GenCon Indy

[morsla]

Sorry about the lack of updates - Indianapolis was full of eight million things to do, and I didn't find an internet cafe anywhere on my travels. I'm back in Chicago now, where the internet isn't just something for the iPhone users...

GenCon was just as huge as the stories say... 33,000 people at the convention, more trade stands than you can shake a truckload of gaming books at, and some surprisingly good food and drink at the brewpubs. I broke the "don't eat food larger than your head" rule with my first entree plate, and discovered that a pint of Bodger's Brew black lager goes well with any and all foodstuffs. I also discovered that it was crawling with Australian gamers... small world, innit?

I only entered one gaming tournament (WM Nationals), and was out in round three (8am Melbourne time, which my fatigue levels were still running on). Only part of it was tiredness, though - those Americans play a cutthroat game, and I'll have to sharpen up a lot more if I ever come back for another one. Still, Ed and I learned a few things about how to run the Australian Nationals next year, which was the main point in entering the tourney.

I didn't win the speed painting contest either, but apparently "that guy" up the far end of my table was actually Jeremie Bonamant - French superpainter, and a special guest at the convention. No shame in losing to a master :) Apparently the speed painting contest appeared on the GenCon video blog, as I've had a couple of people email me about seeing a blurry figure in a red Parkour shirt sitting at the table.

I'd like to tell you that the video is blurred from the speed I was painting at, but in truth I'd missed breakfast and was running on an hour's sleep - so my hands were a little shaky :)

Jeremie's painting class has given me a lot to think about - I took his Colour Theory workshop on Friday evening, and found out a few ways to borrow tricks from the classical oil painters. Best event at the convention, as my event lineup went.

I also won the Bronze trophy in Privateer Press' painting competition (unit category). I've never entered something with such a high level of competition, and I was hoping to just make the first shortlist... now I have a skull-and-crossbones trophy to find space for on my desk, and some models showing up in the next issue of No Quarter. Good stuff!

Finally found Hugh and Andre on the last day of the convention, talked briefly and then had to run off to run some demonstration games at the Privateer booth. Hugh offered to take my spare bag back to Melbourne, earning my eternal gratitude as it saved me from posting it back to Australia. With the addition of the resin Privateer trophy, I wasn't sure how on earth I'd pack it all safely enough to survive a USPS delivery run...

Scott, Lon and Alex headed off to New York this evening, and Ed hit the road after we left Indianapolis. I've slowly started to learn my way around downtown Chicago, courtesy of a map with an in-built compass (Best Invention Ever). Scott and I spent many hours in the Adler Planetarium today, and all sorts of game concepts have started to grow in the back of my mind. I just wish I'd picked up the "When The Stars Are Right" shirt at the convention.

Now all I need to do is fight the urge to slip Mythos-related misinformation into the Field Museum and Deep One breeding facility Aquarium exhibits (hey, the roofline is even carved with waves, tentacles and eyes) and I should be fine :)

Comments

[aeliel.livejournal.com]

Yay, you're alive!
Not that I didn't know that, but I felt it was worth celebrating. Also, yay for cute little gobbers.
Love.