Would You Go to GenCon Solo?

[Greg K]

Both times, I went solo to Gen Con SoCal although, the second time, I, temporarily, met up with people here and there. If I was willing to go to another Gen Con (not a fan of their structure), I would have no problem going solo.

 

[Morrus]

I wouldn't, but then it's a transatlantic trip for me - and I tend to make a week or two's holiday out of it.

 

[Piratecat]

Heading to GenCon by yourself means that it's that much easier to meet new friends. I've found the people at EN World and Circvs Maximvs games/parties to be pretty much nothing but kind and welcoming. It's simple to fill up your schedule with games from people you've already met online.

 

[CharlesRyan]

I think it's quite doable. There's so much to keep yourself busy with, and you're going to meet zillions of people while there. You'll have a blast!

 

[Hand of Evil]

Never have gone by myself, distance and cost being the issue but have thought about it long and hard. The most people I have been to GenCon was 9 but mostly it has been me and one other gamer.

The pros of more that one person:

• Someone to hang with - sometimes a wing man is a good thing
• Reduction in cost -
• Backup driver & someone to talk to for 10 hours on the road (for me)

The cons of just one person:

• Someone to hang with - deciding what to do, you can be talk out of something you want to do
• Increase of cost
• Long drive by-yourself

I do think it is possible, as long as you make friends and know other people well enough not to feel like a third wheel.

 

[Morrus]

Never have gone by myself, distance and cost being the issue but have thought about it long and hard. The most people I have been to GenCon was 9 but mostly it has been me and one other gamer.


The pros:

• Someone to hang with - sometimes a wing man is a good thing
• Reduction in cost
• Backup driver & someone to talk to for 10 hours on the road (for me)

The cons:

• Someone to hang with - deciding what to do, you can be talk out of something you want to do
• Increase of cost
• Long drive by-yourself

How can it be a reduction in cost AND an increase of cost?

 

[Hand of Evil]

How can it be a reduction in cost AND an increase of cost?

The pros of more that one person / The cons of just one person:

 

[Morrus]

The pros of more that one person / The cons of just one person:

But you have "someone to hang out with" as a con. You're just trying to confuse me now!

 

[BriarMonkey]

Of the times I've been to GenCon, I've only done the travel/share-room thing once. (And it was fine, as there was only the two of us.) All the other times I have traveled and had a room to myself - and I stayed down town at the Marriott too (yay for gerbil tunnels!).

Honestly, there is just so much to do that if you spend half a moment of trying, you won't get bored nor lack for like-minded fellowship. True, the cost could be an issue with just a single traveler (the last time I went I drove roundtrip from Portland OR to Indy and stayed at the Marriott, which including spending money and con fees, ran about 3000$), but that is a decision one must make for themselves. However, don't do what you did last time - an over crowded room is not a good time for anyone.

So yeah, going solo can be just as fun as going with a group - just a different dynamic.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I've gone solo maybe five times (20 percent or so), and it was fine.

I noticed I actually tend to do more gaming (two or three slots a day, rather than one or two slots a day) when I'm on my own, though I'm not entirely sure why that is. It might be as simple as not having to, for example, wait for the other guy to finish his breakfast before heading out.

I have a lot of friends whom I only see at GenCon, so there's no lack of social interaction if I'm on my own. If that weren't true, I don't think I'd enjoy going on my own.

That said, I do usually go with the same friend, year after year, and I enjoy the "deconstruction of the con" talks we have. It's fun to talk about why this GM was awesome (or sucked) or the weird/problem/fantastic players we end up with at a table.

It's interesting how often we both get the same overall impression of the con ("best ever!" or "enh" or "is it still worth attending?"), even though we're doing our own stuff through at least 75 percent of it. It varies to some extent, but I don't think we've ever actually had extremely different overall views of it.