TOPIC: Clarification on Grind ghosting

Historically, ghosting wasn’t allowed for Grind (but didn’t really matter since there wasn’t treasure.)

With all 10 runs sold out in the VIG early sale, I thought it could help free up tickets if we had a reminder or clarification on ghosting rules for the run.

For complete transparency, I was able to buy 7 of those tickets for Sat 10a. I also have about 20 requests for people to join us on the run. None of my tickets will go ghosted - players will occupy every slot.

If it wasn’t an official rule, I’d ask that something be officially rules regarding ghosting these tickets. Thanks!

Fred

+1

My brother, his wife, and I meet once a year at GHC to bond and play TD (they live 2000 miles away). We've not had the chance to experience True Grind, and I'm heartbroken it sold out so quick, especially with only one other dungeon. That said, obviously looking for three tix.

After the fact changes are not well welcome by those with current plans. Ghosting rules should be consistent across any and all TD runs.

edwin wrote: After the fact changes are not well welcome by those with current plans. Ghosting rules should be consistent across any and all TD runs.

Given ghosts have never been allowed in grind before, it would be pretty consistent for ghosting to remain prohibited.

edwin wrote: After the fact changes are not well welcome by those with current plans. Ghosting rules should be consistent across any and all TD runs.

Given how many people want to play, I wonder why anyone would even want to ghost this True Grind. There would probably be a line of people to take someone up on an offer to play True Grind for free in exchange for giving up the loot. That is equivalent to ghosting from a loot perspective but has the benefit of playing with actual people.

It feels like the ship has sailed on making any changes now. Any rules they considered relative to VIGs buying tickets really needed to have been communicated before they went on sale.

Having said that, I'm not aware of anyone planning to ghost a ticket. I agree, there are people who would likely be happy to play a ghost slot (if it exists) and let the ticket holder keep the loot.

I think there has been pent up demand for Grind to make a comeback and having it sell out so quickly is not surprising.

edwin wrote: After the fact changes are not well welcome by those with current plans. Ghosting rules should be consistent across any and all TD runs.

Thus clarification was requested. Previously, no ghosting was allowed. At one point, you could only try once but that rule may have just been for a specific grind since it would have been easy (er) to beat if you knew the twist that was coming (norse year I think.)

Dave wrote: It feels like the ship has sailed on making any changes now. Any rules they considered relative to VIGs buying tickets really needed to have been communicated before they went on sale.

I think your statement here is a general principle, not an absolute rule.

True dungeon can, and should, change terms on any matter in any dungeon if doing so will lead to a substantially better player, staff, or business outcome relative to the costs / downsides of the change.

I am fairly confident previous ghosting rules / clarifications have been made between when event tickets have been sold and when the events have occurred.

In any case - "no ghosting at events that sell out before tickets are generally available" would be a perfectly cromulent policy for TD to adopt, enforced by making it clear ghosting isn't allowed; e.g. if you show up with more tickets than players:

A. TD can put a player from a waitlist into the event.
B. No treasure/packs/synergy bonuses/etc. for the ticket(s) with no players

Unless the terms of service written on the ticket, or the checkout page mention ghosting that is.

If you want consistency, maybe don't switch Grind from 1 completion token (in all previous Grinds) to 1 completion token and 25 TREASURE DRAWS. That ship has definitely sailed, though. It might have pre-sold out even with no extra treasure, but this way, it was kind of a given.

Couple with the same cost as a non-grind run just gives incentive to ghost.

Yup, assuming it isn't possible to meet the demand as presented, I would have preferred a flat 1 treasure token and no TE allowed like previous grinds AND the high price.
Maybe that would have been enough to keep some runs available for us non-VIGs.

I'm not saying that everyone who bought Grind tickets is just in it for the treasure. But, just running the dungeon for treasure becomes problematic if it takes runs away from people who want to run the dungeon for fun. For events with lower demand, I don't see a problem with ghosting. But, for very limited events, ghosting is taking runs away from people who want to play and just converting those tickets to treasure.

Maybe Jeff should just offer a limited number of "Just the treasure" events at Gamehole Con for people who want to pay $78 for 25 treasure draws. The volunteer staffing and throughput rates wouldn't be an issue, at all, for "Just the treasure" events. Then, maybe the demand for Grind wouldn't be quite so out of proportion to the supply.