DragonCon

[Luke]

So, I'll be at DragonCon in Atlanta this weekend running Burning Wheel events.
Are any other Forgies going to be there? A meet-up would be nice.

Dragoncon, August 29th to September 1st:
Atlanta, Ga
http://www.dragoncon.com

Burning Wheel games at DragonCon:
Bound in Darkness, Burning Wheel Adventure. Friday 6-10
Burning Wheel Walk-In Melee Demos. Saturday from 1-5.
Bound in Darkness, Burning Wheel Adventure. Saturday 6-10
Burning Wheel Demo Adventure: Von Goten's Predictament. Sunday from 1-5.

hope to see you there!

[iago]

I'm a space cadet, meant to reply to this a while back.

I'll probably be at next year's, but this year I'm heading out on a roadtrip to move back east (from CA).

That said, a friend of mine is running several Fate games (using our new non-Fudge rules that we gave him an advance peek at) over the course of the con, and by all reports the playtesting on them looked pretty entertaining.  If you're curious about Fate, check 'em out (they're the Cowboy Bebop/"Karma Chameleon", Farscape/"Four Funerals and a Wedding", and Dragon Blooded Harry Potter/"Haro Ohani and the Heart of Stone" games).

I'm optimistic about being able to participate a bit more (even if just as a fanboy of some stripe) in at least a couple cons in 2004, so keep the Forge East concept alive, man.

[Mike Holmes]

I've never been. Is it possible to sell RPGs at that Con? How RPG friendly is it, really?

Mike

[iago]

I've never been. Is it possible to sell RPGs at that Con? How RPG friendly is it, really?

It's definitely not exclusively RPG oriented (I have an author-friend, Jim Butcher, who's speaking on several panels there, and there's a strong SF stuff in general orientation to a lot of the planned activities), but there do seem to be a fair number of games (such as the Fate demos) planned to be run, based on looking at their pocket program PDF link at the top of their website's front page.  Might be able to get more of a sense from that in general.

Otherwise, I say wait until those who went come back and look for them to update the thread...

[Mike Holmes]

I asked because I've been given to understand that it's, in fact, a Fantasy/Sci-fi Con that just happens to get some RPG play as well. That is, I thought that not only wasn't it "not exclusively RPG oriented ", but that any RPGs there were a fringe activity that occurs despite the normal focus of the convention.

That said, I'm just working from impressions. But I also know that there are some people here who have been to it. So I was wondering if we could get a lowdown on what to expect.

Mike

[Luke]

DragonCon is indeed much more than a gaming convention. There are more celebrities, organizations and functions than at GenCon, but the exhibtor/dealers' spaces were much smaller than the hall at GC and the gaming track was merely one facet of a massive organization.

Let there be no doubt, DC is massive. It is easily the size of GC, perhaps even bigger. We were shoving our way through crowds just to get to the escalators down to gaming.

All that said, after just having returned from DragonCon, I honestly think the Forge should be there next year. First, we should be there to make our presence known. Second (and foremost), we should be there because I ran four BW games, each slot was full and only one person had heard of the game beforehand. Everyone else? They tried it out because it sounded interesting, it wasn't d20 and it was different. Gee, that sure does sound like a whole lot of games here at the Forge. Hm...

And at least two people asked me if I was a member of the Forge.  They are ready!

Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't do a third as well at DC as I did at GenCon. But I think that was largely due to inexperience, poor con management, and spot of bad judgement on my part.

Next year, I think if the Forge sets up a booth in the exhibitor's hall, runs demos there, and ensures that there are Forge games being run in the gaming track then we will do quite well for ourselves. The exhibitor's hall was small and open. Decipher was one of the only companies I saw demoing games at their booth.

The dealer's room is not for us. It's cramped and tiny, no space to play or even stand. Exhibitor's booth's cost a bit more, but if we all chip in again, I think we could pull it off reasonably well.

I am definitely returning to DragonCon next year. I hope it's as a member of the Forge.

-L

[drozdal]

Addition to Abzu's thougths bout Dragoncon:

There were ppl just stopping by to check out non D20 games!

And there was many players just hangin' out on chairs on listening to Gm's running games - because there was not enough runned games for them!!! And they were screaming to play :P

Drozdal

[eruditus]

Although the entire spectacle is enormous and there are tons of other mediums being showcased, gaming has an entire floor to itself as well as the second largest ballroom in the joint (equal to the other ballroom used for concerts and massive panels and such).

And gaming only grows there.  They tripled the gaming track this year.  I was involved not only in running BW but also as a Demo Rabbit for Looney Labs.  Next year, they are getting a room just for late-night "Are You A Werewolf?" games.

I think in three years the Forge could be just such a presence.  We could probably get a good block of space.  

Besides, aside from good selling potential, its a great atmosphere and nice to be surrounded by one's element and it not just be gamers.  Its a much more well rounded experience.

And for the record, abzu's "bad judgement" was actually mine but we know better now.... (unless his bad judgement was listening to me...eeek)

;)