Drin Kizael
Aug 12th, 2002, 07:41:21 PM
The short version:
Last year in Milwaukee. First time for going all 4 days and entering gaming events. Fun... lots. Money... too much. White Wolf, Heroclix... boring. Buffy... awesome. Farscape... yay! RPGA... evil. Star Wars d20... better than WEG, but... eh.
I've been to GenCon in the past, but the last time was several years back when I used to just drive up there for one day and head home. I live in NW Chicago and it's an hour and a half away in Milwaukee. But this is the last year it will be up there, so I felt obligated to go the whole 9 yards while I still knew I could.
For those wondering what GenCon is, it's the biggest gaming con in the U.S. It's got computer games, card games, board games, strategy games, dice role playing games, and sci-fi and fantasy collectibles
One interesting note about the RPG world is that the superhero genre has a huge presence. New computer games include Freedom Force and the pending City of Heroes online multiplayer. And now there are like 3 new superhero RPGs added to the lineup this year.
Anyway, it was an interesting experience. Lots of fun. Those of you not into gaming might be amazed just how many people ARE. The con filled the convention center and spilled over into several ajoining hotel ballrooms and a sports arena.
I stayed the whole 4 days for the first time ever. Actually it was the first time Dale had been to this con at all, so this was even more major for her. We stayed at the Marquette University dorms 3 blocks away. The weather was gorgeous so the short walk made the experience that much nicer.
Thursday we played one of the new superhero games, "Hero, Inc". We were golden age flavor characters in the 1920s busting a speakeasy. The game isn't officially released yet, so we were beta testers of sorts and we just goofed around and had fun with it.
Thursday night and again on Friday we played these home grown White Wolf modules... eh. "Pure" White Wolf storytelling isn't for me. I liked our characters (Dale and I were in all the games together) and some of the concepts, but it put me to sleep.
Friday was more overdosing on vampires, but that turned out to be a good thing. The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG is -awesome-. The system rocks and the book is just too fun to read. We ended up getting it. And Dale role played such a cool Buffy that we got $10 in coupons for it.
Oh yeah ... the exhibit hall. HUGE. I haven't seen SDCC yet, but Wizard World has nothing on the marketing power gathered in that room. If you walk through it and somehow don't end up buying SOMETHING, you are strong willed indeed.
I ended up with a new DC Comics shirt, a t-shirt with a wizard and a dragon, the Rifts Gamemaster Guide, the new Farscape RPG, and a new set of dice (urban cammo... oooo I know yer jealous).
While in there I played a Heroclix demo. ZZZZzzzz.... Can someone PLEASE explain to me how this game is so popular? The miniatures look, eh, well most look like ass. Yet it's still marketed with that wretched "C" word. Limited Edition Captain America and Wolverine go for $25+. The game itself moves sooooooooo slooooooowwww. So what's the allure?
Bah.
We also tried a couple other games. I now understand why people have problems with Palladium. I confirmed that the RPGA completely lives up to its horrible reputation. We left as members of a newer gaming organization called Game Base 7. They were a very cool, laid back bunch who still understood that role playing is supposed to be fun... and we got to spit in the eye of the RPGA.
Star Wars on d20 is a'ight. There's only a couple changes I'd make that are real easy to plug in.
I averaged 5-6 hours sleep over the 4 days. Spent way too much money, but I wouldn't have done anything different. It's definitely something I'd reccomend for gaming fans to do at least once.
Last year in Milwaukee. First time for going all 4 days and entering gaming events. Fun... lots. Money... too much. White Wolf, Heroclix... boring. Buffy... awesome. Farscape... yay! RPGA... evil. Star Wars d20... better than WEG, but... eh.
I've been to GenCon in the past, but the last time was several years back when I used to just drive up there for one day and head home. I live in NW Chicago and it's an hour and a half away in Milwaukee. But this is the last year it will be up there, so I felt obligated to go the whole 9 yards while I still knew I could.
For those wondering what GenCon is, it's the biggest gaming con in the U.S. It's got computer games, card games, board games, strategy games, dice role playing games, and sci-fi and fantasy collectibles
One interesting note about the RPG world is that the superhero genre has a huge presence. New computer games include Freedom Force and the pending City of Heroes online multiplayer. And now there are like 3 new superhero RPGs added to the lineup this year.
Anyway, it was an interesting experience. Lots of fun. Those of you not into gaming might be amazed just how many people ARE. The con filled the convention center and spilled over into several ajoining hotel ballrooms and a sports arena.
I stayed the whole 4 days for the first time ever. Actually it was the first time Dale had been to this con at all, so this was even more major for her. We stayed at the Marquette University dorms 3 blocks away. The weather was gorgeous so the short walk made the experience that much nicer.
Thursday we played one of the new superhero games, "Hero, Inc". We were golden age flavor characters in the 1920s busting a speakeasy. The game isn't officially released yet, so we were beta testers of sorts and we just goofed around and had fun with it.
Thursday night and again on Friday we played these home grown White Wolf modules... eh. "Pure" White Wolf storytelling isn't for me. I liked our characters (Dale and I were in all the games together) and some of the concepts, but it put me to sleep.
Friday was more overdosing on vampires, but that turned out to be a good thing. The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG is -awesome-. The system rocks and the book is just too fun to read. We ended up getting it. And Dale role played such a cool Buffy that we got $10 in coupons for it.
Oh yeah ... the exhibit hall. HUGE. I haven't seen SDCC yet, but Wizard World has nothing on the marketing power gathered in that room. If you walk through it and somehow don't end up buying SOMETHING, you are strong willed indeed.
I ended up with a new DC Comics shirt, a t-shirt with a wizard and a dragon, the Rifts Gamemaster Guide, the new Farscape RPG, and a new set of dice (urban cammo... oooo I know yer jealous).
While in there I played a Heroclix demo. ZZZZzzzz.... Can someone PLEASE explain to me how this game is so popular? The miniatures look, eh, well most look like ass. Yet it's still marketed with that wretched "C" word. Limited Edition Captain America and Wolverine go for $25+. The game itself moves sooooooooo slooooooowwww. So what's the allure?
Bah.
We also tried a couple other games. I now understand why people have problems with Palladium. I confirmed that the RPGA completely lives up to its horrible reputation. We left as members of a newer gaming organization called Game Base 7. They were a very cool, laid back bunch who still understood that role playing is supposed to be fun... and we got to spit in the eye of the RPGA.
Star Wars on d20 is a'ight. There's only a couple changes I'd make that are real easy to plug in.
I averaged 5-6 hours sleep over the 4 days. Spent way too much money, but I wouldn't have done anything different. It's definitely something I'd reccomend for gaming fans to do at least once.