Helpful Hints

Nuggets of Wisdom from the Senior Volunteers

The Convention is a great opportunity to meet new people and try exciting new games of all kinds!

This series of suggestions come mostly from our Senior Volunteers - people with decades of experience coming to DunDraCon as players.

If you don't understand something in the Convention Program, ask a Volunteer at the Info Desk. They are there to assist and have been long-time Con participants and gamers themselves so they know a lot of stuff. Hang out with us if you want; we are always grooming "future volunteers".

Don't be afraid to try new games or games you haven't tried before even if it says "Rules Knowledge Useful". There are plenty of people willing to help.

Schedule your weekend. You can use the form in the program book to schedule your weekend games. That way, you can check to make sure you don't sign up for overlapping games (it happens), figure out when to watch an anime film or a demo, or plan when you can take your significant other out on Valentine's Day...

Signing up for a game. When you sign up for a game you will either go online to enter your information or fill out a paper slip with your badge number and the number(s) of games that interest you in each session. Keep track of what you signed up for! You may get your second- or third-choice game.

Make sure you read your badge number correctly, and enter it correctly: this number is very important!

If there is a game you really want to get into and it's later in the con, check with the Info Table to see if there is a 4 hour Volunteer shift you could work to earn a Priority slip; this could greatly improve your chances of getting into that game!

Priority slips: A games reg. priority slip gives you a fast track into one of the "official" (numbered in the program book) games. That way you may be able to get into a very popular game, or just one that you want to play.
Priority slips can be earned by working as a GM or as a volunteer for at least 4 hours.
Priority slips are transferrable: anyone with a valid badge number can use a priority slip, so if you have one, keep it safe. They do not expire: you can earn one this year and use it later. You can also give it away if you want to be popular...

The session results will be posted online and on the walls in a paper printout. If you do not see your name and number next to your first choice game, check to see if you got into your second or third choice.

If you get into games that 'overlap', choose only one to go to - it's rude to tell the GM that you have to leave his/her game midway through!

Cancelled games. Sometimes real life gets in the way and games that are listed in the program book are cancelled.
A game is only cancelled at the request of the GM who was planning to run it. When the committee members know a game has been cancelled, they do as much as they can to get the word out, online and with notices at the Information Table. The volunteers who collect the paper slips try to check for these game numbers, but some people may still accidentally sign up for them.
If you use a priority slip for a game that was cancelled, please tell someone at the Information Table. It is possible to look up your records and issue a new slip, if necessary.

If there is a game you want to get into and didn't, show up anyway, and show up early. A lot of times, there are no-shows or seats open up; sometimes the GM has extra character sheets and would be willing to squeeze one more in. Don't be afraid to ask if there is room for one more.

If you don't get into a game or have some free time, check out the Open Gaming areas. There might be games you could get into and some of the best games are unplanned. A lot of great games are there for anyone to join in! Look around the room for PLAYERS WANTED signs - those are probably games you can get into right now! (And if the game is full when you get there, offer to take the sign back to the door.) Warning: It gets rather loud in there but it's really fun and very dynamic.

Look into the Seminars. They are about being a better player, making more creative characters or games. Check out the fighting Demos. They will sometimes involve/invite audience participation.

"Auditing" a game: In many cases, you may sit and observe all or part of a game, as long as the room isn't already full and you are non-disruptive. It can give you a good idea of whether you'd like to play a particular game system and what that GM is like. You may even be asked to take part.

Besides the areas labeled Open Gaming, there is the Board Gaming Room; some games are con events but some are "walk-ins welcome". Look around for something that interests you and ask if you can play.

Don't get dehydrated: drink lots of water. Soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and beer are all liquid, but they do different things to your body chemistry. You need lots of water, especially in the dry air of a hotel.

Label your stuff. Whether it is a game, dice bag, backpack, or phone; give it an identifying feature so you know at a glance that it is yours. Things left unattended are usually fairly safe at DunDraCon, but don't tempt someone by leaving anything you care about lying around.

Don't leave your badge in your hotel room or car. It can be a pain in the butt to have to go back and get it, especially if you are commuting from home. You don't have to wear it out to dinner, but keep it with you even if you don't think you'll need it.

Bell carts are few and in high demand. Please use them responsibly, loading and unloading as quickly as possible. You may use one to haul boxes and other gear from your room or car to a gaming salon or the swap meet, as long as it is then returned to the hotel lobby ASAP (have a friend return it, if necessary).

Our thanks to Dawn Marshall, Richard Thompson, Melissa Hammond and Jim Hammond