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Posted by: Mugzy Jan 23 2008, 12:34 AM

Just throwing a post up here to see if anyone has any early warning Gen-Con info.

I'm going to be completing my commando writeup in the next week or so, and if possible I'd like to know where to go to volunteer GM for the granddaddy of all gaming cons.

I saw that last year, organizers were in search of a few GM's out there for various cons.

I know not a lot has been put in stone (Or probably even on paper) yet, and its 8 months off, but a little pre-planning never hurt anyone.

Posted by: BishopMcQ Jan 23 2008, 01:00 AM

Drop the_dunner a line and he can put you in touch with the appropriate people, or see if you can dig up Moo's email addy. IIRC, Dunner is the Shadowrun Commando guru--the responsibilities for managing the commandos were divided between Shadowrun and Battletech GMs.

As a returning GM, I'd like to say: welcome aboard, I'm sorry, we really are all well-adjusted individuals in our own lives, and may whatever God you worship have pity on your soul.

It really is a lot of fun. (And for the record, we began planning GC '08 during GC '07...Writing has been in process for awhile.)

Posted by: Dashifen Jan 24 2008, 04:11 AM

Good to have you on board for GenCon Indy '08, Mugzy. I look forward to meeting you

'Course, I've found that such feelings don't always go both ways ......

Posted by: Redjack Jan 24 2008, 01:22 PM

You said what we were all thinking.
*Ducks*

Just kidding....

Posted by: Dashifen Jan 24 2008, 02:15 PM

Posted by: Bull Jan 24 2008, 03:29 PM

I keep considering throwing my hat back in the ring to help run stuff, but... Then I remember what free time and fun are like

Good luck guys. Caine, Eidolon, and I'll be around to hassle you and taunt you with booze. Maybe we can even get Fisty there this year!

Bull

Posted by: Caine Hazen Jan 24 2008, 03:51 PM

OH! We're playing Taunt the GMs again this year? can we use airsoft this time? Or bricks.. how bout bricks???

Welcome to hel.. I mean, welcome aboard Mugzy... You'll have sooooo much fun it'll take you a week to get better (and loads of antibiotics)

Posted by: Critias Jan 24 2008, 04:54 PM

Maybe this year I'll get into some Shadowrun (besides a LARP).

...of course, I've been saying that for three Gencons, now.

Posted by: Dashifen Jan 24 2008, 06:19 PM

Ask a GM nicely and sometimes there's pick-up game opportunities. We're all pretty busy but you never know what's going on at 3am or something

Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 24 2008, 06:23 PM

Mugzy sign up as a commando, run a few missions for practice, and don't worry, they'll find a way to abuse you for GenCon.

I'm still a bit sore.....

And Critias, there's always something SR running somewhere at GenCon.

Posted by: Redjack Jan 24 2008, 06:57 PM

I am gonna play in the Scramble this year!!

Posted by: Mugzy Jan 24 2008, 07:35 PM

Thanks for the... uh.. warm.. welcome guys. I'm looking forward to meeting up with you.

As it stands I put up my signup to the commando site, and I'll be nailing down a "firebase" soon enough (one of several possible locations in the Denver to Fort Collins Area... any locals out there I'd appreciate any input as of where to go), and sending everything off for that.

I think I'll start with some of the Missions as was put forth as an idea here. I have plenty of original stuff, though as well.

Anyway, any one of you more experienced Con -GMs want to throw out a standard "day in the life" kind of thing for me to expect in this?

Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 24 2008, 08:57 PM

Posted by: Caine Hazen Jan 25 2008, 12:18 AM

As much as I love Claddagh, we gotta get you kids more variety in your eateries. Although it does have your best whiskey selection in town.

Occasionally Bull's Rolling Bar and Grill ™ comes through to keep you hearty and well during the day, although we slacked soem last year. (remember kids, gatorade and MadDog do make for a wonderful time, but if you have to quit drinking before noon your day will be shot)

Posted by: Lindt Jan 25 2008, 12:19 AM

There is a reasonable chance I might be there as a player this year... wow. A GenCon where Im not tied to the tourny room all week? Unheard of!

And obviously Dire, you must have been doing the MooCow eh?

Posted by: Bull Jan 25 2008, 05:24 PM

Posted by: Dashifen Jan 25 2008, 07:06 PM

Nah ... we'll have a CGL game room until about 20 hours prior to the con when they'll move us all around and, eventually, just have us running games on the 40 yard line in the stadium.

'Course, that would be damn cool.

Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 25 2008, 07:45 PM

Obviously I missed including the essential step of finding the actual game location in my description of the daily routine.

How challenging might that be? Consider that for one mission I collected a set of six pre registration tickets, each with different room assignments, which in turn differed from the registration packet, which in turn differed from the Hall monitor packets, which differed from the CGL packets. Add in the fact that the assignments aren't simply one room, but were in fact spread over 5 hotels over 8 city blocks on different floors and rooms.

After that you would need a drink.

Posted by: Redjack Jan 25 2008, 07:53 PM

There were sure a lot of frustrated people, though once they sat down and got into the game, every runner I talked to had a blast!

Posted by: eidolon Jan 25 2008, 09:25 PM

Posted by: Critias Jan 26 2008, 06:27 AM

Not the best of news -- according to a Gencon e-mail today they're down 30,000 feet of playing space from last year due to construction. That doesn't bode well.

Posted by: Dashifen Jan 28 2008, 06:10 PM

*grumble*

Posted by: DireRadiant Jan 28 2008, 06:27 PM

If all they manage to do is at least schedule the games in the same building it would be an improvement. Bonus if we are in the same room or nearby set of rooms.

Posted by: Caine Hazen Jan 28 2008, 07:12 PM

seeing as the company will probably not be in the middle of a big upheaval this year, I'm thinking things should be a bit smoother... though that's no guarantee that the con space won't be split through even more hotels this year and still get fuxxored.

Posted by: Fortune Jan 28 2008, 07:15 PM

Bah! They figure that you're playing shadowrunners, so you should be used to legwork.

Posted by: john_doe Feb 4 2008, 07:54 PM

Anyone know when registration for the games will go live? Been to the last few cons, but never seem to make it into a game...pickup or registered.

Looking forward to being there this year.

I hope i get to run with some of you as well.

Posted by: the_dunner Feb 4 2008, 11:55 PM

Registration for events usually opens in April or May. While it's advantageous to register early, it's not crucial. There are a lot of events, and it's usually possible to sneak into a lot of games with generics. (Especially SR -- we try hard to accomodate folks with generic tix.) The hard part is usually getting your hotel room.

On a note related to the actual OP's topic -- CGL will probably do a call for GM's in the next few weeks I'll try to post here when it goes up on the web site.

Posted by: john_doe Feb 5 2008, 12:15 AM

LOL, then i'm half way there. I booked my room through GenCon housing this afternoon.

Now i just need to sneak into a few games with some of you.

Thanks for the tip on the events. i'll be sure to keep an eye out.

Posted by: Critias Feb 5 2008, 02:13 PM

I've officially registered myself as a GM on their web site. Now I just have to figure out how many games I want to run, and what the hell I feel like running. It's something I've been saying "maybe next year" over, every year I've gone. So, well, why not?

If anyone with experience in such matters -- who might know, for instance, how many games need to be run in order to get discounts or whatever it is you get -- wants to PM me, friendly advice would not be refused.

Posted by: Dashifen Feb 5 2008, 04:24 PM

Usually there's no minimum: If you work for a few hours, you're going to get that work back to you in discounts for product. The more hours you work, the more "points" you earn which translates to a greater discount on said product. Usually, though, the event coordinators try to make sure that no one has to work too much more than others both to be fair to the GMs but also so that no one burns out before the end of the Con.

Posted by: Bull Feb 5 2008, 05:08 PM

I think Critias was saying he regged as a GM with Gen Con, not with John for SR. Could be wrong though.

If it's the former, I don;t know all the specifics since I always worked through Fasa/Fanpro, but I believe the minimum you need to work to get your badge comped is 16 hours (4 average sessions). If you register as a Volunteer, you can decide how much time you're willing to work, and the comp gets better, but I think as a GM a free badge is about all you can get.

Bull

Posted by: john_doe Feb 5 2008, 05:49 PM

You running anything this year Bull?

I remember you gave me and my friends a pretty thorough demo when 4th first come out, but that was cut short when my friends negative quality (diabetic) started kicking in.

One of the high-lights for me from that year...the demo that is, not the sugar incident

Posted by: Critias Feb 6 2008, 06:47 AM

You are correct (in that I registered with Gencon, not with whoever John is in particular). I'm not sure how much official love I'd get for running SR3 instead of SR4 (and I'm leaning more towards 3rd edition right now because I'm just way more familiar with it), and I'm also kicking around a few one-shot game ideas for Dark Heresy, the Warhammer 40k RPG that just came out.

So, well, yeah. It never occured to me to talk to official Shadowrun people, because I'm not likely going to be running official Shadowrun stuff.

Posted by: the_dunner Feb 6 2008, 10:38 AM

<----John

As you inferred -- we give sweet, sweet, lubbinz for running SR4, but CGL can't give support for a game system that they don't print.

Posted by: tisoz Feb 6 2008, 04:57 PM

Discounts?
http://www.gencon.com/2006/indy/iam/volunteer/faq.aspx
It only lists their 16 hour and 32 hour commitments and associated bennies. If you work 16 hours, you get your 4 day Badge comped. If you work 32 hours, you also get your room comped (based on 4 person occupancy.)

Not mentioned, but from experience, you get a GenCon T-shirt every day you volunteer. So maybe schedule a 4 hour game on each of the 4 days instead of all in one or two days. My first year volunteering had me working with a guy desperate for help. He provided meals to me from his own funds I got to be friends with about half a dozen other volunteers that I have ran into in the following years.

Funny thing is, I do not think you would need a Badge if you did not need/plan on going where one was required. (I could have done this last year as all I did was GM.) If you are just volunteering and not GMing, the GenCon people will probably post you where a badge is needed. Explaining how you do not have one may get you reassigned, I do not know as it has not come up.

Posted by: FlakJacket Feb 6 2008, 08:17 PM

There are years when we don't? Oh and I wouldn't use bricks, Moo has a break it you replace them policy on GMs since a few years back when we were so short of them.


Wait, wait. You mean people actually game at these things?


Jesus wept. We normally get screwed by the con organisers one way or the other at the start of each year, this really does not make me confident.


Well unless we run out of GMs in which case we just put Grendel down for doing all of them.

Posted by: Critias Feb 7 2008, 07:35 AM

Howdy.

Yeah, I kind'a figured (and it makes sense, don't get me wrong). But seeing as how the only SR4 I've ever played has been a few false-start sort of games here on DS (and one that's still puttering along, but is super heavily house ruled), I just don't feel qualified to run an SR4 game and expect people to fork over tickets. I can do the setting. I can do descriptive GMing. I can cook up a story. But when it comes time to actually start slinging dice, I need to be a comfortable veteran of a setting before I want to run something that folks are paying good money to play in. And, well, I'm just not that comfortable with SR4 yet.

Heck, especially if I were to be scoring free swag or something for running it. Then I'd feel like I was robbing my players and my shadowy benefactors.

Friends, schmiends. When've I struck you as someone out to make new friends? I'm just lookin' for a couple bucks back for my badge. I figure if I'm gonna try and run a few games, I might as well run enough to get my $65 back

I downloaded some 33 page gig from the official Gencon site specifically for GMs, and it mentions that the badge reimbursements work on a sort of "ticket hour" principle. If you run a four hour game for two players, that's eight hours of tickets (just basic players times hours formula). It takes 96 points to score the complimentary badge (or to get a refund for a badge you already purchased). Looks like it's the same "32 hours of service" for GMs and regular volunteers, though, for housing (oh well, screw housing).

I figure if I can just cook up two cool scenarios for one-shot games, get six players per game, and run each one twice (just to test my GMing a little, have fun handling different ideas and play styles from different groups, yadda yadda yadda), I'm in like Flynn. Twenty-four ticket hours per session, four sessions, and I should be golden. Or...hmm...Or I could run one four hour game for twenty four people! I'm a genius. I'll advertise that I'm running a Lone Star game, and I could have the whole precinct statted up and ready to go! This'll be awesome! *runs off, scribbling maniacal notes*

But, yeah. Thanks for the heads up, Tisoz. Reading official documents is always kind of dry and boring, it's always cool to hear from folks who've actually done it before and can relate their own experiences. Sounds like you've had a decent time doing stuff in the past, too. So I figure I'll give it a shot this year. Why not?

Posted by: eidolon Feb 7 2008, 02:56 PM

That would rock on toast.

Posted by: Bull Feb 7 2008, 03:02 PM

Actually, that sounds like a great start to an SR LARP

Bull

Posted by: Bull Feb 7 2008, 03:04 PM

Oh, and Critias? Let us know what games you're running. Maybe we'll come crash one <grin>

BUll

Posted by: DocTaotsu Feb 7 2008, 07:07 PM

As much as I fear the LARP...

It would be awesome to drive around in a "patrol car" and pull runners over for "routine traffic stops".

"Sir, I understand you have a permit for your weapons but no one issues permits for Shrike Anti-Aircraft rounds. Now if you could please step out of the step van..."

Posted by: Critias Feb 8 2008, 06:20 AM

Actually, two of my favorite GenCon games have been Shadowrun LARPs. It's a silly tradition me and my buddies started our first ever GenCon, but every year, we (consumate table-top RPGers and wargamers) sign up for one LARP at GenCon. A home-brewed one, with a cruddy little rulebook put together by a bunch of nobodies, so that it's the setting and the cheesey over-acting and the fun of the game that will kick ass, not someone whipping out version 3.5 of their super-serious angsty gothic RPG book (full of spooky black and white photoshops), yadda yadda yadda.

The first one ever was a Shadowun LARP where we were all locked up in a prison that had a blackout -- which freed us, leaving us to roam and negotiate and intimidate and bully one another until we figured out a way out. The other was just last year, where there was a giant international (and inter-corporate) business meeting set up to discuss proposed amendments to the corporate court's rules (under the guise of it being a big meeting to discuss metahuman employee's civil rights).

Lots of fun, both times. Plenty of BSing. Hardly anyone using the rules/mechanics, just lots of lying and being in character. Shadowrun LARPs can be a lot of fun.

Posted by: Grinder Feb 8 2008, 10:09 AM

How many "Bubba the love trolls" have been there?

Posted by: kawaii Feb 8 2008, 08:55 PM

Volunteering is an awesome opportunity. Tiring but totally worth it.

Also, what's the longest someone has gone between registering and posting on these forums? Can I tender approximately 6 years? Do I win? ;)

-Your Friendly Lawn Gnome.

PS: I'm back. And maybe even going to GC this year.

Posted by: Critias Feb 9 2008, 07:40 AM

I'll be posting the info (on several forums) once I get all the stuff filled out and get my game numbers and junk. I figure the best way to make sure I score all the game hours I need is to advertise.

I'm leaning right now towards the new Warhammer 40k RPG, Dark Heresy, though. The more I'm playing it, the more I'm digging the mechanics, etc. It's...kind of Shadowrunny. Ish. Sort of.

Posted by: Bull Feb 9 2008, 01:15 PM

Honestly, I doubt it will really be a problem. Depending, of course, on the game you run. Shadowrun events are notorious for selling out fast, and even when you have no-shows, there's often a couple folks who show up with generics.



I haven't really checked it out much. I've been kinda soured on Warhammer on the whole for a while now. I used to be pretty well versed in the Fantasy Lore, and knew a fair bit about the 40K lore, especially regarding Chaos. Unfortunatly, this was back in the 1st and 2nd edition days, with Rogue Trader and the Realms of Chaos hardbacks to back me up. Seems like every time a new edition comes out the lore gets revamped, tweaked, retconned to hell, and Chaos usually becomes more and more watered down :/ I gave up about 7 or 8 years ago.

Sorry, little tangent there

I do know at least one of our regular GC group is a huge 40K fan and was looking forward to Dark Heresy, and I've known TS Luikart for a number of years now and like to support anything he works on, so... Who knows. Even if it's not SR< maybe we'll crash anyways

Anyways, being a newish game, it's hard to say what kind of turn outs you'd get for it. I would suspect really good, and I'd bet on selling out pretty quick, but considering the wierdness going on with Black Industries and the Warhammer license, who knows.

I've had a theory I've been wanting to test for years now, and I've just never gotten around to it. I want to schedule a 4 Hour game, starting at 3 AM, listed as "HOuse Rules. Come Listen To Us babble some crazy shit". I'm convinced you would have a couple dozen people sign up jkust to check it out. And at 3 AM at a con, you get very, very slap-happy... So it could and would be a strange and delirious game.

My first Origins (A million years ago or so) I got roped into helping Zach Bush with the SR Tourney (I was originally just doing an SR TCG tourney), and we ended up having to rewrite a large portion of teh tournament and all the characters on the fly the night before the con. So several of us got less than 2 hours of sleep for two nights. On Friday, Zach wanted to run a game of Trinity for us after the Tourney round was done. So we started at around 1 AM... By 3 AM, we we're really loopy. And were trying to teach some mutants how to be evil so we could justify wiping them out, and then we got killed by the Spice Girls.

It's a little hazy, to be honest. And believe it or not, there was no booze involved. (I didn't mix Booze and GMing, so the cons were mostly sober ones for me until I retired )

Bull

Posted by: apollo124 Feb 9 2008, 01:20 PM

I'm planning on going to GenCon again this year myself. But I'm going the lazy route, just to play and look around, not GM'ing or volunteering. Last year was my first GenCon and I enjoyed the hell out of it. Even met Bull, Adam, and some of the others at the "What's Happening With" meeting. Fun stuff

Posted by: Vegas Feb 11 2008, 03:38 AM

I'm in. SR3 or SR4, but my SR3 skills are rusty at best You can always run SR4 for a die-hard Critias fan-club base to get your feet wet. I promise I won't give you too much crap when you look at the books

I'm SO there this year as I have a following that apparently will "kill me" if I don't show up and "ply me with alcohol" if I do. How can a girl refuse.

I suppose this year I need to register early so that I can't flake out like last year. If the money's already invested harder to say "no" right?

Posted by: Bull Feb 11 2008, 07:13 AM

Oh good lord, be careful. There are few things sadder and scarier than watching the lonely guy-nerds fight over girl-nerds, especially when alcohol is involved.

Bull

Posted by: Critias Feb 11 2008, 08:23 AM

Ticket sales went live a week or two ago. Cowboy up and drop your $65, girl. *grins* Me and Flea will see you there (and we'll be bringing Jay with us, to boot!).

Posted by: Vegas Feb 11 2008, 04:57 PM

Hahaha, thanks for the warning/heads up. Most of the us that I'll be hanging out with are married and or in relationships, so I'm likely safe. Can't speak for the general con population however. Plus I'm hardly worth fighting over when there are hot chicks running around in COSTUME!


IT is done. I have a 4-day badge coming my way. It'll be awesome to see the old gang again (at least in part) I think my plans involve spending most of the con with the LITS/DITG kids like I was supposed to last year, but we'll definitely have to cross paths!

Posted by: Konsaki Feb 11 2008, 07:49 PM

4-day tickets are sold out now. Glad I got mine when they had them!
I hope to see anyone from the boards there, maybe via a game session or two!

Posted by: Bull Feb 11 2008, 08:24 PM

Wait... what? Sold Out?

*blink*

That's... new. Wonder if they're limiting registration somehow, because of the loss of space this year or something.

Hrmmm...

BUll

Posted by: Bull Feb 11 2008, 08:33 PM

Ahh, yeah, that always helps Nerds are afraid to approach a female when she's in a pack. <grin>



Bah. My experience is that usually the ones worth fighting over are the ones that don't do the whole "Look at my boobs!" costume thing

Unless it's a really good Baroness costume (from GI Joe). Then I'm doomed

Bull

Posted by: Caine Hazen Feb 11 2008, 08:38 PM

I think there was a quick bit today when they thought the VIG regs were already sold out. They were not however, so I believe there's more than enough passes still floating about.

Posted by: D-Franco83 Feb 12 2008, 04:19 AM

Are those VIG Packages worth it?

Posted by: Bull Feb 12 2008, 06:32 AM

They're not a bad package really. YOu get abadge, access to a few exclusive events (I'm not sure exactly what), priority housing in the close, good hotels, and a pile of the Gen Con swag (T-shirt, backpack, etc).

But, it's $500. So it's a big investment, especially if you're not particularly interested in the swag or the exclusive events.

I would like that priority housing though. That's probably where a lot of the suites downtown went.

Bull

Posted by: D-Franco83 Feb 12 2008, 04:32 PM

The only problem I have with it is that it just guarantees a hotel reservation to my understanding. I was wondering if anyone has ever bought it or know someone who has bought it before and how they liked it or didn't.

Posted by: D-Franco83 Feb 13 2008, 03:20 PM

I hate to have stopped the momentum. So what does everyone look forward to when they go to Gen Con? I have never been, so I'm geninuely curious.

Posted by: john_doe Feb 14 2008, 02:59 PM

Here's what i look forward to...

Gaming with people outside of my "usual" group. Getting a different perspective of how other people play is always refreshing.

The general atmosphere...having all of those gamers together in one place.

Always love talkin shadowrun with the folks at the Catalyst booth...and they must have much better Social skills then i do as well, because they always seem to Con me out of money.

4 days of uninterrupted gaming heaven. No wife, no dog, no nothing. Just me and a few thousand of my fellow gamers.

oh yeah, and looking at all the half-naked chicks in their costumes sure does help. Good job on the Conan booth last year, and that pirate chick wasn't bad either.

Posted by: Critias Feb 14 2008, 03:21 PM

Crit's secrets to a fun-ass GenCon.

1 - Being amongst "my kind" for four full days. As gamers go, mind you, I'm remarkably socially well adjusted. So don't misunderstand, and think I'm some sort of fugitive from reality who only feels comfortable while at 'cons...that said? There's just something fun about meandering through the crowds and listening to the snippets of conversation. Sometimes you'll hear things you won't hear anywhere else. Sometimes you'll feel like your amongst thousands and thousands of your social circle from college (no matter how long ago that was). Sometimes you'll hear lines from all your favorite movies, rules arguments from all your favorite games, and everything in between. You'll see your favorite t-shirt on someone else, play games with people that like all the things you like, you name it.

2 - Playing games I like with new people. There's something that's a lot of fun about sitting down at a table full of complete strangers, and in the space of several hours turning it into a one-shot gaming group. Maybe it's your chance to play an archetype one of your regular buddies always claims for his own, and finally see what it's like to be the Fighter instead of the Mage. Maybe it's a chance to show off your well painted wargaming army to a slew of new folks, instead of your friends back home who take it for granted. Maybe it's a chance to see how someone else GMs. Whatever it is, have fun. Share your knowledge of the game system with new folks, and pick up their secrets in the meantime. Every year, I sign up for one game I know and love, and ditch my friends to go play it.

3 - Playing new games with people I like. My buddies and I make a point of trying out a new game every year. It might be a brand new system, a new edition of a game we haven't played in years, a game we've all got books for but haven't ever tried out, or someone's home-brewed monstrosity, but we give it a shot. It's a blast. Two years, now, we've all ended up starting up a new campaign because of something we tried at GenCon and had fun with. Every year, I sign up for one game I don't really recognize, and do so with my friends.

4 - Play something really fucking out there. I already brought up our "one random LARP a year" tradition, but it's really a lot of fun. We don't LARP. I mean, ever. We're tabletoppers, wargamers, video gamers. But for six hours, once a year, we hang out with the melodramatic kids, fake accents, get into character, play rock paper scissors, and generally just have a good time. Some years it works out great (if someone in one of our games falls over, dead or dying, my friends can count on me to shout "It's okay, I'm a doctor! Make way!" in a horrible Irish brogue and then scurry over to them and pick their pocket. Why? Because my Irishman con artist did so in a Shadowrun LARP, about five times in the space of one game). Some years it works out not so great (we caused some drama about two years ago, as half the players in a particular Firefly LARP went home and bitched about the runners of that LARP and their "give us money and we'll give you more points" scam). Some years we just have a solid good time, taking a break from our normal playing style and our normal GenCon routine. Hell, last year I did a speed painting contest (and I'm NOT that good a painter, as wargamers/hobbyists measure things). For you and your buddies it might be a LARP, but maybe a wargame is really weird to you, or a board game, or a new card game. Whatever. Just broaden your horizons, once, while you're there. Play something you'd never look at twice from your local shop.

5 - Leaving time to do nothing. Especially if you've never been before, leave time to just wander. Explore the Hall Of Cool Stuff For Sale (don't even buy anything, necessarily, just roam through it!). Try out the free sample games people give. Chill and hang out with game designers in their booths (especially for Spinespur, we don't bite, plug plug plug), have conversations with booth babes who secretly hate you and all your kind, look through old comics and ancient Dragon magazines. Budget time for getting lost (especially this year since they're down 30,000 feet or whatever, so games will be scattered), and don't be scared to ask anyone else you see with a badge for directions -- odds are they've been there more than you have, and will try to help out. As fun as it is to leap in with both feet and sign up for a zillion games, don't do it! Leave yourself several hours a day to just relax, eat, hang out with your buddies, wander the mini's hall and look at paintjobs, whatever. GenCon is a vacation, treat it as such!

Posted by: D-Franco83 Feb 14 2008, 05:37 PM

I think I will just take the 4 day pass and do the hotel.com/expedia hunt for some good deals. I'm just going with my best friend from College, so little need to really go all out since he likes to be frugal and he is a graduate college student. I can pick up the VIG pass when there is more people going or just my girl. It also occured to me that if I got the VIG pass and got a really sweet room, since I would want to go all out. The only person to enjoy the expensive company is my best friend. I'm not any kind of phobic, but it would feel awkward and my friend didn't help.

His line was, "I'll bring the strawberries and champagne!"
My reply, "You Son of a Bitch!"

I'm not a LARP person and I've had plenty of bad experiences with LARP in Iowa and I seem to suck at Paper, Rock, Scissors. Does anyone have a range of how much hey spend. I want to give my frugal friend an idea of how much he would need to bring.

Posted by: Critias Feb 14 2008, 05:45 PM

My earmark for a room is ~$500 total (hotel tax in Indianapolis is retarded), split that however many ways are needed. I know some places are more, some places are less, but when doing my rough budgeting for any given year I start with 500 as a good round number. Or, in your case, two-fifty (since from the sounds of things there's two of you).

Games are $2 an hour this year, I think. A four-hour brick is the default game length, so tell yourself ten bucks a game (see how you budget in extra money, cleverly? I R GENIUSCAT). Figure out how many games you want to play, and call it ten bucks a pop, there's your gaming cost.

Do you have any planned shopping? Lots of games drop big products at GenCon, so if you know of something that's hitting shelves there, make sure to budget it in. I can safely say, for instance, I'll drop a $50 on whatever Privateer Press launches at GenCon (even if this year it's their $50 that I'm just giving back to them, suckers!), so I just go ahead and budget that puppy right in there.

Then, you've got to budget in casual purchases, meals, taxis (depending on how far your hotel is), and a billion (or maybe fifteen-twenty) bucks a day for parking. Depending on where you eat -- I do suggest trying SOMEplace cool in downtown, like The Ram or something at least once -- meals can vary insanely. Ditto, casual purchases. Most places (in my experience) run a "to the convention center, $5" special as far as cabs go, but sometimes it varies by hotel and stuff like that. So, really, this "everything else" category is the wildcard that's all up to your friend.

Just be prepared when you hit that dealer hall, you can find some VERY cool deals there, but even while you're "saving" money by getting stuff for so cheap, your wallet can empty out pretty fast.

Posted by: john_doe Feb 14 2008, 06:15 PM

There is usually always 2 or 3 of us going, so that figures out to be almost 200 bucks a person for the hotel after you factor in getting raped on hotel tax and parking fees (we like to stay really close to the convention center)

I try to factor in about 20 bucks a day for grub. Reason being is because i make LOTS AND LOTS of sammiches, and eat them as i do my daily Con activities. However, there is that occasional Pop i must drink, and then the Con is not complete without a trip to The Ram.

Depending on how many games you wanna try to get into, that's 10 bucks a game.

The vendor area can get scary. I dropped 200 bucks in there in like 5 minutes, and didn't even realize what i had done until i went to purchase the item i was actually looking for and had no more cash on hand. If you have a 1 Willpower like i do, leave credit cards with a friend so you can beat him and take it in case of emergency.

Seeing that i'm poor guy myself, i usually budget about 5 to 6 hundred bucks for the whole trip, and i have a pretty good time. The grocery store, and a backpack can be your best friends...

Posted by: DireRadiant Feb 15 2008, 03:33 PM

Yes... you must budget time where you aren't scheduled to do anything... and you will not have time to sample everything! You can spend four days at Gencon Indy, and spend 72 hours watching the anime running in 6 different rooms. Oh wait, can't watch 6 anime streams at once. And that's just one activity. You can spend 8 hours a day in the vendor hall trying all the new games in 1 and 2 hours sections, oh wait, there are more games to demo then you have time! You can spend hours roaming the art section, shopping, watching movies, reading game materials, talking to film and tv stars, listening to state of the industry speeches, meet the people that actually write these games, watch the costume contests, get thrown into Klingon Jail, play live chess, watch a band concert, play the prerelease video game, play the current release video game, play play play.

And somewhere in all of that you need to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, and actually play a game of Shadowrun, or LARP, or explore the True Dungeon, or attend the Castle Falkenstien LARP Fancy Dress Ball.

I think the one thing you don't have to worry about is finding something to occupy your time.

Posted by: Critias Feb 16 2008, 06:22 AM

If you are bored at Gencon, it is no one's fault but your own.

Posted by: D-Franco83 Feb 17 2008, 05:08 AM

I think if it is going to be my first time. I really doubt it would happen.

Posted by: Dirtz Feb 18 2008, 04:54 PM

Gen Con is posting for chapter 11. Does anyone think it'll impact this year's con? Will it scare anyone away?

Posted by: DireRadiant Feb 18 2008, 04:58 PM

http://gencon.com/2008/corporate/news-pr/releases/2008/2008.02.15.Press.aspx

Doubt it. Gen Con Indy itself is always profitable and growing. It's some of other things the company tried that didn't work out.

Posted by: john_doe Feb 18 2008, 06:45 PM

I think the biggest impact to the Con will be the loss of convention center space due to the remodeling.

Def not scaring me away. Lookin forward to goin this year.

Posted by: Bull Feb 19 2008, 07:24 AM

The loss of space for the next year or two (DOn;t remember how long construction is gonna last) sucks, but it'll be worth it in the long run.

I'm not sweating it too much, but I am hoping that Dunner will be able to get a dedicated game room this year. Having everything all scattershot last year really sucked.

Posted by: Critias Feb 19 2008, 02:42 PM

In unrelated news, my four Dark Heresy games have been submitted, and are pending approval. I'll post the full data if/when I get 'em all back -- the more players, the merrier.

Posted by: apollo124 Feb 19 2008, 04:19 PM

How the hell could they need to file bankruptcy when a 12 ounce pop at Gen Con cost $3.50? And there are thousands of people there!
Plus the fact that each person wandering around paid good money to be there.
Still gonna go, myself. Especially since I live only about 55 miles away and don't have to worry about hotel rooms.

Posted by: Bull Feb 19 2008, 06:32 PM

The Bankruptcy is really a chapter 11 protection, and is a response to Lucasfilm suing them for something like a million dollars. I suspect there's a lot more going on there than Gen Con "stealing" money from a charity auction, but at the end of the day, it's Lucasfilms. They have a lot more money and a lot more lawyers to throw at this, regardless of who's in the right.

Gen Con doesn't control the pop or food prices at the con. That's all handled by the Convention Center themselves. AFAIK, GC doesn't receive a dime for any of that overpriced pop. And that's fairly "normal" pricing for a stadium or convention center, sadly.

And lastly, GC brings in a lot of money, but they also spend a TON on the con. At the very least renting out that convention center, promotions, and hotel rooms for the staffing (And there is a lot of staffinG), plus paying all the temps they hire to run the registration booths, the maintenance folks, and security (Which I believe is all an extra cost beyond the space rental)... I won;t say that Peter Adkison doesn't make a decent living off Gen Con LLC, but he's not exactly raking in piles of cash off each convention either.

Of all the money that we spend to go to the convention every year, the only thing GC LLC sees very, very little of it.

Posted by: Adam Feb 19 2008, 09:10 PM

http://www.adamjury.com/2008/gen-con-sued-by-lucasfilm-llc/

Posted by: apollo124 Feb 20 2008, 05:47 AM

Thanks for the info. Please ignore my bitching about the cost of Mountain Dew (ambrosia! ) at GenCon. As if Lucasfilm doesn't have enough damn money. Lord.

Posted by: Dirtz Feb 20 2008, 05:48 AM

Thanks for the response Adam, lots of good info there.

Posted by: Critias Feb 20 2008, 08:05 AM

Y'know, I'm just sort of thinking out loud here -- but have you ever thought of maybe buying food and drink somewhere else, and taking it with you to the convention center? You're already lugging around a bunch of books and dice and various swag and loot...why not grab a bunch of sodas at a Wal Mart or something on your way to Indy, and be all set?

I mean, no one's making you pay $3.50 for a can of Dew.

Posted by: DocTaotsu Feb 20 2008, 08:08 AM

Camelback. Hydration and it makes you feel hardcore.

But yeah, if you're buying drinks at the Con you're only screwing yourself.

Posted by: Bull Feb 20 2008, 02:16 PM

I rarely buy anything at the convention center if I can help it. There are exceptions (like when I've been chained to a demo table for 6 straight hours), but on the whole... This is why I like having a hotel room close by. I'm a big fan of being able to run back to the room every few hours to drop off swag, swap out books, change and shower before dinner, etc.

To be fair, you're not supposed to bring in food and drink. Doesn't really stop anyone, and AFAIK it's not really enforced, but still... I can see why some people don't want to do that.

I'd also highly recommend getting water or Gatorade (or equivalent sports drink) instead of pop. I'm a big fan of my Mountain Dew Livewire, but a cold 32oz bottle of Gatorade is amazing after trudging around that hot, sweaty convention center for a coupe hours.

Plus, Gatorade makes a great mixer for Vodka or Everclear

Bull

Posted by: john_doe Feb 20 2008, 04:47 PM

Plenty enough reason for me...

Posted by: Caine Hazen Feb 20 2008, 10:17 PM

yeah.. remember that when 11 am rolls around and you have to cut back... holy shit can that stuff keep you rolling though (as the people who dropped by "Who's Run?)

Posted by: DocTaotsu Feb 20 2008, 10:33 PM

Ah yes... the old standby of fader-ade.

Has anyone seen a "sport" related injury at a con? Like someone who actually passed out from dehydration or some such? I haven't been to GenCon in quiet some time but I hope to be able to go again once I get back stateside. Hopefully I can pay part of my way by doing some medical support

Posted by: Adam Feb 20 2008, 10:41 PM

Yeah, they have a lot of money, so Gen Con totally should be allowed to take their stuff and sell it!

Posted by: Caine Hazen Feb 21 2008, 01:26 AM

Hey, we'll have low cal G2 this year (so far its tasty good) so it'll be healthier.

I've seen a few people get pretty sick from dehydration at cons. More often in the marathon sessions where people forget things like eating and drinking (and breathing sometimes). Its not dreadfully common as most geeks prepare well for these events, but it'll still happen from time to time.

Posted by: Redjack Feb 21 2008, 02:35 AM

Personally I pack several bottles of water and trail mix to keep blood sugar and hydration at proper levels.

Gave up the Everclear a number of years ago....

Posted by: Critias Feb 21 2008, 05:55 AM

Yeah, but I've seen it happen more at DragonCon (where more folks are tromping around in the Atlanta heat, in multi-layered costumes) than at GenCon.

The fact everyone tries to rehydrate by drinking soda instead of water doesn't help, though.

Posted by: apollo124 Feb 21 2008, 06:03 AM

No, that's not what I meant. I don't know anything about the case at all, beyond the bit of the lawsuit you linked to earlier. I just assumed that GenCon did give the money to the charity like they were supposed to. But I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. I seem to be sticking alternating feet into my mouth, so I think I'm gonna just move along to another thread.

Posted by: Adam Feb 21 2008, 06:40 AM

If you read my summary, it's pretty clear -- or should be -- that Lucasfilm is accusing Gen Con LLC of not only auctioning the Lucasfilm memorabilia and not giving the money to charity as promised, but of also not paying other fees/royalties associated with the convention. That's actually the first point of the lawsuit and the most sizable one, to the tune of $500K+ in compensatory damages.

Obviously, this hasn't gone to court yet, and we may never know the whole truth, but the accusations are pretty damning, and Gen Con LLC filing Chapter 11 and Peter's admittance that they made some bad decisions trying to grow the company certainly make it sound like the accusations are valid.

Posted by: john_doe Feb 21 2008, 02:43 PM

Well, i would like to think that Gen Con LLC didn't screw up intentionally; however if Shadowrun has taught me anything it's that corporations cannot and should not be trusted.

But then again, doesn't LucasArts have a reputation of being pretty stingy when it comes to their properties and the rights therein?

Posted by: tisoz Feb 23 2008, 05:45 AM

As Bull pointed out, the actual Convention Center has posted notices forbidding outside food and drink. Though, I too, have not seen it enforced.

That is why I like being stationed in a hotel when volunteering or GMing. Both hotels I have been at so far provided pitchers of free ice water and glasses.


What do you mean, like suing the original Battlestar Galactica and getting it cancelled.

If Tolkien or Gibson were as bad as Lucas, Shadowrun would have probably been sued soon after its release. Might be why SR is set on a future Earth and not some planet far, far away with space travel.

Posted by: sloejack Feb 23 2008, 02:33 PM

Sorry to be a little late to the thread but figured I'd kick in my thoughts on a couple of items.

Actually, the rooms used for the VIG participants are part of a seperate housing block that GenCon sets aside for itself. Granted it's probably still a part of the greater whole of all rooms available in the area but it's basicly a sampling of rooms in the connected hotels, and if you take them at their word, the GC coordinators have sworn up and down that it doesn't come from the pool of rooms that gets set up for the general attendees. The perk there is that you generally get the hotel you want and don't have to get lucky on hotel registration day. Personally, my corporate rate beats the pants off the gencon rate (I'm paying $117/night at embassy suites) so I generally reserve rooms outside of the block anyway and unfortunetly since this is a major perk of the VIG badge it makes it less valuable to someone like me.

Other than priority seating for the costume contest, they haven't announced what the VIG special event is this year. They may or may not still do the VIP area for the PitP (Ruckus on the Roof?) though I've heard that as an event it has never really been good. There is an interesting perk this year where for an extra $35 you can tag a friend to have access to the VIG lounge. This oddly enough is a pretty good deal for your buddy since the lounge features free beverages throughout the con, event registration (no standing in line, though they've also added a perk where VIGs can escort friends to the head of the line for registration), and since the SWAG beyond the VIG specific stuff like the backpack, con shirt, pin, etc are now a 'feature' of the lounge, they also get access to that. The lounge is located in the convention center so being able to stop off for some refreshment whenever you want on your way to and from stuff is pretty damn nice and while I wouldn't say pays for itself, it certainly is valuable.


Last year was the first year for the VIG program and it was a bit disappointing. Primarily because gencon failed to do some proper expectation setting and generally just over promised while under delivering. This year from a tangible benefits perspective doesn't really seem to be much better but the organizer they've got in charge of it now has been much more communicative and responsive so I expect less of the pissing and moaning about broken promises and the like. There's certainly plenty of potential for it to be good but right now I'd say that it's got marginal value, especially if you've already got your housing situation sorted, and there are probably better things you can spend your money on. In the spirit of full disclosure it's worth noting that I did re-up this year since I see potential for it to be worth it and apparently I have more money that sense and am willing to gut it out at least one more year to see if it clicks this time around.

Posted by: Critias Feb 23 2008, 02:38 PM

Since I'm a horrible elitist asshole at heart, and now that my wife's out of nursing school I'm finally turning a profit on my financial investment in her -- which is to say I'm in charge of more money now that I'm used to, and could in theory afford it -- a big part of me approves of the VIG Package in theory.

The problem is that, as has been stated, it just really doesn't seem worth the tremendous cost compared to a plain old badge, etc, etc.

Posted by: the_dunner Feb 23 2008, 03:32 PM

Just as a heads up, the CGL Shadowrun events have been submitted to the convention. Once we get approval from them, we'll make that information publicly available.

Posted by: Critias Feb 27 2008, 06:57 AM

Well, my games are all officially "pending review," but they've got their numbers assigned and whatnot, and I didn't cuss or insult anyone's mothers in the write-ups, so I'm going to go ahead and assume they'll get the green light, and post the info.

They're not Shadowrun games, sorry, but all the reasons I posted earlier still hold true. I've leave the Shadowrun sessions to the guys that know the new edition better than I do, and I'll just have fun running no-brainer combat fests in the grim darkness of the far future. Warhammer 40k fans should appreciate the chances to gear up and get their hands good and bloody, instead of prancing around with the normal intrique and horror and stuff (which I just don't see there being time to do right, in a four hour one-shot game).

So, anyways. I know they're not Dumpshock's favorite game system, but if anyone wants to give Dark Heresy a shot, or just take a break from shooting people in the face in one game (to come shoot people in the face with a different die mechanic behind it), consider yourselves invited.

Posted by: kawaii Mar 6 2008, 05:31 AM

So, it seems the VIG package is approximately $500 and then for $35, your buddy gets all the perks (except having to buy another badge)?

So, basically, $535 + 4day badge / 2 per person? That's not so bad of a deal.

Posted by: grendel Mar 25 2008, 12:15 AM

Eh, all that means is that SR games will be relegated to the basement meeting rooms of the Crowne Plaza and once more I will be forced to roam the halls in search of poor lost runners.

"No, ladies and gentlemen, the Hall Monitors are wrong, the SR Tournament is not in this room."

On the plus side, it does add to the seedy ambiance of criminals meeting in dark clubs for nefarious purposes. On the down side, it's a hell of a hike for food or drink.

Posted by: Drogos Mar 25 2008, 10:51 AM

So a quick question to all you GenCon Veterans (I myself have really only attended the smaller regional Cons), what would be the best way to spend a day (think 8-12 hrs, more is possible if that is just no feasible, but 8-12 is better for our schedule) at GenCon? My GF and I will be in the area for an unrelated event and would like to have a chance to swing by and hopefully grab a game (SR of course) and do some shopping and gamer networking, if possible. How hard is it to get not one, but two seats at a table? I'm not used to this whole pay for play thing, nor the lack of pre-registering for a game, so excuse me for being a complete noob. Also, since we will be coming from accross town, how hard is it to find parking? Does it matter what time we arrive (ie, is earlier better than later, miday it dies down for a small window, etc)? I guess the general, if this is your first GenCon, you should do ______.

And where is this Ram...cause I like food and think it should be part of the whole Con experience. NEXT STOP, DRAGONCON!!!

Posted by: the_dunner Mar 25 2008, 11:50 AM

There are a LOT of answers to this. Keep in mind that with that little time you'll scarcely get a chance to see the convention.

First thing first -- the line for badges on Friday and Saturday can be bat-shit insane. Pre-register, even if you're only getting one day tickets. I believe you'll be able to pick up your badges or have them mailed to you. If you don't do this you may lose 2-4 hours of your day waiting in the queue.

Arrive early. The earlier you get there, the easier time you'll have finding parking and picking up your badges, if you have to do that. There's parking right across the street from the Convention center on multiple sides. The one time I came in on a Saturday, I had no problem finding a spot. However, I did make it a point to arrive before 9AM.

The GenCon dealer's room opens at 10AM and closes at 6PM on Friday and Saturday. (If you're only going for one day, it's got to be one of those two.) IMO, the dealer's room is the single most important item in a visit to GenCon. If your interests in gaming are broad, you'll have a hard time just investigating the dealer's room in those 8 hours. There's two reasons for that -- it's bloody huge and it's generally very crowded. Just walking through the entirety of the hall would take well over an hour. Actually trying to shop adds on to that time frame significantly. If you try and spend the time to play a few demos, look at the art exhibits, and take a lunch break, you'll easily spend your alotted 8 hours here. If you're trying to do it in less than 8 hours OR if there are any limited GenCon releases that you're trying to obtain, then get a map of the dealer's room before you leave and map out a path. Trying to just wing it in there just isn't feasible.

There is a myriad assortment of events. For folks who are interested in the entirety of RPGs, then the ENnies awards are a must see. (Conveniently held after the dealer's room closes.) The auction's fun, but you'll wnat to look at the schedule and see what types of items are going to be sold while you're there. There are endless seminars devoted to gaming styles, gaming companies, and anything else game related. Most of these are free to attend, and are a great way to find things out even before they hit the internet. There are many rooms showing films of all sorts. Frankly - if there's something you want to experience in gaming, it's probably happening at GenCon.

If you really want to play in some games, I'd recommend trying to find ones that are held outside of dealer's room hours. Then, pick something that's got a fair number of players. From the Shadowrun side of things, we have a number of events that we schedule for 12 players. Those are events where we've got extra GMs on hand, specifically to handle overflow. I'd recommend that you consider ones like that.


A couple of blocks away by the skyway from the convention center. If you head towards the shopping center, through the skyway, you take the stairs down next to the parking lot. The Ram's decent, but I think it's a bit overhyped. It gets a lot of coverage on the GenCon forums primarily because they host "The Stink" there on Wednesday.

Posted by: Drogos Mar 25 2008, 11:58 AM

So the quick answers are pre-reg (have to pick a day that weekend), get there early and plan on spending more time there. AWESOME!!! Thanks for the response Dun...more people feel free to post their opinions. I like ideas

Posted by: DocTaotsu Mar 25 2008, 12:01 PM

God I hate you all for being able to go to this. It has been far too long since my last Gen Con. Is the Indy sight that much better than the old one?

Posted by: Bull Mar 25 2008, 01:12 PM

Drogos: Heh. Dunner covered the basics. For myself, I go to see folks, shop, hang out, and drink. Not necessarily in that order

Really, the con is all about what you want out of it, and what you're willing to put into it.

Doc: Yeah, I like Indy a lot better. Tons of places to eat within a block or two, many very reasonably priced. A lot more space. And a LOT more hotel space (Though close and decent hotel space space is usually sold out within 30 minutes of registration going live these days *sigh*).

Posted by: Drogos Mar 25 2008, 01:16 PM

Well, as I said, I wil be going to an unrelated event in the city and will likely only spend a day there. Meet some new folks (maybe some of the nice ones on here) and geek out a little bit. I'm hoping the GF gets on the ball with her gaming...she's getting there, but I'm not sure if she's geek enough to handle GenCon. We shall see

Posted by: adamu Mar 25 2008, 01:19 PM

Question from noobie GenCon first-timer -

I noticed that the event schedule is up. But I also read a reference on Dunner's CGL SR event schedule that registration will "go live" in late April.

Does that mean what I think it means, that there is not yet any way to sign up for these events?

And if it does open up in "late April", will there be some sort of warning bell on the GenCon site or something - some way for me to know exactly when it will start so I can be at my computer poised to get into the games I want?

Sorry to ask silly questions - I am new at this, and organizationally challenged, to boot.

Posted by: DocTaotsu Mar 25 2008, 01:19 PM

Yeah I clearly recall commuting vast distances to get to the old Gen Con. I can't wait till I get back stateside. Has the Con gotten any bigger (as far as attendance) or is it about the same?

Posted by: adamu Mar 25 2008, 01:47 PM

Ummm - okay - please ignore my question two posts above - overcame my panic at missing the beginning of registration enough to actually go to the Gencon site and have my question clearly answered -
sorry to be a neurotic pest.

Posted by: Critias Mar 25 2008, 02:14 PM

Don't sweat it. The Gencon site has a ton of information on it, and can be a little overwhelming to new visitors. It's a big-ass 'con!

Posted by: Kyoto Kid Mar 28 2008, 08:23 PM

...shoot, if it were still at its previous (pre 2003) location, I wouldn't have to worry about a hotel, and could even get a direct nonstop flight with comfy seating (yay Midwest Air).

Posted by: Critias Apr 22 2008, 11:12 AM

*gulp*

All four of my Dark Heresy sessions sold out in the first day of registration being open.