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Gen Con 2011
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burntwire brothers
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:43 am

Well once again GenCon went by in a blur. Seeing all the Acaeum gang again was nice. We had a great time playing in both Tim's and Malcolm's games this year. We picked up a copy of the Cheers Gary book early Thursday before anyone was there to sign. Later that afternoon Gail was at the booth so we bought a signed copy each and a couple of Gary Memorial shirts. She threw in a pack of hand printed character sheets from The Albatross Press. When we got home we noticed that the 1st book we bought was about 3/8" larger than the other two copies. I wonder if the larger copy was some form of proof or just a fluke?

Here is a list of items we picked up in the auction :
-R3
-RPGA3
-RPGA4
-Judges Guild Journal #1
-Supernova 1-33(early Flying Buffalo fanzine)
-Europa 3-17(loaded with really cool early Gygax articles)
-Galactus(27 issues, 1971 to Jan 1974)
-Galaxy II rules update newsletters #1-5(11/74 to 8/75)
-Motus Operandi Vol.1 #2 and #3(1982/1983)
-Realms of Adventure( New Infinities Newsletter)
-Star Frontiers Editing Staff copy
-Quest for the Nile (Harold Johnson's copy with hand written alternate rules. Had him sign it.)
-Embers of Empire(small press rpg in binder form copy #16)
-Falmerth Fantasy Miniature Rules with Caluth Must Die expansion/scenario(early small press out of Indianapolis but not dated)
-Tomb of the "EGYPTIAN" weird old small press home brew D&D adventure)
-Underworld Oracle #6
-Apprentice #4
-Castle of Glass (Tim Kask module Player copies #9 and #10)
-The Trap Manual
-Skinwalkers & Shapeshifters
-Warrior and Mage(both from Archaeron Game Systems)
-Dinky Dungeons(4 different titles minty in original bags)
-DCC 20.5
-Catapult Run
-Dark Tower 1st print
-Guide to the City State
-Castle Plans
-Tegel Manor Gamescience
-Cards of Power (Companions in shrink)
-A Tyme of Darkness(module and rules addenda for Witch Hunt)
-DunDraCon City Modules Set #1
-3rd Ed Players Handbook signed by Tweet, Cook, Williams
-Monsters! Monsters! 1st print
-Cover art for Advanced Adventures AA19, AA20,AA21 and back cover to AA21
-plus a bunch more common items

Hope to see everyone again next year.

-Shawn

Available now from Die Cast Games: Night of the Black Swords by Allen Hammack (Author of C2-The Ghost Tower of Inverness) with artwork by Jeff Easley and Diesel.

faro
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 1:06 pm

burntwire brothers wrote:-Europa 3-17(loaded with really cool early Gygax articles)
-Galactus(27 issues, 1971 to Jan 1974)

Hey; go easy on my research list, please, Shawn! Don't tell me those were sold on Thursday as well. :lol:

Nice... and good taste, too.

Only the (much) later copies of Supernova are anything to do with Flying Buffalo, btw. Paperclips on #1 & #3 as well, per http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/ ... va1-25.jpg ? Very useful material given the dearth of publications at the time, despite there still being something of a "hole" in SN's chronology.

lawrenson wrote:No, just 1 copy of each mag.

Cheers, Malc. Still no closer to figuring out when the other #1s were printed since the original GW "shop"/file copies didn't shed any light on that, either.

lawrenson wrote:Tho the letters from Ian are all written on the back of pages from Issue 1.

*g* That makes sense given how silly an idea it was to print on just one side of the A4 sheets! (per their comment in #2)

"7.3 ORGANIZING THE PARTY: Always have a keg, even if it's BYOB...
7.4 TAKING THE GAME SERIOUSLY: Don't"

Johnson
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:01 pm

Hi,

all the zines from the mid-70s that went in the auction belonged to the same person.

From memory, all the other zines were also in full runs, and apart from the o&ws, went really cheap (less than $50 per run).

Cheers,
malc

I have a plan so cunning, you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.

Invincible Overlord
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:25 pm

One more thing I picked up at the con, is a magazine called Salarius, issue #4 - 1986 (was something I picked up real cheap at the HPB booth at the con).

Anyone know anything about it?

RPGâ€™s, D&D in particular has had a major influence in my life. Itâ€™s bonded me together with life long friends...itâ€™s that bond in life not just as friends, but in our jokes, our mannerisms, and what we find funny. Invincible Overlord

beasterbrook
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:32 pm

the closest thing to a crying icon..

Brette:)

Being healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

faro
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:10 pm

lawrenson wrote:all the zines from the mid-70s that went in the auction belonged to the same person.

Just as well they weren't selling for the money, I guess.
(Did I already make a comment 'bout the auctioneers

)

@Brette: try :cry:

"7.3 ORGANIZING THE PARTY: Always have a keg, even if it's BYOB...
7.4 TAKING THE GAME SERIOUSLY: Don't"

Kaskoid
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:26 pm

I acquired something just way-over-the-top cool this time, but not in the Dealer Hall.

I met a young man at TotalCon this year whose hobby is making and binding books; he had a hand-made book I was quite taken with, and offered to make one for me, strictly for personal research purposes, of course. He shall remain nameless, lest the Hasborg take umbrage.

He presented me with a book about 5 1/2 by 7 1/2, bound in black leatherette and stamped in silver. It contains ridiculously clean pdfs of every single page of Chainmail through Swords & Spells. The entire canon, in one volume. I did the only thing I could think to do at the time; I whipped out the last proof copy of the adventure I wrote for Texas and gave it to him, only after we had both appropriately inscribed them.

Beyond cool....

Nemesis of the Annoyingly Dense
Guidelines, not rules...

Phentari
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:42 am

Kaskoid wrote:I acquired something just way-over-the-top cool this time, but not in the Dealer Hall.

I met a young man at TotalCon this year whose hobby is making and binding books; he had a hand-made book I was quite taken with, and offered to make one for me, strictly for personal research purposes, of course. He shall remain nameless, lest the Hasborg take umbrage.

He presented me with a book about 5 1/2 by 7 1/2, bound in black leatherette and stamped in silver. It contains ridiculously clean pdfs of every single page of Chainmail through Swords & Spells. The entire canon, in one volume. I did the only thing I could think to do at the time; I whipped out the last proof copy of the adventure I wrote for Texas and gave it to him, only after we had both appropriately inscribed them.

Beyond cool....

I was there when he brought it over to you in the auction hall. I had to step back a few feet to avoid drooling on your nice new book!

burntwire brothers
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:58 am

I forgot a few items from the list above.

-City of Greyhawk in original shrink(outbid Troll & Toad

)
-Dungeon 2nd print in original shrink
-Wizards of the Coast D&D bookshelf (new in box, but will soon be opened and assembled)
-The GMS Informant #2,5-19
-The Gamesman #7-9 and issue 8-2 and issue 9-1
-The GMS Review vol. 1 #3 & 4
-The Gamesletter #86 and #87
-The Gaming News #2
-The GMS Newsletter #1-3,5-7,10,13

The fanzines were sold on all 3 days of the auction. I think the most I paid for any lot was $70 for the Europa mags. A few other lots went for $60 or so. One of the best pick ups for us was the bookshelf for only $55. It came in three large/heavy boxes so that limited who could bid.

-Shawn

Available now from Die Cast Games: Night of the Black Swords by Allen Hammack (Author of C2-The Ghost Tower of Inverness) with artwork by Jeff Easley and Diesel.

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 1:10 pm

Kaskoid wrote:I acquired something just way-over-the-top cool this time, but not in the Dealer Hall.

I met a young man at TotalCon this year whose hobby is making and binding books; he had a hand-made book I was quite taken with, and offered to make one for me, strictly for personal research purposes, of course. He shall remain nameless, lest the Hasborg take umbrage.

He presented me with a book about 5 1/2 by 7 1/2, bound in black leatherette and stamped in silver. It contains ridiculously clean pdfs of every single page of Chainmail through Swords & Spells. The entire canon, in one volume. I did the only thing I could think to do at the time; I whipped out the last proof copy of the adventure I wrote for Texas and gave it to him, only after we had both appropriately inscribed them.

Beyond cool....

Ooh. Any chance of some piccies?

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

Bracton
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:58 pm

OK, first batch of pictures from Gen Con 2011.

First, the annual Acaeum dinner Wednesday night. From the left, that's Blackmoor, the Burntwires, Invincible Overlord, Lawrenson, Prufrock (Malc's wife is behind Martin), and SaxonAngel (Blackmoor's wife).

This is the line behind us for VIG's to get early entrance to the dealer hall Thursday morning.

The Old School Renaissance Group booth.

With Gail Gygax, signing copies of "Cheers, Gary" on the left.

Tracy and Laura Hickman at their booth in the dealer hall. They are truly wonderful people. Had a very nice chat with both of them.

Tim's game, at Buca di Beppo. That's me in the back, with the NTRPGCon t-shirt, and without beard. And the Pope on the table.

I also played in a regular Gen Con game run by a group participating at the Old School Renaissance Group booth. First edition AD&D, the adventure was called The Obsidian Sands of Syncrates, by Joe Browning. That's Contrarian standing on the right, who volunteered to be our caller. He must have been a good choice, because we finished the adventure and got more points that the other two groups playing the game. :cheers:

Now pictures of the rares up at the auction.

More pictures to come, hopefully later tonight. Including scenes from Hickman's Killer Breakfast.

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

stratochamp
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:59 pm

hey Shawn, 9 of the items you listed you bought from me (and at pretty good prices too...) #16,17,19-22,24,30-31.

stratochamp
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 9:22 pm

faro wrote:*g* Auctioneer should be shot. Not that you're complaining?
Right place, right time, 'grats.

this post is regarding Malc winning the owl & weasel complete run for $300...i was in the hall at the time & thought i'd offer my two cents. being a volunteer at the auction has one main perk: i get to see the items up close (and my main job there is checking the old stuff for condition and writing it down on the auction tags). but i have no input as to when items come up for sale. personally i would have put the owl lot up on friday night. on thursday night however, the only three people in the room who knew what their were worth were Malc, Karen and me. i don't actively collect fanzines. nonetheless i would have bid, but of course Malc responded to the $300 minimum bid by raising his card. No one else bid. since i don't collect fanzines i knew Malc was going to go past where I would have gone (800-1000). why make him pay more for an item when i'm not in it to win it. so Malc won it for the minimum. I like Malc & his wife; we have had excellent dealings in the past, i've enjoyed gaming with him etc. why should i make him pay an extra $600 for something. good for them on getting a great deal!

grodog
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:32 pm

Prufrock wrote:That figure was attributed to the company that runs Gencon. According to their figures it was a 20% increase.

GenCon was running attendances in the ~60K range, I thought, in the heyday of 3.x: has the attendance fallen so much in the past several years??

Allan Grohe (grodog@gmail.com)
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Editor and Project Manager, Black Blade Publishing
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Invincible Overlord
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 12:15 pm

Kaskoid wrote:If the number I have heard bruited about for last year's attendance is correct (38K), then that would mean almost 45K? While it certainly was well attended this year, and better than last certainly, that number seems a bit wishful. (However, if proven wrong, I will be delighted, indeed.)

No sir,

I believe that Gencon last year just broke 30K in "single person attendance" (or whatever the proper term is...).

So 20% more would put it around 36K... which is still phenomenal!!!

Prufrock
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:26 pm

"INDIANAPOLIS (August 11, 2011) - Gen Con Indy, the nation's largest annual consumer fantasy, sci-fi and adventure gaming convention experienced stunning growth this year. Turnstile attendance was over 119,707 with 36,733 unique attendees present for 96 hours of gaming, cosplay, music, shopping and more. This positive spike in turnout represents a greater than 20% increase in a single year. Game event participation grew even more steeply, with over 250,000 event tickets yielding an over 26% expansion throughout the Best Four Days In Gaming!"

That's from the Gencon website.

Martin

Bracton
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:25 pm

More pics. First, one of my favorite signs at Gen Con. Either someone had a very tolerant fiancee, or this couple picked the wrong weekend to get married.

This is a picture of Cardhalla. Groups spend Thursday, Friday and Saturday creating some amazing structures with cards. Then on Saturday night, they auction off the right to throw the first coins, and then everyone gets to throw coins to bring the cards down. All of the proceeds go to the Gen Con charity of the year. I think they raised over $3000 this year.

Now, the auction room. They moved it clear across the conference center, and it still looked exactly the same.

Prufrock and Blackmoor checking out what's coming up for auction:

Auctioneers Josh and Tim:

Tim --

Frank --

By request, the mailing envelope for the Jade Hare.

Next comes Hickman's Killer Breakfast. It's rather hard to describe to those who have not seen it. Part script, part improv, people line up and sit down on stage with Tracy and Laura Hickman, try to be funny in the context of a story spun by Tracy, and quickly and messily die and are tossed offstage.

But this year, Tracy gave Gail Gygax a few minutes at the start to talk about the Memorial.

Tracy begins things off with a song. This year, "Hogwarts Wizard" (yep, to "Pinball Wizard").

I'd try to explain these, but I just couldn't do them justice.

Tracy often has a few special guests. Last year, he didn't kill one, so he made sure not to make the same mistake again this year.

It seemed to me that there were more people in costumes than in prior years. And some of the costumes were quite elaborate.

Go ahead, just pretend you wouldn't have taken this picture.

And finally, for the gamer who has everything, Geek Chic's game table.

And thus does convention season come to an end for this year. Anyone thinking GaryCon yet??

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

grodog
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:42 pm

Prufrock wrote:"INDIANAPOLIS (August 11, 2011) - Gen Con Indy, the nation's largest annual consumer fantasy, sci-fi and adventure gaming convention experienced stunning growth this year. Turnstile attendance was over 119,707 with 36,733 unique attendees present for 96 hours of gaming, cosplay, music, shopping and more. This positive spike in turnout represents a greater than 20% increase in a single year. Game event participation grew even more steeply, with over 250,000 event tickets yielding an over 26% expansion throughout the Best Four Days In Gaming!"

That's from the Gencon website.

Thanks for the clarification, Martin: I must have been thinking of earlier turnstile attendance figures if those were just 60-65K (like, from the '90s
:oops:

Bracton wrote:And thus does convention season come to an end for this year. Anyone thinking GaryCon yet??

Definitely thinking of GaryCon already, Mark, as well as NTX, too!

Allan Grohe (grodog@gmail.com)
Greyhawk, grodog Style

Editor and Project Manager, Black Blade Publishing
https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/

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