Gencon 2025 - An Unexpected Encounter

 

This year was interesting. About a month before the con, I get a call from my wife's cousin, who has become one of my favorite people in the world. He asks me if I was going to Gencon, and if I was, would I mind him crashing with me. I'd only rented just a single bedroom in an Airbnb, and it was a twin bed, so I told him if he didn't mind sleeping on the floor, I didn't mind him crashing in my room. He was in. We're both military vets - we've slept on things far worse than a floor.

This was my second time staying South of the ICC, and some of the neighborhoods are a little wild. For example, the mattress in the middle of the street I encountered on my scooter ride back in 2024. But the place was close enough, and while it was kind of run down, I hardly spent any time there, so nothing to complain about really, especially given the very low price I paid for the room.

Anyway, on to the main event(s)

Social Activities

The Stink

Never been before for real, and always wanted to make it fit, but I have almost always scheduled myself a game on Wednesday that conflicted with it. Decided to go for sure this year and kept it clear. It was chaotic, confusing, and actually pretty fun. The bingo they have you do while you're in the line to walk past the various tables there pretty much forces you to chat with others and make some friends for the moment. I'm a fairly social person, and enjoyed it quite a bit. Didn't make any connections that went beyond the con, but it's always cool to meet other nerds who like to nerd out the way you do.

Grade: A-

Seminars - Still Crazy After All These Years - GM101 and GM201

People keep signing up to come to these, so I keep doing them. In a way I see it as a public service doing something about which I am very passionate. If I can help make just one TTRPG be a better experience for people, then I will have achieved my goal. Giving seminars to hundreds of people might not be the most efficient method, but I like to think that it is putting goodness into the gaming world. Maybe it's having the opposite effect, I don't know. Fingers crossed though.

I did get myself a wireless lab mic this year though, which definitely helped to preserve my voice for the con. I just can't bring myself to sit at a table, panel style, when I'm presenting. I need to move, keep things dynamic and engaging. Some of the seminar rooms are a little on the big side for projecting without assistance. In smaller doses it's fine, but 12 hours of seminar added on to 12 more hours of GMing can take a toll over those short 4 days.

I also completely forgot to request A/V for one of my sessions and didn't realize it until I saw the locations that the event team put me in. Changing locations for back to back events is a challenge to say the least. Luckily, one of the GMs in the group I have aligned myself with had a projector and was willing to loan it to me for that session. Thanks Petro!!

Games

Mouseguard

Hands down one of the best RPG sessions I've ever played in. And to my amazement, the GM was not super experienced, at least in terms of tenure. She'd only been at it for a couple of years, but had the table presence, creativity, and improvisational ability, as well as table management and spotlight moving skills of a long time seasoned GM. I was extremely impressed. The session was a reconnaissance/ rescue mission into a town that had gone silent. Turned out that weasels had taken over and had some sinister plans, and thought they'd do whatever they want. To paraphrase Mr. Omar Devon Little, "we thought otherwise".  GM's name was Sam. I didn't get her last name, but she ran with MAMS gaming. If you ever get a chance to play at a table she is running, get your ass THERE. You won't regret it.

Grade: A+

CHEW

This one was frustrating. I really wanted to love this game, but I think a combination of the con-format for one shots, and the style of game or needs of the game maybe were at odds with each other? Maybe it was the GM? I can't really put a finger on what the exact cause of the game falling flat is. Honestly. Maybe the game isn't great, maybe the GM, maybe the con-pressure parameters. I'll do think there's something in there though that's good. I suppose I'll have to get around to running it myself in a home game format to see.

Grade: D

Never Going Home

I've been REALLY wanting to sit in on a game of this with an experienced GM ever since I first saw the game. Have even run it myself, and quite like it. The only downside to the session was that I think 2 of the 5 at the table didn't really grok what the game was really all about and were kind of playing against the vibe. I don't believe it to be intentional, just unfortunate. They struggled to get comfortable with the idea that survival for any particular character was not the driving goal of the game. It's the story of individuals, yes, but more the story of their descent into madness, pain, suffering, and loss of humanity - and the overarching tie in is the squad. Soldiers come and go, but units live on. Embracing that fragility and role playing into it, especially the mechanics of the deck of cards, and the idea of playing those cards resulting in you forgetting part of yourself, or your past is such a neat influence on the vibe. GM was great. Had such a good time.

Grade: A