Etiquette and Protocol: Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

As I mentioned in my GamerNation Con VI after action report, there were times where pre-game prep and in-game gabbing really cut into playing time in a big way–and it wasn’t limited to one GM/Host or one game category. Set-up and covering rules of one boardgame took over an hour out of a 4 hour slot! Something similar happened in an otherwise great RPG session due to the GM opting for character creation over pre-gens. There was another RPG where talk about the development of the system hack we were playing bogged down gameplay, repeatedly. So it seems a good time to talk about how to better use gaming time, especially at cons. One-plus hour of set-up/rules explanations/exposition plus 3.5 hours of play won’t fit into a 4 hour session, unless you’re a Timelord. So, lacking a TARDIS, what can you do?

1) The most obvious thing, for RPGs, is to use pre-gens. I know, I know. Making my own characters is one of my favorite things too, but it really is the best option for a con game, where Sessions Zero just aren’t possible. Now you can have players customize their pre-gens a bit–but it takes planning, including a good estimate of how long “Cgen” and play will take. Katrina Ostrander did this well with Fantasy Flight RPGs at GNC IV, shortening and simplifying her adaptation of Powered by the Apocalypse character generation, so that the process took less time than usual. (She talks a little about this on her own blog.)

2) At the table, a PC roster will speed up selecting those pregens. Write up a page with 1-2 paragraphs on each PC–class/career, race, a few sentences of background, a couple abilities and/or primary weapon/attack. Make a copy for each player to choose from, rather than passing around the character sheets themselves. In my experience, when the actual sheets are used for picks, players can’t resist reading Every. Single. Stat on each one. Or the sheets don’t get passed around, with some players looking at 2 or 3 PCs at once while others have to wait, empty-handed. (Also, write up 1-2 more characters than you have openings, so even the last person to sit down has some choice. It might not speed up selection, but it will make for a better play experience.)

4) Estimated run/play time should be less than the slot length; say 30 minutes less. This allows for picking PCs, clarifying rules, or stuff out of your control, like a game ending late, or a tornado warning (true GNC 5 story). Alternatives are to schedule a longer slot, shorten the module (RPGs), or choose a game with less prep or play time.

5) For board/minis games with a lot of setup, plan ahead for getting it done ASAP. Is there scenery that can be brought (partly) assembled? If the game has component sets and/or decks for different players, are they separated this way in the box, or do you need to do this? Have a free slot before your game to give yourself plenty of setup time. If possible, ask for a table/room that isn’t being used the previous slot. If not, perhaps once you’re at the con site, you can scout out a nearby empty space where you can stage as much as possible, then move it between sessions. This isn’t likely at a crowded con, but it won’t hurt to ask.