TOPIC: Volunteers don't play TD?

First of all, I would like to say the volunteers all did a great job this year (as usual). However, I did have 2 surprises from volunteers this year and I think they may be related.

1. We had several DM's who didn't seem to know anything about rogues. 2 DM's had never heard of the Libram of Looting (late Friday night and Saturday), and I don't think ANY DM knew how the rogue's Flanking ability worked (or that it even existed).

2. Discussing TD with a couple full time volunteers after a run I learned that many volunteers have played TD few if any times. I guess I always just presumed most/all volunteers were TD enthusiasts. They said that even for the ones who want to play TD, getting tickets for times when they aren't volunteering can be very difficult.

We all agreed it would be of great benefit to the volunteers if they played in the dungeons more. They said it would be nice if the full time volunteers were each given a free run each year. And of course we all agreed that was not going to happen ($$). Another idea they had was a very simple one. If volunteers were given priority on the wait list, then they would be more likely to get a few runs in each year. I'm sure this would ruffle a few feathers, but I still think we should do something to allow the volunteers to play more (if they want).

Truthfully I don't know if these 2 volunteers are representative of the entire volunteer group or just vocal exceptions. Does anyone have any other good ideas on how to get more TD play time for volunteers?

TPTB could hold a few runs back each year, and let volunteers only buy the tickets to those slots. After a certain amount of time put any unsold ones back into the pool.
Kind of like how they lottery some full slots beforehand atm.

The problem with holding back a few runs is it would be hard to work around schedules. I was full time days this year on coaching, another friend was fulltime days room 7, he started and finished an hour after I did. Add on a third friend who got part time nights and there was literally 1 night with just bearly enough time for back to back runs.

I suppose we could do something like what their doing as ganehole where the vols are going on a precon run with Jeff as super dm since theres only 1 shift and vols wont have time to run.

Though honestly Im not sure its a problem we can easily solve.

It does surprise me how many volunteers (conjecture based on just random conversations over few year) can't or don't play. Scheduling is a pain first and foremost. I was glad to get the runs i did but I only volunteer part time, i'm both thankful and feel sorry for those that vol full time and try to play. I ended up selling a extra ticket i had to a multiyear volunteer who 'couldn't find slots that worked with times' and she played for 1st time with my group.

There is no easy solution but i'm up for anything that can be done. As i tell people I love volunteering and will gladly do it again it is a time investment out of vacation/con time.

Shout out to DDA- Wynne/Candace (i'll pronounce your name correctly 1st time one of these years...) who had a greedy sealed run and gave/sold half the slots to volunteers on Sun morn.

galandros wrote: TPTB could hold a few runs back each year, and let volunteers only buy the tickets to those slots. After a certain amount of time put any unsold ones back into the pool.
Kind of like how they lottery some full slots beforehand atm.

Have a three room run on Wednesdays during training?

Matt wrote: It does surprise me how many volunteers (conjecture based on just random conversations over few year) can't or don't play. Scheduling is a pain first and foremost. I was glad to get the runs i did but I only volunteer part time, i'm both thankful and feel sorry for those that vol full time and try to play. I ended up selling a extra ticket i had to a multiyear volunteer who 'couldn't find slots that worked with times' and she played for 1st time with my group.

There is no easy solution but i'm up for anything that can be done. As i tell people I love volunteering and will gladly do it again it is a time investment out of vacation/con time.

Shout out to DDA- Wynne/Candace (i'll pronounce your name correctly 1st time one of these years...) who had a greedy sealed run and gave/sold half the slots to volunteers on Sun morn.

For many volunteers it's not even a lack of opportunity or money. Many simply aren't interested in playing.

I think that is a major problem.

Personally, I think it is past time to do some volunteer cleaning house. Much as I think volunteers should be commended for their contributions, a lot of volunteers really aren't very good at their roles and may in fact be liabilities from a PR standpoint (particularly abusive DM's who lack customer service skills and/or don't understand the game and/or tokens).

Incognito wrote:

Matt wrote: It does surprise me how many volunteers (conjecture based on just random conversations over few year) can't or don't play. Scheduling is a pain first and foremost. I was glad to get the runs i did but I only volunteer part time, i'm both thankful and feel sorry for those that vol full time and try to play. I ended up selling a extra ticket i had to a multiyear volunteer who 'couldn't find slots that worked with times' and she played for 1st time with my group.

There is no easy solution but i'm up for anything that can be done. As i tell people I love volunteering and will gladly do it again it is a time investment out of vacation/con time.

Shout out to DDA- Wynne/Candace (i'll pronounce your name correctly 1st time one of these years...) who had a greedy sealed run and gave/sold half the slots to volunteers on Sun morn.

For many volunteers it's not even a lack of opportunity or money. Many simply aren't interested in playing.

I think that is a major problem.

Personally, I think it is past time to do some volunteer cleaning house. Much as I think volunteers should be commended for their contributions, a lot of volunteers really aren't very good at their roles and may in fact be liabilities from a PR standpoint (particularly abusive DM's who lack customer service skills and/or don't understand the game and/or tokens).

Hate to agree - but I have to.

Beertram wrote: First of all, I would like to say the volunteers all did a great job this year (as usual). However, I did have 2 surprises from volunteers this year and I think they may be related.

1. We had several DM's who didn't seem to know anything about rogues. 2 DM's had never heard of the Libram of Looting (late Friday night and Saturday), and I don't think ANY DM knew how the rogue's Flanking ability worked (or that it even existed).

2. Discussing TD with a couple full time volunteers after a run I learned that many volunteers have played TD few if any times. I guess I always just presumed most/all volunteers were TD enthusiasts. They said that even for the ones who want to play TD, getting tickets for times when they aren't volunteering can be very difficult.

We all agreed it would be of great benefit to the volunteers if they played in the dungeons more. They said it would be nice if the full time volunteers were each given a free run each year. And of course we all agreed that was not going to happen ($$). Another idea they had was a very simple one. If volunteers were given priority on the wait list, then they would be more likely to get a few runs in each year. I'm sure this would ruffle a few feathers, but I still think we should do something to allow the volunteers to play more (if they want).

Truthfully I don't know if these 2 volunteers are representative of the entire volunteer group or just vocal exceptions. Does anyone have any other good ideas on how to get more TD play time for volunteers?

Good Afternoon good Sir, you raise an interesting point. I have a large number of older and more obscure tokens so it is understandable some tokens may be hard to remember on the Fly Example what is the special effect of +2 Dagger of Venom; +2 Deadly Drow Blood Mace; and what does the Dagger symbol on Nightshade’s +2 Short Sword mean (Lybram of looting is not very common)

However Flanking is an excellent but not commonly used Rogue ability which should be Known.. As a Former Dungeon prop (if Jeff is interested)I would support and work on having vet Players run Dungeons for multishift Volunteers who woulds want to do them

Lotus Blossum wrote: what does the Dagger symbol on Nightshade’s +2 Short Sword mean

I keep a scroll (read tokendb print out) with me in case the DM isnt familiar (read every time its come up outside of grind).

Incognito wrote:
Personally, I think it is past time to do some volunteer cleaning house. Much as I think volunteers should be commended for their contributions, a lot of volunteers really aren't very good at their roles and may in fact be liabilities from a PR standpoint (particularly abusive DM's who lack customer service skills and/or don't understand the game and/or tokens).

Ya seriously, that guy running grind really needs to..... uh .... be commended for all his hard work


Seriously though, how would we identify less then qualified volunteers / is there enough interest from new volunteers that we can really be that picky and choosey about who we take in their place. Not that I disagree with you, just considering the logistics of how a vol purge would work.

Picc wrote:

Lotus Blossum wrote: what does the Dagger symbol on Nightshade’s +2 Short Sword mean

I keep a scroll (read tokendb print out) with me in case the DM isnt familiar (read every time its come up outside of grind).

Master Lordon showed me how to use the electronic oracle to print out such scrolls Thank you and you make the point That (absent some insane Folks) no one (outside of Jeff the Great Lord of the Dungeon) knows what every token does

This year an acquaintance of mine volunteered for TD (we both help coordinate monster camp at our local LARP, so TD was kinda up his alley).

Previous to this year, he had never heard of TD, let alone played TD. I guess through selective targeting, he came across a call for the need for volunteers either on FB or through some other gaming forum or email *shrug*. He signed up because of the perks of being a TD volunteer (free badge & hotel)... and TD sounded interesting so he kinda wanted to check it out.

One shift he was up front at check in, and another shift I saw him near the coaching rooms (assistant coach I think?)

After his Saturday shift, he decided to try a run out for himself, and he enjoyed the class he played and the game itself.

If it was mandatory to play TD before becoming a volunteer, TD wouldn't have had this volunteer this year, he would have not attended GenCon, and TD wouldn't have this new player.

Rather than trying to say, if you haven't played TD, wouldn't it be better to find a position for which someone is best qualified - if they don't know how a lot of the tokens work, don't put them in a combat dungeon room.

I know TD always needs more volunteers, but declining people who haven't played seems to be shooting themselves in the foot.

Incognito wrote:

Matt wrote: It does surprise me how many volunteers (conjecture based on just random conversations over few year) can't or don't play. Scheduling is a pain first and foremost. I was glad to get the runs i did but I only volunteer part time, i'm both thankful and feel sorry for those that vol full time and try to play. I ended up selling a extra ticket i had to a multiyear volunteer who 'couldn't find slots that worked with times' and she played for 1st time with my group.

There is no easy solution but i'm up for anything that can be done. As i tell people I love volunteering and will gladly do it again it is a time investment out of vacation/con time.

Shout out to DDA- Wynne/Candace (i'll pronounce your name correctly 1st time one of these years...) who had a greedy sealed run and gave/sold half the slots to volunteers on Sun morn.

For many volunteers it's not even a lack of opportunity or money. Many simply aren't interested in playing.

I think that is a major problem.

Personally, I think it is past time to do some volunteer cleaning house. Much as I think volunteers should be commended for their contributions, a lot of volunteers really aren't very good at their roles and may in fact be liabilities from a PR standpoint (particularly abusive DM's who lack customer service skills and/or don't understand the game and/or tokens).

I definitely agree to a point. I myself have gotten frustrated with the amount of DMs that seem to be there only to kill the parties. During the opening of training I heard 3 talking about how many parties they have killed and they were shooting for way more this year. That is definitely the wrong attitude to have. In my opinion we are there to help the players enjoy their time in the Dungeon and make them want to come back. There is definitely a difference between a room being difficult (which is fun), and DMs actively trying for TPKs (this needs to stop).