Origins or Gen Con?

[mikekn]

I'm trying to decide if this is the year to hit one of the big US gaming conventions.

Origins, June 22-26
Gen Con Indy, August 4-7

I know Gen Con is larger, and has some vendors that don't go to Origins. What I don't know is which would be better for someone interesting primarily in board games. Anyone who's been to either care to comment?

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Other stuff on the schedule (? = considering):

2/26 Chamberlain inventory day
3/6 Philly Craft Beer fest
3/26 Mudthaw
4/2 Coronation (?)
4/16 Spring Thynge
7/6-10 Dexccon (?)
8/1-7 World Boardgaming Championships (?)
11/4-6 Ubercon (?)

Comments

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

*perk*

Philly Craft Beer Fest?

*perk*

[math5.livejournal.com]

http://www.phillycraftbeerfest.com/

[mikekn]

Yep, though sadly sold out. This will be my first visit to any sort of beer fest - looking forward to it.

[thomas-delbroc.livejournal.com]

I say this having never been to GenCon, but several times to Origins... The Origins boardroom is awesome! I *highly* recommend getting that particular ribbon if you do end up going to Origins.

[mikekn]

Cool. I found a thread on BGG that also spoke highly of the boardroom. I'm going to have to figure out the details of the whole ribbon thing.

[thomas-delbroc.livejournal.com]

I'll be glad to send you the details...

[reldnahkram.livejournal.com]

I went to GenCon in '03 for a day (I spent the summer at Purdue and was bored out of my skull most of the time). I enjoyed myself, but there was just too much for my taste - I'm not the con-going type, I prefer smaller levels of interaction, especially when lots of strangers are involved.

[mikekn]

I've done the big conventions (DragonCon, WorldCon, etc) so that part I have no issues with. Just hoping to focus my activity a bit more for this trip.

[rickthefightguy.livejournal.com]

Are you not going to Pennsic?!?

But Origins is a fun convention, with lots of boardgaming. Gen Con seemed the one time I was there to be more about CCGs.

[mikekn]

I need a break from Pennsic - last year was not good. With luck and time it will appeal to me again.

Thanks for the info!

[rickthefightguy.livejournal.com]

Cool. some day you should check out my Pennsic:

1) Wake up and throw on a tunic when the bacon starts cooking.
2) Sit under the trees at Tagmata and play games (Go, Command and Colors, Cribbage), nap, read, shower (2-4 times a day) eat...
3) Contemplate going up the hill. (But, you know...mostly don't)
4) Back to 2.
5) near sunset, listen to Vissevald read a chapter or 3 or whatever he is reading aloud this year.
6) Dress a little nicer and wander around a bit.
7) Go to sleep.
Repeat around 12 times

[mikekn]

Sounds wonderful :)

Maybe when I get back to Pennsic I'll be able to settle into a similar schedule.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

It's been awhile since I've been to either but back when I was regularly attending gaming cons Origins awas always the better one for board and war games and Gen Con for RPGs. My direct experience is at least er... 15 years out of date though.

[mikekn]

Thanks!