"What Is The Smell At Historicon" Topic

So I walked into the big gaming hall at Historicon only to be hit with a smell. As I crossed the threshold I was hit with a sickly almost putrid smell. As soon as I was one step out of the hall the smell was gone.
Anyone else get a whiff of this or is it just me?

Grimm

Masses of unwashed bodies..

The BOD had probably just passed thru.

A cheap and unwarranted insult.

That's the smell of victory!

I left yesterday so it wasn't me.

The last time I attended, there were certain parts that had a sort of a putrid smell. One was in the back of the main hall near the food stand. Something like bad refrigeration and something spoiled. Never smelled anything near the front door/threshold though.

The walking dead

Homo gamey-rectus…

We get the same smell at Boy Scout summer camp.

The BOD had probably just passed thru.

Really? That wasn't very nice. I'd expect that from a third grader.

King,

…and a not very sharp third grader at that.

rectus damn near killed us!! now that is SHARP third grader stuff.

War is Smell

The biggest Wargame convention in the USA is going on and that is all you can talk about?

Did you play in any games, see any terrific looking games etc

David beat me to it.

"The biggest Wargame convention in the USA is going on and that is all you can talk about"?

Pics, or it didn't happen………..

I think Bill was having a bad day and didn't code the computer smell software for TMP, so Grimnar won't be able to share his discovery with us.

Grelber

It was you.

I believe it was from an old Latin writing, "He who smelt it dealt it."

I told my group that Mexican was a bad choice for dinner but they wouldnt listen.

Eewww, gamer funk!

Agreed Bowman, agreed.

The same smell was in the Dysfunctional Ballroom at the Host. I suspect it was from the cheapo's who sleep in their cars rather than pay for a room. On the other hand I have to defend even them. Even when I could shower three times a day at the Host (and I always had hot water) to go out into the open air for even a short walk in Lancaster I was soon bathed in sweat. Same with simply crossing the street from the Continental to the Host. I can't imagine how much worse it is in Virginia. With no adjoining hotel one can retreat to through air conditioned halls, it's got to be bad.

I've been here since the beginning and smelled nothing. Great convention.

Tom

Otto, outside its hot. Dealer hall is hot. Main room is hot. The various smaller rooms are all pretty good, theyre much cooler. Probablyhas to do with so many people in the big rooms.

The smell was me, sorry, I had a curry. Impressed the smell reached all the way over there though! But it wasn't good under the duvet last night!!!

I thought the AC was supposed to be better there? Not throwing rocks so much as a question/statement.

Hey Double G , what's that sm- ….uggghh . *passes out*

My friend and I noticed it too. I think it's a combination of things, including the heat, the half eaten food left in the trash cans or where ever some people decide to drop what they don't want and perhaps a minor contribution from the hygienically challenged. It's July in Central Virginia with a thousand plus guys in an enclosed space so what can one reasonably expect?
I didn't feel that the show was any worse because of the "smell".

Oooohhh, that smell…

rmcaras – "It was you."

I notice you avoid hocking your terrain in posts where you are hurling insults.

OK, I only seem to encounter the issue of "smelly unwashed gamer dudes" in a US context. So I'm curious -- is this the stereotype in Europe? The UK? Canada? Down Under? Because there are lots of gamer conventions outside the US and I have seen pictures (nice normal-looking chaps and chapettes) but I've never been to one and I'd like to know from experienced attendees if personal hygiene is the same question mark or cliche for you as it seems to be in the USA?

I've never noticed any smelly people in UK wargames shows. Ever. It's mentioned a lot on TMP as typical of gamers so maybe its an American thing. Of course it rarely gets hot enough for people to sweat here and most of the big shows I attend are in the spring or autumn.

I have to say that this post has put me right off going to Historicon. Sounds (smells) awful!

I think it was the carpet – distinct musty smell was present in the area of the blue carpet

TMP ran a poll on this subject not all that long ago after I suggested shows not allowing people in who pong. I usually detect at least one stinker per show in the UK.

It was 90F in Northeastern Pennsylvania that weekend. I shudder to think what it was in Virginia.

The haze coming off of the crowd of unwashed gamers is a trope that seems to never tire, whether real or not.

I think the technical term is "gamer funk"

piper:
"OK, I only seem to encounter the issue of "smelly unwashed gamer dudes" in a US context. So I'm curious -- is this the stereotype in Europe? The UK? Canada? Down Under?…"

A lot of comparisons of US to other cons mention some/a lot of them are just one day affairs.

At cons here in the US, we roll 2d6 on the Psychological Funk Warfare Table during each game. If you roll a "1" on a 2d6 throw, you are permitted to shave, shower and brush your teeth. All other results require you to dispose of all toiletry articles and use of the restroom facilities may only take place if blindfolded.

I didn't notice anything. I didn't even encounter any gamers that left my eyes watering despite the heat.

But I did see one "gamer's smile" late yesterday. Oh the, things one can't unsee.

The bathrooms weren't as bad as in previous years. The food looked pretty good, esp the roast, the turkey and the kabobs. I had the tenders and fries which were OK.

The main game area was loud, as usual. The smaller meeting rooms were dark, as usual.

But I didn't encounter any smell, fwiw.

Re: the noise level-- any way they could set up screens as acoustic baffles or absorbers?

I think it was the carpet – distinct musty smell was present in the area of the blue carpet

This is a distinct possibility, since its cheap commercial rental carpet. It obviously takes a lot of abuse, and spilled beverages/drinks.

Thanks TRU….don't know what terrain you are thinking of. But the OP asked the question…" Or was it just me?" I posited an answer.

Whatever. It wasn't an "insult"… Which of course has nothing to do with you, unless you are also "Grimmnar".

I can assure you---- the smell was not my golden retriever service dog, she gets 'da works' regularly. And thanks to all for being very courteous regarding her. I don't really get that a lot when I'm out and about with her.

Piper909 – I went to Cancon in Australia for the first time last year. I walked into the convention area and was immediately assaulted with smell and human body humidity. It smelt worse than a police lock-up.

rmcaras
Sorry, I misread your intent. My sincere apologies.

TRU
(just me)

If you have t noticed any bad smells at UK shows this means you are the bad smell and are ignorant of said fact!

Clay,
Your service dog is awesome, what a great animal he is; one of the highlights of the show for me was when he came by my booth, I went out of my way to pat him, much love to that dog, he's a keeper…………..

Had a blast! Ran 2 games, 2 different areas. No smells at either. We did catch a whiff of something nasty out behind the Flea Market building on Sunday morning, bringing some old stuff in to sell, but if faded fast & it was outside, so… I dunno.
Peter

I didn't not smell any oder from the gaming hall on Saturday. Well, until 4 pm when the brought out the roast.

Seemed each time I had to pee I could have benefited from having some " skates". They're kinda like ice skates but for floors covered in urine. It was slippery every time…