Is Gen Con worth going to?

[Thyrkill]

I have been a gamer for over 20 years now and have never been to a Gaming Con (yes, I know...sacrilidge). Now, after all this time, I seem to have the urge to go to one. I have been to several industry cons but never a purely gaming one.

I live out here in California and wanted to see if it would be worth the trip. I know Gen Con is the "premiere" con of the year but I would like to hear some of your opinions about it.

Thanks very much,

Thyrkill

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

It depends on what you want to do.

I went two years ago for the first time, and just spent one day in the vendor area, buying stuff....

Last year, I went for the entire four days. I planned my schedule very carefully, so I could go see some of the speakers, etc.

But when I got there, I just played games (mostly RPGA D&D, but some CoC, too), bought stuff, and played demo games in the vendor area. I got to meet some of the Reaper people (becaue I was buying stuff from their booth) and some of the Dwarven Forge people when they came over to talk to Sandra Garritty (sculptor extraordinaire) while I was talking to her.

I did go to one seminar - the Epic Levels one - and that was very interesting. So, if there are upcoming products you are interested in, you can get a great sneak peak at GenCon (either in an official seminar, hanging out in the vendor room, or networking with the other professionals there).

It's really big, but you can also get that "just a bunch of nice people" feeling--at least I did.

You can do a *lot* of networking, if you're "in the industry" and you can meet a lot of neat people, regardless of your "role" at GenCon.

As a Milwaukee resident, I'll buy you a drink if you come out for GenCon!

If you don't like crowds, avoid it like the plague!

 

[Mark]

It's a blast and well worth going!

Barendd- Don't hold out on him. Tell the story of the "beardless dwarf". It's one of those thins that could only happen at a convention and all the more reason to go!

 

[Teflon Billy]

I enjoyed it to certain degree. The Con itself was the low point of the weekend for me. Everything was already booked out long, long before I had a chance to register (RPGA folks get to register before the general public), so there wasn't a lot to to, game-wise.

The one RPG I got to play in (sort of a "GURPS Modern" type thing) was dominated by a loud middle aged guy who had no real "plan" for getting anything done, but certainly enjoyed playing the hard ass. Lame

I got to run a Klingon D-7 in a truly huge drop-in game of Star Fleet battles, which was a lot of fun, but holy crap was I outclassed by the acutal SFB players. These guys live on this game the way I live on food and water.

What I really liked was all of the parties. I had a great time riding the coattails of a Big Shot industry friend of mine into hospitaility suites, and hitting the bars and nightclubs with artist friends

The Safe House (if you haven't already heard) rules

I had a really good time at Gen Con, but given the company I was keeping, I think I would likely have a had a good time even if there had been no Convention at all.

 

[JDragon]

Check out Local Con First!!

Thrykill - If you want to check out a Con, go to DunDraCon in San Ramon in 2 weeks over Pres Weekend. (www.dundracon.com)

Its not GenCon but it will give you an idea of what cons are like and if they are something you would want to continue doing.

I have been attanding DDC for almost 10 of my 15 years playing and do what ever is needed to make sure I don't miss it.

Email me if you want more info.

JDragon

 

[Henry@home]

I liked it so much my first time in 1993, that I returned in 1995, 1999, and 2000! The first three times I drove 900 miles each way for that trip, and loved it. I loved the plane ride much better.

If you are in your teens or early twenties, take a group of gaming friends with you (if you can convince them). It's so much fun with friends that enjoy it same as you.

If you have a girlfriend or spouse who doesn't game, there are plenty of attractions to see in the area besides Gencon, and the weather is always perfect in August there - around the mid-70's to high-60's. Make it a family week vacation thing and just be sure to spend friday, saturday, and sunday at the con.

Sign up for plenty of games, because the experience of gaming with people you would never otherwise meet from across the world is not to be missed.

Unfortunately, all this info applies to Gencon for this year only - the last year it will be in Milwaukee. After it moves in 2003 to Indianapolis, IN, I have no clue what it will be like. Hopefully, I'll be there that first year to find out!

 

[EOL]

I would highly recommend going it's an enormous amount of fun, but I would also recommend learning as much as possible before you go so you can get the biggest bang for you buck. My advice is register early because stuff fills up really fast.

 

[Black Omega]

Well worth going. I'd gone to five Gencons in a row before having to skip this last year. I'm definitely catching the last one in Milwaukee. The dealers area is great, as are the guests and many of the seminars. The games are a mixed bag. A few are great. Many only have novelty value for playing with people you've never met before. Some truly suck. The last time I was there it was fun, someone had a Everquest set up and people who had travled a thousand miles from home to the con where spending hours playing their EQ characters, just like they could at home.

The move to Indianapolis should only help it. More room for gaming, more hotel space, a more con friendly atmosphere. But then I live in Indy, I'm biased.

 

[Hand of Evil]

GENCON is like nothing I had been to before.

The first year I went I did not know what to expect, I did not sign up for anything just picked up generic tickets. That was the first year it was in Milwaukee, I have been to 15 now.

I have always enjoyed myself and found it worth it.

You have to ask yourself what you are looking for.

 

[herald]

BEST

CON

EVER!