NZRaG

[morgue]

This is what I'd like to see: a Kapcon where newcomers, including complete RPG novices and people who don't know anyone in the room, are made to feel welcome.

One thing that I think would help: we stop treating public organization time like our private friends party.

When an organizer steps up to speak: they say their piece and everyone lets 'em. There's no heckling, or lengthy digressions, or big old banter. There's no in-jokes about this dude or that game.

I'd like to see that.

I realize some folk will disagree. I would've disagreed myself, not so very long ago. I've done this stuff myself, most definitely. But I've come to hold the view that every time we get in a joke or a reference at the expense of getting things done, it makes us less accessible. It emphasizes who is in and who is out. It creates status divisions. It disrespects people who aren't into the 'scene'. It makes us look like a bunch of amateurs at our own special party that we threw ourselves.

And yes, you're right, that's what Kapcon is - its a special party we throw ourselves. Its not wrong at all to goof off and celebrate our social connections and the history of our community. (In fact, I think we should be damn proud we've got a community at all. I've visited a lot of places around the world and Wgtn's RPG scene is very special.)

So, not wrong - but I think it's a barrier, and I think it sends a negative message to new arrivals that our in-jokes are more important than their time.

Anyone who's kept an eye on me for a while will know I think about this stuff a lot. Accessibility and community-building are important to me. We do so much so well - for example, newcomers are generally welcomed with smiles and handshakes by whatever randoms they meet. But we can do more to make these people welcome - like this.

That's what I'd like.
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Gametime - talking about RPG stuff

[Dan]

So to sum up -
a) The organisers time is precious, please help them to use it wisely...

and

b) Be friendly, talk to people you don't know - ask questions like - who are you? where are you from? what games do you play? what games you would like to play? (and if you record the answers to what games you would like to play and post them up after kapcon, you may see those games appear next time round!!!)

This about right?
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Ta Dan

[NickPitt]

[morgue]

[morgue]

[IdiotSavant]

[NickPitt]

[James P]

I'm fully in agreement with Morgue - Between rounds, the less time we spend standing around listening to some dude speak, the more time we can spend mingling and chatting informally with our fellow gamers.
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Running:WFRP: Paths of the Damned, D&D4e: Reach of the Dark Gods.
Playing: Hunter: The Vigil, Exalted: Red Sun SEED
Planning: Werewolf: The Apocalypse

[tog42]

[Mashugenah]

Yeah, "dude" isn't the word I'd have used either.
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The opinions prevalent in one age... are confuted and rejected in another and rise again to reception in remoter times. Thus the human mind is kept in motion without progress.
- Samuel Johnson, Preface to Shakespeare

[TazzyD]

Good stuff guys, I cherish the time I get to hang with friends, but on the other side of things, introducing people to something they've not done before will give them their 1st impressions.

I used to play Paintball on a semi professional level and although we had our close knit teams / friends / groups, we always had time for new guys, bringing them into convosations etc.

This will be my first con / LARP. Unfortunatly, don't have the time to come gaming, due to work on sat morning / arvo and the aformentioned Paintballing on sunday in Palmy North, but when it comes to being at the Con for the LARP, I do hope that I won't feel shunned and loaner-ish.

[binder]

[tog42]

[artemis]

A lot of people take the 3rd round off to get ready for the LARP so if you can get there any time from 5 onwards you can get to know people while they are gettign into costume or just hanging out- also means you can get changed at the school if you need to.

We need everyone to gather for the LARP at 8:20 s and the 3rd round finishes at 8 so it is going to be rushed for some of the people.

And for the record I always try to talk to new people and make them feel welcome. As do a number of the regulars. Morgue is just trying to improve on things in a more organized fashion.

[artemis]

Oh one more thing Tazzy are you coming to the drinks tonight at the Ruby Lounge?

It would be a great chance to talk to you before hand and for you to get to know some of us.

If you dont know where this is its on Bond Street where Syn used to be.

Hugs