Fan Faire Feedback

[Saroc_Luclin]

Still in Vegas, just relaxing a bit before I crash out finally. Some thoughts on the fan faire itself.* The Hilton is a great location; the convention centre just 'feels' like the right size and it's close enough to the Hotel area that it doesn't feel like a chore to run back to your room.* The banquet was better than the Rio IMO. One concern my guildmate had thoguh was there was too much meat (for someone who doesn't eat meat). Some more vegetarian options would be good.* The Everquest live quest was about 30 minutes late starting, so it ran 30 minutes into an EQLive panel. This happened at the Rio last year as well. Next year, maybe 2.5 hours should be budgetted for the live quest, so instead of starting at noon, start it at 11:30, to give you time to do the rules and regs, form groups, etc... before setting the players out for a 2 hour run.* Speaking of the Live quests, it was a bit annoying that the EQ2 Live quest had 3 tiers of rewards, while the EQ quest (Which had a lot of groups participating in it) only had 1 tier. Not all of the rewards have to be Visa Gift cards, but it would be nice if all (or at least the 2 major) live quests could have more reward tiers for those who participate in them.* Station store: Could we get some new stuff in there, especially maybe a new design of pins (not buttons) for servers, classes, races and such. Not to mention a large supply of EQ 10th Anniversary stuff since next year will be the 10th Anniversary.* Badges: The new badges were great. Names were easier to read and such. But I did miss the pockets that the old badge holders had. (Luckily I brought my 2005 badge too and wore both).* Off site event: I was iffy about it at first, but in the end I enjoyed it thorouhgly. The pool party was nice, but it's even better to have it in a location where you can do a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. That said, if it is going to be an open bar event, it might be a good idea to arrange some types of snackfoods to be freely available throughout the night as well.* Possible vendors for next year. I'm not sure where/who to contact for them , but a group to sell/make 'simple' costume parts. Cat/Mouse ears, wolf hats, tails, etc... in case anyone wants to buy them.Final comments: It will take some preparation, but could you PLEASE start the legwork NOW to not only decide the time and place for the 2009 fan faire, but also for the 2010 fan faire? It would be REALLY nice if as one of the final things Brenlo announces at the dinner, is the location and date for the next fan faire.Also about the 2009 fan faire, PLEASE get the time and place announced ASAP (preferably within the year 200<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />. Already, I have a TONNE of guildmates (literally a tonne; practically everyone who is on regularly is planning on comming) who are anticipating coming to the 10th Anniversary of EQ Fan Faire, and many of them need to know practically NOW when 2009 will be so they can start making vacation and travel arrangements.

[Starrla]

<cite>Saroc_Luclin wrote:</cite><blockquote>* Speaking of the Live quests, it was a bit annoying that the EQ2 Live quest had 3 tiers of rewards, while the EQ quest (Which had a lot of groups participating in it) only had 1 tier. Not all of the rewards have to be Visa Gift cards, but it would be nice if all (or at least the 2 major) live quests could have more reward tiers for those who participate in them.* Station store: Could we get some new stuff in there, especially maybe a new design of pins (not buttons) for servers, classes, races and such. Not to mention a large supply of EQ 10th Anniversary stuff since next year will be the 10th Anniversary.* Badges: The new badges were great. Names were easier to read and such. But I did miss the pockets that the old badge holders had. (Luckily I brought my 2005 badge too and wore both).* Off site event: I was iffy about it at first, but in the end I enjoyed it thorouhgly. The pool party was nice, but it's even better to have it in a location where you can do a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. That said, if it is going to be an open bar event, it might be a good idea to arrange some types of snackfoods to be freely available throughout the night as well.* Possible vendors for next year. I'm not sure where/who to contact for them , but a group to sell/make 'simple' costume parts. Cat/Mouse ears, wolf hats, tails, etc... in case anyone wants to buy them.</blockquote><p>First I want to say this Fan Faire this year was AWESOME...but Saroc makes some very good points.</p><p>1.  Speaking of the live quests I can agree with the disparity of prizes of EQ versa EQ2.  EQ2 even received titles for which it could have been given to the folks in EQ too.  It was noticed just in case you thought it might not be.  </p><p>2.  I saw the T-shirts booth and it was nice but pixel glitter would be nice on some T-shirts for the girls.  I would have worn it there had there been some.   <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>3.  Badges were GREAT this year...SO much better than last year...THANK YOU <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>4.  I was iffy too about the ride to get to the off site event but it was a blast...the climbing wall, the go carts and the batting cages, and not forget the dancing and kareokee!!  It was a BLAST!  Thanks <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>5.  About the simple costume parts....I must say having folks wearing those around would make for great photo shoots....lol  </p><p>I already can't wait till next year!  WOOT!</p>

[Raredo]

Was my first fanfaire. I would have to say the banquets were my favorite part when Brenlo humiliated people on stage. That was great. I still enjoyed the EQ panels as well.

[jkca]

<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Overall very very fun.  EQ's live quest was hilarious (it did occur to me that it would be extremely easy to cheat this event-- I hope some thought goes into preventing that given the relative seriousness of the prizes)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I actually liked the burgers and stuff at the banquet last year more than the scary chicken and pork chops, but most of the people with me preferred the food this year.  I thought the drink service was better last year (the prices at the banquet were okay, the prices during the other times were extremely expensive, like 7.25 for a domestic beer).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">It would be nice if the big prize draws did not overlap with panels.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'd prefer somewhere slightly cooler (105 degrees was a bit much)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waiting an hour on Smedly was obviously not ideal, but they kicked us some free beers so that was also tolerable (thanks! that was a great idea to keep the crowd from getting grumbly).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love the idea of having costume merchants <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span></p>

[Saroc_Luclin]

My guildmate will probably kill me for proposing it, but she had gotten the grey wolf hat and wore it throuhgout fan faire and it was quite a hit. During the final dinner's photo montage, she was in 3 of the pics with the hat.

[Laikas]

<cite>Saroc_Luclin wrote:</cite><blockquote>My guildmate will probably kill me for proposing it, but she had gotten the grey wolf hat and wore it throuhgout fan faire and it was quite a hit. During the final dinner's photo montage, she was in 3 of the pics with the hat.</blockquote>If it was the hat I am thinking of, she was a huge hit from what I saw. I was working at the station store and my coworkers and I thought it was awesome! <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Ma]

Just gonna say it, it's been irking me for a few days now...  My group played fair and lost and I thought that was bogus. Just saying. I know I'll get flamed for saying it, but it truly ruined the end of a great weekend. At least if there had been tiers or titles recognition for completing ALL the associated quests, that would have been something, but since we didn't exploit any loopholes we were SOL.  Other than that though, I had a blast and meeting new people and fellow server folks was the best part.

[Ma]

Whoops, I guess I should have mentioned I was talking about the EQ live quest. I'm still recovering from Quarks!

[Saroc_Luclin]

<cite>Laikas wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Saroc_Luclin wrote:</cite><blockquote>My guildmate will probably kill me for proposing it, but she had gotten the grey wolf hat and wore it throuhgout fan faire and it was quite a hit. During the final dinner's photo montage, she was in 3 of the pics with the hat.</blockquote>If it was the hat I am thinking of, she was a huge hit from what I saw. I was working at the station store and my coworkers and I thought it was awesome! <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></blockquote>It probably was. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Meahlana and her hat are in this group shot:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/2780346900_f8f5866ccb.jpg" alt="" border="0" />(From Left to right: Tomal, Guntur (half hidden behind Tomal), Meahlana, Zoyna, Gweezul, Snowpurr and a stranger that I got in the shot. All Heroes (or soon to be Heroes) from Luclin. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> )

[dicemong]

<cite>Maus wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just gonna say it, it's been irking me for a few days now...  My group played fair and lost and I thought that was bogus. Just saying. I know I'll get flamed for saying it, but it truly ruined the end of a great weekend. At least if there had been tiers or titles recognition for completing ALL the associated quests, that would have been something, but since we didn't exploit any loopholes we were SOL.  Other than that though, I had a blast and meeting new people and fellow server folks was the best part. </blockquote><p>As a member of the winning team, I'm not sure if Maus is insinuating we did not play fair.  We played it fair and got pretty creative (our monk pulled the gnoll train and actually did a few FD's, for example).  Yes, it would have been nice to see the same recognition for the EQ teams as the other games got for their quests.  We did a thorough follow through on the livequest and did something noone else did, that was going back and repeating the phrases to the NPC's.  This allowed us to net more of the marbles and win the game.  From what I was told by other groups, people did not seem to go back.  So if Maus is indeed insinuating we did not play fair, then I must strongly disagree.  I did see some behaviors, like a group taking a full bag of an NPC's marbles, but rest assured we did the quest without any exploits practiced by us.  We did the quest and had a blast doing it.</p><p>Melfor</p><p>Mage of Winter`s Legacy</p><p>Saryrn(Mith Marr)</p>

[Calthine]

It was a great Fan Faire!  It's got to be getting hairy to organize with so many games on the ticket now.My major feedback:  The Hilton was much better at the ginormous event thing than the Rio was.  There was way more room, no last minute re-arrrangements or confusions because someone scheduled two conferences next door to each other (there was another conference going on, but no confusions), and even the long walk from my room was better as the floor wasn't tile over concrete.PS: seriously, most of my last year's negative feedback was cured by the change of venue.

[Xa]

Thoroughly enjoyed fan faire and would consider going again. My favorite thing was the live quest (EQ), and I reiterate the bit about needing parity in prizes / tiers as all the other games. Also, I completely agree that the quest is too easy to game. Two teams could play and combine marbles. There wasn't any enforcement in the group size (the winning group had 14 members, when we were told to have no more than 12 in the instructions). There was no mechanism for preventing a team (with a new "leader&quot<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> from returning to an NPC a second time and getting more marbles (no, I'm not referring to the bonus phrases, which we also did--first, I might add). Perhaps something like a punch card per team would be useful. Nevertheless, a great event.

[Beadil]

<p>Fan Faire was great.  I thourghly enjoyed every minute of it.  The comunity address stands out simply for it getting me >fired up<.  Btw, the delay didn't bother me in the slightest.  More time to get to know some people standing in line and visit with my fellow geeks.  I wouldn't miss next years.</p><p>Brenlo was very entertaining and I was glad to get to shake his hand and thank him personally for everything after the banquet.</p><p>I tried to track down Ashlane (I feel connected to these 2 from listening to the podcast religiously) but she was busy rolling out the banners from the silent auction & I couldn't bring myself to bother her, I regret not finding the time to thank her personally.  I met and did alot of visiting with one SOE rep (who will be focusing on the Japan players, my appologies that the name slips me) and she was great.  As were all the SOE staff, BRAVO.  Honestly, every staff member I bumped into or chatted with was great.</p><p>The DJ party at Vegas sports was fantastic.  Again getting to hang in line for the go carts with some EQ2 people and visiting about that game was neat (visited with a really nice SWG gentleman on the shuttle back too).</p><p>The EQ panels were awesome.  You really got a feel for the dedication the Devs have and was great to see them face to face and hear the comments (both questions and answers).</p><p>I did sit in on a panel or two for EQ2, Vanguard and PotBS just for fun, neat to hear from these people too (although I have to admit chuckling over the EQ2 community excitement over guild halls, guild portals & guild banners.  They say EQ2 is advanced over EQ?  *snicker).  I ended up spending alot of time with a guild from Vanguard (T A S C) throughout much of the weekend, and this small group was great.</p><p>I'd make one last comment.  For the people who claim SOE is after nothing more than the >holy dollar<, SOE is certainly a company for proffit.  SOE is NOT a charity.  But...  This Fan Faire was so obviously keyed as an appreciation gathering for the PLAYERS / Customers.  Anyone who attended could attest there was no possible way they made money from Fan Faire but rather SPENT they're holy dollars on the customers and players who enjoy their games.</p><p>THANK YOU SOE and I can't wait until next year !</p><p>Beadil</p>

[Tharkis]

Meahlana's hat rocked =D  And she flew a LONG ways to wear it!  Fan faire was great, as usual.  I to enjoy the hilton much more than the rio for the fan faire.  My pics are up now too, see the photo forum !

[ban]

<p>Personally, I thought the Fan Faire was great. Only thing that really could have made it better woullda been a larger attendeance from my personal guildmates.</p><p> Other than that the only problem I really foresaw is that one thats been mentioned about the EQ live quest. I personally just didnt agree with the fact that other games got multi tiered awards like EQ2 did, and hell, I think even the matrix did on their Trivia winners. It just seemed a slap in the face to know that SoE was supporting EQ2 players more so than their original EQ players. On top of that was the fact when Brenlo did call EQ players up on stage at the Grand Banquet, when they all left stage they were given a copy of EQ2 Rise of Kunark as their parting gift.......</p><p>As for the live quest, We WERE told that switching group leaders was ok so long as the person that hailed the npc had the GL star. I saw several groups hailing the npcs without the star and a couple groups rehailing an NPC with another GL and doing the quest over. I did a count of the fragments possible. 6 per NPC for the initial quest, and an additional 2 if the secret phrase was given after solving Zeb's quest (who didnt give any fragments himself). So 6x8 plus another 16 possible. The Quest Leader ciould have counted these , any more than the possible shoulda been a tip off. I know I worked my rump off as GL for my fragments without cheating and near ended up having a heartache cause i was already sick, ask Hanidal Kragg the dwarf.. she even told me to go to the hospital.  AS for Winter's Legacy the winning team., I wouldnt say they cheated as I just stated, But the fact that they had some 16 or more ppl in ONE group was atrocious. We were told 10-12 ppl per team. At last years Fan Faire my guild had a total of 21 ppl. We were specifcally told to split into 2 groups. I just didnt think that was right at all. It would be nice if the SoE crew would give out a few titles to those that participated.. or even some potions or something but I aint gonna whine for em.</p><p> BTW guys.. The Party rocked this year... Twice as good as last years pool party. I did have a question .. The pictures that was showing during the Grand Banquet.. I've looked thru the Flickr and havent seen all of ones that was plastered through the Grand Banquet. I know there were a couple of myself and several of my guildmates that I'd like to plaster on our guild boards.. any idea of the rest are gonna be posted?</p>

[Saroc_Luclin]

For the EQLive quest, maybe a Flag sheet could be given with the quest gear and the Quest givers have a stamp they use to stamp their quest slot when they are rewarding the shards/marbles. That would help prevent repeated quests at least.

[Zude]

<p>As a member of the winning team, I can assure you that we did nothing against the rules.  We did have 14-15 guild members show up for Fan Faire, but we only signed up 12 for the event, and the rest were there to give us their support.  With the exception of one member, we all had matching t-shirts, with our guild's name on it, Winter`s Legacy.  I would assume that it would of been a lot easier for another group, without the uniformity, to have gone twice to an NPC during Live Quest.  I would suggest, as stated above, for some type of punch card or something, so that no team will be accused of not following the rules in the future.  I fully enjoyed the Live Quest setup and implementation at this year's Fan Faire, and hope to participate in future Live Quests. </p>

[Tnexus]

<cite>banya wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Other than that the only problem I really foresaw is that one thats been mentioned about the EQ live quest. I personally just didnt agree with the fact that other games got multi tiered awards like EQ2 did, and hell, I think even the matrix did on their Trivia winners. It just seemed a slap in the face to know that SoE was supporting EQ2 players more so than their original EQ players. On top of that was the fact when Brenlo did call EQ players up on stage at the Grand Banquet, when they all left stage they were given a copy of EQ2 Rise of Kunark as their parting gift.......</p></blockquote>As I heard later, there was never supposed to be second and third place winners for at least EQ2. I think there was a goof somewhere and they had to scrounge for prizes for second and third because they already informed them there were prizes for first through third or something like that.

[Saroc_Luclin]

I heard the same, but still, having 3 tiers of winners is more normal with what people expect and just seems a bit fairer in general. It doesn't even need to be cash/cashcards rewarded either. Reward maybe "All Access" game packages (if any exist at the time; basically combos of all of the games that are on All Access) for 3rd place winners and something else (Mice? Headsets?) for 2nd place winners.

[Kalthan]

Whether you do it twice or ten times, you still went outside the expected boundaries.  Hiding behind technicalities doesn't make it right.And if those extra guild members were there for support, why did they all approach the stage when the winning team was asked to come up?  They didn't say "winning guild."I'm a bit disappointed, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.