NTRPGCon Report

Juju EyeBall · Post by **Juju EyeBall** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:04 pm

If I don't make it this year I'll be devastated. Still working out the scheduling on my end...

francisca · Post by **francisca** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:28 am

I'm registered now.

Badmike · Post by **Badmike** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:47 am

Hey guys;

I gave you a dedicated thread in the "Game Events" forum at the NTRPG Con site to coordinate efforts to get together at the con. I've also discussed with Grodog various venues if you guys want a "closed room" discussion, game, etc. either after hours or during the con itself.

Mike B.

http://ntrpgcon.com/index.php?option=co ... at&catid=4

quatzl · Post by **quatzl** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:05 pm

I am registered. I went last year and had a blast. Can't wait.

Mythmere · Post by **Mythmere** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:50 pm

quatzl wrote:I am registered. I went last year and had a blast. Can't wait.

IDENTITY CHECK! Are you the guy with red hair -- we got our picture taken together? There was a guy at the convention whose actual name I never picked up, somehow.

quatzl · Post by **quatzl** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:57 pm

Sorry Matt, I have brown hair and I do not remember a picture. Unfortunately we did not game together last time, but we chatted and I picked up a copy of S&W. I will correct that this year though, and try and jump in to the Mythrus Tower Expedition.

Jonathan

Chainsaw · Post by **Chainsaw** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:28 pm

Just registered. Never been to a gaming convention!

What events would you guys suggest?

Badmike · Post by **Badmike** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:58 pm

Chainsaw wrote:Just registered. Never been to a gaming convention!

What events would you guys suggest?

My purely unprofessional opinion:

I would get into one of the Swords and Wizardry games. It is rules light, fast paced, and lots of fun without all the bother. I had a blast last year being DM'd by Matt Finch. There are quite a few sessions of S&W being run this year!

Tim Kask's OD&D games are as old school as they come (he has his trusty dog-eared white box by his side). I would try to get into one of his sessions, last year everyone who played (even the group that got TPK'd) had a great time.

This year we are going to have several "seminars" dealing with various gaming topics. I'm going to plug one I'm moderating, a Saturday afternoon session dealing with the Megadungeon! I have no idea what questions I'm going to ask or exactly which way the conversation will go, but with the guys I have on the panel this should take care of itself!

I won't try to influence your decision much beyond there as I don't want to be seen as playing favorities!

One of the things to remember is that interaction with fellow gamers is one of the best parts of going to a con. For all the things I've done at Gencon, it's the hanging out with other guys I had only previously known online that was the most fun.

At cons you can actually interact with some of your "heroes", especially a smaller con like this. Definitely introduce yourself to guys like Tim Kask, Rob Kuntz, Steve Winter, Paul Jaquays, Dennis Sustare, Jim Ward (dont introduce yourself to Jason Braun he'll try to kiss you or something....

) These are the guys that built our hobby from the ground up, but they are very approachable (well, I've met them all but Jim and Steve, this will be their first year) and we particularly like to bring guys that are friendly and enjoy talking about the hobby.

Two moments for me last year that were unscripted and awesome: Listening to Paul and Dennis (who used to work together) reminisce for over three hours while they sat in the breakfast area of the hotel about games, their jobs, movies, sci fi books, computers, and so much more. All the while interacting and taking questions from people just sitting around. Great stuff! Then hitting IHOP after midnight with Frank Mentzer and Tim one night (either Friday or Saturday) was a hoot. Those guys are really funny and full of great stories. Put yourself in position to be a fly on the wall when some of these guys get to talking with each other, you'll really enjoy it.

And speaking of talking, I have seen Grodog now time and again and have never gotten to interact with him as much as I would like! He's a really intelligent and knowledgable guy, as are Jon Hershberger and Matt Finch (who I also got to talk with a little, but not as much as I want). I'm hoping to be able to meet more people that weren't at last year's shindig. Use the con to meet people you've only known online, and hopefully a friendship or two will start up!

Mike B.

Casey777 · Post by **Casey777** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:22 am

Chainsaw wrote:Just registered. Never been to a gaming convention!

What events would you guys suggest?

General gaming con advice:

In short, pace yourself.

Scope the place out upon arrival and keep ears and eyes open for schedule changes, pickup and open games and talks. And for the shiney. I've had some great fun with such, scheduled games often are booked solid & early, and it's a great way to try out a game and meet game creators. Don't be afraid to politely bow out of a game that's lasting too long or has gotten boring for you, but also try and step up to the plate and be pro-active.

If you've not been to any convention before: pack light, have a solid breakfast, and make sure to eat something at regular intervals (but not too much) and remember to drink water.

Make sure to visit any dealers area but don't overburden yourself with purchases until after gaming for the moment.

As for this con, it's cool that someplace other than the coasts or the Midwest is having a solid gaming convention. Some of the smaller focused cons (this isn't a slam) can be very fun, and much less hectic.

So focus on the fun and rolling dice!

TRP · Post by **TRP** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:55 am

More convention advice: Don't pre-register for too many games. Maybe just leave it to a couple or three of "must"play events. There's usually a good number of pickup games, as Casey suggests.

Casey777 wrote:Make sure to visit any dealers area but don't overburden yourself with purchases until after gaming for the moment.

Don't be shy about asking the vendor to hold your purchase for you. In my experience, most are willing to do this. Just don't forget to pick it up later!

Chainsaw · Post by **Chainsaw** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:05 pm

Many thanks for the advice, guys. You wrote a ton that will come in handy - I'll have to buy you drinks in June to repay the kindness.

I'm excited about playing the original editions and meeting those of you that are coming. It seems very fitting that my first convention should be one dedicated to the first age of D&D.

Mythmere · Post by **Mythmere** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:21 pm

I recommend at least one celebrity game - Tim Kask's game is fun; I didn't play in Rob's or Frank's - and Frank won't be there this year.

Agreed that you shouldn't over-schedule. Get one or two must-have games reserved for yourself, then play it by ear. Slots will probably be open except in Tim and Rob's games.

Start smoking. The three people with whom I spent the most time last convention - and I mean hours - were Rob Kuntz, Tim Kask, and Frank Mentzer. Smoking area.

Mingle. The people are incredibly cool at this con. It's nice to have a thing where everyone shares, at least to a very large degree, on the same basic assumptions about gaming.

Chainsaw · Post by **Chainsaw** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:47 pm

Mythmere wrote:Start smoking. The three people with whom I spent the most time last convention - and I mean hours - were Rob Kuntz, Tim Kask, and Frank Mentzer. Smoking area.

Good ol' Texas! Smoking inside, castle doctrine, NTRPGCon - I should relocate.

Flambeaux · Post by **Flambeaux** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:52 pm

Chainsaw wrote:
Mythmere wrote:Start smoking. The three people with whom I spent the most time last convention - and I mean hours - were Rob Kuntz, Tim Kask, and Frank Mentzer. Smoking area.
Good ol' Texas! Smoking inside, castle doctrine, NTRPGCon - I should relocate.

The smoking was outside. Sadly, even in Texas we've been beaten about the head and ears by the anti-smoking zealots. *sigh*

Chainsaw · Post by **Chainsaw** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:10 pm

Just as well.. When I smoke, I smoke cigars, which usually don't bother people outside, but usually aren't welcome inside, even where cigarette smoking's permitted.