Usually I post this as a is MJ going, but this time, it's more of a, is Ubercon worth going to? I will answer from my experience. After the new RPG director took over, the next Ubercon, I got nothing, no emails, no responses, no inquiries about running games. I realized it wasn't worth my time to save 45 dollars to run events when you had to deal with people who don't want to do anything but the bare minimum. I ended up going, and there wasn't a single RPG other than Multiverser that held any interest, so it was a pretty boring con for me and I left Sat Night. This year I will likely sleep in my car to save money, plan my events beforehand, and see if I can have a fun time. If things are a bust again, I might reconsider giving them my hard earned coin, since the guys that run Dexcon, seem to have their stuff together. We'll see what happens this fall.
Adam
I want to be able to do a special version of War Hammer (if nothing else I want to introduce people to the system, cause currently I'm woefully inexperienced so I suck at DMing), but I never hear back from anyone. :( Or even seeing if there's a room that can be screening for Gaming Related movies/tv/webseries. Such as Unforgotten Realms Season 1. Just so people have a break to laugh, or get inspired, from gaming.
I'm more hoping the TTRPG room is in a more appropriate room and isn't hot and stuffy and smelly a few hours in. They REALLY underestimated the space last year. :(
My experience with Ubercon was exactly like Adam's. The new Board Games director didn't email me, so I didn't even know the Con was scheduled until about six days before. As of right now I'm a "maybe."
If you go Harry, I figure if MJ is busy running new people we can run each other. Just a thought so that neither of us is "waiting"
Adam
I like Ubercon myself, although I feel their board gaming section is significantly more impressive than their role playing sections. Still a nice break from everything and play something new.
I'll be going this year, so I'll see some of you there. :)
PS.
Role playing wise I've had good experiences with the Cthulhu based games run there.
I know it's not an excuse, really, but they've had some problems along the way. Kevin told me last year that with everything else that had hit him he almost didn't do the con (and he's the director). A month or so ago Alyssa and Kyle got burned out of their apartment, and I haven't heard where or whether they've been settled somewhere again, so that's two of the top people with lives in turmoil.
I got contacted via Facebook, but haven't yet discussed details with anyone. I've got to find the number of the guy who provided transportation and split housing with me the last couple times so we can do that again, because it works well when I don't have a spare car.
I'll keep doing it because I know the people and they've always treated me well, and it's the only con I've managed to make with any regularity. I lose money on it, but I still think it's worth the effort.
--M. J. Young
Opps, put that in the wrong window....ignore this....
Hi all, I'm Liz, RPG Director of Ubercon and as MJ can vouch, I welcome all kinds of games and I always keep my eyes out for new kinds of games and gms. I took over for Alyssa so she could dedicate herself to the Guest track.
I'm sorry you feel you have been ignored. May I ask what email you were sending to? Please let me know, as I respond to all inquiries that reach me. If you are interested in running send me an email at tangledraven@gmail.com
If you don't feel like running, tell me what kinds of games you are interested in playing in. If someone requests a type of game I try to find an obliging gm or run myself. Last year I ran a Star Wars game because an individual requested it.
Unfortunately the RPGs have been given less space than other tracks. This year we have more room, which means I can accommodate more games and a larger number of systems. We are also going to host a Steampunk larp at the con this year.
If all goes well we are hoping to book a bigger, nicer hotel and have even more space.
Also, if you would like to find a room mate for the con, I try to match up gms.
On a side note, MJ I will email you Brent's info. I have been trying to reach him to see if he would like to run again. Please let me know if you would like to run again this year, I have space set aside for you!
Seriously, reading this series of posts really upset me because I want to create the best experience I can for everyone. Talk to me, email me, let me know how you think Ubercon can be better.
hahaha busted. lol. I always enjoyed ubercon, but I haven't been in a long time.. life pressures. I will definitely not be attending this year even though I would like to any time.
I was sending via the inquiry forum.
YAY! MORE ROOM! LESS OF A SMELLY STUFFY HECK HOLE!
Wha-STEAMPUNK LARP?!?! FING YAY!!
If I didn't enjoy Ubercon, I wouldn't go, but the space and the lack of reply is my major complaints. I will be sending an e-mail out tonight.
My main concern at this point is the RPG schedule, and most of them aren't up yet and we are 6 weeks away from the con. If I knew what games were running, I could take a look into them and see if there was something I wanted to sign up for.
As for running, my chosen system of choice has gone out of print, and the manufacturer isn't supporting play of it anymore, so the likelyhood of getting people to play would be less than the past, and the past there were fewer and fewer new players for the events, other than the people I brought.
I am still going, I think the jist of the post is, ok I'm going now what am I going to do? I spent much of the last con in the video game room and PC game room, and to be quite honest, if that's what I want to do, might as well do that at home. I think knowing what RPG's events are being run, would help at this point to cement me picking up my badge ahead of time and signing up for things.
And in a few hours or so I'm off to Constellation so we'll stop my games here and pick up on Monday.
Yeah leaving me at near the crucial event oh well :)
Hackmaster is out of print? Boy, am I out of the loop.
Adam, I've had requests for me to run OAD&D even after 3E was published. I'm sure if you posted a couple of Hackmaster sessions you'd get a group, even without the company support. It was very popular, and the fact that it's not supported isn't going to change the fact that people thought it was fun.
I always hear good things about Brent's games, but I'm not remembering what he runs. I'll blame it on my present ill health, because that's a better excuse than that I never actually played in one.
I'm sorry Kyler can't make it. I've been soloing for a while, though, and there are enough people there who have got the ropes down by now that I think they'll probably be able to help me if needed.
--M. J. Young
I'm sorry I can't make it, too; I'd extend an open offer of hospitality for you, but I have no idea where the con will be. At any rate, the offer is still extended. I'm sure your granddaughter would love to see you regardless of whether it had to do with the con or not.
I don't know exactly where, but it's Edison, I'm pretty sure.
I would love to stay and commute from there, but at the moment there are transportation issues--although on reflection, if Brent doesn't get his problems resolved I would wind up paying for a car and a room, and if I can limit that to paying for the car that's worth considering.
--M. J. Young
Do you live in another state or area or something? I wouldn't mind picking you up from a near train station or something if you wanted. :)
That's a very kind offer, but only really solves one aspect of the problem; he would need to secure transportation to and from the closest train station in Vineland, which is at least a three hour walk (that is an extremely generous estimate), and then would still need transportation from the con to my house; theoretically, he could again take the train and I have no problem picking him up at the station and dropping him off in the morning, but practically, I have no idea what the hours of the store I work in will be after it opens for business; however, now we're talking about taking the train not twice but six times; with the prices of train tickets, he might actually save on renting a car for three days. I could be wrong, though.
Considering NJ doesn't really make it worth it to use the train once unless you're going into NYC? Yeah. :(
Yeah... wish I could go this year. It would just make everything a lot easier. But, the new job, the lack of money, the anti-rpg fiancee (I can't even get her to read the article "What Is An RPG?"), the 18 month old daughter; you get my drift.
I remember running a d20 hack and slash at OutsideCon while rocking my eldest in his baby carrier on the table occasionally with my left hand. But then Mr. C was a very mellow baby.
As to the anti-rpg fiance', I know a very smart and devious GM who said that he stopped trying to get his wife to play after three years or so. Now me, I tried off and on, for ten years. I finally succeeded. We're playing 'Legend of the Shadowfell' which is bought in a store.
Being bought in a store has some advantages. It has the basic D&D 4e rules with it so I'm less winging it. It has characters with pictures already made (and the next levels up too three). It has maps so that its easier to see the situation...my Ladyfaire has problems visualizing something from words alone.
And lastly, I do think my Ladyfaire takes my protestations that I'm the best GM she's ever met, way better than some other guy or anyone else she's met, as false boasting,a nd it did not help my situation. So...she's willing to play because I have a bought in the store game to hold my hand. Training wheels as it were. Heh.
... "Legend of the Shadowfell", is it? I'll have to look into that.
Bought it at Books A Million for 34 bucks, if I remember right.
Yes, indeed, the complication is that if I stay with Kyler in Clifton I will need transportation between Clifton and Edison, and that will pretty much destroy any savings I'd have gotten from not staying at the con hotel.
I'm working on solutions, and I will keep you in mind, Ahmetia, since if it is possible to get to the con by bus or train I might be able to get a ride at this end and another at that end to complete the journey. That has me staying at the hotel, though, and my roommate for the past two cons is in financial straits himself--one of the options at my end might be to cover his expenses as cheaper than taking a single room and renting a car, but it might not be feasible anyway.
--M. J. Young
If you need a roommate at the hotel, Brian is not going this year, just starting a job the week before, I can split a room.
I will give that serious consideration. I'm waiting to hear back from Brent, though, as I've asked him to explore a possible solution and I don't want to back out on him before he's thought it through.
--M. J. Young
It's cool it's either split a room or sleep in the car, my car has fold down seats so either or.
How's everyone on their Ubercon status?
I will likely go, either sleeping in my car or whatnot.
I put in a volunteerism request a while back but haven't heard anything from them. I might wind up not going this year, between lack of funds and lack of room.
Well, I believe the help desk needs a lot of people form when I got a reply. So hopefully you'll hear something soon.
I have just confirmed round-trip transportation for the convention, courtesy of Brent Palmer, but since his housing is being provided otherwise I must still arrange that. Also, since I will not have a car, it would not be convenient for me to stay at a different hotel, so I'm looking at a room at the con. Adam, you offered to split a room with me; one of us needs to work out the price and make the reservations without both of us doing so, so that we don't bump into each other.
Get back to me--referee at mjyoung dot net is as good as any address for this.
Thanks.
--M. J. Young
I will book a room tomorrow, and email you the details.
I am /out/ for this year's Ubercon. Between my lack of funding and their lack of response, I would rather spend the weekend visiting my friends in Ithaca, NY. Hope to see you all next fall, under better conditions.
Speaking of cons, MJ, are you ever going to get to Origins? Don't forget you've got a place to stay for that if you do. My mom said you could stay at her house for the con. She lives not 10 miles from where that's going to be held.
(Doing Therapy)
Information sent.
Thanks.
I have no idea if I am ever going to get to Origins. There are a lot of obstacles and complications.
--M. J. Young
Sorry to hear you're not coming Harry :(