GenCon newbie....advice needed

[Dirt]

This is common sense, but try not to screw up your sleep schedule too badly - if you're up all night, every night gaming, drinking or whatever, you are going to feel like a bag of asses by Saturday. Get at least a few hours of sleep every night. Oh, and PLEASE - when you climb out of bed in the morning after getting your well-earned sleep, be sure to shower and apply deodorant before you head back to the convention center. I've noticed that a lot of attendees do not heed this advice, making it quite unpleasant to shop or game next to them. Don't be that guy.

Ha! The "swashbuckler guy" who never showered or changed out of his outfit entered into legend with our group. I suppose it depends on what you wish to accomplish - if you want to be talked about after the con, there is an easy road to infamy!

 

[Dirt]

Don't be that guy.

Or...you could be "that guy" who released the Krackin in your hotel room...a stench so foul that they had to evacuate the entire 3rd floor...

 

[kigmatzomat]

My suggestions:
1. As everyone mentioned, definitely book everything early. The good rooms tend to sell out fast (as you may have guessed by some of the recent threads).

True, but I ended up getting rooms late (grrr, one guy *still* owes me money from last year) and there really aren't any sucky rooms. Well, as long as it isn't raining. You're relatively close to the convention center even when it seems like you aren't.

And RESERVE YOUR GAMES IN ADVANCE!!! Last year I walked up to the line and got my reserved game tickets in 5 minutes. I ended up finishing my first game session before they got their first tickets.

2. Definitely sit down and make a schedule of events. Plan in demos as well and take an entire slot just to peruse the dealers hall...it's worth it. When planning your events, don't schedule everything back to back.

Agreed. Breaks are good. I really recommend scheduling a seminar or other sit-down event immediately after your first dealer room/artist alley trip: your feet *will* be tired.

Oh, and plan for lunch. The convention center's fast food is surprisingly quick but very, very bland. Even still, you'll spend a half hour on lunch if you eat on the run. Which I *really* don't recommend. Relax, enjoy lunch, and keep those stomach acids in check.

3. Take time to play some games that you've never played before. Also, don't play every slot with your friends. Take the opportunity to game with other people.

Y'know, I didn't play a single game with my friends over the last 2 gencons. Weird.

5. Throw hardened powdered donuts at Tewligan while he is sleeping. It will provide for many good stories later in life.

Throwing things at Tewligan is just a good idea anytime.

 

[Creamsteak]

Be there for all 4 days. I was only there for 2, and I missed a TON of stuff...

 

[Ed Cha]

All great tips mentioned above! The only things I can add are:

1. Wash your hands frequently. At Gen Con, you're shaking hands with a lot of people and touching door handles touched by thousands of others. It's very easy to get sick and ruin your trip or get ill on the way back home.

2. Get a good night's rest each evening. Nobody sleeps very much at the con. You're lucky if you get five hours sleep a day because there's so much to do at all hours and you're just excited. But remember, if you're too tired to have fun, you're not going to have fun. So get some sleep.

3. Wear comfortable shoes and carry a bottle of water. You're going to do a lot of walking. Going from the exhibit hall to game after game and then off to seminars and other events can take a toll on the sole. Sorry for the pun.

4. Please keep good hygiene. I'd recommend packing a deodorant into your bag if you know you're going to be out all day. Try to go back to your hotel room in the middle of the day to take a shower and a brief nap, if you can. You want to look and feel good when you're going out in the evening with your friends, too!

Remember to buy lots of stuff in the exhibitor hall because it goes directly to the publishers and manufacturers and helps offset the costs of the booth and travel expenses. Some people wait to buy stuff later, but it really helps the companies when you make your purchases at the con. Most folks just try to break even.

Also, I would try to do a lot of different activities, not just play games. Check out the auction, go to the costume show, visit the artists' booths, and don't be afraid to say hello to any writers/publishers. They want to talk to you! Unless you have something bad to say.

If you're interested, I've also got a four-day journal of my experience at Gen Con 2003 here:

http://www.openworldpress.com/a.php?p=genconreport03

 

[talien]

I've been to a lot of cons -- it's been a tradition with my family to go to scifi conventions (yes, I was born and raised by a family of unashamed geeks), and most of the tactics are the same. Gen Con's a special beast because it's so huge.

A few things to remember:

• Bring a water bottle. Not the normal kind, the kind that can filter water. Drinks will stop flowing, but you'll be covered -- there's water fountains always within a few hundred feet, but the water may taste gross. Worst case -- you can refill from the bathroom sink. It gets very warm at conventions, so staying hydrated is important.
• Bring snacks. If you're looking to save money, don't buy the food. Gen Con's better than most conventions -- there's tons of fast food everywhere. But carrying it with you ensures you're covered at all times. And you can be the life of the party if you've got food when nobody else has it. Nothing brings players together like food.
• The restaurants are not your friend. I tried, very hard, to warn every vendor I spoke to in Indianapolis that "a lot of people are coming just like me, only hungrier." They didn't listen. McDonald's ran out of food. It was an hour wait to get a pizza. So if you're looking to dine out, make a reservation and eat at times people don't normally eat at. I'm hopeful that this year, Indianapolis will be ready.
• The nearby mall actually "gets it" in a way Milwaukee's vendors never did. They have specials that give you a discount if you flash your Gen Con badge. Don't be afraid to carry it with you (on the other hand, please feel free to not wear it when you're in the mall).
• Think light. If you can plan your day, you can plan when you need your books and when you don't. I pity GMs who carry three hardcover books to sessions. Heck, since I play a wizard, I've gotten rid of the Player's Handbook altogether and just bring Paradigm Concept's Spell Decks. Everything else I need is in a binder. And I don't carry the binder unless I'm about to game. The weight of books will leave welts on your shoulders after awhile.
• Bring a camera. People wear some of the coolest -- and weirdest! -- outfits. They usually don't mind posing.
• Bring a game. No, not your gamebooks. A game. Gameboy. Palm Pilot. Cellphone games. Whatever. Bring something. Sometimes, Gen Con has VERY long lines. My wife and I played several games of backgammon on her cellphone and it made the two hour long wait to get my event tickets easier.
• Grab the bags early. Gen Con doesn't even seem prepared for itself sometimes -- all the freebie stuff, including the bag with said freebie stuff in it, actually ran out. My brother-in-law showed up a day later and there was nothing left.
• Freebie stuff. There's so much free stuff, you could go in with an empty bag and walk out with a pile of...stuff you probably won't use. But you'll have lots of free cards. In fact, in some cases (usually just when the dealer room opens or when it's about to close) you can get books for free. I don't mean fliers, I mean free books. I picked up three different games this way, two of which were d20 books.

Perhaps the best advice anyone can give is have plenty of patience and flexibility. Gen Con's a wild, wacky place and things don't always go as planned. Plan your day, but be flexible. And of course, be sure to have fun whatever you do -- I've met too many gamers who game, half-unconscious from lack of sleep, trying to cram every last second into gaming. This is not fun -- it's like a job, only you don't get paid for it.

 

[Dirt]

A couple more suggestions while I'm thinking of it:

1. last year, the lines were TERRIBLE. It helped to already have most of my event tickets. It mitigated the amount of time that I had to spend in line, which was nice. So, register for events early. As soon as the schedule is available, make your own event schedule.

2. pack food. Sometimes, your schedule will be tight, and you'd rather continue gaming. I usually buy some groceries on Wednesday (which often requires a room with a fridge...some offer this for free or a small charge). It helps save some money and lets you play more games. I'd still advise putting in some nice breaks though.

 

[Dirt]

Throwing things at Tewligan is just a good idea anytime.

Excellent advice from an obviously seasoned GenCon veteran!

 

[francisca]

My advice:

Heed what has been said about food, water, sleep, and hygiene.

Don't drag every stinking game you got around with you.

For a first timer, register for just a few game, no more than 1 a day.

Try to attend at least one seminar.

Play in pickup games.

Try *not* to have any expectations, except for two: expect to have to be patient as there will be tons of people there; expect others will be impatient, but don't let them ruin your day.

Otherwise, just go and soak it all in.

Oh, and say Hi! to other ENWorlders. Most of us are a friendly lot.

 

[Greatwyrm]

I have to second the suggestion of waiting to make your purchases in the dealer room. Not only do you have to lug all that stuff around all day, you're going to be more likely to give in to impulse buying. You've got plenty of time, so take a couple of looks at a book, see if you can get in on a demo for a new game.

I haven't been to GenCon Indy (hopefully this year), but in Milwaukee I found that taking just a short walk from the con made a bid difference in what was available for food. I found you could get a really good burger and fries in a nearby hotel restaurant for about the same as what you'd pay for much less inside the convention center. I'm not sure how the food is in Indy, but it would probably pay off to scout around a bit.

If you're going with friends, establish a time and place to meet regularly. You'll want to swap ideas on games, tips on stuff to check out, and schedule any other activities you plan to do together. Otherwise, you'll spend half your trip wandering around looking for each other.

Take an ample supply of cash. Not all vendors are plastic or check friendly. This is probably less true than in the past, but it will invariably be the person selling the thing you want the most.

You must have the basic adventurers survival kit. Pack light, but include the essentials. Backpack, dice, a couple pencils, and a notepad. Most other supplies you need will be provided for you at most games. Also include a bottle of your favorite pain reliever (Advil, Tylenol, etc.). Most gamers (or at least myself) spend as much time on their feet at GenCon as they do the rest of the year combined.

If you have time, make one last trip through the dealer's room on Sunday morning. You'd be surprised at the kinds of deals you can get from people who don't want to pack all that stuff back up.