It's my first year going ... I've been into tabletop hobby board games for a long time, at least since 2005 or 2006. And I've lived in Indiana my whole life! I'm taking my 10 year old son with me too. Just for a Saturday. Your video was fantastic - great tips. Some real common sense stuff that I didn't even think about, like having cash on hand. Thanks for the video, friend!
There is a new Game store a 5 minute drive from the convention center that will be having 24 hour gaming starting the Monday before Con..it is REALLY nice...
That’s a great suggestion and I’m sad I won’t be able to take advantage of it as I’m driving from NJ on Wednesday, but if I do a 2024 update I’ll add it in
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa The Shop is Called Elf N Moon..not sure Indy really needed another game store cause we have a TON but they are doing well it seems and has been a great place to play...
Maybe you could talk them into moving to Jersey - in the past 3 years , 3 game stores closed and 2 great ones are on the verge of closing…. Not many left
Thanks so much for the parking tip! Bought a pass. The wife and I have been talking about going for a decade, but never could get it arranged. We're coming down from Western Canada for it -- first time and super pumped!
@davetalbert8387 I'm so glad it helped! And congrats on making your trip happen - You're going to have a great time! If you see me there, please say Hi!
If you’re willing to have a bit further of a drive, look into hotels in the Carmel, Westfield and Fishers area just north of Indy. Might be cheaper than downtown hotels. It’s probably a 20-30 minute drive to the convention center but might end up saving you money if Uber isn’t through the roof expensive
Thanks @brandtp23 - The recent years I didnt go to GenCon, the thing i missed the most was not being able to see people swarm into the vendor room! Did you see my GenCon 2023 walkthru video?
Wonderful suggestions! I've been going since 2003 (20 years!) and all of your suggestions are fantastic! Thanks for the generous help and I hope your GEN CON is wonderful this year! I really encourage everyone to take your time, walk around, enjoy - there's so much to see, find something you haven't seen before, walk in all of the halls. Every year, my experience is different and always fun.
Thank you for the kind words. I hope your GenCon is wonderful as well! Its funny, last year i made a conscious effort to walk down every aisle and check out every booth... And I found so much more wonderful stuff that I would've missed otherwise...It may not have been in one shot, but I'd remember where I left off LOL
That is music to my ears - Seeing all the vendors in front of me in line for Iello that year when I got up early, waited in the crowd and RAN (ok, really fast walked) over there really was a bad start to the show and it took a few hours to get over the funk... I'm glad they fixed that issue!
Thank you for this list, I watched this twice. 🙂 I have wanted to go for years, but every year I get so overwhelmed in the planning that I say, "maybe next year instead." I'm feeling much more confident after watching your tips on parking and hotels, so yeah...I think I can do this.
Thank you for saying that and showing that my video was useful for you! Once you get thru the initial worrying about the show, GenCon is very rewarding - but I I definitely know that initial worry can be hard to get thru!
To get the best hotel rates join a hotel group club and rack up points as you can. This get's you access to rooms set aside for members. I used to travel for business and racked up a lot of free stays for major events. Try joining IGH or Hilton and then look for the cheap rooms near you when you want to take a stay-cation. Membership matters.
Great ideas - I did join the Wyndham one years ago but i don’t really travel that often so by the time I use em, they’re expired…. I’ve been staying at the same hotel for GenCon every year since 2014 tho - it’s not fancy but every year we meet and reconnect with gamers in the ballroom after the show :)
Good video with lots of great info. Wanted to add (and i know this is too late for this year) but getting the wish list done before the events open. Its a great system but with the tens of thousands all booking events at once, your best chances happen when things open online. Also, not sure what uber driver you talked to that made the comment but they are probably just making conversation. There are over 300,000 at the race. Really disproportionate to gencon but the city is very busy for gencon.
True, there’s no such thing as a consensus between people anymore.. I think many of the Indy500 people are more spread out and not right in the center of Indianapolis - where this Uber driver was probably based out of more… maybe? I’ve had luck with the booking system days after they opened, but I’m also looking at what isn’t sold out to pick what I want to do…. I’ve dealt with the hotel booking system the second it opened and have never been lucky there
I'd love to hear some names. When we went to the Speedway, it seemed like the area was pretty empty and stores were closed down during a weekday afternoon... The Dallera IndyCar museum was open which is why we went there (and it was amazing)
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa if you like diner breakfasts Charlie Brown's Pancake House, Big Woods is really good, Dawson's, Barbecue and Bourbon, we also have another restaurant called LePeep that just opened, they do good breakfasts too (local chain I think..there is one within walking distance from the convention center). Brozini's pizza is also good..also About a 3 minute drive from the track on 10th Street is Mug and Bun..they make their own root beer and it is fabulous. There is also The Spark which is a little coffee shop and Fundaes which is an Ice cream place
That is a great list - Thank you so much for taking the time to write that! I don't plan to eat in the convention area since everything gets so crowded, so having places outside the main area is really helpful
I live near the circle downtown, there’s a really great sushi and ramen place called Oishi nearby, and a sub place called Fat Dan’s that has good stuff. Also a German place called Rathskeller, if you want something different. For more expensive places, try The Eagle, or Louvino’s.
so I am going to Gen Con for the first time this summer with a group of friends. I got a really lucky draw of the hotel Q. the others in my group got some really late drawings, and they have been there multiple times in the past. Maybe if you are a new-comer, you may get a good place in the Q for the hotel options.
@elman672 Thats awesome - glad you got a lucky draw. I'd like to think you just had beginners luck, but it may very well be tied into being a brand new attendee...
Please stop scaring people of the Will Call line! I don't know when your First Gen Con that you are referencing was, but it has gotten SO MUCH better. Yes the Line is very long, sometimes even stretching ALL the way down Wabash West (and sometimes even outside and down the street). But, even then, at ABSOLUTE worst, its *maybe* 1.5 hours. 90% of the its under an hour these days, even when all the way down Wabash West. I've been going for 10 years now, and I'll never have my stuff shipped to me. Too many horror stories of people losing their stuff, forgetting their stuff, or USPS marking it "delivered" and it being somewhere else. I'll take my hour in line, with friendly people, chatting with my fellow gamers in line, and making new friends over months of worry and hassle trying to track down my packages - hands down. To those who like shipping, more power to you. Its a great option. But for some of us, its Will Call for life, and its nothing to be scared of if you didn't get your stuff in time to have it shipped. Tons of other great info here though!
My first GenCon was 2014 and I have had my pass shipped to me without incident ever since... Last year my friend had to go on the Will Call line (and then the "prove vaccination" line). We pulled into Indiana and the convention center from NJ around 8pm on Tuesday, and didn't get out till after 11pm waiting for him. This year, another co-travelling friend has to be on Will Call, and I hope its a lot shorter evening without the vaccination proof line... It is kinda cool to be in the convention center before the show opens, but I hope you're right that it got better! Thanks for telling the "other side" of Will Call!
The two combined lines last year did get kind of long, but (at least from my experience) the Vaccination Line took alot longer than Will Call. I could see spending 2-3 hours in BOTH lines combined.
@@BlackFox42 Lines are even longer when you dont need to be in them and are just hanging out keeping your friend company (and theres nothing else to do the night before at the convention center - and you just drove 12 hours LOL) The vaccination line was brutal
If you are coming in early, like Tuesday or Wednesday morning, the Will Call line is kinda fun. There's basically nothing else going on at that time, and I enjoy the hype of being in the Convention Center before it opens. If you aren't coming in until Thursday, have them mailed. You don't want to waste time in Will Call while there are other things to do.
I’ve been on the will call line once and never again…will always have them mailed… If I lived closer I’d go earlier but we get there late Wednesday night.. and that line is crazy then
We have met a lot of fun people in the Will Call line. We weren’t sure we were going this year so it was a last minute decision so we will be in the Will Call line again this year, hopefully meeting some new awesome people.
@@kreggie891 That's looking at the silver lining :) Theres a lot of fun people all over GenCon so it makes sense that if you're near people for a while you'll find em :)
Not my first year going, but the last time I did was 35 years ago. As a seasoned convention-goer up here in Toronto I can kinda imagine how daunting it can be at such a huge place. Also, how do I message you about airport hotels? I have one just east of the airport there - decided it was best to book it at the same time as my flight at Flight Centre. (And yes, that's how it's spelled here in Canada.) We were just talking about the 'Running of the Nerds' over on the Gen Con Discord. I mentioned how I saw something similar many years ago up here. I was in the convention center at Anime North before opening on Friday to get the table for another convention I was involved with ready. Our table over in the fan area had a perfect view of the main entrance, and once the doors opened we saw a wave of humanity surge forth and go straight to the corrals to enter the dealer's area.
@davegreenlaw5654 You can reach me at theboardgamesherpa@gmail.com - As long as its not the Motel 6 by Indianapolis Airport, you should be ok (seriously read the Yelp/Expedia reviews there - my friend left in the middle of the night and slept in his car because it was so unsafe feeling)... Read the Yelp reviews on wherever - I'm a huge fan of the Microtel, but thats just me... The Opening Day crush is something I am glad I experienced in the crowd,...But I'm much happier filming it on the tiers above... Theres a couple of videos on my channel...
@Cowman715 3:40 time slot this year, so my streak of never even coming close to winning the housing lottery continues... I had already booked our traditional hotel, long before the time slot...
Regarding the Will Call line. While I would love it if I could get my badge and event tickets mailed, alas I'm up here in Canada and thus don't have a valid US address.
Found this video while figuring out, what to do with my summer holidays! Wondering if it’s too late, too expensive or too much of an adventure for an old German Boardgamer, who was the last time in the Staates in the 80ies with a school exchange Programm. LoL😂 Maybee.
If you can make it work with the airlines/hotel I absolutely think you should do it if you love board games…. It’s a great show and you won’t be disappointed
Getting a hotel this close to the event would probably be expensive as hell, but Gencon is definitely an event that should be experienced if you're a fan of board games. Tickets usually go up at the start of the year if there's too much to get in place to make it work this year.
@@JK-mp1mg Last year when my friend felt so unsafe at the Motel 6 that he left and slept in his car the first night, he found a (More expensive, but not ridiculous) room at the Microtel nearby which was much more safer.. Its not downtown and people cancelled last minute, so its possible...
Thanks for all the Comments and advise. But I canceled this upcoming Idear for this time. Maybe next Year, with much more planing ahead of time! Wish you all a wonderful GenCon, have Fun, play Games with Strangers and make Friends!
@@samhugo5870 I’m sorry to hear you won’t be coming, but I understand. Going to a huge con and dealing with last minute planning is hard enough, but coming in from another country and the extra difficulties that brings is even tougher…. Hope to see you next year!
Another good newbie tip: call your bank/credit card company ahead of time if you plan to use cards for purchases, the vendors are from all over and the transaction may get flagged as fraud if you used your card somewhere then soon after used it "in a location too far from the last transaction"
Thats a great tip... I remember getting flagged as fraud on my honeymoon in Hawaii... The time difference made for a lonnnnng wait before I could clear it up and book (and pay for) the excursions I wanted... Such a pain!
That's a great point; also considering so many of the vendors are from out of the country, so if you're thinking "location too far" and you're still thinking the US, then you're not asking the right questions from your bank. lol Even if there's no problem with getting flagged for US purchases, consider there's likely going to be purchases that are marked from Canada, Australia, and the UK, at minimum. Talk about too far! :)
Great tips! Didn't make it this year, but am really considering going next year. Where are the best deals to be had at GenCon? I know I've heard that they'll usually have discounts, but are they comparable to what the OLGS sell for? Also, was wondering if second hand games are sold exclusively through the auction/consignment store, or if there are vendors selling them as well. I know people do meetups for trades and sales as well. Aside from playing games, my second highest priority would be finding some good deals, not just buying the hottest ones for MSRP.
Best deals at GenCon are either on Sunday when the publishers dont want to bring back all their unsold games, or at the auction consignment area - so I've heard - In all my years at GenCon, I haven't found it yet - One year I will make it a priority... I assume there are a few meetups for trading games - i would look at Meetup.com as it gets closer... I haven't seen any thing about that, but I also wasn't specifically looking either.... Im sure its out there
Late to the game (no pun intended), but thinking about going this year on Thursday. I’m very back and forth on it. Can I realistically get the super popular games that I want? I would hate to go, and then not be able to get the things I am most excited for, even though I’m also excited to discover new things that I may not have known about before. Anyway, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is also in Indianapolis. Not sure how far away it is from everything, but it’s a great stop. Friendly staff and a fun adventure for literary fans.
I can relate - the year I went to GenCon with the only game I cared about being King of New York, it crushed me knowing Ielloi only brought 50 copies a day, and the vendors inside the hall got most if not all of them... I can't promise you that you'll get the game... I'd say call the publisher, and see how many copies they're bringing, but they prob wont tell you the truth if they're only bringing a couple - if they answer the call at all...
If you have at least a few games that you really want, you may not get them all, but you may get a couple. Last year I missed out on 4 but did get 4 that I wanted. Just a tip that Adam’s Apple Games always brings low quantity of games and runs out super fast so if anything of theirs is on your list, cross that off. There are a few already listed on BGG GENCON Preview as limited Quantities so that could help. But even if you don’t get the ones you want you may find something you didn’t know you would love even more. I found 2 games last year like that, and of the 4 that I missed out on, I never bought 2 of them.
Great tip. Thank you! I have about 4 games I know I want to (try and) get at GenCon.... If I get them, I get them.... But I absolutely will be walking away with 10 or more OTHER games that I don't know I want.... :)
Thank you for all the tips! I didn't realize it would be that much walking and I think the crowd noise might wear me out. But I am going to look for a smaller Game Con nearer to me and see if that experience propels me to bigger Cons.
I’m glad you found my tips useful. Sorry that it deterred you from going though. If you were really disciplined, you could minimize the walking and just hang out in the gaming area and sit playing games for most of the con, but it is a big place so walking a bit can’t be avoided
@@bibleboardgames Gotcha. I hope theres something more local to you. I'm in NJ and theres comic cons, but the closest board game convention is Philadelphia.
Just remember ... 1) If this is your first GenCon you have to fight ... And ... 2) We don't talk about GenCon ... or am I thinking about something else?
LOL - i think I'm going to the wrong event. I can't shut my mouth this week talking about all the cool things GenCon... But I'll fight in Luchador! all day long!
If you can tolerate NY or SD Comic Con, you’ll be fine…. GenCon is a big show, but other than the opening of the doors (which you don’t have to go to), it is pretty spread out and you can easily find plenty of elbow room or a place to sit… there’s even a dark cool room specifically there to escape the crowds (and charge your phone lol) Once you’re there, the anxiety will disappear
I hear you - be grateful that they are not doing the vaccination check.. that would’ve been another 2 hour line…. If you’re not going for pickup on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, the line might not be as bad
Great video, and thanks for the tips. I am coming in for the first time to GenCon on Wednesday to go to the Thursday CMON Zombicide events. Question 1, the first event is at 10am, do I need to be at the convention center before 9 am to be sure to get in? Q2 does the convention center have water fountains? Thanks so much for helping a newb.
Glad to hear my tips helped you! I hope you have a wonderful time! It all depends on whether you physically have your GenCon tickets on your person, or do you have to pick them up at Will Call... If you have to go to Will Call, I would schedule at least two hours there on Thursday morning to get thru that line since its opening day. Honestly I would pick them up Wednesday just to be safe. If you have your GenCon pass already and your tickets to the event, you have a lot more freedom - but I would still try to be there at least 15-30 minutes early to get a good seat. And don't forget to account for getting lost in the convention center (its huge and easy to get lost) As for water fountains, I dont know for sure. Im sure they do somewhere, but where, I don't know. And its probably not filtered - just straight from the main waterline - probably the same the bathroom sinks have :) Bring your own water - they sell it there, but theres lines and its expensive)
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa Wow, thanks for the reply. I do plan on going Wednesday to get my badge and tickets. Certainly am with you on getting there early in case I get lost, I feel I will be overwhelmed and easily distracted :)! The video you posted of the crowd walking in seems insane! Can't wait, hope you enjoy the con.
Ok good you have a solid plan…. Don’t be too scared at the crowd video…. It’s the opening where everyone congregates to run in to the vendor room to get the hot game they want. It is easily avoidable if you don’t need to get something in that room before it sells out. And it’s not as crowded anywhere else during the show…. I just love being on the balcony above to capture the spectacle of it
I get it… Years ago I built a con trip around meeting Nathan Fillion. And he cancelled the day before - too late to cancel rest of plans - if it weren’t for Henry Winkler being really awesome that day, it would’ve been the worst con ever
I've never been to Gen Con before and will be trying to go this year. I live roughly 30 minutes away from downtown so would it be suggested to just avoid hotels? I don't see a point in me spending hundreds of dollars when I don't live far. My only issue then would be parking or ubering to and from downtown
I personally wouldn’t try to get a hotel if i were you… getting a downtown hotel might be impossible this late in the game and if it were available it’s probably ridiculously priced. Parking will be bad downtown as well.. Go to Chance Parking on Facebook - they have a lot by the stadium that will shuttle you to the convention center and it says it will cost $66 for the entire length of the convention. I don’t have any financial connection to them (I wish!) but a similar parking setup from a different company (I think - the company from last year isn’t around now) last year made parking really easy…. (
Well it depends on what your event is…. If it’s game based, I would go on that game related Facebook/Instagram pages and mention . You gotta post on places where your panel topic would be helpful and welcome
I should have said check out the reviews on Expedia... Seriously check them out... Two reviews from the last month 2/10 Terrible Khawar Business traveler Apr 18, 2023 Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities I am writing this review out of utter frustration. I usually ignore the shortcomings of hotels where I stay, but this was ridiculous. To begin with my car tires got slashed overnight. I had to reach somewhere and I ended up changing the tire in heavy rain. The pictures posted on this motel listings are absolutely deceiving. The motel is worn out and run down, and the pictures have been intentionally modified. They do not represent this motel at all. The walls are thin as paper. It was 6 AM and I could hear people's alarms going off, people getting ice from the ice machine, people yelling and fighting outside, people chatting disrespectfully in the hallway, people slamming the doors, my upstairs room had some kids that were just running for past 5 or so hours. Some baby was wailing for three or so hours. The fridge in my room had issues with its thermostat to where every time it changed its settings, there was a huge clack sound, which literally startled me and woke me up quite a few times. The room's cleanliness was so questionable. I was super disgusted that I allowed myself to stay there. The hotels in Indianapolis are so expensive. I was attending a convention and had to be there early and I was frustrated that I could not sleep properly. I had a severe headache and they didn't even have coffee anywhere. I did not wish to step outside the motel because the kind of people I saw in the parking did not make me feel comfortable. This motel is like a mini nightmare. 2/10 Terrible Suzanne Traveled with family and small children, Business traveler May 10, 2023 Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities Beds were so hard it was unbelievable. Dryer was broken it smelled like cigarette smoke throughout the whole facility. I asked for more blankets and towels and they at first refused to give them to me because laundry was closed and when i told them i know you have access to the laundry then he gave them to me but told me to bring my other towels and blankets to him....what i needed more why would i bring the others????? People doing drugs in the lobby sitting around very unsafe. I had children with me as well asking me what those people were doing. AWFUL experience!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just bought four-day passes for 2024, so excited! It will be our first time at Gen Con. Thanks for this awesome and helpful video!
So glad you’re going! You’re going to have a great time!
Same! I’m so excited!
Its gonna be great!
It's my first year going ... I've been into tabletop hobby board games for a long time, at least since 2005 or 2006. And I've lived in Indiana my whole life! I'm taking my 10 year old son with me too. Just for a Saturday. Your video was fantastic - great tips. Some real common sense stuff that I didn't even think about, like having cash on hand. Thanks for the video, friend!
Really happy to hear my video helped you! I wish I knew this stuff going in my first year!!!
You’re going to have a great time!
i live in indiana too and this will be my first also. im hyped
It’s definitely worth the trip - I’ve had fun every time I’ve gone
How was it going with your son? I've been thinking about taking one of my children too.
@@alwaysathief It was fine - so much to look at and do, was very little downtime or time to complain. Haha
I'm planning on making the pilgrimage next year. Very good stuff!
It’s a fun show! Day 1 out did itself
There is a new Game store a 5 minute drive from the convention center that will be having 24 hour gaming starting the Monday before Con..it is REALLY nice...
That’s a great suggestion and I’m sad I won’t be able to take advantage of it as I’m driving from NJ on Wednesday, but if I do a 2024 update I’ll add it in
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa The Shop is Called Elf N Moon..not sure Indy really needed another game store cause we have a TON but they are doing well it seems and has been a great place to play...
Maybe you could talk them into moving to Jersey - in the past 3 years , 3 game stores closed and 2 great ones are on the verge of closing…. Not many left
@allisoncampbell1631 - your tips made it to the new video ;)
Could not ask for a better video right now. Thanks so much!
@izzyworks8825 Thank you for the compliment - Love hearing that this video helped people!
Thanks so much for the parking tip! Bought a pass. The wife and I have been talking about going for a decade, but never could get it arranged. We're coming down from Western Canada for it -- first time and super pumped!
@davetalbert8387 I'm so glad it helped! And congrats on making your trip happen - You're going to have a great time! If you see me there, please say Hi!
If you’re willing to have a bit further of a drive, look into hotels in the Carmel, Westfield and Fishers area just north of Indy. Might be cheaper than downtown hotels. It’s probably a 20-30 minute drive to the convention center but might end up saving you money if Uber isn’t through the roof expensive
I liked your video. I always liked filming the crowd enter the vendor room... And i always walk every aisle of vendors at gencon.
Thanks @brandtp23 - The recent years I didnt go to GenCon, the thing i missed the most was not being able to see people swarm into the vendor room! Did you see my GenCon 2023 walkthru video?
Wonderful suggestions! I've been going since 2003 (20 years!) and all of your suggestions are fantastic! Thanks for the generous help and I hope your GEN CON is wonderful this year! I really encourage everyone to take your time, walk around, enjoy - there's so much to see, find something you haven't seen before, walk in all of the halls. Every year, my experience is different and always fun.
Thank you for the kind words. I hope your GenCon is wonderful as well! Its funny, last year i made a conscious effort to walk down every aisle and check out every booth... And I found so much more wonderful stuff that I would've missed otherwise...It may not have been in one shot, but I'd remember where I left off LOL
Also, they've stopped allowing VIGs and Vendors to Line up at the booths before the Vendor Hall opened, from what I've heard.
That is music to my ears - Seeing all the vendors in front of me in line for Iello that year when I got up early, waited in the crowd and RAN (ok, really fast walked) over there really was a bad start to the show and it took a few hours to get over the funk... I'm glad they fixed that issue!
Thank you for this list, I watched this twice. 🙂 I have wanted to go for years, but every year I get so overwhelmed in the planning that I say, "maybe next year instead." I'm feeling much more confident after watching your tips on parking and hotels, so yeah...I think I can do this.
Thank you for saying that and showing that my video was useful for you! Once you get thru the initial worrying about the show, GenCon is very rewarding - but I I definitely know that initial worry can be hard to get thru!
Watching this the day before Gen Con 2023 thanks for the tips!
Glad to help! Have a great con!
First timer here!! Thank you, this was helpful! :)
Glad you liked it! Hope you have a great GenCon!
Got to meet you while I was buying the stuff of legends. Great tips here and thank you so much for all the info!
I remember you guys! You made my day having recognized me there! Thank you!
To get the best hotel rates join a hotel group club and rack up points as you can. This get's you access to rooms set aside for members. I used to travel for business and racked up a lot of free stays for major events. Try joining IGH or Hilton and then look for the cheap rooms near you when you want to take a stay-cation. Membership matters.
Great ideas - I did join the Wyndham one years ago but i don’t really travel that often so by the time I use em, they’re expired…. I’ve been staying at the same hotel for GenCon every year since 2014 tho - it’s not fancy but every year we meet and reconnect with gamers in the ballroom after the show :)
Good video with lots of great info. Wanted to add (and i know this is too late for this year) but getting the wish list done before the events open. Its a great system but with the tens of thousands all booking events at once, your best chances happen when things open online. Also, not sure what uber driver you talked to that made the comment but they are probably just making conversation. There are over 300,000 at the race. Really disproportionate to gencon but the city is very busy for gencon.
True, there’s no such thing as a consensus between people anymore.. I think many of the Indy500 people are more spread out and not right in the center of Indianapolis - where this Uber driver was probably based out of more… maybe?
I’ve had luck with the booking system days after they opened, but I’m also looking at what isn’t sold out to pick what I want to do…. I’ve dealt with the hotel booking system the second it opened and have never been lucky there
I live within walking distance of the Speedway..there are good restaurants in Main Street in Speedway too
I'd love to hear some names. When we went to the Speedway, it seemed like the area was pretty empty and stores were closed down during a weekday afternoon... The Dallera IndyCar museum was open which is why we went there (and it was amazing)
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa if you like diner breakfasts Charlie Brown's Pancake House, Big Woods is really good, Dawson's, Barbecue and Bourbon, we also have another restaurant called LePeep that just opened, they do good breakfasts too (local chain I think..there is one within walking distance from the convention center). Brozini's pizza is also good..also About a 3 minute drive from the track on 10th Street is Mug and Bun..they make their own root beer and it is fabulous. There is also The Spark which is a little coffee shop and Fundaes which is an Ice cream place
That is a great list - Thank you so much for taking the time to write that! I don't plan to eat in the convention area since everything gets so crowded, so having places outside the main area is really helpful
I live near the circle downtown, there’s a really great sushi and ramen place called Oishi nearby, and a sub place called Fat Dan’s that has good stuff. Also a German place called Rathskeller, if you want something different. For more expensive places, try The Eagle, or Louvino’s.
will check it out!
Great video! Super helpful tips bud!
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Wow, you really brought new meaning to "no tell" haha!! Good tips. And great advice - never stay at a Motel 6.
Not Telling was my hint of where it was lol
so I am going to Gen Con for the first time this summer with a group of friends. I got a really lucky draw of the hotel Q. the others in my group got some really late drawings, and they have been there multiple times in the past. Maybe if you are a new-comer, you may get a good place in the Q for the hotel options.
@elman672 Thats awesome - glad you got a lucky draw. I'd like to think you just had beginners luck, but it may very well be tied into being a brand new attendee...
Thanks for this big dog
You bet
Please stop scaring people of the Will Call line! I don't know when your First Gen Con that you are referencing was, but it has gotten SO MUCH better. Yes the Line is very long, sometimes even stretching ALL the way down Wabash West (and sometimes even outside and down the street). But, even then, at ABSOLUTE worst, its *maybe* 1.5 hours. 90% of the its under an hour these days, even when all the way down Wabash West.
I've been going for 10 years now, and I'll never have my stuff shipped to me. Too many horror stories of people losing their stuff, forgetting their stuff, or USPS marking it "delivered" and it being somewhere else. I'll take my hour in line, with friendly people, chatting with my fellow gamers in line, and making new friends over months of worry and hassle trying to track down my packages - hands down.
To those who like shipping, more power to you. Its a great option. But for some of us, its Will Call for life, and its nothing to be scared of if you didn't get your stuff in time to have it shipped.
Tons of other great info here though!
My first GenCon was 2014 and I have had my pass shipped to me without incident ever since... Last year my friend had to go on the Will Call line (and then the "prove vaccination" line). We pulled into Indiana and the convention center from NJ around 8pm on Tuesday, and didn't get out till after 11pm waiting for him.
This year, another co-travelling friend has to be on Will Call, and I hope its a lot shorter evening without the vaccination proof line... It is kinda cool to be in the convention center before the show opens, but I hope you're right that it got better!
Thanks for telling the "other side" of Will Call!
The two combined lines last year did get kind of long, but (at least from my experience) the Vaccination Line took alot longer than Will Call. I could see spending 2-3 hours in BOTH lines combined.
@@BlackFox42 Lines are even longer when you dont need to be in them and are just hanging out keeping your friend company (and theres nothing else to do the night before at the convention center - and you just drove 12 hours LOL)
The vaccination line was brutal
thank you for such great tips!
My pleasure. I wish I knew these things for my first GenCon! It would've saved a lot of time and hassle :)
If you are coming in early, like Tuesday or Wednesday morning, the Will Call line is kinda fun. There's basically nothing else going on at that time, and I enjoy the hype of being in the Convention Center before it opens. If you aren't coming in until Thursday, have them mailed. You don't want to waste time in Will Call while there are other things to do.
I’ve been on the will call line once and never again…will always have them mailed…
If I lived closer I’d go earlier but we get there late Wednesday night.. and that line is crazy then
We have met a lot of fun people in the Will Call line. We weren’t sure we were going this year so it was a last minute decision so we will be in the Will Call line again this year, hopefully meeting some new awesome people.
@@kreggie891 That's looking at the silver lining :) Theres a lot of fun people all over GenCon so it makes sense that if you're near people for a while you'll find em :)
Not my first year going, but the last time I did was 35 years ago. As a seasoned convention-goer up here in Toronto I can kinda imagine how daunting it can be at such a huge place. Also, how do I message you about airport hotels? I have one just east of the airport there - decided it was best to book it at the same time as my flight at Flight Centre. (And yes, that's how it's spelled here in Canada.)
We were just talking about the 'Running of the Nerds' over on the Gen Con Discord. I mentioned how I saw something similar many years ago up here. I was in the convention center at Anime North before opening on Friday to get the table for another convention I was involved with ready. Our table over in the fan area had a perfect view of the main entrance, and once the doors opened we saw a wave of humanity surge forth and go straight to the corrals to enter the dealer's area.
@davegreenlaw5654 You can reach me at theboardgamesherpa@gmail.com - As long as its not the Motel 6 by Indianapolis Airport, you should be ok (seriously read the Yelp/Expedia reviews there - my friend left in the middle of the night and slept in his car because it was so unsafe feeling)... Read the Yelp reviews on wherever - I'm a huge fan of the Microtel, but thats just me...
The Opening Day crush is something I am glad I experienced in the crowd,...But I'm much happier filming it on the tiers above... Theres a couple of videos on my channel...
We're planning on our first trip and we got a 430 time slot for the lottery haha Very excited to go even if we have to drive a little
@Cowman715 3:40 time slot this year, so my streak of never even coming close to winning the housing lottery continues... I had already booked our traditional hotel, long before the time slot...
The auction and resale game have moved this year. My son made a killing at the auction for his favorite game.
Great tip! I haven’t done the auctions yet, but I’m going to check them out this year!
Regarding the Will Call line. While I would love it if I could get my badge and event tickets mailed, alas I'm up here in Canada and thus don't have a valid US address.
@davegreenlaw5654 Oh wow, I'm sorry - i didnt realize they wouldn't ship out of country - especially Canada...
Found this video while figuring out, what to do with my summer holidays! Wondering if it’s too late, too expensive or too much of an adventure for an old German Boardgamer, who was the last time in the Staates in the 80ies with a school exchange Programm. LoL😂 Maybee.
If you can make it work with the airlines/hotel I absolutely think you should do it if you love board games…. It’s a great show and you won’t be disappointed
Getting a hotel this close to the event would probably be expensive as hell, but Gencon is definitely an event that should be experienced if you're a fan of board games. Tickets usually go up at the start of the year if there's too much to get in place to make it work this year.
@@JK-mp1mg Last year when my friend felt so unsafe at the Motel 6 that he left and slept in his car the first night, he found a (More expensive, but not ridiculous) room at the Microtel nearby which was much more safer.. Its not downtown and people cancelled last minute, so its possible...
Thanks for all the Comments and advise. But I canceled this upcoming Idear for this time. Maybe next Year, with much more planing ahead of time! Wish you all a wonderful GenCon, have Fun, play Games with Strangers and make Friends!
@@samhugo5870 I’m sorry to hear you won’t be coming, but I understand. Going to a huge con and dealing with last minute planning is hard enough, but coming in from another country and the extra difficulties that brings is even tougher…. Hope to see you next year!
Another good newbie tip: call your bank/credit card company ahead of time if you plan to use cards for purchases, the vendors are from all over and the transaction may get flagged as fraud if you used your card somewhere then soon after used it "in a location too far from the last transaction"
Thats a great tip... I remember getting flagged as fraud on my honeymoon in Hawaii... The time difference made for a lonnnnng wait before I could clear it up and book (and pay for) the excursions I wanted... Such a pain!
That's a great point; also considering so many of the vendors are from out of the country, so if you're thinking "location too far" and you're still thinking the US, then you're not asking the right questions from your bank. lol Even if there's no problem with getting flagged for US purchases, consider there's likely going to be purchases that are marked from Canada, Australia, and the UK, at minimum. Talk about too far! :)
Agreed
Great tips! Didn't make it this year, but am really considering going next year. Where are the best deals to be had at GenCon? I know I've heard that they'll usually have discounts, but are they comparable to what the OLGS sell for? Also, was wondering if second hand games are sold exclusively through the auction/consignment store, or if there are vendors selling them as well. I know people do meetups for trades and sales as well. Aside from playing games, my second highest priority would be finding some good deals, not just buying the hottest ones for MSRP.
Best deals at GenCon are either on Sunday when the publishers dont want to bring back all their unsold games, or at the auction consignment area - so I've heard - In all my years at GenCon, I haven't found it yet - One year I will make it a priority... I assume there are a few meetups for trading games - i would look at Meetup.com as it gets closer... I haven't seen any thing about that, but I also wasn't specifically looking either.... Im sure its out there
Late to the game (no pun intended), but thinking about going this year on Thursday. I’m very back and forth on it. Can I realistically get the super popular games that I want? I would hate to go, and then not be able to get the things I am most excited for, even though I’m also excited to discover new things that I may not have known about before.
Anyway, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is also in Indianapolis. Not sure how far away it is from everything, but it’s a great stop. Friendly staff and a fun adventure for literary fans.
I can relate - the year I went to GenCon with the only game I cared about being King of New York, it crushed me knowing Ielloi only brought 50 copies a day, and the vendors inside the hall got most if not all of them... I can't promise you that you'll get the game... I'd say call the publisher, and see how many copies they're bringing, but they prob wont tell you the truth if they're only bringing a couple - if they answer the call at all...
If you have at least a few games that you really want, you may not get them all, but you may get a couple. Last year I missed out on 4 but did get 4 that I wanted. Just a tip that Adam’s Apple Games always brings low quantity of games and runs out super fast so if anything of theirs is on your list, cross that off. There are a few already listed on BGG GENCON Preview as limited Quantities so that could help. But even if you don’t get the ones you want you may find something you didn’t know you would love even more. I found 2 games last year like that, and of the 4 that I missed out on, I never bought 2 of them.
Great tip. Thank you! I have about 4 games I know I want to (try and) get at GenCon.... If I get them, I get them.... But I absolutely will be walking away with 10 or more OTHER games that I don't know I want.... :)
Thank you for all the tips! I didn't realize it would be that much walking and I think the crowd noise might wear me out.
But I am going to look for a smaller Game Con nearer to me and see if that experience propels me to bigger Cons.
I’m glad you found my tips useful. Sorry that it deterred you from going though. If you were really disciplined, you could minimize the walking and just hang out in the gaming area and sit playing games for most of the con, but it is a big place so walking a bit can’t be avoided
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa You didn't deter me. I just need to get my feet wet first with something closer. Have Fun!
@@bibleboardgames Gotcha. I hope theres something more local to you. I'm in NJ and theres comic cons, but the closest board game convention is Philadelphia.
Just remember ... 1) If this is your first GenCon you have to fight ... And ... 2) We don't talk about GenCon ... or am I thinking about something else?
LOL - i think I'm going to the wrong event. I can't shut my mouth this week talking about all the cool things GenCon... But I'll fight in Luchador! all day long!
Seasoned comic con goer this is my first gencon and im actually getting anxiety about how big this is lol
If you can tolerate NY or SD Comic Con, you’ll be fine…. GenCon is a big show, but other than the opening of the doors (which you don’t have to go to), it is pretty spread out and you can easily find plenty of elbow room or a place to sit… there’s even a dark cool room specifically there to escape the crowds (and charge your phone lol)
Once you’re there, the anxiety will disappear
I wish i would have had my badge mailed, not looking forward to waiting hours to pick it up.
I hear you - be grateful that they are not doing the vaccination check.. that would’ve been another 2 hour line…. If you’re not going for pickup on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, the line might not be as bad
Great video, and thanks for the tips. I am coming in for the first time to GenCon on Wednesday to go to the Thursday CMON Zombicide events. Question 1, the first event is at 10am, do I need to be at the convention center before 9 am to be sure to get in? Q2 does the convention center have water fountains? Thanks so much for helping a newb.
Glad to hear my tips helped you! I hope you have a wonderful time! It all depends on whether you physically have your GenCon tickets on your person, or do you have to pick them up at Will Call... If you have to go to Will Call, I would schedule at least two hours there on Thursday morning to get thru that line since its opening day. Honestly I would pick them up Wednesday just to be safe. If you have your GenCon pass already and your tickets to the event, you have a lot more freedom - but I would still try to be there at least 15-30 minutes early to get a good seat. And don't forget to account for getting lost in the convention center (its huge and easy to get lost)
As for water fountains, I dont know for sure. Im sure they do somewhere, but where, I don't know. And its probably not filtered - just straight from the main waterline - probably the same the bathroom sinks have :) Bring your own water - they sell it there, but theres lines and its expensive)
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa Wow, thanks for the reply. I do plan on going Wednesday to get my badge and tickets. Certainly am with you on getting there early in case I get lost, I feel I will be overwhelmed and easily distracted :)! The video you posted of the crowd walking in seems insane! Can't wait, hope you enjoy the con.
Ok good you have a solid plan…. Don’t be too scared at the crowd video…. It’s the opening where everyone congregates to run in to the vendor room to get the hot game they want. It is easily avoidable if you don’t need to get something in that room before it sells out. And it’s not as crowded anywhere else during the show…. I just love being on the balcony above to capture the spectacle of it
Thinking about it just to meet Margaret Weis. Coming from the UK but if there’s a chance I can’t meet her I’m not going to do it.
I get it… Years ago I built a con trip around meeting Nathan Fillion. And he cancelled the day before - too late to cancel rest of plans - if it weren’t for Henry Winkler being really awesome that day, it would’ve been the worst con ever
Are you going to PAXU?
I do expect to be there…. Had a great time last year
I've never been to Gen Con before and will be trying to go this year. I live roughly 30 minutes away from downtown so would it be suggested to just avoid hotels? I don't see a point in me spending hundreds of dollars when I don't live far. My only issue then would be parking or ubering to and from downtown
I personally wouldn’t try to get a hotel if i were you… getting a downtown hotel might be impossible this late in the game and if it were available it’s probably ridiculously priced. Parking will be bad downtown as well..
Go to Chance Parking on Facebook - they have a lot by the stadium that will shuttle you to the convention center and it says it will cost $66 for the entire length of the convention.
I don’t have any financial connection to them (I wish!) but a similar parking setup from a different company (I think - the company from last year isn’t around now) last year made parking really easy…. (
can you go to gencon if you dont play a game like d&d (etc.)?
Absolutely! GenCon is a LOT more than D&D. You don’t have to play ANY games of any genres at all to enjoy GenCon. There is a lot to do
@@The_BoardGame_Sherpa thank you!
Anytime
Any advice on getting people to sign up for your event? I have 5 and I don't know what I should be doing to try to get people to go.
Well it depends on what your event is…. If it’s game based, I would go on that game related Facebook/Instagram pages and mention . You gotta post on places where your panel topic would be helpful and welcome
What's your recommended hotel?
I've just arrived to my hotel. The first thing that I heard from someone checking out was "Watch you back, this place is nasty!"
The Microtel by the airport - 5th time staying here and so far so good…. You’re not staying at the Motel 6 are you??
On of the La Quinta in the area
Wow I hadn’t heard bad things about that one
I should have said check out the reviews on Expedia... Seriously check them out...
Two reviews from the last month
2/10 Terrible
Khawar
Business traveler
Apr 18, 2023
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I am writing this review out of utter frustration. I usually ignore the shortcomings of hotels where I stay, but this was ridiculous. To begin with my car tires got slashed overnight. I had to reach somewhere and I ended up changing the tire in heavy rain. The pictures posted on this motel listings are absolutely deceiving. The motel is worn out and run down, and the pictures have been intentionally modified. They do not represent this motel at all. The walls are thin as paper. It was 6 AM and I could hear people's alarms going off, people getting ice from the ice machine, people yelling and fighting outside, people chatting disrespectfully in the hallway, people slamming the doors, my upstairs room had some kids that were just running for past 5 or so hours. Some baby was wailing for three or so hours. The fridge in my room had issues with its thermostat to where every time it changed its settings, there was a huge clack sound, which literally startled me and woke me up quite a few times. The room's cleanliness was so questionable. I was super disgusted that I allowed myself to stay there. The hotels in Indianapolis are so expensive. I was attending a convention and had to be there early and I was frustrated that I could not sleep properly. I had a severe headache and they didn't even have coffee anywhere. I did not wish to step outside the motel because the kind of people I saw in the parking did not make me feel comfortable. This motel is like a mini nightmare.
2/10 Terrible
Suzanne
Traveled with family and small children, Business traveler
May 10, 2023
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beds were so hard it was unbelievable. Dryer was broken it smelled like cigarette smoke throughout the whole facility. I asked for more blankets and towels and they at first refused to give them to me because laundry was closed and when i told them i know you have access to the laundry then he gave them to me but told me to bring my other towels and blankets to him....what i needed more why would i bring the others????? People doing drugs in the lobby sitting around very unsafe. I had children with me as well asking me what those people were doing. AWFUL experience!!!!!!!!!!!!