Are there avid gamers out there who hate cons?

[JamesDJarvis]

I played in 3 RPG sessions in the last true - con i wen to and two of them hinged on battles with a beholder. Neither DM seemed to have much of a clue how to run a beholder and they were quickly dispatched.

I like game days at a shop but i'm not too sure how i feel about local cons.

Is there a good reason why everycon i've been to smells like Doritos and Mt Dew?

 

[Kanegrundar]

I would like to go to Gen Con at least once, just to see what it was like. Also, I hate being left out of things!

Amen there. I have a cousin that goes every year and then regales on his experiences. Just once, I want to go to add my own memories instead of living off his. Plus, if I would have gone this year I could have a copy of Descent: Journey in the Dark in my hands right now and could have played in the prototype World of Warcraft boardgame!!! Stupid saving money for a wedding... (It's safe to say that here since my betrothed isn't a gamer!)

Kane

 

[Aus_Snow]

If you are an avid gamer who doesn't like cons, speak up...why not?

Because I can't make it to them...

Ah, jealousy.

 

[jcfiala]

If you are an avid gamer who doesn't like cons, speak up...why not?

Well, I love cons myself. Get to try out new things, with different people, and What happens at Gen Con stays at Gen Con.

But I've got some friends who don't go to the local cons, sometimes. Usually it's because they think it's too expensive - you pay X to get in, and then x more per game?

Ah, well.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I like cons- but they do have thier flaws. The expense is incredible, I normally have a shoestring gaming budget. Local cons are hit or miss and I have given up on going to them.
the games are few, many are living X, While I think one of the fun parts of cons is that its hard to powergame a pregenerated char. The dealer halls are little better than a good gaming shop, and Im never there to drink.

Also the first time I went to gen-con it was bad- I didn't prereg for games, didin't understand the system and knew very few people. The other 3 times I had a blast- I go to game, and 12hrs of gaming per day is a goal. I also run games, enough so the con pays for my badge, there is usually one bad game in the mix that I run, the best games get run again the mediocre and bad get retired. I enjoy the break from my regular group, just to see other styles. Next time I will look up the enworld people, and see if I can convince old friends from other groups in other cities to meet me there.

 

[KaosDevice]

It's been a mixed bag for me. I've been to many cons over the course of my life and had a blast at some, a boring time at others and only dim alcohol fuzzed memories of others. For the most part its' been pretty positive. Sure you meet some oddballs and people you'd just as soon not game with at cons, but also I've made some friends and had some really fun times. Like most things I think you get out of it what you put in. Go expecting a crap time and lo and behold, you have a crap time.

That said I've been really wanting to go to a ComiCon and GenCon both, now if I only had the money....*sigh* :\

 

[MusedFable]

The reason I don't go to cons is that I don't like people and I don't like spending money.

I will only ever pay how much I think something is worth when buying something. That means I never buy things without knowing (be as well informed as possible) if they are good or not. I never buy more dice than I need (so I'll probable never buy them again unless I lose some). I don't buy miniatures unless they are under a $1 because I always mod the mini anyway, and I can only paint marginally (so the detail never gets seen).

I don't like 90% of the people I meet. I am rather blunt and don't feel bad telling somebody "I don't care about what your talking about". It seems gamers are some of the most socially retarded people I have ever met. Gamers seem to: be loud; have bad hygiene; start random conversations with you; generally annoy the heck out of me.

I filter all the bad things out by using the internet. Prices are almost always lower because of competition. Forum posting is much better because I can just ignore the smelly small-talking ones.

Yes, you probable think I'm a jerk for saying the "average" gamer is a loser, but they are. I would much rather walk into a bookstore; grocery store; the mall; post office; sportsbar; goodwill; porn store; or retirement home than any place a bunch of gamers would gather, because all those places are cleaner and friendly than gamer gatherings.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I like and dislike cons to the exact same degree.

I like going to cons to meet and talk with people I've worked with, and because it's always fun to wander the exhibit hall and see what's new, and what's interesting.

It can be fun to see all the really over the top game equipment people make, too, and to have the chance to play in the sorts of "event" games that only cons have.

Conversely, it can be tiring pushing your way through a milling horde of geek folk for the better part of a week, and I certainly don't miss the high prices of food, or the incredible waves of smell that flood basically every con.

But, of course, the best and worst thing about any con are your fellow con goers. There are some absolutely smashing folk at a game con, it's just too bad they're usually surrounded and outnumbered by hordes of folks I'd rather never interact with, ever.

Patrick Y.

 

[msd]

...or the incredible waves of smell that flood basically every con.

Not to hijack my own thread, but...

Why is this such a problem in our hobby? Why don't people who sail, or people who collect baseball cards, or play bridge have this same ridiculous issue? Should the well-adjusted among us who have learned to bath, shave, and brush our teeth on a more-than-once daily basis feel more embarrassed than we are and take the lead in changing this image of our hobby?

Rant mode off...

Thanks for the response ARP. It is much appreciated.

 

[Arnwyn]

If you are an avid gamer who doesn't like cons, speak up...why not?

I'm another, for much of the reasons listed above (notably Arcane Runes Press's reasons). And I'm one of those that's only interested in gaming with friends, not strangers.