Let me tell you about my first convention: I was in middle school at the time, and I walked through some sci-fi thingy where they had a bunch of stuff that I can’t remember. Cool, huh?
I remember not really being all that impressed. Actually, I was downright disappointed. You see, I like comics, and had a good collection of X-men stuff, Spiderman stuff, Conan stuff, and my favorite – Groo. So for me to be at a comic book convention was pretty cool.
Unfortunately, as soon as I walked in, I saw comics that were selling for $10, $20, and $30+ bucks, and I said, “what the freak?! Who would pay that for a comic?” Mind you, I was used to walking into the 7-11 and picking up my Groo for a buck or two. When I saw that comics actually had covers with cardboard backing – all for the book’s protection, I wrote off comics right there. Ergo and ipso facto, I wrote off all conventions by association. Not once since then have I wanted to go to any convention. I was burned.
So, for the past two years I’ve been gaming off and on with John Lewis and Colin Dowling, and they’ve been telling me all these cool stories about their past gaming conventions. The getaways, the games, the gaming stuff, the fun gamers, the hot larpers… uh, and so on. They say it’s just a great atmosphere. So, my interest has been growing…
DunDraCon is coming up in a few months (four?), and I’ve decided to attend. Of course, this assumes that the jail can do without me – we’ll see, but that’s the plan, anyway. Aside from what I’ve been told, I really still have no idea what to expect. After hearing all these stories, I feel that I may be setting myself up for disappointment. So, I’m asking for a little help…
Assuming that I go to DunDraCon, how can I make it a great experience? I’m looking for any and all tips and advice that will help me enjoy the event, and make me look forward to future gaming conventions. Best comment with advice wins a free set of Mini Counters! – Cause that’s how I role.
Oh, you’ll also win if you send me the very first issue of Groo, in great condition, sealed in a hardcover, bullet-proof case, signed by the warrior himself.
[Random thought that has nothing to do with this article: I just had a birthday two days ago. I don’t know if it’s good or bad that just before my birthday I realized I was one year younger than I thought I was. I was sitting there arguing with my wife over it, culminating with me counting years on my fingers. So, one year younger – I don’t know if that’s a win or a loss.]
Chris Stevens
In Chris's opinion, the very best vices are dirt bikes, rock music, and gaming, while the very best medicine is fatherhood. If he could just learn to balance them all, he'd live forever. He's much more creative than intelligent, often wakes up belligerent, and ponders many things insignificant. Lastly, in an effort to transform his well-fed body, P90X, Roller Blades, and Food are all laughing at him. And the pain continues.
Bring an easily refillable water bottle/canteen and a supply of at least kinda-healthy snacks, if not better. It’s Con-going 101. Lots of cons have refilling stations, and there will almost always be a water fountain nearby; you don’t want to go thirsty. Con food is either expensive or amazingly fatty; I always pack some trail mix and Pop-Tarts sans icing. Pop-Tarts aren’t exactly healthy, but they’re better for you and more filling than chips or hotdogs, and cheaper in the long run.
I’ve never been one of those convention people, mostly because I don’t like crowds and someone has to take care of all these cats… however, I’ve been to a couple and always had various shades of fun. My recommendation: don’t play D&D. Seriously.
This is an excellent opportunity to take a buncha other RPGs out for a spin, and usually with people who know what the heck they’re doing. The last one I went to, I played Shadowrun, Marvel Superheroes, and lots of Cthulu and it was a crazy pile of joy. In fact, I had the least fun with D&D, but that’s mostly because I DM-ed it and I’m not good at DM-ing.
@Zero_Armada: Excellent advice, but more importantly, I love Sinestar. I LIVE!!!!! Still gives me shivers.
In regards to managing your event schedule, there are 2 extremes:
-Pre-schedule every block of available time to get gaming experiences you expect to enjoy.
-Pre-schedule nothing so you can take advantage of any throw-down opportunity that comes your way.
I personally schedule somewhere in between – I look for gaming experiences I’ve always wanted to try (or those that sound too cool to pass up!!) but also leave time to hook up with the people I convoyed with or interesting people I’ve met at the con. Contact me IRL at work this week for some Dundracon specifics about the event priority system.
I can offer advice from my con experiences of the last few years. This will not fit everyone’s style but it’s what I do;
Food- I HATE paying for food at cons. It is convenient but I find it funny that I would be willing to drop $25 on a sit down dinner and then torture myself when considering paying the same price for a game I want (that will bring me hours of happiness). So a couple of us invested in the “ConWave”, a microwave that we lug with us to conventions. I also bring 2 coolers. One cooler is dedicated to sodas and other drinks, The other for food. I buy frozen dinners and the like and put them on gallon size ziplocks. These I put into the food cooler. It works great keeping the food cold. I have another bin that I use for dry goods (bread, buns, chips, etc.).
We pack paper plates, napkins, condiments and anything else you might need.
My latest culinary accessory is a electric kettle for boiling water. I use it for cup-o-noodles and tea.
Lots of rooms have small refrigerators in them. I do not remember if they do in San Ramon. What every hotel does have is refrigerators that they lend you for the weekend. They are first come – first serve, so get there early. I always request early check-in and a refrigerator when I make my reservations.
Speaking of room reservations- try to keep the map they give you of the hotel at check-in. Next year you can request a room closer to where you want when you make your reservation.
On to gaming – Colin made a great point about the two extremes (book all or book none). I have done both with mixed results. My current strategy is this; I only try for two types of games, one that I am dying to try and one with a GM I am familiar with or heard good things about. Also, I no longer sign up for 8 hours games or games with more than 6 players. Only in the rarest of occasions do I sign up for an early morning game. The people I go with usually play board games until late at night. It is quieter and I take some sophomoric delight at “closing down the open gaming area.”
Open gaming – While gaming with buds is always the best I have found that this group of “buds” has expanded over the last few years, especially in the board game department. I am already looking forward to seeing them at Dundracon and busting out Battlestar Galactica.
Miscellaneous tips-
Bring ear plugs. Bring ear plugs. bring ear plugs. A certain friend of mine is a world class snorer. He is a great con-companion but sounds like a bugbear at night.
If you see one, buy a con badge pouch to hang around your neck. It is like a big folding wallet with a clear plastic side you slip you name tag into. I keep my money, room key, ID and a pencil in mine.
Bring a backpack. great for games, water, snacks and anything else you don’t want to lug around.
Bring a comfortable light sweatshirt. Sometimes late at night the large halls get cold.
If you do buy Starbucks, or whatever the brand is that the snack bar is selling, keep you cup. Refills are usually 50 cents.
Be the first to spot Ken Hite at any con and earn a free drink. (a game we always play)
Be patient with people. There is nothing worse than a random person stopping by your Battlestar Galactica game and giving advice to people, and god forbid you have a passer-by stop to give a running narration of what is going on at your table. You will find these types of people but this is offset by the wonderfully awesome people who just pause to ask about a game. We have met many cool people this way. Sometimes they join in the next game or even the next con. By investing a few minutes explaining a game to a curious passer-by it had led to long-term friendships.
BEWARE!!! Once you start going you will be hooked! Life gets in the way of gaming all the frackin’ time, but not at cons! It has been suggested to me that I suffer from post-con depression when I return from cons. That may be true but it fades when I start planning the next one.
Remember these two things and all will go well for you, If John controls the ore you are screwed, and I have never been a cylon.