Convention season is coming up quick and I might start going again next year after almost a 15 year hiatus.   In the past decade or so, I've heard reports of conventions following the industry commissariat directives banning folks who don't ally with the current thing both in their propo... I mean products as well in their own personal lives.   Gencon and Origins are the big two that I've heard stories of people being banned for wrongthink but I was curious at what other primarily gaming conventions this might be a legitimate risk.   The various Pax's given their pacific NW origins seem at high risk for their unplugged variants but I haven't heard anything about them.  I'd assume that various OSR-centric won't be forcing the drinking of any kool-aid but that's an assumption on my part (and honestly I don't even know what OSR-style cons are even out there).   Which conventions out there won't make me recite a performative land acknowledgement and/or invent my own pronouns before rolling dice?

The only convention I've been to is Vengercon. It's OSR and it's pure gaming. No panels, no vendors, just game sessions. Last year Griffith Morgan of "Secrets of Blackmoor" fame was there. I got to play in the Dungeons of Tonisborg and he also brought a vintage naval wargame that might have been the origin of the concept of hit points. It was a lot of fun!

I been going to Origins since 2003. The only time I missed was when I was deployed to Iraq in '05. Been some of the best and some of the worst gaming experiences I've had.

Since 2018 though, Origins has kinda...changed. The woke BS started to take over. X cards and the like. 2019 was the last I've been for several reasons.

1. hotels: they place we were SUPPOSED to stay was, unbeknownst to us, was being renovated and they didn't complete the renovation in time. With that being said, they NEVER told us we were being put up in a hotel several miles down the road. I WAS PISSED! Changed the whole situation of the con. Going from a hotel that's is adjoining to the convention center to a hotel several miles away is a HUGE difference. My whole group was affected. So much for the convenience of going to the room and crash for a while, or just bringing what you need, WHICH IS WHY I STAYED THERE FOR YEARS IN THE PAST. It was a logistical nightmare.

2. Woke BS: 'nuff said

3. Crowds: been tolerable over the years, but over time, I just don't want to deal with them.

4. This is more personal: we had a person in our group who had breast cancer. she's been fighting it for years. unfortunately, it spread to other areas. This we knew would be here last con with us. We made the best of the situation (despite the hotel debacle), and had a good time overall

Since then, we've been doing what we call CabinCon. We rent out a cabin/BnB and have the entire place for about four days. We each pick a game to run and that's it. No clinging to schedules. crash space is right there. no crowds. love it.

Quote from: blackstone on March 15, 2024, 11:16:13 AM
I been going to Origins since 2003. The only time I missed was when I was deployed to Iraq in '05. Been some of the best and some of the worst gaming experiences I've had.

Since 2018 though, Origins has kinda...changed. The woke BS started to take over. X cards and the like. 2019 was the last I've been for several reasons.

1. hotels: they place we were SUPPOSED to stay was, unbeknownst to us, was being renovated and they didn't complete the renovation in time. With that being said, they NEVER told us we were being put up in a hotel several miles down the road. I WAS PISSED! Changed the whole situation of the con. Going from a hotel that's is adjoining to the convention center to a hotel several miles away is a HUGE difference. My whole group was affected. So much for the convenience of going to the room and crash for a while, or just bringing what you need, WHICH IS WHY I STAYED THERE FOR YEARS IN THE PAST. It was a logistical nightmare.

2. Woke BS: 'nuff said

3. Crowds: been tolerable over the years, but over time, I just don't want to deal with them.

4. This is more personal: we had a person in our group who had breast cancer. she's been fighting it for years. unfortunately, it spread to other areas. This we knew would be here last con with us. We made the best of the situation (despite the hotel debacle), and had a good time overall

Since then, we've been doing what we call CabinCon. We rent out a cabin/BnB and have the entire place for about four days. We each pick a game to run and that's it. No clinging to schedules. crash space is right there. no crowds. love it.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend and I've been through something similar many years ago so condolensces.   Origins was actually the last convention I went to in the mid to late 2000s and I enjoyed the experience ALOT more back then than Gencon the decade prior.   It was busy enough that I always felt like I had choices in what I could do but not busy enough that I felt like one of the cattle being led to the slaughter like at Gencon.   It honestly reminded me of the old MECCA days of Gencon in Milwaukee when I went which was a good thing (minus the post flood moldy smell in the auditorium across the street of course!).   Judging by the wiki article, the attendance when I went was about 11-15k whereas last year it was 16k still recovering (and rising!) post pandemic towards the prepandemic high of 20k you experienced in 2019.   

When did you find out about the hotel situation?  Are they legally allowed to just move you without any recompense?  Is that one of the rights you sign away with massive TOS now with hotels?   As for the con itself, are the xcards something they mandate or is that just a choice by GMs?  I find xcard annoying though I'm fine with the GM simply stating what is and isn't allowed in a con game (and coming to an agreement with players once in a long term setting prior to starting).   I'm guessing that like with any big event they have massive TOS with hidden "we can ban you with no notice and no recompense at any time for no reason at our sole discretion" clauses but was there any other wokeness you noticed?

Quote from: atomic on March 15, 2024, 10:49:03 AM
The only convention I've been to is Vengercon. It's OSR and it's pure gaming. No panels, no vendors, just game sessions. Last year Griffith Morgan of "Secrets of Blackmoor" fame was there. I got to play in the Dungeons of Tonisborg and he also brought a vintage naval wargame that might have been the origin of the concept of hit points. It was a lot of fun!

Thanks.  I'm not familiar with either so will have to look them up.  I'm not particularly into OSR (I didn't play D&D significantly until 3e) but are those cons non-OSR friendly?   I just use the OSR generally as a canary in the woke coal mine, checking to see if that niche can prosper as the bellweather of whether or not I will enjoy the experience overall.

I went to Gencon Once in 2010 and I was unimpressed.  Overhyped and overpriced.  That was the first and last time I went.

I go to Pax Unplugged in Philly in December (I went once and I plan to start going back again this year) and I found it to be a great con.  it's huge, games, vendors and lots to do.  Now I am lucky and live in the Philly suburbs so I can ride the regional tgrain in so I dont need to stay in a hotel room.   Lots to do.

Ran a game and they did hand out X cards but I just put them to the side and ignored them.

Quote from: blackstone on March 15, 2024, 11:16:13 AM
CabinCon

Did one of those last November instead of going to a con with my buddies. I have a cabin in the woods (NOT a rape shack, as it was called) so the cost was basically just for steaks to cook on the camp fire. Waaaaay cheaper and more fun, honestly. The gaming took a backseat to cutting trees and playing music, but still better than sitting in a hotel conference room.

Quote from: RNGm on March 15, 2024, 11:40:12 AM

Quote from: blackstone on March 15, 2024, 11:16:13 AM
I been going to Origins since 2003. The only time I missed was when I was deployed to Iraq in '05. Been some of the best and some of the worst gaming experiences I've had.

Since 2018 though, Origins has kinda...changed. The woke BS started to take over. X cards and the like. 2019 was the last I've been for several reasons.

1. hotels: they place we were SUPPOSED to stay was, unbeknownst to us, was being renovated and they didn't complete the renovation in time. With that being said, they NEVER told us we were being put up in a hotel several miles down the road. I WAS PISSED! Changed the whole situation of the con. Going from a hotel that's is adjoining to the convention center to a hotel several miles away is a HUGE difference. My whole group was affected. So much for the convenience of going to the room and crash for a while, or just bringing what you need, WHICH IS WHY I STAYED THERE FOR YEARS IN THE PAST. It was a logistical nightmare.

2. Woke BS: 'nuff said

3. Crowds: been tolerable over the years, but over time, I just don't want to deal with them.

4. This is more personal: we had a person in our group who had breast cancer. she's been fighting it for years. unfortunately, it spread to other areas. This we knew would be here last con with us. We made the best of the situation (despite the hotel debacle), and had a good time overall

Since then, we've been doing what we call CabinCon. We rent out a cabin/BnB and have the entire place for about four days. We each pick a game to run and that's it. No clinging to schedules. crash space is right there. no crowds. love it.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend and I've been through something similar many years ago so condolensces.   Origins was actually the last convention I went to in the mid to late 2000s and I enjoyed the experience ALOT more back then than Gencon the decade prior.   It was busy enough that I always felt like I had choices in what I could do but not busy enough that I felt like one of the cattle being led to the slaughter like at Gencon.   It honestly reminded me of the old MECCA days of Gencon in Milwaukee when I went which was a good thing (minus the post flood moldy smell in the auditorium across the street of course!).   Judging by the wiki article, the attendance when I went was about 11-15k whereas last year it was 16k still recovering (and rising!) post pandemic towards the prepandemic high of 20k you experienced in 2019.   

When did you find out about the hotel situation?  Are they legally allowed to just move you without any recompense?  Is that one of the rights you sign away with massive TOS now with hotels?   As for the con itself, are the xcards something they mandate or is that just a choice by GMs?  I find xcard annoying though I'm fine with the GM simply stating what is and isn't allowed in a con game (and coming to an agreement with players once in a long term setting prior to starting).   I'm guessing that like with any big event they have massive TOS with hidden "we can ban you with no notice and no recompense at any time for no reason at our sole discretion" clauses but was there any other wokeness you noticed?

I don't remember anything specifically at Origins. There was this overall backlash that came of of GamerGate in 2014-15. Over the next few years there were panels on LGBTQ-whateverthefuck in gaming, misogamy in gaming, etc. at both GenCon and Origins.  At one of those panels Anita Sarkeesian was a guest speaker.

Overall, you can tell there was a change in the atmosphere where if you were a straight white guy, you were a target, and you better confess your sins.

Even if you've done nothing wrong.

Quote from: GhostNinja on March 15, 2024, 12:30:09 PM
I went to Gencon Once in 2010 and I was unimpressed.  Overhyped and overpriced.  That was the first and last time I went.

I go to Pax Unplugged in Philly in December (I went once and I plan to start going back again this year) and I found it to be a great con.  it's huge, games, vendors and lots to do.  Now I am lucky and live in the Philly suburbs so I can ride the regional tgrain in so I dont need to stay in a hotel room.   Lots to do.

Ran a game and they did hand out X cards but I just put them to the side and ignored them.

Several years ago PAX was heavy into the wokeness and pushing the agenda.

Quote from: RNGm on March 15, 2024, 11:42:07 AM
Thanks.  I'm not familiar with either so will have to look them up.  I'm not particularly into OSR (I didn't play D&D significantly until 3e) but are those cons non-OSR friendly?   I just use the OSR generally as a canary in the woke coal mine, checking to see if that niche can prosper as the bellweather of whether or not I will enjoy the experience overall.

You can run any game you want there. Last year had Cow Punchers, and I think someone ran a superhero game, so you can definitely find non-osr games there.

Quote from: blackstone on March 15, 2024, 03:12:45 PM

Quote from: RNGm on March 15, 2024, 11:40:12 AM

Quote from: blackstone on March 15, 2024, 11:16:13 AM
I been going to Origins since 2003. The only time I missed was when I was deployed to Iraq in '05. Been some of the best and some of the worst gaming experiences I've had.

Since 2018 though, Origins has kinda...changed. The woke BS started to take over. X cards and the like. 2019 was the last I've been for several reasons.

1. hotels: they place we were SUPPOSED to stay was, unbeknownst to us, was being renovated and they didn't complete the renovation in time. With that being said, they NEVER told us we were being put up in a hotel several miles down the road. I WAS PISSED! Changed the whole situation of the con. Going from a hotel that's is adjoining to the convention center to a hotel several miles away is a HUGE difference. My whole group was affected. So much for the convenience of going to the room and crash for a while, or just bringing what you need, WHICH IS WHY I STAYED THERE FOR YEARS IN THE PAST. It was a logistical nightmare.

2. Woke BS: 'nuff said

3. Crowds: been tolerable over the years, but over time, I just don't want to deal with them.

4. This is more personal: we had a person in our group who had breast cancer. she's been fighting it for years. unfortunately, it spread to other areas. This we knew would be here last con with us. We made the best of the situation (despite the hotel debacle), and had a good time overall

Since then, we've been doing what we call CabinCon. We rent out a cabin/BnB and have the entire place for about four days. We each pick a game to run and that's it. No clinging to schedules. crash space is right there. no crowds. love it.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend and I've been through something similar many years ago so condolensces.   Origins was actually the last convention I went to in the mid to late 2000s and I enjoyed the experience ALOT more back then than Gencon the decade prior.   It was busy enough that I always felt like I had choices in what I could do but not busy enough that I felt like one of the cattle being led to the slaughter like at Gencon.   It honestly reminded me of the old MECCA days of Gencon in Milwaukee when I went which was a good thing (minus the post flood moldy smell in the auditorium across the street of course!).   Judging by the wiki article, the attendance when I went was about 11-15k whereas last year it was 16k still recovering (and rising!) post pandemic towards the prepandemic high of 20k you experienced in 2019.   

When did you find out about the hotel situation?  Are they legally allowed to just move you without any recompense?  Is that one of the rights you sign away with massive TOS now with hotels?   As for the con itself, are the xcards something they mandate or is that just a choice by GMs?  I find xcard annoying though I'm fine with the GM simply stating what is and isn't allowed in a con game (and coming to an agreement with players once in a long term setting prior to starting).   I'm guessing that like with any big event they have massive TOS with hidden "we can ban you with no notice and no recompense at any time for no reason at our sole discretion" clauses but was there any other wokeness you noticed?

I don't remember anything specifically at Origins. There was this overall backlash that came of of GamerGate in 2014-15. Over the next few years there were panels on LGBTQ-whateverthefuck in gaming, misogamy in gaming, etc. at both GenCon and Origins.  At one of those panels Anita Sarkeesian was a guest speaker.

Overall, you can tell there was a change in the atmosphere where if you were a straight white guy, you were a target, and you better confess your sins.

Even if you've done nothing wrong.

If you are white, straight, and male and are still breathing then you are doing something wrong according to these rabid idiots.

Greetings!

I think it would be awesome, and so hilarious to see a large group of gamers wearing "Hu White" Baseball caps or T-Shirts to these game conventions.

The game conventions' Woke staff would have such epic meltdowns!

Personally, yeah, fuck all these stupid Woke conventions. I absolutely refuse to attend Woke game conventions.

I am willing to go to Gem Con, here in my Red State of Idaho, as I haven't heard of them being filled with Woke jello. Aside from that, I would be interested in Vengercon, the NTOSR convention? Something in North Texas. Anyhow, that's about it.

"Cabincons"--Hah! Blackstone and Brad, yeah!!!! That is actually something I have also done over the years. I have had friends from across the country come to my home and stay for several days, for food and gaming! Sometimes, we have met at local hotels for several days to do the same thing. Not exactly a cabin, of course, but throwing together a private, casual, but focused get together like that for several days is absolutely *GOLD*. Some of my best experiences, for certain!

I used to love conventions. Nowadays, I still have interest in good game conventions, though I have zero interest in Woke game cons. Plus, I can get hostile and abrasive really fast at the snotty demand that I embrace and obey these stupid Tyrant fucking ideas. I won't do it. And, I'm not tolerant towards degenerate freaks, either. So, yeah. Most of them, I pass on gladly.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

CabinCons are the bestest cons.

Palladium's Open House was really awesome for Palladium fans. Totally 100% recommend if you are a fan of their games. Here's my review of the 2007 event, but it's on RPG.net as it was semi-worth posting to back then.

https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/the-palladium-open-house-was-awesome.325398/

I've done many cons over the decades and my previous favorite was PolyCon - a long standing gaming con of 300 people held on the campus of California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo. https://www.polycon.org/

It was a truly awesome gathering, but I've skipped the last several years as the campus has gone very woke and the student body and alumni cucked uber-hard to the Shamdemic.

Doubtful I'll attend any con in a bluetard commie state that isn't a CabinCon of based bastards and deplorable monsters intent on destroying democracy.

AKA, if you ain't on a FBI watch list, I don't really wanna game with you!

Quote from: Exploderwizard on March 15, 2024, 09:21:27 PMIf you are white, straight, and male and are still breathing then you are doing something wrong according to these rabid idiots.

I'm a very proud to be doing absolutely everything as "wrong" as possible according to the rabid idiots!

Quote from: atomic on March 15, 2024, 10:49:03 AM
The only convention I've been to is Vengercon. It's OSR and it's pure gaming. No panels, no vendors, just game sessions. Last year Griffith Morgan of "Secrets of Blackmoor" fame was there. I got to play in the Dungeons of Tonisborg and he also brought a vintage naval wargame that might have been the origin of the concept of hit points. It was a lot of fun!

Thanks for the mention, hoss!

Yes, VENGER CON is non-woke (I'd say anti-woke, but there's nothing political about our convention, it's just devoid of leftist politics in particular).  Max attendance is 100, but probably more like 60 or 70 by the time July rolls around.  The hotel this year is even nicer than last year.  Name me another old-school, OSR, and traditional RPG con that touts not one but possibly two sessions of Dallas: The Roleplaying Game (at least one mixed with CHA'ALT)...

https://tabletop.events/conventions/venger-con-iii

If you live anywhere near Wisconsin, get your ass to VENGER CON!!!  Got a question, just ask!