Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: lunavoco Mar 24 2011, 05:01 PM

My wife bought us tickets for gencon this year. Based on previous year's experiences what kind of SR related events take place? Do they host games? How does that work? I've never been to a con this size.

Posted by: Doc Chase Mar 24 2011, 05:03 PM

Catalyst will have a booth full of merch, and there will be games run all over the hotels. Registration for events should be opening soon.


Mmm, dealer's room. Mmmmm......

Posted by: Bull Mar 24 2011, 05:28 PM

We're going to have something like 90 or so events running this year. Events include:

http://www.shadowrun4.com/missions/ -- The Official Shadowrun Living Campaign. We'll have 21 different adventures running.
Welcome to the 6th World -- Introductory games for Shadowrun. Learn the background, play a scenario to learn the rules, and make your own character that you can take to play the Missions events with.
Shadowrun Scramble -- A unique Shadowrun Missions event that is part tabletop and part LARP. Costumes are encouraged.
GM Bootcamp -- This year we're featuring Basic Training and Advanced Training. Got questions about the game, the rules, or how to deal with unruly players? Come talk to our panel of expert, experienced Shadowrun GMs!
Who's Run is it Anyway? -- A hilarious comedy event where a GM and a small group of players run through a short adventure dictated by audience participation.
Shadowrun Tournament -- A two night event where players play a team pregenerated characters, and each team runs through the same adventure. Teams are scored based on problem solving, rules knowledge, and roleplaying, with prizes awarded to the top teams. This years Tournament ill be "Legendary"
What's Up With Shadowrun? -- A seminar where the we talk about the current state of affairs with Shadowrun, announce upcoming product, answer questions, and get to meet the fans. There's also a What's Up WIth Catalyst seminar for general CGL info, and WUW Battletech for those of you who like giant robots.

The Battletech team is also running a giant pile of events nearly nonstop all weekend as well, there will be some A Time of War RPG events (The new BT RPG), Leviathans games (CGLs upcoming Mini's game about flying Battleships in WW1), plus demos and events of CGLs board and card games.

When Event Reg goes live, sign up for events right away, as most sell out really fast. However, if you miss out on any games you want, bring Generic Tickets with you and we'll do our best to accommodate. There are usually games where Registered Tickets don't show up, and we try to have a floating GM on hand if get enough overflow (though Table Space can sometimes be an issue... We'll be running 12 tables nonstop most of the day, which will likely fill our event room).

Plus, be sure to say hello and introduce yourself (And mention your Dumpshock handle, or better yet, write it on your badge! Just don't clip your badge to your belt and expect anyone to know your name... I feel really weird staring at someones crotch trying to read their badge )

Bull

Posted by: Doc Chase Mar 24 2011, 05:32 PM

I know I'll be at Who's Run again, and I think the team is shooting for the Scramble this year, as well.

Posted by: Semerkhet Mar 24 2011, 06:20 PM

I was at the GM bootcamp last year. Bootcamp is a good description, as it is aimed mostly at people new to GM'ing Shadowrun. Though I didn't get much out of it, I would imagine it to be a useful two hours for newbie GMs.

Also, I hope the Missions get either a different room or some partitions this year. If they don't, then woe to those who get stuck with eight players and a soft-spoken GM with an accent, like I did.

If you're new to Missions, do take the time to create a character beforehand. Believe me, you don't want to be running one of the archetypes out of the book when the rest of the table has characters min/maxed to within an inch of their lives.

Posted by: Doc Chase Mar 24 2011, 06:50 PM

Heh, the EP game I was in was like that. Three guys in warforms and me with my space octopus.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 24 2011, 06:56 PM

There's no UK version, is there? No way I can afford to fly to the States.

Posted by: Wesley Street Mar 24 2011, 07:27 PM

What about a boat?

Posted by: DWC Mar 24 2011, 07:49 PM

My list of things to do at Gencon involves 2 things.

1) Drink heavily with people I don't see very often.

2) Play stuff I can't play elsewhere, like Shadowrun Missions. And for the record, some of the characters are way past tweaked to within an inch of their lives. I'd say a spark plug gapping tool is just about right, though the wacky TR system of Season 3 really encouraged that arms race.

Oh, and the third thing that I almost forgot.

Minor league baseball. I try to get to an Indianapolis Indians game at some point during the weekend, just to get some sun and fresh air. Tickets are cheap (9 to 14 bucks for an adult), beer cups are big, and the park is right next to the convention center. This year, they've got a 4 game home stand that spans the convention.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 24 2011, 08:08 PM

Nope. Not happening. I remember looking GenCon up once and there was a UK version at some university. I guess RPGs aren't that big over here.

Posted by: CanRay Mar 24 2011, 08:47 PM

I'm hoping I can get to GenCon next year or the year after.

Posted by: Bull Mar 24 2011, 11:56 PM

That's actually why we're doing 2 Bootcamps this year... The "Advanced Training" is for non-newbs.



Supposedly we'll have a room in the new JW Marriott hotel. It's directly connected to the convention center, so our games will be a good deal closer than the last couple years (yay!) However, I have no diea what the layout will be like.

There's a limited amount we can do about the overcrowding, unfortunately. We scheduled more events this year, so hopefully that will help a little, but... We're going to end up having 12 tables running for the majority of the day. If we can get enough GMs, I'm hoping we can find ways to avoid overfilling the tables beyond 6 players (Like having a couple Standby GMs who can take a group off somewhere to run a game for them, if we can find room anywhere), I don;t want to turn anyone away, but... Yeah, there were more than a couple complaints last year about having 8+ people at a table and having trouble hearing or even getting involved much.



I encourage not min/maxing, just because I think it's usually more fun and interesting, but... <shrug> I also say this as someone with an Missions Ork Street Sammy who was a bit of a gun twink, so... Heh. The best characters I've ever played or GMed for were often characters who were poorly built to start (You should have seen how useless Bull the Ork Decker was when he was originally created! ).

But either way, you'll have more fun if you bring your own character. That's actually one reason we'll be doing the "Welcome to the 6th World" games too, to allow people a place to sit downa nd create a character. The GMs will be using the Toolkit and PACKS, but still, it will allow you to customize a character to play.

(And if anyone's interested in GMing, see my thread in the convention forum! Free Badge, partial hotel comp, T-shirts, free product, all kinds of good rewards for GMs )

Bull

Posted by: CanRay Mar 25 2011, 12:05 AM

Here's a better idea, run the character by Bull online before the game. That way if he doesn't like it, he can take it and rip it to pieces in front of your eyes and burn it in a pile while dancing around it.

Then hand you one he made himself for someone who did such a thing. You'll probably have a kevlar-lined pink tu-tu with combat boots that have lime green laces and a Ares Slivergun with barely any ammo, and be happy you got that much.

Well... That's what I would do. I'd probably get kicked out a few minutes later for the fire hazard, however.

Now I'm wishing I could go this year, and see how The Accountant From Hell performs... Either him or the Borderline-Sociopathic Troll that names all his guns and sleeps with them in rotation like his own personal harem that I still have to make.

Posted by: Belvidere Mar 25 2011, 12:07 AM

Awwe, you won't be making it CanRay? I've heard so much about The Account From Hell, I wanted to see him in action. Maybe at the Scramble.

Posted by: Method Mar 25 2011, 03:04 AM

One of these years...

Posted by: CanRay Mar 25 2011, 03:10 AM

Maybe in a few years.

Posted by: scarius Mar 25 2011, 08:54 AM

you can be like most australian and hope that it ends up happening this year (even though its been cancelled) but because your not, i would just try to have fun

Posted by: Semerkhet Mar 25 2011, 03:17 PM

I attended a "Euro GenCon" in 1993 while I was stationed in Europe. The actual convention was at a resort in Sussex somewhere. Sadly Google tells me that GenCon UK stopped after 2003.

Posted by: Semerkhet Mar 25 2011, 03:28 PM

Makes me glad that the EP game I was in had pre-gen characters. That game was a lot of fun, and Posthuman has just released that particular scenario as a pdf adventure.


Speaking of pre-generated characters. Last year's GenCon convinced me that pre-gen is almost always the way to go at conventions. I've been to about twenty GenCons since 1984 and I finally realized that *every single one* of my favorite con games over the years was run with characters provided by the person(s) running the event. My all-time favorite has been the long-running Call of Cthulhu Novus Ordo Seclorum tournament, which would simply not work if players were allowed to bring their own characters.

I realize that Missions is not configured to run with pre-gens but I hope that Catalyst takes the time to run some scenarios with characters provided that actually matter to the plot.

As a corollary, I've noticed that people tend to do better role-playing when they are handed a character with a short bullet list of goals, personality traits, and perhaps a dark secret. Not universally true, of course, but a definite anecdotal trend I've noticed in nearly three decades of gaming.

Posted by: DireRadiant Mar 25 2011, 03:42 PM

That's how Bull dresses for GenCon. Pointy ears and Mohawks too.

Posted by: Belvidere Mar 25 2011, 03:53 PM

No way Chummer. Bull ain't no Dandelion Eater!

Posted by: Semerkhet Mar 25 2011, 03:57 PM

Umm, orks and trolls have pointed ears as well.

Posted by: Belvidere Mar 25 2011, 04:13 PM

Yeah, but no self respectin Ork is going to wear a tutu!

Posted by: Semerkhet Mar 25 2011, 04:15 PM

But if you see an eight foot tall troll with cyberarms wearing a tutu, what exactly are you going to say?

Posted by: CanRay Mar 25 2011, 04:17 PM

"Shall I validate your parking?"

Posted by: Bull Mar 25 2011, 07:02 PM

WHen I used to head up Convention Organizing back for FASA and FanPro, before Missions came around, we used to do One Shots. And the One Shots usually had pregenerated characters to go with them. At some point after I took a break from that, they moved away from that, and the last couple years the One Shot (non-Mission) adventures have all mostly used the Archetypes (Which I personally disliked a lot, but it did save a lot of time and effort on the GMs side of things, I guess).

WIth the shift toward focusing on Missions more, we mostly did away with the one shots this year, replacing them completely with the CMP Convention Mission Pack adventures (Which are basically similar to the One Shots... Single, self contained adventures that you don't need to be familiar with the current Missions campaign story to play in).

The Tournament still utilizes Pregenerated Characters though. This years team should be fun.

Bull

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 25 2011, 08:54 PM

Is that what they're calling it nowadays? I can't keep up with all this slang.

Posted by: redwulf25 Mar 26 2011, 01:55 AM

Whatever he wants me to say? Unless I'm packing something that can take down a troll in one shot so he doesn't rip my arms off and shove them up my ass.

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 01:58 AM

...

Damn, I wish I had kept my poetry skills up. Now I want to write a Filk Song, "Things To Do At GenCon When You're Dead".

Posted by: ggodo Mar 26 2011, 02:04 AM

I've been thinking about that the whole time this thread's been here.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 11:31 AM

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 02:21 PM

A Filk Song (Originally named from a typographical error) is a parody song with Sci-Fi or Fantasy meaning. Originally, they were done in the style of Folk Songs (And if I have to explain that...), but not run the whole gamut of genres and subjects, sometimes including original work. (Firefly's intro song could be considered "Filk".).

It's been around since the '50s, and is a major part of Sci-Fi/Fantasy Conventions.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 03:05 PM

Like in the Music to Orkish Ears thread?

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 03:14 PM

Don't know that thread. I think this is something you have to see/experience for yourself. Luckily, there's YouTube.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 03:25 PM

Luckily, there's http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=29055.

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 03:29 PM

Community projects, that's why I couldn't find it. Search was set too narrow.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 04:39 PM

Patch your Browse program, maybe?

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 04:43 PM

Nah. KEBKAC Error. No amount of patching fixes that problem.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 04:46 PM

Only error I know is CBA. Can't Be Arsed.

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 04:58 PM

PEBKAC: Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 05:17 PM

So what's KEBKAC? Knight Errant..... Something Something?

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 05:30 PM

KEBKAC is a typo.

PEBKAC is an "Error Code" that was developed to ensure Techs like myself didn't insult the idi... I mean, less computer literate.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 06:54 PM

I've got it!


Knight Errant Becomes Knight Ass-Clowns.


Also, I love that you've capitalised Tech, like it's a class or something.

Posted by: Raven the Trickster Mar 26 2011, 07:23 PM

You mean it's not?

On the tech scale there are three main points, Techs, Norms and Luddites, with most people ranging on a sliding scale in between.

Posted by: CanRay Mar 26 2011, 08:02 PM

Tech is an occupation, a trade, a lifestyle, a title. Like a Soldier, only we're not allowed to shoot back.

Posted by: Xahn Borealis Mar 26 2011, 08:08 PM

Along with Medics, Scouts, Spies....

Posted by: nezumi Apr 11 2011, 06:35 PM

So my wife has also decided that I should see sunlight now and again, so we'll both be in attendance (possibly with the little trolls in tow).

How early do you reserve a seat to participate in events?

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 11 2011, 06:47 PM

Badges have been on sale since January. Event registration starts on May 1st. Be warned, online registration is a mess for several hours after it opens as thousands of people overload GenCon's servers trying to get into this or that coveted event. You can always purchase Generic Tickets and show up to an event hoping they'll have a no-show but then you leave yourself open to the possibility of having to run around to different locations trying to get into events.

http://www.gencon.com/2011/indy/default.aspx

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 11 2011, 06:56 PM

Genconreg is unveiling a new site that will (hopefully) handle the traffic.

Posted by: CanRay Apr 11 2011, 07:33 PM

Really, really, really wishing I could go this year.

Posted by: nezumi Apr 11 2011, 07:50 PM

Thank you! I read through the website and that information was not made immediately clear to me. I already have a badge. Everything is in my wife's name (it recognizes my email address enough to prevent me from creating a new account, but not enough to say I 'forgot my password'), so hopefully that'll be made abundantly clear to me by May 1st. It would be nice to see some of these mysterious events I keep hearing about.

Posted by: capt.pantsless Apr 11 2011, 08:02 PM

I might do some digging into this one BEFORE May 1st. Email customer-service. Did you activate your account? That's a common issue.



Here's a list of 2010's events. Note that this is LAST YEARS EVENTS. Not this years. You can't go to these anymore, they happened in the past. I'm linking it here to give the uninitiated an idea on the full range of events available.

http://community.gencon.com/files/folders/pmcompletecatalogs/entry220034.aspx

I'd start making a 'wish-list' of types of events to go to. i.e. Some shadowrun, a magic tourny, some Furry LARPing, etc.

Posted by: ravensmuse Apr 11 2011, 11:12 PM

I'll just quote the 1/2/3 rule again - One shower, two meals, and at least three hours of sleep a day. Trust me on this one. You'd think "showering" would be common sense among people, but...yeah. No.

I don't think Gencon is in the cards for me this year, but I do live much closer to Indy nowadays, so hopefully I'll be able to make it next year. I will again throw weight behind a Dumpshock meetup tho. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Posted by: DV8 Apr 12 2011, 11:34 AM

Last year, the absolute best part of GenCon, besides hanging out with people like Bull, was the White Wolf booth, where they had lounge chairs, vampire chicks and a pretty damn good bartender. If she's there again this year, make sure to tip her well. You take care of her and she'll take care of you.

Posted by: Wesley Street Apr 12 2011, 02:03 PM

Funny. I thought that was the worst part of the GenCon trade floor. "Hey, we're not actually going to showcase any of our products, we're just going to pimp our New Orleans event and pour drinks. And play loud music."

Different strokes for different folks. But if any other companies try to emulate that I'm going home early.

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 12 2011, 02:23 PM

The White Wolf booth smelled of failure.

Posted by: CanRay Apr 12 2011, 02:25 PM

Drunk gamers are not usually suggested.

Or should be recorded and put up for all of Dumpshock to see.

So, who is getting the CGL crew wasted at this GenCon?

Posted by: nezumi Apr 12 2011, 02:54 PM

Sorry, I'll be busy wooing the PHS group.

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 12 2011, 02:56 PM

Yeah, Rob and Adam really put the 'punk' in 'posthumanism....' Wait...oh, never mind.

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 12 2011, 03:55 PM

That depends entirely on how much DMSO I can:

A:) get my hands on, and,
B:) get by security.

Or did you mean after the dealer's room closes? I could probably be counted on for a round.

Posted by: nylanfs Apr 13 2011, 12:12 AM

One thing you should do is stop by the PCGen booth and say hi to me

Posted by: Tyro Apr 13 2011, 12:52 AM

Try paper mills. DMSO is a byproduct of the wood pulping process.

Posted by: DWC Apr 13 2011, 12:55 AM

Or mix the substance of choice with juice and vodka and wait for said designer to gulp it down.

Posted by: Bull Apr 13 2011, 01:40 AM

Orange Gatorade and Everclear Breakfast of champions.

Posted by: CanRay Apr 13 2011, 01:58 AM

Beer, with a beer chaser.

Posted by: Bull Apr 13 2011, 02:18 AM

I don't actually like beer. Plus, I don;t think I can actually get drunk on beer. Not a high enough alcohol content. I get "full" long before I get drunk. Or even pleasantly buzzed.

Posted by: ravensmuse Apr 13 2011, 02:20 AM

I heard the "event" in New Orleans wasn't even much of an event. But hey, they'll never do oWoD again, so...

My wife gave me the funny eye last night when I said that Gencon was "iffy" for the two of us. Interesting...

Posted by: CanRay Apr 13 2011, 02:42 AM

That's because "Beer" in the US is better called "Sex in a Canoe". I mean, even Canadian light beer (*Spits*) would be considered "Malt Liquor" in the US.

Posted by: Tyro Apr 13 2011, 02:50 AM

I'm a wine and liquor drinker anyway. 12 year old Scottish whiskey *drool*

I once had a sip of 19 year old single malt. Heaven.

Posted by: Bull Apr 13 2011, 04:50 AM

I've tried both Canadian and German Beer. Much like I feel about Coffee, it's not a matter of "finding the right one", it's more that "I just don't like beer".

The closest I can get to stomaching any sort of beer is something like Woodchuck, and well... not actually beer.

Also, well... Ork Body Mass plus a natural High Tolerance means that I need an incredibly high Alcohol Percent for it to be worth drinking for the buzz and/or for the drunk. Which is why if I feel like getting liquored up, I don't screw around and head for something 150+ proof, like Bacardi 151 or Everclear. EC & Gatorade is a good but dangerous mix because I usually can;t even taste the alcohol in it, and the Gatorade helps keep me hydrated, and thus avoids hangovers.

Anyway, way off topic here, so... Back to thing to do at Gen Con.

Some people are silly and like to game. Not me, I'm too busy and have too much to do to waste time playing games, but... Some people seem to like it

Bull

Posted by: CanRay Apr 13 2011, 02:03 PM

OK, we need to get Bull tied to a chair and force him to game.

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 13 2011, 02:40 PM

Okay, okay. Rabid nationalism aside, this is a myth.

By volume, American beers have just as much alcohol content as Canadian beers. A Budweiser has the same alcohol content as a Labatt or a Molson.

But yes, I'm down for tying Bull down and forcing him to game.

As a pixie.

A pixie Face.

A pixie Face that discriminates against Orks.

Posted by: CanRay Apr 13 2011, 02:45 PM

With a Cyberdeck.

Just because I want to picture a Pixie trying to lug around a Cyberdeck, flying around, dragging on edge on the ground.

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 13 2011, 02:57 PM

Absolutely.

Posted by: nezumi Apr 13 2011, 03:18 PM

Budweiser is actually a German beer now. Coors is American, but also produces Killian's. Samuel Adams is also American. Actually most of the American-owned brewing companies now are micro-brews and are quite good (Dogfish, Anchor Steam and Foggy Bottom are all great to sample, or spend a dinner at DuClaw to really blow your socks off). However, if you're talking about an American Pilsner, yes indeed, that's about as thin as water, and a nice palate cleanser between actual brews.

But Bull's comments stand - the best beers I've had leave me full before they leave me drunk. If your goal is to get smashed, it's probably not the best route. That's why I myself will be sticking to beer, since when meeting (and dare I speculate, touching?) Adam and Rob, I'd rather not be ready to fall asleep.

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 13 2011, 03:32 PM

I sit not a thousand feet away from where Budweiser is produced, and I can tell you I ain't in Germany.

The effects of the merger of InBev and Anheuser-Busch did not make it a 'German beer' as if by magic. Nothing has changed in regards to the production of the beer. Ther merger occurred so that imported InBev brands now have a robust distribution network in the U.S., and A-B products now have a distribution network across the pond to increase the brand's market share.

I should know, I export it.

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 13 2011, 03:43 PM

Further off-topic. In many states in the U.S. we are living in a golden age of beer. There are seventeen small-to-mid-size breweries within fifty miles of where I live. My local liquor store is an embarrassment of riches in regard to beer selection. I haven't tasted a beer made by one of the big American breweries in over a decade.

/end derailment

There is a good brewpub right by the convention center in Indy that heavily caters to the GenCon crowd. In fact, overall, Indy does a much better job catering to GenCon attendees than Milwaukee ever did.

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 13 2011, 03:49 PM

/restart derailment

What's your favorite? I prefer ciders, but I don't turn down free beer (anymore).

I liked Indy last year. Liked it enough I've got a hotel room just off the convention center now. Being able to actually stay downtown for the duration is nice!

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 13 2011, 04:09 PM

My two favorite breweries in southern Wisconsin are:
Furthermore Beer (http://www.furthermorebeer.com/)
and
New Glarus Brewing Co. (http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/)

New Glarus is getting bigger but they don't distribute outside Wisconsin, iirc. At any given time, New Glarus has one or two experimental, limited-run brews going on. Their standard brews are good but I'm almost always picking up one of the limited-run ones.

Furthermore was started a couple years ago by friends of friends out in Spring Green, WI. They have some great beers like the Oscura and Fatty Boombalatty.

As for GenCon, my co-conspirators and I are at the JW Marriott right next to the convention center. We'll likely be sampling local beers on Thursday and Friday night. Saturday night we're running our LARP, so no beer for me.

Posted by: CanRay Apr 13 2011, 04:10 PM

People, people, people, please... Let's get back to tying Bull up and forcing him to play.

That's at least on topic. And I want pics as I won't be there, damnit!

Posted by: Bull Apr 13 2011, 04:28 PM

Bah, excuses excuses, CanRay.

And I do play occasionally, actually, but rarely. Last year I spent the better part of every day the dealer hall was open running demos. And this year I'll be organizing the events, so... Time is not my friend.

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 13 2011, 06:31 PM

I'd be curious to hear your anecdotal evidence on the demographics of your demo players. Age range? New to gaming? New to Shadowrun? New to GenCon? Et cetera.

Posted by: Lindt Apr 13 2011, 10:27 PM

God forbid I make it back out there after I graduate, that will be 1/2 of my total plan. I think Gm games again will be the other half.

Posted by: BookWyrm Apr 14 2011, 12:22 AM

Things to do at GenCon;

Take plenty of digital pictures, escpecially of those in full costume. Make sure you have a back-up memory card for your camera & the batteries are fully charged (or you have replacements handy). Upload pics to your Photobucket for everyone to see.
Grab as much free swag as possible. Get at least 3 of everything (if you plan to keep one set; if not, sell/trade all of it).
Be respectful to the Guests. A little courtesy can go a long way.
Get plenty of pictures of the Catalyst wares at their booth.
Eat smart, but pace yourself. Make note of any & all restroom facilities.
Take enough time to get to the panels/shows/viewings/demos you want to see.
Get plenty of rest. GenCon is M A S S I V E.

When all is done & you're safely back home, do victory dance.

Posted by: Bull Apr 14 2011, 01:26 AM

Really varied, for the most part. I didn't really keep track of these things, but...

The Demo was a quick and dirty game, played on a small table. We had a handful of old Ral Partha mini's (Some painted, some not, the mini's were a last minute plan) and a small building we were using as a Stuffer Shack. You can see the set up http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6689926&l=01402a8dca&id=621635972. The demos were very short, maybe 10-20 minutes long. I gave a very brief overview of the SR world and what Shadowruns were, then ran a quick "Stuffer Shack" scenario, with a handful of gangers attacking the PCs, keeping it as simple as possible.

A lot of the folks who stopped by were younger, probably early 20's (I'm 36, so... Younger is subjective ). I'd say that probably 60-70% of those who stopped by were in that age range.

I had a surprising amount of kids. I personally demoed for probably a half dozen kids I'd guess were in the 10-year old range, all of them accompanied by a parent (For which I was very glad, both because Shadowrun is a little more a mature themed game, and because it was good to see a parent being hands on. I would have been completely unsurprised to see parents using demos as brief "babysitter" sessions).

A large percent were new to Shadowrun, though maybe 1/4 of the demos I ran were for older players who'd played earlier editions, hadn't played in years, and wanted to check out 4th ed.

A few were newbies, but were dragged over by experienced players to get an introduction to the game. A couple of these were for newbies that had signed up for ticketed Shadowrun events with their friends, and wanted to get the basics of the game rules before they got to the table. I applauded these players, because despite the games being listed as "Some Experience expected" in the reg books, we frequently get complete newbies that sit down at a game and have to be taught the system, which really slows things down for the others at the table (And sometimes makes it very difficult to get through an entire Missions game in that 3.75 hour block).

At least three times that I know of, someone went right from the demo table to the sales table and bought the SR4A main book. One of those also bought all the core books we had in stock (I think we were out of Street Magic by that time).

A few times I just gave folks an overview. They didn't have teh time (or want to spend the time) bellying up to the table for 15-20 minutes, but were willing to spend 5 minutes listening to the basics and asking questions.

The miniatures helped. I had a few people stop by just to check out the minis, and I suspect that Iron Wind Metals got a few sales out of the deal as people were asking where tehy could find SR minis. Since Mike at IWM and Brent, CGL's art director (Not to mention me and Jason) have been trying to get a new mini's line going, I'm sure the interest helped that along a little. If you're at GC this year, be sure to ask at the booth about Miniatures. Show interest, and maybe we can finally get the process rolling.

We had a fairly constant stream of players for the demos. I ran mostly nonstop (With short breaks here and there) all day Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. ABout 22 hours of Demos all told (And standing the whole time. Lemme tell you, whoever had the bright idea to do standing demos needs to be shot. My knees ached for a week after the con). During that time, there were only a couple instances where I went longer than 5 minutes without someone at the table. Friday I had off to see the dealer hall and be at the CGL seminar, but the demo table looked pretty full all day there as well.

All in all, they were a big success. Simple, quick demos were enough to give folks a taste for things, at the least. This year we're supplementing the booth demos with full fledged 4 hour Introductory games you can register for, something to give anyone interested a way to sit down and really learn teh game a bit more in depth than a 15 minute demo can provide.

Bull

Posted by: nezumi Apr 14 2011, 01:28 PM

I suspect my wife will be bringing her camera. She's a professional photographer (http://landmhewitt.com/ ) so, assuming I can convince her to lug along her heavy camera, expect some very awesome pictures.

Posted by: CanRay Apr 14 2011, 02:56 PM

Or a slightly lighter camera, which might be easier to convince, and there would be only excellent pictures.

Posted by: Bigity Apr 14 2011, 03:29 PM

This. Don't drink crap US beer.

Posted by: Wesley Street Apr 14 2011, 05:40 PM

If you walk over to New York St. and N. Delaware St. and hit Massachusetts Ave. (it's within walking distance of the Convention Center) there are lots of great local pubs. The ones near the Con are upscale chains.

Posted by: Tyro Apr 14 2011, 08:42 PM

Kinda redundant, no?

Posted by: CanRay Apr 14 2011, 08:55 PM

Apparently, there are some good US Beers.

'Course, I'm a heathen as a beer drinker anyhow. So what do I know?

Posted by: Tyro Apr 14 2011, 09:00 PM

I've heard some American microbrews are good, but I don't drink beer as a general rule, so I'm just working from hearsay.

Posted by: Doc Chase Apr 14 2011, 09:12 PM

Oh aye, there are plenty. But I won't let that get in the way of beer elitism.

Posted by: Critias Apr 15 2011, 08:27 AM

I'm studying abroad in Edinburgh this summer. I plan on leaving all my clothes there, so I can bring home my suitcase stuffed full of liquor. I've got a half-assed plan to maybe keep some of it long enough to bring to Gencon with me.

Posted by: nezumi Apr 15 2011, 02:58 PM

How common is steampunk cosplay (wife asks)? Will she stand out among crowds of geeks in black?

Posted by: JM Hardy Apr 15 2011, 03:12 PM

Plenty common. There are more people out of costume than in costume, but there are enough costumes so that I'd imagine anyone wearing one wouldn't feel overly out of place. And steampunk has certainly become more common at the con in recent years.

Jason H.

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 15 2011, 03:40 PM

/start shameless self-promotion

Speaking of steampunk cosplay:

I and my co-conspirators at the newly formed Pamean Games LLC are introducing our new steampunk role-playing game, Brass & Steel, at this year's GenCon. We'll be running six connected tabletop sessions, on Thursday and Friday afternoon, whose characters and plots all feed into a 40 person steampunk LARP on Saturday evening. One of our features is seamless transition between tabletop and LARP gameplay. A webpage and facebook page are near to publishing.

We highly encourage costumes for the LARP event. We'll have a photographer taking pictures of participants in costume, the best of which we plan on integrating into our hardcover rulebook (with their permission, of course).

Meanwhile the Gencon Events are:
Tabletop:
RPG1120121 Life in the Clouds – The RMS Aethersprite Thu @ 1:00 PM Location: Crowne Plaza :: Pennsylvania Stn A Cost: $4
RPG1120122 The Bosporus Six Thu @ 1:00 PM Location: Crowne Plaza :: Pennsylvania Stn A Cost: $4
RPG1120124 Dreamers in the Queen of Cities Thu @ 1:00 PM Location: Crowne Plaza :: Pennsylvania Stn A Cost: $4
RPG1120123 Her Majesty's Most Special Constables Fri @ 1:00 PM Location: Crowne Plaza :: Pennsylvania Stn A Cost: $4
RPG1120125 Circle of the Silver Crescent Fri @ 1:00 PM Location: Crowne Plaza :: Pennsylvania Stn A Cost: $4
RPG1120126 The Sacred Conclave Fri @ 1:00 PM Location: Crowne Plaza :: Pennsylvania Stn A Cost: $4

LARP:
LRP1120127 The Consular Ball Sat @ 6:00 PM 5 hrs Location: Union Station :: Southern & Erie Cost: $6

/end shameless self-promotion
I won't re-post this in its own topic because this is a Shadowrun board.

Posted by: Semerkhet Apr 15 2011, 03:51 PM

Thanks for posting your experiences, Bull. I'm glad to hear there were many young people participating in the demos. I'd also love to see a new miniatures line for Shadowrun.

Posted by: capt.pantsless Apr 15 2011, 03:59 PM

There were plenty of folks who's total costume effort was: black top-hat + goggles, which doesn't really say steampunk to me.

That said, there were lots of costumes of all different makes and models, if her costume is GOOD she'll get plenty of attention and requests for pictures, but it's not like she's going to stick-out like a sore-thumb.

Posted by: Bull Apr 15 2011, 04:19 PM

Yeah. The one thing about "Steam Punk" is tat, somehow, plain Victorian-era clothing is suddenly a Steampunk costume. It's annoying, because that's a zero-effort costume, really.

The other common thing, besides goggles (Which you can find at about a dozen booths at the con) are Nerf Guns painted brass. Usually the http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/943c/.

Last year though, there was someone who was Wheelchair bound (at least, I assume so, as they were in it all weekend long). They decorated their chair up into a steampunk looking chair that was halfway well done.

Anyway, like all costume efforts, results will vary. Some are very well done. Some (like my own efforts) are completely half-assed and lame. And a few are Top-hats and goggles, or cat-ears, or a simple pair of vamp fangs. And they are beyond lame

Bull

Posted by: KarmaInferno Apr 15 2011, 04:41 PM

I have long wanted to show up at one of these cons as a steampunk Iron Man.

But then the realization of how much work that would be hits me and I return to sanity.




-k

Posted by: Bull Apr 15 2011, 04:49 PM

http://geektyrant.com/news/2010/10/11/awesome-steampunk-iron-man-costume.html

Posted by: CanRay Apr 15 2011, 04:53 PM

That's why when I did it at the GenCon I went to, with my friends and I as Deadlands characters, I just said I was a cowboy. Even had to borrow a holster. "Why are you wearing... Are those Moccasins?" "I'm Canadian." "There are Canadian Cowboys?" "I'd smack you for that, but it wouldn't be polite." "I guess there are." (My friends put a bit more work into their costumes, but one was getting the special holster made anyhow, and another is a costume maker by trade.). We were on the Pinnacle Website for a bit.

Getting the cap gun through customs however, was a lesson in how tight things are in a lot of ways. Glad I didn't bring the caps.

However, Victorian =/= Steampunk. You have to modify the outfit in special ways to do it right. So, at least some folks know it.

Posted by: Bull Apr 15 2011, 05:20 PM

Hell, it's not even a 9/11 thing. The first Gen Con I went to back in '96? '97? I've lost track. Anyway, we went to the Airport to pick Dvixen up, who was flying in from Vancouver. I had my backpack with me that had my SR books in it, but also had one of those old Super Soaker pistols in it for some reason. We had to go through the scanner to go to the gate to meet her, and when they scanned my back, they confiscated it. I wasn't even allowed to take it back to the car. And we weren't even getting ON a plane!

Bull

Posted by: Stahlseele Apr 15 2011, 05:26 PM

Bug Bull. Sorry Bull.

Posted by: thewhiterabbit Apr 15 2011, 05:51 PM

Hey all -- I'm Nezumi's wife & would prefer to speak for myself -- soooo:

If I cosplay, it won't be half-assed. I used to vend steampunk wares at cons & have gotten to be pretty discriminating. In any case -- it's my first time at Gen Con and I'm REALLY excited. Maybe we can do some sort of Dumpshock meetup w/ non-american beer.

Posted by: capt.pantsless Apr 15 2011, 08:26 PM

FYI: There's a costume parade Saturday afternoon as well as a http://gencon.com/2011/indy/pm/events/10highlights.aspx#Costume with a variety of categories. Neither are huge events for GenCon, as it's not really focused on costumes, but there's certainly plenty of cosplay gamers that show-up.

Posted by: ravensmuse Apr 16 2011, 02:45 AM

Hello, Ravensmuse's wife here! (waves)

I started costuming at Gencon when it moved to Indy about 8 years ago (? Memory is a bit fuzzy, its been awhile though). When it first started out I was one of only a few costumers. It was nice but it wasn't prominent at all. Still no one would turn a crazy eye. I will say that the creep factor was high back then, and does still exist to some extent but not as bad as the "Old Days" of Indy Gencons. The year I knew that there was an issue was 2005 or so when I had some guy follow me around and I found about 25 photos of me in odd candid places, like coming out of a bathroom. Yeah, no more revealing costumes for me.

But anyways, costuming has gotten really popular in the past few years, for the better! The costume contest is actually quite competitive and the costuming track from what I understand is very good. Its taken a bit of a turn to the Anime because Gencon has been trying to bring in a younger audience through their Anime track, so you will see a lot of "Cosplay", I'd say 1/2 to 3/4 is anime related. That doesn't bother me though, there's a place for everything there! You will see a lot of Steampunk there if this year is like years past!

I probably won't costume at this year's Gencon if we get there simply because of politics that exist in all costuming circles, and I need a break, but that's not really relevant here. As long as you just are going to spectate I'm sure you'll have a blast!

Be sure to post photos! I'd love to see what you're making!

***

raven again - one year my wife wore a Civil War era costume that she modified because the interior wasn't sturdy enough. It was a project - and she even modified her own umbrella for it! - but it was one of the best costumes there that year, and you don't get to see Civil War era costumes walking around too often!

Posted by: Wesley Street Apr 17 2011, 07:07 PM

The Antebellum South ensemble? I remember spotting that garb on the trade show floor!