GenCon 2004 Memories

[Buttercup]

Buttercup,

It was great meeting you - I sat across from you at Alcatraz and had a great time talking to you about your insights on a variety of topics.

I enjoyed meeting you too.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Oh, crap! You just reminded me, I forgot to beg or (gasp) buy stuff from Atlas. In particular, I don't have Seven Serpents. I even saw Michelle Brown Nephew at the booth (Atlas shared a booth with Steve Jackson Games) one time.

Speaking of said booth, it's sometimes eerie to me to be treated as a semi-celebrity. The didn't get our printed badges so we had handwritten badges in huge black ink letters, announcing my presence to all. While walking past the Steve Jackson booth, I heard a cry of "It's Alan Kohler!" I go over there, and it was Ken Hite!

I begged AEG to get me some stuff, too. They said no. But when I got home, there was World's Largest waiting for me. So I guess their marketing manager knows what he's doing.

Purchase Fact that would Astonish Mark Clover:
The only full price purchase I made at GenCon was from NBOS (Astrosynthesis).

Man Psion, I've got to start following you around. On the World's Largest Dungeon, I got that, but not for En World. Got it for a new magazine I'm helping a friend with.

I paid for quite a bit.

GURPS 4th Edition: I picked up the $125 collector's edition. Nice but expensive. Thank god they finally discovered that graphic layout and art do help a product.

Magnificant Ego: Picked up way too many of these miniatures. Well, wasn't full price but wasn't outside of the Gen Con Special range either so... If I had more money, the new lines by Lance & Laser would've been mine as well as some War Gods and Confronation.

Adiken: Another Gen Con Sale but I picked up some inks and some paint. Wanted to try their stuff out for a while now.

On the World's Largest Dungeon, I got that, but not for En World. Got it for a new magazine I'm helping a friend with. I'm not on their reviewer list either but I still owe a couple of reviews for Swashbuckling Adventures for d20 Magazine Rack so I'm in no hurry to get on their list. Was saddened to hear that Secrets will be the last one word d20 book from them.

 

[Xath]

Oh, man. Gencon was my first con, and I think I picked a good one. It was awesome meeting everyone. I had a great time and can't wait until next year. I spent a little bit of time hanging out at the Ennies booth, and you guys are all the best.

I'd put up highlights, but I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy doing at Gencon, so I'll definitely be back next year.

-Xath

 

[TroyXavier]

I had a great time. Met some of the Enworlders. (If I had known it was so much fun, I may have hung out at the booth earlier). Had a great time in Ranger Wickett's game. Picked up some good stuff, and talked to some great people. Next year, maybe I'll make it all 4 days.

 

[Archon]

a pleasant surprise.

This was my first con as well. I really enjoyed meeting all of the ENworlders. I had no idea how cool all of you are. Before i went to the con, i mostly just kept to my own board, but now after meeting some of you i am inspired to post more frequently and on more boards.
I also picked myself up a Green Ronin T so i could represent in the D.C.
Finally, Congrats to the Ennies winners.
Mik (the tall, thin guy with a shaved head)
aka "Archon"

by the way, the ENworld Booth-Babe who handed out the Ennnies is gorgeous. i hope she is at the con next year.

 

[buzz]

Highlights

• Putting faces to some of the names I see here on ENworld, like Buttercup and Psion. And seeing that Teflon Billy looks as much of badass as his .sig makes him out to be.
• Meeting many of the designers I admire so much. All of them were incredibly friendly and didn't recoil at my being totally geek-starstruck.
• Getting Johnathan Tweet's autograph twice. The first time was when he was sitting net to us at Clannagh's Irish Pub. I didn't want to bother him, but my wife snuck back in and got one under the pretense of needing to use the ladies' room. The second was when I saw him at the Wizards booth the next day. I mentioned that it was my wife who had accosted him at Clannagh's; "That was great! My friends were so impressed." Very cool guy.
• Being recognized by Sean Punch and Andrew Hackard of SJG. "You're Buzz? You were one of the people who kicked our asses to make better covers for GURPS 4th. Thanks!" Sean even said he had voted for the design I'd submitted. I bought a copy.
• Playing in a M&M game run by Steve Kenson. Word.
• Playing in an AU game run by Mike Mearls. I had no idea he was going to be running it. Fantastic little scenario that's really sold me on AU. It was also funny when he had to ask us for a ruling on an AoO situation. "I can never remember how to do those." The group of poeple we had was also really good. We voted on who got to move on to the game run by Monte, and thsi guy who'd come all the way from Denmark for his first con of any kind, was a huge AU fan, played exceptionally, well, and got in on a generic ticket. He deserved it, and I was happy to see him win.
• Seeing Hero Games sweep the ENnies. After hearing me scream the first two times, thalmin (sitting next to me) said "I take it you're a HERO fan?"
• Clannagh's Irish Pub. By far, the best food I had in Indy.
• The fact that my first GenCon went so dang well.
• Lots of bonding with the groups of friends with which I attended.
• That I was pleasantly surprised that I did not see lots of "scary gamers." Mostly I saw enthusiastic gamers who looked just like most people I know.

Lowlights

• Hard Times Cafe. Bad, bad, food.
• Convention center food. Ugh.
• The Westin Hotel. Good, but not sure if it was worth the price, really.

Overall, GenCon totally rocked. One of the best experiences of my life.

 

[starkad]

Wish I coulda gone! Sounds like a blast!

Even though I didn't go... I, too, bought Tact-Tiles based on a recommendation from ENWorld!

 

[Piratecat]

by the way, the ENworld Booth-Babe who handed out the Ennnies is gorgeous.

That's no booth-babe! (not in the traditional "we hired someone cute" sense.) She's a member just like anyone else around here, which is kind of cool.

 

[Rugger]

Highlights
- Chatting with Wayne Reynolds...I think he was a bit overwhelmed at first, but he started getting the hang of things. HECKUVA nice guy! His wife on the other hand, had no problems adjusting: I was witness to her gleefully chasing after the big Pikachu-costumed person. I got the distinct impression that she wanted to hug it to death. Picked up a couple B&W originals, too. Hope he comes next year!

- Green Ronin. First they announce Thieves World...then they put out a flyer for Black Company with art by the abovementioned Mr Reynolds. While catching up on my Mutants and Masterminds purchases, I volunteered to just give my credit card to Chris Pramas

- GALACTUS! I managed to luck out and win a ticket to buy a Heroclix Galactus. I entered every day and won on sunday. I feel lucky that the Eater of Worlds did not decide to eat all of the other luggage in the plane on the flight home.

- The Embassy Suites. Loved it. Spacious rooms with microwaves and fridges, clean and close. Excellent free breakfast. If only their elevators were faster...

- Playing with a newbie. Got to play some DnD with my "All-But-Brother-In-Law", his first time playing ANY rpg. He knew the rules better than %90 of the folks I played with for the rest of the weekend.

- True Dungeon. Dang was that fun! Played it with a good buddy and a bunch of strangers, who all ended up being good folks. Note to self: hands are WAY to jittery to be the rogue...but I DID defeat the Faceless One singlehandedly...and come out with a TON of treasure tokens for next year!


-The Ram. Good food and a great "vibe". Can't beat it. It's ALMOST making me forget the Safehouse. LOVE the porter!

The Not So Good
- Little to no Enworlder contact. Man was my weekend path off kilter with the stuff planned (Arthur's get together, the Ennies...) Hopefully next year!!

- Being back at work this morning at 7 AM. No further explaination needed.


-Rugger
"I WannaSleep!"

 

[qstor]

Why did I think you were in the DC area, qstor? Weren't you on the DCRPG mailing list at one time?

Psion, I still am I just lurk.

My wife and I moved to Michigan last year. She's going to grad school there.
Hope the T20 game went well, I played GURPS Traveller but have the T20 book and I've played CT too.

Next year I won't sign up for so many RPGA games so I can get in some different games.

Mike