The weekend of October 20th, the biggest comics and gaming convention in Uruguay will take place, here in Montevideo obviously, known as Montevideo Comics.
If you were at all considering a vacation to beautiful South America, this would be a good time to do it. But we're specifically looking for anyone who has game designer credits under his belt and would like to be there to help promote roleplaying in latinamerica. Speaking spanish would not be required. Being able to afford your own trip would, since the gig doesn't pay anything.
But if you do come down, you will be treated to a four-star tour by the RPGPundit himself, who will act as your guide, translator, and all around guarantee that you will have a good time. That applies to anyone who wants to come down, whether they are game designers or simple fans.
But we need gaming celebrities though. We'll take anyone though, since I'm doing this for the Con and not myself; I'm hoping Mike Mearls or Erick Wujcik will take a look at this and decide its time for a vacation, but if you've written for any major gaming company (or if you are owner of a minor gaming company and would like to come down and sell your wares), we'll take you. Hell, we'll take Forge guys, as long as they can live with the fact that no one here has ever heard of them and will have no idea who they are.
Plus, other than the cost of the flight, Uruguay is cheap. Really really cheap. And safe and clean, nothing like Mexico. (Filthy ugly Mexico)
No, Uruguay is much closer to Europe, but not unbelievably expensive. Get ideas of revolutionaries or lack of running water out of your head: Montevideo is not only the second-safest world capital on the planet (almost certainly making it a safer place than wherever most of you are now, if you're in a city!), but its also got water that not only runs, but is drinkable and delicious (Uruguay's biggest natural resource is its natural mineral water, and even a tourist can drink water right out of the tap here). Plus, you can get an all-you-can eat steak dinner (all natural, organic beef) for under $5US. A ONE LITRE bottle of beer costs $1US.
You can stay at a four-star hotel for between $25-35 a night, a 3 star hotel for even cheaper (and very nice hostels, if you want to go the really really cheap route). If you want to try a five-star, like the stunningly beautiful Victoria Radisson, it starts at about $60US a night.
So come, visit sunny Uruguay! Appear at Montevideo Comics! Enjoy our lovely beaches! Take a tour of the Alchemical-architecture designed by half-insane wizards (I kid you not!), visit the great Masonic Fountain! Eat the best beef you've ever had in your life!
Did I mention the prostitutes are really cheap too?
RPGPundit
I know a guy who once claimed that he'd been to school with a guy who fingered Paris Hilton. Is that any help?
God, i wish i wasn't such a wuss where flying is concerned 'cos you've done a good selling job! (the prostitutes clinched it! ;) )
How many usually attend and how are sales of RPGs generally in that part of the world? If the answers are pretty good, i'll pass on details of the con. to my lord and master in all things WFRP at GR. I can't make any assurances at all however, as he's a mighty busy man.
I have a number of friends who are developing games that should be released next year, if that's "celebrity" enough, I can tell them about this.
EDIT: $900 is the best price I found on flights and it's 21 hours to get there, 47 (!!!) hours to get back.
Where are you located, Vellorian? I think we might be able to find you something cheaper and faster.
Quote from: JongWKWhere are you located, Vellorian? I think we might be able to find you something cheaper and faster.
I'm in the 'States, dead center, St. Louis, Missouri.
Ok, let me see what I can find. If you don't mind, I'll be checking tickets to Buenos Aires too, as it can be much cheaper to fly there and cross the River Plate via ferry.
By the way, do you have any specific days in mind for departure & return?
Quote from: JongWKOk, let me see what I can find. If you don't mind, I'll be checking tickets to Buenos Aires too, as it can be much cheaper to fly there and cross the River Plate via ferry.
By the way, do you have any specific days in mind for departure & return?
Let's see... Since this is all a mental exercise anyway... ;)
I could take vacation time... I'd have to leave no earlier than 6am on the 18th and would need to be home, safe, in bed no later than 6pm on the 24th.
(Then, of course, there is the question of whether I would be considered a "celebrity." Unless being an American gamer would be sufficient.) ;)
Let's see what Orbitz (http://orbitz.com) has to say...
Leave: St.Louis-Miami-Buenos Aires
Depart: Wed 18, 1:50 pm. / Arrive: Thu 19, 6:55 am.
Total duration: 15hr 5min
Return: Buenos Aires-Miami-Atlanta-St.Louis
Depart: Mon 23, 9:45 pm. / Arrive: Tue 24, 12:40 pm.
Total duration: 16hr 55min
Cost: $867 ($770 ticket + $97 in taxes & fees).
A one-way ferry trip between Buenos Aires and Montevideo costs between $30 and $60.
Quote from: One Horse TownGod, i wish i wasn't such a wuss where flying is concerned 'cos you've done a good selling job! (the prostitutes clinched it! ;) )
How many usually attend and how are sales of RPGs generally in that part of the world? If the answers are pretty good, i'll pass on details of the con. to my lord and master in all things WFRP at GR. I can't make any assurances at all however, as he's a mighty busy man.
I have no concrete numbers to offer. I can tell you this: anyone who brought books would likely end up being able to sell them, either at the con or through the gamer community as a whole. Its practically impossible to get actual real gaming books here without ordering them online; you have to get pirated copies otherwise. Anyone who's brought actual books here (like Jong did with Shadowrun 4e) has found they sold very fast. Of course, more recognizable titles would sell faster.
I bet Warhammer books would go over huge here; there's already many people who play it.
Shit, if you do that, I have a whole shopping list of WFRP books on my "to buy" list (Sigmar's Heirs, Spires of Altdorf, Knights of the Grail, Forges of Nuln, Barony of the Damned, Terror in Talabheim, Tome of Corruption, The WFRP Companion). That alone would buy one quite a few night's dinners!
RPGPundit
Quote from: JongWKOk, let me see what I can find. If you don't mind, I'll be checking tickets to Buenos Aires too, as it can be much cheaper to fly there and cross the River Plate via ferry.
By the way, do you have any specific days in mind for departure & return?
Its worthwhile for ANYONE visiting Uruguay to also visit Buenos Aires, its named the "Paris of South America" for very good reasons. I visit there every couple of months, its a blast.
RPGPundit
Quote from: Vellorian(Then, of course, there is the question of whether I would be considered a "celebrity." Unless being an American gamer would be sufficient.) ;)
I don't think anyone would be lining up for your autograph.
Still, no reason you couldn't come down and have a great time!
RPGpundit
The thing to remember when selling RPGs here, is that one should focus on the core rulebooks. Don't make the mistake of doing what a certain hobby store did once, and bring a ton of WoD sourcebooks but only one player's handbook...
Quote from: RPGPunditI have no concrete numbers to offer. I can tell you this: anyone who brought books would likely end up being able to sell them, either at the con or through the gamer community as a whole. Its practically impossible to get actual real gaming books here without ordering them online; you have to get pirated copies otherwise. Anyone who's brought actual books here (like Jong did with Shadowrun 4e) has found they sold very fast. Of course, more recognizable titles would sell faster.
I bet Warhammer books would go over huge here; there's already many people who play it.
Shit, if you do that, I have a whole shopping list of WFRP books on my "to buy" list (Sigmar's Heirs, Spires of Altdorf, Knights of the Grail, Forges of Nuln, Barony of the Damned, Terror in Talabheim, Tome of Corruption, The WFRP Companion). That alone would buy one quite a few night's dinners!
RPGPundit
Send me details at drw(dot)white@googlemail(dot)com as to the venue, events, dates and any relevant info you can think of. As i said, i can't make any promises, but i'll pass the info on.
Okay... I'm not hearing much support for the Paris Hilton fingerer. He says he'll charge you $5 to sniff his fingers. Surely that must be some kind of draw? I sniffed them and they smelled of barbeque sauce... admittedly he was eating ribs at the time.
Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalOkay... I'm not hearing much support for the Paris Hilton fingerer. He says he'll charge you $5 to sniff his fingers. Surely that must be some kind of draw? I sniffed them and they smelled of barbeque sauce... admittedly he was eating ribs at the time.
You owe me a new brain.
Quote from: JongWKYou owe me a new brain.
Oh come on! If you ride a tube train home on a sunday morning you'll see it's full of slightly dishevelled men illicitly sniffing their fingers and grinning.
Quote from: RPGPunditIts worthwhile for ANYONE visiting Uruguay to also visit Buenos Aires, its named the "Paris of South America" for very good reasons.
I hope they don't include 'everyone is horribly rude and pisses in the street'.
?
Pundit, if I could arrange for it (and I don't know if the shipping costs would be prohibitive to get it there in time), I could see about possibly getting a few Palladium books sent that way for convention prizes? Would that help/be welcome? I wish I would have known about it sooner, because I think to get them there might be cost prohibitive.
That would indeed be welcome, if its possible.
Remember, though, Core Rulebooks mainly. Palladium has very little presence in Uruguay (theres a few people who had the old RIFTS manual, but that was a while ago now). So offering up core rulebooks as prizes could be a great way to get interest in the Palladium system and books in the country. Whereas offering up the Lone Star sourcebook or whatever would just get you a prize-winner with a sourcebook he could never use.
Of course, it'd be especially cool if you could bring down Kevin Siembieda or Erick Wujcik with said books. I have a feeling Kevin in particular must like something about Montevideo, seeing as how he made it a major world capital in Robotech.
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPunditThat would indeed be welcome, if its possible.
Remember, though, Core Rulebooks mainly. Palladium has very little presence in Uruguay (theres a few people who had the old RIFTS manual, but that was a while ago now). So offering up core rulebooks as prizes could be a great way to get interest in the Palladium system and books in the country. Whereas offering up the Lone Star sourcebook or whatever would just get you a prize-winner with a sourcebook he could never use.
RPGPundit
Understood--are there any genres there that are underrepresented or folks would like more of?
I'll go to the post office tomorrow and see what the rates are. I checked the USPS website and they said economy mail to URuguay is currently suspended (?), but I see they have a couple different options. I'll check it out and let you know tomorrow what I can do.
I don't think so.. shit, does Palladium still make RPGs other than RIFTS? I remember when they were all prolific, then you went with the one-trick-pony that was bringing in the biggest bucks..
Hmm, though I seem to recall you re-released Beyond the Supernatural a while back.
Anyways, I think RIFTS might be the best of choices, given that CoC is already pretty played here; do you have any other RPGs besides RIFTS and BtS at this time?
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPunditI don't think so.. shit, does Palladium still make RPGs other than RIFTS? I remember when they were all prolific, then you went with the one-trick-pony that was bringing in the biggest bucks..
Hmm, though I seem to recall you re-released Beyond the Supernatural a while back.
Anyways, I think RIFTS might be the best of choices, given that CoC is already pretty played here; do you have any other RPGs besides RIFTS and BtS at this time?
RPGPundit
Well, there's
Palladium Fantasy, which is an all-in-one fantasy RPG that I love to death (I'm not sure if I can get ahold of that right now or not),
Heroes Unlimited,
Ninjas & Superspies,
Splicers,
Systems Failure (a one-shot RPG with sort of a streamlined version of the Megaversal system), and a few more on top of that that don't get much love, like
Recon or
Nightbane. Unless you think any of the others would be good picks, I'll go with
Rifts.
Oh! I need an address for shipping to check cost--if you want to PM me a good POC over there, that'd be excellent.
Quote from: Zachary The FirstWell, there's Palladium Fantasy, which is an all-in-one fantasy RPG that I love to death (I'm not sure if I can get ahold of that right now or not), Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Splicers, Systems Failure (a one-shot RPG with sort of a streamlined version of the Megaversal system), and a few more on top of that that don't get much love, like Recon or Nightbane. Unless you think any of the others would be good picks, I'll go with Rifts.
Oh! I need an address for shipping to check cost--if you want to PM me a good POC over there, that'd be excellent.
I loved Ninjas & Superspies, and Systems Failure both. But aren't pretty much all of those you mentioned no longer supported by palladium, or am I wrong?
I'll PM you.
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPunditI loved Ninjas & Superspies, and Systems Failure both. But aren't pretty much all of those you mentioned no longer supported by palladium, or am I wrong?
I'll PM you.
RPGPundit
Yeah, both
N&SS and
System Failure were pretty much one-shot complete games (with the exception of The Wuje's
Mystic China), but they're still playable, with an online fan community. Maybe I'll throw in a copy of N&SS just for a change of pace for someone...
Quote from: Zachary The FirstYeah, both N&SS and System Failure were pretty much one-shot complete games (with the exception of The Wuje's Mystic China), but they're still playable, with an online fan community. Maybe I'll throw in a copy of N&SS just for a change of pace for someone...
Anyone who can't find a martial art that interests them whild reading through N&S... shouldn't be reading through a martial arts related gamebook.