Tuesday, August 15, 2006
GenCon Indy '06 -- snapshots
Favorite quote: "Mom, I'm in utter awe!" or (as the names of the Young Dragons were announced over the loudspeaker on Saturday, just as their second signing session was starting) "Yeah, yeah! Ed Gentry! That's my uncle! He's cool!"
Favorite game: Zombies!!!
Games played: Game of Thrones BGM (Fantasy Flight); Battlestar Galactica CCG (WizKids); Zombies!!! w/ Mall Walkers expansion; Qwitch; My Word!; Blink; Etherscope RPG module, "Special Delivery." (And Ed counts Tracy Hickman's Killer Breakfast as a game, although I disagree; it's entertainment, it's a show, and it involves RPGs, but it's not really an RPG, imo, even if GenCon lists it that way on the schedule.)
Games purchased: Battlestar Galactica CCG; Zombies!!! with The Corp(se) expansion; three quick card games from Out of the Box -- Qwitch, My Word!, and Blink.
Events that were fun: Mythbusters Q & A; Killer Breakfast; How You Play the Game; demo-ing BG CCG; observing the Young Dragons' book-signings and hearing about their impressions.
Non-GenCon fun: Watching my nephew and sister-in-law as they experienced their first GenCon... J's all about returning next year for two days instead of one, and his mom seemed to think that wouldn't be a bad idea. He also wants to get in on a D&D game or two next year.
Things that we did this year that are worth repeating next year: Killer Breakfast; parking; getting a room in Indy; Hickman's How You Play the Game; having snacks and beverages (water!!!) available in the room.
Things we can do to improve upon the experience: register for fewer events in advance; register only for those few things that will sell out; on the very first day, test games at the demo areas on the showroom floor and then buy named or generic tix to play those games we like; consider doing RPGs only if you know the GM or can "stack the deck" so that the other players are folks you know. Schedule nothing for Sunday, other than, perhaps, brunch. True Dungeon.
Favorite game: Zombies!!!
Games played: Game of Thrones BGM (Fantasy Flight); Battlestar Galactica CCG (WizKids); Zombies!!! w/ Mall Walkers expansion; Qwitch; My Word!; Blink; Etherscope RPG module, "Special Delivery." (And Ed counts Tracy Hickman's Killer Breakfast as a game, although I disagree; it's entertainment, it's a show, and it involves RPGs, but it's not really an RPG, imo, even if GenCon lists it that way on the schedule.)
Games purchased: Battlestar Galactica CCG; Zombies!!! with The Corp(se) expansion; three quick card games from Out of the Box -- Qwitch, My Word!, and Blink.
Events that were fun: Mythbusters Q & A; Killer Breakfast; How You Play the Game; demo-ing BG CCG; observing the Young Dragons' book-signings and hearing about their impressions.
Non-GenCon fun: Watching my nephew and sister-in-law as they experienced their first GenCon... J's all about returning next year for two days instead of one, and his mom seemed to think that wouldn't be a bad idea. He also wants to get in on a D&D game or two next year.
Things that we did this year that are worth repeating next year: Killer Breakfast; parking; getting a room in Indy; Hickman's How You Play the Game; having snacks and beverages (water!!!) available in the room.
Things we can do to improve upon the experience: register for fewer events in advance; register only for those few things that will sell out; on the very first day, test games at the demo areas on the showroom floor and then buy named or generic tix to play those games we like; consider doing RPGs only if you know the GM or can "stack the deck" so that the other players are folks you know. Schedule nothing for Sunday, other than, perhaps, brunch. True Dungeon.
