Conventions still worth it?

[SuperJebba]

I have always wanted to go to a convention but have never been able to (dang wife and kids).

I only play D&D 3.5 and I don't particularly care for 4e. I just don't have the time to even really try anything else. Would a convention even be worth going to? What kinds of things would there be for me to do as far as activities? Is it still worth going to even though I'm not that into the latest and greatest in the RPG industry?

Thanks for your responses.

 

[scourger]

Yes. Go to GenCon at least once for the sheer spectacle of it (I did). Local cons are great because you can see interesting guests and maybe play in a few fun games you don't know you love yet. Plus, the cost is much less (not just money but time).

 

[Ahnehnois]

I'm in the same boat (i.e. a 3.5 DM who hasn't been to a convention). I looked at my local one and saw a bunch of 4e, Pathfinder Society, and other things I'm not interested in. I have a few non-D&D games I'm interested in, but none of them popped up. I decided to skip it.

So I can't say that I've been to a convention and that it was a bad experience, I merely recommend that time is valuable and I wouldn't spend it unless I saw something that specifically appealed to me.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Gotta say I really don't get the 'I only play X' attitude. Conventions are a fantastic place to play something different with zero investment. Almost anything you can name someone will be running at GenCon. The unofficial ENWorld games are absolutely top-notch, with some of the best GMs and players you'll ever game with.

On top of which there are seminars that can help you run a better game or design a better game world. Get to talk to the writers and artists whose stuff you like. Hang out with a bunch of like-minded folks and talk about gaming. Stay up all hours playing some card game you've never even heard of before in the lobby of your hotel.

 

[Shemeska]

I only play D&D 3.5 and I don't particularly care for 4e. I just don't have the time to even really try anything else. Would a convention even be worth going to?

Well as I recall, when you discount games sponsored by WotC, 3.5 had more games than anything else at last year's GenCon (followed by Pathfinder) for people on their own volition setting them up and running them. First time AFAIK that the latest "official" edition wasn't dominating the games being run, let alone being behind by the margin it was when I looked last year.

That said, it's worth going beyond your normal game comfort zone at a convention. The last three GenCons that I've been to, I've played remarkably little D&D of any edition. But tons of Shadowrun, some Judge Dread of some flavor, etc. Hopefully this year I can do some Eclipse Phase and/or Cthulhutech, and some Pathfinder (since my home group is still using 3.frankenstein in our one D&D game).

 

[Dice4Hire]

I have never been to a convention, but that would be were I would try anything that looked cool. Lots of time for my games of choice at home.

That said, I'd laso like ot play my game of choice to see how otehr people play it. I'l like about a 50/50 split.

 

[CarlZog]

I went to my first game convention 30 years ago, can't count how many I've been to since, and I still LOVE them!

Conventions are a fantastic place to play something different with zero investment.

This is probably my top reason for going. It's always a smorgasbord of fun stuff run by people who are really excited about whatever they're running.

It's also a chance to play stuff I love but can't find local players for normally. And at local cons, it's also a chance to meet other gamers with similar interests who you could end up gaming with regularly.

At big cons like Gen Con, it's worth it just for the spectacle of it all.

GO!

Carl

 

[Crothian]

A Convention is what you make of it. If you only want to play certain games and you purposely limit your activities then you might think its a waste of time.

 

[Mr. Wilson]

When I go to Cons, I make a point not to play anything I normally play, except for tourneys.

So, stuff like Star Wars d6, Deadlands, Call of Cthulu, and Shadowrun tend to be high on my to do list.

 

[DumbPaladin]

When I go to Cons, I make a point not to play anything I normally play, except for tourneys.

So, stuff like Star Wars d6, Deadlands, Call of Cthulu, and Shadowrun tend to be high on my to do list.

This is a whole new concept to me -- I'm heading to my first con in May, and it really had not occurred to me that I might play a whole new RPG system that I'm not necessarily familiar with -- I'd have thought the people running said game would frown upon that ...

--DP