TOPIC: HUGE NEWS about Gen Con!

Amorgen Burke wrote: Wow. While I understand the rationale, this puts a larger burden on people who organize runs and on any that were more concerned with just maxing XP, not necessarily running both combat/puzzle versions.

I love immersion as much as anyone, but an extra $20 worth per person per adventure might be a bit high of a jump. This has me really torn on how to plan future years because budgets are very tight. I'd look more at going to cons with the $58 price point instead, but another key part of the GenCon experience for us are the friends that go most years to GenCon, but don't go to other conventions.

That's the spot i'm in as well. I typically buy and organize 2 runs every year and this hit the breaking point for majority of my group. I'm committed to Indy this year but will have to think hard before next year.

You mentioned XP, and that's going to be a factor along with class selection going to see more roll-off's for class. I run enough and do enough pugs that unless it's a planned nightmare or other themed run i don't mind playing an off class or running lower difficulty.

With the higher cost i definitely will do less pug's and will be (and don't doubt others') more picky on class and difficulty selection. If i'm running each dungeon only once then i definitely want to maximize my odds on playing the class(s) i want and the difficulty for XP.

Expect players to be less forgiving about a 'bad' run or one where otherwise minor issues occur. As has been said elsewhere on a $4 rpg session a bad gm is understandable, for $78 expectations are a lot higher.

As someone who has done a run per dungeon since 2006, this is the tipping point for me. I understand the price increases, they don’t upset me. Last year I ran 2 runs like I do every year. $124 per person for those 2 runs. Now to see the whole story our price essentially doubled, and our time investment increased 50%. I’ll still do a run, maybe 2, but I’m sad I won’t be able to see the whole story anymore.

JesterSB wrote: As someone who has done a run per dungeon since 2006, this is the tipping point for me. I understand the price increases, they don’t upset me. Last year I ran 2 runs like I do every year. $124 per person for those 2 runs. Now to see the whole story our price essentially doubled, and our time investment increased 50%. I’ll still do a run, maybe 2, but I’m sad I won’t be able to see the whole story anymore.

Yeah, sounds like we are in the same boat. I have always done one run per adventure ( not per dungeon; I’ll take combat or puzzle, whatever is available), because I’ve loved seeing the story unfold over the years.

I will probably go from 2 runs per year to just 1, which I suppose is part of the reason for the price increase. To get those supply and demand curves to intersect. I’m sure it will be amazing, but I will be sad about it, nonetheless.

For the "both" room ones will the party have 6 minutes for each, party be split or we have to defeat the monster to get to puzzle or vice versa?

jon wrote: For the "both" room ones will the party have 6 minutes for each, party be split or we have to defeat the monster to get to puzzle or vice versa?

I hope it’s split the party and need to get both accomplished to defeat the room.

This would work great with a Dracolich and it’s phylactery. I’m sure that will not be this year but would be a great use of a both room.

From the Lords and Ladies forum

Jeff Martin wrote: BTW, after reading many of the comments here, it is apparently that I should have talked more about how the rooms will be divided up between combat and puzzle rooms. I actually gave exact info on that in the newsletter.

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Gen Con 2018

Gen Con will see the presentation of the entire three-part N-series of modules. They include:

• N1 – Astral Journey to the Bliss (1st shown at Origins) [3 puzzle rooms, 3 combat rooms & 1 "both" room]
• N2 – Odin’s Haven (premieres at Gen Con) [3 puzzle rooms, 3 combat rooms & 1 "both" room]
• N3 – Vault of the All-Father (premieres at Gen Con) [4 puzzle rooms & 3 combat rooms]

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"Both" - this room will have components of each -- or some kind of special circumstances that require the party to do both in the room

I had already been priced out of gencon. I went last year for the anniversary but if I travel for a con it will be origins. GHC is in my home turf so I expect to be doing that for the foreseeable future. There is only so much vacation time.

James J Krot wrote: I had already been priced out of gencon. I went last year for the anniversary but if I travel for a con it will be origins. GHC is in my home turf so I expect to be doing that for the foreseeable future. There is only so much vacation time.

When I started playing TD in 2010 the price of a four day badge was $78. Now it's $110. Hotels are harder to get and more expensive. Parkings was $18 per day. Last year I paid $28.

Indy may be killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

GHC is looking pretty good at $60 for a full con badge, free parking and hotels between $100 and $150.

Lots has already been said about the bummer of increased ticket prices. Less has been said (at least here) about the reduction in total number of tickets. Combined, I’m afraid this double whammy is going to outweigh any benefit from the new changes and will hurt veterans and new players alike.

Vets are already funding a huge chunk of TD with massive token purchases, multiple runs, etc. I think the sad reality is that most (but admittedly not all) vets would probably pay whatever Jeff wants for tickets - otherwise all those fancy sports cars (tokens) gather dust in the garage (basement). But a ticket price increase of this magnitude feels a little extortionate. “Yeah, I know you already paid me big money for all those fancy tokens, but I won’t let you drive them around unless you pay me an additional overcharge.”

Add to it the fact that there will be 2,000 less tickets available feels like insult to injury. Ticket purchasing for last year’s GenCon was a nightmare with 8,000 tickets. With all of the excellent work TD has done cultivating new interest and buzz around the game, it seems like demand has never been greater. Decreasing ticket supply to 6,000 is only going to result in all those fancy tokens getting less play because tickets will be even harder to come by. (Personally, I don’t care so much about extra props as I do extra runs anyway - the more I can play and use my tokens, the happier I am.)

For new players, TD has worked so hard to bring new blood to the table, and it seems like there are hundreds and hundreds of new players ready to jump in with both feet. I fear that imposing big price increases and reducing overall availability is a recipe for disappointment that will stop many new players in their tracks before they even get started. (Yeah, I know about the intro dungeon - but I am not convinced that a watered down dungeon is the best way to hook new players.)

TD has never been more popular. If ever there was a year to INCREASE ticket availability and control prices (mind you, I don’t mind modest increases), it was this year. Take care of your vets by making sure they can still get in all of their desired runs while still capitalizing on all of the amazing buzz by getting as many new players in the door as possible.

A lost opportunity for the game and a real shame.

Boilerplate wrote: Lots has already been said about the bummer of increased ticket prices. Less has been said (at least here) about the reduction in total number of tickets. Combined, I’m afraid this double whammy is going to outweigh any benefit from the new changes and will hurt veterans and new players alike.

Vets are already funding a huge chunk of TD with massive token purchases, multiple runs, etc. I think the sad reality is that most (but admittedly not all) vets would probably pay whatever Jeff wants for tickets - otherwise all those fancy sports cars (tokens) gather dust in the garage (basement). But a ticket price increase of this magnitude feels a little extortionate. “Yeah, I know you already paid me big money for all those fancy tokens, but I won’t let you drive them around unless you pay me an additional overcharge.”

Add to it the fact that there will be 2,000 less tickets available feels like insult to injury. Ticket purchasing for last year’s GenCon was a nightmare with 8,000 tickets. With all of the excellent work TD has done cultivating new interest and buzz around the game, it seems like demand has never been greater. Decreasing ticket supply to 6,000 is only going to result in all those fancy tokens getting less play because tickets will be even harder to come by. (Personally, I don’t care so much about extra props as I do extra runs anyway - the more I can play and use my tokens, the happier I am.)

For new players, TD has worked so hard to bring new blood to the table, and it seems like there are hundreds and hundreds of new players ready to jump in with both feet. I fear that imposing big price increases and reducing overall availability is a recipe for disappointment that will stop many new players in their tracks before they even get started.

TD has never been more popular. If ever there was a year to INCREASE ticket availability and control prices (mind you, I don’t mind modest increases), it was this year. Take care of your vets by making sure they can still get in all of their desired runs while still capitalizing on all of the amazing buzz by getting as many new players in the door as possible.


A lost opportunity for the game and a real shame.

well then maybe people will go to the other cons as well or only those. they would get the same opportunity.

2019, i think I may only do Gen Con on thursday and leave thursday night

then spend my hotel money to go to GHC and Origins. if i budget right, I can go to those two, for the money I save at GC

I for one am fine with just 3 Dungeons at Gencon. And I never liked the puzzle/combat variation. I would rather three amazing and completely different Dungeons than four or five less amazing repetative Dungeons. I think Jeff is right to focus his resources a bit and not fall into the trap of trying to do too much just to meet demand.

From a pure business perspective it also makes sense. The demand is high enough to cover the new ticket price but with less overhead.

I think too many people here just do not like change and enjoy whining about ticket prices.

Honestly I am coming out ahead for Gencon. Purchasing 2 tickets for every dungeon is cheaper in 2018 than it was in 2017!

Boilerplate wrote: Lots has already been said about the bummer of increased ticket prices. Less has been said (at least here) about the reduction in total number of tickets. Combined, I’m afraid this double whammy is going to outweigh any benefit from the new changes and will hurt veterans and new players alike.

Vets are already funding a huge chunk of TD with massive token purchases, multiple runs, etc. I think the sad reality is that most (but admittedly not all) vets would probably pay whatever Jeff wants for tickets - otherwise all those fancy sports cars (tokens) gather dust in the garage (basement). But a ticket price increase of this magnitude feels a little extortionate. “Yeah, I know you already paid me big money for all those fancy tokens, but I won’t let you drive them around unless you pay me an additional overcharge.”

Add to it the fact that there will be 2,000 less tickets available feels like insult to injury. Ticket purchasing for last year’s GenCon was a nightmare with 8,000 tickets. With all of the excellent work TD has done cultivating new interest and buzz around the game, it seems like demand has never been greater. Decreasing ticket supply to 6,000 is only going to result in all those fancy tokens getting less play because tickets will be even harder to come by. (Personally, I don’t care so much about extra props as I do extra runs anyway - the more I can play and use my tokens, the happier I am.)

For new players, TD has worked so hard to bring new blood to the table, and it seems like there are hundreds and hundreds of new players ready to jump in with both feet. I fear that imposing big price increases and reducing overall availability is a recipe for disappointment that will stop many new players in their tracks before they even get started.

TD has never been more popular. If ever there was a year to INCREASE ticket availability and control prices (mind you, I don’t mind modest increases), it was this year. Take care of your vets by making sure they can still get in all of their desired runs while still capitalizing on all of the amazing buzz by getting as many new players in the door as possible.


A lost opportunity for the game and a real shame.

You do raise a good point about ticket quantities. With an 8K sellout last year you'd typically expect an increase in available tickets this year. But based on space, time, module design it doesn't sound like it's possible. From a financial standpoint TD may be ok if the 6K sell out but it's a net loss of 2000 "experiences" for players this year at GC. Although the Intro Dungeon will offset that somewhat. So the revenue may hold this year, but game growth takes a step back at GC because you can't say the game is growing if less people get to play.

EDIT: Although with the addition of PAX and the other Cons if you look at overall runs run per year this may not be the case.