D&D General Who’s going to GaryCon? Ticket sales are live

[Retreater]

I am going to Adepticon which moved to Milwaukee this year. I was thinking maybe taking a week from work and doing Gary con too, but folks are not making it sound very nice here.

I've had a good time at GaryCon each time I've been.
It's a smaller convention. The dealer hall isn't nearly as immense as GenCon (or Origins, even). The amount of games isn't huge, and it's mostly focused on older games (or OSR-style.)
But it feels like a family reunion with the cousins you used to play D&D with. It's self-contained within the resort (unless you want to visit the historic sites). Servers will bring you beer to your gaming tables.

 

[Birmy]

I am going to Adepticon which moved to Milwaukee this year. I was thinking maybe taking a week from work and doing Gary con too, but folks are not making it sound very nice here.

I'm actually a big fan, but I think it's going through some growing pains. It's well worth attending, particularly if you're fond of earlier editions/OSR stuff.

 

[Clint_L]

Not going to Gary Con, but I am going to my first ever Gen Con next summer, so pretty excited about that. My childhood bestie and I have talked about it since we were 12.

 

[Velderan]

I've had a good time at GaryCon each time I've been.
It's a smaller convention. The dealer hall isn't nearly as immense as GenCon (or Origins, even). The amount of games isn't huge, and it's mostly focused on older games (or OSR-style.)
But it feels like a family reunion with the cousins you used to play D&D with. It's self-contained within the resort (unless you want to visit the historic sites). Servers will bring you beer to your gaming tables.

So is the dealer hall where the crowds tend to be for these types of cons? I've never been to one and each year I debate going to one and like @payn I usually finds enough posts mentioning how crowded they are to talk me out of it.

 

[Retreater]

So is the dealer hall where the crowds tend to be for these types of cons? I've never been to one and each year I debate going to one and like @payn I usually finds enough posts mentioning how crowded they are to talk me out of it.

I don't recall the dealer hall being especially crowded when I went in 2022 and 2023 (I had to miss this year). It was just "regular crowded" - like you could walk around and browse everything okay.
There are places that do get crowded. For example, the hotel bar after all the events for the day end.
Throughout the days, most of the attendees seem to be in different meeting rooms, playing games at their tables with 5 or so other people.
It's a fraction of a fraction of the people who go to the major cons.

 

[payn]

I don't recall the dealer hall being especially crowded when I went in 2022 and 2023 (I had to miss this year). It was just "regular crowded" - like you could walk around and browse everything okay.
There are places that do get crowded. For example, the hotel bar after all the events for the day end.
Throughout the days, most of the attendees seem to be in different meeting rooms, playing games at their tables with 5 or so other people.
It's a fraction of a fraction of the people who go to the major cons.

You've mentioned poor attendance of games, and even bad games you've packed up and walked from. Is that something that happens at Garycon for you?

 

[Myrdin Potter]

I got my gold badge and will be there again next year. I did not find last year overly crowded.

I did not get sick and nmost nof my group of friends did not. A few did, flu or covid, but that is a risk at any larger event in enclosed spaces. I wash my hands a lot, so that may have helped or I was just lucky.

Had a good time at the games I went to. ran into zero attitude/ego.

 

[Retreater]

You've mentioned poor attendance of games, and even bad games you've packed up and walked from. Is that something that happens at Garycon for you?

I don't know if I'd say that there's a marked quality difference between games I've attended at GaryCon, GenCon, Origins, and PaizoCon Online. I've had good games and "less than great" at each event.
I had my bad DCC funnel experience at GaryCon as well as a bad Birthright game that was a bait and switch to a PvP. Only left the Birthright game.
I've left more at GenCon, but also have attended many more GenCons.
I think the primary difference is that there's not as much competition for your time at GaryCon. It's not like going to the dealer hall is the same experience as it is at GenCon. Or having boardgame freeplay rooms. Or designers to visit.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

BTW - I someone wanted to "friend" me on the TTE site, PM me and I will send you my name so you can find me.

 

[payn]

I don't know if I'd say that there's a marked quality difference between games I've attended at GaryCon, GenCon, Origins, and PaizoCon Online. I've had good games and "less than great" at each event.
I had my bad DCC funnel experience at GaryCon as well as a bad Birthright game that was a bait and switch to a PvP. Only left the Birthright game.
I've left more at GenCon, but also have attended many more GenCons.
I think the primary difference is that there's not as much competition for your time at GaryCon. It's not like going to the dealer hall is the same experience as it is at GenCon. Or having boardgame freeplay rooms. Or designers to visit.

Oh thats too bad I love Birthright!

Thanks for the notes.