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Dumpshock Forums _ Dumpshock News, Bug Reports, Feature Requests, & Discussion _ Gen Con DSF Meet & Greet
Posted by: Bull Aug 6 2007, 06:16 AM
With most of the moderation staff in attendance at Gen Con Indy this year, we thought it might be kinda nice to actually get to meet some of the Dumpshock folks and put Faces to the Handles.
With the crowds and the hustle and bustle of the convention, it's tough to pick out people in the crowds, and I've found that some of you mugs are really bad about introducing yourselves, even if you know who we are. Trust me, it's perfectly ok to say "Hey, you're Bull? I'm X from Dumpshock." I don't bite. Much. Anyways, we figured the easiest way to do this would be to get together at one of the events at the con, and what better one than the "What's Up With..." event, the little Q&A seminar where Adam, Rob, and the IMR/Catalyst guys will talk about the upcoming products and answer questions from the unruly masses.
This year the "What's Up with..." Seminar is at the Embassy Suites at Noon on Saturday, the 18th, in "Coronation 2". It's about an hour long, and afterward we'll round up any Dumpshockers to hang out and chat down in the Embassy Lobby, maybe go do some lunch or something.
Like I said, might be a good chance to put some faces to the names, chat for a bit. I'll be glad to attempt to answer any questions I can about Dumpshock and what we do here. And if anyone's really unhappy with the DSF Moderation staff, well be happy to let you have a free swing or two at Caine 
Hope to see you there!
Bull
Posted by: Fortune Aug 6 2007, 08:46 AM
Is someone going to record and make available the "What's Up With ..." seminar this year?
Posted by: Ophis Aug 6 2007, 08:58 AM
Dammit sometimes I'd like to live in the States, it would make going to GenCon possible...
Posted by: Bull Aug 6 2007, 10:49 AM
| QUOTE (Fortune) |
| Is someone going to record and make available the "What's Up With ..." seminar this year? |
Don't know. Possible Caine will try to do that again this year, I'm sure he'll post here if he can.
Bull
Posted by: Adam Aug 6 2007, 06:10 PM
| QUOTE (Fortune) |
| Is someone going to record and make available the "What's Up With ..." seminar this year? |
Yes.
Posted by: Dashifen Aug 6 2007, 06:29 PM
| QUOTE (Adam) | ||
Yes. |
Excellent.
Posted by: Caine Hazen Aug 6 2007, 07:32 PM
| QUOTE (Adam) | ||
Yes. |
What setup you using and do you ned extra mics? Or other sound sources?
Posted by: Fortune Aug 7 2007, 01:31 AM
| QUOTE (Adam) | ||
Yes. |
Much obliged.
Posted by: Critias Aug 7 2007, 08:43 AM
Does anyone have any restraining orders or anything out on me? I need to know before I get to the convention center, much less go about looking for specific rooms full of Dumpshockers. 100 yards is a lot of distance, indoors.
Posted by: Bull Aug 7 2007, 12:24 PM
<laugh> I'll double check, but I think it expired last month, so you should be ok 
Or we should be ok. One of the two. 
Bull
Posted by: apollo124 Aug 9 2007, 04:47 AM
I just did a Yahoo check on Embassy Suites in Indianapolis and I was kind of wondering which one the meet and greet is going to be at? There seem to be several choices.
Doing a little more searching, I'm guessing the one on Washington Street, downtown near the Convention Center?
Posted by: Bull Aug 9 2007, 12:55 PM
Yeah, it's the one on Washington street. http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=INDWWES
From what John (The_Dunner) has said, events are REALLY freaking spread out this year at the con. It's gonna make those guys that pack in as many events as possible cry, when they have less than 15 minutes to book it from one event to another and they're several blocks away from each other in different hotels 
The event book on site should have maps of the hotels, and they usually have an Indianapolis Visitors Guidebook magazine thingy available at the main information desk at the convention center that has a nice map of downtown.
http://www.indy.org/indianapolis/web/jsp/article/detail.jsp?c=8385165:menu&p=1&x=1186666887601 The first one on the list is especially good, and one as a general area map, especially for finding hotels.
Bull
Posted by: DireRadiant Aug 9 2007, 01:35 PM
2006 was nice, there was the SR4 games room where you could go meet all the crazy people.
Posted by: Bull Aug 9 2007, 02:01 PM
| QUOTE (DireRadiant) |
| 2006 was nice, there was the SR4 games room where you could go meet all the crazy people. |
Yeah, I think they were supposed to have a similar deal this year, but I think GC overbooked themselves. Looks like most, if not all, of the RPG events are scattered to the hotels this year. And looks like it was late enough that they weren't able to schedule everything all together. I dunno.
Hopefully that will be remedied next year. Having everything in one place was a godsend, since it meant all the GMs were in one place, and if there was overflow or problems, they could pull a loose GM who was just hanging out or waiting to run a freebie demo and make him run a Missions game, even though he'd never played in, GMed for, or read a Missions game before, with no notice.
"He3y Bull, we have 5 players who want to play, but we're full up. Wanna run them?" That was interesting.
Bull
Posted by: Critias Aug 11 2007, 06:09 AM
Oh, whoops. Just realized this thing was on Saturday. Can't make it. I'll be square in the middle of a ten hour long tournament.
Oh well. Maybe I'll run into a few of you in games or whatnot.
Posted by: apollo124 Aug 13 2007, 02:22 PM
I haven't been to a Gen Con before, and here I even live in Indiana. I'm gonna try to move Heaven and Earth to get to this thing this year. All I need is a lever long enough to reach Hell. 
Posted by: DireRadiant Aug 13 2007, 03:06 PM
| QUOTE (Bull) |
| Yeah, it's the one on Washington street. http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=INDWWES |
We still planning on the Embassy with the event location and hotel changes?
Posted by: Redjack Aug 13 2007, 03:30 PM
For those of us who will be driving in daily (hotel is 8 miles away), where do you recommend parking? How long to navigate getting parked?
Posted by: Bull Aug 13 2007, 04:33 PM
| QUOTE (DireRadiant) | ||
We still planning on the Embassy with the event location and hotel changes? |
The Whats Up With Seminar did not change locations, according to Dunner, so we're still in the same locale.
| QUOTE |
| For those of us who will be driving in daily (hotel is 8 miles away), where do you recommend parking? How long to navigate getting parked? |
Hrmm. Honestly, I don't really know. I'm not familiar with the parking sitch outside the hotels.
You could try calling the convention center and seeing if their info desk can help any.
Bull
Posted by: DireRadiant Aug 13 2007, 04:40 PM
| QUOTE (Redjack) |
| For those of us who will be driving in daily (hotel is 8 miles away), where do you recommend parking? How long to navigate getting parked? |
There's a mall right nearby with parking, I think it's Circle Center Mall. I also think you can get parking validated, but I may be confused about that.
Posted by: tisoz Aug 13 2007, 06:28 PM
| QUOTE (Redjack) |
| For those of us who will be driving in daily (hotel is 8 miles away), where do you recommend parking? How long to navigate getting parked? |
As someone who has commuted the past 2 years, either plan on a long walk or paying $15 to $20 a day to park. On Thursday and Friday be prepared to compete with the downtown workforce for parking. There is metered parking, but I would not recommend trying it.
Most of the free parking is found south of the convention center (any other direction is city.) The closest free parking is about a half mile away, but usually open spaces are about a mile away.
There is a pay lot on the other side of the RCA dome from the convention center, but it fills up early.
I would see how much a cab costs, if the bus runs past your hotel (it will probably run within a block or two of the convention), or if your hotel offers a shuttle bus.
What would be nice is if we commuters could get together, carpool, and split the parking cost. The quickest way for me to get downtown is either from I65South to I70 West and taking the dome exit, or I465 North to I70 East and the dome exit. I 70 runs a couple miles south of the convention center/dome. I465 from I65 on the southside to I465 at I70 on the West side can be on my route if anyone is interested in getting together.
Posted by: Redjack Aug 13 2007, 06:48 PM
I am staying at:
Hampton Inn Indianapolis-South, 7045 McFarland Blvd, Indianapolis, IN United States 46237
It is off of I-65. They say a cab from there is ~$25 so I might as well drive in and no shuttles or city buses.
I really don't mind walking from free parking, but how is the downtown crime? In the end I am probably better off paying the parking, possibly commuting.
Posted by: tisoz Aug 13 2007, 07:02 PM
| QUOTE (Redjack) |
| I am staying at: Hampton Inn Indianapolis-South, 7045 McFarland Blvd, Indianapolis, IN United States 46237 It is off of I-65. They say a cab from there is ~$25 so I might as well drive in and no shuttles or city buses. I really don't mind walking from free parking, but how is the downtown crime? In the end I am probably better off paying the parking, possibly commuting. |
I'd be happy to share a ride and parking expense.
I have not had any problem with crime, but it does seem like a scary area, especially at one in the morning walking the mile south to where there is just about always free parking spaces. The walk under all the railroad tracks is not a good place to start imagining a dungeon crawl.
I have also not heard any first hand accounts of crime, just horror stories about being towed.
The downtown area has a lot of attractions that go on into the night, so I think it is pretty well patrolled.
Posted by: eidolon Aug 13 2007, 07:53 PM
So we're talking an A?
Posted by: Redjack Aug 13 2007, 08:23 PM
The next trick is syncing up people's schedules.
For example: My game starts 8am Friday and the last one ends at 11pm, Saturday is 10am to 11pm.
Posted by: Critias Aug 13 2007, 08:28 PM
| QUOTE (Redjack) |
| For those of us who will be driving in daily (hotel is 8 miles away), where do you recommend parking? How long to navigate getting parked? |
My hotel was a couple miles out last year -- honestly, you'd probably be better off getting a cab. They're not that expensive (especially if several of you split it), and parking near the convention center is.
Posted by: Bull Aug 13 2007, 11:09 PM
It was less than $20 to cab from the airport to the convention center area a couple years ago. If you're looking at close to that in parking, it may be most convenient to just get the name of a cab company and call for a ride to and from.
I know if you're within a couple miles, it's a $5 flat rate around downtown. 8 miles out will probably be a bit more though. Something to look into, I suppose.
Bull
Posted by: Adam Aug 13 2007, 11:58 PM
Check with your hotel; they may be running a shuttle to the convention center, as well.
My experience is that Indianapolis cabbies are crazy in the best kind of way.
Posted by: apollo124 Aug 14 2007, 01:45 PM
What time do the doors open to the Convention Center on Saturday? I've tried looking on the website, but it's kind of confusing to me.
Posted by: DireRadiant Aug 14 2007, 02:06 PM
| QUOTE (apollo124) |
| What time do the doors open to the Convention Center on Saturday? I've tried looking on the website, but it's kind of confusing to me. |
The question to ask is... do they actually close the doors?
Posted by: Critias Aug 14 2007, 03:21 PM
In previous years, I know certain sections/rooms have certainly been locked up at night, but for the most part there've been people coming and going from the convention center itself at all hours.
Posted by: tisoz Aug 14 2007, 08:48 PM
I have left the Convention Center at about 6am and gotten funny looks from security, the only people visible. I have arrived at the Convention Center at 7:45am and the doors are unlocked; however, other aras inside the building can still be clsed. I think th Dealers room opens at 10am.
I have tried getting into the Convention Center at just past Midnight and found the place locked up.
It also looks like Sunday is going to bad for traffic and crowded as the Colts are hosting the Bears in an exhibition game in the dome which abutts the Convention Center.
Posted by: Lindt Aug 15 2007, 07:28 PM
They have had games there before during Gencon. The big problem is hotel related. We book months ahead of time, they might book weeks.
Either way, have fun guys! Tell the Con team I said Hi.
Posted by: apollo124 Aug 16 2007, 06:19 PM
Got my lever, pushed against Hell, gonna see you there! Thanks for the advice (and answering the dumb questions without making fun of me).
Posted by: tisoz Aug 17 2007, 04:53 AM
| QUOTE (Redjack) |
| I really don't mind walking from free parking, but how is the downtown crime? |
On my hike this night, there were police cars every other block along the way as well as several patrolling. I actually felt like they were watching me, not necessarily watching out for me.
And I had the longest walk of my GenCon life - like you couldn't leave me a space when I told you where they could be found. I hit 6 full pay lots before giving up and parking on a street they closed to build I70.
Posted by: kzt Aug 18 2007, 01:49 AM
| QUOTE (tisoz) |
| And I had the longest walk of my GenCon life - like you couldn't leave me a space when I told you where they could be found. I hit 6 full pay lots before giving up and parking on a street they closed to build I70. |
If you show up for the 8am games you can find parking. So far I've found it in the south lots, with them only being half full at 7:45-8 am.
I did dump a game I considered tonight so I would be able to get in before the lots filled up. Too tired to do another 5 hour night.
Posted by: Redjack Aug 18 2007, 11:30 AM
I've been coming up I-65 to I-70 then downtown. I've been parking on the lot just south of the railroad tracks and walking the ~1/2 dozen blocks to the convention. Parking has been $2 to $5 for the whole day (depending on when you get there). The area is well lit and as noted above lots of police. I never didn't feel safe.
There are a number of pan-handlers, but not nearly as many as San Francisco and they don't harass you like the one's in SF either. In fact the absolute worst thing I can say about the whole con is Gen Con Management. Opening day of the Hall, they held the opening of the hall for an HOUR and blocked the red carpet area, effectively trapping like a thousand people in the hall. (Was in a game as that was going on, so the info is a little second hand). Second, in my first game, four different people, four DIFFERENT locations (other hotels or buildings) printed on their tickets... none the final location...
I can't imagine how many people ended up frustrated and gave up finding their games...
Otherwise, been a great con... Beware Nimnu-Net and Mel Gibson, though.. Those of you who know what I mean.. Well, you know what I mean...
Posted by: apollo124 Aug 19 2007, 04:42 AM
Thanks for doing the "What's Up With?" seminar fellas. I enjoyed it a lot, and now have a bunch to look forward to. It was great to be able to put a face on you guys, even got a neat drawing done by Klaus in my Shadows of Europe book (which is going to be my default 'troll guy' for quite a long time). I didn't get a chance to say "Hey!" to Loren, so I settled for buying 3 more of the Battletech novels he wrote.
Posted by: Storm Aug 21 2007, 02:19 AM
Hey! I got a TON of pics from gen-con and some of them just completely and utterly awesome. I figured others might like to see them and whatnot. I'd be more than happy to post some of the pics up but do I need to start a new thread for that or just add em on this one?
Posted by: DireRadiant Aug 21 2007, 02:22 AM
Someone already started a thread http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=18737&st=0&#entry577871
Posted by: Bull Aug 21 2007, 12:43 PM
Holy crap am I wiped out. It was a goooood con, but exhausting. Too much walking, too much talking, too little sleeping, and too much drinking
Good to meet the folks I met, especially those I was meeting for the first time. And a damn shame I didn't get the chance to hang out a little more with any of y'all. Gen Cons crazy like that, though.
I'll get my pictures and stuff online soonish, I hope.
Bull
Posted by: Storm Aug 21 2007, 12:46 PM
Thanks.
Posted by: Hocus Pocus Aug 25 2007, 04:21 AM
awww I missed it. If i woulda gone those barbarian babes woulda been all mine. No hot chick can resist my sexiness.
got any more scantily clad babes?
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