JackerCon suggestions

[maxinstuff]

Thought I would create a new thread for this so as not to de-rail the post-mortem thread too much.

Some thoughts while they are at the front of my mind, on possible changes.

> I think it should run twice yearly instead of quarterly - with dates posted up WELL in advance. Sort of like what Strategicon does. This would primarily be to give people who spend time organizing it a break, and to allow a decent run-up to the con.

> A "JackerOff-Con" (credit goes I THINK to Fiona for that name) stream, where Jackers can run off-con streamed/recorded games for the community ANY TIME. Could even run campaigns on there.

> Panel discussions during the con - I'd say have a suggestion thread in the lead-up where people can post topics and/or community members or hosts who they'd like to see on that panel.


A lot of people have suggested a sort of "lobby" in the past too. Maybe a Discord channel would work for that? The current one created by @forrest is great!

[mysticfedora]

Good suggestions. Also, I would suggest using Roll20 to create the games ahead of the con. They can be tagged or marked as Jackercon games so easily found through searches. Then the games can be listed and linked on the forums.

This allows allows GMs to set player limits and when searching you can tell how many seats are available. Additionally, you can only invite via the forums using the special link provided. Finally, it's a form of marketing to the massive crowds at Roll20 who will naturally wonder what this is about and float over to the forums and start listening to the podcast.

[maxinstuff]

Nov 8, 2016 16:30:00 GMT -8 mysticfedora said:

Roll20 to create the games ahead of the con.

Roll20 is good for the fact that it will show you when the game is in your local time - AND it is FREE for both players and GM's. It just lacks built in streaming.
I think though that the GM could record locally and upload, and everyone's bandwidth would benefit. For those GM's with uber-connections, they could stream and bear that load without players having to think about it.

I am also now convinced that Roll20 simply runs WAY better than G+. Maybe that's a load thing, and maybe I am just using it off the peaks, but that has been my experience with it.

So GM's can post games in their own time and players in different timezones see it in their own.

I'll have to check out the "looking for players" platform that they have and see if it would be any good for us.

[D.T. Pints]

I have really enjoyed using Roll20 for games. Their forums are a bit goofy to use. Still looking for that enterprising soul(s) to put up a dedicated webpage with that UTC calendar...

[Kainguru]

Nov 24, 2016 8:13:50 GMT -8 D.T. Pints said:

I have really enjoyed using Roll20 for games. Their forums are a bit goofy to use. Still looking for that enterprising soul(s) to put up a dedicated webpage with that UTC calendar...

We have the domain, just need someone to volunteer coding the webpage. Suppose I *could* try and make one with my office or adobe suite - but it'd be exactly what it is . . . an amateur attempt.


Aaron

[D.T. Pints]

Yeah it seems like a lot of work for something that gets utilized by 20-40 people...I think for now posting games here and on the Roll20 forums will work. Creating a simple sbloyd "Jackercon at a Glance" spreadsheet I can handle not sure about a time zone converter. But in the end "fuck G+" it just isn't working anymore (even though it works its just buried). The HJ forums are such an intimidating wall of posts to the newcomer (or the long time ago comer like me) I click on recent threads and just have to say "this is just too fuckin' much to try to keep up with these days." But I have had such a wonderful time in the now 20+ games I have participated in with this madcap group I really want the Jackercons to be my focus.

[Kainguru]

Nov 24, 2016 8:30:52 GMT -8 D.T. Pints said:

Yeah it seems like a lot of work for something that gets utilized by 20-40 people...I think for now posting games here and on the Roll20 forums will work. Creating a simple sbloyd "Jackercon at a Glance" spreadsheet I can handle not sure about a time zone converter. But in the end "fuck G+" it just isn't working anymore (even though it works its just buried). The HJ forums are such an intimidating wall of posts to the newcomer (or the long time ago comer like me) I click on recent threads and just have to say "this is just too fuckin' much to try to keep up with these days." But I have had such a wonderful time in the now 20+ games I have participated in with this madcap group I really want the Jackercons to be my focus.

There's your answer, a small dedicated BBS/forum linked to on the domain and an updated spreadsheet as one page


Aaron

[sbloyd]

I don't do the "recent posts" tool. I just click on the groups I want to check, and see what's there. I'm a goddamn caveman.

[Kainguru]

Nov 24, 2016 17:10:13 GMT -8 sbloyd said:

I don't do the "recent posts" tool. I just click on the groups I want to check, and see what's there. I'm a goddamn caveman.

Not a bad thing to be - I've grown a bit dispondent with the forum lately as the tone has changed from constructive debate and exploration of ideas, new and old, to more resembling a gaggle of rules lawyers arguing RAW and RAI (rules as intended). More disheartening is are the different 'correct way to play' encampments that have formed and clash regularly across the threads


Aaron

[sbloyd]

...which I'm guilty of.

I'm just passionate about it, yaknow?

[Kainguru]

Nov 27, 2016 8:01:47 GMT -8 sbloyd said:

...which I'm guilty of.

I'm just passionate about it, yaknow?

Not really, it's a subtly different trend I've noticed - less of the rules stuff and more of 'the correct way to play' arguements that are common but masquerading as rules arguements. There are several encampments - play paradigms - and they seem intent on razing the Earth of dissent. But then, as I've always said, I'm a fence sitting douche . . . There has to be a devils advocate in every group or we risk becoming an echo chamber.


Aaron

[Houndin]

Nov 24, 2016 8:21:33 GMT -8 Kainguru said:

Nov 24, 2016 8:13:50 GMT -8 D.T. Pints said:

I have really enjoyed using Roll20 for games. Their forums are a bit goofy to use. Still looking for that enterprising soul(s) to put up a dedicated webpage with that UTC calendar...

We have the domain, just need someone to volunteer coding the webpage. Suppose I *could* try and make one with my office or adobe suite - but it'd be exactly what it is . . . an amateur attempt.


Aaron

Well I have some experience, just no idea how to start. What about a Google calendar widget that has the games?

[D.T. Pints]

Clunky but a place from which to start.

I went briefly back to Conplanner but it just isn't built for our style of flexible times and time zones.

[Baarune]

Nov 24, 2016 8:30:52 GMT -8 D.T. Pints said:

Yeah it seems like a lot of work for something that gets utilized by 20/30 people

I may be interested in a project, i need to build up my portfolio. Do we have someone on the forum who does design and fancies doing the jackercon branding.
Also possibly a seperate jackerconsite thread to go over desired functionality.