Gen Con 50 -- 2017 • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Gen Con 50 -- 2017
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Bracton
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 8:58 pm

VIG badge renewal opened up today, so I've got my badge, and hotel reservation (the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, as usual). It's the 50th anniversary of Gen Con, so I just can't see missing it.

Going forward, I'm not so sure. The gaming is much better at the smaller cons (NTRPGCon, Gary Con, Gamehole Con). I used to say that I went for the auction, but I don't think I've bought anything at the auction in at least three years that I couldn't have just as easily gotten on eBay. And if I wanted to hit the dealer hall, I could always get a one-day badge and head down just for a day.

Who else is planning on being there?

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

dbartman
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 12:36 am

Planning to be there. Share the same sentiment. Would rather be involved in the smaller cons.

Bad timing this year, though, as a lot of universities start move-in that weekend. I'll probably have to leave on Saturday as a result.

Thor
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 9:21 am

You nailed it Bracton, exact reason why I dont go to Gencon. There is nothing like getting into a session with Frank, Steve, Mr. Kask, David, Chris, etc.. and have that personal experience with the people that you grew up admiring in a small con like session like decades ago.

There is no better way to game at a con...

--Thor

grodog
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:38 am

Bracton wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017:It's the 50th anniversary of Gen Con, so I just can't see missing it. [snip] Who else is planning on being there?

I'm not planning to go. I haven't attended GenCon since the 40th in 2007, but I find it hard to imagine that GenCon would be any more worthwhile for me to attend now, given how big it was then.

Bracton wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017:The gaming is much better at the smaller cons (NTRPGCon, Gary Con, Gamehole Con).

Ding! Plus it's so much more fun being able to visit and catch up with friends at the smaller shows, in addition to the much-better gaming.

That said, all three shows are trying to grow larger than they used to be. Could be that GHC may soon be the size Origins used to be (~5000 attendees)....

Allan Grohe (grodog@gmail.com)
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https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/

stratochamp
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 6:48 pm

I've missed one GenCon since 1977, so I'm certainly going to be there. I don't go to GenCon to play games (although we played one last year), I'm there to find obscure items. However it's a nice trip for my family, as we then branch off to do other things. This year we will drive to be in a great spot for the solar eclipse on Monday. Last year we went to Mammoth Cave afterwards.

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Invincible Overlord
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:33 pm

I'll be there!!!

I'm a big Organized Play junkie. So I'll play Pathfinder and some 5E.

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

Blackmoor
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 4:04 pm

I registered and got rooms as well. I enjoy Gencon quite a bit but I may just go every second year for a while after this year. I too enjoy the smaller cons and would like to dedicate more of my free time to them!

Games can get you through times of no money but money can not get you through times of no games!!

ExTSR
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:05 pm

With great sadness I must announce
that I won't not attend GenCon 50 in 2017.

Continuous since 1980. Been a long run.

Thor
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:33 pm

ExTSR wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017:With great sadness I must announce
that I won't not attend GenCon 50 in 2017.

Continuous since 1980. Been a long run.

WoW! Without you there Frank, that's a blow to Gen Con for sure....

--Thor

stratochamp
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:47 pm

ExTSR wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017:With great sadness I must announce
that I won't not attend GenCon 50 in 2017.

Continuous since 1980. Been a long run.

Just to be clear Frank, did you mean to say that you won't attend GenCon 50? The double negative in your quote reminded me of an encounter with Grome in your campaign...

If you are not attending, the auction, most specifically the Collector's Auction on Friday night, will not be the same without without you.

Shrink is not a condition

ExTSR
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:29 pm

stratochamp wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017: Collector's Auction on Friday night

I won't not attend that one either.

Blackmoor
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 3:46 am

ExTSR wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017:With great sadness I must announce
that I won't not attend GenCon 50 in 2017.

Continuous since 1980. Been a long run.

Wow that's a hit, I am really going to miss you!!

Games can get you through times of no money but money can not get you through times of no games!!

Boredflak
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:58 am

I'm really torn with Gen Con.

Housing is a mess. There's no improvement to the situation and time and time again it's a group of us scheming and conniving to try to figure out how to get one room where we would prefer to stay. I also hate crowds so the press of the hall really drags on me.

That said... I love the show for a ton of reasons.

My twelve year old son is now of an age where Gen Con is *wonderful* and with his buddy Vince it's now something they plan on every year. Some of my best friends in the world I've met through the show and see every year now.

The auction has given me a chance to help out and seeing how excited people are when they win something is just great.

Frank I'm sorry to hear you won't be there.

burntwire brothers
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 12:57 pm

Devon and I will be there. GenCon to me is about seeing friends, walking the hall and spending alot of time at the auction. The last time I gamed at GenCon was when Tim Kask ran us through an adventure several years back. If GenCon ever leaves Indy, I most likely wouldn't attend anymore(wouldn't pay the high hotel costs or deal with the hassle, the same reason I won't go to SDCC), unless it is close were I can just drive in for a day and check out the auction.

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.

Bracton
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 12:59 pm

Event registration opened up for Gen Con today at 12 noon ET. I had my wishlist set, and as soon as the button went live, hit it . . . and was 3772 in line.

I got three events I wanted (one of which is Hickman's Killer Breakfast, which is in a huge ballroom, so doesn't really count as much of an achievement). So I had to backfill and find events to fill open blocks. In the end, it's a pretty good mix. A couple of Cthulhu events, a Shadows of the Demon Lord event, a Rolemaster event, and one 5th Edition D&D.

Needless to say, Friday evening is left open for the auction.

Now, if Blackmoor got the True Dungeon tickets, I'm all set.

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

Bracton
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 1:09 pm

They are also setting up a mock-up of the Horticultural Hall for the 50th anniversary celebration, with artifacts from the early years of Gen Con. And there are guided tours, led by a number of luminaries: Frank Mentzer/exTSR (though his are already all sold out); Jon Peterson/increment; Paul Stormberg; Peter and Gary Adkison (also sold out); and William Meinhardt/stratochamp.

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

ExTSR
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 1:42 pm

Since mine sold out so fast, I've let Peter know that I'm available to do more if they wish.
Might not be doable (tight advance planning & schedule), but fwiw.

F

Blackmoor
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 2:45 pm

Bracton wrote in Gen Con 50 -- 2017:Event registration opened up for Gen Con today at 12 noon ET. I had my wishlist set, and as soon as the button went live, hit it . . . and was 3772 in line.

I got three events I wanted (one of which is Hickman's Killer Breakfast, which is in a huge ballroom, so doesn't really count as much of an achievement). So I had to backfill and find events to fill open blocks. In the end, it's a pretty good mix. A couple of Cthulhu events, a Shadows of the Demon Lord event, a Rolemaster event, and one 5th Edition D&D.

Needless to say, Friday evening is left open for the auction.

Now, if Blackmoor got the True Dungeon tickets, I'm all set.

Hey Bracton

I got all the games on my list, I was 1577 in line and it went quickly. True dungeon is in for sure

Now I have to fit in the Horticultural hall thing cool

Games can get you through times of no money but money can not get you through times of no games!!

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