Re: Countdown to GenCon 2020
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 11:27 am
salamanca wrote:Oh! And a request from each of you for your first memory of your first Gencon, please?
Well, the last year GenCon was still up in Wisconsin was my very first GenCon, AND my very first time to play 7th Sea. I have told this story many times so forgive me if you already know it.
I didn't know the whole "you need to sign up early for both rooms and events" thing so I got flights for Me, Jenny, and David (who was a mere 2 years old at the time) about two weeks ahead of time. We got a hotel room within walking distance (because 2 miles is a distance which can be walked). I made myself a list of events I wanted to try and get in (because of course I made a list). On that was the official 7th Sea event (and sadly enough would become the last official event), The Tower of Faith. I got there early and waited, and was second in line to get in if not all the players arrived. Unfortunately, they all did so I almost left, not realizing they could make an extra table. But then they did, because there were at least as many waiting as had signed up. So off we went to find a spot.
Turned out, there really wasn't one, so we sat in one of the wider hallways off to the side. I got the Castillian Aldana Swordsman who was secretly a member of the Invisible College. Unfortunately, I misread that and thought it meant something ENTIRELY different. So when we arrived at the tower and had to cross the bridge I confidently said I would simply turn everyone invisible because I had the Invisibility College...
Still embarrassed about that.
Anyway, players and GM helped me understand just exactly what was going on and then kindly allowed me to re-state what I would do given I did not have any invisibility.
Oh yea, one thing. Since we were on the floor, I had to use something to roll dice on. Since I had just come from the dealers hall prior to this event, I had a couple of books I'd bought. Specifically Gary Gygax's Lejendary Adventure. So about half way through we take the usual break, so I am sitting talking with other folks about 7th Sea and learning a bunch of new stuff. In the midst of this, a heavyset guy comes up to see what we're doing. No biggie, lots of folks have been doing that. He spots my dice coaster and asks me if I am a fan. I tell him, "Well I haven't read these yet, I just bought them. But, I am a Gygax whore so if he wrote a book about dogshit I would probably buy that too." He chuckles and we talk about the con for a little while before he says he has to go.
I turn back to the rest of the players and they have, that look. You know the one I mean. They know something and they're just waiting for me to clue in to it. It takes me about ten seconds then I say, "no. No, do not tell me that was Gary Gygax I was just talking with. DON'T say it." And they're biting their lips and then the grins and slow nods begin.
So at my very first GenCon I met the man himself, and didn't even know it.
On the way home I was still super stoked about 7th Sea. It was the first game since D&D and Champions to get under my skin that way (I didn't play Deadlands or Shadowrun until after that). So coincidence of coincidence I end up sitting right next to the GM from that game. We got to talking and he gave me the original adventure, so I'd read it years before it got released.