New GM guideline

[rescorki]

Just FYI -

Player Memberships - We expect that you will check badges prior to the beginning of the game to ensure that every player in your game is a legitimate member of DEXCON 13. If someone is not a legitimate member of DEXCON 13, you MUST ask that player to register and receive an appropriate badge, unless prior arrangements have been made with a Senior Staff member. If our staff or security finds that you have allowed a player to play in your game without proper credentials, YOU will be held financially responsible for his or her membership.

[Avie]

Is this a surprise in any way?

[Fox McCloud]

Even though this should be a no brainer for most.  I think it should be told to anyone getting a GM badge at registration.  That way there is absolutely no way people can go 'I didn't know.'  Ignorance will not be an excuse.

[Avie]

There is a bright, bright, bright, BRIGHT pink sheet in every single GM badge envelope.

EVERY GM who submits proposals is supposed to read the GM guidelines, both online and in their envelope.

There's no excuse for ignorance, except perhaps disinterest.

[Mike]

There is a bright, bright, bright, BRIGHT pink sheet in every single GM badge envelope.

EVERY GM who submits proposals is supposed to read the GM guidelines, both online and in their envelope.

There's no excuse for ignorance, except perhaps disinterest.

I agree - (X gets the square).    Seriously, this should be a given to any GM. I always check badge numbers at the games I run. I have to write them down and record the first, second and third place winners for prize points. If someone left their badge in the room or car, they have to go and get it - plain and simple. I don't believe I've ever had problems with "gate crashers."

[Salvius]

Just FYI -

Player Memberships - We expect that you will check badges prior to the beginning of the game to ensure that every player in your game is a legitimate member of DEXCON 13. If someone is not a legitimate member of DEXCON 13, you MUST ask that player to register and receive an appropriate badge, unless prior arrangements have been made with a Senior Staff member. If our staff or security finds that you have allowed a player to play in your game without proper credentials, YOU will be held financially responsible for his or her membership.

Just FYI -

In the past few years, we have had LARP groups actually SMUGGLE players in by wrapping them in "costumes" so that they didn't need to pay. When we confronted them with this, they lied to us, while actually HIDING the players. Finally, when our security went in to remove the players, the GMs laughed as though it was all a big joke.

Our policy has been that if someone is broke but asks us how they can attend the convention, we will generally put them to work or something as a trade-off, but we won't refuse anyone. While we have never enforced this policy, the disrespect show to us by certain GMs in the past has made it absolutely necessary to have that threat there.

>>>Vinny

[Avie]

Every GM who submits a game confirms that they've read the guidelines:
"I have read and agree with the Game Master Guidelines for DEXCON 13. (Note: If you do not answer "Yes" to this question, your game will not be considered!)"

And the GM guidelines has a blinky next to this item.  How much more upfront can we possibly be?

Forget the on-site documentation, it's right there, blinking, on the website.

I'm still confused as to the intention of this post - if somebody is sneaking their friends in, they've been warned.  If you aren't sneaking friends in, AND you're following the protocol and standards set by the convention, you'll be checking badges.  Therefore, it's a non-issue for 98% of our GMs.  And if there's been an honest mistake, we aren't :ahem: :censors self: mean people.  We know mistakes happen.  but if the same person has the same mistake happen every con, involving the same party, it's time to toughen up the policies and make them more visible. 

You think that's harsh, check out this article about shopkeepers in NYC and their coping mechanism -
http://gothamist.com/2010/06/22/shoplifters_shamed_and_extroted_by.php

Letting somebody play at the convention who doesn't have a membership is JUST like shoplifting.  It's stealing from the convention.  Would you rather we detained them and called the police in? 

[Oni no Ted]

Letting somebody play at the convention who doesn't have a membership is JUST like shoplifting.  It's stealing from the convention.

I agree, however...

It might be a legal issue if the GM's have their own room(s) as they could be considered 'guests' of the GM. If the con lets them use the room(or if it's in one of the con event rooms), then they could be considered trespassing,stealing services, etc.

[Avie]

We've never had this particular issue regarding GMs running RPGs in their sleeping rooms. :-)

[Salvius]

I agree, however...

It might be a legal issue if the GM's have their own room(s) as they could be considered 'guests' of the GM. If the con lets them use the room(or if it's in one of the con event rooms), then they could be considered trespassing,stealing services, etc.

Actually, Ted, GMs can only take players to their private room for a scheduled event with Big Board's permission. All events of the convention are considered the property of Double Exposure.

>>>Vinny

[Oni no Ted]

Actually, Ted, GMs can only take players to their private room for a scheduled event with Big Board's permission. All events of the convention are considered the property of Double Exposure.

>>>Vinny

Ah, didn't know that

[Bron Price]

...........but not unexpected    

[Doki]

My Sherlock Holmes detective skills deducted that this post was promped by the LARPers.  Zero points for me, however, as this post is appearing after the case has been solved...

[KevinM]

Sighs its sad people would cheat their way around the rules like that.  Its not like its an unreasonable or strange rule (correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know every convention has a variation on this).  Besides as pointed out its not like staff won't find some way to help out a broke person who wants to attend the con having run events and had friends volenteer for you guys for several years now i can certainly attest to how reasonable you are on that count.

[wcshoe]

Non-scheduled "roleplay" in the private rooms is permitted, though. Just not in Mike Smith's shower....