[GenCon] "(more) Road Construction News!" (Scouting and Info Within)
- Thread starter Mark
- Start date
RodneyThompson
Explorer
Hahah, no, that wasn't me. I was the one that got up there and warned all the game designers that I was the Next Big Thing and that they should keep an eye out. It wasn't much of an acceptance speech, but it got some laughs.
Then again, if I did give anyone the finger, it was an accident. I don't think it was me. Hell, I've slept since then.
HellHound
ENnies winner and NOT Scrappy Doo
I'm amazed no one has told you yet, Moridin.
When you were telling everyone to watch out for you? You pointed at yourself right?
Well, in your hand you were holding a tiny clip-on mike... and since it took your forefinger and thumb to hold, you pointed to yourself with your middle finger.
So, as you were telling the publishers you were the Next Big Thing, you were ALSO giving us the finger. We all knew it was unintentional, but it WAS funny.
When you were telling everyone to watch out for you? You pointed at yourself right?
Well, in your hand you were holding a tiny clip-on mike... and since it took your forefinger and thumb to hold, you pointed to yourself with your middle finger.
So, as you were telling the publishers you were the Next Big Thing, you were ALSO giving us the finger. We all knew it was unintentional, but it WAS funny.
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RodneyThompson
Explorer
You would think someone would have told me this, you know, sooner than 6 months later! Well, looks like this year I'll have to apologize in my acceptance speech. 
Sir Osis of Liver said:
Well, last summer i did Chicago-->Boston, and then Syracuse-->Chicago (try and get the airlines to do an "open jaw" without paying through the nose...) for <$90, with just 1 week advance planning. Amtrak is stupid cheap if you plan ahead, and way more comfortable than Greyhound.
Oh, and check their website--they often have specials advertised there that have no catch, except that you have to ask for the. Frex, i got, IIRC, an additional 20% off of an already-discounted fare just by asking for it--but they'll never tell you about these deals if you don't ask. I even asked the guy (on the phone), and he explained that they're not allowed to mention these discounts, unless you ask first.
Saba Taru
Explorer
Finally!
We registered, booked a hotel (we're at the Canterbury) for $150/night for 2 (being married and all
) and got train tickets through Amtrak for $180 round trip for both of us (not each, for both) and the times aren't bad at all. I'm so excited I'm almost nervous.
And I expect people to stop in and say hello while we're there.
And before I forget again... make sure if you check out the Amtrak site to check their promotions/specials page. We got our tickets buy one get one free.
We registered, booked a hotel (we're at the Canterbury) for $150/night for 2 (being married and all
) and got train tickets through Amtrak for $180 round trip for both of us (not each, for both) and the times aren't bad at all. I'm so excited I'm almost nervous.And I expect people to stop in and say hello while we're there.
And before I forget again... make sure if you check out the Amtrak site to check their promotions/specials page. We got our tickets buy one get one free.
Re: Questions from a GenCon newbie
I didn't see anybody answer all of these, so here's a bit more:
Your badge gets you into all areas of the site, including the dealer room, the art show, and teh auction. The vast majority of events are games of one sort or another (RPGs, board games, CCG tournaments, etc.), and almost all of those cost something--generally ~$1.50/2hrs. Most RPGs are 4hrs, most other games are 2, so if you're there to actually game, expect anothor $5+/day in event fees.
RPGA membership doesn't mean squat at GenCon, in terms of getting into a game. I compiled statistics for RPG events at GenCon 2002, according to the prereg info (didn't factor in the onsite changes--which in this context primarily means more non-RPGA events than i'm about to list), so here you go:
-- 96 RPGA events. Some of those are later rounds of multiple-round events.
-- approx. 1050 RPG events., of which 258 are D&D and 116 listed as "D20" (most of which are D&D).
And, it used to be that a fair number of the RPGA events were open to anyone (though rapidly filled). In any case, i wouldn't worry about it--from talking to lots of people, the RPGA games are some of the least-enjoyable to play in, anyway, because so many of the players are more concerned with winning the round than with getting into character.
For any event, games included, you just show up at the appointed location, hopefully a few minutes early, and (usually) the other players and GM magically appear.
As for you and your friends getting into games together: mostly you just need luck. If they're not preregistering, you may have a tough time. One solution is generic tickets: you can buy tickets that aren't for any particular event. GMs will then allow those with generics to play, if there are open spaces (those specifically registered get first dibs, of course). So you just show up (early is even more important now) tell the GM that the 3 of you want to play but only have generics, and wait and see. With one person, you can often get in, especially if you have a couple of choices and can thus run off to your 2nd choice if the 1st turns out to be full (and try and get in despite getting there a couple minutes late). We've done it a few times with 2 (requires two open spaces, obviously), but about equally often there was only one spot, so only one of us got to play. With 3, it'll be tricky, but not impossible. I know that at least thrice we have had enough spaces to let a group of 3 with generics into one of our games--i've never been part of the group of players trying to get in.
You could also, of course, register for a game and have your friends get generics and show up if they can't register. This cuts down on the number of open slots needed, but it's rather impolite of you to then bail on the GM if she can't let your friends in, so it'd end up with one gaming and 2 not when it failed, rather than all 3 not gaming (and thus not split).
Finally, you may just want to re-evaluate your priorities on this matter. Think of it like this: you can game together year-round. This is your only chance to game at a game convention, and thus perhaps to try new games. It might be more important to get to game, specifically with people you *haven't* gamed with in the past, than to stick together. Just set up meeting times/places, and each of you go play what you want to play, or what you can get into. Try stuff out, play a game you've never even heard of. You'll probably have just as much fun, and some of the people you game with might even be more fun (to game with) than your friends (no offense). And you might discover a whole new game that you fall in love with.
jaults said:
I didn't see anybody answer all of these, so here's a bit more:
Your badge gets you into all areas of the site, including the dealer room, the art show, and teh auction. The vast majority of events are games of one sort or another (RPGs, board games, CCG tournaments, etc.), and almost all of those cost something--generally ~$1.50/2hrs. Most RPGs are 4hrs, most other games are 2, so if you're there to actually game, expect anothor $5+/day in event fees.
RPGA membership doesn't mean squat at GenCon, in terms of getting into a game. I compiled statistics for RPG events at GenCon 2002, according to the prereg info (didn't factor in the onsite changes--which in this context primarily means more non-RPGA events than i'm about to list), so here you go:
-- 96 RPGA events. Some of those are later rounds of multiple-round events.
-- approx. 1050 RPG events., of which 258 are D&D and 116 listed as "D20" (most of which are D&D).
And, it used to be that a fair number of the RPGA events were open to anyone (though rapidly filled). In any case, i wouldn't worry about it--from talking to lots of people, the RPGA games are some of the least-enjoyable to play in, anyway, because so many of the players are more concerned with winning the round than with getting into character.
For any event, games included, you just show up at the appointed location, hopefully a few minutes early, and (usually) the other players and GM magically appear.
As for you and your friends getting into games together: mostly you just need luck. If they're not preregistering, you may have a tough time. One solution is generic tickets: you can buy tickets that aren't for any particular event. GMs will then allow those with generics to play, if there are open spaces (those specifically registered get first dibs, of course). So you just show up (early is even more important now) tell the GM that the 3 of you want to play but only have generics, and wait and see. With one person, you can often get in, especially if you have a couple of choices and can thus run off to your 2nd choice if the 1st turns out to be full (and try and get in despite getting there a couple minutes late). We've done it a few times with 2 (requires two open spaces, obviously), but about equally often there was only one spot, so only one of us got to play. With 3, it'll be tricky, but not impossible. I know that at least thrice we have had enough spaces to let a group of 3 with generics into one of our games--i've never been part of the group of players trying to get in.
You could also, of course, register for a game and have your friends get generics and show up if they can't register. This cuts down on the number of open slots needed, but it's rather impolite of you to then bail on the GM if she can't let your friends in, so it'd end up with one gaming and 2 not when it failed, rather than all 3 not gaming (and thus not split).
Finally, you may just want to re-evaluate your priorities on this matter. Think of it like this: you can game together year-round. This is your only chance to game at a game convention, and thus perhaps to try new games. It might be more important to get to game, specifically with people you *haven't* gamed with in the past, than to stick together. Just set up meeting times/places, and each of you go play what you want to play, or what you can get into. Try stuff out, play a game you've never even heard of. You'll probably have just as much fun, and some of the people you game with might even be more fun (to game with) than your friends (no offense). And you might discover a whole new game that you fall in love with.
CaptainCalico
Community Supporter
Re: Re: Questions from a GenCon newbie
My husband and I joke that we see less of each other during GC than we do regularly, because GC is our chance to try new games and to play all the games that we like but our regular gaming group does not. We schedule rendevous to trade notes and compare swag, but for ~75% of the con we are off on our own.
woodelf said:
My husband and I joke that we see less of each other during GC than we do regularly, because GC is our chance to try new games and to play all the games that we like but our regular gaming group does not. We schedule rendevous to trade notes and compare swag, but for ~75% of the con we are off on our own.
