TOPIC: BREAKING NEWS: Nascrag Cancels for GENCON

BREAKING NEWS: Nascrag Cancels for GENCON
NASCRAG- I know this is going to sound a little schizophrenic so let me walk you through it,

Earlier this week I realized that Gen Con event registration was coming up and that the event lists were usually distributed a week or two early. Nascrag was going to be on those lists with offerings for over 600 seats. People were going to be planning their convention based on those lists and I knew, just from casual conversations that a number of our Judges/Staff would not consider attending - even if the convention was held - due to concerns related to the pandemic.

The practical side of my event organizer brain kicked in and I decided that even though I was certain Gen Con would be cancelled, it would be irresponsible to offer more seats than we could honestly support.

When I took a quick poll and it showed about half our folks were definitely not coming, I hurried off an email to GenCon and cut our offering in half and posted it here.

I was feeling a little rushed at the time and I really only asked for responses from people who were "Definitely not coming". But once my email/posts were done I started touching base with everyone. A lot of the others were more in the "Maybe" category. And generally less than enthusiastic maybes.

The writers and the artist couldn't make it. Both in very high risk categories. They were willing to let us use their work, but they wouldn't get the fun of seeing it played.

And then I thought of Jay Johnson. For those of you who don't know the story, Jay was Old School Nascrag - the O.G. (Original Gamer). He'd been stricken with chronic pain issues for years that kept him from coming to Gen Con. But his pain had become more manageable and in 2018 he was back running games with us. He made it though the whole convention and the Awards party and wheeled himself back to the JW Marriott afterwards. He died in his sleep that night. Right or wrong I still carry that death around with me.

I still don't think Gen Con is going to happen this year. I also don't think it SHOULD happen. Take a look at the pictures of the vendor hall opening and compare them to the pictures of the Military parade in Philadelphia in 1918. One week after that parade 4500 Philadelpians were dead.

And, full disclosure, I'm a diabetic with sleep apnea and an 8 year old son. I can't believe I even considered going. And I can't ask my maybes or our players to make what I honestly think is a foolish choice. I can't carry that weight.

Nascrag 2020 is officially cancelled. We'll see you when there's a vaccine

It is looking like Paizo will be next to cancel. GENCON without Nascrag and Pathfinder is not GENCON

Arthur wrote: BREAKING NEWS: Nascrag Cancels for GENCON
NASCRAG- I know this is going to sound a little schizophrenic so let me walk you through it,

Earlier this week I realized that Gen Con event registration was coming up and that the event lists were usually distributed a week or two early. Nascrag was going to be on those lists with offerings for over 600 seats. People were going to be planning their convention based on those lists and I knew, just from casual conversations that a number of our Judges/Staff would not consider attending - even if the convention was held - due to concerns related to the pandemic.

The practical side of my event organizer brain kicked in and I decided that even though I was certain Gen Con would be cancelled, it would be irresponsible to offer more seats than we could honestly support.

When I took a quick poll and it showed about half our folks were definitely not coming, I hurried off an email to GenCon and cut our offering in half and posted it here.

I was feeling a little rushed at the time and I really only asked for responses from people who were "Definitely not coming". But once my email/posts were done I started touching base with everyone. A lot of the others were more in the "Maybe" category. And generally less than enthusiastic maybes.

The writers and the artist couldn't make it. Both in very high risk categories. They were willing to let us use their work, but they wouldn't get the fun of seeing it played.

And then I thought of Jay Johnson. For those of you who don't know the story, Jay was Old School Nascrag - the O.G. (Original Gamer). He'd been stricken with chronic pain issues for years that kept him from coming to Gen Con. But his pain had become more manageable and in 2018 he was back running games with us. He made it though the whole convention and the Awards party and wheeled himself back to the JW Marriott afterwards. He died in his sleep that night. Right or wrong I still carry that death around with me.

I still don't think Gen Con is going to happen this year. I also don't think it SHOULD happen. Take a look at the pictures of the vendor hall opening and compare them to the pictures of the Military parade in Philadelphia in 1918. One week after that parade 4500 Philadelpians were dead.

And, full disclosure, I'm a diabetic with sleep apnea and an 8 year old son. I can't believe I even considered going. And I can't ask my maybes or our players to make what I honestly think is a foolish choice. I can't carry that weight.

Nascrag 2020 is officially cancelled. We'll see you when there's a vaccine

One way to look at it is at least Jay Johnson passed away right after doing what he loved most with the people that loved him. He was with his friends then and was in a nice room at the Marriott. So many pass away not being so lucky. Jay Johnson's story is a sad one but at least he went out on a high note you know? So many are dying homeless today from this virus with no house or friends to comfort them..If you cannot stop what is coming I guess a day with friends at Gencon before you die is not a bad thing is it? I hope the Dev of Nascrag can put some of that pain behind him you know?