TOPIC: New to Origins (and Conventions as a whole)

Hey everyone!

First, I want to say thanks for the warm welcome to TD. My wife is giving this to me for Father's Day, and I'm excited to be joining you all. I am really excited that this is going to work out, especially since it was looking questionable for a while there.

A friend and I will be driving out to Origins Friday morning, and leaving Friday night.

So, here's my question: What else do you recommend doing at Origins while we're there?

I know, I know. I can hear some of you already, from here, saying, "Wait, there are other things to do aside from running through True Dungeon at Origins?"

My buddy and I were only able to justify getting one run for this first time (We're doing N3), but perhaps we'll be back next year. Neither he nor I have ever done a convention like this before.

What else do you recommend doing at the convention? Are there any favorite haunts? Things to do between TD runs?

Right now, we've decided to do the True Dungeon, and the mini painting station provided by WOTC. Aside from that, we're not sure how we're going to spend our day, exactly.

I didn't buy any extra event tickets or anything, since I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into at that time. Hopefully I'll be able to remedy that if something interesting appears.

So, what do you say? Any recommendations? Any tips for first time convention goers? Any must-dos?

Thanks in advance! You've all been great so far, and I'll looking forward to meeting some of you in person.

You could probably spend an hour or two looking through the dealer hall....and there should be game demos you can try out too.

Get some generic tickets ($2 each). Look around the miniatures hall for a home brewed game or two. Typically it is one generic for one to two hours of play. If you were going to be there Thursday I would recommend the one I’m running (dragons night out) but I’m only running it on Wednesday and Thursday. I love the home brewed games since it’s something you can’t do anywhere else.

Food wise check out north market, it’s stupid close to the convention center and has great food.

Either way I hope you have a great time

Maybe check out the red shirt games area. They usually have some good home brewed games going on.

Congratulations and welcome to the community. There are a lot of things you can do at these conventions to occupy your time. I know for myself, I plan on doing some DND, giant sized king of Tokyo, There are some really cool escape rooms.

I second the idea of getting some generic tickets and see what’s available.

I know origins also has ribbons that you could purchase if they’re still available that allow you to do unlimited of certain things. Like I got one for the arcade room and amtguard Foam weapon fighting.

Yes like others have said - Congrats and welcome. There will be more than enough to occupy your time and lots to see.

Definitely check out the dealer hall - you can spend lots of time there and often join in free demos. Also while there if you vote on the Origins Game Awards you can also get a free generic token good to hop into a game session that has some openings.

I second North Market for a good lunch - basically right outside the convention and the food is great.

With just a single day and True Dungeon taking up 2 1/2 hours I think you’ll find just doing the demos and checking it out will fill the day - with perhaps time to work in one other full game of your liking later in the afternoon or evening.

Hope you have a great time and become a regular (both to conventions and the TD community)!

The first time I went to Origins was spur of the moment. I drove up Saturday morning with no plans. Dealers Hall, demos, and pickup games in the hallway kept me busy non-stop, and I ended up spending the night and doing it again the next day.

And that was before TD was there.

Don’t be shy. If you see people setting up a pickup game, say “that looks interesting” and maybe they’ll invite you to join and you’ll make some new friends.

Sounds like you’re local. We live up around Akron, and my wife and I are trying to get a monthly game day going at our place. It’s still pretty small, ten people was our record so far, but if you or anyone else gets bored on the second Saturday of every month, send me a PM for an invite.

Friday night - the Smithee awards 7pm-midnight. It's drop-in style so just poke your head in for a few if you want. Voting for worst picture in several categories, with MST3K-style comments in between. We're still hoping to catch a few more of the folks on our run. Try to get to TD a half hour early; that'll give us time to go over a few things.

Get in a session of:

1st Ed D&D
Hackmaster
Aces & 8s
Ticket To Ride.

And, as others have said, hit the Dealer Hall and demo the sh!t out of the new games.

Ro-gan wrote: Get in a session of:

1st Ed D&D
Hackmaster
Aces & 8s
Ticket To Ride.

And, as others have said, hit the Dealer Hall and demo the sh!t out of the new games.

And
Deadlands
Cthulhu/ Cthulhutech
Terraforming Mars,
Clank.

don't plan anything but TD. everything else just get some generics and go with the flow

Lots of great advice here. Origins is a great Con to start with because there’s so much to do, go with the flow and you’ll have a good time.
GenCon is much more controlled, hectic and busy so can be really overwhelming.
Good luck and have fun.

Welcome to the forums Patrick - hope you get as much out of TD as the regulars here do!