classes I want next year - but it means that the folks who work midnight shifts and are asleep when registration opens, or who work warehouse or factory or customer service jobs and can't get a break when registration opens, or who catch a really bad flu and have passed out when registration opens... those folks still have a shot of getting the class they want. Don't get me wrong, I'm greedy. I want the things I want and I'm not shy about going to get them. But I do think it's unfair for many guests that some of us have the ability to drop what we're doing and scramble for classes the minute registration opens.

More like 10 burgers and 500 really hungry ppl lol.

[Kheprera]

 

I've already talked to Bryan about this, but for demo's or open play tables, it would be nice to see a list of who signed up for the table when. The Frostgrave table was an open table but evidently people could sign up for it on their itinerary but I didn't know that they had. So I would have a demo going on and have someone come up and say that they had signed up for a slot. I ended up being able to work around it, but that is just a suggestion.

I ran into this problem when I ran games too. It would have been so much easier to go "Charles and Sue haven't shown so I can take walk ups". After thinking about it though, it's basically Reaper releasing personal information to their GMs that are not Reaper personnel. You could argue for forum handles which are public domain but not everyone that signs up for stuff is on the forums.

A schedule sheet at the table: "Frostgrave demo 9am-10am, CAV: War of the Worlds 10:30am-12:00pm, Frostgrave Demo 3pm-4pm, etc," would solve not needing to release personal information and still show the table reserved for specific time slots and times in-between shown as "Free Time"

[Matbar]

I second the "badges need space for names and/or pass out blank ribbons" idea.  I'm notoriously awful at remembering names, so even if I've met you, this is a nice thing to have.  I spent a HUGE portion of the con double checking names and trying to remember them.

 

Also if it wouldn't be too difficult, some sort of thing at the bottom of the badge to keep it from flipping over?  I have no idea how feasible this is, so just tossing it out as a maybe.  I know it would have helped me not get beaten to death by my ribbon encrusted badge every time I went outside. 

 

Forumites & Non-Forumites - finding people.  This con can be difficult for Non-Forumites and even for new Forumites.  I'm not one to just jump in a group, and I suspect many of us are usually introverts who find that at ReaperCon we can actually be social.  Yet that "I don't know you, I'm not going to approach" thing still kicks in.  Maybe not all, but most of us were certainly "that kid" in school who dared not approach the cool kids table.  So try to remember at ReaperCon, what looks like the "cool kids" table is just a cluster of us nerds who already know each other a bit.

 

I was horrible my first year, and I remember I only met the people Loim drug me to directly.  My second year I kind of adopted a couple of Non-Forum new people, and even though I had only one 'Con under my belt at that point.  I really enjoyed that.  I got to feel helpful and see the 'Con through brand new eyes.  This year I hung out with several new Forum people, and again I have to say it greatly enhanced my enjoyment.  I mean come on, what was cuter than Morihalda winning the blanket?  Okay, maybe Corporea carrying a trophy half her size was a close second :-)  Regardless, I would encourage everyone to go out of your way to "adopt" a new person.   There were even ribbons for Noobs, so we can find em!

 

I'm not sure what all could be organized for this, someone said an idea similar to the Forumite bingo.  Maybe a ribbon for "Meeting # of First Time 'Con goers" 

[kristof65]

Your first year it's "man I only got one class I wanted". Your second year it's "woohoo I got 3 on my list!" etc.

The big question to ask then, is how many first year people come back?

[Chaoswolf]

 

Forumites & Non-Forumites - finding people.  This con can be difficult for Non-Forumites and even for new Forumites.  I'm not one to just jump in a group, and I suspect many of us are usually introverts who find that at ReaperCon we can actually be social.  Yet that "I don't know you, I'm not going to approach" thing still kicks in.  Maybe not all, but most of us were certainly "that kid" in school who dared not approach the cool kids table.  So try to remember at ReaperCon, what looks like the "cool kids" table is just a cluster of us nerds who already know each other a bit.

 

QFT.

[ub3r_n3rd]

 

Your first year it's "man I only got one class I wanted". Your second year it's "woohoo I got 3 on my list!" etc.

The big question to ask then, is how many first year people come back?

Every single person I talked to as a first timer said they are coming back.

[Inarah]

 

I've already talked to Bryan about this, but for demo's or open play tables, it would be nice to see a list of who signed up for the table when. The Frostgrave table was an open table but evidently people could sign up for it on their itinerary but I didn't know that they had. So I would have a demo going on and have someone come up and say that they had signed up for a slot. I ended up being able to work around it, but that is just a suggestion.

I ran into this problem when I ran games too. It would have been so much easier to go "Charles and Sue haven't shown so I can take walk ups". After thinking about it though, it's basically Reaper releasing personal information to their GMs that are not Reaper personnel. You could argue for forum handles which are public domain but not everyone that signs up for stuff is on the forums.

 

 

It's not an issue at other small cons I've been to.  There's a table at the entrance to the game area with sign up sheets for every game that day.  Pre-registered guests names are printed out in the top slots, and there are blank spaces for last minute walk ups.  A helpful person behind the table directs people to open games or helps them find their favorite game.  The GM and anyone else can easily tell if people are going to be at the table, and people who want to drop can simply cross their name off and go do something else. 

[Crowley]

I'm planning on coming back!

 

(shocking, isn't it?)

[Chaoswolf]

Absolutely.