MREs...interesting idea. I may have to pack a case in my car this year. Of course, MREs make your hydration rule all the more important.

Also, if you're flying in, don't field-strip your MREs until you get to Indy. At least in the past, airport security has confiscated the MRE heaters unless they're in a factory-sealed MRE.

A reader or a small laptop loaded with PDF files is alot easier to carry than a stack of books (assuming decent battery life).
A camelbak will have you drinking more often and staying hydrated, but there is usually water pitchers in all the gaming rooms.

Plan for food, either by packing in something or setting time aside to get it... and remember 30k+ people means lines so plan for them.

The con-funk grows legs. Fend it off. Your life may depend on it.

Shoes for walking, but showering will win you friends faster.

1 showers, 2 meals, and 3 hours a sleep a day? Really?

I guess I thought that was just common sense.

I'd also say to at least bring a bottle of water and fill it up two to three times a day at minimum. Bring your deodorant. Bring it with you all day, just in case. Maybe I'm just a hygiene nut, but I never go to a convention without carrying that with me. Body spray =/= shower and deodorant replacement. Eat your fruits and vegetables. Wear clean clothing.

If you're looking to game with women, be alert for the flock scouts.

Yep, but there's always that ONE guy at the table who everyone else can smell.

Also, whattheheck is a "Flock Scout"?

The one that they send out to collect data on everyone. She distributes her findings to her associates, who then compare and contrast her findings with those of other scouts, and then spread it further through social circles. That's where the grape vine starts.

DIABOLICAL!

Isn't it?

You want to screw with the Flock Scouts?

Have a tin, or a friend with a tin that's filled with samples from the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. I know I'll have one with me, as will at least two other members of my team.

FFFFFFFFF now I'm planning my GenCon like it's a Shadowrun. I already plan everything else like it's a Shadowrun.

I don't need to mess with the Flock Scouts. I've got my permanent 'Can Game with Girls' card.

And you know that tin can't do everything for you.

What the tin can't do, three beers covers.

You've seen this in action.

I cannot refute this.

Three beers? Sheesh, I just use a shot of tequila or a Cosmo to get em on my side.

I don't need to worry about flock scouts. That's what happens when you marry a cute woman

And yes, you'd be surprised by the amount of people that don't follow the 1-2-3 rule. And I'm not even talking about showers; I know people who have gamed, non-stop, from seven in the morning Wednesday to Saturday night. And had the subsequent crash when the Mountain Dew and the double stuff Oreos run out. It's funny until it's not, y'know?

Okay! Pass as been purchased! Good times! Now we need to get this meet and greet on a roll!

w00t! My Shadowrun events have been submitted and "Accepted for Consideration"


RPG1117943 - Do Fixers Make House Calls These Days? - Fri @ 12:00 PM
It’s 1 am - you and the rest of your team have been celebrating after a modestly successful run - (one you even got paid for!) when there’s a knock at the door. It’s your favorite fixer! But wait a minute....they don’t usually make house-calls.


RPG1117940 - Ruthlessness - Thu @ 12:00 PM
Why is it fences these days don’t have any compassion? You find a nice little piece of paydata and all you’re trying to do is get paid, but this guy just doesn’t want to listen to how much work it took to get this! Hang on a second, did you just see something crawling through the garbage strewn through the alley?

Considering who I work for, three beers is cheaper.

Provided Bull doesn't object this year i'd really like to run or play in some slot zero tables wed night after the meet and greet (plus it will be that more hillarious when folks have had a few drinks in them). First prefrence would go to those actually GMing at the con but who would be interested. Sleep is for the weak.

Count me in + 1

@Lurker: That's cool with me. So long as you get that draft in to me ASAP

Once I have confirmation of our events for the convention, I'll get a full list posted so folks can look for them!

Bull

So any final decision on the get together?

Checking throug my schedule, Thursday evening, any day for breakfast (7-8, I'll be jetlagged so I'm sure I'll be up) and generally at noon. Other than that, I'm hitting a lot of seminars and I'll be bugging the PHS guys.

I am sad to see on the activities list there is no love for SR3 I shall cry myself to sleep on my big, kevlar pillow.

As far as a meet and greet location, has anyone scoped out Scotty's Brewhouse? It's a few extra blocks away from the Convention Center, but seeing as it's the guy who used to run The Ram (Indy Dave is it?)..they may be more "willing" to entertain a gaming meet and greet such as this...

Although there is something to be said for Claddagh. Def feels like a place where a bunch of retired runners might go and reminisce about the good ol days.

Hey guys, after blood, sweat, and many bad bear puns, I have decided to unveil my new module, Bear With Me: A Drop Bear Adventure as a pick up game at Gen Con.


"Hoi! Totally sick of immortal elf-holes mucking about in what's rightly human business? This mission is for you! Time to drag your BTL-wasted, vomit-encrusted carcasses out of that bunraku parlor and make some chink - before you find yourself 'polishing dishes' in the back (if you know what I mean). Fortunately, there's work so simple even scum like you should be able to stumble your way to a paycheck." It's time to be pawns of the globe-spanning Drop Bear world-domination conspiracy. Come and play Bear With Me: A Drop Bear Adventure, featuring action, romance, love and existential anxiety! (All off-screen so you don't have to slow down as you're blowing random corpsec dudes away). Check it out!


It is goofy, it is parody, and it is also the only game at GenCon which is written and run for both SR3 AND SR4 SIMULTANEOUSLY. Come, watch this tremendous feat in gamemastering agility - or better yet, join in the freak show and play.

We're starting on Wednesday at 8pm. I'm asking a nominal 1 beer per 8 player cover charge. People are welcome to come, bring their friends and stay after the game, as this is mostly meant for hanging out and having some fun. My lovely wife will be there to help collect your dues. (Don't cross her, she knows kawaii-fu).



Some background so people know I'm serious; I've worked on a number of projects with Posthuman Studios, including Continuity for Eclipse Phase and an additional one-shot which will be running at Gen Con. I've never run a convention game before. I've been playing and GMing SR3 forever. I've only played SR4 once but I figure, like my Spanish, it'll just flow naturally once I have a few drinks in me. I'm open to anyone with SR4 expertise who would like to help co-GM.

The mission is going to be released under Creative Commons at some time. If you're interested in the actual write-up, it includes notes for denigrating and intimidating players and characters and complementary plot for 8-10 players. Printed in large-type for inebriated GMs. Supports play with 3rd and 4th edition Shadowrun rules, or whatever.

Please let me know if you're interested.

Nezumi: Sorry about the lack of SR3 events... Besides the fact that, well, we kinda have to support SR4, I haven't run, played, or even read any SR3 rules in like 6 years. If I tried running an SR3 event, it would be a trainwreck of rules mashups

John: Would you want to take point on trying to arrange things? Either seeing if we can reserve a section at the Claddagh (It's tradition at this point), or maybe seeing if Scotty's can accommodate us (I've heard good things about the place).

I would, but I just don;t have the time. Between Missions work, my day job, and organizing Origins and Gen Con, I'm like a chicken with my head cut off these days.

Bull

So we still planning on Claddagh's or are we going to try for Scotty's? And what time are we looking at, 7-8ish like last year?

No clue. Ask John Doe. I've got waaaay too much on my plate this year to handle organizing anything more. *Origins_Panic_Mode_Engaged!!!!!*

I just want final confirmation on where when and time so I can be there.

IMO, Claddagh's has not worked out quite so well over the last few years. I'd vote for Scotty's.

Got my tickets in the mail. Look forwarded to seeing people again.
Not volunteering this time, so more time for games!

22 Days till Gencon.

Nerdgasm.

Anyone ever figure out where the heck we're meeting?

I'm meeting people in Indianapolis.

Thank you, captain obvious.

I nominated John Doe to be in charge, but he hasn't said anything since. Guess I scared him off.

Since Scotty's was suggested, a quick check of their website shows that they have a couple rooms that you can reserve for get togethers. http://www.scottysbrewhouse.com/catering/rooms Scroll down to the Downtown locations (Brickyard room would probably be what we want).

As I said though, I have a ton on my plate already, so I can't put together yet another thing for Gen Con. I'm scrambling to get what I have already together. So if someone wants to take the initiative, call them, find out prices and such... We can maybe set something up. I dunno.

That, or we all crash Claddagh again. One fo the two.

Bull

you guys make me wish i could go, you buggers.....have fun

FYI- Scotty's has really jumped on the catering-to-Gencon-gamers bandwagon pioneered by RAM. Last year on Weds, Scotty's was packed... might be difficult to get space. Claddagh is downright empty in comparison. My $0.02.

Are talking about the same Claddagh that was standing room only? o.O
Well if someone puts together something I'll be there, otherwise I might just go annoy Bull. Have the red headed stepchild con to coordinate myself, no thinking for me about Gencon

*hugs* I'm doing what I can to make it less step-child like (YOu're stuck with redheaded though).

Bull

Heh, thanks Part of that is on Dragon*Con and its dumb GM badge policies though, nothing can be done about that really unless someone feels rich and wants to buy badges straight up for GMs (hah!)

I'd gladly help out at D*Con if I could make it this year...but my study abroad trip and GenCon have us pretty tapped. Mrs. Crit and I just don't have the budget for both of us to make it to both big cons every August, so this year I'm off to game (while she watches the dogs), then she's off to costume (while it's my turn to mind the homestead).

Maybe next year, though!

Figures. I'm in Indiana right now. Up here for an armorer's school. I leave at the end of the week. Apparently timing is everything.

Hey, you can plant secret notes and drop bears around the bar for us to pick up when we get there!

Permisive recruitment TDY?

My apologies for not getting back sooner. Real Life kinda stepped in the way, and it was either address it or risk not being able to go to GenCon.

Having said that, i was able to speak with a Manager at Scotty's. The manager informed me that they were not accepting any reservations for the entire week of GenCon. Appears they are hosting some events, and have kept their rooms open for those events and people associated with said events (what those events are, i don't know).

Maybe for the future, SR dumpshock meet and greet needs to be submitted as a Wednesday event with Scotty's as the locale??

I did ask what if we just showed up as a "large group", the manager said to call ahead of time and they'll do the best they can to seat us together.


I spoke with management at Claddagh's and they guaranteed me a "communal" space for all of us to be together. Current reservation is under the name Bull (everyone knows him, not everyone knows me). for 8:00pm. Or if you can tell them you are there for Bull's DS Meet and Greet. When asked about how many people i said it would probably be fluctuating between 20-40 give or take.

If Claddagh's is no good for anyone, let me know and i'll cancel. They have me on file as the contact even though the reservation is under Bull. If Claddagh's is a go, they asked to call them within 48 hours for a final headcount.

Wouldn't be a Shadowrun if everything went as planned now would it???

I had the same response when I called Scotty's, except the girl I talked to seemed to not know they had a Brickyard Room. Guess I glitched my Etiquette roll for that piece of legwork... But I'd thought of trying to reserve the room under the name "Johnson".

I'm down for Claddagh's. I don't think I've ever been there.

Claddagh's sounds fine to me. I'm there primarily for the company, not the locale.

Claddagh does have some good whiskey, at least. Probably not quite up to actual Irish Pub standards, but hey, better than you usually find here.


Bull

If i could have reserved Scotty's i was prepared to put it under Mr. Johnson, seeing that Scotty's seems to have a much better grasp on gaming, gamers, and all things associated with that.

While the Claddagh people were cordial on the phone, i think all they heard was "large group, convention in town, Ka-Ching!"


If possible between now and say August 1st or 2nd, if you could either post here or send a PM stating whether you can make it (and how many you are accounting for) so i can call Claddagh and give them a head's up on an approximate party size. Something tells me we may get shafted on the "communal" grouping as in year's past, but i'm going to give the Manager the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

Worse case, we crash Scotty's on a call-ahead.

See ya in Indy!

Works for me. I should be there.