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Gamemaster Sign-Up

Conventions are a great place to meet new gamers and help strengthen the hobby. Run some games for us! It's a great experience and you might find some new players for your own campaigns.  We'll even give you a cool, free commemorative T-shirt!

Generally, we ask each GM to run two slots of a four hour game for six or more players, preferably games that are still being actively supported by their publisher and/or are established enough to attract players. These slots do not have to be the same game we just ask for two slots total. Of course, if you are running an event that demands, and can reasonably attract, a dozen or so players, that would be adequate, too.

We encourage GMs to run events in such a way to accommodate beginners, but we prefer that corporate demo-style gaming be handled by dealers at/near their tables; if you're not sure, ask the Gaming Coordinator.

Don't forget! GMs get free admission to the convention, a chance to help your hobby, and a cool commemorative OwlCon T-shirt!

We do ask that GMs be 18 years of age or older.

The primary deadline for submitting gaming events is Friday, November 7, 2008. Events submitted prior to the deadline will have a priority for prize support and space. We don't make that deadline up for the heck of it; that deadline was enacted via our prize support sources, which require advanced notice of events to solicit prize support, and it also allows us to post specific days and times for our fellow gamers to use in planning their visit to OwlCon. Meeting this deadline helps us make your event run smoothly and improves the chances we can get prizes. You can still submit events after the deadline, but you may have a very limited choice of when and where you can run your event(s); it is also possible there will be no space left.

Privacy Policy: All private information collected by OwlCon is used internally on your behalf. We will not sell or give away your information. The e-mail addresses contained in our mailing lists are viewable only by the list administrators.

Auxiliary GMs

Do you have GMs helping you that will be earning a badge and t-shirt? The expectations for an auxiliary GM are identical to those of a regular GM, so if you and a friend are running at least twice as much as required for a single GM, then you will both get badges and t-shirts. If you have an auxiliary GM that meets this requirement, please contact the Gaming Coordinator.

Event Submission & Primary Gm Sign-up Form

Privacy Policy: All private information collected by OwlCon is used internally on your behalf. We will not sell or give away your information. The e-mail addresses contained in our mailing lists are viewable only by the list administrators.

GM Data

What is your birthday?

Please enter your first name:

Please enter your last name:

Please enter your e-mail address (complete address please, e.g. johnsmith@someplace.edu):

Please re-enter your e-mail address for verification

Primary phone number
( ) -

Urgent phone number
( ) -

All GMs get a free commemorative T-shirt. What size T-shirt will you want?
M L XL XXL XXXL

GM Remarks (Event remarks are at the end of this form)

Event Data

Title of Event

General Type of Event

Gaming System - Please include the rules system that will be used and any important comments, e.g. 2nd ed. AD&D versus 3rd ed. D&D. If you are using a modification of rules or a custom rules system, please still provide the system name it is based on; for example, "Custom Rules" does not adequately encourage or inform prospective players.

Minimum Number of Players - This is the least number of players for which you would run your event. Ideally, this number should be no greater than half the maximum number chosen; preferably, it will be as small as possible without compromising the quality of the game.

Maximum Number of Players - Generally, we would like a given game to entertain 6 players. For RPGs, we aim for six players as a maximum to encourage a quality gaming experience. For boardgames, consider using multiple boards to meet the 6 player target. Please choose a number that allows for the most players you can handle without compromising the quality of the game.

Length of Event - This should reflect the time needed to run a single session of the event. A four hour slot is the minimum time block for scheduling purposes. You are welcome to run multiple short games within a timeblock to fill the four hours, but player sign-up is based upon four hour blocks.
Standard four hour slot
Special (All day, multiple sequential four hour slots, etc. Please explain in remarks)

Playing Level of Intended Audience
Beginner: a complete novice can play the game.  Such a game will include the introductory material in which more experienced players may not be interested.  For example, a fantasy game would include the ubiquitous tavern gathering and interacting with the bartender and such.  Such sessions are intended to recruit and educate prospective players.  These sessions are great fun and do a great service for the hobby.  The OwlCon Planners give priority to such games.
Intermediate: If you just played in a Beginner session, you could probably handle it, but this adventure is more suited to people that understand the basics of the game fully and want to get right to the meat of the game.
Advanced: You have played the game a lot.  You know the nuances and have an opinion or house rule for a lot of the game mechanics.  You're jaded, you've seen it all, you're looking for something new and challenging.  We do not want a lot of these at OwlCon because they appeal to a much smaller audience, but a few would be fine.

Number of Sessions - How many times do you plan to run this specific event at OwlCon? Please remember that we ask each GM to run two slots of a four hour game for six or more players, preferably games that are still being actively supported by their publisher and/or are established enough to attract players. These slots do not have to be the same game we just ask for two slots total. Of course, if you are running an event that demands, and can reasonably attract, a dozen or so players, that would be adequate, too.
One
Two
Three

Privacy Requirements
Some games require a quiet room to allow a "mood" to be established, e.g. most horror games. What do you need? (choose one)
We have a very limited number of small rooms, but we do want quality gaming; please be as flexible as your event allows.

Minimum Table Size Requirements
Some events, like large miniatures events, require special table needs. If you need multiple tables of the same size, list the size of just one table.
Please request only what you need for a quality event; wasted space means less games for people to play.

Table Number
If you need multiple tables for your slot, please specify the number:

Time Slot Preferences
Note: No preference means that you will run any slot we choose (except All Nighters). We will not assume you want an all nighter slot unless you specify it. Feel free to use the Remarks column to elaborate on your choice(s). If you do express a preference, please give us as many choices as possible to work with so that we can include your event in OwlCon.
Please be as flexible as possible, it will help us give folks the greatest opportunity to play their favorite games.

First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

Fourth Choice

Age Minimum - Some games require this, but please use this constraint sparingly.

Description
This blurb will go into the convention booklet. Aim for 50 - 100 words, and please make it interesting and enticing, as it's the only information the potential players will have to go on! :-)

Prize Support
Are you an official rep of the company in any way? Can you provide prize support?

No, I am just an altruistic, dedicated gamer doing this out of love for a free badge the hobby.
Yes, but I cannot help with prize support
Yes, and I can help with prize support, e.g. by providing contacts.
Yes, and I will handle everything related to securing prize support for my game

Player Gear
Will the players need to provide any materials?

Event Remarks

Select  to submit your request.

Select  to erase everything in the form.

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OwlCon, an Annual Gaming Convention at Rice University

If you have questions or commments, please contact us.

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