Gen Con Odyssey 2023: Sailors of the Queue-less Crowd
The best four days in walking!
Day 1: In which I remember far too late that I hate crowds
3:00am CDT: Wake up, drive to Indianapolis
5:00am EST: Cross the time barrier. Enter East Coast Time
8:00am: Arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS). Congratulate self on saving $44 by not getting a room the night before. More money for games. Spend $30 on parking. Regrets minimal
8:05am: Parking attendant, middle-aged, calls me attractive. Confused and flattered at the same time. I thank her
8:15am: Pick up badge from Goodman Games representative. Very nice, loves to talk about Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC). Feel welcomed
8:30am: Wander Indiana Convention Center (ICC), attempt to gain bearings. Pick up all-important coupon book. Make note of interesting deals
9:45am: Gather outside of exhibition hall. Joined by 70,000 fellow attendees
10:00am: Doors to exhibition hall open. Surge in like proverbial flood. Remember that I hate crowds. Panic sets in
10:15am: Darrington Press is selling advanced copies of its upcoming game, Queen By Midnight. Contemplate getting in line. Line crosses entire show floor. Decide to come back tomorrow
11:45am: Will Hindmarch, veteran game designer and creator of Till the Last Gasp, recognizes me on sight. Day is made
12:00pm: Leave convention floor. Take note of Ravensburger line. Covers entire length of show floor and half of outer lobby. Unaware of great violence. First victims of Disney’s new trading card game, Lorcana
12:15pm: Lunch. Sandwich and apple
1:00pm: Set up DCC table. Nerves set in
1:30pm: First players show up. Nerves continue
2:00pm: Game starts. Rely on Game Master skills to get through
5:30pm: Game ends. Fun times had by all
5:45pm: Goodman Games messages me. Judge caught COVID and unable to run game. Needs replacement. I accept
6:30pm: Dinner. Wendy’s
8:00pm: Check into Airbnb. Couple who runs is very nice
9:00pm: Attempt to write Gen Con diary. Give up
11:00pm: Sleep
Lessons Learned
Never show up at opening (unless you REALLY need to): Opening crowds are a nightmare. They are better after noon
If it’s free, take it: Nothing beats those magical four letters
Loot Drop
Dungeon Crawl Classics Quickstart (FREE): Everything you need to play from level zero to one
Runequest Quickstart (FREE): Never played, but eager to read
Little Book of Battle Mats (FREE): Found in large vat outside exhibit hall. All claimed by end of day
Flamecraft “Lucky Lake” promo card (FREE): Never played artisanal dragon game, but girlfriend specifically requested that I track this down
Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine No. 144 (FREE): Inscrutable and full of in-jokes from 2008. Still free
Sailors on the Starless Sea: Funnel Report 1
One newcomer, four had read rules but never played, one had played this exact adventure
First time I used the game’s dice chain mechanic effectively. When circumstances are favorable, players roll bigger dice. Unfavorable: smaller
Learned very quickly how to handle characters with animals. Characters command animals with Personality roll. Animal attacks do d4 damage. Hunting dog tore out mini-boss’ throat. Only some regrets
Ran game without battle maps. Regretted it immediately. 18 characters across six players are difficult to track, turns out
Players quick to pick up weapons of fallen enemies. Every player had at least one spear before the halfway point. This held true all weekend
Total play time: 3hrs 30min
Day 2: In which I make friends and influence no one
7:30am: Wake up. First mistake
9:00am: Drive to Con
9:30am: Take wrong turn. End up in traffic hell. Oaths sworn
10:00am: Arrive at parking lot. Attendant calls me sex god. Sexual harassment line has been crossed. Find it amusing. Let it slide
10:15am: Stanchions have been placed outside of hall. Lorcana line extends outside convention center. The madness has taken hold
10:20am: Do not get a copy of Queen by Midnight
11:00am: Take advantage of every deal in coupon book. Haul is looking good
11:30am: Purchase everything on shopping list. Generate new shopping list. The cycle continues
12:00pm: Lunch with friend. Taco truck
12:30pm: We demo SpyxFamily card game on show floor. Love Letter with extra rules. Good time had by all
1:00pm: Find quiet room. Lights are dim. We like the quiet room
2:00pm: Meet another friend. Friend introduces me to movers and shakers. Networking unfamiliar. Little impression is made. Consider this success
3:00pm: Receive DCC adventure for next day. Sit in quiet room and read
5:00pm: Dinner. Sandwich and nachos
7:00pm: Chairs missing. Move tables. Set up game 2
8:00pm: Game start. Confidence growing
11:00pm: Game ends. Exhaustion sets in
11:30pm: Return to Airbnb. Pass out
Lessons Learned
Schedule carefully. Build in time to demo: Difficult to find time to play games when running your own
Never say no to a free trial: Most memorable moments involve playtesting games. Don’t feel too busy to stop and enjoy
Loot Drop
Gen Con 2023 foldable dice tray ($20)
Lonely Mountain dice bag ($18)
Very many dice (priceless): d8 compass, Gen Con promo d6, Gen Con! mini-dice set, generic dice set (free with dice bag!), Rollacrit promo d20, Steamforged Games token (d2?)
Game Trade Magazine (FREE)
Dungeon Crawl Classics softcover rulebook ($10!): Somehow ¾ the size of the hardcover edition
Mutant Crawl Classics softcover rulebook (also $10!): See above
13th Age Rulebook ($10!): Absolute steal, all of these
DCC Adventure: Frozen Time ($1!)
HarnWorld Hex Map (FREE): It’s Scandinavia, but with keyed hexes
The Yellow King RPG ($100): Never heard of before, but convinced to purchase by friend. Cthulhu-esque detective game in beautiful slip case. The slip case is also a GM screen
Loup Garou: Graphic Novel Adventure game. See Free RPG Day article
Sailors on the Starless Sea: Funnel Report 2
Six players, generally familiar with DCC
First group to fight off Chaos Leviathan. Perhaps I am going easy on them
Used free battle maps from day before. Awkward, but helpful
One player loses all of his characters. Such is life
Total play time: 3hrs 30m.
Day 3: In which I run many games and the fear of death takes over
6:00am: Wake up. The aches are setting in
8:00am: Arrive at LOS. Parking attendant and I have rapport now
8:30am: Set up funnel experience. New adventure. Not as confident
9:00am: Last minute arrivals mean seven players total. Strap in for the ride
12:30pm: Three hour funnel ends three and a half hours later. Goes well, despite low prep. Think perhaps I worry too much
1:00pm: Walk to open play area. Change zip codes. Feet hurt
1:30pm: Playtest upcoming game Fluffy Dragons. Cross between Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock and Mafia. Fun is had
3:00pm: Early dinner with friend. Pork “sundae.” Cosplay and work are discussed
4:00pm: Fear of death overtakes me. Resolve to purchase everything my heart desires, as life is short. My wallet weeps
4:30pm: See Paul Fricker, writer of Call of Cthulhu, at Chaosium booth. Try to introduce myself. Roll nat 1. Hide in shelves instead
5:00pm: Set up fourth game. Nerves gone. Muscle memory activated
6:00pm: Four players do not show up. Last minute lurkers get in. Game starts
9:00pm: Game ends. Group is enthusiastic. I am tired
11:00pm: Pass out
Lessons Learned
Be assertive: Fortune favors the bold
There is more than just the show floor: Three days on the show floor. What is it I hope to find?
Loot Drop
Tainted Grail Introduction (FREE): Like a Quickstart, minus the fun
Eclipse Phase 2e Quickstart (FREE): No idea. But it was free
Fabula Ultima Rulebook, Quickstart, bonus class, and Fabula Minima ($37): JRPG TTRPG. Winner of the Golden Ennie Award for Best Game of 2023. There was no line
Numb, a Mork Borg solo adventure ($10): Recently fell in love with Mork Borg. Who better to share the love with than myself?
Never Going Home and supplements ($53): Eldritch horror in the trenches of WWI. Sounds fun
Microscope ($25): Seminal TTRPG/storygame that no one has heard of
Dream Askew/Dream Apart ($30): No idea, but indie devs will not stop name-dropping it
Moonlight on Roseville Beach ($39): Queer horror investigation game. Wonderful layout. Will take notes
Forsaken Vault of the Crimson Oracle: Funnel Report
First attempt to throw dwarf
Had to invent rules for burning nets, makeshift jousting rigs, and rampaging cows
Play time: 3hrs 30m
Sailors on the Starless Sea: Funnel Report 3
X Card unnecessary. Players are savages
Players all experienced. Made for quick play experience
Added obstacles just to pad out play time
Play time: 3hrs
Day 4: In which we say farewell and return to ponder our ill-gotten gains
6:00am: Why are we still here? Just to suffer?
8:00am: Arrive at LOS. Parking attendant off duty. Perfectly normal parking experience. Disappointing
9:00am: Start last DCC game. Only two no-shows this time
11:30am: Game ends. I have become master of the Starless Sea
12:00pm: Say my goodbyes to friends and contacts. Still do not meet Paul Fricker. Resigned to my fate
1:00pm: Attempt to play one hour demo of Dragonbane RPG. Learn hot new product only takes five players every hour. Booked until 3:00pm. Abandon all hope
1:15pm: Consider options. Conclude that there is nothing left to see
1:30pm: Begin journey home
2:30pm CDT: Cross time barrier. Return to native time
Lessons Learned
None
Loot Drop
Candela Obscura dice set (FREE)
Sailors on the Starless Sea: Funnel Report 4
Experienced players all
2nd attempt to throw dwarf
Leviathan fought off for the second time. I am definitely going too easy on them
Final boss suicide-tackled into magma pit
Ponies almost make it to the end. Drown when they fail to climb onto longship
Total play time: 2hrs 30m
Final Tally
Money spent: Too much
Fun had: Above average
Connections made: Unclear
Regrets cultivated: Few
Likelihood of returning: High
Dwarves thrown: 2