GaryCon 2024 Pics

[Necron 99]

Saw a couple pics from the con, aside from Chuck running a C&C game, I also noticed someone took a pic of the bar areas, and low and behold, I see 5 jokers standing around the piano, that I already miss seeing.

Heard from Quinn on Wednesday, they had to cancel the trip, apparently his friend had some family issues come up so they could get up there. Bummer, but I mentioned that we were thinking of trying out Origins next year.

[Ancalagon]

Saw a couple pics from the con, aside from Chuck running a C&C game, I also noticed someone took a pic of the bar areas, and low and behold, I see 5 jokers standing around the piano, that I already miss seeing.

Heard from Quinn on Wednesday, they had to cancel the trip, apparently his friend had some family issues come up so they could get up there. Bummer, but I mentioned that we were thinking of trying out Origins next year.

Hopefully Q was able to sell his badge to someone and not just be left hanging.

[Ancalagon]

Not pic related but still about Gary Con '24. Looks like the noise levels in some rooms is becoming a problem according to some FB posters. One guy posted "I saw more than 1 DM using a voice projector this year .. I might need one just for reasons ..."

Another reason I'm glad I didn't go. I don't like having to shout when running my games.

If people are having to use voice projectors, you've got too many people in an area. I had to raise / project my voice last year running Into the Mines of Moria.

Another poster said that at the "dead dog" party, Luke stated attendance was 3,700. That's crazy. It was too crowded when it was at 2,900 a few years ago. GC needs to reduce head count if they want to stay comfortably in the Grand Geneva.

[Necron 99]

Another poster said that at the "dead dog" party, Luke stated attendance was 3,700. That's crazy. It was too crowded when it was at 2,900 a few years ago. GC needs to reduce head count if they want to stay comfortably in the Grand Geneva.

Yes, it looked like the F&L event was much more enjoyable for an experience than what was going on with the full-blown GC event. While I would prefer less than 2k, I'd settle for between 2k and 2500 as an ideal number. Ah well, this year might have been an anomaly for attendance due to the 50th, however, if it does continue to grow, the venue will not sustain the growth.

With the success it has achieved from so many new attendees, I don't see any reduction coming; I feel like it will continue to grow. I would be much more tempted to attend again if they moved the event to a convention center or someplace accessible from multiple hotels, less fighting for rooms and parking.

[Ancalagon]

Saw another poster put up this, "The Flu type A and strep throat was going around."

Let's seeeee. Overcrowding in confined spaces. Pretty likely that some folks arrived already sick (I've seen it before at multiple cons). Seems like a good recipe to whip up the high rate of con crud that folks are reporting after the recent GaryCon. I've no desire to be in that environment and catch the crud and bring it home to my Better Half.

[Necron 99]

Saw another poster put up this, "The Flu type A and strep throat was going around."

Let's seeeee. Overcrowding in confined spaces. Pretty likely that some folks arrived already sick (I've seen it before at multiple cons). Seems like a good recipe to whip up the high rate of con crud that folks are reporting after the recent GaryCon. I've no desire to be in that environment and catch the crud and bring it home to my Better Half.

I think we definitely dodged a bullet this year. I saw multiple posts about con crud in addition to positive Covid testing. Hopefully nothing serious for folks, but glad to have avoided it, all together.

Mythic Charlotte, with it's 700-800 attendee group is sounding more and more appealing.

[Ancalagon]

Saw another poster put up this, "The Flu type A and strep throat was going around."

Let's seeeee. Overcrowding in confined spaces. Pretty likely that some folks arrived already sick (I've seen it before at multiple cons). Seems like a good recipe to whip up the high rate of con crud that folks are reporting after the recent GaryCon. I've no desire to be in that environment and catch the crud and bring it home to my Better Half.

I think we definitely dodged a bullet this year. I saw multiple posts about con crud in addition to positive Covid testing. Hopefully nothing serious for folks, but glad to have avoided it, all together.

Haven't seen any posts yet about Covid but it doesn't surprise me. It's part of the new norm and I'm glad to not have been part of it.

Mythic Charlotte, with it's 700-800 attendee group is sounding more and more appealing.

It definitely does... especially if the timing can work out... And MC West 2025 / Origins is sounding like a viable option to the GaryCon petri dish.

[Necron 99]

It definitely does... especially if the timing can work out... And MC West 2025 / Origins is sounding like a viable option to the GaryCon petri dish.

Was reading through posts from the Origins FB group. Apparently they're having around 16-18k in attendance, not sure it's going to be easy to avoid the crud and covid with numbers like those.

[Ancalagon]

It definitely does... especially if the timing can work out... And MC West 2025 / Origins is sounding like a viable option to the GaryCon petri dish.

Was reading through posts from the Origins FB group. Apparently they're having around 16-18k in attendance, not sure it's going to be easy to avoid the crud and covid with numbers like those.

The Columbus Convention Center is enormous... but that's still a lot of people walking to-and-fro. One thing on the plus side is that Origins occurs in June (i.e. outside the regular cold and flu season) but the number of people is still something to take into consideration. As much as I like the idea of hitting Origins again, I have to be mindful of Con Crud so as to not bring it back home and pass it along to the Better Half.

Maybe the 2 Mythic Cons and NTXRPG with the lower head counts (by not actively trying to cram as many people as possible into the venue like sardines) and focus on GAMES, not movie and TV celebrities, cosplay exhibitionists, costume contests, DJs playing music, and other circus-like activities will be the way to go for me.

EDIT: Holy Nurgle, Batman! Just popped over to the GaryCon FB page and the number of people posting about developing illness (bronchitis, colds, Covid, flu, nosebleeds, strep, you name it) is growing fast. IMO, overselling and cramming 3.700+ people into a place the size of the Grand Geneva was an unhealthy idea. Heh.

But seriously, since we first attended GC in 2015 with about 750 people, it has outgrown 2 venues with no hints of reducing / capping badges. If that ends up being the way ahead for GC then Luke and Co. are setting the stage for repeating the intense con crud happening now. That is, IMO, irresponsible. I know it is ultimately each person's decision to attend and accept the risk, but as much as I love gaming, I hate being sick more. Unless something changes, that's the nail in the coffin and I'm done with Gary Con.

[Necron 99]

Unless something changes, that's the nail in the coffin and I'm done with Gary Con.

Agreed. I really think Luke has only two options to improve the convention, reduce and cap the attendance by at minimum, 1k badges if not more and stay at the current venue, or move the convention to either a convention center in LG or move all together to another city that can accommodate larger attendance. Staying where they are with current attendance, will just be poor management.

As for options, if Origins is a no go due to size and possible outbreaks, then for me, Mythic is the easiest choice to make, NTRPG will continue to be a crap shoot because of the timing in conjunction with Em's bday. There are some local cons here around JAX, Savannah, and St. Augustine that I have still not attended, may try and hit up a few to see how they run this year. I imagine they are probably smaller than Mythic West.

I thought Orlando had one or two, even one dedicated to old-school gaming, GrogCon, maybe? May have to look into that too, only a 2.5 hour drive down there and the girls could always spend time at Disney while I'm gaming so it might be a win-win. For now, Mythic Charlotte and maybe West again next year, will be my most probable.