You are on page 1of 38

EVENT

ORGANIZER
GUIDE

1
Iron GM Event Organizer Guide
TERMS OF USE AGREEMENT

The Iron GM Event Organizer Guide and the mark Iron GM are owned by Iron GM, LLC (Iron GM) and are licensed by Iron GM for use
subject to this Terms of Use Agreement. By using all or any part of the Guide or the mark Iron GM (collectively the Guide or Iron GM),
you (You) are accepting this Terms of Use Agreement and You are agreeing to observe and comply with the terms and conditions set
forth herein. The Guide is currently provided free of charge. You acknowledge that the license granted herein is a limited license for a
term of ONE YEAR, provided however that the restrictions, limitations and prohibitions set forth herein shall survive any termination or
expiration of the license granted herein. Iron GM reserves the right to revoke this license at any time for any reason in its sole discretion.

1. You represent and warrant to Iron GM that:


a. You are of legal age
b. You will not use this Guide for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms and conditions
c. You agree to provide Iron GM with true, accurate, current and complete information to identify You and Your use of the Guide
and promptly update such information as necessary

If You provide any information to Iron GM that is untrue or inaccurate, or if Iron GM has reasonable grounds to suspect same, Iron GM
reserves the right to terminate the license granted herein without notice.

2. Y ou agree to use this Guide only in activities related to Iron GM events sponsored by You provided that Your use of this Guide neither
competes with nor occurs on the same date as nor occurs at the same location as any scheduled Iron GM tournaments and/or
conventions and/or event, and You agree not to run an Iron GM event at any convention and/or other location at which Iron GM also
runs a tournament and/or event. You expressly agree not to run an Iron GM event at any convention and/or other location at which Iron
GM also runs an Iron GM event even if You did not know in advance that Iron GM runs an event at that convention or location, and even
if You scheduled Your event at that convention or location at a date and time prior to Iron GM scheduling its event at that convention
orlocation.
a. In the event that Iron GM runs an event at a convention or location where You had already arranged to run an Iron GM event,
You hereby agree to cancel Your event so as not to violate provision 2 and 2a-2b of this Agreement
b. You hereby expressly waive any right to notice, implied or otherwise, regarding where or when Iron GM runs its Iron GM
tournaments and/or events

3. You agree that:


a. You will not publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, derogatory, disparaging, defamatory,
infringing, improper, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information or mention in a manner objectionable
to Iron GM at its sole discretion, Iron GM, the Iron GM tournament, the Iron GM Event Organizer Guide, or the Iron GM Event
Program
b. You will not copy or distribute or publish in any medium the Guide or any part of the Guide except as expressly provided herein
c. You will not publish material in conjunction with Your Iron GM event that is protected by intellectual property laws of other
parties or by rights of privacy of publicity unless You own or control such rights or have received all necessaryconsents
d. You will not use material from this Guide to advertise any goods or services for any commercial purpose beyond the attraction
of participants to an Iron GM Event
e. You will not offer to sell any goods or services for any commercial purpose containing the Iron GM mark or logo
f. You will not use an Iron GM Event to distribute in any manner any material provided by another person or entity that You should
reasonably know cannot be legally distributed in such manner
g. You will not defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of
others in conjunction with an Iron GM Event
h. You will not falsify, remove or delete any copyright notices or other legal attributions from the Guide or any materials provided
by Iron GM
i. You will not restrict or inhibit any other person or entity authorized by Iron GM from using and enjoying the Guide or any of the
material found in this Guide
j. You will not export or use this Guide or any part hereof outside of the United States
k. You will not refer to any competitor at one of Your Iron GM events as Iron GM or Iron Contender in any medium except as
specified in this Agreement. You will not refer to your Local Iron GM event as a Semifinal, a Regional, a Regional Semifinal,
a Championship or a World Championship in any medium, except as specified in this Agreement. You hereby expressly
acknowledge that the terms Iron GM, Iron Contender, Regional, Semifinal, Regional Semifinal, Championship, and World
Championship when used in the context of an Iron GM event constitute proprietary information and are terms of material
significance to Iron GM and that using them without permission may constitute, but not be limited to, both a breach of this
agreement and significant material damages to Iron GM. YOU WILL ONLY, ALWAYS AND EVER refer to your Iron GM Event
with the following exact phrase, Iron GM Local. In addition to the foregoing, all of Your promotional material, in
any medium whatsoever will also contain the following exact phrase, An Iron GM licensed event."
4. Iron GM has no obligation to monitor the running of Iron GM Events. However, Iron GM reserves the right at all times to disclose any
information deemed by Iron GM necessary to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request, or to edit,
refuse to distribute or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part.

5. Y ou acknowledge that Your communications regarding Iron GM Events are not private communications; therefore others may read Your
communications without Your knowledge. You should always use caution when providing any personal information about Yourself or
other persons or entities. Iron GM does not control or endorse the content, messages or information used by itself or by any third party
in conjunction with the running of an Iron GM Event and specifically disclaims any liability with regard to same and any actions resulting
from Your participation.

6. T he information included in this Guide may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to this Terms
of Use Agreement and to the Guide. Iron GM may make improvements and/or changes to this Guide at any time, at its sole discretion.
The contents of this Guide are offered for entertainment and educational purposes only. This Guide does not offer business or other
professional advice, and information received via this Guide should not be relied upon for personal, legal or financial decisions. You should
consult an appropriate professional for any specific advice, tailored to Your situation, for these and any other matters.

7. IRON GM MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS, AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION,
PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES CONTAINED IN THIS GUIDE FOR ANY PURPOSE. ALL SUCH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

8. IRON GM HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS GUIDE,
INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-
INFRINGEMENT.

9. IN NO EVENT SHALL IRON GM BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY
DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY
WAY CONNECTED WITH THE PROVISION OR USE OF THIS GUIDE, OR WITH THE INABILITY TO USE THIS GUIDE, OR WITH THE PROVISION OF
OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, OR FOR ANY INFORMATION AND RELATED MATERIALS OBTAINED THROUGH THIS GUIDE, OR OTHERWISE
ARISING OUT OF THE PROVISION OR USE OF THIS GUIDE, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF
IRON GM HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IRON GM SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE
CAUSED, OR ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY THE INFORMATION OR IDEAS CONTAINED, SUGGESTED OR
REFERENCED IN THE GUIDE. YOUR PROMOTION AND PRODUCTION OF IRON GM EVENTS IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO ADVICE OR
INFORMATION, OBTAINED BY YOU ORALLY, IN WRITING, FROM THE NTERNET, THROUGH THE GUIDE OR IN ANY OTHER FASHION SHALL
CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY MADE HEREIN.

10. DUE TO THE FACT THAT CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS DO NOT PERMIT OR RECOGNIZE AN EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR
CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. IF YOU ARE
DISSATISFIED WITH ANY PORTION OF THIS GUIDE, OR WITH ANY OF THESE TERMS OF USE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO
DISCONTINUE USING THIS GUIDE.

11. Y ou agree to indemnify and hold Iron GM, and its Members and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable
attorneys fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of Your use of the Guide, the violation of these Terms of Use by You, or the
infringement by You, or any other user of the Guide or any intellectual property or other right of any person or entity.

12. Iron GM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deny any person or entity access to this Guide, any information herein, or any portion
of this Guide without notice, as well as the right to change the terms, conditions and notices under which this Guide is offered.

13. T his Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of New York. For the resolution of any and all future
dispute related to the present Agreement, including its interpretation, termination or validity of any of its terms or conditions, the parties
hereby voluntarily and expressly submit to the Courts of the State of New York and expressly waive any and all rights to any other forum.

14. T his Terms of Use Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between You, the user, and Iron GM with respect to this Guide, and it
supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral or written with respect to this Guide. A
printed version of this Agreement and of any notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings
based upon or relating to this Agreement to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and
records originally generated and maintained in printed form. Fictitious names of companies, products, people, characters and/or data
mentioned in the Guide are not intended to represent any real individual, company, product or event. Any rights not expressly granted
herein are reserved.

15. All contents of this Guide are Copyright 2011 Iron GM, LLC. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution isprohibited.

4
EVENT ORGANIZER GUIDE
CONTENTS

Welcome to IronGM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Whats in this Guide?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
What is IronGM?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How Does It Work for Me?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
WHAT MATERIALS ARE PLAYERS AND GMS REQUIRED TO BRING? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
WHAT EXPERIENCE LEVEL OF GM IS THIS GEARED FOR? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bare Bones Quick Start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SAMPLE RULES SCRIPT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Some Secret Story Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Hosting an IronGM Event. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
PRE-GAME PREP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ADVANCED ORDER OF EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IRONGM PLAY ENHANCEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the Automated Doohickeys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
HOW TO USE THE EXCEL SEATING CALCULATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
HOW TO USE THE EXCEL SCORING SHEET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Reporting Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
LAST NIGHTS GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
YEAR-TO-DATE LOCAL STANDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Promote Your Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
QUICK START. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Regional Semi-Finals and the World Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THE REGIONAL SEMI-FINALS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
DONT YET HAVE A REGIONAL SEMI-FINAL AT YOUR LOCAL CONVENTION?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
FAQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Who is Organizing the IronGM Competition?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
How to Contact IronGM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

5
Welcome to IronGM
Welcome to IronGM and thanks for downloading this Guide. IronGM is a new way for
players to enjoy their favorite roleplaying games. You may run the IronGM event using
any game system, as often as you like, for free. At IronGM, were serious about growing
the tabletop hobby. We hope youll give this Guide a once over, pick a busy night, and try
IronGM on for size. Hosting is easy, fun, and free.

Whats in this Guide? As youll soon learn, IronGM doesnt end at the local level.
You can send your champion to regional semi-finals to win
The first section of the Guide, What is IronGM? summarizes free trips to Gen Con Indy, where theyll represent your entire
the IronGM event and provides a brief overview of how community in the fight for the IronGM title. The Regional
it works. For those who dont have time to bother with Semi-Finals and the Championship section tells you
the details, a one page Bare Bones Quick Start tells you everything you need to know about how this works and
everything you need to run a bare bones IronGM event. how it benefits local event organizers.
As youll soon learn, IronGM relies on groups of story Last but not least, the Appendices provide you the free
elements. In the Some Secret Story Elements section of marketing material mentioned throughout this guide.
this Guide, weve provided you enough elements for over
half a dozen high-fantasy-themed events. Enough preliminaries! Lets get to it!
On the tournament circuit and at Gen Con Indy, we add a
tremendous number of features to IronGM play that stuff the What is IronGM?
event with laughs and raise the competition to a fever pitch. IronGM is the nationally touring tournament that turns
Weve adapted the best of these tools for your use, and share adventure-making into a competitive sport, puts valuable
the details in the Hosting an IronGM Event section of this product from top publishers in the hands of every player,
document. In the same section, we also explain everything and rewards GMing talent with phenomenal prize packages.
you need to know about scoring an IronGMevent. Game Masters clash in a challenge of wits, stamina and
creative potency. Players reap the fruits of the battle, as GMs
Scores are always better when theyre easy to compile, fight to give the games of their lives.
so weve provided an Excel spreadsheet to make your life
easier. The Using the Automated Score Doohicky section, Local veterans go on to represent their home town at
later in this document, walks you through this time-saver, regional competitions. Regional conventions send their
stepbystep. victors on free trips to Gen Con Indy (hotel, airfare and a 4
day badge) for a shot at the IronGM world title. Winners
Winning is most fun when you get to brag about it. at our Regional Semi-Finals and World Championship walk
Reporting Results suggests a few methods for posting your off with an impressively expensive pile of loot from top
scores, aimed at keeping GMs coming back to check their RPGpublishers.
rankings. We also provide a printable flyer for announcing
the most recent events results and another for displaying
overall GM rankings. How Does It Work for Me?
GMs are randomly assigned to a table of players. Inspired
We really want your event to succeed, so weve included by three Secret Story Elements unveiled at the event, GMs
tips to help you Promote Your Event. This section lists the create an adventure then run it for players. Afterwards,
printable materials included in this Guides appendices, players judge GMs on their performance. GMs have sixty
suggests the most effective ways to use them, and tells you minutes to craft their adventures, while players use the same
how to get even more free stuff to extend the reach of your sixty minutes to build characters. After four hours of thrills,
IronGM event. This section also contains a simple, effective players rate GMs on special scorecards using tournament-
blueprint to follow when promoting your IronGM event. tested criteria. You tally the results in minutes, aided by
Finally, it suggests advanced tactics you might want to try a timesaving score sheet we provide, and announce
tactics that can really raise your profile and drive attendance. thewinners.

6
WHAT MATERIALS ARE PLAYERS AND GMS Bare Bones Quick Start
REQUIRED TO BRING? This Bare Bones Quick Start describes the core steps
Players should bring the core player book for the system necessary to host an IronGM event, but it does not detail all
you choose for your event (in tournament play our default the add-ons that enhance the fun and give the oomph! that
system is the 3.5 SRD), their dice, paper, and a pen or pencil. has made IronGM one of Gen Con Indys premier events.
Everything else is optional.
1. Players seat themselves at the tables you provide. Some
Aside from pre-published adventures or adventures written rules for player seating you should keep in mind:
by anyone other than themselves, we encourage GMs to Number your tables. Scrawling a number on a piece
bring anything they want. Projectors, costumes, every book, of paper is good enough.
no books, soundtracks, dancing bears - whatever the GM Tables should have 4 to 6 players, but not more or less.
thinks will help them win so long as it isnt doesnt violate It is ok encouraged even for friends to sit together.
your event policy or ours. It is NOT ok for a GM to referee for his/her regular
gaming table or a group of friends. GMs should be
WHAT EXPERIENCE LEVEL OF GM IS reffing for unbiased players.
THIS GEARED FOR?
Any level. IronGM measures Game Masters brilliance, not 2. Write the number for each table on a separate scrap
the frequency or complexity of their play. GMs shine when of paper or Hat Number Card (see appendix), and put
they create exciting, original adventures then give players these scraps of paper in a hat or other receptacle.
the game of their lives.
3. Allow each GM to draw a number from the hat. This is
their table. If GMs draws a number for a table at which
any of their friends sit, to keep things fair they should
draw again until finding a friend-free table. Repeat until
The Iron Word About System all GMs have a table.
You may run local IronGM competitions as
often as you like, with any RPG you like, without 4. Explain the basic rules to everyone. Feel free to use your
charge. However, we believe you will find IronGM own words or simply read the provided script below.
best suited to RPGs that feature relatively swift
character generationwhere you can create a 5. Reveal the three Secret Story Elements. To ensure they
reasonably playable character in about an hour are secret, consider not choosing them until just before
and that lend themselves to adventures that you announce. Alternately, roll some d12s and use the
resolve in four hours, the standard for convention corresponding elements trio from the list provided in
and tournament play. When choosing a system Some Secret Story Elements.
for your IronGM event, please keep in mind youll
need a distinct selection of foes from which to pick 6. The game starts! The first hour is for adventure and
a monster Secret Element. character creation. Set a timer for one hour.

At conventions and at Gen Con Indy, IronGMs 7. Ding! First hour down. Instruct GMs and players to stop
Regional Semi-Finals and World Championship prepping and start their games.
run on version 3.5 of the worlds most popular
roleplaying game, by default, and we cull the 8. The adventure continues until the allotted time runs
monster Secret Story Element from the 3.5 System out. Ding! Pencils down. Instruct all games to cease and
Reference Document (SRD). remind GMs they are not allowed to talk to their players
from this point until after the scoring. Ask GMs to leave
Although using the 3.5 SRD or one of its close the room or move to another area.
cousins at your local event is not required, using
it may help train those who aspire to compete at 9. For question one on the scorecard, instruct players to
the IronGM World Championship. write each element in the box provided. Remind them
that Element A goes in the first box, Element B in the
second, and Element C in the third.

7
10. Collect the scorecards from each table as the table
finishes. Scoring will go faster if you keep the scorecards
Some Secret Story Elements
organized by table. Secret Story Elements come in threes. Careful thought goes
into the selection of elements. Please stick with the trios
11. Transpose the results on the cards into the spreadsheet offered, as your players will have less fun if you mix and
found in scoring_calculator.xls, downloadable at match from different columns or rows.
www.irongm.com/dl/scoring_calculator.xls
If you run IronGM every week, the following table lists
10. Call your GMs back and announce the winner. enough high-fantasy Secret Story Elements to hold you for
two months. If you register at http://www.irongm.com/
register-2, well make many more element combinations
SAMPLE RULES SCRIPT available to you before you run out.
This covers all the bases when you explain the IronGM rules
to your attendees:
ELEMENT A ELEMENT B ELEMENT C
In a few moments, Im going to announce this competitions
three Secret Story Elements. Once Ive announced the elements, Bodak Banishment Boudoir
GMs will have one hour to use them to craft their adventures. Beholders Betrayal Bamboo Forest
During that time, players, you will have one hour to create your Rakshasas Redemption River Rapids
characters.
Minotaurs Misappropriation Magma Fields
Heres the catch: From the moment I announce the last element Frost Giants Flashbacks Funeral
until we tell you to start your adventures, GMs, you may only Wyvern Wanton Lust Wedding
say verbally say exactly three words to your group before Mohrg Mistaken Identity Mineshaft
they start making characters. Three words no more. For example,
a GM can say All fighter dwarves, but you cannot say, All high Lamia Last stand Lapidarium
level characters. Thats four words. (best define it
for everyone the
When the time is up, Ill announce pencils down. GMs must stop room)
the adventure immediately and not say another word to your
players. GMs then leave the table and wait [INSERT WHERE TO
GO]. Players, after the GMs leave youll fill out your scorecards.
Well have some additional instructions for you before you do.

Okay, everyone got all that? GMs?


*wait for acknowledgement* The Iron Word About Seating
Technically, you can choose to have fewer than
If youre comfortable with hamming it up, and if your four players at each table, or even more than six.
location allows you to make some noise, consider adding: However, be aware that when table populations
are too disparate, it unbalances the game and
I cant hear you! introduces inaccuracy into scoring. The best
*induce yelling, whooping and stomping as desired* solution is to only have two seating sizes, differing
only by one player. For example, if four players
Players? I cant hear you! is the most common table size, the other tables
should have three or five, but not six. While we
have addressed and eliminated this issue in official
tournament play, the scoring difference between
four judges and six judges in local play sometimes
proves too large. More about this in The Iron Word
on Scoring sidebar and the Using the Automated
Doohickeys section, later in this Guide.

8
Hosting an IronGM Event
Putting just a little more into IronGM than the Bare Bones
Quick Start pays your investment back in multiples of
greater enjoyment for your customers. The more show you
bring, the more gamers will talk and return to play again.
Taking IronGM to the next level is still easy, and its still free.
In this section we share some of the lessons weve learned
running IronGM at conventions across the country.

PRE-GAME PREP
Number Your Tables
IronGM assigns GMs to tables randomly by pulling table
numbers out of a hat. Number each of your tables clearly and
place a corresponding number in your hat, box, or whatever
you want to make GMs reach into before the game begins.
Weve provided printable Table Number Cards and matching
Hat Number Cards for your convenience at the end of
thisGuide.

Number of Players
The number of people playing IronGM is only limited by the
number of GMs competing and the available space. Weve
found that four players for every GM works well for most RPG
systems, but more than six does not.

Print Scorecards
Before your IronGM event, print enough scorecards for every
player you expect to attend. Then print 10 more.

ADVANCED ORDER OF EVENTS


Seat Players
1. Seat players while GMs are being interviewed Seating at IronGM is simple: allow players to sit anywhere
(see Interview GMs below for details on this step) they like, preferably four to five per table. Combine tables to
2. Introduce GMs and then randomly assign tables even out the number of players at each table. In the unusual
event that more than six players wish to play together,
3. Explain the IronGM rules
politely request that one or more move to a different table.
4. Announce the three Secret Story Elements
5. Allow three words then activate the Rule of Silence When GMs first arrive at your event, have them stand a little
off to the side. Dont let them take seats yet because their
6. GMs create adventures, while players create characters seating will be decided randomly later on.
7. GMs run their games
8. Intermission In an ideal world most of the tables will have the same
number of players, while only one table holds either one
9. GMs continue their games more or one less player than the rest of the tables. Get the
10. Game over. Pencils down zip it, GMs! seating as close as you can and dont worry too much about
it. You may download a simple spreadsheet that quickly
11. GMs leave the table and players vote
calculates the optimal number of players per table at
12. Compile scores www.irongm.com/dl/seating_calculator.xls
13. GMs return and the victor is announced

9
Interview GMs 2. Take your stack of interview cards and ask the GM on the
Part of the humor and fun of introducing GMs stems from top card to step forward. If the GM is a prior winner at
reading aloud their answers to a short interview. While your location, consider including their local title. A GMs
players seat themselves, hand competing GMs an index local title is [INSERT YOUR LOCATION OR EVENT NAME]
card with a few questions on it and ask them to fill it out. Iron Ranked GM [INSERT GM NAME]; for example Game
Collect the cards when they are finished. At a minimum the Citadel Iron Ranked GM Big Bad Daddy!
questions should include: Once the GM steps forward, read off the questions and
answers on the index card. Feel free to comment on
1. Whats your GM name? answers as you go the funnier the better.
2. Whats your home town? (Players may travel to your 3. When finished, hold out the hat or receptacle of choice
event to compete or play) and ask the GM to draw a number. This is the table at
3. How many years have you been a GM? which the GM will eventually sit. Ask the GM if any of the
players at his or her chosen table are friends. If that is
4. Why are you going to win tonight? (Encourage bold, the case, to keep things fair ask the contestant to draw
outrageous smack-talk answers) again. If the GM has friends at every table, the players
Feel free to add any questions you think will return a themselves may need to switch tables so that at least
humorous response or supply fodder for good-natured one table is friend-free.
mockery. Just keep in mind that every question adds time to 4. Announce the table number and ask that table to make
your GM introductions and budget accordingly. some noise so the GM knows where they are sitting.
Dont allow the GM to go to the table just yet.
Weve provided sample cards and questions for you at the
end of this Guide, similar to what we use in tournament play. 5. Ask the GM to step back. Do not place the table number
back in the hat.
Introduce GMs and Randomly Assign Tables 6. Put the GMs question card at the back of thedeck.
The process for introducing GMs and assigning tables is
simple. The real purpose of introductions is to rev up the Repeat steps 2-6 for each GM, until youve introduced
energy levels, build humor and excitement, and set the tone themall.
of your IronGM event. Here are the steps:

1. Place a numbered scrap of paper (or a Hat Number


Card) in a hat, box or other receptacle one number for
each table.

10
It sounds more complicated than it is:
The Iron Word About Timeframes
Without further ado, lets introduce our competitors. Those We talk a lot about 60 minutes for this, 30 minutes for
whom YOU are here to judge that, or four hours of gaming. These are our defaults,
the lengths of time we use in tournament play at
*host grabs the first GM info card in stack* conventions. We recognize they may not be the best
times for running your event. Please take them with a
Our first competitor is [INSERT LOCAL TITLE IF APPLICABLE] GM grain of salt and adjust to fit your needs. For example,
[INSERT HANDLE]. heres one possible schedule that reduces the overall
length of the event from the default.
*GM runs out or steps forward*
1. Introduction 15 minutes
Hailing from [INSERT HOME TOWN] with over [INSERT YEARS 2. Skip the GM introductions. Instead, have GMs pick
GAMING] under the belt. tables from the hat and sit immediately.
3. Announce the Secret Story Elements once all
When asked why hes going to win today, s/he replied, [FILL IN GMssit.
BLANK]!
4. Create adventures and characters 30 minutes
*host offers hat, box, or what-have-you containing table 5. Run the adventure 3 hours
numbers to GMs*
6. No intermission
GM, choose your table! 7. Fill out and collect scorecards 15 minutes
8. Compile results and announce winners
*GM picks and host reads number* 15minutes

Table [X]! Where are you table [X]?! Clamor for your GM!
Announce yourselves. Make some noise! GMs - from the moment I announce the last element until your
one hour is up and we tell you to start gaming, you are not
GM, do you know those people? Are they your friends? allowed to say anything to your players except exactly three
words. Say exactly three words and no more before your players
*host repeats for each GM then points to all of them* start making characters. For exampleyou can say All fighter
dwarves, but you cannot say, All high level characters. Again,
Ladies and Gentlemen our competitors! you are only allowed to say three words.

*host waits for applause* Now our default game system for todays event is [INSERT
SYSTEM NAME].

Explain the Rules (OPTIONAL: Should you choose to include an intermission and
Before announcing the three Secret Story Elements, the Player Olympics Play Enhancement, add in some version of
its imperative that you explain the rules so everyone the following: Other than that, [INSERT TIMEFRAME] into your
understands. The Rules script provided in the Bare Bones adventure well take a break of 15 minutes for PlayerOlympics!)
Quick Start is the stripped down version of what we use for
the IronGM Championship at Gen Con Indy. Weve repeated Does everyone understand the rules? Good
the full version here for your convenience. Feel free to read
this aloud or wing it as desired. If you decided to add any IronGM Play Enhancements
(described later in this document), be sure to add to the
Lets talk about how this works. In a few moments, Im going above script and describe them here. Experience has taught
to announce this events three Secret Story Elements. Once Ive us that when changing up the rules No surprises! is the
announced these elements, GMs have one hour to use each of best mantra. To help you add one of our Play Enhancements
them to craft an adventure. During that time, players, you have to your event, in the IronGM Play Enhancements section
one hour to create your characters. Now heres the catch. of this Guide we provide a short rules script with each
entrys description. Just add those on to the end of your
rules explanation and youre good to go.

11
Announce the Elements Allow GMs to Speak Three Words then Activate the
Its always fun to make a big deal out of this moment. Rule of Silence
Depending on the layout of your space, consider telling GMs Permit GMs to say three words and three words only to
to Rev their engines and get ready to run for theirtables their players. There are many ways around this restriction. Will
A drum roll doesnt hurt or some exhilarating music if they write notes? Mime, play charades, or use sign language?
youre set up for that. At conventions we frequently employ Draw pictures? Hand out pre-written letters?
alluring models to sashay the elements to us, enclosed in
an attractive and glittering envelope. We make a big show Weve found the best way to police this rule is to walk
of unsealing the envelope and reading the elements aloud. between the tables and gently remind any GMs found
For maximum thrills, the PA pounds out original music and exceeding their three word limit not to talk.
sound effects. GMs dash madly to their tables, our light show
flaring about them. The point of the Three Word Rule is three-fold. To begin with,
it increases the time it takes for GMs to communicate to their
Read out the three Secret Story Elements with a flourish, players. Every moment spent communicating is a moment
pausing dramatically between each. Once youve not spent creating an adventure, and the pressure is telling.
announced the third element, quickly instruct the GMs to As a result, the pace of communications tends toward the
race to their tables. frantic, adding energy to the event. This rule also limits what
GMs can communicate and what information they can
Does everyone understand the rules? Good gather, creating more of a challenge for GMs who must intuit
their players adventuring preferences. Lastly the Three Word
Then without further ado, todays three Secret Story Elements Rule invites misunderstandings between players and the GM,
are drum roll please often resulting in randomly hilarious mismatches that force
GMs to adjust on the fly. These are the moments from which
*host waits for table drum roll, slowly opens an envelope or pulls legends are born games discussed for weeks and months
out a sheet of paper with the elements, pauses and reads aloud to come.
the three elements*
GMs Create Adventures While Players Create
GMs to your tables! Characters
For exactly 60 minutes after announcing the three Secret
*having heard the elements, the GMs rush to their tables* Story Elements, GMs create adventures and players create
characters. When the 60 minutes are up announce, Pencils
The game has begun! down. GMs start running your adventures!

Start a timer. Exactly 60 minutes from now, GMs must


stop creating adventures and players must stop
creatingcharacters.

The Iron Word About Scoring


The downloadable scoring spreadsheet takes the scores each player gave their GM and averages them.
It then averages all the players average scores to arrive at a final number. This average of averages is a
simple but reasonable scoring system.

However if you have tables with different numbers of players, it may, in certain rare circumstances,
slightly benefit a GM with more players at his or her table. Consequently, should the first, second, or
third place scores be less than .62 apart, and you find the higher scoring GM has more players at her
table, we recommend declaring a tie. For example, John has a score of 4.6 and 5 players at his table.
Mary has a score of 4.9 and 6 players at her table. Consider this a tie. Of course, the same exact score is
always a tie. See the Hot Premise Tie-Breaker (below) to learn how to handle a tie.

At the Regional Semi-Final and World Championship tournament events, the scoring system
used by IronGM introduces layers of sophistication that eliminate this problem and control for
additionalfactors.

12
GMs Run Their Games
This is the heads down part of the event. Adventures unfold.
GMs strive to deliver the best games theyve ever run. Player
Characters live and die. During IronGM tournament play,
we enhance this part of the event with all the IronGM Play
Enhancements. If you have the staff, space, or inclination,
please consider introducing one of more of these to yourevent.

Intermission
If GMs run adventures longer than 3 hours at your event, we
recommend introducing a 15 minute intermission at the
halfway mark. For example, if you plan to allow GMs to run
their adventures for 4 hours (our tournament default), then
at the end of the second hour of adventure play announce
an intermission. During intermission its pencils down for
everyone. GMs may not talk to players about the adventure.
People have a chance to stretch their legs, buy a soda, or
use the bathroom. In tournament play at conventions, we
enhance the Intermission with Player Olympics (see the
IronGM Play Enhancements section for more details).
Consider adding Player Olympics to your IronGM event.

GMs Continue their Games


Announce the coming end of Intermission five minutes
before the clock runs out. At the end of the Intermission, the
games resume.

Game Over
As the clock runs down, announce the time remaining at
the 15 minute, 10 minute, 5 minute and 2 minute warning
marks. In addition to giving GMs time to wrap up their
adventures key to ensuring players leave satisfied weve GMs Leave the Table and Players Vote
found the countdown adds pressure and excitement to the Ask the GMs to leave their tables, remaining silent as they go,
final moments, bolstering the energy in the room. and to remove themselves to an appropriate spot that you
designate. Weve found that the presence of the GM sitting
Once the clock runs out, its pencils down zip it GMs! silently and hopefully at the table during scoring makes players
Wander through the tables and gently remind GMs not to uncomfortable and slants the scoring.
speak to players. Over the years weve found that some GMs
just cant stop themselves from adding an additional line to Once the GMs have left the table vicinity, get a scorecard
the adventure or even outright asking their players for high to each player. Remind them about the key rule for judging
scores. Such behavior can introduce inaccuracy into the honesty. Remind them not to put their names on their
scoring and should be discouraged in the name of fairness. scorecards. IronGM scoring is anonymous.

At tournaments we use this script or one like it to signal Consider a version of the script we use at tournaments to get
pencils down and to instruct GMs: the scoring started:

Game over. Stop what youre doing or be disqualified and Scorecards are coming around. Your true opinion while judging
ridiculed. Pencils down people. Stop. Game over. GMs, say ensures that only the best GM becomes Iron Ranked. IronGMs
nothing more to your players, gather your stuff and make your integrity depends wholly on your complete honesty. If you have
way to the [INSERT DESIGNATED SPOT] while we tally your results. any questions about the scorecard raise your hand at any time and
The sooner you get out of here the sooner your table can vote -- someone will come to answer it for you.
they will adore you for your speed in this matter. Vamanos!
*pass out scorecards*
*last GM leaves*

13
Compile Scores
Compiling scores is as easy as copying them from the Now gamers Id love to be able to announce a winner, but we
scorecards to the scoring spreadsheet, available at temporarily suffer from a tie between two equally matched titans.
http://irongm.com/dl/scoring_calculator.xls These two competitors will have only three minutes to battle it out
in a tie-breaking showdown. The two GMs tied for first place are
Call back the GMs and Announce the Victor
*host announces tied GMs, hands each of them a Tie-Breaker
When youve entered the scores and determined your
Sheet on which to record their adventure premise, and gives each
winners, call back the GMs. Weve found it builds more
player but not loitering GMs a blank scrap of paper *
excitement to line them up facing the players and then read
off the winners, starting with third place. Consider a script
We now enter our Hot Premise Tie-Breaker round. GMs, your
like the following:
results in this special event will represent your final ranking at
IronGM tonight. Heres how it works. Im going to give you three
In third placeGM [INSERT 3rd PLACE WINNER]! Congratulations!
new Secret Story Elements, and you have exactly three minutes
to turn these three Elements into an adventure idea. Write a
Second place belongs to GM [INSERT 2nd PLACE WINNER]!
summary of the adventure you would create with these Elements,
Way to go! Give him/her a hand!
if you had the time. This summary is your HotPremise.
And finally the winner of tonights event, the game master
GMs, you can look at any books or PDFs except other authors
whose magnificent skills light their name with glory, I give you
published adventures, but you may not go online. Once 180
IRON RANKED GM [INSERT NAME]!
seconds are up, put your pencils down and hand your sheets to
me. Ill then read your premise aloud to everyone here, and you
The Hot Premise Tie-Breaker
players will vote on which adventure premise youd most like to
In the rare event of a tie, weve devised a quick, fun way to play by writing down the name of the GM whose premise you
break a tie the Hot Premise Tie-Breaker. prefer on that slip of paper we handed you. You may write only
one name: either [GM NAME 1] or [GMNAME2]
To conduct a Hot Premise Tie-Breaker hand a Tie-Breaker
Sheet to each GM and a slip of scrap paper to each player. Well tally the results, and the GM whose Hot Premise gets the
A Tie-Breaker Sheet is included in the appendices. Next, most votes wins. Got it?
announce three new Secret Story Elements and give GMs
exactly 3 minutes to craft an original and compelling GMs since I have to read your premises aloud, we, the
adventure premise the description of an adventure that establishment, thank you in advance for writing legibly.
appears on the back of the printed product. Once 180
seconds are up, its pencils down for the tied GMs. Are you ready? The three new Elements for your hot adventure
premise are [Elements X, Y, and Z], and your three minutes
Collect the Tie-Breaker Sheets and read aloud each GMs begin NOW!
premise to the room. Players write the name of the GM who
penned the premise theyd most prefer to play if it were a *Exactly three minutes pass*
finished adventure.
Pencils down! Times up! Hand me your Hotness.
If a GMs handwriting is poor, feel free to have some fun
at the GMs expense, although not too much. You dont Players, listen close. Once again, YOU are the judge. Hear these
want to sway the room and sabotage a contestants score, two tales of [Elements X, Y, and Z] and write down the name of
inadvertently. Its important that the host reads both the GMs whose adventure premise youd most like to play. First up,
premises and reads them in a calm, even manner, as this we have [GM NAME 1s] premise
prevents GMs from verbally embellishing what they wrote
down on the Tie-Breaker sheet. *host reads [GM NAME 1s] premise aloud*

The winner of this tie-breaker wins the IronGM event. For Next we have [GM NAME 2s] premise
example (the script below pertains to a tie between two
competitors. If three or more have tied, youll have to adjust *host reads [GM NAME 2s] premise aloud*
it accordingly):
Now players cast your votes and well come around to
* host announces the third place finisher.* collectthem.

*host tallies votes*

14
If I dont say your name, congratulations on nabbing second Necklace of Mighty Rolling
place. But the winner of IronGM [ADD NAME OF EVENT The Necklace of Mighty Rolling is an enhancement to your
LOCATION], the game master whose magnificent skills has lit their IronGM event that accompanies a roll of a natural twenty (or
name with glory, I give you IRON RANKED GM [INSERT NAME]! other critical success roll, as determined by your system). To
enhance IronGM with the Necklace of Mighty Rolling, after a
IRONGM PLAY ENHANCEMENTS player rolls a critical success (like a natural 20), have their table
Weve experimented with many ways to add excitement to roar Banzai! and possibly receive a pelting by the Dice of Doom
our IronGM events. In this section, we share a few of them (see below). After the Banazi, staff members hang a colorful
with you. The enhancements help create a more fun, more necklace of dice around the players neck. Its that simple, but
energetic, louder game, but they may not all work for either it consistently delights players. The second half of game play is
your location or personal preferences. often more combat oriented, and if you add this Enhancement
its easy to find yourself bestowing more necklaces than
The following are the things we do to enhance play at our anticipated; so we recommend having at least four necklaces in
event. If you invent something new, please contact us and stock for every person attending your IronGM event.
let us know. Wed love to hear about how youre growing and
evolving IronGM! IronGM LLC orders these necklaces quite inexpensively at:
1. Modifying the Rule of Silence http://www.mardigrasoutlet.com/catalog/624.html

2. Necklace of Mighty Rolling Just so you know, we do not own stock in nor do we receive
3. The Dice of Doom a commission on sales of beads through Mardi Gras Outlet.
4. Intermission and Player Olympics
Dice of Doom
Modifying the Rule of Silence The Dice of Doom are baseball to softball size plushie d20s
bounced harmlessly off the backs of players and GMs who
The rule just before adventure creation is Three words
roll a natural 20 or other game-specific critical success. At
then the Rule of Silence descends, which still allows
our cons we hire professional models to chuck the Dice
GMs to frantically write messages or use hand signals to
ofDoom.
communicate with players. This achieves the events design
goals of pressurizing play, creating challenge, increasing fun
and its how we play IronGM at our Regional Semi-Finals
and a the World Championship at Gen Con Indy. A Word about Die Chucking Technique
Dont ever wing anything at a customer full force.
However, there are fun ways to vary this rule without No one likes getting beaten up, and the intention is
violating the principles on which it operates. For example to amuse the players by softly hitting them with the
Three words, then the Rule of Silence descends, unless you Dice of Doom, not to fuel a lawsuit. When tossing Dice
are actively hopping up and down on one leg then you of Doom its best to strike the target in the back in
can talk all you want. such a way that the die rebounds in a straight, slightly
downward trajectory. This avoids deflected dice
Here are a few ideas you might want to try out: heading into the air and possibly landing in the middle
of a tableful of miniatures thats more distraction
RULE UNLESS and annoyance than you want.
Three words, then Hop up and down on one leg. You
the Rule of Silence can talk all you like while doing so.
descends The moment you stop hopping
Intermission and Player Olympics
or your up leg hits the ground,
whichever occurs first, no more Intermission is an important break from the game if only
communication of any kind until to use the bathroom and purchase snacks. Please announce
the adventure starts. the coming intermission with five minutes left before tables
are halfway through their adventures, and warn them again
Three words, then Unless you talk in Pig Latin.
at the two minute warning mark.
the Rule of Silence Say anything you like in Pig Latin.
descends
Three words, then Unless you say all your sentences
the Rule of Silence backwards. Speak all the backwards
descends sentences you like.

15
At an IronGM event with 4 hour adventures, we use the players until you have a winner. If the audience meter for two
following script (or one like it) to announce intermission: players is too close to call, its time for a showdown. Have the
remaining competitors bawl their dragon calls once again
*just before tables have been gaming for 2 hours* and test the applause meter a second time. If a winner is still
unclear, declare a tie and ask for applause all around.
Five minutes until Player Olympics followed by a 15 minute
break. Five minutes! For online samples of a genuine hog and husband calling
contest, take a look at http://www.youtube.com/
*3 minutes pass* watch?v=uVcVSEa_Ooo

Two minutes until Player Olympics followed by a 15 minute


break. Two minutes! Using the Automated Doohickeys
Weve developed a few simple Excel tools to make hosting
*2 minutes pass* IronGM even easier. To use them youll need Microsoft Excel.
In both spreadsheets, you enter data into green boxes, and
Pencils down. Everyone stop. Stop gaming. Here begins dont touch the numbers in not-green boxes.
Player Olympics! Tables, please nominate one person from your
table to come up here and play [INSERT GAME FROM PLAYER HOW TO USE THE EXCEL SEATING CALCULATOR
OLYMPICSLIST]! Purpose: H  elps hosts solve the problem of odd numbers of
GMs and players
Player Olympics File Name: seating_calculator.xls
Player Olympics are optional, light-hearted competitions Download Link:
providing a break from the intensity of the IronGM http://irongm.com/dl/seating_calculator.xls
experience. They also give players, some of whom may be
strangers, a further opportunity to bond. In 2010 we ran Step 1: Enter the number of GMs and players attending in
two Player Olympic events during Intermission: Monster the green boxes on lines 1.1 and 1.2.
Charades and Dragon Calling. Step 2: Look at the results on 2.1 2.4

Monster Charades There are two ways to accommodate an odd number of GMs
Monster Charades is run by a staff member, dubbed the and players: the first is to add GMs or players, and the second
Monster Maven, for a group of players comprised of one is to accept that some of your tables will have more players
person from each IronGM table. Ask each table to send the than others.
player most well-versed in monster lore to the front of the
room. Once the players assemble, explain the game and Add
introduce the Monster Maven. Next, the Monster Maven Line 2.1 tells you how many GMs you need to add, in order
mimes a monster from the events core rules until one of to place the same number of players at every table. Dont be
the players guesses correctly. Its handy to have a list of pre- afraid to ask a player to step up and become a GM. While the
selected monsters on hand, as this prepares the Monster rule against GMing for your friends means you may need to
Maven to mime his/her way through the list; especially if do some shuffling when a player becomes a GM, sometimes
players prove particularly talented at the event. We suggest asking players proves just the trick to even out the seating.
playing Monster Charades for approximately half the length If this number on line 2.1 is fractional, just adding GMs wont
of your intermission. You can find rules for Charades on solve your problem.
Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades
Line 2.2 tells you how many players to add to your existing
Dragon Calling number of tables to have the same number of players at
Dragon Calling is like Hog Calling or Husband Calling at a every table. This number of players wont always be available,
county fair, except players attempt to imitate a dragon in but if you have additional players, this line tells you how
heat, summoning a mate. Ask each table to send one of many more you will need. If the number on line 2.2 is
their loudest players to the front of the room. By now earlier fractional, just adding players wont solve your problem.
calls of Banzai! should make choosing this person simple.
Once the players assemble, explain the game and ask the Mixed
first person to imitate a Dragon in heat into a microphone Line 2.3 and 2.4 tell you that you can also solve the problem
if you have one. After all the players bellow their imitations, by having a certain number of tables with X players and a
hold your hand above the competitors heads in succession, certain number of tables with X+1 players (for example 2
asking for applause to indicate audience approval. Eliminate tables with 5 players and 5 tables with 6 players).

16
HOW TO USE THE EXCEL SCORING SHEET Promote Your Event
Purpose: Speeds up scoring of IronGM events
File Name: scoring_calculator.xls QUICK START
Download Link:
Youve decided to host an IronGM event. Youve got your
http://irongm.com/dl/scoring_calculator.xls
location ready to go, dates and times set, and staff lined
up. Here are some things you can do to drive interest in
The Excel scoring calculator contains two worksheets called
yourevent:
SCORING and RESULTS. You enter competing GMs numbers
into the SCORING tab and you find out who wins on the The IronGM calendar: If youre a registered event
RESULTS tab.
organizer on http://www.irongm.com, you can
submit information about your upcoming IronGM
To use the Excel scoring sheet, follow these steps:
event via the Events section of our website. Simply
input the dates and times, the location and address,
Step 1: On the SCORING tab enter the name of every tables
and any other pertinent information. Well add your
GM into the green boxes marked GM NAME 1, GM
event to our calendar.
NAME 2, etc.
Facebook Events: If you have a Facebook account,
Step 2: After collecting the paper scorecards from the table,
there is a default Events app attached to your page,
enter the rating each GM received from each player
which you can use. You can create an event and then
for each question on the scorecard. Overwrite any
invite your friends to attend. Facebook events not
numbers already on the spreadsheet. There is a 1
only allow you to spread the word to Facebook users,
already typed into the first cell of any unused GM
they also populate Plancast (www.plancast.com),
slots. Please leave it there. For example, this tool
a popular social network centered on events and
accommodates up to 16 GMs. If you only have 10
socialactivities.
GMs, leave the number 1 already entered in the first
cells for GMs 11-16. Flyers: If you are hosting your IronGM event at a
local game store, place flyers in the window, near
Step 3: Click on the RESULTS tab. The Results Table appears.
the register, and/or in the bags of customers as they
The event winner is highlighted in pale red with
makepurchases.
redletters.
Posters: This option also works great at local game
Optional: To sort the competitors on the Results table, click
stores. Put an IronGM event poster in the RPG section,
on the down arrow to the right of the word Score in column
at the register, and on the inside of the door (so
C on the RESULTS tab. Select Sort Largest to Smallest. The
people see it as they are leaving). At a convention
scores appear in order with the winner at the top.
or similar event, put the poster near the event
registration desk.
Reporting Results
Game Finders: There are a number of RPG-centric
LAST NIGHTS GAME game finders on the internet. Pen & Paper Games
(www.penandpapergames.com) is one of the
To advertise the results of your IronGM event, fill out the Last more popular sites. List your event there, and people
Nights Game flyer located at the end of this Guide and print who live in your area will see it. Contact the site
it. Stick it on the wall or in a window where everyone can administrator, and she/he might prove willing to send
stop by and check it out. an email to all P&PG users who live in your area as well
(for a fee).
YEAR-TO-DATE LOCAL STANDINGS
The simple way to calculate Year-to-Date standings is Publisher Relations: Speak with the publisher of the
take the average of the scores each competitor earned game youre using for your IronGM event. Ask them
competing at every IronGM event you hosted this year. Fill to post on their blog, forums and social networks
out and print the Year to Date Rankings flyer and post it. about your event.

17
Twitter Tags: If you have a Twitter account, post
information about your event and use an appropriate
FAQ
tag. For instance, if youre in Chicago use the #chicago Is hosting IronGM really free, or are there hidden costs?
tag so that people looking for something to do in There are no hidden costs. You could always spend money
Chicago will see your event. on enhancements or prizes if you like, but thats totally up to
you. Your only costs are the paper and ink needed to print
Double Duty: Consider handing out the discounts out some score sheets and a flyer or two.
and promotions you already plan to offer customers
as prizes to GMs or players when they turn in their Is IronGM fun and will my players actually like it?
scorecards. If youre going to offer certain discounts Hundreds of players come back year after year for this event.
and promotions anyway, why not use them to They whoop and stomp. Weve seen many people stand up
help draw crowds by offering them as prizes? Just on their chairs and even seen some strip near naked. No, really.
suggesting a prize for the winner and maybe prizes Enthusiasm is never in short supply. Try it for yourself and let
for the Player Olympics winners might be enough to us know whether or not you and your customers hadfun.
significantly increase attendance.
What materials are players required to bring?
Players should bring the core player rulebook for your system
Regional Semi-Finals and the World of choice, their dice, paper and a pen or pencil. Everything
else is optional. As mentioned earlier, aside from pre-
Championship published adventures or adventures written by anyone other
than themselves, GMs are encouraged to bring anything
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THE REGIONAL SEMI- they want. Projectors, costumes, every book, no books,
FINALS? soundtracks - whatever the GM thinks will help them so long
The short answer is you should care about Regional Semi- as it doesnt violate your event policy or ours.
Finals because the Regional Semi-Finals care about you. If
you hold your IronGM event at a local store, conventions What experience level of GM is this geared for?
can help you draw more customers. Different conventions Any level. IronGM measures Game Master brilliance, not
offer different levels of support. Depending on the cross- frequency or complexity of play. GMs shine when they create
promotional opportunities available near you, local exciting, original adventures then give their players the game
conventions may offer free badges, hotel discounts or other of their lives.
prizes with which you may entice players to come and play.
Can I really run IronGM for any RPG game system?
This two-way street helps all concerned: the more local Weve found IronGM works well for most systems. All thats
conventions benefit from a marketing presence at your really required is that it supports GM-designed adventures
location, the more people attend the local convention. and has monsters or a distinct selection of other foes. RPGs
The more people in your area that care about your local that do away with the GM entirely or do not have enough
convention and about the IronGM Regional Semi-final unique opponents to serve as one of the Secret Elements are
offered at it, the more attendance youll see at your next probably not appropriate for this event. Other than that, you
IronGM event and in your store. can play IronGM with whatever RPG you like. However, at
Regional Semi-Finals and at the IronGM Championship we
Check in at www.irongm.com for more details on use the 3.5 SRD.
conventions near you. Please check frequently the list
grows and changes all the time. Which conventions host IronGM Regional Semi-Finals?
Check in at www.irongm.com for more details on
DONT YET HAVE A REGIONAL SEMI-FINAL AT YOUR conventions near you.
LOCAL CONVENTION?
Do all Regional Iron Contenders get to go to Gen Con
Contact us at info@irongm.com with any suggestions you Indy for free?
may have. Well jump right on it and contact any convention Yes. Thats a requirement we impose on conventions who
near you that meets our criteria. Looking for the closest host our Regional Semi-Finals. If a convention cannot or will
IronGM Regional Semi-Final? Check www.irongm.com to not send their victor to compete for the IronGM title at Gen
find what youre looking for. Con Indy, they cannot host an IronGM Regional.

How can IronGM bring customers into my store?


Players may attend out of competitive spirit. They may come

18
to support a friend. They may come for the game of their
lives and the sheer blast of entertainment.
How to Contact IronGM
IronGM LLC
How do I advertise this event? PO Box 386
See the Event Promotion Quick Start. DuPont, WA 98327

How do I register? info@irongm.com


Go to www.irongm.com and set up an account, checking the (253) 777-0296
box that says youre an event organizer. Thats it, youredone.
Website: www.irongm.com
If I register will you share my private information with Facebook: www.facebook.com/IronGM
third parties? YouTube: www.youtube.com/irongm
No. Period.

Who is Organizing the IronGM Appendix A:


Competition? Scorecards
Iron GM, LLC aka Lou Agresta and Rone Barton. Interview Cards
Scorecards
Lou Agresta Tie-Breaker Sheets
Table Number Tents
Lou Agrestas freelance credits include work for Paizo Table Number Cards
Publishing, 0onegames, LPJ Designs, Goodman Games, Hat Number Cards
Super Genius Games, and Gaming Paper. Lou is Chief
Scribbler over at the RPGAggression blog and sometime
guest of Atomic Array, appearing as Cthu-Lou. Appendix B:
Rone Barton Marketing and Promotional Pieces
Both a gold ENnie Award winning podcaster and author, Announcement Poster
who has written, edited or developed for RPG companies Upcoming Event Flyer
such as TSR, 0one Games, Goodman Games, Reality Deviants Registration Form
Press, and the video game company Haemimont Games. He Last Nights Game Flyer
co-hosts the award winning Atomic Array podcast and the Year to Date Rankings Flyer
RPG Countdown podcast.

Graphic Design by Tiara Lynn Agresta


www.tiarala.com tagresta@gmail.com

19
www.irongm.com
APPENDIX A
Interview Cards Print on Avery 5388 Index Cards

GM INTERVIEW

1. Whats your real name? ___________________________________________

2. Whats your GM name? ___________________________________________

3. Whats your home town? _________________________________________

4. How many years have you been a GM?_______________________________

5. Why are you going to win tonight? _________________________________


"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU

GM INTERVIEW

1. Whats your real name? ___________________________________________

2. Whats your GM name? ___________________________________________

3. Whats your home town? _________________________________________

4. How many years have you been a GM?_______________________________

5. Why are you going to win tonight? _________________________________



"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU

GM INTERVIEW

1. Whats your real name? ___________________________________________

2. Whats your GM name? ___________________________________________

3. Whats your home town? _________________________________________

4. How many years have you been a GM?_______________________________

5. Why are you going to win tonight? _________________________________


"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU
Interview Cards Print on Avery 5388 Index Cards

Write Your
HOT PREMISE Hot Adventure Premise Here!
TIE-BREAKER

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU

Write Your
HOT PREMISE Hot Adventure Premise Here!
TIE-BREAKER

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU

Write Your
HOT PREMISE Hot Adventure Premise Here!
TIE-BREAKER

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU
IRON GM Local:
________________________
SCORECARDS

Table #: _____________ GM Name: ____________________________

INSTRUCTIONS
Rate your GM on a scale from 1 to 5. A one (1) means your GM blew chunks. A five (5) means your GM
rocked the table.

DID YOUR GM MAKE ORIGINAL USE OF ALL THE INGREDIENTS?


1. No. The GM was entirely derivative with all ingredients. I cant believe I paid for this.
2. Unoriginal with most ingredients.
3. Some original use of some ingredients.
4. Original use of most ingredients.
5. Exceptionally original with all ingredients. The GM blew my mind.

HOW RULES SAVVY WAS YOUR GM?


1. My GM had their face in a rulebook the entire time.
2. My GM seemed distracted trying to remember the rules.
3. My GM was at ease and confident with the rules.
4. My GM was never flummoxed or even slowed by the rules.
5. My GM so mastered the rules they didnt even seem to exist.

WAS YOUR GAME EXCITING?


1. I feel sleepy. Snore.
2. Not really.
3. It was exciting enough I want to retell the story to others.
4. This game held some hugely exciting moments.
5. A thrill ride from start to finish!

HOW IMPORTANT DID YOUR GM MAKE YOU FEEL?


1. Im not even sure my GM actually made eye contact with me.
2. My ideas were frequently rejected and undeservedly so.
3. I felt important enough to have fun.
4. Very. My GM let me try anything and rejected no reasonable offer.
5. I felt epic and my characters actions helped shape legend itself!

WAS YOUR GM IRON?


1. No. Is there a prize for Tin GM?
2. Almost. Fantastic skills, but needs more time in the oven.
3. Yes the greatest!


"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU'30/5
SCORECARDS

EXHORTATION TO INTEGRITY
Your true opinion while judging ensures that only the best GM receives the accolades and glory they
deserve. Iron GMs integrity depends wholly on your complete honesty. Please dont let us no
dont let gaming down.

DISCLAIMER AND RELEASE


By filling out this form, you agree to allow your event organizer to aggregate your scores, as recorded
on the reverse side of this sheet, with other like scores and display them in aggregate in a manner,
place and time at the sole discretion of your event organizer. Neither Iron GM LLC, nor its affiliates,
agents, or licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any claim, loss, or injury, including death
or personal injury, arising out of your participation in any Iron GM game or event, whether or not
such event is hosted, directly or indirectly, by IRON GM LLC. IRON GM LLC shall not be liable to you
or anyone else for any damages, including direct damages. This provision excludes any liability for,
without limitation, consequential, special, incidental, indirect, or similar damages; whether or not you
were advised beforehand of the possibility of such damages. You agree that the liability of IRON GM
LLC, if any, arising out of any kind of legal claim in any way connected to any Iron GM Local game or
event shall not exceed the amount you paid to IRON GM LLC to participate in such game or event.
2010 Iron GM. All rights reserved. and TM denote trademarks owned by Iron GM, LLC and/or its
subsidiaries, licensees, or other companies, both affiliated and non-affiliated.

To learn more about Iron GMs Regional Semi-Final events held at gaming conventions far and wide,
where GMs can win free trips to Gen Con and players score prizes just for showing up to roll visit us
at www.irongm.com today!


























"O*SPO(.MJDFOTFEFWFOU#"$,
Table Number Tents
Print these cards on regular paper or card stock.
The heavier the paper, the better they will stand.

Cut the sheet in half down the center.


Each half will be 4.25 wide.

Fold along the dotted lines. Cut a slit on the lines marked
with the scissors () icon. Weave the pieces together and
use tape to secure it.

Tape or a weight of some sort can hold the table tent in place
to mark the number of each table.

27


2 1
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

1 2
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


4 3
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

3 4
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


6 5
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

5 6
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


8 7
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

7 8
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


10 9
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

9 10
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


12 11 www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

11 12
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


14 13
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

13 14
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


16 15
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com

15 16
www.irongm.com www.irongm.com


Hat Numbers

38
Table Numbers Print on Avery 5390 Name Tag Inserts

1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
Table Numbers Print on Avery 5390 Name Tag Inserts

9 10
11 12
13 14
15 16
APPENDIX B
COMING SOON

You might also like