Community

Hi all,

I am helping with data entry for a large con. It is an unbelievably long, tedious, and technically flawed process.

Here are some tips on what you can do to help:

1. Go to the RPGA site and log in (using your 9 digit number... you may need to add a 1 and perhaps 0s in front of your number... other posts discuss this).

Reason: If you find your login does not work, contact DCI (at) wizards (dot) com. If your login does not work you may have an invalid number, and you should fix it and contact any people who have run games for you to give them a new number (if DCI gives you a new one).

2. Click on the My Characters link and the LFR link, then Add an entry for each PC you have.

Reason: If you don't make entries and play at a con with multiple PCs, the database does not let us enter a PC number. Instead, all the info goes to the "New Character" until everything is submitted. Those doing the data entry can't help this and you will end up having to contact DCI to fix this via the Appeal Form link in your RPGA account.

3. On RPGA Tracking Sheets that track the result of each mod, enter your name as it appears in the database. Otherwise, we spend a lot of time trying to match your records. Print your full name. Writing "Steve" is a good way to have us spend tons of time needlessly.

4. Print legibly. DMs need to do this too... it is unbelievable how hard some forms are to read.

5. DMs: Do not mark down choices like Potion or "P" in the Bundle column, only valid bundle letters.

6. DMs: Clearly track the result for certificates and mod answers. We want everyone to get properly rewarded, not spend time figuring out what certificates the players should have earned.

This may sound like whining, but it isn't meant that way. The RPGA entry system is currently deeply flawed. Entering a single table for a large con can take 20 minutes. Some of the above issues result in problems and in some cases lead to unreported play. We are working hard on the convention with which I am assisting, but your help would go a long way!

Thanks for listening!

Teos

Umm.. what My Characters link?

Thanks for the support.

Another tip that is really easy to forget is for Slot 0 judges. Often these tables are full of people we know well, so we can tend to treat the tracking form in a familiar way - listing just first names, sloppy data entry, etc. This is fine for a single game (which what you are running), but it sits in a pile for several weeks or longer and a whole different person then has to read it.

To make the issue funnier, my slot 0 form left room for improvement, as I had not been clear with the PC#s. I left them blank in stead of filling out 1s (I recall them all being 1, but someone else would not know that).

Teos

I learned a long time ago that if the name does not match with the number, I stick with the number. If it is incorrect then it is the player's own fault. RPGA probably thinks the same way considering how little space they leave for filling in the name.

When I organize events, I usually walk past tables at the start of the event, checking whether the score sheets are filled in and are readable. Even with LFR I prefer that they at least write down names and numbers since at that time it is a LOT easier to deal with missing cards/numbers, unreadable parts and the like then when everybody is rushing home or to the next slot. Granted, it might not work very well with big conventions, but it has saved me some headaches.

Contact DCI (at) wizards (dot) com for any login issues. I have found really fast turnaround times (hours at most) for most issues.

I finally finished PAX reporting (helping out a friend), and I was very sad to have to not credit three players because their numbers were invalid. In addition, I am sure a ton of players will end up with many new default PCs simply because they did not log into the RPGA site and maintain their PCs. Any case where a player had PC 1 in one form and PC 2 in another form becomes "0 - New Character" in the reporting and will be a mess the player will have to figure out. It also takes a lot of time and energy on the reporting end.

Please, please, please log into the RPGA site and maintain each and every PC you play with!

Teos