Notes from My First Ever Con

[Epic Meepo]

So I just finished my first day at my first ever con and I had a blast. And since I'm in a self-indulgent mood, I'm now going to jot down a few fond memories while they're fresh in my mind.

First, a general observation that the Paizo staffers are spectacular and entertaining hosts. Also, the folks I've had a chance to game with in the last dozen or so hours are spectacular players and GMs. I've been in good company here at PaizoCon.

Oh, It's Epic Meepo:

I was surprised and flattered that more than a few people recognized my screen name when they saw it on my PaizoCon badge. I'd always assumed that my numerous unnecessary posts were just echoing around in the ether somewhere.

Cookies, Cookies, and More Cookies:

As it turns out, Lilith's fresh baked cookies are even tastier than the virtual cookies she distributes here on the boards. And, as usual, the Wayfinder fanzine she put together is tastier still.

The First Rule of Fight Club:

I'm not going to talk about Fight Club. But speaking hypothetically, I've never before seen 200 PC deaths in under three hours. Especially not while sitting at the fighting-est table in the fighting-est room at PaizoCon. Well fought, everyone.

How Many Pathfinders Does It Take to Screw in a Lightbulb:

I don't know the answer to the question posed by this spoiler, but let me just say that if you ever have a chance to participate in a Year of the Shadow Lodge PFS event, do it. I've never seen an event quite like it before.

I'm Glad I'm Not Twenty Any More:

Let's just say I needed a full thirty years of discipline to pay attention to the games instead of getting distracted by some of the costumes the ladies were wearing today. Paizo fans really know how to dress up.

The GM's Projector Also Helped:

Just check out the projector rig depicted in today's Paizo Blog and the read the related thread. Enough said.

The Other Con at the Coast Hotel:

I noticed that there was one and only one conference room at the Coast Bellevue hotel not rented out to Paizo. It was apparently hosting a meeting of the Miss Washington USA organization. So the same building was simultaneously hosting a gaming convention and a meeting of beauty contest organizers. How unlikely is that?

So, that's an abridged overview of my first day at my first ever con. Now I'm off to catch some sleep after a day of good gaming. Tomorrow, lots of seminars and a banquet.

[baron arem heshvaun]

Cool recap of day One.

[Epic Meepo]

And now, a few highlights from my second day:

Seminars, Seminars, and More Seminars:

Okay, so seminars are cool and all, but I seem to have met my seminar quota. Note to self: when returning next year, schedule occasional gaming to break up long blocks of seminars.

Fiction Workshop, Part 2:

Despite burning out on seminars, I really appreciated the Fiction Workshop. Even more than that, I appreciated the tons of great advice Christopher Carey and James Sutter provided when I cornered them after the workshop. Thank you both.

The Line Starts Here:

After little sleep and a few too many seminars, I parked myself near the banquet area and all but fell asleep on my feet. When I looked up again, I was somehow near the front of a really long line of people waiting to get in the banquet. Apparently, I chose a very good spot to lean against the wall and rest my eyes.

Oh, It's Epic Meepo:

I heard this from a few more folks, who mentioned reading my post. It took me a minute to realize that they were referring to the "Oh, It's Epic Meepo" spoiler I posted earlier in this thread. That's what I get for being asleep on my feet.

Jason Bulmahn is Not a Morning Person:

While everyone else milled around waiting to get into the banquet, Jason Bulmahn was hard at work rescheduling a game in which I will be playing to a time later than 8am Sunday morning. Yay, sleeping in!

It's like Las Vegas, Only Sluttier:

I'm still not sure what the title of this spoiler references. It's one of many memorable quotes uttered at and around my table during a very fun banquet. Although I wasn't the person getting the most out of the banquet, as indicated my the following spoiler...

Who Made a Surprise Marriage Proposal During a Pathfinder Trivia Game?:

I'll leave it to the happy couple to announce the details of their engagement. All I'll say is, "Congratulations!"

To say nothing of the heaps and heaps of future product spoilers at the banquet.

Now, to sleep, and then back again for a full day of nothing but gaming. Yay!

[William Sinclair]

I was wondering who the sixth one was for our late start game. See ya there!

[Epic Meepo]

One last day of PaizoCon and not a seminar in sight...

10am Beats 8am Any Day of the Week:

I kicked off my day racing to the hotel and arriving at my scheduled game two minutes late. Things would have been infinitely worse had Jason Bulmahn not wisely rescheduled said game to start at 10 am instead of 8 am. Had the game kicked off at its original start time, I still would have stumbled in at 10:02, missing all the fun.

Curses, Curses, and More Curses:

In Jason Bulmahn's "Cursed Lot 3" game, the party quickly devolved into PvP mode and the survivors discovered a fate worse than TPK. Yet I don't think I've ever laughed so hard at a game table in my entire life. That game was priceless.

Killing Time:

I had an hour or so to kill around mid-day. And, conveniently enough, Blazej from the boards busted out a quirky little time travel card game in the open gaming room. That made for a rather entertaining diversion.

So Then I Turned on the Party:

Incidentally, if you're looking for a pick-up game in an open gaming room, the last thing you should be saying just as people walk in the door is: "So then I turned on my party and offered to become the demon's familiar..."

Five Long Hours Later...:

Five hours after the official end of the convention, I was half-way through an old 1st Edition module being run by Eric Tillimans from the boards. And the party was still stuck in the same damn labyrinth which comprised a mere one-third of the dungeon. We literally explored every other room and corridor in the place before discovering the exit.

Apparently, I'm (Sort of) Hard Core:

Towards the end of my post-convention game, a fellow con-goer ducked into the room to take a random snapshot of the "hard core" gamers still playing hours after the official convention staff had packed up and left. That being said, there were at least three tables still playing when I left for the night just shy of 11 pm.

So there you have it. An abridged overview of my experience at my first ever gaming convention.

An even more abridged overview: I went to PaizoCon and I had a blast. End of story.

[Darius Silverbolt]

Hehe Yes we were hard core! I will get the photo's up later after I get home.

PS I can confirm that Meepo is indeed a dirty rat and attempted to become a demon familair.

[William Sinclair]

Darius Silverbolt wrote:

Hehe Yes we were hard core! I will get the photo's up later after I get home.

PS I can confirm that Meepo is indeed a dirty rat and attempted to become a demon familair.

He was just following my lead...

Edit: But he DID survive, where as my character was ripped limb from limb...

[Epic Meepo]

William Sinclair wrote:

He was just following my lead...

Um, yeah. *shifty eyes*

The guy who cast wall of fire was the real traitor. Pay no attention to the rogue behind the curtain (of flame).