TOPIC: Feedback Needed on New Coaching Room Ideas

After much feedback after Gen Con Indy, I am resolved to make the Coaching and Training experience better for both players and Coaches.

Things were a little too tight in 2012 in that first room players walked into with their tickets. It had a ticket table and two other Waiting Area tables. It was crowded, and when the Coach showed up all the players had to pack up all their stuff and follow her into the Coaching Room.

In 2013, I want to drastically change this experience. When players walk into the storyscape, they will find themselves at the edge of dark forest where a small village has sprung up. There will be two large inns, and about each one will be the name of an adventure. Players will enter to find themselves in the lobby of the inn where they will see two separate stations that are labeled "Puzzle" and "Combat". Each will have an themed NPC receptionist sitting on a tall stool at a hostess stand. She will bid them welcome -- telling them that they were expecting their arrival from Icecrag Keep. She will tell them that a village elder (Coach) plans to meet them, and that they should go to a certain room and wait there. She will take their tickets while staying in character as much as possible, and she will direct the player to one of FIVE Coaching rooms along a corridor in the inn.

Each 5 slots in an hour (:12, :24, :36, :48, :00) will have a corresponding Coaching room...and it will be labeled as such. Players can arrive up to 50 minutes ahead of their ticket time, and inside the Coaching room the players fill find reference books on the tables as well as adventure background info on the walls. Players won't have to move from a Waiting Area table anymore, and newbies can arrive early to jumpstart their learning experience.

The players will also find a U-shaped table configuration inside the Coaching Room so that there is more space for the players. In addition, this configuration will allow the Coach to sit on a rolling stool in the middle of the "U" -- and work face to face with each player...instead of over the back of the player. This configuration should be much less physically taxing on the Coaches while providing a better Coach/Player interaction space.

At the ticket time, the village elder (Coach) will enter the Coaching Room, and she will try to remain in character as much as possible without being a hindrance to the process. She will mention she was asked to meet with the party by an NPC from Icecrag Keep -- to help the party track down a lead as to the whereabouts of the missing dwarves of Icecrag Keep. She will tell the party that she will help them prepare for their journey, and she will visit each on to help them with their equipment. She will spend 24 minutes with the party -- filling out the Party Card and answering questions. When the time is up, she will say take the party out of the room, down the hall, and into the Training Room.

Here, she will explain that they need to practice their skills a bit before going out on their quest, and that this is the place to do it. The adventure Intro will be given at this time (TOP SECRET for now), and once the 12 minutes is up, the party will enter Room 1.

Below is a rough plan of the concept detailed above. I would very much like feedback from players and Coaches. My goal with this set-up is to provide a much better pre-dungeon experience for both players and Coaches. I have also attached a photo with roughed in 18" wide tables in a 12' x 16' room. Both should help you understand the plan.

I should also note that we will have better lighting in the Coaching Room, too.

Thanks for your feedback!

This looks good. Last year, the rooms were a bit tight at the start, so any extra room will help. I especially like the idea of the horseshoe tables.

U shape is great. Bending over players was less than professional.
If you could pad the inside of the U that would be nice. Maybe its just me but I'd prefer it over trying to sit.

Hooray for more light!

I'm assuming the coach will move from room to room?

The grey rectangles represent the token mats, right?

I like going back to the separate table for each time slot.

Will there be someone who takes over for the coaches in the training/practice area, or will the coach stay with the players the entire time? Either way it will take at least three coaches per side for this.

Maybe there should be a small dresser/cabinet/chest by the door with the player cards, and the lights and clips can be put on top. Hopefully something that won't break the bank, or suspension of disbelief.

Lighting was an issue this year, hopefully this can help alleviate that.

Really good idea, overall.

Looks great in terms of the tables and I'm thrilled to hear about the pre coaching npcs. The storyscae was great start to increasing immersion but the one thing my buddies mentioned was that they wished the pre adventure stuff could have been more like the truecraft style npcs this sounds like it will go a long way to making that happen. Honestly I can't wait for 2013.

The only thing I'd change about this whole thing is I'd start doing it a few years ago

this looks like a pretty awesome upgrade.

When taking the tickets the token bag can be our pay or a token of gratitude for assisting in the quest

This looks great. Anything to lessen the chaos of the starting/coaching rooms will be fantastic, especially for new(er) players.

Assuming that there's going to be bag check this year (at the very least for Adventuring Guild members), can the bag check area be in the inn or close by?

Brad Mortensen wrote: The only thing I'd change about this whole thing is I'd start doing it a few years ago

Ditto. Looks great. Nice improvement.

valetutto wrote: U shape is great. Bending over players was less than professional.
If you could pad the inside of the U that would be nice. Maybe its just me but I'd prefer it over trying to sit.

Hooray for more light!

I'm assuming the coach will move from room to room?

Hmmm...it will be hard to have both a big pad in the middle AND a rolling chair. They won't work well together. We gotta pick one or the other. I will work with Druegar and Will to see what we should do.

I think it would be nice if the coach went with the party into the training room, but again...I will have to see what Druegar and Will think is best.

Xavon wrote: The grey rectangles represent the token mats, right?

I like going back to the separate table for each time slot.

Will there be someone who takes over for the coaches in the training/practice area, or will the coach stay with the players the entire time? Either way it will take at least three coaches per side for this.

Maybe there should be a small dresser/cabinet/chest by the door with the player cards, and the lights and clips can be put on top. Hopefully something that won't break the bank, or suspension of disbelief.

Lighting was an issue this year, hopefully this can help alleviate that.

Really good idea, overall.

Yes, the gray areas are the token mats.

We will work out the flow later -- but either way would work.

I think the tables will just be re-stocked by a traveling Coach Asst. who will have a rolling cart of supplies.

Brad wrote: this looks like a pretty awesome upgrade.

When taking the tickets the token bag can be our pay or a token of gratitude for assisting in the quest

Exactly, the free token bag will represent supplies that the NPC from Icecrag Keep arranged to have given to you.