Prepping for GenCon
The GenCon website has kindly informed me that The Best Four Days in Gaming™ begins in seven days.
Here we go....
This will be the kids' first major convention of any sort, and they are REALLY excited for it. Our plan is to drive from North Alabama to Indiana next Thursday afternoon. We'll be staying about 30 minutes outside of Indy, as I prefer to save money on hotels in order to spend more on experiences. The 6+ hour car ride should go by rather quickly, as I've got several books on tape and podcasts that I need to listen to, and the kids are basically professional roadtrippers now. Genevieve tends to snack, nap, and watch movies, in that order. The boys have handheld gaming devices, activity books, travel games, and each other to pass the time.
I've been to a few large gaming conventions, and this will be my second trip to GenCon. As such, I've learned a few things that should make the trip a bit easier.
1. Bring snacks. Nothing that will melt or make a big mess. Proteins will digest more slowly than carbs, so that you can game more before needing to take a dinner break. Nuts and beef jerky are my favorites. Granola bars and trail mix will keep the kids happy and the parents sane.
2. Drink water! Not coffee. Not soft drinks. Not adult beverages. WATER. Some juices are acceptable, but beware of sugar crash. Also, coffee is life, so I'll be drinking it despite my earlier statement.
3. Protect yourself from Con Crud. It is real, folks. Bring your own hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial wipes, especially if you have little ones who like to touch everything.
4. Sleep! Take a nap break, if needed. Sure, you might be able to walk several miles each day and do ALL THE THINGS, but your child needs more rest. Plus, you'll likely be carrying/dragging that child around for some portion of the day, and your back may be aching.
5. Look for parking online. There are many, many places to park around the convention center. Plan ahead so that you're not spending more time than necessary looking for a place to leave your vehicle. Some parking lots have online booking available so that you can print a parking pass and not have to give cash to some guy that is offering you a spot in a dirt lot. Try to find a well-lit parking lot near major streets; it may be much darker when you leave the con than when you arrive. Keep in mind that if you plan on doing any shopping, you may want to return to your vehicle at some point to drop off your purchases.
6. Plan your games and events, but be flexible. Print out a map of the exhibit hall and highlight some of the booths you'd like to stop at. With so many retailers and publishers vying for your attention, I'd suggest a tiered approach to mapping out your con attack plan.
Tier 1: Can't miss! These may be some of your favorite game designers or retailers. Maybe you've arranged to pickup a game from a publisher while onsite. You definitely don't want to forget that! If you've bought tickets to events, games, or anything with a start time, add that to your itinerary. Be sure to allow for plenty of travel time between locations. This con is huge and there will inevitably be thousands of people between you and your destination.
Tier 2: New things. Visiting the publisher of your favorite game might be a high priority, but don't neglect the ones you haven't played yet. Is there a game that you've been itching to play? A limited edition collectible that you've had your eye on? Convention exclusives that are likely to sell out? These are high priority stops, but ones that can be scrapped for time if necessary.
Tier 3: Mildly interesting stuff. Don't get me wrong; I'm amazed by nearly everything at GenCon. At a certain point, my brain will become desensitized to cool things, and only focus on ridiculously amazing things. If something catches your eye, stop and see it...but there is something else even cooler right behind you! Don't spend your valuable time and money on something that you could find at your local gaming store.
Tier 4: There is no fourth tier. If you're not interested in something, just move on to the next awesome thing.
7. Wear comfortable clothing. Dress like you're going hiking, with layers and options. Summer in the Midwest is pretty warm, and while you may not think you need a coat, there's a good chance that you'll be sitting in an air conditioned room at some point. Bring a packable jacket or long-sleeved shirt, just in case. Your shoes should be broken in, but not so worn that your feet will blister from the miles of walking you're about to do.
8. Take time for self-care. If you're not sure how you or your children will react to being large, noisy crowds, put some time aside to recharge your batteries. There are quiet spaces to be found, if needed, but they won't be on any of the convention maps. Keep an eye out for a corner to relax and stretch in while you recharge your biological batteries.
9. Speaking of batteries... Phones and electronics are ubiquitous. If your devices usually run out of juice before the sun goes down, consider bringing a portable battery backup with you. Charging outlets exist at the convention center, but aren't always easy to find.
10. Be kind. There will be lots of humans in attendance. You want to have fun, just like everyone else at the con. Don't ruin the day by being a grump (I'm speaking to myself, here).
11. Have an emergency plan. Take note of the information and security desks, and point them out to your kids. Make sure you have a meetup location, should you become separated from your adventuring party.
If I sat here long enough, I could probably come up with a dozen more con tips. What did I leave out? Comment below if you'd like to share your wisdom.
If you'll be at GenCon and want to say hello to some truly amazing little humans, message us on Twitter (@LBigGames
Here we go....
This will be the kids' first major convention of any sort, and they are REALLY excited for it. Our plan is to drive from North Alabama to Indiana next Thursday afternoon. We'll be staying about 30 minutes outside of Indy, as I prefer to save money on hotels in order to spend more on experiences. The 6+ hour car ride should go by rather quickly, as I've got several books on tape and podcasts that I need to listen to, and the kids are basically professional roadtrippers now. Genevieve tends to snack, nap, and watch movies, in that order. The boys have handheld gaming devices, activity books, travel games, and each other to pass the time.
I've been to a few large gaming conventions, and this will be my second trip to GenCon. As such, I've learned a few things that should make the trip a bit easier.
1. Bring snacks. Nothing that will melt or make a big mess. Proteins will digest more slowly than carbs, so that you can game more before needing to take a dinner break. Nuts and beef jerky are my favorites. Granola bars and trail mix will keep the kids happy and the parents sane.
2. Drink water! Not coffee. Not soft drinks. Not adult beverages. WATER. Some juices are acceptable, but beware of sugar crash. Also, coffee is life, so I'll be drinking it despite my earlier statement.
3. Protect yourself from Con Crud. It is real, folks. Bring your own hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial wipes, especially if you have little ones who like to touch everything.
4. Sleep! Take a nap break, if needed. Sure, you might be able to walk several miles each day and do ALL THE THINGS, but your child needs more rest. Plus, you'll likely be carrying/dragging that child around for some portion of the day, and your back may be aching.
5. Look for parking online. There are many, many places to park around the convention center. Plan ahead so that you're not spending more time than necessary looking for a place to leave your vehicle. Some parking lots have online booking available so that you can print a parking pass and not have to give cash to some guy that is offering you a spot in a dirt lot. Try to find a well-lit parking lot near major streets; it may be much darker when you leave the con than when you arrive. Keep in mind that if you plan on doing any shopping, you may want to return to your vehicle at some point to drop off your purchases.
6. Plan your games and events, but be flexible. Print out a map of the exhibit hall and highlight some of the booths you'd like to stop at. With so many retailers and publishers vying for your attention, I'd suggest a tiered approach to mapping out your con attack plan.
Tier 1: Can't miss! These may be some of your favorite game designers or retailers. Maybe you've arranged to pickup a game from a publisher while onsite. You definitely don't want to forget that! If you've bought tickets to events, games, or anything with a start time, add that to your itinerary. Be sure to allow for plenty of travel time between locations. This con is huge and there will inevitably be thousands of people between you and your destination.
Tier 2: New things. Visiting the publisher of your favorite game might be a high priority, but don't neglect the ones you haven't played yet. Is there a game that you've been itching to play? A limited edition collectible that you've had your eye on? Convention exclusives that are likely to sell out? These are high priority stops, but ones that can be scrapped for time if necessary.
Tier 3: Mildly interesting stuff. Don't get me wrong; I'm amazed by nearly everything at GenCon. At a certain point, my brain will become desensitized to cool things, and only focus on ridiculously amazing things. If something catches your eye, stop and see it...but there is something else even cooler right behind you! Don't spend your valuable time and money on something that you could find at your local gaming store.
Tier 4: There is no fourth tier. If you're not interested in something, just move on to the next awesome thing.
7. Wear comfortable clothing. Dress like you're going hiking, with layers and options. Summer in the Midwest is pretty warm, and while you may not think you need a coat, there's a good chance that you'll be sitting in an air conditioned room at some point. Bring a packable jacket or long-sleeved shirt, just in case. Your shoes should be broken in, but not so worn that your feet will blister from the miles of walking you're about to do.
8. Take time for self-care. If you're not sure how you or your children will react to being large, noisy crowds, put some time aside to recharge your batteries. There are quiet spaces to be found, if needed, but they won't be on any of the convention maps. Keep an eye out for a corner to relax and stretch in while you recharge your biological batteries.
9. Speaking of batteries... Phones and electronics are ubiquitous. If your devices usually run out of juice before the sun goes down, consider bringing a portable battery backup with you. Charging outlets exist at the convention center, but aren't always easy to find.
10. Be kind. There will be lots of humans in attendance. You want to have fun, just like everyone else at the con. Don't ruin the day by being a grump (I'm speaking to myself, here).
11. Have an emergency plan. Take note of the information and security desks, and point them out to your kids. Make sure you have a meetup location, should you become separated from your adventuring party.
If I sat here long enough, I could probably come up with a dozen more con tips. What did I leave out? Comment below if you'd like to share your wisdom.
If you'll be at GenCon and want to say hello to some truly amazing little humans, message us on Twitter (@LBigGames
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