Going to GenCon Indy for the first time

[Mathew_Freeman]

Attending the Ennies - on the list.

Volunteering at the Ennies booth - on the list, and as you said it'd be a great way of meeting people.

Playing in ENWorld games - very, very much on the list, for many reasons not least of which is that it'd be free, as opposed to the paid games.

If I have any time left after all of that and running one, possibly two games of my own (Esoterrorists and possibly a 4e game of some description (I have some funky house-rules I'd like to try out on people)) then I may just wander around and find some demo's and stuff to play.

What level of demo-ing goes on, in terms of tables you can just turn up at and play? I'm thinking more of board games and card games, compared to RPGs. Also, how easy is it just to find a bunch of people playing something somewhere and ask to join in?

 

[FunkBGR]

It really depends - there are some games you can just show up to, and some you'll definitely have to register ahead of time.

Fantasy Flight, for example, has a huge space, both in the dealer hall and in their Con rooms. I *think* in the dealer hall, it's meant to be demos, but the Con room is made up of regular games that you need tickets for.

What I do usually is register for a couple of games I really want demos for, then also purchase a couple generic tickets on site. Show up to the games I registered for, and maybe show up to one or two and see if they fill up. If they don't, you can use generic tickets.

Note - the above is only for GenCon games. There are a couple areas designated OPEN GAMING where you can just show up and play games. Some EnWorld/Circvs people have stopped buying badges even, because they pretty much only play the EnWorld/Circvs games or stick to the open gaming areas.

I've heard that sometimes Con-workers are sent around to the Open Gaming to see if you have a badge though. That's kind of wonky.

Anyway, it ends up being a mixed grab bag of gaming.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'm in, too. Mathew.

Booked flight and hotel yesterday, and my vacation time has been confirmed. Woohoo!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Note - the above is only for GenCon games. There are a couple areas designated OPEN GAMING where you can just show up and play games. Some EnWorld/Circvs people have stopped buying badges even, because they pretty much only play the EnWorld/Circvs games or stick to the open gaming areas.

That's what I was hoping for. I reckon I can manage to book out my time with unpaid games via ENWorld.

I'm in, too. Mathew.

Booked flight and hotel yesterday, and my vacation time has been confirmed. Woohoo!

Woohoo! A Hive meeting! FANTASTIC! Will be wonderful to meet you. What hotel? I haven't booked mine yet, nor my flight, but I'll get on it soon.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Marriot. At least for now. That's what the GenCon system offered me for the time I had in mind.

 

[invokethehojo]

Sorry everyone, I guess that was a bit of a threadjack, so I started a new thread.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I booked my hotel! Finally!

I'm booked in at the Residence Inn by Marriot on the canal, less than half a mile from the Convention Centre. I've walked around in the US in the summer before, and I'm confident that even in August heat I can manage that each day.

Let's not talk about the cost, eh? Serves me right for not getting it done before.

So, what other hotels are people booked in at? Anyone at this one with me? Also, don't forget to go to the GenCon forum and organise games. Mustrum, there's a couple of GenCon newbies games already.

C'mon August!

 

[Mark]

I booked my hotel! Finally!

I'm booked in at the Residence Inn by Marriot on the canal, less than half a mile from the Convention Centre. I've walked around in the US in the summer before, and I'm confident that even in August heat I can manage that each day.

Let's not talk about the cost, eh? Serves me right for not getting it done before.

So, what other hotels are people booked in at? Anyone at this one with me? Also, don't forget to go to the GenCon forum and organise games. Mustrum, there's a couple of GenCon newbies games already.

C'mon August!

I stayed there the first year I went to Indy. Not a bad place at all. You just need to leave an extra fifteen or twenty minutes in the morning for the walk. Make some time to walk along the canal, too. Very nice, indeed.

 

[Crothian]

Matt, when would be a good time for Og! ? I have plenty of open time so I imgaine your schedule is more full then mine.

 

[Hand of Evil]

A note on hotels, IF you want to be closer, keep a lookout for room mates needed treads here or at the GenCon forums.

If you are in on Wednesday, take the time to walk arount the convention center to get a lay of the land, this will allow you to find your games quicker, I zone my maps.