GenCon Virgin

[Rokes]

I come here before all of you to ask for your help in making my first GenCon the best GenCon

Some Background:

I've been playing (A)D&D since about 1996, and regularly since about 1999.
I've tried other systems in the past, but non have ever really stuck like D&D.
I love to play and I love to GM. Quite often I'm torn between playing in or running a campaign.
I greatly enjoy strategy games of all flavors, especially board and card games, although I imposed a personal ban on CCGs since meeting my wife. (same goes for MMORPGs). My favorites include: Diplomacy, Settlers of Catan, Illuminati, and Carcassonne.
Recently my wife started to take some interest, first in Carcassonne and then in Settlers.
My wife will be attending GenCon with me! That's right everyone, I'm bringing a girl!

What I'd like to get out of GenCon:

Play in an exciting and loose D&D game.
Play Diplomacy (so hard to find people willing to play for 6+ hours...)
Attend several informative seminars. (I saw some about painting miniatures and designing campaign worlds from the 2006 catalog)
My wife wants to play Settlers and Carcassonne. Probably some with me, and some without.
Attend any special events? Are there big announcements for new products and stuff?
Shopping!

With all of this in mind, I don't want to feel rushed, and I also don't want to feel like I missed out on anything either. What advice do you have from your years of attending that could help me plan our 4 days of bliss?

Also, will they publish the catalog before they open registration for it? I'm hoping we'd at least have a couple of weeks to plan everything out? Will it be as much of a pain trying to get into sessions as it was to register for a hotel?

Regarding D&D events, I've only been to one other Con before and in order to play in the vast majority of the sessions, you had to be an RPGA member. Is that true at GenCon as well?

Thanks all!

 

[marimacc]

I come here before all of you to ask for your help in making my first GenCon the best GenCon


With all of this in mind, I don't want to feel rushed, and I also don't want to feel like I missed out on anything either. What advice do you have from your years of attending that could help me plan our 4 days of bliss?

Also, will they publish the catalog before they open registration for it? I'm hoping we'd at least have a couple of weeks to plan everything out? Will it be as much of a pain trying to get into sessions as it was to register for a hotel?


Thanks all!

Woo hoo! Well, welcome, you're going to have a great time!

I'm one of the moderators over on the Gen Con forums, and I do recommend you consider swinging by there for information on Gen Con. That's community.gencon.com.

I'm going to recommed you consider looking at this page; it sort of explains how event tickets and generic tickets work, which it something you may not be familiar with, having not attended Gen Con before:

http://www.gencon.com/about.aspx

Event reg goes live May 7th; we should receive an online catalog about a week before that; though I'm sure people here, as they do on the Gen Con forums, will talk about and promote their events even earlier than that. And check the Gen Con website as well, events will be announced there before the catalog comes out.

There's going to be a wicked good Party in the Plaza this year, to celebrate Gen Con's 40th anniversary. Historically that's been a large party open to all Gen Con attendees on Thursday night, though that hasn't been confirmed yet.

There will be RPGA events; but there will also be many many RPG sessions for which you do not have to have an RPGA membership; I go so far as to say the majority of RPG events at Gen Con do not require RPGA membership.

For your wife, I want to point out the SPA program, a program started last year, which is specifically directed to gamer spouses, but open to everyone, where we have events like cooking classes, knitting classes, last year we had karate and yoga classes, and I'm really hoping for a Kendo class this year (and FYI, I'm helping coordinate those SPA events, if anyone has an idea for some event like that, please email me at marimacc@gmail.com.)

I STRONGLY recommend you look at the website for True Dungeon, it's like no other event at any other con you've ever been to, and it would be pointless for me to even try to describe it, just watch their videos:

www.truedungeon.com

All of the events you talked about doing will be at Gen Con, and in abundance. Getting into a particular event depends on the event, and how popular it is. True Dungeon will likely sell out. Many painting seminars sell out very very quickly, some don't. But for board games like Settlers, there will be plenty of games of that running at many times. (I'd also like to personally recommend a variant run by Rogue Judges called "Vicelords of Catizzle"). Being flexible on times is the key to getting events that you want. However, know that you'll have a great time even if you don't prereg for ANY events, I've done that too.

Hope that helps; again, hope to see you on the Gen Con forums, and please feel free to email me (anyone!) who has Gen Con questions, at marimacc@gmail.com.

 

[mcrow]

You will love Gencon.

One of the many good things about Gencon is that is a great place to go and demo new game of all kinds. There are plenty of places in the dealer/publisher hall to shop. There are also a lot of cool events.

One bit of advice, if you can afford it get a room within walking distance. If you like beer and burgers you must go to The RAM. mmmmmmmmm.........beer.

 

[mhensley]

Aren't most people at Gencon virgins?

 

[Ulric]

Aren't most people at Gencon virgins?

LOL

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Believe it or not, Diplomacy is one of the easiest games to get into. I think there must be some kind of GenCon law that states Diplomacy must start every hour on the hour somewhere. I suspect your Diplomacy needs will be met.

 

[edbonny]

Aren't most people at Gencon virgins?

Genius! ROFL!!! You made me laugh!!

 

[cvrinn]

The only way you are going to guarantee 4 days of bliss for your wife is if you are not there.

I think you should pay the way for the rest of your group as well. I know I would appreciate it.

 

[Rokes]

The only way you are going to guarantee 4 days of bliss for your wife is if you are not there.

I think you should pay the way for the rest of your group as well. I know I would appreciate it.

I would have considered paying for the hotel for everyone if they could actually take time off from work...

Considering that Trisha and I got a room with only a King bed, you're not invited.

If you, or anyone else from Fortune's Fury wanted to attend, I'd gladly drive.

 

[Ghendar]

With all of this in mind, I don't want to feel rushed, and I also don't want to feel like I missed out on anything either. What advice do you have from your years of attending that could help me plan our 4 days of bliss?

Also, will they publish the catalog before they open registration for it? I'm hoping we'd at least have a couple of weeks to plan everything out? Will it be as much of a pain trying to get into sessions as it was to register for a hotel?
!

Do yourself a favor and register for all events you want ahead of time. That way you don't have to worry about will you get in or not.

Yes, some events will still have slots open even right up to starting time, but some don't. Register early and worry goes away.