TOPIC: TD at GenCon VS Origins (and other cons)

Fate was unkind to me this year and I was unable to attend GenCon. GenCon is typically the only con I visit in a given year (maybe with the exception of a few local small cons). I am hoping for a turn of my luck and the ability to attend Origins for the first time next year to make up for my lost GenCon

... and by make up for GenCon, I really mean make up for my lost True Dungeon runs.

I did read the big announcement from Jeff about the Norse themed N-# modules. It seems as though the new TD year kicked off at Origins rather than GenCon.. is this correct?

If I missed GenCon this year, but would still like to participate in these modules, would I be able to do so during Origins 2019? If so, what are the big differences (yes, I know some things change to have a slightly different experience if you've run the GenCon modules)? Do players get more or less the same experience (the physical experience of the design, set up, awesomeness)? Is there a difference in the amount of experience points granted to players from con to con?

What can one expect?

Would I be better off trying to make a push for GameHole Con (outlook not so good)? ... how does TD differ there than GenCon?

Thanks all!

Runs are cheaper and easier to get at other cons.

Modules n2 and n3 will be at gamehole and n1 and n2 at pax south. Don’t know what will be at origins.

jon wrote: Runs are cheaper and easier to get at other cons.

Modules n2 and n3 will be at gamehole and n1 and n2 at pax south. Don’t know what will be at origins.

If (large sized if ) next year follows this years pattern, I would expect to see N2 and N3 and one new Dungeon at Origins. YMMV.


Come to Gamehole Con. Its a great Con, way more relaxed than GenCon and tickets are still plentiful.

Same experience, more or less. Depends on the amount of space they can get at other cons.

Same xp. Can’t double-dip. You get the highest XP you earn per module, regardless of which of the (currently) four cons you visit.

Same loot.

Same ghosting rules: loot may be earned by no more than five ghosts per party. (This has changed several times over the early part of the year, but seems to have stabilized.)

Grind is not a given at non-GC cons, but other events (e.g. Lorigorgon) often are. You’ll have to check the Con schedule.

We enjoyed Origins quite a lot this year. Haven’t been to the other two.

Harlax wrote:

jon wrote: Runs are cheaper and easier to get at other cons.

Modules n2 and n3 will be at gamehole and n1 and n2 at pax south. Don’t know what will be at origins.

If (large sized if ) next year follows this years pattern, I would expect to see N2 and N3 and one new Dungeon at Origins. YMMV.


Come to Gamehole Con. Its a great Con, way more relaxed than GenCon and tickets are still plentiful.

Generally, i agree anything for next year is a big if, however. I'd be very surprised if we saw N1 at Origins next year. Makes no sense to bring back the same dungeon in back to back years. If it didn't sell out in 2018, I'd expect even fewer people to play it in 2019. If you still want to see N1 you may need to do Pax South or wait for a retro version in the future.

GenCon has a larger physical footprint for True Dungeon than the other cons. It is also where some events will premier. Overall, it will mean more options as well as some special events that will only be run there. The other cons will have great runs at lower prices and won't necessarily be as crowded.

I wouldn't rain on GenCon as a convention to do TD - it's really the premier place for it. Places like Origins are also fun and less crowded and less expensive (but fewer options on what runs are available).

I can't speak for if the runs are shortened or use smaller spaces for the same runs - others with more experience would need to speak to that.

Fred

Actually Origins provides the most space to True Dungeon currently, more than GenCon. At Origins this year they had 5 full dungeons and one smaller patron-only dungeon and had plenty of space left over. At GenCon they had to try hard to fit 4 full dungeons with the new larger format.

As far as I know N1 was improved at GenCon, so potentially you had a better experience playing it at GenCon than you would have at Origins. But then since N2 and N3 premiered at GenCon and are also appearing at Gamehole Con and probably at Origins 2019, they should be more refined by the time you experience them at Origins.

Origins does have cool extra stuff, like this year they had the Lorigorgon event, and the session with Jeff showing the future plans he has in mind.

Did origins for the first time this year really enjoyed it and gen con.

Kirk Bauer wrote: Actually Origins provides the most space to True Dungeon currently, more than GenCon. At Origins this year they had 5 full dungeons and one smaller patron-only dungeon and had plenty of space left over. At GenCon they had to try hard to fit 4 full dungeons with the new larger format.

Origins actually only had three full dungeons. Puzzle and combat versions of Moongate and DAS shared the same physical space, and alternated time slots. Most of the swing rooms had their props swapped out during bubbles, and I think only one had two physical rooms, with groups being guided to the correct one for their version.

I am attending both GHC and Pax South with the understanding that I don't know what will be at Origins.
I want to hit all 3 "N" runs and that is the only way to be sure to be able to do so.

I do them all but for PAX
Who knows maybe that too next year,
I’m many ways as for TD
Origins and GHC are a better
Experience, cheaper tickets and
Even more important the Tickets
Are easy to get With little effect.

While the original questions had to do with mechanical differences between GC and other, having gone to GHC, Origins, and GC in the last year, bit of perspective in terms of general activity.

If it isn't already, I have a sense Origins will become a much better experience. You can transmute much more easily. Everything not TD related is closer. You don't have to fight for runs as much.

But, it depends a bit on what sort of "energy" you prefer. Gen Con is hectic in ways the other aren't. Maybe your group isn't rushing around from one thing to another, but a lot of other players are. We did TD at GC this year after: 12 hours of RPGs, 8 hours of RPG, 4 hours of LARP + 5 hours of special event. We are tired, possibly cranky. Meanwhile, GHC did 7 runs of TD and TG and it was rather chill as even a back to back was still playing the same game in the same area. If you like intense with more discovery with filled out parties, then GC may be better.

I look forward to Origins as an opportunity to get some more runs in of N2 and N3 (do hope N1 is an option though I prefer N2 and N3) with a much less frenetic vibe and I don't mind if the parties have fewer than 10 players. It is hard to feel the same, though, with having already done dungeons with not having done them.

On a more mechanical note, I thought one of the dungeons improved massively between GC and GHC last year where the other got much worse. Didn't do Moongate nor Dancing at Origins so don't know whether I would have enjoyed any of the four possibilities more at Origins.