Andrew Seiple's Blog: Transmissions From the Teslaverse - Posts Tagged "columbus"

It's summer! And with summer, as every good gamer knows, comes the summer con season. For Roleplaying folks like myself, that's Origins and Gencon.

Origins is the first. It's in June, and located in Columbus, Ohio. This year it's starting on the 15th, just two days away! I'll be attending from Wednesday on, playing games as I fancy, and hanging out with my tribe. Origins has had a long and flavorful history... they're one of the older RPG and wargame conventions in the US. Second only to Gencon, really, even if they have taken an attendance hit in recent years.

Ironically enough, part of this hit was due to the fact that Gencon moved into Indianapolis about a decade ago, competing for Midwest regional attendance. Torn between two major conventions, both costly, more gamers chose to save their pennies for Gencon. As such, Origins suffered...

But it clung on. With grim determination, it never quite died. The vendor hall thinned, the crowds waned, but the events catalog stayed strong. There's always something to do in Origins. And while Gencon made a name for itself as the industry trade show for RPG's, Origins took an alternate tack, and billed itself as the place where you can always find a game. Strong board game/war game support didn't hurt either. Folks in Ohio PLAY, man. There's not much to do in Ohio some days that doesn't involve alcohol or sports games, so stuff that doesn't involve that is pretty popular.

And in recent years, the tide's started to turn. Gencon's reaching saturation point. It's gotten a bit too successful, as evidenced by the ludicrous rates hotels charge in Indy when the convention time rolls around. So many gamers, unable to find lodging for Gencon, are shrugging and saving their pennies for Origins instead. And a few big names in the industry, fed up with the Gencon fuss, are starting to shift back as well... Wheel's always turning, and Origins is looking good this year.

If you can make the drive to Columbus, I heartily encourage you to check it out. The badge prices for a day's visit are cheap, the vendor hall's got a nice assortment of eclectic stuff, the huge miniature games on display are always worth a gawk, and there's all sorts of fun weirdness hidden in the cracks.

Highlights include a kick-arse author's alley (Usually run by Mike Stackpole, a veteran of the industry), a bad movie awards show called the Smithee Awards that's worth seeing at least once in your lifetime, a nearby international gourmet food market that can satisfy the pickiest glutton, and a nightlife district called the Short North, where the party never stops and all lifestyles are tolerated.

Origins was my first big con, and it was an eye-opener. I've gone back every year... sometimes only for a day, sometimes for the full five, but I've never regretted a single trip. And now that I'm writing? I'm kind of curious to try to see it from the perspective in author's alley. Got some plans to talk with people there, see if I can make that happen next year. By all accounts it's a fun program, and you get to host panels and do other neat stuff!

So yeah! If you run into me at Origins, say hi and I'll be happy to talk geeky at you, about your fandom or hobby of choice! I know all the good restaurants and a few of the good bars, and I'd love to share them with you.

Peace, out!

...A little older, a little wiser, and thankful for the friends and strangers who made it an awesome time!

It was good, this year. The convention center was under renovations, but there was still plenty of space left over to avoid crowding or confusion. Biggest impact was an early shutdown in the food court, where they stopped serving around 4 PM, but that was only during the week. It was still open in the weekends, and I got to enjoy my customary breakfast sandwiches and a gyro or two.

Mind you, that was when I wasn't trying out the Rodrizio Grill (A Brazilian steakhouse) and sampling ethnic cuisines of a dozen nations at the North Market. I swear, if it weren't for all the walking inherent in a large gaming convention, I'd put on serious pounds from this trip.

Accommodations were with some nearby friends, but due to an expected move, that's probably the last time that'll happen. From here on out it's hotel rooms, and I can live with that. It's not like Gencon, where the entire Downtown's booked solid for miles around. There's actually a chance at finding a hotel within a block or two that isn't four times the normal rate.

Highlights of the trip included the aforementioned meals, a slew of fun Role-playing-games, taking in some boardgame and deckbuilder demos, and seeing the annual Pride parade for the first time. (It usually falls over Origins weekend, and goes right by the convention center. Normally I'm busy gaming, but this year I made an exception. (After that mess in Orlando, it felt only right to pay respects and enjoy the sight of a tolerant and supportive city helping an established community express themselves.)

And then there was Author's Alley...

Oh my gosh, this was a group of thoroughly awesome people, and I'm very glad I stopped to talk shop and learn about their work. I managed to attend a few of the panels, too, and every time I walked out of there with a smile and a page or two of notes on how to up my game. Robin, Sheryl, many thanks for pointing me to Kelly and getting an application started, hopefully I'll get the nod for next year! And if not, eh, perhaps the year after that, or the next. Time is on my side so long as I keep writing, and I don't plan to stop anytime soon.

Also I got to apologize to Mike Stackpole about accidentally using one of his hero names. Fortunately it's a throwaway reference in my book, and I was planning to kill the guy off soon anyway, so no real harm done. He was cool about it. Lawsuit averted, whew! :D

Souvenirs were fairly light, all told. A half-dozen roleplaying books, some miniatures I was missing, and a few expansions for deckbuilding games. (Got to demo Ascension, and I'm hooked!) These days I'm picky about what I bring home.

Got to play in a session of Cold Steel Wardens, a gritty and low-powered iron age superhero game. I was impressed! The creator was running the games, and everyone walked away from the table smiling. I felt like the entire scenario could have been a scene out of Watchmen, or one of the darker Batman comics. This was good. I wouldn't mind playing in this world, and the guy's a local... I have to see what I can get going there. I think we might be able to help each other.

And where would Origins be without the Smithee awards? Oh, the movies were horrible, and the hall rang with laughter at every clip. Birdemic 2 was up there this year, along with a classic called "The Rollerblade Seven". Gonna have to pick that up one of these days. Not enough post apocalyptic dystopian rollerblade movies out there.

Also, the pearl guy was back this year. It's a neat racket... the guy's a professional jeweler. He brings in a tank full of oysters, and you get to pick out the one you want. Each one's a guaranteed pearl, some are two. He'll pop the pearl(s) right out, and for an additional fee, he'll work them into jewelry right then and there. It's clever, really. Kind of like opening a treasure chest in the game of your choice, there's always that edge of anticipation and joy at the surprise.

Anyway, it was a good convention. If you ever get the chance to make it over, I heartily recommend it. Unlike Gencon, there's ways to do it on the cheap, if you're thrifty.

I'll be there! Come this Sunday, November 5th, at 1 PM, I'll be doing a book signing at this beautiful store.

I'm not exaggerating when I call it beautiful. It's basically three old buildings joined together. They knocked down a few walls, put in stairs between the levels, and went from there. It's a city-block wide bookstore packed full of shelves, labyrinthine pathways, and of course, books.

It's in Columbus, in the historic German Village district, not far from some other famous businesses. Like Schmidt's, the best Sausage Haus in town.

If you're free, come by and check it out! I'll be selling, signing, and talking about Final Frost, my younger readers book. Also in attendance will be Amber Rimkus, my co-author and illustrator for the book. But I'll have some of the Dire books on hand. For y'know, reasons.