Mini-Con Event: Panels and Nominations

[Xathan]

[ooc]Like Leetz thread for his game, I figured it's best to make this a separate thread to avoid cluttering up the main one.[/ooc]

One thing that always makes things interesting in conventions is panels - the chance to have a Q and A section with an authors, writer, administrator, or someone about the going-ons of the CBG. I could see this taking a form where a person writes a post and people respond with questions, or we do an IRC or even Google+ conversation in a more true panel form.

What I'd like to know is would be people be interested in attending panels, and who would you like to see do one? This isn't just an open call for who WANTS to do a panel, but also, who would you want to see do a panel on what? For example, I'd love for Steerpike to do a panel on Lovecraftian Horror in gaming. [Of course, no one is obligated to do a panel if they are nominated by enough people - but I'd like it to be based more around who people want to hear from.]

However, if there's enough interest, I'll take this a step further in my role as a semi-moderator. If there is enough interest in panels and a format that works, I will contact people in the gaming industry to see if any big names would be interested in doing a panel for us here. Of course this is contingent on a number of factors, first and foremost being interest, but...maybe there would be enough interest and we could get a couple people to stop by.

Thoughts?

[sparkletwist]

I'm honestly not sure if a "panel" really has the same point on an Internet venue than it would at an actual convention.

For example, if someone has some thoughts on something, they can just post them. Like, at any point, if Steerpike wanted to write about Lovecraftian Horror in gaming, he could just do that, and I'd certainly read it and try to post some comments. And such.

[LD]

Actually sparkletwist, I'd support the idea of a panel for an internet con. That's what I was talking about re: experts. If you have a knowledgeable, good moderator, it could work. The moderator draws answers out of the speakers. Other people can chime in, but the moderator guides.

Alternatively, without a moderator, a well prepared individual speaker could prepare a speech and could prepare to answer questions in real time as opposed to on threads. Thus providing for a faster back and forth, give and take. I'm more supportive of the indiv. speaker idea, but a moderator does work--I served as a moderator for an online podcast regarding a video game's fandom and ran a several hour long interview special (it was broken into a few episodes) and it worked a LOT better than just letting the speakers (the experts) ramble.

That's why I suggested speaker bios, etc.- example; Xeviat could give a talk on arts and crafts since he has practical experience with his dice bags. Vreeg could talk about the challenges of maintaining a world over 30 years, Phoenix could talk about his book series and his marketing efforts, Steerpike could give a talk on literary influences on Mieville and lovecraftian horror- talking about scholarly papers  that we wouldn't otherwise have access to, the state of the art, Sparkletwist could give insight into the inner workings of wiki management and running a successful wiki design for one's settings, etc. They prepare remarks for 10-15 minutes, etc. and then it's Q and A time.

This is also why I suggest a skype group call or a roll20 group call over just IRC. It adds something new that we don't have just in IRC. I'd say that voice would add a lot to a real con feel for any talks.

[Steerpike]

I agree that if we did panels which she try to do them voiced.

It's true that forums are awesome, but they don't always capture the feel of an actual conversation, and panels do that.  And it's very "con"-ish.  I think their success or failure would depend on an audience.  if there are 5 panel presenters and 2 audience members... that might be awkward.

Instead of formal panels, maybe we could have something closer to discussions where certain people commit to being there and speaking on a topic, but other people could show up to participate as well?  I dunno, just thinking aloud here.

[Seraph]

Just for me personally, my limited internet makes it hard to do skype and voice online (and not have overage charges at the end of the month).  It's a nice idea, but something that would be hard for me to participate in.  Now, if enough other people want to do it that way don't let me hold things up.

[LD]

I like what Steerpike stated.

The games could be run in:
1. IRC
or; 2. Skype for talk and IRC for rolls
or; 3. Roll20 (which has rolls, map, and talk)
or; 4. Maptools (for rolls) and Skype (GM discretion)

1. The talks could be run in a voice system. Only the speakers would talk, but anyone can type questions in real time for the speakers to answer. Skype can support up to at least 6-7 people by my tests without crashing and I think it has official support for 8+.
2. If one speaker didn't want to run in Skype/Roll 20, then that speaker's talk could be on IRC, but that would be disfavored.

Once we get a date, we could set up (or I could volunteer to if I have enough time; or someone else could) an 'events calendar. Before the events calendar can be figured out, we would need to set up 2 days to hold the con over. We could use one of those scheduler system things to decide dates that work for people. Once we figure out a good date, then we can start scheduling the IRC games for certain time slots.

Day 1
7:00 AM	Celtricia Roll20	Sparkletwist Speech Skype
7:30 AM	Celtricia Roll20	Sparkletwist Speech Skype
7:45 AM	Celtricia Roll20	Seraphine Game IRC

I would suggest that people interested in running something post here, or in the other thread:
1. Individual Topic, Panel Topic Idea or IRC game idea.
2. Scheduled length [includes Q&A period) (15 min/30 min/45 min/1 hr/ 2 hr/ 3 hr/ 4 hr)
--
Thus, actions to make it happen.
1. Lets decide on 2 days that work for people to host it on. Once we have dates, people can start to commit.
2. Concurrently, post up what you want to do (some of that has been done) but it needs to have time estimates.
3. Get on an online scheduler and post what times you are free on those two days.
4. Ms. or Mr. Scheduler starts slotting talks/IRC games into time slots based on availabilities.
5. Con happens.

[Seraph]

Did we want to do it all over 2 days?  It sounded like some people might have wanted to spread things out a bit more, but I am good either way.  Of course, I have Julius Caesar to prepare for in the first half of the month, so if it's 2 days, my vote goes for later in the month, sometime around the 20th or a bit after.

[LD]

If it was spread out over 5-7 days, that would be fine. I just suggested 2 days because most cons run 2-4 days so as to encourage people to focus and set aside some time.

Which month were you speaking about, seraphine? March?

[Seraph]

If it was spread out over 5-7 days, that would be fine. I just suggested 2 days because most cons run 2-4 days so as to encourage people to focus and set aside some time.

Which month were you speaking about, seraphine? March?

Yes, March.  I understood that to be generally considered a better month for people.

[Xathan]

Awww, March is going to be...actually, not that bad for me, I just might have to miss a couple events for my birthday. :P

I'm reading this thread cuz it was my idea initially, but I most like the direction Steerpike and Light Dragon are going with it: suits what I had in mind very well.

And as far as schedule, I'm in favor of making it a month-long event to make sure everyone has time to participate in multiple things.

[Nomadic]

Perhaps now would be a good time to chime in on the fact that I have recently gotten access to an additional server which has on it a mumble chat with 24 slots available. If you guys want to have this voiced we can totally do it over mumble.

[Xathan]

Perhaps now would be a good time to chime in on the fact that I have recently gotten access to an additional server which has on it a mumble chat with 24 slots available. If you guys want to have this voiced we can totally do it over mumble.

That'd be awesome. Also, depending on availability, I'd be happy to lend myself as a moderator, cuz let's be honest, the only thing I could really host a panel on is how to come up with a dozen new setting ideas. :P

[Xathan]

So, since majority seems to be in favor of this, who is nominating whom for what, or who is volunteering to do what?

[LD]

I can do this: "4. Ms. or Mr. Scheduler starts slotting talks/IRC games into time slots based on availabilities."

After we set a date, or group of dates in March, then I can confirm what I can run/discuss. I can participate but not run anything if we do this the first week of March. I may be able to run something if we do it the 2d or 3d week. The fourth week may be free, but I may also have a commitment (it's unclear at this moment). My schedule is often highly variable. I can have lots of free time one week and none the next- I never know what will occur, regrettably.

[Xathan]

I can do this: "4. Ms. or Mr. Scheduler starts slotting talks/IRC games into time slots based on availabilities."

After we set a date, or group of dates in March, then I can confirm what I can run/discuss. I can participate but not run anything if we do this the first week of March. I may be able to run something if we do it the 2d or 3d week. The fourth week may be free, but I may also have a commitment (it's unclear at this moment). My schedule is often highly variable. I can have lots of free time one week and none the next- I never know what will occur, regrettably.

I'd post the offer to schedule in the main thread.

Also, I think this should run all month long to keep people from feeling time restricted/pressured.