Big Bad Con Planning

I don’t know about you, but I’m having a hell of a time figuring out what games to run at BBC this year (which I need to nail down by August 15). I have no idea why it’s so hard! But I’ve got some theories:

* Maybe I just don’t want to run anything this year. I paid for a ticket, by gosh I’m gonna be a parasite play some games.

* I don’t want to run something too popular, you know? Like, it won’t be hard to find an Apocalypse World or Urban Shadows or Torchbearer table.

* I’m feeling a tiny bit bored by my go-to con games. Bad news if you were hoping for a Sagas of the Icelanders or Mutant Year Zero game with me! (They’re not off the table, just sharing where my head is at.)

* I’m growing a little weary of all the setup-is-play games. I mean it’s fine, good even, but you can end up with just like 2-3 hours of actual playing and that can feel rushed. This is also on my mind re the whole spread of PbtA.

* In a perfect world, at least one of my own projects would be ready for playtest. I can’t guarantee they will be and I’d hate to let people/myself down. So that’s bumming me out.

* In a near-perfect world, I’d love to give friends exposure for their projects. So if you have something you’d like me to run, LET ME KNOW.

After reviewing my shelves and PDF directories, I’ve narrowed my list down to:

The One Ring (one-shot per my thoughts a few weeks back)

Mutant Year Zero (continuing the road show, building on the map I’ve used three times now)

Sagas of the Icelanders (because it’s just so good and I know folks there who want me to run it)

Meridian (because I told Christian Griffen I’d give it a go there, and I suspect I’ll be tripping over Fall of Magic scrolls all weekend)

Cartel (which I’ll never get to run locally)

Montsegur 1244 (although I’d be all over Rachel E.S. Walton’s Mars 244 hack if it were ready for not-Rachel to facilitate)

Epyllion (because I’ll have not given it a go by the con)

Ooooor I just say fuck it and crash the GOD tables.

0 thoughts on “Big Bad Con Planning”

  1. I was having this problem with Origins. I had thrown up my arms in exasperation and just decided to partake of the GoD like a giant buffet table of RPG goodness. Then they needed GMs so I jumped in and ran Mouse Guard and Nitrate City (Fate).

    My advice: If nothing moves you bring some staples just in case you want to be helpful. Take take take and fill your bucket back up a little. Then run Sagas of the Icelandrs at New MexiCon either this or next year!

  2. Aside: I think that photo is private.

    As for the main crux of the thread: I know you dig running games (or are the forever-GM, like me), but is it bad manners to attend Big Bad Con and not run a game? I don’t know small indy con etiquette too well.

  3. I’m having the exact same problem. I think I’m going to end up jumping into the deep end and running my playtest and some Vincent Baker hotness. Probably The Warren too.

  4. I have no strong opinions on what you do or don’t run.

    I’m just dropping in to express excitement about Andi Carrison being there, because it’s been like forever since we’ve been in the same place.

  5. Jeremiah Frye​ X3 aw, shucks.

    I’m excited to come play games with folks! And LOOK, I’m leaving the state to do something other than work at PAX.

    (Also, people should come help make PAX South awesome.)

  6. Dude, I can totally get you The Liberation of Sisyphus: Mars 244 if you want to run it. The main thing it lacks at this point is a detailed instruction book, but you probably don’t need that having run/played this type of game before. (Though by October, I could also have something more officially written up.) Having another GMless/GMful game on hand for cons is part of the motivation behind this, because I can enjoy running more stuff if I also get to play. Lemme know if you’re interested.

  7. Yay! And totally, Paul. It has yet to go out into the wild, so hearing about how it goes when I’m not there and what’s great or what needs tweaking or better explanation is all very valuable right now.

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