Participation Games Hints and Tips wanted

[black hat miniatures]

I am organising a participation game at Salute 2020 under the banner of the Little Wars Revisited Forum.

It will be an expanded version of the game I have run before at Cavalier and Farnborough:



Just looking for some advice from people who have run participation games at Salute before.  I've run games at smaller shows but nothing this big.

The game is designed to run for 1 hour max and will probably accomodate 6 players (3 a side).

How do people handle entries - do you allow signups for a specific slot (with proviso of if you aren't there you lose it) ?  Or just first come first served for each slot?

Any other advice on handling the public ?

thanks

Mike

[black hat miniatures]

Anyone?

[has.been]

Keep your workload down. Do not do 'sign ups' that way lays madness,
(latecomers, fails to turn ups & keeping track) If you must do that,
get a book of raffle tickets & do what the supermarkets do, issue a ticket
when someone asks & say, 'now serving (sorry playing) 443 to 449'
Allow drop ins and drop outs. Some people will (for various reasons)
not stay playing for the full allotted time.
Be prepared to start with less than a full compliment of players. Late
comers can then join in as re-enforcements.
Keep EVERYTHING as simple as possible.
be prepared to Kreigspiel (make things up) 'Sorry, but the Col. wants
their boots cleaned, so they can't advance this turn'
To aid the fun have a series of random events cards. Have both bonuses
as well as penalties. Get all players to dice. Winner gets it if a bonus.
Loser gets it if a penalty.
Have a big jar of (cheap?) sweets. Give them as rewards. The issue of these will add to the fun.
Most of all remember to have fun yourself.

[black hat miniatures]

Thanks for the comments - I had decided that signups was probably a mad way of doing things...

It is a very simple game which people should pick up in the first turn - runs for 10 turns to achieve an objective of relieving Fort Pippin and saving it from the German Invasion...

Should have 6 of us running it which will make it easier...

Mike

[has.been]

If you have six people, try to  arrange it so that two can run it.
That will allow plenty of down time, during which people can:-
Look at traders, other games, eat, drink & chat to the punters.

[fred]

I don’t have any advice, but I do like the look of your game.

[levied troop]

Done a couple at Salute, I’d echo has.been’s wise words and emphasise that you need to be prepared to run with fewer players as necessary, or have your assistants play, and start each game on time.