Who attends GenCon?

[tx7321]

Just curious about who here regularly attends GenCon, and who plans on going this year.
I have never attended, but would consider it if I had the time. Also, when you go to these events how much $ do you typically spend (on products), and do you find much or any support for OOP D&D (GG last year I heard ran a small run 1E module that sold out, but what about out of print stuff (are there places to pick up vintage 80s modules for instance? Also, do people run 1E/OD&D games there, or just the newer stuff (3E, C&C etc.)?

 

[Psion]

I've gone every year since it moved to indy, and plan on going again this year (this time on my own dime).

I get a badge for admissions obviously, but have yet to pay money for events. I go for the hidden "enworld" con that occurs with pickup games and parties and whatnot.

 

[paradox42]

I went every year from 1995 to 2005, but couldn't go last year due to the sorry state of my finances. This year I should be able to afford it, but am not yet sure I'll be able to get the vacation time from work. I will be trying though! Gen Con is always worth the trip when one can make it.

I've never done the "hidden ENWorld Con" myself, though I've certainly heard of it. Mostly, I've met up and played with old friends I've known since my college days.

 

[Matchstick]

I've gone the past two years and had a great time. I've played mostly in ENWorld games, they're a great way to meet other members and I think the game quality is very high. I also meet a bunch of non-ENWorld friends at Gen Con so I don't get to do a lot of ENWorlding outside of the games.

There's always stores on the floor selling old modules etc. I always look for the old Iron Crown Tolkien modules/books. I'm pretty sure you could find at least one game of old time D&D, but most likely more.

Money, well it's difficult to tell. I'm not a big spender, but going out to eat for most meals isn't cheap. The floor has lots of cool stuff too. Really though, if you drove and brought food, and had great control of impulse buying on the dealer floor, you could get out of there for just the price of admission, hotel and gas. And that's not too bad.

 

[Desdichado]

I'll be going, and like Psion, I'll be going for the hidden ENWorld/CM con, not so much the official events. I'm not actually planning on buying that much product. Most of the stuff that they sell is either already available or soon will be, probably at a lower price, if I'm just a little patient. That said, I'm sure I'll pick up something or another. It'd be a shame not to.

 

[Alzrius]

I've gone every year since 1996 (with the exception of 1998), and I've never once regretted it. I find that, after taking food, lodging, and travel into account, I prefer to have at least $500 on hand for impulse purchasing right on the convention floor, and even then, that's pretty minimal.

Still, Gen Con is the highlight of my year, and I wouldn't miss it for anything!

 

[DaveyJones]

I've gone every year since 1996 (with the exception of 1998), and I've never once regretted it. I find that, after taking food, lodging, and travel into account, I prefer to have at least $500 on hand for impulse purchasing right on the convention floor, and even then, that's pretty minimal.

Still, Gen Con is the highlight of my year, and I wouldn't miss it for anything!

and Alzrius is a great travel companion. he rode with me last year.

i plan on going again this year.

but my trips to Gen Con over the last 22 years have been spotty.

 

[T. Foster]

I went every year from 1988-97 (all in Milwaukee). It was great. I was able to play in tons of fun games (especially elaborate minis games no one in my area would've had the resources to put on), meet industry luminaries formally (in seminars), casually (in the dealer room), and in a gaming context (in demos and publisher-sponsored tournaments), and in the pre-ebay era the GenCon auction was absolutely unparalleled as a place to pick up oop and collectible games (probably 75+% of my collection was purchased there).

I haven't been since I moved to California (even though GCSC is right down the road I haven't bothered to go to it). I have a strong suspicion if I went now it wouldn't feel the same (it was already starting not to in the last year or two I went -- a lot more cards and computer-gaming and anime and general sci-fi-fandom stuff (and a lot more people!); less old-school boardgaming, minis, and rpgs) and wouldn't live up to my childhood memories.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I went for the first time last year and now I'm hooked -- I can't wait to go back again this year.

If you are a systems junkie, it's easy to go hog-wild and spend a ton. If you're wed to the older stuff, there were at least two (that I can specifically remembers) vendors dealing in used stuff from most any system. The bulk of the 'official' games are D20 or related, but there were a lot of other games being run too.

 

[Treebore]

Repeat of what Rodrigo said for me.