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3 years ago ::
Mar 09, 2010 - 8:05AM
#1
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Date Joined:
May 27, 2009
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Well met all!
I would like to petition for the RPGA to set a practice of encouraging convention distribution of Player Reward Cards for attendance at seminars having to deal with becoming a better Dungeon Master.
One thing that we can all agree on in the RPGA is that DM'ing is something that requires a lot of work. It is also something that we can always improve upon.
As an organization we give away these reward cards at conventions already. Some ways I have seen include rewarding DM's for running games, playing in a dungeon delve, or simply attending the con. Each of these ways has merits, however none of them truely help us as an organization to foster better play experience to the extent that education seminars would. The more tools that a DM acquires allows for a different kind of learning experience and seminars are one good place to pick up those tools.
When I look around at DM seminars I see similar people. I see individuals that have already been DMing and are trying to be a better DM. They are their because they like to DM and feel it is important and are willing to sacrafice play time at a con to become better. I think the RPGA should reward those members for their continued interest in being a better DM for the RPGA. I also think this is makes a good avenue to attract newer DM's to these seminars where the tools they learn help the RPGA to be a more fun experience.
For each member that learns something new on how to better DM, many times more RPGA players get to benefit from a more fun play experience when that person DMs for them. I think this is something the RPGA should suggest to be directly rewarded among the membership.
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3 years ago ::
Mar 09, 2010 - 1:01PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jul 22, 2008
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That actually sounds like a pretty decent idea to me and I don't just say that because I DM a lot. 
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3 years ago ::
Mar 09, 2010 - 1:09PM
#3
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It's not a bad idea. I suspect that you only see seminars like that at the very biggest conventions (e.g., GenCon, Origins, DDXP), but there's no reason not to give RPGA DMs who attend those conventions an extra incentive to attend those sorts of seminars.
"Of course [Richard] has a knife. He always has a knife. We all have knives. It's 1183, and we're barbarians!" - Eleanor of Aquitaine, "The Lion in Winter"
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 2:05AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Aug 27, 2007
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Dont hold your breathe, I ran 15 slots at gencon, 8 at ddxp, and some how i was 'skiped' when they sent out the new dm rewards, that gave away the condition cards and the dark sun box. Even with 2 weeks of active customer support, all they said was, wait another week, wait another week, finally, oh ya sorry we didnt send u any, oh btw were out of stock now. Just shows how much they really care about people. Ive ran probally 50+ games last year, and my local friends i know got the shaft too.
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 3:55AM
#5
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GenCon and DDXP have not been booked. Regardless, friends around here are just receiving the condition cards and boxes as we speak and I haven't gotten mine either (I got Hommlet months after the others without me even bugging CS).
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 4:40AM
#6
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Date Joined:
May 11, 2005
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I am still one point behind on the 5 points I need... I don't DM - or play - a lot (and the delve doesn't count).
Not that I care much for a Darksun carton.
But I'll have to plan to DM again for next time.
Gomez,
who thinks admins should get points for admining... Tymora knows we are spending enough time on it.
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 9:50AM
#7
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- Dragon Slayer
- If only he would apply himself
- Dammit Jim, this is Star Trek, not D&D!
Date Joined:
Jan 31, 2006
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Dont hold your breathe, I ran 15 slots at gencon, 8 at ddxp, and some how i was 'skiped' when they sent out the new dm rewards, that gave away the condition cards and the dark sun box. Even with 2 weeks of active customer support, all they said was, wait another week, wait another week, finally, oh ya sorry we didnt send u any, oh btw were out of stock now. Just shows how much they really care about people. Ive ran probally 50+ games last year, and my local friends i know got the shaft too.
If you will be at Gen Con I can give you my pack of Condition Cards. Sorry to hear some people are getting skipped. Strange. Anyway, if you will be at Gen Con just PM me when we are getting close and we can set up a time to meet.
On the OP, to me the biggest issue is that these seminars often run when there are tables in play. Attendance suffers when everyone has to choose. The con itself has a conflict. Podcasting helps, as people can catch the seminars later, though it can mean pretty empty rooms.
Rewards might draw some players to the seminars, but they might still prefer to play.
It would be really cool to see short seminars run between slots, maybe even with the convention center or organizer providing food for sale (more money for them!).
I like your idea... I just don't know it is enough. And, it may be hard to gauge how many reward cards should be provided. Say a small convention wants to request a support pack... what should that entail? 100 cards? 10?
Follow my blog and Twitter feed with Dark Sun campaign design and DM tips! Dark Sun's Ashes of Athas Campaign is now available for home play (PM me with your e-mail to order the campaign adventures).
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 10:24AM
#8
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On the OP, to me the biggest issue is that these seminars often run when there are tables in play.
Yeah, that's been my issue with seminars, as well. I've gone to a couple of RPGA members' meetings, at GenCon and Winter Fantasy, though those were usually scheduled in a way that they didn't conflict with actual game slots. I don't think I've ever been to an actual seminar, because it'd almost always mean a slot lost to gaming (or DMing), and that's why I'm at the con in the first place. 
"Of course [Richard] has a knife. He always has a knife. We all have knives. It's 1183, and we're barbarians!" - Eleanor of Aquitaine, "The Lion in Winter"
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 11:58AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 19, 2007
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I would like to petition for the RPGA to set a practice of encouraging convention distribution of Player Reward Cards for attendance at seminars having to deal with becoming a better Dungeon Master.
Who would be putting on these seminars? Only the big shows?
I've run a couple of DMing seminars myself at local gamedays. Would that count?
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3 years ago ::
Mar 10, 2010 - 12:53PM
#10
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- RPGA Senior GM
- The Baldman
Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2003
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Dont hold your breathe, I ran 15 slots at gencon, 8 at ddxp, and some how i was 'skiped' when they sent out the new dm rewards, that gave away the condition cards and the dark sun box. Even with 2 weeks of active customer support, all they said was, wait another week, wait another week, finally, oh ya sorry we didnt send u any, oh btw were out of stock now. Just shows how much they really care about people. Ive ran probally 50+ games last year, and my local friends i know got the shaft too.
I have not received any DM rewards either so don't feel bad. You figure the one person who would find it easy to get a set would have one.
We give really great rewards at big shows because there are often reporting issues with those shows. So you might not have gotten the DM reward package but I doubt you went away empty handed and broke.
Dave C
Official Somebody Nobody
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