A new Gen Con is Upon Us
Gencon. The years pass, but the thrill remains the same. As Wednesday evening falls, the stream of geeks and gamers becomes a rushing river. This year, Gencon had over 71,000 registered attendees. We descend upon the city, bringing a vibe and energy to the entire downtown that can only be cultivated when so many birds of a feather are flocking.
Despite the homeyness and camaraderie that makes the city feel like a familiar home year after year, I was once again amazed by how completely different each and every Gencon you attend can be. From event exclusive food and drink options to an entire section of the convention devoted solely to writing, it’s truly impossible for you to have the same con twice.
My convention actually kicked off on Wednesday, as Gencon oh so slowly begins its methodical takeover plan to become the Best Week in Gaming. I joke, for now, but one can dream. I started off with a quick stop at The Stink. Despite the alarming nature of the name, which was given tongue in cheek as a nod to a large group of gamers together, The Stink is actually a fantastic resource for new and veteran attendees. There are tables for open gaming, some prizes and group games, and a row of community projects such as a Gaymer/Pride and Fans of Gencon tables. Fans of Gencon is an unofficial Facebook group that numbers in the tens of thousands for membership. Through there I feel like I have a handle on the convention. Truly, without it, I am unsure how one could keep up with essential dates like hotel bookings, how to sign up for all these amazing events, and countless things I didn’t even know I needed to know before I showed for my first year, and every year since. Having a physical presence at The Stink for new members is a fantastic way to ease them into the Chaotic Good world that is Gencon!
For the first time this year, after the Stink, I dropped in on the renowned Block Party that also begins on Wednesday. Food trucks are a highly anticipated part of the convention for many, and Gencon kicks things off early so you can enjoy even more variety. After a quick patrol around the stations, I felt a bit daring and tried a Gencon exclusive drink. It was a wine from a local vineyard, and was called “Dragon Dew”, which I picked over “Code Rose”. If you guessed this wine crafted specifically for a convention of gamers would be modeled after Mt. Dew, allow me to confirm that suspicion. I will admit a slight nervousness to taste it. I wasn’t quite convinced it would translate.
It was… both exactly like Mt. Dew and nothing at exactly the same time. As I tasted it, I was hit with a very sweet and mild flavor. I would call the flavor closer to some sort of melon, perhaps. As I finished the taste, the flavor shifted briefly to assure me my beverage was indeed alcoholic and finished with a hit of artificiality you can’t claim is unlike Mt. Dew. Somehow, the finishing notes managed to capture the exact essence of Mt. Dew despite a difference in the flavor. I would have to classify if as an unsettling success, and I drank the whole thing.
Pickled Goblin at Harry & Izzy’s is Delicious!
Later at the convention I tried Gencon’s other exclusive, a partnership with a famous local restaurant, Harry and Izzy’s, to bring you what they called The Pickled Goblin. Consisting of Angus steakburger meat, special house seasoning, American cheese, crispy pickle chips, and bacon ranch on brioche bun, for me it was the clear winner of Gencon exclusive consumables. All the flavors blended together incredibly well, and that may have been the best crispy pickle I’ve ever had.
As a foodie, the offerings are a large part of my experience at Gencon, and yet barely a blip in the con as a whole. This year, I had a whole different convention as I spent a large chunk of my time having events in a section called the Writers Symposium. Every year Gencon hosts authors and other experts in fields related to all aspects of writing, whether for helping with building that perfect campaign or the novel that’s been living in your head for the last fifteen years. Yeah, that one. I attended lecture after lecture about how more effectively wield dialogue, plot that story line, leaving hints and clues, and more. It was incredibly energizing and I feel like I learned so much.
There were a lot of ways Gencon was different this year. But of course, never the same Gencon doesn’t mean nothing is the same! After a year or two of Gencon, most people begin to have traditions that make a part of their essential con experience. For some it’s communal projects like Cardhalla, a collaborative card tower building project. For others it’s the cosplay, or the musicians belting out geekery as you roam the halls. You could make an entire convention of the Vendor’s Hall alone with the sheer scope of it.
I have two traditions. Officially making the “tradition” list this year is taking a ballroom dance class. Last year I learned the basics of the Viennese Waltz. As someone with two left feet and always seems a step behind when it comes to learning dances, I was impressed I was indeed teachable. I enjoyed it so much, I took Salsa dance lessons this year! Perhaps it’ll be the Polka next year.
My first and best tradition, of course, is a game. Gencon wouldn’t be complete without a TTRPG run by my favorite crew, The Critshow. They run a system called Monster of the Week. It’s a very simple story driven game. It’s incredibly easy to learn, and their one shot campaigns are perfect for the fans of supernatural horror with of course, some fun. It’s the perfect introduction to tabletop role playing games, and not an event I can ever get tired of.
As you can see, there’s no end to the variety of Gencons you can have. There’s parts of the con I will never engage with, like miniatures and tournaments. There’s an event that’s pedaling a trolley through downtown while drinking beer and singing. There’s something for everyone at Gencon, especially if you’re a little bit freaky and a little bit geeky. See you next year?
September 29, 2024
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