Who's Going to TravellerCon USA 2010?
- Thread starter dmccoy1693
- Start date
dmccoy1693
SOC-13
Its officially safe to say that I am going to be running two MGT games at TravellerCon.
Friday Night: Discovering the Zho Fleet
Description:
Year: 1108. The 5th frontier war is in full swing. The players are Imperial agents attempting to gage Zhodani activity when they discover Zho ships bound for the front line. Can the players report this intelligence to command or will they be discovered and shot for spying.
(Game takes place in the Foreven Sector)
Saturday Afternoon: Escape from Maskrin
Description:
Year: 1108. The 5th frontier war is in full swing. The players are free traders delivering weapons to a supply depot at Maskrin (Foreven Sector) just outside the Avalar Consulate border when the depot gets attacked. Can the players escape or even turn the tide of battle?
Friday Night: Discovering the Zho Fleet
Description:
Year: 1108. The 5th frontier war is in full swing. The players are Imperial agents attempting to gage Zhodani activity when they discover Zho ships bound for the front line. Can the players report this intelligence to command or will they be discovered and shot for spying.
(Game takes place in the Foreven Sector)
Saturday Afternoon: Escape from Maskrin
Description:
Year: 1108. The 5th frontier war is in full swing. The players are free traders delivering weapons to a supply depot at Maskrin (Foreven Sector) just outside the Avalar Consulate border when the depot gets attacked. Can the players escape or even turn the tide of battle?
ShapeShifter
SOC-13
Pennsylvania?! Why is a Traveller Con being held there, of all places? I would expect a better turn out in L.A., San Diego, WA state. Hell, even Chicago would offer a better turn-out.
CosmicGamer
SOC-14 1K
First, has there been definitive word from the hosts of Travellercon on this site or elsewhere? Yes the website is open to take our money but even their own forums are lacking any response to inquiry about Travcon2010. After last years issues, is everyone happy? Did you get your money back?
The extra time and expense of travel and the cost of a big hall (gambling on turnout) is probably beyond what the people putting this together are willing to risk. (sorry for speaking for you - please feel free to chime in)
If someone would like to use their own money to start organizing an event in another location I'd encourage them to create a separate thread to seek out assistance and determine interest.
I'm not sure how accurate I am, but I believe the answer is that this isn't something being done by Mark or Mongoose (who I believe hold events in England, I think at the location of their offices) or some other publisher. Some folk spent their own time and money to organized a group of fellow Travellers getting together near where the people hosting the event live.
The extra time and expense of travel and the cost of a big hall (gambling on turnout) is probably beyond what the people putting this together are willing to risk. (sorry for speaking for you - please feel free to chime in)
If someone would like to use their own money to start organizing an event in another location I'd encourage them to create a separate thread to seek out assistance and determine interest.
dmccoy1693
SOC-13
I'll point the organizers to your post so they can give a definite answer. They've posted here in the past.
While I myself don't know for certain, I do believe you are right on all counts.
ShapeShifter
SOC-13
I wish them the best no matter where the event(s) may be. In this economy, however, I would expect a lot of Traveller enthusiasts (or any RPG/gaming afficionados) to be discouraged to travel (pun intended 
) and attend such gatherings. If such an event were concurrent with, say, Comic Con in SD it would undoubtedly draw much bigger crowds. Guys in my (very remote) neck of the woods have tried to organise D&D cons with very minuscule turn-out, deplorably.
) and attend such gatherings. If such an event were concurrent with, say, Comic Con in SD it would undoubtedly draw much bigger crowds. Guys in my (very remote) neck of the woods have tried to organise D&D cons with very minuscule turn-out, deplorably.There's nothing wrong with small, regional conventions. In fact I've found them to be among the most fun and the most gamer-oriented events. I just spent last weekend in Little Rock at TrollCon and had a great time (and ran a CT game). People actually came from as far away as Chicago, Baltimore (me), Erie PA and Arizona to that one.
But, if you're unfamiliar with the population densities of the Mid-Atlantic, this may help: there are literally tens of millions of people within a four-hour drive of Lancaster, where TravellerCon is held. Even so, the costs are much lower in south-central PA than most of the rest of the region. (I live near Baltimore, but my wife is from Hershey, so I run into this differential all the time.) Hotel rooms and meeting rooms are relatively cheap.
From the pictures posted on their website, looks like the attendance has been in the 20-something range, which is actually pretty good for a new (and niche) con. They had problems with a shady hotel owner last year causing the 2009 con to be canceled but have been posting semi-regular e-mail updates to those on their list.
Haven't made it there myself due to work commitments but I'm hoping to make either this year or next.
But, if you're unfamiliar with the population densities of the Mid-Atlantic, this may help: there are literally tens of millions of people within a four-hour drive of Lancaster, where TravellerCon is held. Even so, the costs are much lower in south-central PA than most of the rest of the region. (I live near Baltimore, but my wife is from Hershey, so I run into this differential all the time.) Hotel rooms and meeting rooms are relatively cheap.
From the pictures posted on their website, looks like the attendance has been in the 20-something range, which is actually pretty good for a new (and niche) con. They had problems with a shady hotel owner last year causing the 2009 con to be canceled but have been posting semi-regular e-mail updates to those on their list.
Haven't made it there myself due to work commitments but I'm hoping to make either this year or next.
ThunderChilde
SOC-13
Planning on it. I am going to a computer show this weekend, depending on how much fun money I spend there, I'll make reservations and arrange for vacation days to go to Travellercon. Otherwise, no room just drive up and back a few times, rather have the room.
And yes, I got my refund promptly from last years unfortunate fiasco. I have been nothing but pleased with the organizers.
What happened was out of thier control.
And yes, I got my refund promptly from last years unfortunate fiasco. I have been nothing but pleased with the organizers.
What happened was out of thier control.
Hello everyone!
dmccoy1693 alerted me to this post today so I apologize for not seeing it sooner…
The problem we experienced with the hotel last year was unfortunate, but we did get everyone’s refunds back to them as quickly as possible.
As far as the site forum is concerned, it was a suggestion given to us after our first year (we had a “pow-wow” on Sunday after the con to get feedback from the players). While it was “hopping” the first year, interest and input has slowly died off over the last 2 years. More often we communicate with participants by direct email or thru the Yahoo group. In all actuality, Keith prefers direct email communication over forum posting.
Thanks!
Megan H.
Travellercon-USA Helper Monkey
dmccoy1693 alerted me to this post today so I apologize for not seeing it sooner…
The problem we experienced with the hotel last year was unfortunate, but we did get everyone’s refunds back to them as quickly as possible.
As far as the site forum is concerned, it was a suggestion given to us after our first year (we had a “pow-wow” on Sunday after the con to get feedback from the players). While it was “hopping” the first year, interest and input has slowly died off over the last 2 years. More often we communicate with participants by direct email or thru the Yahoo group. In all actuality, Keith prefers direct email communication over forum posting.
Thanks!
Megan H.
Travellercon-USA Helper Monkey
Going to TravellerCon? I Am!
Greetings all,
Thanks to Dale McCoy for pointing this thread out. Sorry that I don’t post here regularly, just a matter of not enough time.
Some answers:
Travellercon-USA is Officially Sanctioned by Marc Miller. We run it, he blesses it. If things go well this year, we’ll be looking to invite him as 2012 Guest of Honour (35th Year Anniversary of Traveller).
Jappel has hit the nail on the head – Lancaster is something like two hours from the centre of the Mid-Atlantic population zone. This is why the largest historical miniatures gaming convention in the world – Historicon – was held there for some twenty-odd years (before shifting east by an hour’s travel to Valley Forge).
Lancaster is also relatively easy on the wallet. You won’t be paying New York or Los Angeles prices to sleep, eat, park, or shop. Lancaster is also sufficiently touristy to appeal to families. In fact, one of the attractions for the Historical Miniatures crowd is the availability of and easy access to miniature golf, amusement parks, shopping outlets and of course, Amish cooking.
Remember, there is a west-coast Traveller themed convention: Celesticon. They also support the Ground Zero Games line of rules and figures, as do we. See www.celesticon.com for more info if you’re in LA or San Diego.
Last year’s hotel fiasco has been avoided by moving to the Continental Inn (where I stay when I attend Historicon, Cold Wars and Fall In!). It’s good to be familiar with the hotel before booking a convention.
This past March - after booking the Continental - the Brunswick (aka Hotel Fiasco) contacted me to arrange my deposit refund. They have had their ups and downs, were closed for nearly nine months, but emerged from their brush with city government humbler and wiser. Whether they can rebuild their damaged reputation remains to be seen, but I bear them no ill will.
Hell yeah, I'm going to TravellerCon!
Keith F.
TravellerCon Event Coordinator
Greetings all,
Thanks to Dale McCoy for pointing this thread out. Sorry that I don’t post here regularly, just a matter of not enough time.
Some answers:
Travellercon-USA is Officially Sanctioned by Marc Miller. We run it, he blesses it. If things go well this year, we’ll be looking to invite him as 2012 Guest of Honour (35th Year Anniversary of Traveller).
Jappel has hit the nail on the head – Lancaster is something like two hours from the centre of the Mid-Atlantic population zone. This is why the largest historical miniatures gaming convention in the world – Historicon – was held there for some twenty-odd years (before shifting east by an hour’s travel to Valley Forge).
Lancaster is also relatively easy on the wallet. You won’t be paying New York or Los Angeles prices to sleep, eat, park, or shop. Lancaster is also sufficiently touristy to appeal to families. In fact, one of the attractions for the Historical Miniatures crowd is the availability of and easy access to miniature golf, amusement parks, shopping outlets and of course, Amish cooking.
Remember, there is a west-coast Traveller themed convention: Celesticon. They also support the Ground Zero Games line of rules and figures, as do we. See www.celesticon.com for more info if you’re in LA or San Diego.
Last year’s hotel fiasco has been avoided by moving to the Continental Inn (where I stay when I attend Historicon, Cold Wars and Fall In!). It’s good to be familiar with the hotel before booking a convention.
This past March - after booking the Continental - the Brunswick (aka Hotel Fiasco) contacted me to arrange my deposit refund. They have had their ups and downs, were closed for nearly nine months, but emerged from their brush with city government humbler and wiser. Whether they can rebuild their damaged reputation remains to be seen, but I bear them no ill will.
Hell yeah, I'm going to TravellerCon!
Keith F.
TravellerCon Event Coordinator
Freelance Trav
Jeff, it would be great to have you. Drop me an email at kmfrye(at)travellercon-usa(dot)com if there's anything you'd like to work out.
Best regards,
keith
Jeff, it would be great to have you. Drop me an email at kmfrye(at)travellercon-usa(dot)com if there's anything you'd like to work out.
Best regards,
keith
It's still a little early for me to be sure; I'd need to check schedules with respect to vacation time availability (I have to make sure that the unit has adequate SCHEDULED coverage, if I'm going to take a day off to get there on the Friday - civil service rule for my agency). The two-hour-or-so drive time is not an issue for me. I'll check out what I can some time in the next two weeks or so and come to a final decision if I can get enough info.
Anthony Emmel
SOC-7
chello!
I'd like to go...nit sure about this year, though.
I'd like to go...nit sure about this year, though.
