Road to Gencon 2012 - So you've decided to go to Gencon

Congratulations on your decision to attend GenCon 2012, one of the largest and most popular gaming conventions in the US, and certainly the Midwest.  Starting in just about a week, gamers from all over the globe will be traveling to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on "The Best Four Days in Gaming". 

So what have you signed up for, exactly?  Well, I've been attending GenCon nearly every year since 1996 and I can guarantee you that I have not seen everything that goes on at the Con.  Each year GenCon seems to grow (last year's attendance record shattered the previous highest ~30,000 with ~37,000 attendees) and the Con and events just grow with it.

Except for Will Call's ability to handle all of us, that one hasn't evolved quite yet...

Today we're going to focus on the big things about GenCon that, in my opinion, everyone should experience.  Some of these things will be sold out already, but we here at VG30 are going to try to help you get in them.  Here's the secret that every GenCon attendee already knows..

Generic Tickets

Seriously? Nobody has ever taken a picture of GenCon's Generic Tickets?

If you're just now planning your GenCon events, you're probably noticing that most, if not all of the best events are sold out.  Fear not!  If you download the GenCon mobile app, you can keep up to date with when the tickets become available as people will inevitably sign up for more than they can handle.  If even that doesn't get you in, then Generic Tickets and a bit of patience is your way to get into pretty much any event, including the ever elusive True Dungeon.  Each ticket is $2 and you combine them to cover the cost of the event.  So let's say you want to attend a Magic Tournament, and the entry fee is $24.  You would need 12 Generic Tickets to get in.  You should probably pick up a hand full of them, and remember:  you can return your generics before the end of the convention for system credit so you can sign up for the events next year.

The Dealer Hall

This doesn't look like enough of a crowd, I can still see the ground.

Not able to get into the events you wanted to despite my personal promises?  I'm sorry, I am.  I got your hopes up and it turns out that just too many people wanted to get in.  That's ok.  You can spend all four days in the Dealer's Hall, play dozens and dozens of games, and not spend another penny on an event.  The GenCon Dealer's Hall is legendary.  Hundreds of gaming companies, both new and old, want to show off their games and introduce you to their latest offerings, and GenCon is a major release event for many of them.  The hall opens at 10am and closes at 6pm except on Sunday where it closes at 3.  Every year my group starts in one corner, works our way to the middle, goes for lunch, and finishes at the other side of the Con by about 4pm, and that's just getting the lay of the land with the possible exception of stopping to play something we REALLY want to play.  If you need some help to get through it all, might I recommend...

Cheese Weasel

The first year that VG30 went as a blog that didn't have enough of an audience to even call itself a blog, my wife and I attempted the Cheese Weasel ConQuest.  The ConQuest is a series of cards in which you take around the various booths listed on them, and either they present you with a challenge that you must complete, or they're tired of the thousands of people coming up to their booth for no other purpose than to get a bunch on their card and do it for them.  Wanting to use this opportunity to meet and speak with all of these companies, I made sure to let them know that I wanted to demo or talk about whatever it was that they were presenting, and I found some awesome new games and met some very cool people in the process.  Rather that wandering around blind, try out the Cheese Weasel ConQuest and really get into it, you won't be sorry. 

True Dungeon

True Dungeon is one of those events that you want to try to get into.  Typically, they sell out within a day or two.  But!  You have bought lots of Generic Tickets, right?  Great!  Give yourself 3 - 4 hours, and go and wait for an open spot in a party.  Players from my group report being able to get in multiple runs with no problem going in as a single add on to a party, especially on Friday night.  You don't need gear, they provide you with a bag of tokens to try out, and most parties are willing to help out a new player by throwing trash tokens to them.  Be warned, you're probably going to die by the end of the dungeon, but you'll have a good time doing it.  Speaking of dying..

Hickman's Killer Breakfast

Last year was my first Killer Breakfast, and I had a blast there.  So much, in fact, that I'm breaking in the rest of the VG30 staff this year.  The general idea of it is the GM, Tracy Hickman, is running an above epic level adventure for level 0 heroes.  Players come on stage, announce how they arrived into the game at that point, and come up with highly inventive ways to try to survive the adventure.  They don't work for long, and new players are introduced to take their place.  If you're squeamish about getting on stage and participating, don't worry, you can just watch from the audience and enjoy the show.  Henwy, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do this year.

For the next week Video, Gaming at 30 will be posting articles on our Road to Gencon, culminating with on site updates with what's going on at the Con.  Follow us @videogamingat30 and keep checking back for the Ones to Watch - Gencon Edition, Where To Eat, What to Pack, and more events to try to get into next week.  Get your sleep now, it's going to be a long two weeks.