GaryCon XV; March 23-26, 2023

[Necron 99]

Looks like some of the con schedule is posted to the GC website. Once again, my b-day falls right in the middle of the con.

Badge Purchase: July (date TBD)
Hotel Reservations: Open Thu. Sep 1st, 9am CST
Badge Refund Deadline: Sat. Dec 31st, midnight CST

Event Submission Begins: July (date TBD)
Event Submission Ends: Sat. Dec 31st, midnight CST (or until space for events runs out)

Gold Badge Event Registration: Saturday, February 18th, noon Central
Silver Badge Event Registration: Saturday, February 25th, noon Central

[Ancalagon]

Based off of the lame events offered at Origins this year, unless NTX blows our socks off, we might have to reconsider Gary Con for 2023.

[Necron 99]

Based off of the lame events offered at Origins this year, unless NTX blows our socks off, we might have to reconsider Gary Con for 2023.

Yeah, I agree, already have gears turning on this one. Something that hit me after I posted this info, GaryCon is at least, capped, much less than Origins is for attendance. Gold badges, while expensive, still offer a good chance of getting into an event, unlike Origins which it's every man/woman for themselves when it comes time to register for events and if one's are of particular interest and only offered once in the entire lineup over the course of 5 days, then, well, it's like playing the lottery.

With GC, there are much more folks attending than prior years, but assuming one can get a hotel room in the lodge, and if wanted, gets a Gold badge, then lining up events isn't that bad. Plus Luke and Co do holdout events for each tier, so even Silvers get a chance to register for an event.

The weather can be cold that time of the year, and it sucks to have to get a rental car (normally) and do the extra drive, but, here's the kicker, I'm thinking next year of driving up instead of flying. I can take two extra days off from work for travel. Quinn could meet me and leave his car at my sister's up in Kennesaw, up in N Ga, then the two of us could either spend the night there, or continue driving up until we get tired and grab a cheap room. Wed head the rest of the way up and stop at the Chicago airport to pick you up, then we drive on up to LG. No cost for rental car, just cost of gas and food, much cheaper than rental, plus I'll saving on airfare. Usually airfare for Quinn and I costs $700-800, even at current gas prices (which costs me about $50 for a full tank), it's still only about the price of one airline ticket, round trip in gas.

(Admittedly, the idea for the road trip hit me after reading Steve's own road trip tale to Maine)

On the upside for the con, we KNOW there will be plenty of old-school gaming to be had, much more than any other convention aside from maybe NTRPG, plus, to be fair, I wouldn't even be able to attend NT again until 2025 since that's when it doesn't fall on the weekend of my daughter's Bday. And I like that the Troll and Goodman Games all attend, plus other TSR/OSR related folks. Sure, WotC and 5e but that's what Quinn plays, so I know he would enjoy sessions there.

All in all, if we want to do some in-person convention gaming, I think GaryCon is our place to be.

[Ancalagon]

If we hit GC in 2023, I'd like to arrive on Wednesday as usual and depart on Monday like we did back in '19. Playing games on Sunday with fewer people in the Grand Geneva, more space, and less noise was pretty kewl. Jus' sayin'.

[Necron 99]

Yeah, I'd be down for that.

[Ancalagon]

Dammit!
Dammit!!
Dammit!!!

The Watcher in the Water should be munching on Fellowship members right now!!!

[Ancalagon]

I know its WAAAAAAY early.... but right now I'm thinking about signing up for Metal, Magic & Lore (MML) if its offered and/or some HackMaster 5e to play at the next GC. This is absolutely subject to change based on my whims and what is offered on the events page.

[Necron 99]

Yeah, we'll have to see what's offered next year. Quinn has played MM&L, but I still haven't given it a try. HM5e, i wasn't super impressed with as a con game the last time I tried it out, purely because the table seemed to have veteran players and it didn't feel too accommodating to first time players.

I was actually thinking about event registration opening up in July and thought I would start fleshing out current adventure concepts and coming up with some new ones for whichever system seems to best fit. Free RPG day is coming up in a couple weeks, I'm thinking of running something at the local game shop, then again either run or play in something on DCC Day in July, too.

I may try my hand at some of the Legends of Wargaming events offered, the last one I played in was back in 2016 when I played in the Chainmail, Moathouse, game that Paul runs. Loved playing the druid and calling lighting down on the towers, seeing them get smote and destroyed was awesome. And if some of the same old TSR board games are offered, I want to give those a try too.

One downside I though of though, in regards to me driving up, is that I forgot that I have the airline credit for the canceled flight, which is only good until April of next year, so I would have to use it or lose it before then, which means either Quinn and I fly up and we get a rental like usual, or I fly Quinn up, then drive up myself, which is an option too. That way he can fly back and not have to miss any extra days from work, unless he wants to, then I can just drive back down. I should have plenty of time off by then.

I'll have to chat with him and see what he wants to do.

[Ancalagon]

Yeah, we'll have to see what's offered next year. Quinn has played MM&L, but I still haven't given it a try. HM5e, i wasn't super impressed with as a con game the last time I tried it out, purely because the table seemed to have veteran players and it didn't feel too accommodating to first time players.

I think I was in that game with you... not the best scenario I've played at a con.

I was actually thinking about event registration opening up in July and thought I would start fleshing out current adventure concepts and coming up with some new ones for whichever system seems to best fit. Free RPG day is coming up in a couple weeks, I'm thinking of running something at the local game shop, then again either run or play in something on DCC Day in July, too.

I may try my hand at some of the Legends of Wargaming events offered, the last one I played in was back in 2016 when I played in the Chainmail, Moathouse, game that Paul runs. Loved playing the druid and calling lighting down on the towers, seeing them get smote and destroyed was awesome. And if some of the same old TSR board games are offered, I want to give those a try too.

The only issue I had with the Chainmail Moathouse game is that it moved sooooo slowly. Heh.

One downside I though of though, in regards to me driving up, is that I forgot that I have the airline credit for the canceled flight, which is only good until April of next year, so I would have to use it or lose it before then, which means either Quinn and I fly up and we get a rental like usual, or I fly Quinn up, then drive up myself, which is an option too. That way he can fly back and not have to miss any extra days from work, unless he wants to, then I can just drive back down. I should have plenty of time off by then.

I'll have to chat with him and see what he wants to do.

Yeah, man - don't lose that credit! Unless something comes up before then, I'll definitely use my credit for GC 2023. I might have enough credit for a 1st class flight.

[Necron 99]

Luke posted to the GaryCon FB group:

Badge Sales and Event Submission Opens: July 30th