TOPIC: Lack of Signage and Food choices in Lucas Oil

I'm just going to comment on the food issue.

In the 11-12 years I've been going to GenCon (as well as Origins, various Wizard World Cons, Baltimore Comic Con and the NYCC) I have only paid expensive convention center food prices less than 10 times. I refuse to give them my money for inflated food prices. It's ridiculous!!

I have no problem making sandwiches and bringing fruits and snacks with me in my zip bag/backpack. And, a case of water bought at my local Wal-Mart costs less than a bottle of water at convention center prices.

In 10+ years I have never... Never!... been told by anyone "in power" I can't have outside food/beverages with me. Keep in mind I don't go flaunting I am bringing stuff in for myself. And I don't openly wave the food/drink around while eating it.

As for big meals, my family and I walk to local eateries to eat. It wouldn't be GenCon if I didn't get to eat at Scotty's Brew House at least once. The food, atmosphere and service there is gamer heaven.

The doors to the Storyscape (from the main lobby, not the hall) should be propped open, or at least had big "come on in!" signs. I don't think the extra light leakage would have been an issue.

It seemed like a lot of people were confused about whether they were allowed to go in without an usher or something.

Brad Mortensen wrote: The doors to the Storyscape (from the main lobby, not the hall) should be propped open, or at least had big "come on in!" signs. I don't think the extra light leakage would have been an issue.

It seemed like a lot of people were confused about whether they were allowed to go in without an usher or something.

I would agree I got a bit confused on that myself with the narrow checkin space that was also shared by the TD store, so was always one big amorphous blob of a crowd

I have been going to conventions since 1976 (first GENCON for me), I have to say the outside food has never been an issue. Just do not bring a big cooler with you! Put the food in your back pack - they have never checked one as far as I know!

1. Food - Short walk away was the food trucks. Then again we like walking so not an issue for us. We were staying at the JW so we enjoyed the walking to TD. I did get my 10,000 steps in every day! LOL

2. Location - While it is "far away" for some, the location was near the exhibit hall. I think it all depends on what you wanted to do while at GENCON.

3. Entrance area - Needed some work, as some have stated, the narrow check-in was an issue, having multiple groups trying to get through the line was just tedious.

4. Badge check - The GENCON staffers were, well sometimes just rude to people. I was standing out there waiting for my group to show up watching people enter the area. There were four people checking people badges, one person said good to someone and soon as they walked by another staffer told them to stop and he had to check their badges. This happened multiple times, people were frustrated in their responses.

Just to address the newbie - there is a TD 101 they can participate in... and almost all experienced TD players are willing to stop and talk to new players.

Thoughts from someone who didn't volunteer.

1) I liked the new location once I figured out where the entrance was to the end of the tunnel at the top of the escalator. Better signage outside the building or information on maps of how to get to TD from outside the convention center would have been handy.
2) The added space to the exhibit hall and event area was nice.
3) The Troll was slightly annoying but I could ignore them. I do freely admit that the Troll would impede going to the food trucks on Capitol street for volunteers
4) I think the flow of the store/check-in area could be improved, it looked like there were some efforts in this direction between Thursday and Saturday.
5) I agree that signage for come on in would have been handy.

I enjoyed TD this year but I(and my group) did not like the space.

As others have said its just to remote. The LOS stsff was curt at best, and the concessions were open and closed seemingly at the whims of chance.

Honestly it felt like both TD and the anime events had been hidden away where we wouldnt bother anyone. I know several of the cosplayers didnt like it either due to costume mobility issues and the long walk back to the ICC propper where they might actually get screen.

We might not have a choice but if we do I hope we can get out of the space, being so remote definetly felt like it lead to less walk in business. I sent more incomplete groups this year then I have any other.

My group felt the same, nice space but way to distant.

actually enjoyed the new location. I realize that it does create a few new challenges, but overall I enjoyed. I do have a few suggestions/comments.
1. The added queue lines were a vast improvement to the registration area. It was a bit chaotic on Thursday before they were added.
2. I liked having the registration area and main treasure boxes outside in a well-lit area. I would like to see maybe another table or two for waiver signage. Possibly taller tables to make it easier to fill out said waivers.
3. Some signage and clarification of the treasure packs. I went much of the con before realizing that they were not just trying to offer me normal token packs. Did many people take this option? Any opinions from those who did?
4. Some added signage from the dungeon exit to ensure people make it back up front ok.
5. True Grind needs an exit. Shuffling by the next group seemed distracting.
6. Yeah the Troll needed to go.

I will only say this from my experience as a player, not a DM.

I never ran into any issue with the Red Shirts. Did feel they were being far more watchful then in the rest of the convention center, felt more like the old days in Milwaukee. But with that, it is what it is.

Signage could have been better, and not just for TD. For much of the Anime going on, it almost felt like a search or hunt to find the correct room. Yes TD could have had better signage for the event, but the Anime really needed much better.

Food, one on site vendor that felt it was a last minute addition with limited offerings. And yes, prices were outrageous even for a major event. I saw what little they offered and left.

For those looking for more, maybe next year they can opt for more vendors. Or people walk the one block north to the street vendors, or walk across the street to the White Castle. But with that said, that White Castle is sketchy. To put it mildly. It's bad when a fast food joint must have on site security guards and constantly be broadcasting over their intercom "Individuals are under closed circuit servalince, loiters will be prosecuted, police have been advice and are on the way."

MetaphoricDragon wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: The doors to the Storyscape (from the main lobby, not the hall) should be propped open, or at least had big "come on in!" signs. I don't think the extra light leakage would have been an issue.

It seemed like a lot of people were confused about whether they were allowed to go in without an usher or something.

I would agree I got a bit confused on that myself with the narrow check in space that was also shared by the TD store, so was always one big amorphous blob of a crowd

Agreed!

After getting through the mess of people, there were closed, blank doors, which made it look like I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be. Adding signs on the door (if allowed - I know some places are picky) saying something like, "Enter True Dungeon Here" would have been... well, more inviting. Personally, I would have had the doors propped open, and added a pop up tent/pavilion that could block some of the light leaking into the storyscape entrance. Additionally, the pavilion if decorated, could also provide a nice transition/walkway into the storyscape area.

Incognito wrote: I was less than impressed with the Lucas Oil Stadium.

1. The location was far from everything. As Brad mentioned, there is not much to do during your brief volunteer breaks.

2. The overall space definitely felt smaller (even though dimension wise it is supposed to be only slightly smaller than our old location).

3. The storyscape was a ghost town and outside it was too crowded and spread out. Thus there were few good trading opportunities.

4. Our Crown Plaza room was definitely smaller than the rooms we used to get at the Marriott. The Crown Plaza also had a host of other issues as well.

5. The security people were also super anal about the Lucas Oil Stadium. They seemed quite pompous and self-important, thinking everyone wants to sneak on to the field. Since I am completely uninterested in American football, I found this annoying and definitely not worth the hassle.

if we could have shuffled people back into story scape and not out and around, trading would have been a lot better(even though Dennis and I almost got our badges taken for trading tokens(yes we were really trading and not breaking any rules)

I thought the distance was fine. Admittedly, I was in the Crowne Plaza though, if I was at another hotel I might've thought it was far.

Food options weren't an issue for me, I just ate at the food trucks or restaurants before/after my runs. But I also wasn't volunteering all day long like some here.

The amount of space felt fine. Training rooms felt smaller than usual (why not make the storyscape smaller and increase training space by 50%), but everything else was good.

The layout was a bit odd. I wish the exit fed back through the storyscape somehow. There were "Do Not Enter" signs on the doors that did lead back to the storyscape. That didn't make sense to me. Why not let people go back that way? The reg desk lines were a complete mess on Thursday, but got better on subsequent days. Maybe instead, the waivers could be done up front but the tickets could be taken inside the storyscape close to the coaching rooms like they used to be. The layout made it more annoying to meet up with parties in the coaching room and distribute tickets there, because then players had to trek back outside (and wait in line) to turn them in. What used to be a 2 minute process now takes 5-10. Even by Sunday, the reg lines were worse than they've been the previous 2 years. That needs to be corrected.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned as much is the A/C. I felt like the old Hall A was kept at a cooler temperature than the new halls. After back-to-back runs I was pretty sweaty and I don't remember that happening last year. Staying hydrated was more important as a result too.

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote: if we could have shuffled people back into story scape and not out and around, trading would have been a lot better(even though Dennis and I almost got our badges taken for trading tokens(yes we were really trading and not breaking any rules)

O_O wow, that is crazy!