1)



Im afraid like the poster before me that too much emphasis is being placed on Convention support. AL's base home has to be the Local Store. THe place which sells the stock, where the players meet up for Expeditions and Encounters. Sure the stores might be also represented by having stalls at the convention, but its not their show or their place. I know we do promote AL via Conventions but I also think this is outdate thinking. Conventions used to be the point where companies would release their new product or their new way of doing things. People would talk and exchange ideas. People who hadnt seen each other for a whole year would meet up.



In a way it feels like this is (and Im probably dead wrong) a way for Baldman Games to shore up its paying customers for the conventions it runs. Im not going to say Cash grab but it feels like a big event thats gonna Benefit Baldman Games. I actually believe that its the stores that build communities. Conventions can move depending on the costs of the location they use.. A Convention can decide that the location is charging them too much and move on . THis could be to a different town or state. Stores really dont do that. They are a focal point where Gamers can meet and expand their gamer Networks. I just dont think a Convention can provide the same.. function at least not to the same extent as the store.



This was pre Internet age. Companies now release trailers for their products, people post invitations to others on warhorn or other such software, Facebook posts are made, Google + accounts used and so on. The Convention was the font or focal point of gaming has passed. There will always be big conventions and its on them to think up new ways to attract people (and the Big Cons are still getting bigger)



2) This would be unlikely. The RC for Asia/ Pacific, DM Fern is based outta Sydney. While he recently Went to Pax, he paid his own way to go there and I was already going there and had paid for a Con Pass myself (This was In melbourne, So I bore the brunt of the costs to stay in Melbourne and fly there plus incidentals).



Genghiscon is the only gaming convention in Perth. I have been thinking about going there to run some AL/promote it but I wanted to save up for a trip Im thinking of taking to America so dont know If I can justify some of the promo materials I would need. I would be running perhaps 1-2 tables and we might have 3 dms available. I couldnt see any justification of paying for FERN to come over (Accomodation for 3 days could run to 500 + dollars and Flights about 800). Considering the cost to enter the con is about 40 dollars, its never gonna happen.



I think the disconnect feeling Im having here is that..



A.1) All 6 Admins are in America. Im not saying this is a bad thing.. it is what it is.

A.2) Costs to fly such Admins out of America would be exorbinate for the size of the conventions in some of these other Countries. I think the UK might have a really big gaming convention RE AL but I cant think of any other place that would. Im kinda guessing to be honest already that this topic post is really directed at the American audience within AL

A.3) Because of the distance involved with my stores from other parts of Asia/Pacific we are effectively married to the Store based approach. Anything that advantages the convention over the store , impacts us.



3) I think Part 1 and 2 above and the responses, indicate my reply here. I wouldnt be willing to fly to say Winter Fantasy wherever that was held to perhaps in the offchance get a chance to play in a game run by an Admin for more 'exclusive' content. I think we have to realise the convention has limited time to run games, the Admin has limited time in this case to run THEIR game and thus spots are limited. With the sheer number of gamers attending some of these conventions the actual mathematicaly chance to get on a table becomes well... mathematically unlikely.



I had a bad experience with Paizocon in 2014 (namely the Lottery system didnt feel so much like a lottery but an African Lottery.. it seemed somewhat rigged so certain people got into certain events).



Edit: I just saw your reply Skerrit to another Poster RE the MyRealms concept. I will admit. I have been vocal in my oppositiion on Facebook to such a concept. I think it dilutes the story arcs being created, creates some ruling issues (despite best intentions) and creates some exclusivity (namely some dms who have the time to do such things and those that do not).