How do I love GenCon? Let me count the ways!

[Pielorinho]

Yeah, in this case it worked out well. But what if it hadn't--for example, if the DM had refused to let me hand my character over to the guy (For a minute it looked like he was going to refuse)? There's a good chance I would have left anyway, but I'm not sure what Emily Post would have advised: would staying in the game for the remaining three hours, and missing another really fun game, have been my obligation?

Daniel

 

[Kanegrundar]

I would say no. You're at the con to have fun. If you're not having fun, then what's the point? I would have fiegned a stomach ache and bowed out. No hurt feelings, and it gets you out of a game that you really didn't want to be a part of.

Kane

 

[CarlZog]

This was my second GenCon, but it was a totally different experience from the first one a couple years ago.

EnWorld was the difference. The people, the booth, the Ennies, the pickup games, the Canadiana Suite...It was like another whole con happening on some parallel plane.

It was great to meet everybody in person. I spent quite a bit of time with the Universe and QueenD, who are just astoundingly cool people.

The superhero cape for behind-the-scenes work belongs to Dextra, for more reasons than I can count. Hearing her on Sunday, already talking about next year's Ennies, was pretty inspiring. This hobby and the industry that supports it are very lucky to have her around.

I packed my schedule with gaming, but managed to play in nothing but amazingly fun games. Next year, I'll need to juggle even harder to fit in more pickups. I was bummed I didn't sign up in time for Crothian's Paranoia game, especially after talking it up so much the night before when there was still space!

Rel's Sky Galleons was a blast. His aerial rules were some of the best use of ship minis I've ever played in an rpg. And the plot-twisting epilogue was pretty sweet!

Other really notable games included, but are not limited to:

Pulp Cthulhu. This 1930's adventure was incredibly well run, with amazing props and a co-GM who handled sidebars.

Frat Boys vs. the Martians. The title pretty much says it all. We used the "Quick Ass Game System" QAGS, which is my new favorite system for silly stuff. Laughing til we literally fell out of our chairs was the perfect last game!

All around this was a great con. Thanks everybody.

Carl

 

[Psion]

This was my second GenCon, but it was a totally different experience from the first one a couple years ago.

EnWorld was the difference. The people, the booth, the Ennies, the pickup games, the Canadiana Suite...It was like another whole con happening on some parallel plane.

Ayup. It's like GenCon is an excuse to have an ENWorld get together. With a "cash bar" of gaming goodies that is the exhibit hall.

 

[Henry]

...I'm not sure what Emily Post would have advised: would staying in the game for the remaining three hours, and missing another really fun game, have been my obligation?

I'm unsure about Dear Emily, but the Henry Link school of etiquette would have deemed a Vulcan eyebrow raise (and leaving the table quietly) as appropriate.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Hey! Very tired today, but happy to have met a few ENWorlders around (Justin, Ashanderai, Psion, Glassjaw - hi Chris!) while I was busy with the Arcana Evolved tournament. Next year I hope to find the Canadiana suite and meet more folks. Awesome con.

 

[Crothian]

Next year, I'm thinking of organizing some night get togethers that are not run by Denise and Hound. They do agreat job, but it is a lot of work and they deserve to have some nights free to do what they want to do.

 

[Buttercup]

Yeah, in this case it worked out well. But what if it hadn't--for example, if the DM had refused to let me hand my character over to the guy (For a minute it looked like he was going to refuse)? There's a good chance I would have left anyway, but I'm not sure what Emily Post would have advised: would staying in the game for the remaining three hours, and missing another really fun game, have been my obligation?

Let me preface my comments by saying that you are clearly a much nicer person than I am, so perhaps you should keep that in mind while reading my recommendation.

If you paid for the game, then you are the customer. If it stinks, you should leave. You have no obligation to stay and waste 4 hours on inferior service, which is what a crappy game amounts to. Had I been in your shoes, I would have done the same thing, but I probably would have attempted to find someone to complain to. That DM was providing a lousy experience for a whole table of gamers. Odds are that they don't have the same options you do for getting into fun games (since I'm assuming they weren't EN World members). This experience might have been bad enough that they won't come back to GenCon. I feel certain Peter Adkison wants attendees to have a positive experience--he's a nice guy as well as an astute businessman.

Conclusion? You would be doing a favor to your tablemates to report an idiot DM like that guy.

 

[the Lorax]

Wow, sounds like everyone had as great time there as I did. As Gen Con #22 for me, this one was pretty darn good. Nothing, however beats the first time, and as it is much larger now than it was in '82 I can only imagine how amazing it is to go for the first time now.

I spent almost all my time in a game. Dinners? Talking to people late at night? Didn't happen. It was "Game ON!" from 8am til 1-2am then crash to get up at 6:30 and start getting ready for the new day of gaming. I wish I had taken the time to meet up with other ENWorld people, as it seems that you all had a great time. I know that I have friends that I only see at Gen Con or Origins, and I look forward to seeing them every year.

I do love Gen Con, and always feel excited and nervous on Wednesday, and am always sad on Sunday.

The swag and deals were good this year, better than it has been in a while.

Indianapolis seems to be getting used to us and is starting to show the welcome that Milwaukee did - this is good.

I was amused on Saturday night when the Gaming Geeks were intermingled with the Football Geeks, each wearing their own special identifiying shirts.


Now its time to unpack and clean up the mess left behind at home - with any luck everything will be back to normal in time to go to DragonCon!

 

[Buttercup]

Next year, I'm thinking of organizing some night get togethers that are not run by Denise and Hound. They do agreat job, but it is a lot of work and they deserve to have some nights free to do what they want to do.

You're right. They also have children with them, and being the excellent parents they are, I'm sure they would relish a bit of private time for the family. Let's put our heads together and see what we can do.