Writing For Arcanacon
So you want to write for Arcanacon?
Its both easier and harder to write for a Con than you might think.
With preparation, most of tasks shouldn't require any last minute
panic - all you need is a bit of organisation and to know
what needs to be done.
On the other hand, people can easily make things difficult for them
themselves and for the Arcanacon organisers. Most of the pitfalls
are caused by underestimating the amount of time you need to commit
to organising an event for the Convention.
Most of the following mostly applies to tabletop roleplaying events -
obviously we're not expecting people to playtest Settlers or run
Munchausen for 10 sessions - but the spirit of the requirements can
be applied to the other events at the convention too.
What Arc expects from you...
So, what exactly have you committed yourself to if you decide to write?
Looking at an ideal universe, you've committed to:
- being prepared to offer your event in at least 7 sessions
(that's only half the convention), and preferably to 10 different teams;
- following our blurb guidelines;
- writing a game that matches the blurb that
was advertised;
- playtesting the game more than 3 days before the con, and definately
not in session A;
- actually writing the game down so someone else
could run it if you were run over;
- being able to run more than one team in a session, by finding
at least one other person who is prepared and available
to help you run the game for at least half of the sessions
that you've said it will run;
- showing up to the Con when you have said you will, with your game;
You'll note that most of these commitments are for the lead-in time to
the Con, except for running the game itself. Its also our experience that
it doesn't work to try and do them all in the morning of the convention
either.
What you can expect from Arcanacon as a writer
If you go to all the effort and strain the creativity muscles to
do an event for the con, then we will try and help you all that we
can to make it as much fun for you to present as it is for people
to play.
We will:
- do our best to present your game the way you want it in the booklet;
- cover printing costs for your event (within reason :);
- offer free registration to the convention for you and your fulltime GMs;
- be as communicative as we can:
let you know if there are problems, discuss your requirements for rooms
or props for your event, and so on;
- try do prizes the way you want them (including not having them);
- provide coffee andor tea
- make running your game is as easy as we can make it, including trying
to make getting rooms, finding players and such as simple as possible
- help provide extra gms, advice on blurbs, playtesters and other
assistance if you want it.
Page updated: 16 September 2002
arcanacon@vurt.net