The Big Con
Where I'll be during the month of August...
I’ve written about geek conventions a bunch of times, so if you’ve read my stuff for a while this may seem redundant. As we watch Day 2 of the 800-pound gorilla that is San Diego Comic Con I thought I would take a moment and touch on this topic again. Let me start out by saying not all conventions are for everyone. Your mileage may differ. Professional driver on a closed course. This offer not valid in some states… etc.
Your first time at a Con no matter what the size will determine your future expectations. You will learn if these folks are your “tribe” or just a bunch of weirdos. Each Con has a different vibe and like I have said about geocaching events they have their followers. I bring this up after some guy I’d never heard of posted a rant about how horrible Gen Con (the big gaming convention next week in Indianapolis) was for him. This, of course, got all the fans of Gen Con up in arms and defensive. It also, most likely, got this guy a lot of online traffic which will in the end help him and his brand. Hmmm… maybe I should say something really bad about San Diego Comic Con so I can get a lot of traffic… wait did I just say that aloud?
SDCC is what everyone imagines a Comic Con is - They are very disappointed when they attend a local con and it isn’t at all like San Diego. I enjoyed San Diego Comic Con the three times I attended. It is a great Con and a bucket list item for anyone who loves pop culture. If you like comics, it’s a nice place to go and see comic artists, because they usually don’t have crowds around them. If you like crowds it is an amazingly awesome con, if you don’t like crowds… ummm… I learned after a fluke my first time to avoid Hall H and Ballroom 20. I also learned to ignore texts from people asking if I had seen whichever celebrity that was just on the news. “Yes, I am at the con. No I have not seen any stars, I know it seems weird from what you saw on TV. I’ve seen at sessions dealing with comics and artists.” I tend to avoid a lot of social media the weeks prior to SDCC so I don’t have to hear about the “exclusives” that will only be available to attendees. At least LEGO stopped offering exclusives, then again I’m on hiatus from LEGO right now.
However, I prefer HeroesCon, CXC, and Baltimore Comic Con to SDCC, C2E2, and New York Comic Con. If I could afford it I’d do the Lake Como Comic Arts Festival every year… but I’m still paying for last year’s trip. No Con is for everyone- Indy Pop Con tried that they first started out and now… again, some people love it, other people- not so much.
Next week Gen Con starts -the best four days of gaming. Tens of thousands of gamers descend on Indianapolis, confusing most locals. It takes over the entire downtown and they keep expanding the convention center to accommodate it. Yes, it will be crowded. People with ginormous backpacks will wander the halls turning rapidly and hitting everyone around them. Why do they have this backpacks? it’s a mystery, I think it’s to make sure they have enough personal space. Maybe they just hate people and want to hit as many people as possible “by accident.” Yes, there are evil people in the world who don’t get elected to high offices in the government.
Each year I try new things, and each year I realize that while I like games, I’m not as into them as much as I could be. Because of Gen Con I am running a D&D campaign so I’m going to try to improve my Dungeon Master skills. The thing that makes Gen Con different than most of the Cons I attend has to do with tickets. I mentioned before in a post that the event program comes out and then attendees create a wish list. One certain date everyone gets into the queue and submits that wishlist. You may not get everything you want- I didn’t get into any Neon Odyssey (a Space Opera version of D&D) or Dungeon Crawler Carl games. Oh well. If you are new to Gen Con this can be confusing and frustrating. You learn after your first year, but it can be a steep learning curve. Most people seem to think that you show up and play games… having survived the great Lorcana stampede I know having a system in place is a good thing.
I’m signed up for a bunch of different things and look at it as a chance to just have some fun and learn. Cecil is even hosting a geocaching event on Saturday when I have some open time.
What I’m doing at Gen Con:
GM 101: Introduction to Gamemastering - Learning what I’ve been doing wrong as a fledgling GM
Intro to Block Printing - there is a whole section of craft classes so I decided to try out block printing, something I haven’t done since maybe middle school.
Bagged & Boarded - a game about comic book collecting that I kickstarted. Maybe it will show up on my doorstep before or soon after I learn how to play.
The First Superhero: A History of the Scarlet Pimpernel - I’m going to be intellectual and learn about The Scarlet Pimpernel! Actually I’ve read the book, seen both film adaptations and find the whole concept fascinating. A rich guy, acting like a buffoon and fighting evil… the concept will never work.
D&D Vision Keynote 2027 - They’re taking an entire building and turning it into D&D central. I’m going to see how they will attempt to get my money this year as I work on being a better GM.
Orc Stomp XVI 5k Fun Run - yes, I’m going to attempt to “run.” not really, but I do need to exercise and late July in Indiana is the perfect time.
Portal under the Stars - A Dungeon Crawl Classics Funnel. Something I try to do every year now. I start off with four level zero characters and try to get one to survive and adventure to become an actual character. A friend of mine is running this one, so I have a chance to catch up.
The D&D Carnival - Basically an indoor fair for D&D players, I’m not sure what to expect, but figured I’d try it out.
Learn to Play Munchkin Second Edition - I love Munchkin, even though I never get a chance to play it. The second edition is coming out and I did buy it, so I figure I should try it out. I know one friend of mine will be joining me.
Munchkin 25th Anniversary Party - Years ago Steve Jackson Games set up a hQ at a local restaurant. they abandoned the idea after a couple years, but I do miss it. They have decided to come back for a night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Munchkin.
Little Orange and Dangerous - I saw this game (Kobolds Ate My Baby) and figured I should try it out. I’ll let you know what a learn about the secret life of Kobolds.
AerodromeACE WW2 Pacific Theater - Like the DCC Funnel I really enjoy playing this Dogfight game. My older brother played it with me last year (it was the only game he played) and we talked about doing it again. I usually stick with the WWI era but this year I’m going to WWII and also Star Wars. In the past I have played (and enjoyed the Battlestar Galactica version.
AerodromeACE Star Wars - use the Force and see above.
After Gen Con
I’m not going alone, I have two of my three brothers coming out, along with a few other friends who are trying it out for the first time. I’ll be taking a few days after the Con to do some other things before heading to the next big event.
I’ve already talked about the National Cartoonist Society’s Conference which starts the Thursday after Gen Con. I’m attending to see if these are my tribe also. I’m a published cartoonist (Thank you FTF Geocacher & PinPoint for giving me that honor) but just how awkward will I feel surrounded by what I consider actual artists. Oh the joys of being lead to believe that whatever I do isn’t really “art.” I will be on the look out for an “Imposter” ribbon while at Gen Con. While I’m not attending the Reuben Awards I have volunteered to help set things up. Then on Saturday Cecil will be hosting another geocaching event before the “Showcase” begins. I’m looking forward to the sessions which will be awesome, and being able to wander through the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum now that the renovations are complete.
I get a little time off to catch up and then it’s off to Los Angeles to see my dad and attend (at least part of) LA Con V aka the World Science Fiction Convention. I’m still waiting patiently for them to release the program so I can start planning things out (maybe even have Cecil plan a geocaching event) and see what I might need to RSVP for. Then again I do have passes to visit Disneyland and I’m walking distance from the Park. I’ve read all the novels up for the Hugo and some of the graphic novels. I’ve been too busy trying to keep up with my library loans of the Dungeon Crawler Carl books (only two more to go and nine weeks until a copy is available) to get anything else done, but I still have time. This is one of those bucket list items ever since Mr. Calkins and Science Fiction class at PVHS. While I won’t be there for the entire event, I hope to get the enough of the flavor to decide if I should try to make this an annual or semi-annual thing.
