Calendar

[Antigoth]

First and foremost - Props to Calvin, D2, Drew, and the entire crew for organizing it, running it, and making Raw Deal happen, and show that Raw Deal is still alive!

In the effort to continue to improve the Raw Deal World Championship experience, now that it's been a week, lets take some time to reflect:

1) What went well?
2) What went poorly?
3) What should be done the same next year?
4) What should be done differently? (Why and how?)
5) Is there anything that should be added?

If you didn't attend Gencon, but there was something that is reasonably within the powers of the RDPC to do that would make you want to attend - what would it be?

[Buddha Dudley]

TY for this Antigoth, I'm interested to see people's responses...

[CRASHER]

I think everything went awesomely (even the pods, while still interesting to make a 30 card deck!)

the only thing I can say "wow I wish this was done" was starting worlds closer to on time (since it drags on for a long time)
and maybe some more thematic events (maybe an ECW Championship like where you can play only ECW guys, heck this can be run with and have a tag team only one (makes handicap match almost useless but oh well!), or some other gimmicky things for the non-worlds days just to make the events more fun!

[Rio D]

I wish the tag team tournament I paid for actually happened.  It was the one Raw Deal event I really want to play in....

[winternorn]

seconded on the tag, also the tornado tag.  it sounded like it would've been fun.  but honestly, with how long worlds ended up going, there probably shouldn't be anything else scheduled for the day.

[TheGreatWhiteDope]

I was talking with D2 at Gencon about the time and how it's Raw Deal tradition to say "tourney is from 10-4 then we do top cut." Only for Barron (at about 6pm or so) to say "we'll break for a few minutes and then do cut."

Raw deal at Gencon isn't raw deal if we stick to a time frame.

[calvinpatten]

I have decided to I will not be attending San Diego Comic Con so that I may comeback to Gen Con.  I know D2 is not going to be there most of the time next year if at all.  Drew is still up in the air due to work.  With that being said I am going to put this out there right now.  Who would be interested in coming out to help run events.  With my interviews, reviews and everything I was not able to spend as much time at the tables as I would have liked.  

Also Please keep your feedback coming, it will help me set up everything next year.  I will be the one registering the events and will be more than happy to listen to all feedback.  I was also thinking of keeping Sunday open and free to enjoy the con. Maybe free play.

So thoughts and feedback always welcome.  Thank you to everyone for coming out.

[MrPeoplesTeam]

I am most definitely attending so i can help whichever way i can, only thing is we are guaranteeing to leave sunday morning, so No Con for us on Sunday

[Drywall]

First and foremost - Props to Calvin, D2, Drew, and the entire crew for organizing it, running it, and making Raw Deal happen, and show that Raw Deal is still alive!

In the effort to continue to improve the Raw Deal World Championship experience, now that it's been a week, lets take some time to reflect:

1) What went well?
2) What went poorly?
3) What should be done the same next year?
4) What should be done differently? (Why and how?)
5) Is there anything that should be added?

If you didn't attend Gencon, but there was something that is reasonably within the powers of the RDPC to do that would make you want to attend - what would it be?

Personally, I would love to have more info on qualifiers for the World Championships throughout the year and possibly a countdown clock on the main page. Also, if people could get together and organize either a carpool or hotel information that would be awesome.

[CRASHER]

I can chip in too....this is growing and progressing too much to let it slow down now!

[MrPeoplesTeam]

We all know Drew and D2 will be there, If not for Raw Deal, Then for DC!  :laugh:

[Buddha Dudley]

I sure will try to come back in 2014.  2015 and 2016 are currently looking better than 2014 because of job commitments, but it's still a year a year away.  I'm tentatively in to run Worlds again in 2014 unless I state otherwise.

And I wanted to especially thank the sometimes forgotten man behind the scenes.  Without Velacards, Worlds and Raw Deal simply wouldn't be what it is considering most of the prize support and signatures are acquired (and graciously) donated by him.

As for everyone else who has posted with comments, thank you.  It helps D2, Calvin and I figure out a better Raw Deal experience for those willing to trek to Indy for the World Championships.

[TimJR]

Heh, the only thing that stopped me from GenCon this year was some poor life decisions (which is a sad story in and of itself, really). I'd taken the time off work and everything.

Next year, well, I won't be making the same mistakes again, and I'll be coming, hell or high water.

[MightyBP]

My intent is to be there as well, but sadly I won't know until March whether it will be a reality.

For those that live in Indianapolis and its surrounding area, I need some kind of hint as to local tourism spots.  My wife wants to go on the trip as well, but there's no way she'll survive 10 hours of World Championships, so I need to give her things to do that do not have the words "Raw Deal" in them.  I tried selling her on some participation in board game events at Gencon, but she wasn't buying it.

[CreedP]

Nice that she'd want to go, though!  :)

I'd love to tentatively say I'll go, but I did that a few times and didn't end up making it... so I really can't say for sure for several months.  But as always, I'll be there in spirit, and watching the finals online, heh.

CREED

[CRASHER]

My intent is to be there as well, but sadly I won't know until March whether it will be a reality.

For those that live in Indianapolis and its surrounding area, I need some kind of hint as to local tourism spots.  My wife wants to go on the trip as well, but there's no way she'll survive 10 hours of World Championships, so I need to give her things to do that do not have the words "Raw Deal" in them.  I tried selling her on some participation in board game events at Gencon, but she wasn't buying it.

Her eye-roll Sunday Night said something VERY different  :D

There's a minor league baseball stadium next to the Conn too....and you can spend two days walking the main floor in awe of all the crapppp and t-shirts in there....geesh I gotta teach you everything :p

[MightyBP]

My intent is to be there as well, but sadly I won't know until March whether it will be a reality.

For those that live in Indianapolis and its surrounding area, I need some kind of hint as to local tourism spots.  My wife wants to go on the trip as well, but there's no way she'll survive 10 hours of World Championships, so I need to give her things to do that do not have the words "Raw Deal" in them.  I tried selling her on some participation in board game events at Gencon, but she wasn't buying it.

Her eye-roll Sunday Night said something VERY different  :D

There's a minor league baseball stadium next to the Conn too....and you can spend two days walking the main floor in awe of all the crapppp and t-shirts in there....geesh I gotta teach you everything :p

...and if I were walking the halls with her, it would be a different story, but Saturday is the day I stay rooted to the Raw Deal section.  :P  That's really what I've got to sell her: a full day in a strange city on her own.  Minor league baseball may work, but that's only about 3-4 hours and she won't go to it alone.

[CRASHER]

...and if I were walking the halls with her, it would be a different story, but Saturday is the day I stay rooted to the Raw Deal section.  :P  That's really what I've got to sell her: a full day in a strange city on her own.  Minor league baseball may work, but that's only about 3-4 hours and she won't go to it alone.

Not that I need to say it, but y'all ain't coming in my car either :)

It's not THAT strange and there's tons to do....that's not your issue here, and this is derailing fast

go back to making simple decks :)

[superradjoe]

One year my sister drove me down there and I guess there's like museums and stuff.  There's also a movie theater downtown, or at least there was.  I haven't gone in like 6 years.  Man I feel old.

[TheGreatWhiteDope]

My intent is to be there as well, but sadly I won't know until March whether it will be a reality.

For those that live in Indianapolis and its surrounding area, I need some kind of hint as to local tourism spots.  My wife wants to go on the trip as well, but there's no way she'll survive 10 hours of World Championships, so I need to give her things to do that do not have the words "Raw Deal" in them.  I tried selling her on some participation in board game events at Gencon, but she wasn't buying it.

a few tricks:

1) Have her check out Wil Wheaton's Tabletop on Youtube. Maybe she gets into a few of those games. If she already likes games, just offer to spend a day or two checking everything out. Gencon is big.

2) Gencon, if she gets a badge too, has a whole section of events called "Spouse Activities" that are for non-gaming spouses. This includes things like: A haunted tour of Indianapolis' most haunted locations, a tour of some of the breweries downtown, cathedrial tours, yoga, meditation, dance classes, arts and crafts of all kinds, 5k charity fun runs, and a whole slew of other giant things.

3) Every year during Gencon, for about the past 3-4 years, the Indiana State Fair is going on during the same week. It'd be a cab ride, but they always have concerts and rides and all that jazz.

4) The Zoo isn't too far away. There is a movie theater in the mall that is connected to the convention center. The mall is a pretty decent size and all that.

5) Bars and clubs around the convention center just turn into huge party zones. Bars come up with unique beers to try, clubs do gamer dance music.

There is a ton more to do there than just "game". You have lots of options.

[MightyBP]

My intent is to be there as well, but sadly I won't know until March whether it will be a reality.

For those that live in Indianapolis and its surrounding area, I need some kind of hint as to local tourism spots.  My wife wants to go on the trip as well, but there's no way she'll survive 10 hours of World Championships, so I need to give her things to do that do not have the words "Raw Deal" in them.  I tried selling her on some participation in board game events at Gencon, but she wasn't buying it.

a few tricks:

1) Have her check out Wil Wheaton's Tabletop on Youtube. Maybe she gets into a few of those games. If she already likes games, just offer to spend a day or two checking everything out. Gencon is big.

2) Gencon, if she gets a badge too, has a whole section of events called "Spouse Activities" that are for non-gaming spouses. This includes things like: A haunted tour of Indianapolis' most haunted locations, a tour of some of the breweries downtown, cathedrial tours, yoga, meditation, dance classes, arts and crafts of all kinds, 5k charity fun runs, and a whole slew of other giant things.

3) Every year during Gencon, for about the past 3-4 years, the Indiana State Fair is going on during the same week. It'd be a cab ride, but they always have concerts and rides and all that jazz.

4) The Zoo isn't too far away. There is a movie theater in the mall that is connected to the convention center. The mall is a pretty decent size and all that.

5) Bars and clubs around the convention center just turn into huge party zones. Bars come up with unique beers to try, clubs do gamer dance music.

There is a ton more to do there than just "game". You have lots of options.

This is a huge help, thank you.

[CreedP]

I've always thought I'd like to go to GenCon one year and not be tied down to Raw Deal, really see what goes on during the rest of the convention, wander around and see stuff like that, heh.

If I could make it next year, I'd hang out for Worlds and a few of the tournaments, but I'd definitely want to see some of what else is there, heh.

CREED

[MrPeoplesTeam]

DCDBG is in store for me next year as well as Defending the Gold. I'm quite excited i found a new game lol

Also the debute of WWE Supershow as well!

[VelaCards]

Grand Prize is being shipped out to our 2013 World Champion this week.



This is something that I had been working on getting done for me since the beginning of the year. I thought it would be a cool prize to have an original design done on a play mat for this year's GenCon event.

This is a play mat that I had asked RVD's airbrush artist (he does all of RVD's ring worn outfits) to make for me. It is signed by both Joe Holland and Rob Van Dam. In addition to being a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork, it's also a very rare thing to have both Joe's and Rob's signature on an item.

Congrats to this year's World Champion!

VC

[TheGreatWhiteDope]

My intent is to be there as well, but sadly I won't know until March whether it will be a reality.

For those that live in Indianapolis and its surrounding area, I need some kind of hint as to local tourism spots.  My wife wants to go on the trip as well, but there's no way she'll survive 10 hours of World Championships, so I need to give her things to do that do not have the words "Raw Deal" in them.  I tried selling her on some participation in board game events at Gencon, but she wasn't buying it.

a few tricks:

1) Have her check out Wil Wheaton's Tabletop on Youtube. Maybe she gets into a few of those games. If she already likes games, just offer to spend a day or two checking everything out. Gencon is big.

2) Gencon, if she gets a badge too, has a whole section of events called "Spouse Activities" that are for non-gaming spouses. This includes things like: A haunted tour of Indianapolis' most haunted locations, a tour of some of the breweries downtown, cathedrial tours, yoga, meditation, dance classes, arts and crafts of all kinds, 5k charity fun runs, and a whole slew of other giant things.

3) Every year during Gencon, for about the past 3-4 years, the Indiana State Fair is going on during the same week. It'd be a cab ride, but they always have concerts and rides and all that jazz.

4) The Zoo isn't too far away. There is a movie theater in the mall that is connected to the convention center. The mall is a pretty decent size and all that.

5) Bars and clubs around the convention center just turn into huge party zones. Bars come up with unique beers to try, clubs do gamer dance music.

There is a ton more to do there than just "game". You have lots of options.

This is a huge help, thank you.

the other big things inside Gencon for gamers is simple stuff:

Dealers are showing off their new games and basically will let you sit down and play them while they teach you.
Games on Demand where you just take 1 generic ticket walk up, look at a game and say, "i want to play that" and you have an impromptu game season
Video game hall with tourneys and things.
Costume contests
giant gencon dance.

There is a ton of stuff that isn't "sit and watch me play a card game." She (and you) could spend days doing everything else without ever touching a Raw Deal deck.

My biggest suggestion to anyone going to Gencon (something that D2, Buddha, and others have sacrificed over the years): don't spend the entire weekend at a table in the tourney hall. Go out and check out the amazing amount of actual stuff that is all around. It's great. You'll discover brand new games and things that you'll enjoy.


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ALSO: That playmat is f'n SIIIIIIIIIICK