Last year I found out too late to do anything about it. So I'm starting earlier this year.

Now I heard that WotC pulled out all their D&D stuff from GenCon and that was always the main draw. I also heard there was lots of SJW stuff going on. Is GenCon a waste of time now?

I had an okay time at GenCon 2015, but I would've had a better time if I were younger and willing to use an IV full of Monster and beer.  WotC wasn't there but there was D&D - both org-play stuff and independent stuff.

I think it all depends on what games you're into and how independently you function (ie are you content poking around on your own etc).

There are many reasons to consider Origins over GenCon (and vice versa). GenCon has its value (its Gamer Mecca), but it has its issues - many of which exist any year, and some issues which are more recent.

I feel like there are just more alternatives to Gen Con now and people are inclined to avoid the hassle and cost of getting nearby rooms.

Quote from: Spinachcat;873345There are many reasons to consider Origins over GenCon (and vice versa). GenCon has its value (its Gamer Mecca), but it has its issues - many of which exist any year, and some issues which are more recent.

What's Origins?

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;873399What's Origins?

The other big RPG/Gaming con. Its something I have allways wanted to go see. But never had the chance.

As for GenCon. Unless things have changed dramatically there will still be tons of people rinning adventures at the con for about any game out there if you hunt hard enough. Get the programm book and pour through it for things that might look interesting and then narrow down your time useage.

mAcular Chaotic, where are you located? There are some great regional conventions in different areas of the US that are also worth a look.

AKA, the best West Coast con (in my opinion) is KublaCon in the Bay Area, while others would vote for PAX Prime in Seattle instead.

KublaCon
http://www.kublacon.com/

PAX
http://www.paxsite.com/

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;873399What's Origins?

A convention that needs to advertise more!

ORIGINS 2016
http://originsgamefair.com/

Wiki page (Origins began in 1975)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_Game_Fair

In the past, I've heard the difference between Origins and GenCon described as this "If you want to buy stuff, go to GenCon. If you want to play stuff, go to Origins."

I do not know how accurate that description is for 2016 because I heard that chanted back in the 90s/early 00s.

THIS topic is actually one where the sheer number of posters on RPG.net is actually useful because there are certainly people who attend both cons (or who have) among the purple hordes.

Part of this depends on how much it is going to cost you in time and money to go.  The more it costs, the greater the benefit needs to be to make going worthwhile.

I'd love the chance to go to Gencon.  Because I never have, because its Gencon, and because of the Vapors it would induce in some people.

I'd like to see the new GenCon before the suits turn it into a mirror of GW's GameDemon con or whatever they call it now. Assuming they still run it.

I think the value of GenCon is really up to the gamer.  Some folks dig the big tournaments that you can do there, the new game launches, the panels and stuff.  Other folks are there to see friends, to hit the vendor hall, to do some big LARPs, to get in as many 'living campaign' type games as they can (I met a guy last year that played 36 hours of Shadowrun games, just 12 hour days all con, then Sunday doing other stuff, which is just fucking insane to me, but whatever).

Different strokes for different folks.

Why do you want to go?

Quote from: RPGPundit;874024I'd love the chance to go to Gencon.  Because I never have, because its Gencon, and because of the Vapors it would induce in some people.

I think you should announce that you are going to attend, just to watch how many people start frothing and calling for boycotts.

Quote from: RPGPundit;874024I'd love the chance to go to Gencon.  Because I never have, because its Gencon, and because of the Vapors it would induce in some people.

I was surprised you didn't go for the 5e launch considering your involvement. Should have asked WotC to fly you in as Special Guest.

When you finally decide to make the pilgrimage, please announce it months in advance of the GenCon deadlines because I am sure many of us would love to meet you.

It be a fun mix of free beer, handshakes and nut punches!

Quote from: Critias;874068(I met a guy last year that played 36 hours of Shadowrun games, just 12 hour days all con, then Sunday doing other stuff, which is just fucking insane to me, but whatever).

I am THAT dude, but as a GM.

I hit a con like a weedhead with a Christmas bong. I run 2-3 slots per day if I am not running something I am playing something. I almost always eat on the run or in the breaks between sessions.

It peeves my friends who are giving presentations and seminars, but FOR ME, the con is all about maximum-dice tossing.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;873319Now I heard that WotC pulled out all their D&D stuff from GenCon and that was always the main draw. I also heard there was lots of SJW stuff going on. Is GenCon a waste of time now?

Gen Con is large enough that you can pretty much define your own experience. Four years ago I spent most of the con playing Games on Demand whenever the whim struck me between attending panel discussions; three years ago it was all about the Dealer's Hall and Eclipse Phase games; two years ago I binged on Cthulhu gaming and GMed games for MCG for a couple dozen hours; last year I made a point of sampling a lot of different RPGs I had been wanting to try.

Simultaneously, I know there are people who spend their entire convention in the boardgame hall. Or playing in a weekend long run of Horror on the Orient Express. Or LARPing. Or doing the various craft activities.

If you're looking for events with direct WotC involvement, Gen Con is no longer the place to go. Very few places are, of course: I think it's basically just PAX East now. OTOH, if you're primarily interested in playing D&D (including Adventurer's Guild stuff) then you're still going to find more options at Gen Con than at least 99.9% of the other conventions (including PAX East based on the convention catalogs from last year).

Quote from: Spinachcat;874122I am THAT dude, but as a GM.

I hit a con like a weedhead with a Christmas bong. I run 2-3 slots per day if I am not running something I am playing something. I almost always eat on the run or in the breaks between sessions.

It peeves my friends who are giving presentations and seminars, but FOR ME, the con is all about maximum-dice tossing.

For me, the con is about socializing as much as anything else.  I try new games, I do demos in the vendor hall, I chat up folks I know, talk to, or even work with all year (but that I only see face to face in Indy for a few days), I catch up with buddies from gaming groups I moved away from after college (we meet up at GenCon every year), etc, etc.

Gaming is one thing I do while I'm there, but I can't imagine it being like that, the only thing I did.  I'm too old for 12-hour marathons, shouting over the background noise of a crowded game hall, playing games with strangers instead of as part of an actual campaign, all that sort of thing.  I get in about one good sit-down game session a day, one good wargame a day, one LARP some time during GenCon (it's fun to ham it up and fake accents and stuff with a bunch of strangers I'll never see again)...and that's really about it.  

You psychos that run games or work booths for 30-40 hours a con, man, y'all get me lifting a glass your way, but it's just not for me.  That all feels too much like work.