Ranis
2007-08-13, 09:48 AM
I am happy to bring you the unabridged GenCon Survival Guide for those of you whom may not know quite what to expect at GenCon this year or how to prepare.
GenCon Survival Guide
The absolute most important thing you need to remember about bringing or preparing ANYTHING to GenCon is that is can and will get stolen if you do not have it on your person in some way shape or form.
Some general tips for keeping your things safe:
Guys:
You wear a wallet. I know you do. During GenCon you may want to put your wallet in one of your front pockets.
If you don't want to do that, then I suggest wearing pants that have some kind of button in the back of them that twist or snap in place.
Check your wallet often. Every five minutes, if it makes you feel better. Just continually make sure that it's there over the course of your GenCon experience.
Gals:
DO NOT BRING A PURSE TO GENCON. IT WILL GET STOLEN.
From what I've seen, you all have wallet-esque things in there anyway. Bring those if you can.
If not, it just might be a superb idea to go spend ten bucks and get a man-wallet.
In General:
If you bring a bag with you, make sure that it is distinctive enough that you can easily tell the difference between yours and Smelly Star Wars Nerd In His 40s B's. Con artists are extremely crafty.
Carry emergency money in a different part of your person just in case of the unfortunate event of your primary location of money getting stolen or going AWOL. Carry it in your shoe. Duct-tape it to your chest. Ladies, you have special hiding places.
Take everything at face value if you are not a good immediate judge of character.
Ladies, do NOT, under any circumstances, walk alone. Walk with a friend at all times. Being independent isn't worth making yourself vulnerable to these closet nerds who probably only see women that openly like the same things they do four days per year.
Bags
It is highly recommended that you bring a bag with you in which you will put the things you buy or get for free. It is not suggested that you bring a backpack, for two reasons. One, it is easy to nab something out of a backpack when it's wearer is standing still. Two, it can be killer on your back when that sucker gets heavy. I'll be wearing my messenger bag, personally, plenty of room in it and it doesn't get cluttered; though what you bring is your choice. Just let it be known that you will get a crapload of free stuff, especially on the first day, and you'll need somewhere to put it. What I always do is get one of those large plastic GenCon bags and put all of my free crap in it, and don't guard it as closely as my messenger bag. That way, if it gets stolen, oh crap it was free stuff anyway.
Bring anything that you plan on using for events that you plan on attending. For D&D players, this means the PHB, any splat books you intend on bringing, dice, several pencils, and if you're like me, a calculator.
For card games, let it be known that if you bring your entire collection with you to GenCon, you have basically painted a giant bullseye on your chest for those folk who would and are very good at taking your things. I suggest just bringing a few decks that you plan on using that day, and rotating across the days if you want.
If you would set your bag down to participate in a demo, or anything for that matter, put the bag in between your feet slightly in front of you, under the table slightly if possible, but keep it in between your legs. This will help create the illusion that you don't have anything that anyone can easily pilfer.
Valuables
The most valuable thing that I would ever recommend bringing to GenCon is a camera. Unless you are participating in a miniatures event, in which case you'll be guarding your mini's case like a guard dog anyway, bringing anything of significant personal or monetary value just simply isn't a good idea.
Food
It is a good idea to bring munchies with you, because by the time you may get hungry for lunch, it just might be 5PM. Bring foods that are good at supplying energy but will not make you crash; aka bringing candy and soda isn't recommended. I suggest bringing granola bars, trail mix :thumbsup:, and an energy drink such as Gatorade. Bringing munchies like this is a good way to keep your energy level up so you can enjoy the convention without burning out and needing to spend that time to go and do something as trivial and human as eating. Something substantial, that is.
Money
Bring an appropriate amount of money to keep your wallet happy with the things that you will be doing event-wise.
Your average D&D event lasts two to four hours and will run you twelve to fifteen dollars.
Your average drafting event(for just about anything, MTG, YGO, Minis) will run you twelve to fifteen dollars and will last anywhere from thirty minutes to upwards past two hours.
There are also several shows at GenCon, some free and some cost to get in. Their prices vary.
{If I left anything out of the prices-for-events list, let me know and I'll fill it in.)
General Tips
Listen to your body. It is easy to get swept up in all of the awesomeness that is GenCon, but holding it in just isn't healthy.
It's estimated that over $300,000 worth of stuff is stolen at GenCon each year. Take the appropriate measure that yours doesn't become a part of that number.
Don't make fun of the uber-nerds. It's not nice. Plus that little guy is scary when he gets fifty of his friends over with him with that walkie-talkie on his waist.
It is a good idea to do periodic checks of everything on your person throughout the day just to make sure it's there. Remember what you brought that day and check accordingly.
If you are cosplaying on Saturday, you may want to bring less to carry with you than you do on any of the other days. It makes it easier when you keep getting swamped by people who want their picture with you and you have to keep setting your stuff down each time to do it.
Following just a few of these helpful suggestions can help your GenCon experience go over that much more smoothly. Enjoy!
GenCon Survival Guide
The absolute most important thing you need to remember about bringing or preparing ANYTHING to GenCon is that is can and will get stolen if you do not have it on your person in some way shape or form.
Some general tips for keeping your things safe:
Guys:
You wear a wallet. I know you do. During GenCon you may want to put your wallet in one of your front pockets.
If you don't want to do that, then I suggest wearing pants that have some kind of button in the back of them that twist or snap in place.
Check your wallet often. Every five minutes, if it makes you feel better. Just continually make sure that it's there over the course of your GenCon experience.
Gals:
DO NOT BRING A PURSE TO GENCON. IT WILL GET STOLEN.
From what I've seen, you all have wallet-esque things in there anyway. Bring those if you can.
If not, it just might be a superb idea to go spend ten bucks and get a man-wallet.
In General:
If you bring a bag with you, make sure that it is distinctive enough that you can easily tell the difference between yours and Smelly Star Wars Nerd In His 40s B's. Con artists are extremely crafty.
Carry emergency money in a different part of your person just in case of the unfortunate event of your primary location of money getting stolen or going AWOL. Carry it in your shoe. Duct-tape it to your chest. Ladies, you have special hiding places.
Take everything at face value if you are not a good immediate judge of character.
Ladies, do NOT, under any circumstances, walk alone. Walk with a friend at all times. Being independent isn't worth making yourself vulnerable to these closet nerds who probably only see women that openly like the same things they do four days per year.
Bags
It is highly recommended that you bring a bag with you in which you will put the things you buy or get for free. It is not suggested that you bring a backpack, for two reasons. One, it is easy to nab something out of a backpack when it's wearer is standing still. Two, it can be killer on your back when that sucker gets heavy. I'll be wearing my messenger bag, personally, plenty of room in it and it doesn't get cluttered; though what you bring is your choice. Just let it be known that you will get a crapload of free stuff, especially on the first day, and you'll need somewhere to put it. What I always do is get one of those large plastic GenCon bags and put all of my free crap in it, and don't guard it as closely as my messenger bag. That way, if it gets stolen, oh crap it was free stuff anyway.
Bring anything that you plan on using for events that you plan on attending. For D&D players, this means the PHB, any splat books you intend on bringing, dice, several pencils, and if you're like me, a calculator.
For card games, let it be known that if you bring your entire collection with you to GenCon, you have basically painted a giant bullseye on your chest for those folk who would and are very good at taking your things. I suggest just bringing a few decks that you plan on using that day, and rotating across the days if you want.
If you would set your bag down to participate in a demo, or anything for that matter, put the bag in between your feet slightly in front of you, under the table slightly if possible, but keep it in between your legs. This will help create the illusion that you don't have anything that anyone can easily pilfer.
Valuables
The most valuable thing that I would ever recommend bringing to GenCon is a camera. Unless you are participating in a miniatures event, in which case you'll be guarding your mini's case like a guard dog anyway, bringing anything of significant personal or monetary value just simply isn't a good idea.
Food
It is a good idea to bring munchies with you, because by the time you may get hungry for lunch, it just might be 5PM. Bring foods that are good at supplying energy but will not make you crash; aka bringing candy and soda isn't recommended. I suggest bringing granola bars, trail mix :thumbsup:, and an energy drink such as Gatorade. Bringing munchies like this is a good way to keep your energy level up so you can enjoy the convention without burning out and needing to spend that time to go and do something as trivial and human as eating. Something substantial, that is.
Money
Bring an appropriate amount of money to keep your wallet happy with the things that you will be doing event-wise.
Your average D&D event lasts two to four hours and will run you twelve to fifteen dollars.
Your average drafting event(for just about anything, MTG, YGO, Minis) will run you twelve to fifteen dollars and will last anywhere from thirty minutes to upwards past two hours.
There are also several shows at GenCon, some free and some cost to get in. Their prices vary.
{If I left anything out of the prices-for-events list, let me know and I'll fill it in.)
General Tips
Listen to your body. It is easy to get swept up in all of the awesomeness that is GenCon, but holding it in just isn't healthy.
It's estimated that over $300,000 worth of stuff is stolen at GenCon each year. Take the appropriate measure that yours doesn't become a part of that number.
Don't make fun of the uber-nerds. It's not nice. Plus that little guy is scary when he gets fifty of his friends over with him with that walkie-talkie on his waist.
It is a good idea to do periodic checks of everything on your person throughout the day just to make sure it's there. Remember what you brought that day and check accordingly.
If you are cosplaying on Saturday, you may want to bring less to carry with you than you do on any of the other days. It makes it easier when you keep getting swamped by people who want their picture with you and you have to keep setting your stuff down each time to do it.
Following just a few of these helpful suggestions can help your GenCon experience go over that much more smoothly. Enjoy!