Tell Me About GENCON...

[Desdichado]

Any other tips and/or words of wisdom?

Check out Quickbeam's Cthulhu game -- fellow ENWorlder, darn good guy, and good Cthulhu GM. He tries to run one every year, although I haven't talked to him about it this year.

I may be coming for the first time this year too, with any luck (geez, guess I better decide pretty quick) and I'd certainly be up for some impromptu ENWorlder one-shots.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

1) How quickly do games fill up? I am not in the RPGA, so those games are out...but if we wait until April or May to register, how screwed are we?

Regester asap. Games fill up VERY quickly, so if you really want in on something, make sure you get your regestration in fast.

2) Hotels. Where have you stayed and which one(s) did you like/dislike? Also, how quick do the rooms fill up (again, if we wait to register until April/May...will we have residency problems)? Room costs are not a huge issue for me...I would rather pay more for convenience and comfort if that helps narrow rooming choices down.

I have stayed at the Best Western City Center the past two years. It's 2 blocks from the convention center on the opposite side from all the other hotels, but it's a bit cheaper and the parking is FREE. Did you hear that? FREE parking. that will save you about $60-80 right off the bat if you stay 4 nights. Plus, they have suites which make for nice downtime when you need to get away from all the gamers and just crash for a few hours. It's quiet too, unlike many of the other hotels I walked through.

In fact, I'm staying there again. I just booked my room online, before everything disappears. Easier to book it direct than dealing with the convention registration system, and there are no cancellation fees either if something changes (it's $50 to change or cancel the reservation through GenCon)

3) Informal Gaming. One of the driving factors behind hitting GENCON for several of us is the potential to get together with other ENWorlders for food, fun and dice throwing. Besides the "Get Together" and the Ennies, have you done open gaming with other ENWorlders or pretty much stuck to the program?

I hung out with ENWorlders the entire convention. Games with Buttercup and Truth Seeker this past year, played Pirates of the Spanish Main with Teflon Billy and Stone Angel, and went through True Dungeon with Stone Angel. Played some board games with other ENWorlders as well. There were lots of other informal EN World rpgs that happened as well. Also, went to dinner with a whole crew of people before the ENNies, and went out to the Red Garter after with the a crew of ner' do wells like Teflon Billy, Jester47, Hellhound, etc. There is plenty of time to see, talk, game, eat, goof off, etc. with ENWorlders.

Any other tips and/or words of wisdom?

Get a hotel room that has a fridge and microwave, it'll save you some money. Make sure you go back to the room for an hour or two each day to take a nap or just rest and read for a while. Try games you never thought you'd play, just because they are there-You never know what you might find and have a new favorite game. Don't carry too much stuff, it gets heavey by the end of the day. Visit the Keepers website as linked by Henry, it's a lifesaver.

 

[Hand of Evil]

2/14?

OK, I had it my overfull mellon that it was 2/12...no problem !

Thanks for the response thus far and for the clarification on the Pre-Reg vs. Game Sign-Up.

~ OO

2/14 at 12 noon PST.

I am not going this year

 

[der_kluge]

Back from lunch, so I can provide some more info on the gaming at Gencon.

This is typically what happens - on the first day, people stand in really, really long lines waiting to register for games. While in line, they're perusing the catalog, looking over all the options, and choosing the ones they want. By the time they get up to the desk, the person informs them that 75% of them are full, and they have to select other options. Pwned!

Instead, I wouldn't worry about it. Like I said, in the past I've gamed very little, and been perfectly happy. There are enough pick-up games, and ENWorlders who are happy to just go off and game somewhere that registering for games is for newbies (IMO).

Then there are generic tickets. If you sign up for games, they typically cost money (like $2.50 for a 4-hour slot). For these, you basically buy tickets and each ticket costs $1.25, so a game requires two tickets. If you just want tickets, but not to specific games, you can buy generic tickets. It typically takes two tickets to play a game, and if a game has open slots when it starts, you can supply the generic tickets and play the game.

Here's the problem - games start on a regular basis, like 8am, noon, 4 o'clock, etc. So, let's say you're wanting to play some game and you've got your generic tickets in hand. You find the location of the game, go and stand around, and sit at the table. The GM shows up, and then asks who has tickets to the event. Those that actually registered for that specific event are given precedence, while those with generics are taken on a first come, first serve basis if there are openings. Sometimes you can get into a game this way, but sometimes you can not. So, if you're standing there at 4:00 (or whenever) and the GM says, sorry, the game is full, I'm not taking any more generics, you're left standing there in the cold. And, furthermore, it's now about 4:15 and not only did you not get into that game, every other game that was scheduled to start at 4:00 has already started, and you're screwed out of being able to play in those as well, so you have to wait until the next time slot, which is probably 4 hours away.

I was very very disappointed in the pick-up games area in '03, but I heard it was much improved in '04 (I couldn't go last year). The pick-up games area should, in theory (this was how it worked in Milwaukee, and it was great) had a guy that more or less organized it. So, you could go up and ask "any games starting?" and he could point you to a couple of tables that had games that were currently rolling up characters, or something and you could go and see if they had more openings. Games were starting up all the time in that area, so it was never a big deal to find one. Or better yet, run your own game. People will just show up to play, and in no short order you've got a full table, and you're ready to go.

Which I think is the ultimate truth to GenCon - those who GM are never short on being able to find a game to participate in, because you can just run your own!


All this talk of GenCon is making me excited, btw.

 

[IronWolf]

GENCON Vets,
1) How quickly do games fill up? I am not in the RPGA, so those games are out...but if we wait until April or May to register, how screwed are we?

There are tons of games going on to meet anyones fancy at GenCon, but don't let not being an RPGA member keep you from an RPGA game you may be interested in. They will sign you up on the spot and its free.

 

[francisca]

All this talk of GenCon is making me excited, btw.

Woah!!!!! Little too much information there, buddy!

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Ah, GenCon. The four days a year when I'm not only not in the top one percentile of geekdom, I'm somewhere close to the bottom.

 

[Mark]

Pace yourself. You can't do it all so enjoy what you do. Do things well.

Only carry books in your backpack that you absolutely need. Otherwise, it will get severely heavy.

If you must, at some times, carry a heavy load then use a two-wheel luggage cart. Invaluable and you won't be running anyway if you make sure you plan well (or simply can't ). Scope out the layouts of the hotels and convention center for elevators and escalators. It's very rare that you won't be able to find one along any route due to modern building codes.

Wear comfortable shoes

Great wisdom in these words. It ain't a fashion show. Wear them and bring at least two pair of your most comfortable shoes. Alternate them at mid day if you can. It's amazing what five minutes off your feet with your shoes off, perhaps a quick tub soak, and then a fresh pair of socks and shoes can do to give older feet a great deal of convention longevity.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

You know what, GenCon needs Footsiewootsie. I use thease at the local Youth Fair, and they are GREAT after a day on your feet!

 

[Buttercup]

1) How quickly do games fill up? I am not in the RPGA, so those games are out...but if we wait until April or May to register, how screwed are we?

Pretty quickly. But it doesn't matter, because see my response to number 3.

2) Hotels. Where have you stayed and which one(s) did you like/dislike? Also, how quick do the rooms fill up (again, if we wait to register until April/May...will we have residency problems)? Room costs are not a huge issue for me...I would rather pay more for convenience and comfort if that helps narrow rooming choices down.

Embassy Suites has a free breakfast buffet and happy hour every day, which can save you a bundle if you're a big eater and not too picky. If you're a foodie though, skip it because the vittles are mediocre at best. I strongly recommend staying close by rather than miles away. There are more than enough hotel rooms in walking distance from the convention center that this should be no problem.

3) Informal Gaming. One of the driving factors behind hitting GENCON for several of us is the potential to get together with other ENWorlders for food, fun and dice throwing. Besides the "Get Together" and the Ennies, have you done open gaming with other ENWorlders or pretty much stuck to the program?

This is the best part. My recommendation is to plan a one-shot and post here to get a roster of players before you go. If enough of us prepare a game, we should all have plenty of options as players too! Share and share alike, eh?

Any other tips and/or words of wisdom?

First off, don't be shy! If you think it would be fun to go to dinner with a bunch of EN World folks, don't wait for them to invite you, find a restaurant, pick a time and start asking the people whose company you want. This goes for gaming, sight-seeing and everything else too. You'll have the most fun if you take the initiative.

Second, find out when WotC is having their party, and go get some swag! Last year they gave away nice posters, tote bags and t-shirts.

Third, do not miss the dealer hall, and bring cash. The convention center charges vendors for every little thing, so many small publishers cannot afford to pay for the capability to accept credit cards. There are cash machines at the convention center, but these have been known to run out.