Dominion Strategy Forum

Miscellaneous => General Discussion => Topic started by: Roadrunner7671 on May 12, 2016, 08:56:24 pm

Title: GenCon 2016
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on May 12, 2016, 08:56:24 pm
Will f.ds be well represented at the World Master's tournament?

Will f.ds be well represented at the rest of GenCon?

(For those of you close to Indianapolis who don't know what GenCon is, check this out: http://www.gencon.com/

I've been doing quite a bit of research, but I can't seem to find answers to the simplest questions. I've even reached out to real people on Instagram, but to no avail.

So here are a few basic questions about GenCon that no one can seem to answer:
Where can I just sit down and play games for free?
Where, outside of tournaments, do I need to spend the generic $2 tickets?
Does GenCon take place outside of the exhibit hall?
What can I do at the average publisher's booth?

Thanks for any answers, and I hope to see you all there!
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: jsh357 on May 12, 2016, 08:58:06 pm
As usual, wish I could go, but I'd probably lose hard since it's a multiplayer tournament anyway.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on May 12, 2016, 08:59:35 pm
As usual, wish I could go, but I'd probably lose hard since it's a multiplayer tournament anyway.
You could still go! There's other stuff, and I'm sure you'd enjoy yourself regardless.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: jsh357 on May 12, 2016, 09:27:29 pm
As usual, wish I could go, but I'd probably lose hard since it's a multiplayer tournament anyway.
You could still go! There's other stuff, and I'm sure you'd enjoy yourself regardless.

Nope. It's too far and I'm also interning when it takes place. Maybe one of these years.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Joseph2302 on May 13, 2016, 09:45:54 am
It'll cost me just over £1,000 to get to Indianapolis, so probably not. Soz.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: sitnaltax on May 15, 2016, 07:22:07 pm
Howdy! I will not be at GenCon this year, but I've been in the past.

Quote from: Roadrunner7671
Where can I just sit down and play games for free?

Unfortunately, GenCon is probably the worst con for this because it's so busy, crowded, and commercial. Keep in mind that there are SIXTY THOUSAND people attending, and probably 35000-40000 on Saturday alone. If this is your main goal, I would recommend literally any other convention. That said: In the past, both Rio Grande and Mayfair have sponsored free-play rooms where games from those publishers were available for demo, often with people there to help teach.

A lot of people play the day's purchases with friends in hotel lobbies, especially in the evenings. If you're going with friends (do this if you can), this can be you! If you're extroverted and able to make friends quickly (I'm not), you might be able to get in on another group's.

Quote from: Roadrunner7671
Where, outside of tournaments, do I need to spend the generic $2 tickets?

Any scheduled in-the-program game or seminar that isn't full will take generics. People who have registered explicitly get priority, of course, but many don't fill up.

Quote from: Roadrunner7671
Does GenCon take place outside of the exhibit hall?

Very much yes. It takes up the entire convention center and spills into neighboring hotels. All of those games, panels, seminars in the program... those take place in other rooms in the conference center and nearby hotels. (Nearby businesses often have welcome-to-the-con promos. They're also VERY busy because there are tens of thousands of extra people in downtown Indy at unusual times. Bring snacks (granola bars, etc) and bottled drinks.

Quote from: Roadrunner7671
What can I do at the average publisher's booth?

You can usually buy games, at least their newest ones. You'll usually pay list price or close to it--the only reliable way I've ever seen to get a discount is an educator badge--but you'll get whatever promos are available. You can usually get a demo and sometimes a full play of newer board games that the publisher wants to show off. At smaller companies' booths you can sometimes chat with the designers or other employees.

A lot of publishers premiere games at GenCon or have sneak previews. So you'll be going for the event, the spectacle, and being the first one to see some new things, not to play a huge variety of games.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: A Drowned Kernel on May 15, 2016, 08:45:54 pm
Where, outside of tournaments, do I need to spend the generic $2 tickets?

Just to share my own experience: when I went last year I bought a bunch of those (either $20 or $40 worth, I can' remember) and didn't end up spending a single one. But maybe you're more into scheduled events and less into wandering than me.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: sitnaltax on May 15, 2016, 11:36:54 pm
Where, outside of tournaments, do I need to spend the generic $2 tickets?

Just to share my own experience: when I went last year I bought a bunch of those (either $20 or $40 worth, I can' remember) and didn't end up spending a single one. But maybe you're more into scheduled events and less into wandering than me.

Good point. Note that unlike Origins, you can't return unused generics for cash (you can return them for credit toward the next year's badge or whatever) so maybe just preorder $4-$6 worth and buy more if you find that you're using them.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Drab Emordnilap on May 16, 2016, 09:33:38 am
I'll be there running demos (not of Dominion obviously), like usual.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on June 01, 2016, 10:23:07 pm
I'll be there running demos (not of Dominion obviously), like usual.
What booth number will you be at?
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Twistedarcher on June 15, 2017, 09:21:38 pm
Bump! Anyone going this year?
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on June 15, 2017, 09:26:23 pm
Bump! Anyone going this year?
I hope!
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Lekkit on June 16, 2017, 02:12:44 am
Unfortunately not.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Awaclus on June 16, 2017, 02:15:33 am
Unfortunately not.

How do you know nobody is going to GenCon this year?
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Lekkit on June 16, 2017, 03:15:21 am
Unfortunately not.

How do you know nobody is going to GenCon this year?

It's been cancelled due to rain.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Awaclus on June 16, 2017, 04:15:13 am
Unfortunately not.

How do you know nobody is going to GenCon this year?

It's been cancelled due to rain.

That's unfortunate all right.
Title: Re: GenCon 2016
Post by: Twistedarcher on June 17, 2017, 03:27:06 pm
Bump! Anyone going this year?
I hope!

Cool. I'll be there, let me know if you end up making it out there!