What keeps you from going to GenCon?

[MoogleEmpMog]

I'm not a big convention-goer, nor terribly fond of travel, nor, for that matter, eager to spend more time on gaming and gaming-related activities than I already do.

One of these years it would be fun to encounter the attendant ENWorlders there, and from a business perspective I suppose sucking up... erm, giving rightful props to... the industry giants would be wise.

 

[Psion]

I'm waiting for someone to tell me something like they could buy so many more gaming books with the money they would have spent...

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Money for the trip, far more than money for the convention itself. From where I am, DragonCon in Hotlanta is just much easier to get to.

 

[sjmiller]

Let's see, I am not going to GenCon this year (like most years) because:
1. It happens during the time I am performing at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
2. It's bloody expensive! More so now that I do not know anyone who lives near it.
3. Gamer funk. Need I say more?
4. I'm a tad claustrophobic, and big crowds really set it off.

I've been wanting to go to GenCon since the early 80s, when my only impediments were inability to drive and lack of money.

 

[Teflon Billy]

septic tank. i just paid $4500 for a new septic tank.

You aren't going?

Crap. I'd heard that last year you were trying to get a pickup game of 1E going, and was sorry I had missed it.

 

[Andre]

There are a number of reasons that add up to not going:

1. My few experiences with other conventions were not satisfying. Too many people, too little space, not much fun gaming with a bunch of strangers. Very disorganized, lots of politics, the typical stuff too many conventions seem to suffer from.

2. Too many horror stories about GenCon in the past few years. The last two years were, IIRC, veritable nightmares for many people who spent a lot of money, time, and energy to go. The initial problems with registration this year convinced me that more needs to be done before I'll take a chance.

3. I expect to start a new job in the next couple weeks. Asking for time off during the final interview doesn't usually leave a good impression (unless the manager is a gamer going to GenCon... )

4. I'm just not as in to "geeking out" as I was 25 years ago. Maybe I'm just getting old - or worse, finally growing up.

Nah...

 

[reveal]

septic tank. i just paid $4500 for a new septic tank.

You aren't going?

Crap.

Is that supposed to be a joke?

 

[Psion]

You aren't going?

Crap.

Well he is. That's the problem.

 

[Psion]

Is that supposed to be a joke?

Argh! Scooped!

 

[reveal]

Well he is. That's the problem.

Damn diaglo and his efficient bowels!