1st trip to GenCon-Looking for tips

[bolen]

Do not bring more books then you need. You have to carry these around all day as wel as anything you buy. I just carry the PHB and dice

 

[the Lorax]

I've been going to Gen Con for a while, this year will be my 21st.
With planning things will go great, but if you dont plan ahead, it will suck.
I'm going to assume that you already have a hotel and transportation arranged
If not, you need to NOW.
Now as for things you need:

• 
  Make a list of clothes and toilitries to bring - enough for 4 days
  Bring Long pants to combat the oppressively high A/C
  Bring a small pack/bag to haul krap around the Con
  Generic tickets are great
  Carry snacks and drinks in the bag, I advise fruit, nuts and water
  DEODORANT and MOUTHWASH - and use them
  If possible pay for as much as you can in advance (like transport and hotel)
  Show up on Wednesday afternoon to get settled and explore around the Con
  Get plenty of sleep BEFORE the Con, you dont wanna go into the Con with a sleep debt
  Get 4 hours of sleep a night and a shower....AND A SHOWER
  Bring an extra bag to haul home the krap you buy
  Look at all the booths in the dealer room - but get the funk out of the damn isles
  Meet new people - I have plenty of people I consider friends that I only see at Cons
  Write down on a list, the things you whish you brought so you are better prepared next year

 

[Pyrex]

That HAS to be one of the coolest things I've ever heard of. Was he in costume?

Sadly no, but that's kind of understandable. He was wearing black pants, a black button-down shirt and a metallic gold bow tie.

 

[Bront]

Advice: Play the D&D Nascrag tournament. Most fun to be had at GenCon.

www.nascrag.com

listed as NASCRAG in the event spreadsheets from the GenCon website.

Absolutely. The most fun you'll have at the con. These guys are a blast (I know, I used to be one). This year's event is a blast (I still playtest them, haven't played the 2nd or 3rd rounds yet, but the 1st round was fun, and No I won't tell you anything about it.).

 

[Jakar]

I made a trip from Australia to atend GenCon a couple of years back, and the one thing that stuck out in my mind is that people should shower more often. The general stinkiness of the place was amazing.

 

[CarlZog]

I've only been once before, but I'd say don't miss the auction. Even ebay can't beat GenCon's auction when it comes to finding obscure stuff, and often at decent prices.

Bring a camera with a LOT of memory -- or a LOT of film if an analog kinda guy. There's a lot to take pictures of!

Carl

 

[bolen]

So what is so Great about NASCRAG. They look kind of silly or is that the point?

 

[woodelf]

This is the same point that my fellow GenCon traveller CarlZog made. His opinion was it's better to book stuff and not play something that to not book enough and wish you had. You can always swap your tickets when you get there (or give them away).

Not showing for a game you're signed up for is just plain rude. Every year, we are unable to run a couple games because not enough people show up--and they're inevitably the "full" games [that is, all tickets sold]. If you're not planning to show up, don't sign up, so that someone else can sign up. I felt particularly bad the time that 1 guy out of 6 pre-registered players showed up, and he'd come from Australia looking forward to trying our game (among others). And it was the only session that could fit his schedule. Who knows--maybe if those other 5 people hadn't signed up, someone else would've registered--and shown up. We had to turn away at least 4 players for another session of the same game later that day, after all.

The solution to potentially missing out on opportunities is not overbooking, but generic tickets. That way, you're always ready to go any time you find an interesting game with openings.

 

[Hand of Evil]

So what is so Great about NASCRAG. They look kind of silly or is that the point?

Good DMs, good modules, good players and good fun.

 

[DonTadow]

So what is so Great about NASCRAG. They look kind of silly or is that the point?

Though its not on my schedule thsis year, it is a fun three adventure's if you can get in them. IT's the best combination of your dungeons and dragons abilities and humor. The writers have managed to make characters (at least the last 5 adventures) that carry with you over into the next year. My team made it to the top ten one year and it was one of the true highlights of my Gencon experience.