Fun at Gencon Oz

Posts: 581 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:51 am

Hi All,

Just got back from the first Gencon in Australia, and (i think) it was fantastic.

There were some minor teething issues around the various game organizers (DMs) and Exhibitors initially not being able to get into the hall until the actual opening times (which set a lot of the games back). They eventually got things sorted as the Con progressed, but apart from that everything seemed to flow nicely from my point of view.

Met heaps of great people (actually managed to have some items autographed + photo with Tracy and Laura Hickman Cool

). The Hickmans also held their 'Killer Breakfast' on the Saturday morning which really set the stage for the day.

Played some great games, including some that I normally wouldn't have looked at.

The RPGA were wrapping up the Forgotten Realms in preparation for it's next evolution, so I was only able to get into the dungeon delves and the 3 intro games of 4th Edition, which included a Return to the Moathouse (from original T1).

I'll definitely need some intensive therapy to draw me back from the dark side (4th edition), as I ended up playing about 16hrs of it over the last few days Shocked

I was lucky enough to get into the only scheduled session of OD&D with a great group of people and a fantastic DM who ran us through B2 on Saturday afternoon. Made the week as far as I was concerned - 4 hours of bliss!!

Posts: 7612 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:02 am

glad you enjoyed it bren, cos i know how much you really were looking forward to it - so are they planning doing it all over again?

things going well, i will be coming back to oz before long. maybe next time, i could wing it around the same time!!

so gaming aside, what stuff did you manage to get your hands on?

Al

Posts: 995 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:27 am

Great to hear some news from Gencon Oz and that it was worthwhile. In the end my own family and university commitments prevented me from going. Anyway, one day I'll get to go to a Gencon.

Post some pics!

Posts: 581 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:39 am

I think they have the licence for the next 2-3 years for the Gencon franchise here so it should be on at least that long.

I took some photos and I'll see if I can Photobucket them and put up links for everyone to see. I've got a bit of catch up to do so it may be a few days.

The trade hall wasn't anywhere as big as I'm expecting Indy to be, and no auctions! Shocked

(I am not including where one of the staffs 'raffled off a few posters)

Ended up with quite a bit of free stuff:
lots of minis,
-a few cool looking posters from some of the stalls,
-about 2 inches worth of paperwork from one of the DMS who ran 4th edition (& relaunch of Forgotten Realms) So far it has contained a complete copy of the preview delves The Blackdread Caverns, and a copy of the Return to the Moathouse (based on T1)
-autographs from Laura and Tracy Hickman (plus the obligatory photo Cool

)
- and some autographed artwork from Stewart McKenny who does some pretty cool illustrations of Dr Who and Battlestar Gallactica characters (amongst others)
- I have a few extra copies of the Official Program (3) if anyone wants me to bring any too.
- a copy of BH3 and OA5 were about the only mods I could see from the only reseller booth there (both mine on the first day and only few dollars each)

Al, be great if we can tee it up for next year.

Posts: 581 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:18 am

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:21 am

Looks like a much more friendly GenCon -- more room to walk around, and less crowded. Also, with all those Aussie babes... mmmm. Sorry. Back to looking at Darth Vader.

Posts: 581 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:32 am

You just have to wear sunblock 30,000+ when you have your Borat on Laughing

Posts: 7612 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:49 am

looked a little "empty" for my liking, but i am sure still good fun. prb more for playing some games really, than buying stuff i would imagine?

Al

Posts: 581 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:53 am

You only really needed an hour and you pretty much had seen everything there was to see in the trade hall unfortunately.

The up side was there were too many games to play. I couldn't cover all the ones I wanted to in the 4 days. Sad

Posts: 2559 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:03 pm

AdderMcOne wrote:

You only really needed an hour and you pretty much had seen everything there was to see in the trade hall unfortunately.

The up side was there were too many games to play. I couldn't cover all the ones I wanted to in the 4 days. Sad

GenCon Indy is kinda like Disneyworld. It will probably take you at least three or four days just to see everything. Cool