Conventions: please tell me about them.

[Aberzanzorax]

I've never been to a convention, but I'm starting to get interested in the idea. A few questions:

1. What are the BIG ones (either in terms of importance or size or eventfulness)?

2. How can I find which ones are near me?

3. What usually happens at them?

4. How much do they usually cost?

5. Any web resources I should check out?

6. Advice on attending (get there early, don't drink the water, etc)?

--thanks.

 

[Bumbles]

5. Any web resources I should check out?

Since I'm a bit lazy, I'll just point out this page:

Wikipedia's page on Gaming Conventions

Another place to look is for authors and companies whose products you like. It may be worth going the extra mile to a convention where people you want to see are going to be.

Also, don't inhale the air!

 

[Piratecat]

If you're moving to MA, some great cons within striking distance:

Anonycon, Dec. 4-6. Probably my favorite con in the area. Very friendly.

ConnCon, every March.

OGC Con, July 24-26 2009.

And Total Confusion, next February.

The biggest con is GenCon, this August in Indianapolis. It's unique and glorious, and has a huge ENW contingent.

I'll discuss smaller cons, since at GenCon you could conceivably never play a game (you'd be daft, but you could do it) and not be bored. Most cons have RPGA sponsored games (usually Living Forgotten Realms) and non-RPGA games. Anonycon also has a high proportion of games with pre-gen characters, which I personally prefer. You pay a set amount for the weekend, then often each game you play is an additional $2 or $3; buying these tickets reserves you a space. Usually there's a judge and a 6-person table; I've found most of the judges are pretty good, although you always may hit someone on either end of the bell curve. Same with the other players.

 

[Cadfan]

1. The "big ones" depend on what you're interested in. If you like eurogames you'll want to hit different conventions than if you like ccgs or cardboard chit wargames or RPGs.

2. I don't know of any information clearing house, but if you ask your local gaming store they can probably help. You could also post roughly where you live, and people on ENWorld might tell you what they know about the area.

3. Depends on the convention. Game companies show up to sell their products and give demonstrations. Regular people show up to host games. People play in these games. Sometimes there are other things like contests or film festivals.

4. Cost varies widely. A lot of conventions these days are using a flat entrance fee plus a fee per game. I spent something like $30 per person getting in and playing games at the last convention I attended, but it was a relatively small regional convention.

5. Depends on the convention.

6a. Figure out what you intend to do at the convention, and find out if you need to preregister.

6b. Bring your own food, or at least some of your own food, as their food is often overpriced or far away.

6c. Research what you sign up for before you sign up for it, and make yourself a schedule.

6d. Use proper hygeine. To a certain extent smell is inevitable when you pack a couple hundred adults into a poorly air conditioned room for an entire day. But please at least start the day inoffensively.

How you should interact with a convention varies depending on what you want from it. I like to sample multiple games I've never tried before, so I have different concerns from someone who wants to LARP for a weekend or play an enormous cardboard chit wargame. Post more details and maybe I can add more information.

 

[jdrakeh]

Tacticon and Ghengiscon are the big cons in Denver, CO. They're more oriented toward wargaming and boardgames, but have an RPG and CCG presence, as well. I hit them when I can and some of the game stores here in Colorado Springs send up reps every year.

Tacticon fees this year are $24 per adult, pre-registered, for the full weekend or $33 at the door, per adult, for the full weekend. An unlimited game pass is $20, a per game pass is $3. Special events have their own buy in prices due to limited seating (frex, the Rogue Trader event is $10 per person this year).

On a local level, we have a FLGS that hosts a three-day minicon called GYGOAT (Get Your Game On-A-Thon). I'm running Dave Hargrave's Caliban dungeon via Swords & Wizardry there this year.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Very helpful responses everyone, thanks!


I'm moving to MA (New Bedford area, very close to Providence, RI).

My interests are roleplaying games, pretty exclusively (i.e. not CCGs or Boardgames or Wargaming).

My favorite and most played RPG is D&D, but I'm VERY interested in exploring/sampling others (I've recently bought OG Unearthed, Chill-the Mayfair Games version, Agone, Deliria, and Kult).

I DM home games of RPGA for my friends, so I'd probably not seek out any RPGA stuff.

I'm getting that the cost is usually around the $30 mark (possibly rising more the more you do, the longer the Con, or the bigger the Con, plus things like travel and hotels and car rental etc.)


So, what else is there to know?

 

[joethelawyer]

If you're moving to MA, some great cons within striking distance:

Anonycon, Dec. 4-6. Probably my favorite con in the area. Very friendly.

ConnCon, every March.

OGC Con, July 24-26 2009.

And Total Confusion, next February.

The biggest con is GenCon, this August in Indianapolis. It's unique and glorious, and has a huge ENW contingent.

I'll discuss smaller cons, since at GenCon you could conceivably never play a game (you'd be daft, but you could do it) and not be bored. Most cons have RPGA sponsored games (usually Living Forgotten Realms) and non-RPGA games. Anonycon also has a high proportion of games with pre-gen characters, which I personally prefer. You pay a set amount for the weekend, then often each game you play is an additional $2 or $3; buying these tickets reserves you a space. Usually there's a judge and a 6-person table; I've found most of the judges are pretty good, although you always may hit someone on either end of the bell curve. Same with the other players.

Thx man. Being in CT, those are the closest to me as well. Do you know of any in NY of NJ?

 

[Piratecat]

I'm a little more out of touch on those, Joe. I know there's a big, good one in NJ. Dreamation, perhaps? Give it a google.

 

[Papa-DRB]

Dexcon (NJ I think)
ConnCon (Conn. obviously)
Comic Con in NYC
There is something in Albany NY, but I never went.

 

[amysrevenge]

I DM home games of RPGA for my friends, so I'd probably not seek out any RPGA stuff.

I'd recommend at least one round of a RPGA game in this case, just to see how others go about it.

My biggest thing is this: the first convention is a HUGE culture shock. I still remember my first convention. It is a VERY big step to go from playing D&D in your parents' basement to playing D&D at one of many tables in a huge room filled with fat guys of all persuasions... Just know that everyone there is there to have a fun time, and almost universally will be eager to help out a first timer.

My first show was a tiny thing, put on by a small gaming club at a small university in Saskatchewan. I was solo (my previous gaming friends all lived hundreds of miles away), and I really wanted to get back into gaming. I was too nervous to go the first year I was in town, but the second year I signed up and went. At first I was terrified, but I ended up having a really good time. Luckily I had pre-registered for all my slots, so once I figured out where things were, I always knew where I had to be.

A couple of years later I was at GenCon (Milwaukee lol), and I've gone on to organize/administer conventions of my own. I was a heavy volunteer for the RPGA's 3E Greyhawk game, and I continue to contribute to the local community and local conventions (at a reduced pace - I'm semi-retired from leadership right now).