TOPIC: GenCon 2021 Updates

Rebeg wrote:

Mike Steele wrote:

Rebeg wrote:

Mike Steele wrote:

Fred K wrote: The number of events is puzzling. They are allowing 30,000 attendees but limited events (currently between 5k and 6k.) By comparison, 2019 had 55k attendees and 19.600 events.

So, we have 55% of the people and 28% of the events translating to half as many events per person as we would normally have.

Baldman games have quite a bit fewer events than normal. No rio grande games, no Pelgrane Press, SJG is cut down dramatically, no serious Catan tournament, You too can Cthulhu doesn’t look like they are doing their black ticket event (but are doing the Masks event, at least), Hickman doesn’t appear to be coming, no significant guests so far, no mechwarrior/battletech, etc..

I am thinking whether I’ll attend will be based on whether I can get into much of what I want to see. Alternatively, I may just go for 1-2 days rather than the full trip. Of course, Covid case counts in Indy at the time will matter as well.

I can say I was 75% likely to go before the catalog went live - now down to about 25%.

Fred

I wonder if they'll end up allowing more than 30,000 attendees at GENCON. Indiana just lifted nearly all remaining COVID restrictions and requirements, so GENCON could probably go 100% attendance if they wanted to, without masks. Colts games will be 100% attendance this year, as will all other NFL games.

It's interesting that Marion County has gone 100% all of a sudden, especially when just a few weeks ago, they were in court fighting to keep restrictions in effect.

Also interesting that Gov. Holcomb extended the restrictions state wide till the end of the month. Contrary to what Marion county is doing.

Far as Gencon. I can't see them changing their plans at this point. Time remaining is short to make major changes and over all, they seem to like the idea of the restrictions to appease the vax'ers.

(OH MY GOD IF WE DON"T DO THIS PEOPLE WILL DIE!!!!!)

Knowing people who have died and after working with Health Departments to fight this - pretending Covid isn’t serious is disrespectful to everyone we’ve lost. More than 600,000 people have died in one year. The actual count may be as high as 1M Americans dead due to stupidity of leaders and individuals trying to pretend this isn’t serious (and can be 1 variant away from repeating itself.)

From the latest newsletter, it sounds like increasing the amount of people that can attend would be the most likely loosening of restrictions they might make:

"Again, we may loosen some of these restrictions as we get closer to the convention and if conditions warrant, especially the size cap. More than anything else we’d love to welcome each and every person who wants to attend this year, but for now, we’re going to have to keep it a little smaller than normal."

Gen Con has a financial reason for wanting to raise the attendance cap.

1. It would help them burn through all those roll over badges. They would love to do it this year over next. As Next year we'll likely see a price increase.

2. If memory serves, you need to see about 70% of your badge price to pay for venue space. With 50% or slightly higher, Gen Con is very likely loosing money hosting the con this year. If they can get more people to show, it helps reduce their lose this year.

But there in lays another problem. As mentioned events this year are massively restricted. Who really wants to attend a con, without many events? A poll we did back in April showed about 65% normal attendance interest. With the events out, I doubt it's higher than 55% at this time.

Between not wanting to associate with/get exposed to anti-vaxxers and a woeful lack of events, GenCon is quite a bit less appealing than normal. If I go, it will likely only be for a couple days just to maintain VIG.

GHC has the right idea with mandatory vaccinations, etc.. People can attend and not worry about brining something dangerous home to their unvaccinated kids. TD will be there and I am guessing a full slate of events.

Fred

Fred K wrote:

Rebeg wrote:

Mike Steele wrote:

Rebeg wrote:

Mike Steele wrote:

Fred K wrote: The number of events is puzzling. They are allowing 30,000 attendees but limited events (currently between 5k and 6k.) By comparison, 2019 had 55k attendees and 19.600 events.

So, we have 55% of the people and 28% of the events translating to half as many events per person as we would normally have.

Baldman games have quite a bit fewer events than normal. No rio grande games, no Pelgrane Press, SJG is cut down dramatically, no serious Catan tournament, You too can Cthulhu doesn’t look like they are doing their black ticket event (but are doing the Masks event, at least), Hickman doesn’t appear to be coming, no significant guests so far, no mechwarrior/battletech, etc..

I am thinking whether I’ll attend will be based on whether I can get into much of what I want to see. Alternatively, I may just go for 1-2 days rather than the full trip. Of course, Covid case counts in Indy at the time will matter as well.

I can say I was 75% likely to go before the catalog went live - now down to about 25%.

Fred

I wonder if they'll end up allowing more than 30,000 attendees at GENCON. Indiana just lifted nearly all remaining COVID restrictions and requirements, so GENCON could probably go 100% attendance if they wanted to, without masks. Colts games will be 100% attendance this year, as will all other NFL games.

It's interesting that Marion County has gone 100% all of a sudden, especially when just a few weeks ago, they were in court fighting to keep restrictions in effect.

Also interesting that Gov. Holcomb extended the restrictions state wide till the end of the month. Contrary to what Marion county is doing.

Far as Gencon. I can't see them changing their plans at this point. Time remaining is short to make major changes and over all, they seem to like the idea of the restrictions to appease the vax'ers.

(OH MY GOD IF WE DON"T DO THIS PEOPLE WILL DIE!!!!!)

Knowing people who have died and after working with Health Departments to fight this - pretending Covid isn’t serious is disrespectful to everyone we’ve lost. More than 600,000 people have died in one year. The actual count may be as high as 1M Americans dead due to stupidity of leaders and individuals trying to pretend this isn’t serious (and can be 1 variant away from repeating itself.)

From the latest newsletter, it sounds like increasing the amount of people that can attend would be the most likely loosening of restrictions they might make:

"Again, we may loosen some of these restrictions as we get closer to the convention and if conditions warrant, especially the size cap. More than anything else we’d love to welcome each and every person who wants to attend this year, but for now, we’re going to have to keep it a little smaller than normal."

Gen Con has a financial reason for wanting to raise the attendance cap.

1. It would help them burn through all those roll over badges. They would love to do it this year over next. As Next year we'll likely see a price increase.

2. If memory serves, you need to see about 70% of your badge price to pay for venue space. With 50% or slightly higher, Gen Con is very likely loosing money hosting the con this year. If they can get more people to show, it helps reduce their lose this year.

But there in lays another problem. As mentioned events this year are massively restricted. Who really wants to attend a con, without many events? A poll we did back in April showed about 65% normal attendance interest. With the events out, I doubt it's higher than 55% at this time.

Between not wanting to associate with/get exposed to anti-vaxxers and a woeful lack of events, GenCon is quite a bit less appealing than normal. If I go, it will likely only be for a couple days just to maintain VIG.

GHC has the right idea with mandatory vaccinations, etc.. People can attend and not worry about brining something dangerous home to their unvaccinated kids. TD will be there and I am guessing a full slate of events.

Fred

Every time I contact GC I encourage them to require vaccinations for all attendees. Then they could lift the masking requirements. I imagine that would encourage more people to attend, which would make up for losing anti-vaxxers.

Last article I read said that 99.2% of recent hospitalizations and deaths were of unvaccinated people.

Mike Steele wrote: I wonder if they'll end up allowing more than 30,000 attendees at GENCON.

At this rate, I don't think raising the attendance cap will matter, since I don't think they'll have more than 30,000 attendees regardless.

Allen John wrote:

Mike Steele wrote: I wonder if they'll end up allowing more than 30,000 attendees at GENCON.

At this rate, I don't think raising the attendance cap will matter, since I don't think they'll have more than 30,000 attendees regardless.

I’ve seen that they still have 4-day badges for sale. I was surprised I was able to get. Room at the JW Marriott even though my assigned time sucked.

I have learned GC will be releasing an updated health/safety policy tomorrow (June 8).

New GC update is out.

gencon.blog

Essentially, masks are recommended for all, but required for anyone unvaxxed. If you don't want to wear a mask, you can check in at a health station and show proof of vaccination (or proof of a medical exemption) to get a wristband showing you are vaxxed.

bpsymington wrote: New GC update is out.

gencon.blog

Essentially, masks are recommended for all, but required for anyone unvaxxed. If you don't want to wear a mask, you can check in at a health station and show proof of vaccination (or proof of a medical exemption) to get a wristband showing you are vaxxed.

Excellent!

Rebeg wrote:

Mike Steele wrote:

Fred K wrote: The number of events is puzzling. They are allowing 30,000 attendees but limited events (currently between 5k and 6k.) By comparison, 2019 had 55k attendees and 19.600 events.

So, we have 55% of the people and 28% of the events translating to half as many events per person as we would normally have.

Baldman games have quite a bit fewer events than normal. No rio grande games, no Pelgrane Press, SJG is cut down dramatically, no serious Catan tournament, You too can Cthulhu doesn’t look like they are doing their black ticket event (but are doing the Masks event, at least), Hickman doesn’t appear to be coming, no significant guests so far, no mechwarrior/battletech, etc..

I am thinking whether I’ll attend will be based on whether I can get into much of what I want to see. Alternatively, I may just go for 1-2 days rather than the full trip. Of course, Covid case counts in Indy at the time will matter as well.

I can say I was 75% likely to go before the catalog went live - now down to about 25%.

Fred

I wonder if they'll end up allowing more than 30,000 attendees at GENCON. Indiana just lifted nearly all remaining COVID restrictions and requirements, so GENCON could probably go 100% attendance if they wanted to, without masks. Colts games will be 100% attendance this year, as will all other NFL games.

It's interesting that Marion County has gone 100% all of a sudden, especially when just a few weeks ago, they were in court fighting to keep restrictions in effect.

Also interesting that Gov. Holcomb extended the restrictions state wide till the end of the month. Contrary to what Marion county is doing.

Far as Gencon. I can't see them changing their plans at this point. Time remaining is short to make major changes and over all, they seem to like the idea of the restrictions to appease the vax'ers.

(OH MY GOD IF WE DON"T DO THIS PEOPLE WILL DIE!!!!!)

Your lack of empathy for the people who have died or developed lasting health conditions is appalling.

Event registration for GC starts at 9:00 am PST on Sunday.

Seems like GC got flamed on Twitter regarding their updated health/safety policies. Someone pointed out that was par for the course; GC could tweet "Kittens are cute" and it would get attacked on Twitter.

bpsymington wrote: Seems like GC got flamed on Twitter regarding their updated health/safety policies. Someone pointed out that was par for the course; GC could tweet "Kittens are cute" and it would get attacked on Twitter.

Anyone or any organization with a large cultural following will get trashed on Twitter for "Kittens are cute". It’s just a toxic platform.

Event registration for GC 2021 is out. I pretty much got everything I wanted except for a game of Foundations of Rome, a game I wanted to try b/c I backed it on KS.