[X] My Assistant

[apollo124]

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

[Dirtz]

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

[Critias]

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

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.

[DocTaotsu]

Camelback. Hydration and it makes you feel hardcore. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

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

[Bull]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Bull

[john_doe]

Plus, Gatorade makes a great mixer for Vodka or Everclear (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Bull

Plenty enough reason for me...

[Caine Hazen]

Plenty enough reason for me...

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?)

[DocTaotsu]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Adam]

As if Lucasfilm doesn't have enough damn money. Lord.

Yeah, they have a lot of money, so Gen Con totally should be allowed to take their stuff and sell it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Caine Hazen]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

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.

[Redjack]

Personally I pack several bottles of water and trail mix to keep blood sugar and hydration at proper levels. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

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

[Critias]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

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.

[apollo124]

Yeah, they have a lot of money, so Gen Con totally should be allowed to take their stuff and sell it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

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.

[Adam]

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.

[john_doe]

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?

[tisoz]

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.

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.

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?

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.

[sloejack]

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Critias]

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.

[the_dunner]

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.

[Critias]

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. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) 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. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Game ID: RPG00748
Primary Game Master Name: Rusty Zimmerman
Title: Dark Heresy: Bad Boys (1)
Event Description: Bad boys, bad boys, what'cha gonna do? What'cha gonna do when
you ARE the Adeptus Arbites, that paramilitary group that's all that stands
between the "peace" of the Imperium and the cults, heretics, and gangs that
would wreak havoc on your assigned planet? Using the Dark Heresy ruleset, this
is your chance to play as a member of an Arbites precinct, bringing the
Emperor's Law to the 40k universe. Two sessions available (check for Bad Boys
2).
Email address for more information: zimru@fuse.net
Event Type: RPG - Role Playing Game
Event Duration (hours): 4
Event Start Date: 8/14/08 9:00 AM
Event End Date: 8/14/08 1:00 PM
Age Requirement: Teen (13+)
Experience Required: Newcomers (maturity preferred)
Game System: Dark Heresy
Rules Edition: First (and Only)
Materials Provided: Yes
Event Cost: $4.00

Game ID: RPG00763
Primary Game Master Name: Rusty Zimmerman
Title: Dark Heresy: Bad Boys (2)
Event Description: Bad boys, bad boys, what'cha gonna do? What'cha gonna do when
you ARE the Adeptus Arbites, that paramilitary group that's all that stands
between the "peace" of the Imperium and the cults, heretics, and gangs that
would wreak havoc on your assigned planet? Using the Dark Heresy ruleset, this
is your chance to play as a member of an Arbites precinct, bringing the
Emperor's Law to the 40k universe. Two sessions available (check for Bad Boys
1).
Email address for more information: zimru@fuse.net
Event Type: RPG - Role Playing Game
Event Duration (hours): 4
Event Start Date: 8/14/08 2:00 PM
Event End Date: 8/14/08 6:00 PM
Age Requirement: Teen (13+)
Experience Required: Newcomers (maturity preferred)
Game System: Dark Heresy
Rules Edition: First (and Only)
Materials Provided: Yes
Event Cost: $4.00

Game ID: RPG00764
Primary Game Master Name: Rusty Zimmerman
Title: Dark Heresy: Earning The Armor (1)
Event Description: So, you want to be a Space Marine? Then you've got to show
your Chapter that you're ready! All the implants and upgrades are yours, you
tower above normal humans, your strength is awesome, your stamina the stuff of
legends, your training has honed you to the razor's edge. All that's between you
and glory is a measly horde of greenskin scum! Have you got what it takes to
survive, Scout?! It's time to prove it! Two (identical) sessions available.
Email address for more information: zimru@fuse.net
Event Type: RPG - Role Playing Game
Event Duration (hours): 4
Event Start Date: 8/15/08 8:00 AM
Event End Date: 8/15/08 12:00 PM
Age Requirement: Teen (13+)
Experience Required: Newcomers (maturity preferred)
Game System: Dark Heresy
Rules Edition: First (and Only)
Materials Provided: Yes
Event Cost: $4.00

Game ID: RPG00765
Primary Game Master Name: Rusty Zimmerman
Title: Dark Heresy: Earning The Armor (2)
Event Description: So, you want to be a Space Marine? Then you've got to show
your Chapter that you're ready! All the implants and upgrades are yours, you
tower above normal humans, your strength is awesome, your stamina the stuff of
legends, your training has honed you to the razor's edge. All that's between you
and honor is a measly horde of greenskin scum! Have you got what it takes to
survive, Scout?! It's time to prove it! Two (identical) sessions available.
Email address for more information: zimru@fuse.net
Event Type: RPG - Role Playing Game
Event Duration (hours): 4
Event Start Date: 8/15/08 1:00 PM
Event End Date: 8/15/08 5:00 PM
Age Requirement: Teen (13+)
Experience Required: Newcomers (maturity preferred)
Game System: Dark Heresy
Rules Edition: First (and Only)
Materials Provided: Yes
Event Cost: $4.00

[kawaii]

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.

[grendel]

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.

[Drogos]

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!!!

[the_dunner]

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?

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.

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

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.

[Drogos]

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)