QUOTE (_Pax._ @ Jan 4 2013, 01:13 PM)
I do know that this year, Arisia is moving the gaming to a bigger space. They've made a particular point of it. (They're also opening up an Electronic Games room, no idea what that will be about ...)
Goign to Arisia used to be something I could do by commuter rail - I lived in lowell, within easy walking distance of the train statio. Fifteen bucks round trip into Boston, including subway and bus fare.
Now, though, I'm at the northeastern corner of CT, and getting to and from is no longer an easy, "i need no man's help" affair. That affects my ability to attend both Arisia (which was only 'meh' to me, as I'm primarily a gamer) AND PAX East (which I've yet to attend, due to a convergence of money and travel difficulties).
Ha, I lived a few towns over from Lowell, even. That's funny!
I don't know if they've made a serious effort to improve their gaming "track", as they like to call them. The last couple years I was there it was just really lackluster, as were their retailer space. Basically it had become one big event for the local LARP crews and sci fi nerds - just incredibly bad for roleplaying of all stripes. If they've made an effort to change that, more the power to them.
PAX East, on the other hand, is fun as all hell but you have to be ready to deal with lots and lots of people. Their gaming community is huge (though there's a heavy slant towards D&D, I'll warn you) but fun and energetic and you'll find lots of people willing to try new things. Try poking around the Penny Arcade forums, specifically their Critical Failures (roleplaying) and PAX subsections. It's a good place to start!
Unfortunately, due to lots of other obligations this year, my return to New England won't be in time for this year's PAX. Oh well