TOPIC: Change in Ghost Policy

Mike Steele wrote:

Bob Chasan wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: I’ve seen a lot on this forum over the years: discussions, debates, arguments, fights, tantrums... but never mutiny.

That says something.

My intent was not mutiny nor in any way circumventing Jeff’s will in any way, rather to be helpful to those who have already bought tickets and under a flawed ticketing system.

I do understand your perspective. But, if Jeff says that there won't be any Ghost Players at GENCON, and people are trying to figure out a way to still do Ghost Players, that is trying to circumvent the current True Dungeon policy. I totally agree that the core problem is the way the electronic ticketing system will work, but the current ban on Ghosting at GENCON was from Jeff. I would bet he's trying to figure out a way right now to make it work out. Jeff is more focused on customer satisfaction and doing right by his customers than anyone I've ever met.

That’s essentially what I was trying to say apparently less eloquently than necessary

I'm perfectly willing to go on a run with a group if I have a free block of time, do nothing during the run, and hand over all my treasure at the end

I can't see how that would violate any policy.


But like Mike, I'm inclined to believe Jeff is working behind the scenes to fix this.

I really enjoy the smaller group runs and the extra challenge. I also enjoy the grinds and the extra challenge.

I am current schedule for 11 runs which includes 1 grind and 4 smaller group runs.

I will be checking to see what grind runs are available that overlap with the smaller group runs. But will be looking for 2 and possible 3 tickets for each grind.

Harlax wrote: I'm perfectly willing to go on a run with a group if I have a free block of time, do nothing during the run, and hand over all my treasure at the end

I can't see how that would violate any policy.


But like Mike, I'm inclined to believe Jeff is working behind the scenes to fix this.

I’m sure he is.

I didn’t mean mutiny against Jeff.

I don’t know if Jeff is in a position to approve a workaround, though he may be able to turn a blind eye. I had the impression the “no ghost” policy was in response to a GC system limitation, in which case he might be simultaneously fine with our rebellion but prohibited from saying so.

We already work around GenCon’s “no selling” rules using GP as currency. We could work around this, if Jeff and GC can’t work out a compromise.

But I said before and will again: I think everyone here is loyal to Jeff and will do whatever he wants us to. If he says he will rigorously enforce the GC rules, none of us will try to circumvent that. We respect him too much. I can’t speak for the rest of you, but I have zero loyalty to GC. And I resent them putting Jeff in this box.

But if the message is “we can’t support ghosting because of GCs science fair project eticket system,” then that’s something else. If they can’t figure out how to support ghosts before August, we will. We already have.

For the last 3 years GenCon has been nothing but TD for me. I've moved some of my other gaming activity to Who's Yer Con. This year I'll be doing less TD at GenCon and more at Origins and Gamehole Con. I've essentially cut my activity at GenCon in half, not counting volunteering.


If adventures were not debuting at GenCon, I wouldn't feel any compelling need to be there. That makes me kind of sad.

Harlax wrote: For the last 3 years GenCon has been nothing but TD for me. I've moved some of my other gaming activity to Who's Yer Con. This year I'll be doing less TD at GenCon and more at Origins and Gamehole Con. I've essentially cut my activity at GenCon in half, not counting volunteering.


If adventures were not debuting at GenCon, I wouldn't feel any compelling need to be there. That makes me kind of sad.

Other than TD and the Dealer's Room, my group basically just does open gaming at GENCON. I think we'd switch to Origins if it weren't so much farther away. Still, we always love our GENCON weekend and I'm sure this year will be no exception.

As things stand a bunch of my TD group is not attending Gen Con anymore for a multitude of reasons. Despite that I plan to still attend if not for the TD factor but for the other things I do at the Con and people that I only get to see once a year. In regards to the ghosting I think the 10 treasure is fair and will discourage farming although I do agree with the previously stated 12 being better ;P. And I'll be around the TD area as well if people need a body/badge for scanning purposes if indeed it does come to this.

But I have heard lots of chatter from the TD community in the last year or so about moving away from Gen Con and it does sadden me deeply. It also makes me sad to see at least 10 people I have associated with for the last 7 or so years not go this year due to new policies and increasing costs. It seems that the financial/stress bubble may be close to bursting for a large group of people.

Eldar wrote: As things stand a bunch of my TD group is not attending Gen Con anymore for a multitude of reasons. Despite that I plan to still attend if not for the TD factor but for the other things I do at the Con and people that I only get to see once a year. In regards to the ghosting I think the 10 treasure is fair and will discourage farming although I do agree with the previously stated 12 being better ;P. And I'll be around the TD area as well if people need a body/badge for scanning purposes if indeed it does come to this.

But I have heard lots of chatter from the TD community in the last year or so about moving away from Gen Con and it does sadden me deeply. It also makes me sad to see at least 10 people I have associated with for the last 7 or so years not go this year due to new policies and increasing costs. It seems that the financial/stress bubble may be close to bursting for a large group of people.

To be clear the limit of 10 applies to Origins. At the moment there is technically not a limit for GenCon, but its currently not possible to do it at all given the new e ticket implementation.

Although a variety of work arounds are being floated and we surmise that Jeff is working behind the scenes to come up with an alternative.

Harlax wrote:

Eldar wrote: As things stand a bunch of my TD group is not attending Gen Con anymore for a multitude of reasons. Despite that I plan to still attend if not for the TD factor but for the other things I do at the Con and people that I only get to see once a year. In regards to the ghosting I think the 10 treasure is fair and will discourage farming although I do agree with the previously stated 12 being better ;P. And I'll be around the TD area as well if people need a body/badge for scanning purposes if indeed it does come to this.

But I have heard lots of chatter from the TD community in the last year or so about moving away from Gen Con and it does sadden me deeply. It also makes me sad to see at least 10 people I have associated with for the last 7 or so years not go this year due to new policies and increasing costs. It seems that the financial/stress bubble may be close to bursting for a large group of people.

To be clear the limit of 10 applies to Origins. At the moment there is technically not a limit for GenCon, but its currently not possible to do it at all given the new e ticket implementation.

Although a variety of work arounds are being floated and we surmise that Jeff is working behind the scenes to come up with an alternative.

Actually, per post #37 in this thread by Jeff, ghosting is now allowed at all the non-GENCON conventions with no restrictions:

"1) Announce no ghosting at Gen Con 2018

2) Announce no ghosting restrictions at other Cons during 2018-2019 season. Be ready for some farming to happen but anyone doing so has to wear a straw hat throughout dungeon (just kidding on the last part)."

Mike Steele wrote:

Harlax wrote:

Eldar wrote: As things stand a bunch of my TD group is not attending Gen Con anymore for a multitude of reasons. Despite that I plan to still attend if not for the TD factor but for the other things I do at the Con and people that I only get to see once a year. In regards to the ghosting I think the 10 treasure is fair and will discourage farming although I do agree with the previously stated 12 being better ;P. And I'll be around the TD area as well if people need a body/badge for scanning purposes if indeed it does come to this.

But I have heard lots of chatter from the TD community in the last year or so about moving away from Gen Con and it does sadden me deeply. It also makes me sad to see at least 10 people I have associated with for the last 7 or so years not go this year due to new policies and increasing costs. It seems that the financial/stress bubble may be close to bursting for a large group of people.

To be clear the limit of 10 applies to Origins. At the moment there is technically not a limit for GenCon, but its currently not possible to do it at all given the new e ticket implementation.

Although a variety of work arounds are being floated and we surmise that Jeff is working behind the scenes to come up with an alternative.

Actually, per post #37 in this thread by Jeff, ghosting is now allowed at all the non-GENCON conventions with no restrictions:

"1) Announce no ghosting at Gen Con 2018

2) Announce no ghosting restrictions at other Cons during 2018-2019 season. Be ready for some farming to happen but anyone doing so has to wear a straw hat throughout dungeon (just kidding on the last part)."

Thanks. I missed that somehow.

I'm still hoping we find a workaround for GenCon.


And I still say that running a beta test on the most complex event at GenCon is a spectacularly bad idea. It has epic fail written all over it.

But doesn’t the 2018 season start with GenCon, which means last Pax South and this coming Origins are still 2017 even though in year 2018?

Out of curiosity, how many tickets are left unsold at Origins, and what percentage unsold is that?