Well, here's the thing, guys.  I'm working on a couple of ideas to discount the stay as much as possible for a group coming in.  Likely, these ideas would have to involve carpooling once in Indy (I'm considering getting "shuttle runs together" and either staying out at a campground, hostel, or private residence.  Campground, we'd have to get together some tents/campers, but I think we can manage that.

Now, if over the course of this next year, I can come up with something concrete for folks, would the site be willing to do a fundraiser or two, perhaps find a few sponsors for to provide pdfs/products for a drawing or two?  We're talking about money going directly to help more folks get to Gen Con, takign care of your fellow gamer and all that.

We also have a few resources that we can do for folks, including:
-Two free press badges for TheRPGSite alone, for the whole con (I can help whomever's chosen for this)
-Volunteering at Gen Con for part-time to punch your ticket
-Signing up as online press for another site you might run/belong to as press
-Using this forum as a carpooling/road trip organizer
-I was going to say putting in time running demos of game at a RPGSite-themed publisher booth might get you badges, but those badges would likely go to the supporting publishers.

You know what?  Maybe this will never get past a pipe dream, but if we see even a few more of you guys there next year, it'll be worth it.  I don't  want to put it off, and I want to start working this now.  So let me know if you're possibly interested, and I'l keep researching in the meantime.  And if it works out, we can call it The Pilgrimmage.

EDIT:  Keep in mind that while I can do the organizing and research for the stuff here in Indy, I'm not comfortable with both being an ENnies judge and soliciting any sort of donations for a fundraiser.  If we get to that point, I'd like someone else to step in, and oversee that aspect of things.

There's no way i'm ever going to make a GenCon, so i won't be engaging in any fundraisers Zach.

However, if you get this off the ground, i 'll be willing to donate one of my author copies of The Thousand Thrones campaign book for WFRP. It will be published in April 2008 and so i should have my copies with plenty of time to spare. You can then either raffle it off to RPGsite attendees at the booth or have a competition or something.

How's that sound?

I'll donate copies of my pdfs. No problem.

I can probably give rides to folks from the Boston area who are coming.

I'll get a badge for someone who will mind the booth - if we get a booth - and run games.

-clash

Quote from: One Horse TownThere's no way i'm ever going to make a GenCon, so i won't be engaging in any fundraisers Zach.

However, if you get this off the ground, i 'll be willing to donate one of my author copies of The Thousand Thrones campaign book for WFRP. It will be published in April 2008 and so i should have my copies with plenty of time to spare. You can then either raffle it off to RPGsite attendees at the booth or have a competition or something.

How's that sound?

Man, absolutely.  It's a bummer you won't ever make a Gen Con, though.

I just looked up some flights, and it would cost me over A$3000 just to get to Indianapolis. Then I'd have to pay for the con and food and accommodation. It's about ten weeks of my average pay (all of it).

I don't think you'll be seeing me there any time soon.

I vote Zach as our new Imperial Leader of TheRPGSite.  Sorry Pundit.

I certainly strongly appreciate everything Zach is doing!

RPGpundit

I'll be glad to help organize-- I will not be helping any booth out, though. (I'm doing my 7-slot Iron-DM next year, I've already decided). After my 3rd or so GC, I figured out-- The dealers hall is the absolute most boring place to be at Gencon. There's loads of other stuff to do.

However, I can help set up a central scheduling hangout like I did for my 10-member group this year- which will hopefully help forum members find each other.

Something I'd like to try this year with my own group is everyone using twitter via cellphones, so you can track general locations of where everyone is.

Quote from: James J SkachI vote Zach as our new Imperial Leader of TheRPGSite.  Sorry Pundit.

Now that is a honorific I wouldn't want. Not my style.

Seriously, I just really enjoy talking with the folks around here, and think that if we can do something like this as a group, well, that would be bad-ass.

I'm not sure what kind of turnout we'll have for this, but tell you what--as soon as we see what sort of interest there is, I'll do everything on this end to make a trip to Gen Con Indy as cheap and as realistic as possible for as many many who want to go.

Yeah, having a group gathering at GenCon really can make a difference. There were about 70 members of Circvs Maximvs at GenCon this year, and it meant we had a real sense of community on site. Most of us didn't play in any organized GenCon games, but instead played in organized CM and ENWorld games.

Having a central scheduling and message point in the ENnies booth was a help too.