I’m talking about Gen Con again. But I don’t think that is going to surprise anyone. As we get close to the start of Gen Con, let’s talk about some things that are worth doing at least your first time. They might even be worth it the second and third and every time, it is up to you.

Five Things To Do At Your First Gen Con

5. Checkout Cardhalla (maybe even take part)

Cardhalla is where all those extra lands and worthless Magic the Gathering cards go to die. This is a charity event every year at Gen Con. People spend the con building up giant card towers and awesome things. This is one way you can take part. Spend some time there building up something, if you know how. It’s not a skill that I’ve developed.

But then on the last day there is a designated time where it all comes down. But it is how it comes down that is great. People throw coins at it to knock it over. Because, Cardhalla is a charity event and tradition. The money goes to a charity and people get to have fun building it up and destroying it. Even if you aren’t there for destroying it, walk by on that last or second to last day and see how giant it’s gotten.

4. Checkout Some Giant Games

Now, these are going to be ticketed events. I don’t think you can get to play them that easily because generally people are filling up the spots. But they are worth seeing in person. Around the con, sometimes in a hallways, or in the CGE room, there are giant games.

Now, this isn’t to get confused with mega games. Mega games are games with a lot of people that take a very long time. I mean games like a giant version of Galaxy Trucker in the CGE room. They section off part of the room and the tiles are probably 8″ to 12″ (they are all the same I just don’t know). So if you ever wanted to play a giant version of something, it might be worth checking out.

3. Tell A Designer or Content Creator You Like Their Stuff

This one I don’t think is something that is only the first year. But I want to put it with the first year because I think that it’s often tricky. If you’re like me you follow people who create content or make games. And it is one of those things where you look at it and think, they are awesome, they are cooler than me. I even do my own content creation and feel that way. So say hi, tell them you like their videos and most of us are nice and don’t bite.

I know I got to demo a game with it’s designer. I picked up a copy and got it signed by them because I liked the game. Don’t ask me to sign anything, it will ruin the value of it, but it’s awesome that I could do that. And that the designer was the one teaching the game for a demo. So don’t be shy about it, they like compliments and are people themselves just like you and me.

2. Go To Lucas Oil Stadium

One of the things about Gen Con and why it’s in Indy is that they have a good convention center that connects to the football stadium. So it’s worth it to go to Lucas Oil Stadium. One of the cool elements to it is that there’s access to the Gen Con game library there (you need a ticket). But you are on the field, which for some people is going to be exciting. It might not be for you, but you can get your picture taken on the field and share it with the people you know who love football.

But beyond that, it is a decent spot to find a table to try or look at a new game you bought. I like it a lot for that because sometimes it’s hard to find space otherwise. All of that is good, but one element I like that you can’t get anywhere else is you get to appreciate just how big a stadium is. So it’s worth walking over and just checking out the stadium from field level.

1. Watch the Dealer Hall Open on the First Day

This one, you might find yourself wanting to go into the mass of humanity and go into the dealer hall that first day. And you should, but give it thirty minutes. Let the initial rush happen and people get into lines. Then go around and check it out. But here’s a fun thing to do with not getting into that mass of humanity.

Go up to the second floor ten to fifteen minutes ahead of time. Find a spot along the railing where you can see well. And then watch as more and more people pack in around the doors. If you can find a spot near the kind of stage near the doors, again on the second floor, even better. You’ll hear the opening words for the con. And then just watch people go in, it’s chaos, but no running. It is just fun to see the mass of humanity move.

Final Thoughts

There are more things to checkout. Some of them, like going to the food trucks, playing game with friends, you know all that jazz. But these are five things that I think are fairly easy to miss. Some of them like Cardhalla or the giant games you might stumble across. Others, you might want to be in that starting mass of humanity.

Are there are things that you want to do if it’s your first year? Or if you’re a veteran, what are some things that maybe you missed at the start that you would recommend to people?

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