Gaelcon - what to expect?

MichaelR

Hello,

I am from Russia, now living in Galway. I was into live role playing since 1994. But, back home, a "live action role playing game" is usually a rather long event out in a forest (one day is a minimum with 2-3 days normal), but sometimes happens in a home or venue too (and will be long anyway).

I would like to finally link up with the LARP community here, and thought of spending a day at Gaelcon. However, the scheduled three hour larps sound strange - what can one play in that little time? Also, should I expect people from across the country there, and thus hope to meet fellow Galwegians? Finally, Gaelcon is unresponsive in email.

Should I try it anyway, with the long trip to Dublin? Or am I best off not going to Gaelcon, and instead writing to Galway forums and seeking access to NUIG notice boards?

Nevyn

MichaelR wrote: »

I would like to finally link up with the LARP community here,

Well there are a few ways to do that there is the irish gaming email list
igaming@yahoogroups.com or there is the Irishgaming forum http://www.irishgaming.com/forum and there is also camerilla games being run
and there is a chapter I do believe in galway, http://www.camarilla.ie/

MichaelR wrote: »

and thought of spending a day at Gaelcon. However, the scheduled three hour larps sound strange - what can one play in that little time?

Most of the larping I have done has been in that format and it can be very easy to get into character and then you set out to achieve the goals given to you. I would be pretty much still a larping newbie but there are some wonderful people who are welcoming and are wonderful larpers and you soon forget you are in a room in a hotel and get very invovled in the game.

MichaelR wrote: »

Also, should I expect people from across the country there, and thus hope to meet fellow Galwegians? Finally, Gaelcon is unresponsive in email.

Yes people come from all over the country and form other countries to attend, the UK germany ect and even as far as Israel.

Gealcon has been running for the last 20 years and over the last 3 there had been a lot of newish people who took on the roles of running the con,
it can be hard to get a hold of them as running the con is competely done part time and voluntary bases.

I would suggest if you don't get an answer here from them soon that you try asking on the email list, igaming@yahoogroups.com/

MichaelR wrote: »

Should I try it anyway, with the long trip to Dublin? Or am I best off not going to Gaelcon, and instead writing to Galway forums and seeking access to NUIG notice boards?

I would suggest getting in touch them and if you get along arrange to meet them at Gealcon so you will also get to meet a diverse range of people.

Salubri

Thanks Thaedydal

MichaelR - Sorry gaelcon is unresponsive! We try to get back to everyone promptly... Did you email info@gaelcon.com (usually the best way to get hold of someone).

I don't know a whole lot about LARPing other than that the few times I have tried it (similarly to Thaedydal it was always in the 3 hour slot format) it's great fun... If you're an experienced LARPer there are bound to be people at Gaelcon you'll be able to get to know and it's a good opportunity to make contacts who can introduce you to gamers pretty much anywhere in the country!

As most people know, I'm on the committee so I'll stop talking up the con now and get to the point. If there is anything you need to know, ask here or email info@gaelcon.com but as it's Gaelcon Friday and the con starts tomorrow (well technically tonight) your best bet is to get right on a train when you finish reading this!

Sorry for such a late response As Thaedydal pointed out we all have lives outside of Gaelcon and unfortunately sometimes they get in the way!

Look forward to meeting you at some con or another!

MichaelR wrote: »

Hello,

I am from Russia, now living in Galway. I was into live role playing since 1994. But, back home, a "live action role playing game" is usually a rather long event out in a forest (one day is a minimum with 2-3 days normal), but sometimes happens in a home or venue too (and will be long anyway).

I would like to finally link up with the LARP community here, and thought of spending a day at Gaelcon. However, the scheduled three hour larps sound strange - what can one play in that little time? Also, should I expect people from across the country there, and thus hope to meet fellow Galwegians? Finally, Gaelcon is unresponsive in email.

Should I try it anyway, with the long trip to Dublin? Or am I best off not going to Gaelcon, and instead writing to Galway forums and seeking access to NUIG notice boards?

AL][EN

Having not been able to attend i have to ask.

Was it all you expected?

Nevyn

No

AL][EN

good grief why ever not?

I had a blast at the weekend, albeit it was non role playing related. It was a weekend of WoW madness.

Lemming

'AL wrote:

[EN;57715393']Having not been able to attend i have to ask.

Was it all you expected?

Strange not being on the committee or a staff member any more, and I felt like there was something I was supposed to be doing. Hard to undo 14 years of habit :pac:

I didn't go near wargames (except to put in a painting competition entry which apparently won something or so I'm told), and tried my hand at a couple of RPGs I'd always wanted to play but could never find groups or groups with open slots.

I had a fantastic game of StarWars, a good game of Dark Heresy, and front-desk completely screwed the pooch with Shadow Run by over-selling by one ticket. I booked my ticket first thing saturday morning, turned up sunday morning to be told "sorry, all spaces taken".

AL][EN

Lemming wrote: »

Strange not being on the committee or a staff member any more, and I felt like there was something I was supposed to be doing. Hard to undo 14 years of habit :pac:

I didn't go near wargames (except to put in a painting competition entry which apparently won something or so I'm told), and tried my hand at a couple of RPGs I'd always wanted to play but could never find groups or groups with open slots.

I had a fantastic game of StarWars, a good game of Dark Heresy, and front-desk completely screwed the pooch with Shadow Run by over-selling by one ticket. I booked my ticket first thing saturday morning, turned up sunday morning to be told "sorry, all spaces taken".

So the games themselves were good only one or two minor hiccups regarding the administration of the con? i wouldn't say that was too bad at all. I'd love to have gone but lack of car, lack of money and i had to work meant i couldn't make it.

Sarky

It wasn't bad. Had some fun. Probably would have had more except for some outside circumstances. One thing I really didn't like was the travelling involved. Clontarf isn't exactly central, took me nearly an hour between leaving my house and getting into the main hall. And the price of food there is just silly. I'll never pay 3 euros for a cuppa again.

Games were fun, meeting people was fun, if not downright productive, pub was ok.

Nevyn

Takes me about 2 to 2 and half hours to get to contarf castle from my house and the same to get home using public transport.

Which would be like driving to and from Itzacon in galway each day of the con.

Raphael

Enjoyable con, very tiring though. There's something about making a round trip to Wexford in the same weekend as GMing 5 games that really takes it out of you...

Had a lot of fun though, would have liked to play in more games, but waddya gonna do. The one game I did play in has sparked off a campaign though, so that's a bonus .

Lemming

Thaedydal wrote: »

Takes me about 2 to 2 and half hours to get to contarf castle from my house and the same to get home using public transport.

Which would be like driving to and from Itzacon in galway each day of the con.

In fairness, if you were driving from your place it'd take considerably less time. Would take me roughly 30 minutes, coming from the far south-side of the city (out past Dundrum). Judging by the time it took me to drive from Francis St. to Blanchardstown centre on the Sunday afternoon, I reckon maybe 40/45 mins that early in the morning to get there. The route is disturbingly straight.

As for food prices; in fairness, almost any other venue the 'con has been in has been a hotel. And one things hotels have in common is high prices for food & drink. It's a good venue, the hotel don't treat the convention and its patrons like something scrapped off their boots, love having us there and go out of their way to accommodate requests/needs.

Distance-wise, it's about equivalent to the Royal Kilmainham hospital and would in fact be somewhat more straight-forward to get to public transport-wise, also not involving a crazy-ass walk inside the grounds (as Kilmainham required as well, and many people seem to forget).

Nevyn

Lemming wrote: »

Distance-wise, it's about equivalent to the Royal Kilmainham hospital and would in fact be somewhat more straight-forward to get to public transport-wise, also not involving a crazy-ass walk inside the grounds (as Kilmainham required as well, and many people seem to forget).

From: Trinity College
To: Royal Hospital Kilmainham
Distance: 2.93 km Time: 34 minutes

From: Trinity College
To: CASTLE AVENUE, CLONTARF, DUBLIN
Distance: 5.224 km Time: 62 minutes

Data calculated using Dublin Transportation Office's WALK & CYCLE JOURNEY PLANNER
http://www.dto.ie/web2006/jp.htm

elbrop

I’m part of the Waterford gang and general consensus was that this year’s con was fantastic. Along with the success of the pervious gaelcon this has made gaelcon our favorite con to go to, beating long time favorite Warpcon (don’t worry warpcon, we still love you and will be there next year as always)

The Larps were great this year, especially Dragon in the Poplars and Call of the Wild Hunt (I was the fat guy in the cowboy hat who died in both). And my friends tell me the dnd and shadowrun rpgs were loads of fun.

As always a large part of the con was spent playing board games with the usually suspects, mostly Settlers (using the stunning 3d version) and some game about getting electricity to the Germans.

All in all a great weekend.

Nevyn

Hi Jack.

r3poman_x

I had a great time. Probably the best weekend I've had in ages. I don't think I've used my imagination so much in years. Played some great games. I got to try 4th edition D&D; it's a lot different for the last one I played (1st edition) and I got to play the Star Wars scenario. For me it was the best game of the weekend.

AL][EN

r3poman_x wrote: »

I had a great time. Probably the best weekend I've had in ages. I don't think I've used my imagination so much in years. Played some great games. I got to try 4th edition D&D; it's a lot different for the last one I played (1st edition) and I got to play the Star Wars scenario. For me it was the best game of the weekend.

That was actually one of the main reasons why i wanted to go i'd love to have tried 4th Ed AD&D just to see if its any good. I couldnt make the long trek up from waterford this year, my car was busted.

Was it any good?

r3poman_x

'AL wrote:

[EN;57736445']That was actually one of the main reasons why i wanted to go i'd love to have tried 4th Ed AD&D just to see if its any good. I couldnt make the long trek up from waterford this year, my car was busted.

Was it any good?

Unfortunately I've no experience of 3.5 so I'm not sure how good or bad the system is. It seemed to me that players don't have spells any more they now have feats. Not sure if this is new to the 4th edition or has been around for a while. I did enjoyed the scenario though.

AL][EN

r3poman_x wrote: »

Unfortunately I've no experience of 3.5 so I'm not sure how good or bad the system is. It seemed to me that players don't have spells any more they now have feats. Not sure if this is new to the 4th edition or has been around for a while. I did enjoyed the scenario though.

Not too worry you enjoyed it thats the main thing. I'm not exactly a hardcore DnD player myself. I played 3.5 many many years ago with my regular gaming group, so id be curious to see what 4.0 was like. I don't really roleplay much anymore anyway.

anyone play cuthulutech?

Nevyn

Nope it was sold out by the time I got out of the larp and went to buy a ticket.

Oh the joys of waiting for the two young people on the front desk to finally notice me while they were embracing and to look over the other's sholder and ask me "Yeah can I help" and then tell me that they were sold out all with out removing themsleves from each other's cluthes.

r3poman_x

'AL wrote:

[EN;57737752']anyone play cuthulutech?

I played that too. It was nothing like CoC and it's not meant to be. I thought it had a rather complicated system but after playing it for a while it would become easier. I loved the setting and style of the game. One of the high points of the weekend for me.

Raphael

I ran a table of cthulutech, I'm absolutely in love with the system.

r3poman_x, which table were you on?

r3poman_x

Raphael wrote: »

I ran a table of cthulutech, I'm absolutely in love with the system.

r3poman_x, which table were you on?

The table in the lefthand corner of the room as you went in. Our Doctor used a defibrillator on a creature!

AL][EN

Thaedydal wrote: »

Nope it was sold out by the time I got out of the larp and went to buy a ticket.

I do find system of pre-booking tickets at cons to be a tad sporadic and seriously flawed. there have been several instances at past cons where I really wanted to play a particular game but couldnt because

(1) staff just plain ignored me,
(2) I was told you could not pre-book tickets (when other people were)
(3) I was told all tickets had been sold out to people who had pre-booked

It really bugs the hell outta me but hey no point complaining just deal with it and play something else. Thats what i say. I've read the rules and game world info on cuthulutech it sounds awesome it really does. I'll keep an eye out at warpcon hopefully i'll be able to go to that.

elbrop

'AL wrote:

[EN;57751534']I do find system of pre-booking tickets at cons to be a tad sporadic and seriously flawed. there have been several instances at past cons where I really wanted to play a particular game but couldnt because

(1) staff just plain ignored me,
(2) I was told you could not pre-book tickets (when other people were)
(3) I was told all tickets had been sold out to people who had pre-booked

Yeah I agree on this. No prebooking should happen for general con games. Everyone should have the same chance of playing the games, and if you really want to be in game X then don't be late when the tickets go on sale.

In the same vein, I'm not too happy when I turn up and find the writer handing out specific characters to certain players. In moderation this is fine I guess (and certainly if work has gone into a costume) but it instantly creates a sort of clique of people the writer knows and everyone else, with the feeling that the "good" characters go to his mates.

Raphael

r3poman_x wrote: »

The table in the lefthand corner of the room as you went in. Our Doctor used a defibrillator on a creature!

Surprisingly enough, that happened in both games on the left hand side. Did ye go up the stairs, or stay on the bottom floor?

r3poman_x

Raphael wrote: »

Surprisingly enough, that happened in both games on the left hand side. Did ye go up the stairs, or stay on the bottom floor?

We went upstairs.

Raphael

Wahey! You were on my table!

r3poman_x

Raphael wrote: »

Wahey! You were on my table!

I played the Chinese soldier. I'm not sure we handled the Karen situation very well but we all survived anyway. It's a really cool setting for a game and I think the writers have done really well with the system in bringing something original out of Lovecrafts' stories