Rogue Archetype, I'd take the excel version, but I then need to find out of HW will do a computer version of the prereg list.
I thought preregistration was, simply, a heads-up on numbers that moves the line along smoother on event day?
It doesn't serve that purpose very well if players prereg and then don't remove their name after finding out they can't come. When the list is full at 60, but then only 45 from the list show up, there's energy and resources wasted.
The preregistration list, from my point of view, was instituted in order to prevent the event from accepting more players than we could seat. If necessary, we could see that the event was justifiably full and players would be aware of it too. After a certain point (those who ended up on the waitlist) would be aware that they'd have to bring a chair if they want to play while those on the actual list were guarenteed a chair. The list works better for prereleases since players can see a flight is approaching capacity and then plan to be at the other flight, no extra chairs needed. It has also been used by people looking to avoid the "crowded flight" when we do prereleases.
But at non-prereleases, we always accept everyone so there's no point for a prereg list. This is sometimes due to players who are no-shows (ex: Richmond Comix always fills their prereg list and waitlist but then never reach capacity at the event). You can say it makes us prepared for any walk-ins, but at a "preregistration required" event, if you're accepting 15 walk-ins, does that really count as an effective preregistration list? You would have had the same result without the list. And if you don't get 15 walk-ins, that's energy and resources spent unnecessarily.
Then, there is always something wrong with the prereg list. Sometimes players see it and sometimes they don't. I always end up doing a facepalm (in purple text
) when I hear about them. I think my forehead may be flattening due to all the facepalming :lol:.
IMO it hasn't made anything run smoother, but I'm not the one who uses the list when it comes time to do the event. What I do know is, after
every event, there is always someone (not always totoro) who tells me how to improve the list when the improvement is not really any kind of improvement. They're good ideas but they make the list more complicated.