Question Crystal Con 2019

So, firstly, I'm probably going to be unavailable to run Crystal Con (if it even runs AT ALL) next year.

Secondly, I'd like to ask how many people want another Crystal Con next year? At some point I'm going to start a poll and post a link to this page, but I'll have to coordinate with another fan on that. Has anyone seen RoseBlack recently?

Thirdly, I probably should explain why I won't be around next year all that much. With my house fire, my struggle to get settled into my new apartment, the stabbing, and the stress of handling the massive tsunami of insurance paperwork, I've fallen massively behind on my Engineering Masters. I've got about half a year of coursework that I need to catch up on, and I've still got around another year and a half left till I can get that qualification finished. I've fallen behind on work as well, and I'm currently on thin ice at the ACFR, and I just got fired from my job at EB games...although I'm pretty happy about that because my boss was a asshole anyway. So, the next year's going to be about catching up and getting my life back on track after the last year's disasters and setbacks. It's been rough, but I really need to pick myself up.

So, I can't run Crystal Con 2019. It'll probably be the same discord, since it's already set up with all the mod preferences, but I might be creating a second admin among the existing mods to manage things next year. I'll probably be back in 2020, assuming the world hasn't been blown up by then lol.

In any case, this is sorta a preemptive bit of information about how things are going to be next year, as well as a poll about what features people want for next year, as well as a request for anyone who has the time- and is willing- to manage it in my absence,

That's it for this post. R&R guys.

First, Godspeed with the chaos in your life. I hope it all settles easily and swiftly.

Second, I enjoyed Crystal Con and hope it happens next year. Hope that helps!

This years Crystal Convention will be taking place during 30th Aug to 1st Sept. We would invite all authors to come and discuss and attend the Q and A session. The discord channel will be hosted by Polk Kitsune.

discord.gg/bMGfsNk

We hope that we will be able to attract more authors too.

If anyone needs access to the original discord, it's still open, although I may need to give someone else some admin privileges. I mean, there is the current discord, but since there's already a dedicated C-Con discord, it wouldn't be that much work on my end to add some more mods, and maybe another admin to run it this year. It'd also allow the chats to be pulled without any of the other stuff. Last year, I pulled the entire chat logs so that information could be added to the wiki. There's a link somewhere in the wiki thread, but I'm concerned that pulling the logs from the current discord may also pull the chat that's been going on for the last however-long-it's-been-active.

Well, I didn't volunteer, but if another Crystal Con is to happen, and no one else will organize it, then I can give it a go.

As CrazyMinh mentioned, the Discord is already up, though the CC is also still available. Either one should be fine, though the Discord would still stay up after CC2019 is done.

Would require some mods though, there's no ways I'd be able to manage everything around the clock. There's also the fact that I know very little on Gen 2, so someone with knowledge on that might be handy.

Krisin: Sounds like you have some experience on that, would you mind giving me some examples of questions, and how many? I think it might also be an idea to propose if authors might have something to introduce before taking questions. A topic they might want to talk about, get to know them and their process better.

As for how many people might show, it might be good to gauge interest in it. Last year was a great gathering, maybe we can get more this time.

If someone could help enlighten an old geezer: is Crystal Con held in a hotel somewhere, or is it an on-line only event? If the latter, I might well be able to attend, and if so, I could definitely talk about the Wiki.

No guarantees yet - between my health and possible family obligations it might not be possible or the times might be too hard to make. (I'm in the US Eastern time zone, by the way,)

XaltatunOfAcheron wrote: If someone could help enlighten an old geezer: is Crystal Con held in a hotel somewhere, or is it an on

To my knowledge, it's online on Discord.

Yes, it's online on Discord only. We don't exactly have a budget for a whole con.

But it's a few days where fans and readers can gather, along with authors. There's specific times that can be set up with specific channels where Q&As can be done with the authors around. All voluntary, of course.

All right. If we are doing another Crystal Con, then I'm going to need some help.

First, I'm going to need some mods. I simply can't be around around the clock keeping an eye on everything. I don't expect major issues happening, I don't expect major fights, just to keep things relatively calm, and apply kicks in necessary. If there's problems or questions, bring them up to me, and I'll answer as best I can.

Meaning at the same time that I'll have to put up some ground rules too, put it all up in a list, be it for casual talk, or presentations.

Mods would also be allowed to run certain events if they want to. Specific topics, or panels, etc.

Second, it wouldn't be much of a con if we didn't have some panels, or stars to come around and talk. In this case, if I could ask for some authors to volunteer some of their precious time, we could schedule time for a session/presentation. It doesn't have to be alone, I'd even say it might be better in groups. If there's a topic you want to discuss first without disturbance, we can set up a channel for that (might have to test the selective mute section to make sure). If you're open for Q&A with fans after (or just a Q&A session), that can be done too. The sooner we can prep this, the better I can make a schedule I can post ahead of time, so interested people can gather when the time comes.

For those who miss the presentation, we can leave the logs up, or post the sessions up in the forum for later as desired.

Third, I still do need to know if the old channel would be preferred, or the more recent Discord chat would be a better place. Doubt there'd be much of a difference, an auditorium channel is already up, along with one for announcements, along with channels specifically for Gen 1 and Gen 2 discussions.

Fourth, and this is just a little recent idea, but we could also think up activities or small contests though the con.

For example, for those who tend to like writing up micro scenes, we could set up a bit of a daily challenge. Put up a few key words, like characters that must be in the scene, a choice of locations, and a word limit. All to be judged by the end by a few volunteer judges.

Or if we have an artist on hand to make a commission, we could make a caption contest. Have a single picture, and have contestants write up a quote, or fill in the dialogue bubble. Again, judging by the end.

If you have any recommendations, opinions, questions, etc, please either PM me, or comment in this thread, and we can work on details.

Polk, I'm happy to make time for a daily visit of 1-2 hours.
I cant committ 100% yet, as I dont know my schedule for the period of the con, but I should be able to do this.
So if you let me know closer to the time when you'd like me, just contact me

I would make the impromptu questions very general, Questions like
1) What made you start to write in Whateley?
2) How should writers create villains so that they are good villains?

I am trying to post an announcement in the front page of Whateley Academy for this Crystal Convention. Let me know what things still need to be edited for this announcement.

<b> Hi Everyone, the second Crystal Convention would be held in the weekend 30th Aug to 1st Sept this year. <b> This convention is a time when everyone gets to chill out with the authors. It would be held by Polk and me (the fans) and would be held in a discord channel that is opened by Polk.

The permanent link is as follows

discord.gg/bMGfsNk

See you there, remember to read the rules! They are about the same for those of this site.

To the authors, please discuss with Polk on the timings the timings that we can slot in the author Q and A for you. It is an once in the year event and we are mainly going through the topics of why the authors joined Whateley and how to write a good fictional superhero story.

I hope to invite past authors like Maggie Finson, Diane Castle and Drunkfu this year. Fingers crossed.

Cheers and thank you all for your time.

Polk Kitsune wrote: Second, it wouldn't be much of a con if we didn't have some panels, or stars to come around and talk. In this case, if I could ask for some authors to volunteer some of their precious time, we could schedule time for a session/presentation. It doesn't have to be alone, I'd even say it might be better in groups.

How about a panel on what types of heroes work well with the WU setting, and which ones more often just don't work?

Read on Discord: "Trickster characters are usually reserved for side characters or villains."
(TV Tropes places a whole lot of tropes as sub-tropes to The Trickster , so YMMV)

Ooooohh. Interesting subject, I'd say. Would also give some potential writers ideas what might be a good starting plan.

Would need someone to write up a presentation for this, and a possible Q&A at the time.

Probably would also be a good idea to make a spreadsheet with times and who would be available.

Tricksters PSIs are OP because Mental Shielding is Tough?

One week to go before the date is up.

A schedule page has been made and prepped to be filled. For now though, I'm giving editing links to authors who want to attend and make a Q&A session. I'll make a viewable link available before the start of the con for those who want to see what's coming.

Any authors wanting a slot can PM me and I'll share the link. Otherwise... Well, I may have to go on the hunt. >> <<

And tomorrow's the day. So a few authors did take a few slots for Q&A sessions. Here's the current schedule.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12QIusjPa...fPg/edit?usp=sharing

If you have the time, then pick a slot, let me know, and I'll enter it in. (or if you want to show up, I think we can get the auditorium to give you the stage.)

Very interesting topics, I'll be honest. If I had more time, I would have proposed doing a strawpoll and get people to vote. I would say the last three topics might be better appreciated, since it seems we've drawn more than a few writers in the server... Which on second thought, the Web and E-book publishing sounds good for writers in general, but in the spirit of Crystal Con, might be better kept closer to Whateley. (I'll admit to be personally curious about the TG one, but that's just me.) Q&A would be appreciated too. I can set up the auditorium with a few ground rules for a more formal presentation if needed, though Q&A would be a lot more loose.

Just found out about Crystal Con 2019. Hope you had a good time.

Kristin Darken wrote: It went pretty well. At the times I was able to duck in and visit, we had over 50 people consistently online for more than a couple hours in one or another of our discord channels. And I wasn't there during the 'peak' hours, so its likely those numbers were much higher.

How do those #s compare to last year? Just curious and hoping the community is continuing to grow.

marie7342231 wrote:

Kristin Darken wrote: It went pretty well. At the times I was able to duck in and visit, we had over 50 people consistently online for more than a couple hours in one or another of our discord channels. And I wasn't there during the 'peak' hours, so its likely those numbers were much higher.

How do those #s compare to last year? Just curious and hoping the community is continuing to grow.

Last year, it was slightly less. Maybe a little under, but still less.