"My turn to ramble listlessly about cons" Topic

Everybody else seems to have "something to say" about ThisCon or ThatCon… yada-yada-yada.

So here's my free (you get your money's worth) view on cons.

I Quit Attending All Cons because even at the local level because the political BS seemed unnecessary and, especially, the Drama Queen personalities were excessive.

Now, as I see retirement in the 2017 – 2020 time frame (or sooner since I can repay my military time and I'll will have 30 years federal service at age 60) – I have decided that maybe it would be fun to attend a few cons (National to Local) before I melt all my miniatures and retire to New Mexico. I just won't talk to the people that are/were ing s. They'll be happy, I'll be happy. Time frame is from 2010 through 2017 i it matters. And yes, travel costs are a consideration in that it has to be worth the the expenses.

My interests are Historical/Sci-Fi/Fantasy but I want cons that cater to each of those separately. It has to be in the USA since the agency is unlikely to deploy me to UK (Iraq and Afghanistan far more likely.) My goals are to play games, play games with old rules that I never see anymore, and to play games with rules I have always wanted to try before buying. Did I mention play games?

Assuming Historicon doesn't self-destruct (possible, maybe likely,) I expect that should be on my Historicals list. Next best Historical Con to consider would be what?

Sci-Fi (No GW crap under any circumstances please) would be mostly GZG (Dirtside 2 and Stargrunt 2) style games – what national or major Regional cons are Non-GW and Sci-Fi oriented?

Fantasy (miniatures wargames) cons are a blank to me other than the impression that most of them appear to be an excuse to dress strangely and make a fool of oneself. Yeah, very limited experience (same one twice and it was clear I was a duck out of water there) in that arena, so tell me about the better ones.

Gracias,

Glenn

I Quit Attending All Cons because even at the local level because the political BS seemed unnecessary and, especially, the Drama Queen personalities were excessive.

How is that possible? 99% of all attendees are not involved or even aware of any issues except for entry fee, transportation arrangements, and perhaps setting up a game. How would the vast majority of attendees even hear any of it unless they searched for it?

I just don't get it.

Given your criteria, why would you bother?

I think you are going to at least have to compromise having sci-fi/fantasy in one con… :) Even HCon won't fulfill your requirement to be only historical in nature.

I'd suggest the Seven Years War convention for the most "pure" experience. You have to want to play Seven Years War though…

If you are able to travel to Raleigh NC, then Spring Fever and Southern Front are darn good conventions… :)

trianglesimsociety.org

Well, there is a GZG con that gets held out east I believe. Seven Years War con is strictly Seven Years War. Outside of those, I'm not familiar with any specialty cons.

Sci-Fi (No GW crap under any circumstances please)

Since you could easily have said "No GW please," I think you protest a bit too much with this:

political BS seemed unnecessary and, especially, the Drama Queen personalities were excessive.

Next best Historical Con to consider would be what?

Cold Wars would be my suggestion, but there are many other candidates listed here:
hmgs.org/future.htm

Sci-Fi (No GW crap under any circumstances please) would be mostly GZG (Dirtside 2 and Stargrunt 2) style games – what national or major Regional cons are Non-GW and Sci-Fi oriented?

warpfish.com/jhan/ft/gzgecc

Fantasy

GenCon, DragonCon, Origins are the big ones. Plenty of smaller local cons across the country. Ones I like in NJ are Dreamation and Dexcon.

Millennium Con is probably 90/10 historical versus non-historical and the people are very friendly and helpful. Here's a link to the games that were played this weekend. can't remember seeing any GW games being played but I was pretty swamped running games myself.

link

"I Quit Attending All Cons because even at the local level because the political BS seemed unnecessary and, especially, the Drama Queen personalities were excessive."

Seriously?

Unless these issues affected you registering for a game and playing in it and enjoying it, why would you bail? Seems a little excessive.

A large percentage of gamers at cons could care less about the organization politics and drama.

"Seven Years War con is strictly Seven Years War."

Err, not exactly. Over the years I've seen games set as early as the Great Northern War, and as late as the American War of Independence (lots of these over the years); with quite a few games set during the War of the Austrian Succession. So, 18th Century surely, but not all Seven Years War despite the name.

Dennis

The factors for attending should be limited to (in this order for me): Fun, Cost, Convenience, and Friends. If group politics factors into you attending or not because it negatively impacts one of the above four, you need to back out of that position.

I've only run into two drama queens at the cons I've attended (player drama queens, that is). In one case, they really ruined the game for other players (the guy didn't think anyone was supporting him – problem was he did something stupid that wasn't part of the plan and then expected everyone to run to his help; when he did get help, it jeopardized the mission of the players who were helping him), but in the other case, the game was already over when the guy started whining (he wanted a prize even though he didn't come anywhere close to meeting his goal for the game). In both cases, they were fat old guys who thought they were cool for gaming, but didn't really know anything about it.

As stated, you really don't get the politics at the con – that's all very much in the background there.

Dennis,

Thanks for the correction. My buddies enjoy the con a lot and go every year. They just never mentioned any other games except Seven Years War ones.

"Seven Years War con is strictly Seven Years War."

Err, not exactly. Over the years I've seen games set as early as the Great Northern War, and as late as the American War of Independence (lots of these over the years); with quite a few games set during the War of the Austrian Succession. So, 18th Century surely, but not all Seven Years War despite the name.

Yes, we will generally allow any game as long as it is within the 18th century up through the American Revolution. Most of us view the WAS and the SYW as a continuation of the same war.

There are no politics at our convention.

I attended the entire run of Fall In, GM'd one game and played in 4 others and experienced zero politics and drama queens. Saturday night in the bar, post-game, with friends, the move and issues came up but only in the context of how it would affect my friend as a Dealer.

As others have said, you would have to seek out the politics to even be aware of them.

wow why would any of the politics and drama going on behind the con effect going and playing at one unless the game you want to play or run gets canned because of it.

There are no politics at our convention.

Apart from the ones on the table, of course….

Hello

The best miniature convention in my humble option is OSG's Recruits conventions in Lee's Summit, Missouri. It is all about playing games and having a good time.

Bill Daniel

Ed, strictly IMNSHO, I foolishly interacted with several people and when I criticized several sacred cows I found everything I did was disparaged by them.

Cyrus the Great, good question. I guess I think it's time to let go of several things in my life – this being the "least of these" and the easiest to work with.

I suspect that it won't be that hard to avoid those people I upset/upset me at cons outside the local area.

Maybe with those few individuals there would have been issues outside of the con environment. And, yes, my response was not always helpful in those matters. Bit fiery when I was younger…

Gracias,

Glenn

Thomas I take the criticism.

GW has been a sore point for me since I was much younger and I will spare you the details.

This baggage too is something I need to drop and your point reminds me of that. Lots of otherwise perfectly sane people play GW rules.

Gracias,

Glenn

And I am aware that more than a little compromise is/will be required in the matter of Con content. But if I start from a compromised position there is no merit in moving to a more compromised position.

Gracias,

Glenn

Traveller con
link

Basically put on by the same people who do the GZG con and located at the same place but at a different time. Lots of overlap.

It didn't occur this year due to problems with the hotel.

huh, a problem hotel in Lancaster, PA. Who could have imagined that?

GenCon is pretty much the ultimate sci-fi/fantasy experience. It also happens to be a place you can get just about anything gaming related you could ever want – or find out about things you never knew existed. In terms of value for the money, GenCon is definitely the best. I went once when it first moved to Indy, and have never missed a show since.

The question is, what is your location in proximity to Indy? Is it a reasonable drive? Flying would make it a little more cost prohibitive.

Ia gree that politics do go one behind the scenes, but for the average gamer it is not a problem. Show up, pay your $$$, play, and have fun. It is what you make it.

The BS only becomes an issue if it threatens to end a con. Then I have a problem.

Johnnycon held every other year is ACW only. Also the SF series in N.C. is a mix of both Historical and Alt gaming but very friendly. Hell they even invite me and some hate my guts there.
VR
James Mattes

Glenn, don't over think this or dwell too long on whatever created separation in the past.

As you noted let it go. You can only control your beliefs & actions, not those of others.

So who cares what others may think when they see you? that's their problem.

its never too late to do the right thing.

Heat of Battle in New Orleans is strictly WWII, and held at the National World War II museum to boot. Great excuse to party down South….