Recent Gen Con Announcement


Paizo General Discussion

Sovereign Court

The recent announcement regarding that the location of the majority of RPGs at Gen Con 2012 will be in the three major hotels (JW, Marriott, and Westin) rather than in the comvention centre has me curious.

Does Paizo have any information as to where they will be running their Pathfinder games this year? We all have to make our hotel selections in a few weeks, and I'm sure that many folk like myself would like ensure that we're staying in close proximity to the Pathfinder game location.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

We are still in talks with Gen Con about where we'll be situated this year, so we don't have a final answer on that, but we'll let folks know as soon as we have more information.

Dark Archive

Are Paizo's GenCon arrangements usually placed in a blog when finalized? Or a forum thread?


David Roulston wrote:
The recent announcement regarding that the location of the majority of RPGs at Gen Con 2012 will be in the three major hotels (JW, Marriott, and Westin) rather than in the comvention centre has me curious.

I do know that True Dungeon is moving out of the Marriott ballroom, which makes that a possible prime location for RPGs.


Is the Marriott Ballroom similar in size to the room Paizo used last year? Or are any of the rooms (in the hotels) comparable in size, for that matter? I had figured the ball or reception rooms for the hotels would be smaller than what the opened up (inside walls folded up) convention rooms could give.


Hobbun wrote:
Is the Marriott Ballroom similar in size to the room Paizo used last year? Or are any of the rooms (in the hotels) comparable in size, for that matter? I had figured the ball or reception rooms for the hotels would be smaller than what the opened up (inside walls folded up) convention rooms could give.

I believe the Marriott Ballroom can be split into two large areas- each approximately the size of the room PFS had last year. It has a much higher ceiling, not sure if that would help with the noise level. Here is a link to a PDF that describes the space and surrounding meeting rooms.

Two good things about it, if the Marriott Ballroom does turn out to be the future home of PFS gaming- one is that the bathrooms are a *lot* closer, and able to handle a decent bandwidth of gamers. Two is that ice cold beer is close by (Champions is just downstairs).

I don't know about the ballrooms/meeting rooms of the other hotels... but I can find out. I really enjoy details of convention/event planning for gaming events- I think I missed my calling in life. :-P

Dark Archive

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Pssst.

Spoiler:

The Super Secret {TM} slot 0, slot 5.5 and slot 13 will all be played in Mark Moreland's Hotel room. After a brief séance with our beloved Gary Gygax, Mark will run all four tables (and beds) simultaneously, by himself, as he edits the first of the Year 4 adventures.

He will serve home made Sangria, Assorted European Cheeses, Grapes, Lobster Bisque, and of course his famous Banana Flambé du Yoda. Pass it on.

Sovereign Court

Mark Moreland wrote:
We are still in talks with Gen Con about where we'll be situated this year, so we don't have a final answer on that, but we'll let folks know as soon as we have more information.

So Mark, is there any way information yet on where in the convention centre Pathfinder will be located?

Sovereign Court

It's Sun night. Like many of us I have completed the badge pre-reg, and am anxiously awaiting hotel reg on Tues.

Is there any word on where the Pathfinder rpgs will be located this year?


I can't comment on that, but I can say that True Dungeon has officially relocated to one of the main exhibit halls in the main area of the convention center. This does free up the Marriott ballroom as a possible location.

I agree with David, it would be nice to know where Pathfinder Organized Play will be located this year before hotels open up tomorrow at noon. It's highly possible at this point that final locations haven't been determined, though.


I've already registered for my hotel, so sort of rolling the dice in regards to where Pathfinder will be located.

But I look at this way, I will be staying in the Hyatt, so it's pretty centralized even to the other hotels. So for the most part, I don't think Pathfinder will be all that far away for me compared to prior years. Last year I was in the JW.


Yes, please let us know. We gamers don't want to have to...gasp!... go outside.

Grand Lodge

We have a tentative agreement that our space is in that same block of rooms. At this time, things are looking good for the same placement but we cannot guarantee that until we have signed the contract.


Thanks for the update, Mike! Today is a big day for those of us trying to plan out our GenCon "vacation".


Mike,

I guess I don’t understand. Your agreement still (tentatively) states you are in the same area as last year? Even with the announcement that the RPGs have been moved out of the convention hall?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Hobbun wrote:

Mike,

I guess I don’t understand. Your agreement still (tentatively) states you are in the same area as last year? Even with the announcement that the RPGs have been moved out of the convention hall?

Our agreement does tentatively say we're in the same place as last year.

Can you point me toward the announcement that suggests RPGs are moving?


Vic Wertz wrote:
Hobbun wrote:

Mike,

I guess I don’t understand. Your agreement still (tentatively) states you are in the same area as last year? Even with the announcement that the RPGs have been moved out of the convention hall?

Our agreement does tentatively say we're in the same place as last year.

Can you point me toward the announcement that suggests RPGs are moving?

Vic,

This was what was sent out in an email by Gencon:

RPGs Moving Around in 2012

As we grow into the newly expanded convention center, we’re shifting a few things around this year and trying to consolidate RPGs so they aren’t quite as spread out.

In 2012, most RPGs will be in the JW, Marriott, and the Hyatt, so they will all be within a block of two of each other, making it much easier to get between games. There will be some exceptions, depending on event needs and overall submission volume, but the bulk of RPGs will be in those three hotels. In addition, Wizards of the Coast will be hosting the majority of their RPGA and Living Forgotten Realms events in the Marriott, where True Dungeon used to be.

Keep the new locations in mind as you are choosing your hotel room for 2012. You might want to try a new hotel to keep close to the events you want to play.

Dark Archive

Vic Wertz wrote:

Our agreement does tentatively say we're in the same place as last year.

Can you point me toward the announcement that suggests RPGs are moving?

The OP may have a more specific answer for you Vic, I do remember there were two Gen Con customer service bulletins/emails stating the RPG gaming areas were moving; but I did not necessarily think that to mean eveyone (i.e. Paizo) would be moving.

I doubt that the Paizonians could be further from the game rooms than the hotel was last year. Do you know how many watering holes there were on the way?! That was serious liver damage making that walk.

edit: ninja'd by h2o

Dark Archive

Where were they held last year?

Grand Lodge

Ok folks. I just received an update and now that the contract has been signed, I can provide a more detailed update.

Pathfinder Society will be in the same area as it was last year. Additionally, we will be almost doubling the size of Pathfinder Society's presence this year.

Hotel rooms for our Tier 1 GMs will be in the Hyatt this year. This should be a much easier walk than what was available last year.

Finally, the Paizo booth in the dealer hall will be in a similar space as it was last year.

Hope this answers all of the questions thus far. Feel free to ask if I missed anything.

Dark Archive

Where was it held last year?

I do apologize, this year will be my first GenCon EVER and I want to be able to have my bearings as to what is where regarding Paizo.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Last year we were in rooms 231–233. This year I believe we'll have that whole row of rooms (231–237). See here for more on the convention center and its floorplan.


That's awesome. Great work everyone.


Mark Moreland wrote:
Last year we were in rooms 231–233. This year I believe we'll have that whole row of rooms (231–237). See here for more on the convention center and its floorplan.

Wow, that is a huge increase in space. :-D Now you will have enough room for the mobile BBQ smoker and beer tent. Thank Aroden, my prayers have been answered.

Dark Archive

Thanks Mark, I am getting excited already!!! 197 Days!!

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16

That's awesome - I'm sad I won't be attending Gen Con for the first time in 12 years, but I'll be at Paizocon instead.

Looking forward to Gen Con 2013 though with the expanded number of PFS rooms!


Michael Brock wrote:

Ok folks. I just received an update and now that the contract has been signed, I can provide a more detailed update.

Pathfinder Society will be in the same area as it was last year. Additionally, we will be almost doubling the size of Pathfinder Society's presence this year.

Hotel rooms for our Tier 1 GMs will be in the Hyatt this year. This should be a much easier walk than what was available last year.

Finally, the Paizo booth in the dealer hall will be in a similar space as it was last year.

Hope this answers all of the questions thus far. Feel free to ask if I missed anything.

Interesting, I guess not all RPGs were moved out of the convention hall, then.

Works for me, I am in the Hyatt, as well. :)

It's great that you are having a larger presence this year, but I worry about the sound level with an additional four rooms. There was quite a few times I had trouble hearing my GM last year.

Also, will you be doing the treasure chest again this year?


Hobbun wrote:
It's great that you are having a larger presence this year, but I worry about the sound level with an additional four rooms. There was quite a few times I had trouble hearing my GM last year.

Yes, sound level has been very bad in that area. The roof is just too low. Hopefully more room means they will be spreading the tables out a bit more which should help a bit.

Dark Archive

I'm curious, since I was not able to attend Gen Con last year, will PFS be in the same space it was in 2010? In 2010, it was just across from the exhibit hall, closest to the CC entrance by the new JW hotel. I'm really excited about returning this year, and hope the Society stuff is in the same location since we are in the same hotel. Short walk for most of my games :)

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Gen Con no longer uses the old exhibition space and adjacent rooms. The dealer hall is now on the other side of the building, but we're still going to be right across the hall (and up the escalators) from the dealer hall.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Mark Moreland wrote:
Gen Con no longer uses the old exhibition space and adjacent rooms. The dealer hall is now on the other side of the building, but we're still going to be right across the hall (and up the escalators) from the dealer hall.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why Gen Con made this change last year? I was very thrown by it at the time (since, as far as I know, there hadn't been any announcement beforehand).


Take two quotes ....

Michael Brock wrote:
Pathfinder Society will be in the same area as it was last year. Additionally, we will be almost doubling the size of Pathfinder Society's presence this year.

Plus

Mark Moreland wrote:
Last year we were in rooms 231–233. This year I believe we'll have that whole row of rooms (231–237).

(7 rooms instead of 3)

Equals (or a reasonable conjecture)

More Space Between Tables! Yes!

Looking forward to PFS at GenCon 2012.

-Swiftbrook

Sovereign Court

Thanks for the info.

I booked the Downtown Marriott this year, hoping for a short stumble downstairs for the early-morning Pathfinder slots. Now I'll have to haul myself all the way across the street! But more space between the tables will be great.

Dark Archive

I am at the Hampton Inn, so it could be worse...

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