Zachary's Gen Con Report Thread

[James J Skach]

Thanks for the reports and pictures, Zach!  I really appreciated it.

It was almost like being there, minus the odours, noise, and trans-Atlantic plane ticket!

And, unfortunately, the play and purchasing opportunities.  In Harm's Way with clash - I mean, even if I thought it wasnt' my kind of game, I'd do that in a heartbeat.  Neb with Bill?  Are you kidding me?  Perpahs some D&D with AM? That's what I regret.

And to have been amongst the crowd when all this shit hit the fan?

My wife really feels guilty about me not going this year.

[Aos]

Oh, I was just trying to be funny.

I got it.
Just don't post a pic at the same time, it really riles folks.

[flyingmice]

Shit, i really have to try to be there next year.  If I'd been there we would have so played some serious FtA!

RPGPundit

Yeah - I was really looking forward to it!

Now we just have to position ourselves to catch all those grognards who are going to say D&D 4e WTF? :O

I joke, Sett!

-clash

[flyingmice]

Next time I come:

I will be running official games, not looking for open players - most of them come there with a group. I missed the open window to sign up and screwed myself this year.

I will not wear normal clothing - I will wear a Flying Mice team jacket or shirt. I look far too normal, and people pass me without seeing the tiny name on my badge.

When I do head into the open gaming area without a group, I will spread copies of my books on the table. Bait works far better than a bare hook.

I will not depend on Zachary's phone working. I will proactively call Bill.

My books will be for sale SOMEWHERE in that hall!

-clash

[Serious Paul]

When I do head into the open gaming area without a group, I will spread copies of my books on the table. Bait works far better than a bare hook.

I like how you think. Hope to see you there next year!

[flyingmice]

I like how you think. Hope to see you there next year!

It took me three days to figure that one out! Don't be too impressed! :O

And I hope I see you - and me - there next year!

-clash

[Koltar]

Ok you can now officially color me jealous. You got to meet Larry Elmore. That is awesome.
On a more serious note. Did you get to see any of the actual play with the Ace and Eights? What was it like?
As a side note the town they were using looked sweet.

 Dude,
 We had Larry Elmore In the Jail on Sunday(today earlier) - and he was signing autographs through the bars.


- Ed C.

[Koltar]

Shit, i really have to try to be there next year.  If I'd been there we would have so played some serious FtA!

RPGPundit

 Pundit,
 Bring it with you next year - and I might actually sit down and game.

 Fuck it I'm exhausted.
Damn tiring weekend.


- Ed C.

[Koltar]

.........
-Our own Koltar in his Klingon garb:



.............

Oh man....

My outfit & look were so much better on Friday and Saturday.

Zachary - Do you mind if I use a cropped version of that on other forums as an avatar pic?

 the pizza at the Hyatt food court was much better than Papa John's. They make it for you special right when you order it.


- Ed C.

[enelson]

Here are my observations on GenCon, having just gotten back a few hours ago:

1. In addition to seeing Gary Gygax (way cool), I also saw Dave Arneson selling his revised Blackmoor setting books (tres cool!). Did you get a chance to talk to Dave (for Zachary the First)? I asked Gary if he was running anything that con but he said he already ran something Wed and did not expect to be running anything else that weekend. Bummer.

2. Savage Worlds Explorer edition is an amazing value! $10 for a complete full-color pocket-sized RPG that is a heck of a lot of fun. Did I mention it was $10 and in full color?

3. Finding open RPGs was a pain. Room 500 at the Hyatt was suppose to be open gaming but I never found out. It was much much much easier to find the open boardgaming room; it was next to the Mayfair and Puffing Billy Room; main area of the convention center. Clash, if you run open games, you will need to work very hard to bring attention to your games.

4. If you cannot afford the GenCon tickets, you can always volunteer at GenCon. For x (I think 24 hours) hours of volunteering you get a free badge. This may or may not help those considering going.

5. Oh, if anyone is into Superman, there is a place called Heroes Museum next to Union Station. This guy had a collection of Superman memorbilia from way back (50's?) to present. Very nifty!

[dar]

http://www.gencon.com/2007/indy/events/Thursday.aspx

Koltar shows up about halfway in to arrest a Geek Squad guy.

[RPGPundit]

Yeah - I was really looking forward to it!

Now we just have to position ourselves to catch all those grognards who are going to say D&D 4e WTF? :O

I joke, Sett!

-clash

I don't think that's a joking matter.  We have a huge selling point in that: 4e is moving further and further away from the Old School D&D feel.  It bears very VERY little resemblance to 1e.  

FtA! is in many ways closer to that "feel" than even 3e is, and definitely more than 4e seems to be panning out to be.

Of course, we're by far not the only game in town that will be like that. But we push the fact that we feel like old school "red box D&D", and that we are easy to pick up and start playing, and we can get some of the disgruntled brand-new 4e grognards.  Post on the sites where these guys are visible: ENworld and the Wizard Boards.

RPGPundit

[Settembrini]

I think you should highlight the team combat aspect of things. This is honest, because this definitely deviates from the Red Box-style. And it defines the niche for FtA! even more.
So you don´t have to compete with the C&C crowd, but can even make them an offer for something different.

EDIT: Koltar, great show! The only bespectacled Klingon that actually comes off kewl instead of dorky.

[Zachary The First]

3. Finding open RPGs was a pain. Room 500 at the Hyatt was suppose to be open gaming but I never found out. It was much much much easier to find the open boardgaming room; it was next to the Mayfair and Puffing Billy Room; main area of the convention center. Clash, if you run open games, you will need to work very hard to bring attention to your games.

109&110 in the main conv. center were open RPGing, too.  They needed to advertise it better, but they still did better than last year.

EDIT:  Koltar, of course you can use it!

[jrients]

I agree with Sett.  Koltar looks rad in that pic!