What Tabletops were run at 2012?

[Grinnen Baeritt]

As has been widely observed, there was a significant drop in the number of reported* table-top games run this year.

337 (compared to 408 in 2011).

1. Pathfinder (83 Tables)
2. D&D 4.0 (26 Tables)
3. Call of Cthulhu (20 Tables)
4. WHFRP & WH40K (Dark Heresy & Deathwatch) (19 Tables)
5. Spycraft:FQAC (18 Tables)
6. D&D 3.5 and derivatives (13 Tables)
(Includes LIHR)
7. Traveller (12 Tables)
8. Dead of Night (8 Tables)
10. Grims Gangs (7 Tables) – Joint 10th
10. Beat to Quarters/Duty and Honour (7 tables) -Joint 10th

Just a few tables shy of a mention in the top 10 were: Myriad (6 tables), Hot War & Feng Shui (with 5 tables each).

Many thanks, once again, to all the Referees and game wranglers, there were at least 75 RPG systems played with D20 (and it's many derivatives) representing 42% of the tables run.

Thanks also to the large number of Tabletop wargames and Board Games run...26 tables!*
(Special mention goes to the Order of the Pointy Sticks.... “knitting!?!...yea gawds how did that get past our ever so stringent heath and safety checks...?”

* not included are un-ticketed games and those for which sign-ups were not returned. Statistics are based entirely upon signups returned, multiple-slot games are counted as individual slots.

[Mick Red]

That is a massive drop tbh

[dpmcalister]

Previous years for comparison: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011

That is a massive drop tbh

81 games.

[Tylorva]

Once you take out the living numbers (which seem much as normal), 81 games does indeed became a huge and massive drop in what's left.

[dpmcalister]

Once you take out the living numbers (which seem much as normal), 81 games does indeed became a huge and massive drop in what's left.

Actually, if you total Pathfinder, D&D 4e, and D&D 3.5/3e and compare it with last year, that accounts for ~40 games.

[dpmcalister]

The sad thing from my perspective is that Savage Worlds was down at least 10 tables (was 14 last year and isn't mentioned as just outside the Top 10 which ended with 5 tables). Maybe the 6 tables I played to run would have made a difference after all.

[SJE]

Or it could be that 2011 was the outlier year and 2012 is closer to the usual trend of 300-350 games run.

2007 -270
2008 - 293
2009 - 351
2010 - 356
2011 - 408
2012 - 337

SJE

[dpmcalister]

Or it could be that 2011 was the outlier year and 2012 is closer to the usual trend of 300-350 games run.

SJE

That makes sense.

[gwaunquest]

I've already decided that next year I will spend more time running than playing and I will try to bring a couple more GMs with me. However I think some analysis of why there was such a drop needs to be done. IF the number of gamers was up ( can you work that out?) then there must be something lacking in the attraction of running games. If the number of gamers was down then it could be a direct percentage drop. Not all those in accommodation were attendees.

[Grinnen Baeritt]

Links to previous 2 years:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9897 (2012)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7295 (2011)

I managed to personally play a few games: Grims Gangs, Duty & Honour, WHFRP, Serenity, Beat to Quarters (Star Wars) & Call of Cthuhlu. (Many thanks to all concerned! )

I also ran one game: Call of Cthuhlu.

============================================================================================================
Given that there was a significant drop, it needs examining exactly why this was and what changes need to be made..if any.

Perhaps, Economic climate, people couldn't afford the time off work at the beginning (or were made redundant last year... as I know a great many were.. ), perhaps it was the overcrowding the previous year in the hall...

I know the initial confusion over on-site accommodation availabilty played a big part in the numbers attending. Many groups could not get exactly what they wanted.. and I am sorry for that. However, several alternatives were available and when checking through my waiting list many had found alternative places, but not informed me.. or simply did not reply at all.

[Grinnen Baeritt]

As several people can't be bothered to complete their booking forms...(or at all, in some cases...) or have people drop out at the last moment. It's almost impossible to tell how many people there are. I suspect that attendance was down.. and some lodges were simply not used to thier capacity.

All I know is that it was far more relaxed than last year. And for me at least, that is a good thing.

If people are really that bothered then be prepared to offer to run a game if you can't get in one. (Gwuanquest has the right attitude )

[wraithben]

I have to say having broken my con-GMing cherry (kind of, I ended up running WHFRP many years back at GenCon as there were 5 players and no GM), I intend to run a minimum of 1 slot per day next year. This will predominantly be Indie games, as that's my thing now, but it'll be a minimum of another 3 games (1 run this year, and can never be sure what time I'll make it on the Wednesday).

[Evilgaz]

Yay! Check out Hot War rocketing up the rankings. I really should try that game one day.

I've said elsewhere, but bears repeating here, one thing you could do is make it obvious on the website that you like people running games and a cheeky page on the website giving the lowdown. i.e. encourage GMs. Sounds obvious, but there's friends of mine who expect conventions in general to be the Olympics of roleplaying where you pay to turn up and expect premier GM service. No matter what I say to the opposite to convince them its a communal hobby. Because generally, the convention advertising doesn't make it obvious that there's a need for GMs (on many convention sites). Bringing it up on forum is all well and good, but a lot of people actively avoid forums (with good reason).

As for the stats, I can account for some games by lack of certain people, or a "morning off" policy by several GMs, or that sort of thing. If anyone wants to trawl through old con reports to get some real numbers, all power to you, but here's a guestimate of games we could have had off the top of my head (might be confusing some people with IndieCon) of games that could have run but didn't:

MIA
James Mullen -15
Indie Pete -5
Novalord and the Derby Dogs -5
Iain McAlister -4
Stókemon -3
KaiserJez -3 (18 more promised but cancelled)
Neil Gowbear -3

Light Duties
Evilgaz -4
Scott Dorward -4
Kenners -2
Toad -2

My totally unscientific analysis comes up with 50 fewer games based on a dozen or so people. I maintain that some more lovely delegates need to pop that con GM cherry and give it a bash. Just do it!

[MartinBailey]

I'm building up to it. I normally run one and this year ran three (Vox, octaNe, Ocean).

I think the rewards are pretty good. If you pack a 3 bed lodge and you all run 10 slots then your accomodation is paid for plus you get to play in two games free.

[SJE]

Given inflation and rising chalet prices and that its been 1 GM ticket= £5 off next years accomodation for the past 6+ years, is it worth increasing the value of a GM ticket to £6?

SJE