Origins: Questions and Who's Going?

[RodneyThompson]

I really recommend Origins, if you have the chance to make it. Sure, it's smaller than GenCon, but it's also a lot more laid back. It's a great con to go to to get some actual gaming done; I know back when I was a freelancer I always made it a point to go to Origins to do some gaming, whereas GenCon was always kind of a chaotic struggle to find time for, well, everything.

Columbus also has some great food, and it's downtown area near the convention center is very nice. Last year before the convention I caught a Dropkick Murphys/Offspring concert the day before the show started, and did a lot of gaming at the convention, in addition to my duties as a WotC representative. It's a great city, and it's really a shame that more people don't go to Origins, as I've always had a good time.

 

[Rechan]

Hey Rodney! Hope you can make Origins this year. It'd be great to see you again.

 

[Crothian]

master list of events is up, can't sign up for them yet but you can plan

 

[Crothian]

RPG sign is live. Only happened 9 hours late but it worked. I'm sure they over booked games though. With thier track record the past few years I have very little faith in their ability to do this right.

edit: and a notification e-mail was sent out that game sign would be delayed at noon till 9pm. The e-mail got to me at 10 pm.

 

[Wicht]

Me and the wife went to Gencon on our own for our 10th anniversary some years back. Last year we took the whole family to Origins. Origins seemed much more kid friendly to us and we are returning this year as a family. Our plan last year was 1 day devoted to wargames, 1 day to RPGs (Pathfinder society) and 1 day to boardgames. This year, in part because of the online registration mess, and in part to see how it works, we are not scheduling any set games except for the games I'm running for Pathfinder. We'll just pick the games that seem fun to us and go to them using tokens.

One thing to know, you don't really need to bring your own games to Origins unless you are running something. There is a game "library" and you can check out the games and play them and its a good way to try out new games and fill in some time both.

Last year we didn't go to the dealer hall on Sunday but went home after attending a church service in Columbus. This year, we plan on staying Sunday, in part because we were told it was the best day to find bargains in the dealer's hall. So we'll see if that is true or not.

 

[Rechan]

One thing to know, you don't really need to bring your own games to Origins unless you are running something. There is a game "library" and you can check out the games and play them and its a good way to try out new games and fill in some time both.

I have to wonder how expansive the library is. I have two games on my shelf (Bang! and Pandemic) that I'd really like to play. At least Bang! is fairly obscure.

 

[ashockney]

I have to wonder how expansive the library is. I have two games on my shelf (Bang! and Pandemic) that I'd really like to play. At least Bang! is fairly obscure.

Columbus Area Boardgame Society runs the room. They are INCREDIBLE. The library is beyond your wildest imagination. Mayfair will have an entire room/library as well, with multiple copies of EVERY property.

You've GOT to stop by the Amorphous Blob Games room. We ran over 100 games last year, mostly RPG's but can be RPG or board games.

RPGA and Living Arcanis are also both very active at the con.

Dealer room is awesome. You don't typially get the big bang effect of GenCon and everyone's newest releases, but it's manageable and there are always incredible deals and rare finds to tickle your fancy.

Origins is a game to connect, be social, go for lunch, go have drinks. Enjoy the company of your fellow gamers, and ENWorlders.

Needless to say, I highly recommend it.

 

[Crothian]

Last year we didn't go to the dealer hall on Sunday but went home after attending a church service in Columbus. This year, we plan on staying Sunday, in part because we were told it was the best day to find bargains in the dealer's hall. So we'll see if that is true or not.

This seems to be rarely true anymore. When companies do this they find that fewer people buy during the other days and wait for Sunday to catch the deals.

 

[Wicht]

I have to wonder how expansive the library is. I have two games on my shelf (Bang! and Pandemic) that I'd really like to play. At least Bang! is fairly obscure.

They have a good selection, though there are doubtlessly things they don't have. I viewed it as an opportunity to try out some new things, especially things we might be interested in buying. Last year for example, we were really curious whether we would like Fluxx, so we checked it out of the Library, played a few hands of it and before the con was over we had purchased our own copy.

 

[Wicht]

This seems to be rarely true anymore. When companies do this they find that fewer people buy during the other days and wait for Sunday to catch the deals.

I did find that there were deals at different times during the Con, so you might be right. Troll and Toad (i think it was them) for instance last year on Saturday started selling some plushs for about $3 each - I picked up some rather neat little cthulhu things during that sale.