(Dansk version)

No con without scenarios and BaCon is no exception. And so we are looking for scenarios for the con. Below, you can see what type of scenarios we are looking for and what you can get out of submitting a scenario for the con. The person in charge of scenarios is Jacob Klünder ( Denne emailadresse er beskyttet mod programmer som samler emailadresser. Du skal aktivere javascript for at kunne se adressen. )

At BaCon, we operate with two types of scenarios; Danish Style and US Style. This way of doing it was tested successfully at ForumCon. A Danish Stylescenario is the kind known from Danish cons, written so that others than the writer can run the scenario and with pre-generated characters. US Style is inspired by the way scenarios are often done in the US, written with the assumption that only the writer actually runs the scenario and sometimes without pre-generated characters. We would, however, prefer that scenarios for BaCon comes with pre-generated characters, since it will often take too long to make characters. The advantadge of US Style is that is might bring in people who can’t write their scenarios so that others can run them, but can still do a solid scenario. Danish Style has the advantage of letting one scenario cover several groups.

At BaCon, the scenarios will run in slots of about 5 hours duration, so the scenarios should last between 4 and 6 hours. There’s no set number of characters, but we would prefer a minimum of 4. We are more than happy to accept scenarios that have been run on previous conventions, but such scenarios cannot come into consideration for Best Scenario (see below).

If you have a scenario at BaCon, you will get the same kind of reward as if you were GM’ing a scenario and since you will also be GM’ing your scenario, this means two rewards. However, you cannot be rewarded for one submitted scenario, even if you have more than one at the con. We haven’t quite decided what the reward will be yet. At the same time, there will be a friendly competition for Best Scenario. Scenarios that have been run at previous conventions, as well as scenarios written by the officials of the convention, cannot win Best Scenario.

So what are we looking for in a scenario? What does it take to get the scenario approved? And how do you go about winning the fantastic title of Best Scenario? We can start by saying that we accept all kinds of scenarios, from ordinary system-based scenarios with GM and all the trimmings, to Dogme, avant-garde and experimenting scenarios. There are, however, some things that we will look for. For and foremost is the entertainment value – is it a scenario which can keep a group of players entertained for several hours. At the same time, all characters should have something to do in the scenario and have an equal chance of being in the spotlight. And the characters should be readily comprehensible (and preferably not 4 pages of dense text to read and memorize). If hand-outs would make the game flow easier, it is an advantage to have hand-outs. And finally, there is the indefinable all-round impression of the scenario. The scenarios will be evaluated be the person responsible for scenarios. Choosing the Best Scenario will be done via points given by players and the person responsible for scenarios.

This all might seem a bit overwhelming, but despair not – we are not looking for at the greatest masterpieces, the newest magnum opus (though of course we won’t turn such scenarios down). What we want are solid scenarios with entertainment value, scenarios we feel people would be interested in playing.

Finally, we have a few requests; considering the theme of the convention, we would love to have one or more pig scenarios. Whether it’s a role-playing version of Animal Farm, a horror-scenario set in an abandoned slaughterhouse or something completely different, we will clap our greasy little hands in joy if a real porker of scenario turned up. In addition, there is the dreaded Sunday slot. Sunday morning, people are tired. Theirs brains do not work and they are either as lethargic as zombies or hopped up on caffeine. So, we need some scenarios designed for this slot. It could a far-our comedy scenario, mindless violence or something similar, as long as it can be played by people who are likely to need all their brainpower just to finish a simple sentence

We also accept semi-LARP and small LARPs (no bigger than 15 people), but not LARP scenarios bigger than that.

If you would like to contribute a scenario to our cozy little convention, all you have to so is read our instructions and genre-descriptions and then send an email to our guy in charge of scenarios; Jacob Klünder ( Denne emailadresse er beskyttet mod programmer som samler emailadresser. Du skal aktivere javascript for at kunne se adressen. ).

Format

No later than the 1st of December (see timeline later), you need to send a description of the scenario. It must contain:
Name: The name of the scenario.
Author: The writer(s) of the scenario.
Teaser: This is the trailer of the scenario. The idea is to give people insight into the kind of scenario they are dealing with, what is going on. It might be prose, prose and explanation or just explanation. Write as much as you like, but remember that too much text often makes people just skip it.
System: Which system the scenario is powered by. If it’s a homebrew, then write “Homebrew” and maybe a word or two about the homebrew system. If it is without a system, then write “Without System”. If it is powered by a system, then note in prenthesis how much knowledge of the system is required (None, A Bit, Some, A Lot), possible split between what is required of players and what is required of the GM.
Genre: See the genre definitions later.
Number of Players: Pretty self-explanatory. If no GM is required, mention it here.
English: Only/Also Danish. At BaCon, we hope to have several guests from other countries and thus some scenarios must be run in English. Here, you can not whether the scenario is only run in English or whether you could run it in Danish if you get an all-Danish group of players.

Genres

As a help to us in defining the scenario and you in giving inspiration to what type of scenarios ones could write, we have some definitions of genres that we would like to use. These are not, however, set in stone and you are, of course, free to mix them – action-horror or fantasy-comedy. It would also be good to note sub-genres in the explanation, for example Action (Super Heroes) or Historical (30 Years Wars). The genres are:

1. Historical: The scenario takes place in a historical period (wars seem popular) and explores this period. It rarely contains supernatural elements, can be historical fiction (“what if?”) or have supernatural elements that befits the historical period (f.ex. witches in league with Satan during the time of the Witch Trials).
2. Adventure: This refers specifically to a scenario where the heroes take long and/or epic journeys with lots of speed and excitement. For example, pulp-scenarios.
3. Action: Lots of battles and physical action and, often, lots of dice.
4. Science Fiction: Advanced technology, aliens, space tracel and such things. Contains numerous sub-genres like Space Opera, Hard Science, Cyberpunk, etc.
5. Fantasy: Really doesn’t need an introduction to role-players.
6. Drama: Sweeping emotions and lots of interaction. This covers scenarios focused on intrigue.
7. Comedy: Often one of the hardest genres to make a successful scenario for. The point is that the players, and preferably also the GM, should not just be entertained, but actually laugh out loud.
8. Horror: Also a tough genre. Here, the players (and sometimes the GM) are to be scared.
9. Thriller: A scenario where excitement and/or suspense is key, like a heist scenario or a disaster-scenario where the characters desperately try to stay alive.
10. Investigation: Investigating and/or solving some event, like a crime – focuses on finding clues, connecting leads and interviewing people.
11. Modern Occult: A genre that is used more often within role-playing than outside role-playing; our modern world, with supernatural elements added (e.g. Vampire, WitchCraft, Unknown Armies). Often mixed with Horror or Investigation.
12. Character Study: A scenario where the setting (and possibly the story) is pushed to the back and the playing of the characters is the most important part.
13. Genre Study: A scenario where the chosen genre is focused on and explored (and possibly deconstructed).
14. Introduction Scenario: A scenario written for players (and possibly a GM) with no experience with the system in question. The aim of the scenario is to introduce the system as thoroughly as possible. This is often an Indie-system (and these systems are usually quite good for both con-scenarios and these type of scenarios) or a new and/or or obscure system, but it can also be an old system or just a well known system that you’d like to showcase.

Timeline

And finally, an overview of what must be done when. All communication takes place via this email: Denne emailadresse er beskyttet mod programmer som samler emailadresser. Du skal aktivere javascript for at kunne se adressen. .

• August 1st 2009: You can now tell us that you would like to do a scenario for BaCon. All that is required at this stage is that you send a mail, telling us you’d like to contribute one or more scenarios. Of course, you’re free to give more info, but that isn’t required at this date.
• October 2nd 2009: The scenario guy’s birthday.
• October 23rd 2009: September 1st 2009: Brief synopsis. Give us a short explanation of the scenario and a ”progress report” – how far are you with the scenario.
• November 17th 2009: Send a detailed synopsis of the scenario. This is the synopsis we will use to determine if we accept your scenario. If you are writing a US Style scenario, you need not send in anything more.
• November 23rd 2009: You will be told if your scenario is accepted.
• December 1st 2009: Last call for you to send in a description of the scenario (see Format). The description will be posted on the website before…
• December 24th 2009: Christmas! And registration for BaCon opens.
• February 16th 2010: If you are writing a Danish Style scenario, then it must be sent to the scenario guy via email no later 23:59. If you are not in Denmark, remember the time difference.
• March 16th 2010: No later than this date, Danish Style scenarios will be sent to the people who have signed up to be GMs
• May 14th 2010: BaCon 2010 begins!