"Livestreamed convention game" Topic

I am running a Napoleonic game at a local convention in early October. The organizers want to livestream it. Has anybody had any experience with this? Is there anything I should be aware of in advance?

IIRC, a group livestreamed an event from a Fredericksburg Historicon, but it was a rules based podcast discussion.

On was supposed to be done at Historicon but didn't see it

I just live-streamed 5 tournament games of ADLG at Nashcon…

I joined Youtube (shameless plug incoming; like, comment, subscribe!) – YouTube link

I set up a trip pod, attached my phone connected to a battery pack and away we went. Minimal cost.

volume was ok, but we only played on a 4x6 table and only two players. In between turns, I was able to move from table to table. But if there is a dedicated video tech, they would be able to get a more complete coverage.

Madcam

Hi Madcam,
thank you for the link, and for your thoughts. I am assistant GM on the game Rmaker is running, and we picked up a lot of tips from watching your videos. I will report back on how it goes!
Cheers, Annie

after-game report, as promised.
YouTube link

lots of lessons learned, and happy to pass them along…
this session was Strategos-N
1) the camera setup was in place from the previous game session, which was part lecture/talk, and part game board play. The camera locations were good, but the tripod bases were tripping hazards, and it slowed down our table setup. Next time, we'll allow two hours for setup, instead of one.
2) we chose to brief one side in view of the camera, and one out in the hall. Next time, will one side out and brief the other side at the table, and then switch. (send the briefed group out, bring in the other group for briefing. This would've been fun for the livestream audience, and would've worked better for the players, as they could've seen the terrain and troops and gun placements and asked questions.
3) dice rolls. This was a plywood ping-pong table with brown paper on it. There was a microphone on the table to pick up "ambient noise", and it picked up those dice rolls (very!) loud and clear. Next time, we'll bring felt-lined dice trays, and that should help.
4) that particular ping pong table is important in game-development lore. David Megarry goes into its history in the first part of his session on "Dungeon" (which was also livecast, and can be viewed from the youtube channel listed above).
5) about three hours in, we did an impromptu "special feature" for the sake of the online audience. It would've been better, with some planning, and for future livecasts is a promising idea, I think. Also, an offical audience welcome and introduction of the GM, as well as a "post-game wrapup" would've been a nice touch. One of the convention organizers was at the game table, and he would have been a good one to close out the day of live-casting. Ah well, next time.

Would be glad to help with any questions…
Cheers! Annie B

three more things to add to list of lessons learned,
6) Make sure each person at the table knows where the microphones are (in our setup there was a mic taped to a plastic cup taped to the table, and the GM had a lapel mic)
7) consider having someone near the door (or a note on the door) to let folks entering the room know that a livecast is in progress, and where the cameras and microphones are. Extra points for knowing ahead of time what the effective range of the microphone is.
8) Nothing like having a live mic and no way to turn it off quickly. Work out a signal with the videographer for use if you unexpectedly need a mic muted.

Annie B.