I have never been to a gaming convention in my life. I have dreamed of going to PaizoCon for the last 2 years. I was crushed that my plans to go to PaizoCon 2012 fell through. That was really a very difficult weekend; the most acute disappointment I've felt since I was a kid.
But, for the sake of being optimistic, I'm looking forward to next summer. Having never attended a con before though, I need everyone's opinions. I can't afford both. So which do I choose? PaizoCon 2013 or GenCon 2013?
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PaizoCon is smaller and much more intimate.
GenCon is the huge gaming mecca and has a lot of history besides a huge selection.
Me, I'm going to PaizoCon every chance I get. I hate crowds. I'll go to GenCon once, just to experience it.
My only other con experience was Anime Weekend Atlanta, Dragon Con, Origins, and Space City Con. I've found the smaller conventions much easier to handle. Dragon Con was a hectic rush of energy, with all the burnout and exhaustion that comes with it. It was also harder to figure out the gaming schedule there, due to not being focused on tabletop. PaizoCon and Space City Con had much clearer guidelines for where to be and how to sign up.
From what I've seen online/gotten firsthand about Paizocon, and what I've experienced for the last 6 years of Gencon, I would concur.
Gencon is the Superbowl of gaming. Everyone is there, anything you want to play is there.
If you want to play all kinds of things, see all kinds of things, get the latest things being released from all kinds of vendors, then Gencon is the place to go.
If you're just playing Pathfinder, you don't want to try anything else at your convention and you're ok with that, then Paizocon is probably the better choice. It's a laser-focused convention and it's pretty cool, from what I understand.
-Ben.
I love GenCon. But for me, PF is only one of the games I play. I'm into a lot of other games as well, so GenCon is great for me. I probably talked to people from 15 or more different game publishers.
You avoid most of the big crowds if you aren't trying to score the first copy of the most hyped stuff. The dealer floor is crowded all the time, but if you aren't doing the Thursday 10 am mad rush, it's at least manageable.
Also, once the initial awe of how much stuff is for sale, you quickly realize that the really cool stuff is all happening outside the hall. There's not much for actual gameplay in there, other than 5-10 minute demo's.
Pretty much everyone who's everyone goes to GenCon (as far as game designers/authors goes). There are opportunities to shake hands with people who used to work for TSR, as well as all the designers of today.
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I went to GenCon for the first time in 2011 and I went to PaizoCon for the first time this year. Like the OP, I can't make it to both. While I had a great time at PaizoCon, and I finally was able to meet some online friends in person at PaizoCon, I plan to go to GenCon next year.
Reasons:
1) Middle of the country so I can drive instead of fly. (I live in Texas)
2) Variety, Variety, Variety - I can still get my PFS fix at the con, but I also have the opportunity to demo a huge amount of new games.
One piece of advice I have for the OP. If you do decide to go to GenCon, try going to a local convention first. That way you get a feel for the flow of a convention in a small setting. GenCon can definitely be overwhelming at first.