GenCon Indy 2011, Yeah I know, it's early, but this is srs bznz. Options

[Doc Chase]

I'm sure it'll pick back up in another few months. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Shecky]

I've got my passes for Gencon, My hotel I reserved a couple months ago, and I"m hopefully gonna be down there in time Wed for the M&G. It was nice meeting some of you last year, and this year hopefully we can all get an area together instead of being spread out all over the place.

[ravensmuse]

If, by the way, Bull wants to bring those Shadowrun decks he had last year... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I'll be there because it's only a few hours drive away! I can go to Gencon and Origins this year! Yayyyy!

Think we'll only be spending one night though. Money is still, unfortunately, tight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Critias]

If, by the way, Bull wants to bring those Shadowrun decks he had last year... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Speaking of which...a buddy of mine recently uncovered a trove of old gaming goodies that he'd packed up once upon a time and largely forgotten about (with law school, getting married, adopting a kiddo, all kinds of busy stuff) -- and when he found some Shadowrun cards, he ended up making them a "Welcome to Texas" gift to me. I've got a couple starter decks and a couple boosters, and no idea what the heck to do with them (besides enjoy the artwork, so far).

I'll try to remember to haul 'em off to Indy with me this year, to see about getting in a game or two.

[ravensmuse]

Take 'em off your hands for a good price (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Unless you don't wanna. Then I'll just use 'em at the meet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[LurkerOutThere]

As to the meet and greet did we want to find another location? I had no real complaint about Cladaugh's from a food or drinks perspective but the layout was less then wonderful for a large group.

[Bull]

The problem is finding someplace close to downtown that we can make a nebulous reservation for. Most of the places downtown don't do reservations during large events like this.

[ravensmuse]

Probably for very good reasons. We can't all remember to be good ambassadors..

[Critias]

Take 'em off your hands for a good price (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Unless you don't wanna. Then I'll just use 'em at the meet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Nah, I'd prefer not to just casually sell a gift, y'know?

[ravensmuse]

Eh, it was said sarcastically with a hint of honesty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) No worries (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Belvidere]

I shall be attending my first gencon this year. (Finally!) Now that I've got the cash and the car to take me there. I've only attended some local smaller michigan cons. Any tips or pointers? Aside fromt he simple stuff, get passes early, ect. And if the meet n greet is still going on, I'd love to meet the (in)famous dumpshock members. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[capt.pantsless]

I shall be attending my first gencon this year. (Finally!) Now that I've got the cash and the car to take me there. I've only attended some local smaller michigan cons. Any tips or pointers? Aside fromt he simple stuff, get passes early, ect. And if the meet n greet is still going on, I'd love to meet the (in)famous dumpshock members. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

Get good walking shoes. Don't have a huge backpack.

Don't be late to a True Dungeon Event.

There's a couple of different philosophies on registering for events:

Option 1: Register yourself for events from 8am to midnight (or whenever you sleep), and if you don't feel like going to something, skip it.
Option 2: Register only for stuff you REALLY want to do, and just wing it, i.e. get into pick-up games, or just wander the vendor-halls.
Option 3: Somewhere between 1 and 2


Option 1 works as tickets are rather cheap - it's usually $1 per hour for an event. Skipping an event means you lose-out on $4. No big whoop.
Option 2 works great for people who are meeting big groups of folks who tend to run pick-up games. My wife did this with her AmberMUSH group when she went to GenCon.

[pbangarth]

This from someone whose first Gencon was in Kenosha, Wisconsin, but hasn't gone the last few years:

1) You can play in slots from 8 am to midnight 3 days and Sunday till 4pm. Don't. Give yourself breaks.. for eating, resting, shopping, kanoodling... whatever. Your inclination the first time is to go all out. Don't.

My buddy and I used to keep Saturday night free to go out drinking. In Milwaukee there were The Safe House and Bogie's. Don't know about Indianapolis. Then we played RPGA finals hung over on Sunday morning, FTW.

1-2-3 is a basic rule: 1 shower a day, 2 meals a day, 3 hours of sleep a day. I vote for more on the last one.

2) Make time to meet friends. We used to have a group that would schedule the same event on the second slot on Thursday, and all play together. 3 different nationalities making a team for 6 or 7 years in a row.

Get to know the faces behind the icons.

3) However much money you budgeted, you will dearly want to spend more. No matter how much money you have, the vendors can take it all. Budget and stick to it. Your marriage may depend on it.

4) Every year try something completely different. You never know.

5) Pickup games can be fun. And can make new friends.

6) Carry as little as possible. Count on someone else bringing the suitcase full of manuals.

7) Convention food is expensive and sucks sh*t through a straw. Bring your own and be nourished. And save your money for the vendor's hall.

That's a good start.

[capt.pantsless]

7) Convention food is expensive and sucks sh*t through a straw. Bring your own and be nourished. And save your money for the vendor's hall.

No kidding. I found that the food-court in the mall that's attached to the convention-center has reasonably fast service and since there's the usual big-chains, it's usually the same quality level as everywhere else.

The other big strategy is to NOT eat during the peak-times. Don't eat lunch at noon, bring a granola bar, and hold-off on lunch until 2pm or so.

[Fringe]

No kidding. I found that the food-court in the mall that's attached to the convention-center has reasonably fast service and since there's the usual big-chains, it's usually the same quality level as everywhere else.

The other big strategy is to NOT eat during the peak-times. Don't eat lunch at noon, bring a granola bar, and hold-off on lunch until 2pm or so.

I second (or third) that. The normal meal times also tend to overlap with the times when game slots end, so people flood the restaurants at those times trying to get a "quick" bite before their next event. Just don't carry so much that you get caught with your food in the convention hall. I've never seen it be a problem, but officially the Con has an exclusive contract for concessions with the Convention Center. But a couple of small snacks and a bottle or two in your backpack work fine. If money is tight--or if you don't like paying $2+ for a bottle, or if you don't like what they have--bring a case of soda or water from home and store it in your hotel room. Same goes for anything special you like to eat for snacks.

I'm the guy with the suitcase full of Shadowrun books--but then that's all I've generally done the last two years. But I try very hard to avoid dragging that case through the dealer room--it's crowded enough that the case presents a navigational hazard. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) If you're playing SR, there's always a set of books somewhere nearby.

If it's a new game you're interested in, check out the dealer's booth, especially if it's a board game. Most dealers run frequent demos of their new games.

I found for my first few years that I would only feel like going to about one event per day. The rest of my time was spent in the dealer room, in a hotel room gaming with friends, or in one of the fine drinking establishments. At the same time, I'd register for a bunch of events and come home with unspent tickets.

Another tip: Don't count on using the ATM at any time late in the con. The banks try to keep them filled, but I've seen some ATMs empty on Saturday. A lot of dealers take plastic, but it's something to keep in mind. It's not as bad as it was in Milwaukee, where the only ATM in the convention center some years would be empty from Friday evening through the end of the con.

I'm also looking forward to the Meet and Greet. I've been to all but one Gen Con in the last decade, but I've never made it to the M&G.

[capt.pantsless]

The rest of my time was spent in the dealer room, in a hotel room gaming with friends, or in one of the fine drinking establishments.

This is one of the best parts of Gen Con. All your gaming friends in the same city at the same time, and everyone's there to have some fun.

Also, a word on the progression of days:

Tuesday is the calm before the storm. If you're staying in Indy, getting in on Tuesday is very convenient.

Wednesday - the hordes arrive, there is -some- free gaming events at the convention-center.

Thursday - First official day of Gen-Con. The vendor-hall opens. Hardcore gaming 24 hours a day

Friday - Hardcore gaming continues.

Saturday - Gamers who didn't take Thurs/Friday off join in the fun. Other gamers are starting to get tired after 2 days of Con-ing. Folks who didn't follow the 1-2-3 rule are starting to become noticeable. By nightfall, the gaming is shifting slightly more towards drinking heavily.

Sunday - Massive hangover. Stumble towards your last game all the way over at Union Station. Realize you don't have your dice. Then realize you actually ATE your dice last night in a drunken dare. Vomit-up your dice. Problem solved. Try to survive until you need to drive/fly/boat home. Wonder if your friends have already posted pictures of you from last-night on Facebook.

Monday - AKA Black Monday. Pray that you took this day off of work. Otherwise, you spend the whole day dreaming of next-year.

[Doc Chase]

We're a bunch of folks who play Shadowrun, and we can't smuggle more than a few granola bars around? I'm disappointed in us. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

I'm going to work on at least concealing a Camelbak this year - I have an insulated bag that doubles as my 'doctor's bag' when I'm actually physically IC. That's where the sammiches go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thursday is likely to be my major Vendor Room day. Got my federal tax return back and all of a sudden I have substantial money. The trip's already paid for, so now I have a great deal of disposable income to my name.

I'm going to try to get in more games this year. Only did Who's Run and did one Eclipse Phase in which I was a space octopus with a thermite charge (I named it Chekov). Think I'll shoot to get into at least one SR game and possibly the Scramble as well.

[Bull]

There's a "no outside food" policy in place in the convention center... However, I've never really seen it enforced. I know I usually bring along a dozen 32 oz. bottles of Gatorade and a couple boxes of those fruit snack bar thingies, and haul a couple of each around with me every day. We've also had Pizza delivered to the convention center before. I think so long as you're not too overt with things and aren't setting up shop and selling food, no one really cares.

In the gaming halls, we usually try and keep some water bottles on hand for the Shadowrun (and A Time of War) GMs, and plenty of gamers bring along bags of candy, pop, and other snacks for during the game.

And yeah... We need to figure out what we're doing for the meet n greet at some point. I'm a bit busier this year, as I'm back to organizing the events, but still... We'll have to see what we can come up with. I love the Claddagh, and they've been good about putting up with us the last few years, but we haven't been able to get them to accomodate us as far as setting up a section just for us. I'm still open to suggestions if anyone knows someplace that would be willing to set aside space for 2-3 dozen Shadowrunners (we get more people usually, but they filter in and out over the evening).

Bull

[ravensmuse]

Dear lord, please follow the 1-2-3 rule. It is the smartest, smartest rule of any convention.

You will get tired. You will collapse from not eating. You will (sigh) stink. And it's not good for anyone involved. Pace yourself; don't overbook things, and don't go crazy rushing from one place to another to make time for games. It's a convention - it's the country's largest gaming convention - and you're not going to get to do everything you'd like to do. Trust me.

Also, budget like mad; I was proud that at my last Gencon, I spent exactly $125 dollars and still managed to pick up a ton of great stuff. The best stuff isn't necessarily at the publisher's booth. Saving five dollars is saving five dollars - or in my case, ten, and WildFire lost a sale because one of the folk's at their booth my last year was a jerk about me reading the book at their booth (I was off to the side, out of the crowd) and I took my business elsewhere. You are still a consumer at a con, so act like it!

Again, I'll recommend Wednesday Gaming at the Ram Brewery. Free to attend, goes all day, held by some really great friends of mine, needs a Shadowrun GM, because it'll be a lot of fantasy gaming and board games. Unfortunately we may not be able to go this year (I need a frickin' job) or else I'd volunteer. A player in my campaign is talking about running Shadowrum; I'm not sure if / when he's going to do that, but he's also running a twelve hour Ravenloft game sometime that weekend as well (the original version, by Hickman).

There is lots of good food outside of the convention center. If you're not aware of Steak n' Shake, become aware of Steak n' Shake. They have amazing burgers, fries, and shakes. There's lots of other chains around as well, including a Dunkin' Donuts (amazing coffee and doughnuts, better than Krispy Kreme, no lie). You might have to walk for 'em though.

Whoo. Big list.

Couldn't we hold the get together at a hotel room or something? I thought you guys did that one year. I would love to meet some of you fellow Dumpshockers at one point; like I said though, if I don't get a job and soon, I don't think I'm going to be able to go now :/

[DireRadiant]

The most important thing about going to GenCon is to actually go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Don't most of you know some people who you know should go, but they never get to do it? Don't be them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[DireRadiant]

And yeah... We need to figure out what we're doing for the meet n greet at some point. I'm a bit busier this year, as I'm back to organizing the events, but still... We'll have to see what we can come up with. I love the Claddagh, and they've been good about putting up with us the last few years, but we haven't been able to get them to accomodate us as far as setting up a section just for us. I'm still open to suggestions if anyone knows someplace that would be willing to set aside space for 2-3 dozen Shadowrunners (we get more people usually, but they filter in and out over the evening).

Bull

Claddagh Event Reservations

You can get an area set aside. I suggest the cocktail party, $13 a guest, an array of appetizers. You can also go with a full dinner event. There's also options for how to run the bar tab. All you need is an accurate head count 48 hours prior to the event.

[AStarshipforAnts]

Dear lord, please follow the 1-2-3 rule. It is the smartest, smartest rule of any convention.

What is the 1-2-3 rule?

[ravensmuse]

What is the 1-2-3 rule?

1-2-3 is a basic rule: 1 shower a day, 2 meals a day, 3+++ hours of sleep a day. I vote for more on the last one.

[Bull]

Claddagh Event Reservations

You can get an area set aside. I suggest the cocktail party, $13 a guest, an array of appetizers. You can also go with a full dinner event. There's also options for how to run the bar tab. All you need is an accurate head count 48 hours prior to the event.

That requires a semi-accurate headcount (tough to get), and it also depends on whether the Claddagh Indy is doing this during the convention. A number of restaurants that normally do reservations won't do them during larger events.

SInce I'm going to be busy with SR EVent Registration and GM wrangling this year... Anyone else want to volunteer to take point on the Meet n Greet planning and see what they can run down?

Bull

[Critias]

1) Wear comfortable, broken in, shoes.

2) Take advantage of the fridge in your hotel room to cut down on some food costs, along with the fact that every gamer an' his grandma is lugging around a big honkin' backpack all day. I've had MRE's for at least one meal a day my last couple Gencons. Cheap breakfast in the hotel room, MRE around lunch, and then "splurge" by going to an actual restaurant for dinner (and that, for the socializing as much as the food).

3) It's sad it has to be said, but keep an eye on your stuff. A friend lost his entire army case worth of miniatures a few years ago, another friend had his dice bag go missing, and the filching of pens and pencils and the occasional dice can all happen innocently and completely by accident, when gaming with strangers. Not everyone is out to kill you and take your limited edition books or anything, but stuff goes missing with 30,000+ people around.

4) Try not to get sick, and if you do try not to get me sick. "Con funk" isn't just a joke about how gamers smell, it's a medical issue caused by 30,000+ people from all over the country (or world) suddenly breathing the same air. Start popping vitamins, especially vitamin C, before you go to the con, and while you're there, and for a while afterwards.

5) For pete's sake, have fun. If you're having an awesome time in a pick-up game or chatting with a game developer or eating lunch with someone you only know from on-line forums...screw your next game. Don't feel like you HAVE to be somewhere just because you signed up to play, or at least don't do so to the point you're working instead of relaxing. If you're supposed to run shit, then yeah, take it more seriously. But remember that, as a plain jane attendee, you're on fuckin' vacation. Don't let the complicated timetables and maps and all that turn it into work or something to stress about. If you don't show up for a game, it just means you're opening up a slot for someone else. The world won't end if you relax.

6) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. If you love a little Mt. Dew to get yourself up for the early games, or coffee to stay up for the late games, or the alcohol of your choice for hanging out at the restaurant, more power to ya. Just don't forget to drink some water while you're at it. The last thing we need is for gamers to be passing out in the middle of a session and knocking over the miniatures or making someone drop their dice or something. It's not quite as bad as Dragon*Con (down in friggin' Atlanta), but Indy can still be plenty hot while we're there in August. Drink water. Don't die.

7) The shoes thing, again. Seriously. Most folks do a LOT of walking during GenCon, coming and going from the hotels, walking from game to game in the convention center, going to and from meals, and strolling around the dealer's hall. Don't make yourself miserable. Wear good shoes.