"What do you enjoy about Wargaming Conventions?" Topic

I did an article answering this question for me, which is linked below, and I was curious what you guys thought about it. What makes you decide to potentially travel, pay for, and attend these large gathering, and if you enjoyed the article, please subscribe!
link

At our local "Conventions" I enjoy putting on games. I like to try and entertain the attendees and sometimes showoff my new toys. When "A.Q. Martian Front" was new, my games were always a sell out. So I tried to have a new unit or two on the board each Spring and Fall.

When I go Out-of Town, I enjoy playing with other peoples toys and not having to host the game….

Dave

In order, pretty much
Old friends
Flea market
Lectures
Classes
Games
Vendors

"Games" is (are?) the most variable. Always something be be learned from watching how other people solve certain problems. Frequently a visual treat. Actual play can be great--and can be something I'd have paid not to sign up for. But friends are reliable and enjoyable pretty much by definition, and a decent-size flea market is Aladdin's cave.

To be honest, same enjoyment as i get from the overall wargaming community, very little nowadays

I enjoy local conventions. Having been required travel to game cons and shows in the past, they are less appealing,.

I collect some pretty niche stuff, so I am not much of a figure buyer anymore. I buy terrain now more than anything. You also never know what is going to show up at a flea market. Overall, I like the ability to try out new rule sets, and to see people that I may only talk to a couple of times a year. I also have a pretty busy life; a convention gives me the opportunity to get some gaming in during a reserved period of time.

Playing with friends
Putting on large games
Great eye-candy
Shopping
Deadlines that help me get my stuff done

I go for all the reasons you have listed.

I enjoy just getting out of the house.

Fun.

I go to run or play in games, especially the nicer looking ones or ones using a rules set I've not played before. I love to see what others are using for their miniatures, terrain, and rules.

I enjoy seeing distant friends but also just being around other people, in general, that share my interest in history, games, and miniatures. It's quite a refreshing change from the uncaring bemusement I normally encounter at home when I make a hobby related comment!

I like to cruise the dealers and flea markets to check out what's new or maybe find a good deal on some things that aren't so new.

I typically come away from a con with renewed enthusiasm for the hobby. I may be inspired by a new rules set, some new or beautifully painted miniatures, or maybe just a cool scenario that I can run for my regular group using stuff I already have. But it doesn't really matter what it is though, because it's all good!

Honestly, I fire up Yelp and look for places to eat. Cultural stuff.

Oh, and local tourist places.

I enjoy working on games for the conventions and then finally running them at the conventions. It is great to see projects coming together and people having fun playing them.

I also enjoy playing in other peoples games, particularly those where the period or battle is one that I am in to.
For example, a couple of GMs run Italian Wars Battles, which is one of the periods I love, so I always try to get into their games.
Also I put on a lot of modern games using Force on Force rules, so I do search out modern games either with or without Force on Force. Those where I know the rules allow me to just concentrate on the tactics, this where I don't know the rules allow me to experience something new.

I enjoy not hosting the game but actually just getting to play in one. Also the flea markets and dealer area.

I like meeting friends, and looking at stuff to buy!

Games can be good eye candy.

Playing a game with someone mostly, but do love seeing other games, gameboards.

+1 Forager, et al

For me it's seeing great looking boards, buying from dealers and finding something at the flea market. I live near where Little Wars is held so no travel hassles to consider

Friends
Flea Market
Putting on large games
Learning
Enjoying the atmosphere

Putting on large games

I avoid large games: 4 hours and 8 players is the target. Or, a 3 round Tournament in one day.

Friends!
Putting on large games
Playing in games that I don't normally see
Eye candy that inspires me to up my game
Vendors
Flea market
Friends!

The Flea Market is my main attraction. Dealer Area is a close second. I had many miserable experiences with games in the past, but recently I have had many very good experiences with gaming. So that part is climbing in the polls. I love the inspiration of seeing what other people have created, especially the really good paint jobs on some figures. I really enjoyed the new venue for Historicon as well.

I avoid large games: 4 hours and 8 players is the target. Or, a 3 round Tournament in one day.

Ah, that is what I meant by large game — easier to get going at a con than the FLGS.

Flea market is the main attraction
Vendors as Perris said are a close second as well
Seeing other people's gaming setups
Playing in a game or two
-Mike

My perfect convention game starts after dinner Friday or Saturday and runs three (maybe four) hours. "Rules will be taught" is in the description.

People: Old and New friends

Games: What's 'hot' and what works

Stuff! Flea market/dealers

and what Major Dundee said

Ham night!

If anyone gets that reference, he gets a free slice of ham.:-)

Honestly, trying out different periods, rules, and sizes of minis.

Thank you, N of the W, for bringing up this topic. Fun!

My list has changed over the past 25 years since I've been in a position to attend large conventions such as Historicon.

Early on, I was focused on figuring out how the convention functioned, finding games in my areas of interest, and experiencing new sets of rules for those areas of interest by playing the games (much more effective for me than reading a rulebook).

For years, HMGS conventions were practically my only place to shop hands-on -- at both flea markets and dealers. My preference for one or the other varied with what was on offer. Lately I find almost nothing of interest to buy at Wally's Basement, but in the past there were some great deals. These days more often than not I contact a handful of specific dealers and ask them to bring specific items to the convention.

The next phase for me was putting on games at local stores or small conventions. I honed my GM skills and, once I lived close enough to bring my own stuff, I began to put on at least one game at every HMGS convention and have done so ever since 2012.

The first time that Historicon was at Valley Forge, I began to volunteer as a way to get free lodging. Now, I volunteer because I enjoy it so much, especially due to the relationships that develop, and also from helping attendees have a great convention experience. (The vouchers are nice, too, now that they can be spent in the dealer area!)

A more recent benefit that I've noticed for me of being a GM is that I have a set deadline to meet for building models, painting new figures, and making terrain. Committing to run a game helps me prioritize for the limited hobby time at my disposal. As I have expanded from one or two areas of historical gaming to three or four, deadlines as motivators are increasingly valuable.

So, currently if I have to make a priority list as to what gets me to conventions, it would probably be this:
1. Volunteering with great people to make the convention a success.
2. Running games to promote the periods and rule sets that I prefer, in the company of great people -- both fellow-GMs and players.
3. Taking my vouchers to the dealer area to obtain that exciting new set of rules or that exciting new set of figures that will be required for the game I plan to put on at the next convention -- or in the next few years.

Coming home with new cold germs or worse passed on by gamers who shouldn't be there if they're sick. (Not really enjoyable -- but just to add a glum note.) This has happened more often than not.

More positively -- getting to relax and play instead of always being the game master. Seeing old pals. Discovering what's new from dealers and traders. Lucky strikes for previously unknown minis, rules, boardgames, or paints/supplies. And getting to play in a game and learn about the rules without having to buy it sight unseen or read a long rules book first.

Inspiration from impressive tabletop layouts is always welcome.

@piper909 – I played at Cancon 2024, no mask, no covax ever, met and talked in close proximity to maybe 50+ people over three days. Played Chris Braddick's Friend or Foe participation game for at least a day, close proximity to him and others for like 8 hours straight. Nobody got sick, amazing what sunlight, common sense, and not caving into media pushed oppression can do for your health. 　

Being able to break out all the toys to put on a really nice looking game for 6-8 players and grab people's attention.

Random Flea Market finds.

Seeing new products in the Dealer Hall.

Settling down and finding a cozy game to relax in after I've already run my games.

Old friends, new friends, hanging out, doing things I enjoy with others who enjoy them, too.

Those things include, but are not limited to, playing games, both official convention games and open gaming. Sometimes I even run a game, less often now than 10-20 years ago.

I also like to paint at conventions, both official paint-and-take or other convention painting events and just finding a spot to work on my own things.

Attending a convention is something I do once in a while. Playing the games and viewing all the terrain/miniatures eye candy are my reasons.

Maybe I have a different view since mainly go to make sales of miniatures, books, terrain and board games.
I started selling as a way to cover my cost while demonstrating rules back in the 1980s.
The number one reason that I go now is to see friends in various parts of the country.