You’ve decided to go a convention! Here's some advice on how to get the most out of the con you pick.
One Polish gaming friend of mine who taught herself how to play D&D from the books, and then got a group of her girlfriends together to join her. One day they discovered a convention was going on nearby and so thought they’d visit to meet other gamers. Given the games were all about storytelling and character they wondered if there were any boys playing these games. They were somewhat surprised at the demographic when they stepped into the con.
While the big ones are amazing, much of this advice applies to the smaller cons too and you can often warm up with one of these if crowds and noise are not your favourite things.
Your Turn: That’s just the introduction, what advice do you have for a first time con goer, and what do you wish you’d known before your first con?
Be Prepared, Take Care
Convention season is upon us, and there are both large and small gaming cons all over the place. If you’ve never been to one they are usually well worth a visit as it’s an opportunity to experience gaming outside the bubble of your own group. How other people play can be surprisingly different.One Polish gaming friend of mine who taught herself how to play D&D from the books, and then got a group of her girlfriends together to join her. One day they discovered a convention was going on nearby and so thought they’d visit to meet other gamers. Given the games were all about storytelling and character they wondered if there were any boys playing these games. They were somewhat surprised at the demographic when they stepped into the con.
While the big ones are amazing, much of this advice applies to the smaller cons too and you can often warm up with one of these if crowds and noise are not your favourite things.
Budget Carefully
While cons are a lot of fun, they can be expensive. The ticket itself isn’t usually very expensive, but travel and hotel accommodation can add up, especially for the larger and longer cons. So if the con isn’t a local one you will need to budget, and not just for how many games you can buy. Thankfully many hotels allow you to fit an extra person in and if you pool your resources a little it can sometimes work out. But do make sure you are aware of all the costs before grabbing a ticket, if you are not close enough to just drive in.Try something you’ve played
Cons usually have a host of games being run in every shape and size. A good thing to start on is one you know. Something familiar will be a lot easier to jump into, especially if playing with a group of strangers is intimidating. It also gives you a good opportunity to see how someone else plays or runs that game. You can often learn a lot from other people’s play styles and you might discover a new way to enjoy a game you thought you knew.Try something you’ve never played
Once you have the measure of con games, the next step is to try something you haven’t played. There are plenty of games out there and a con game is a very good way to ‘try before you buy’. The game might be something you can’t talk your usual group into, or something you’ve heard about a lot but never got round to. It might also be one you’ve read but haven’t quite figured out how it runs. If you are a forever GM, you might just enjoy the experience of playing a game!Check out the Cosplay
While this counts for some cons more than others, there is a lot of very cool cosplay going on these days. Plenty of people put in some amazing effort that deserves to be seen. You can do the same as most cons encourage dressing up, even if it’s just a little. Most cosplayers will be happy to pose for a photo of chat about their costume and how they made it (as long as you approach people politely). Also remember, cosplay is not consent and always behave respectfully (to everyone actually).Check out the dealer hall
A con is always a great place to buy stuff, especially if you don’t have a local games store. Even if you do there may be a few early release products or vintage ones you can get hold of. While there will be plenty of games available, these days there is an ocean of accessories, and not just for games. There are potion bottles, dice bags, weird crystal things, notebooks, jewellery and even gaming soap. So don’t just look at the books (although do look at the books!).Chat to creators
It’s always worth checking the name badge of anyone you get talking to. Plenty of creators and games producers join in to work the stand or enjoy the con. They are usually happy to talk about the games they are working on and tell you more about what might be planned or how they play the game. It’s a great way to get some insight into your favourite game, and maybe surprise the creator with a new way to play.Try something non-gaming
The very large cons sometimes have all manner of non-gaming options and events going on. Gen Con particularly has a ‘spouse track’ for non-gaming other halves to get involved in. The array can be both intriguing and diverse so it is worth taking a look at these events as well as your gaming favourites. It may also be a way to get your non-gaming friends to join in. A friend of mine’s mother went to do flower arranging at Gen Con to pass the time, but got a little bored so looked at the figure painting. An hour later she’d bought a set of paints and brushes and some cool figures and was looking forward to getting home and painting.Remember to eat/sleep/shower
This one should go without saying and comes under the category of self-care as much as anything else. You can’t go for days without food or sleep. Sure, you may get less of both given how much there is to do, but know your limits. If you take time to shower and eat and get at least a half decent night’s sleep (in a bed, not the convention corridors) you will have a more enjoyable con and be much more pleasant to be around.Your Turn: That’s just the introduction, what advice do you have for a first time con goer, and what do you wish you’d known before your first con?
