Tell Me About GENCON...

[Quickbeam]

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.

That was a very nice thing to say, especially since I've become near invisible on the Boards of late.

In response, I will definitely be running a game (or two) again this year. Maybe one Cthulhu and one d20 Modern.

And after ages of not chatting with you Old One, here's my two cents:
** There are plenty of fine hotels within walking distance. Spend about 15 minutes browsing your otpions through the GenCon website and select one based on your criteria. Some folks prefer proximity over price, others want a swimming pool or HUGE rooms with sleeper sofas for cramming extra people into one room. I'd take care of making reservations by March if having a broad selection matters to you.
** When it comes time to register for games, jump on it!! Last year, my buddies and I were a bit remiss and got blocked from playing several of our primary options. That said, if you like trying new systems/games, the more obscure options tend to fill up less rapidly and present a perfect forum for RPG dabbling. One other note on this point -- do NOT register for more than two games in any one day if you want to maximize your GenCon experience. My first year, I packed my days with games and events and had almost no time to browse the dealer hall; pop into open seminars; visit the art displays or playtest new games. I still regret that decision. Leave yourself some flex time and really soak things in!!
** Carry bottled water, and be ready to do lots of walking around.

 

[The_Universe]

We will be staying at the Westin - AAA travel currently has access to a rate of 155/night there - I highly recommend talking to a travel agent. As of friday afternoon (2/11/05) the rate would theoretically be available up to three weeks before the event - assuming that there are unbooked rooms to be had, of course.

How does that compare to the Gen Con rate? (I realize that we won't know what the Pre-registration rate is until tomorrow )

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

We will be staying at the Westin - AAA travel currently has access to a rate of 155/night there - I highly recommend talking to one.

How does that compare to the Gen Con rate? (I realize that we won't know what the Pre-registration rate is until tomorrow )

It's probably about the same, or maybe a little cheaper. But you are better off even if it's only a little cheaper. If you book through GenCon and need to change or cancel your reservations, it'll cost you $50. If you book on your own, you don't get charged any fees. That's enough for me to book my own room outside of the GenCon reservation system.

 

[Old One]

That was a very nice thing to say, especially since I've become near invisible on the Boards of late.

In response, I will definitely be running a game (or two) again this year. Maybe one Cthulhu and one d20 Modern.

And after ages of not chatting with you Old One, here's my two cents:

Quickbeam, my lad, how are ya?

Thanks for the two cents and more...

~ OO

 

[Old One]

Thanks, All...

Thanks for everyone's comments, tips, room comments, etc...

Trying to synthesize everything down...

(1) If I (we) hold off a week or two before registering, will we be OK for most of the larger hotets (Westin, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott) or do those get snapped up really quickly? I may not have a final decision made on attendance until around March 1st...how big a problem is that likely to be?

(2) They don't release the games until later on...so not a problem.

(3) One of the main reasons I would be attending is to meet, hang out with, game with and drink beer with (not necessarily in that order) with ENWorlders that I have corresponded with over the last (gasp) 4 years. I would much rather play in a pick-up game with fellow ENWorlders than a group of unknowns.

Along those lines...how "organized" are ENWorlder get togethers? I know there is usually a big "meet and greet" and the Ennies...but is there anything beyond that?

Thanks again for everyone's input...Rel and I appreciate it!

~ OO

 

[Buttercup]

(1) If I (we) hold off a week or two before registering, will we be OK for most of the larger hotets (Westin, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott) or do those get snapped up really quickly? I may not have a final decision made on attendance until around March 1st...how big a problem is that likely to be?

Probably you'll be fine, but even if all the convention hotels are booked, I'm sure you can find something a little farther out. There are plenty of hotel rooms in Indy for all of us! However, it might be a better idea to book a hotel room today, but not through the GenCon system, just get online and do it on your own. Then if you decide not to come you can cancel without it costing you anything.

(2) They don't release the games until later on...so not a problem.

Yup. So nope.

Along those lines...how "organized" are ENWorlder get togethers? I know there is usually a big "meet and greet" and the Ennies...but is there anything beyond that?

It really isn't organized. Last year we had an official Ennies booth, and you could pretty much stop by there any time and find someone to hang out with. I din't know if we're having a booth again this year. I hope so! If you put together a one-shot, my advice to you is to book players online before we all head to Indy. Or, as I said upthread, if there are people you especially want to spend time with, take the initiative and make a date!

 

[Hand of Evil]

Thanks for everyone's comments, tips, room comments, etc...

Trying to synthesize everything down...

(1) If I (we) hold off a week or two before registering, will we be OK for most of the larger hotets (Westin, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott) or do those get snapped up really quickly? I may not have a final decision made on attendance until around March 1st...how big a problem is that likely to be?

(2) They don't release the games until later on...so not a problem.

(3) One of the main reasons I would be attending is to meet, hang out with, game with and drink beer with (not necessarily in that order) with ENWorlders that I have corresponded with over the last (gasp) 4 years. I would much rather play in a pick-up game with fellow ENWorlders than a group of unknowns.

Along those lines...how "organized" are ENWorlder get togethers? I know there is usually a big "meet and greet" and the Ennies...but is there anything beyond that?

Thanks again for everyone's input...Rel and I appreciate it!

~ OO

The ENWorlders are a wonderful group of people, Buttercup, Mark, Turth Seeker, Rangerwicket, TB, Cthulhu's Librarian, BK, and so many others are out standing. Last year ENWorld had an 'desk' out side the dealer room to meet and greet but also to meet for such as going to lunch/dinner/drinks, then there was the ENnies, then BK orginized a dinner at the RAM, the there are the splinter groups that meet, game and dinner, just be there and hook up, most of the hotels will have gaming tables out.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

... and the count down begins.

Who's getting their badge today?

 

[Hand of Evil]

... and the count down begins.

Who's getting their badge today?

not going this year...

 

[The_Universe]

The ENWorlders are a wonderful group of people, Buttercup, Mark, Turth Seeker, Rangerwicket, TB, Cthulhu's Librarian, BK, and so many others are out standing. Last year ENWorld had an 'desk' out side the dealer room to meet and greet but also to meet for such as going to lunch/dinner/drinks, then there was the ENnies, then BK orginized a dinner at the RAM, the there are the splinter groups that meet, game and dinner, just be there and hook up, most of the hotels will have gaming tables out.

Not only will the hotels have gaming tables available, but there were *always* available tables in one of the gaming rooms at the Con - there's *no way* you could fail to find space to game in.

I second the recommendation to make hotel reservations soon - they're not going to run out of rooms entirely, but the sooner you make reservations, the better - if money is an issue, I recommend trying the Hampton Inn (2 blocks from the Con). It's where we stayed last year, and it was a great place to be - we opted for closer this year just to see if we liked it better.