Having declared 2012 The Year of the Con, this page is the list of my planned con appearances. I will add/subtract from this list as the con season progresses, depending on things like finances and time constraints. I’ll also post any interesting tidbits regarding these cons, so check back every once in a while…
Emerald City Comicon
When: March 30-31, April 1 Where: Seattle WA USA Status: TBA
Though I do read a few comics I am not a huge comic guy, so including a comic convention on my list may seem strange. But ECCC is on here for a few reasons. The primary one, I’ll get to attend with some friends of mine who are also making the trip from Edmonton. I like travelling with people who’s company I enjoy, and it should make for an interesting trip. But another reason is, looking at the vendor and guest lists for ECCC, there are tons of webcomic artists I want to meet, buy a sketch from and thank. That alone will take up a good chunk of my weekend, and the con hasn’t even posted an event list yet. So I think this will be a good first “out-of-country” convention.
Calgary Expo
When: April 27-29 Where: Calgary AB Canada Status: TBA
A little closer to home this time, my desire to attend (already high) will go up as they add more guests to their list. They just announced Robert Englund as their Horror GoH, so they already have my attention! And I have to say it is really cool to have a media heavy con so close to home; when you are planning to spend $40-$75 a pop to get photos and/or items signed, it helps to not have just dropped a bundle on travel. Also, it will give me a chance to hang out with my Calgary pals, which I don’t get to do often enough.
Update: With Amanda Tapping, Katee Sackhoff and James Marsters confirmed as guests, there is no way I would miss this! Just have to make sure I have enough money in the autograph fund…
PaizoCon
When: July 6-8 Where: Seattle WA USA Status: Pass booked.
Nothing has been set for 2012 yet, but PaizoCon usually runs in June. I have tried to get to this con for the last two years without success, but no more! I WILL get to PaizoCon in 2012, I have decreed it! I mean, really, an entire weekend of Pathfinder run by Paizo employees and volunteers? Yes please! And I’ll get my second taste of Seattle, which will be interesting to me. I may try to pad an extra day on the front and/or back of my trip to explore the city.
Update: Moved to July, dates already set aside! And as a Venture-Captain my weekend pass is taken care of; I picked up a banquet pass as well.
Gen Con
When: August 16-19 Where: Indianapolis IN USA Status: Pass and room booked.
The Cadillac of gaming conventions, it is time for me to get back behind the wheel! I am tempted to go back as a VIG (Very Important Gamer), but I am equally tempted to volunteer with Paizo to run Pathfinder for most of the weekend. But if you are a gamer you should get to Gen Con at least once; it will be the best gaming experience of your life. And Indianapolis is a lovely city, even if it was bawls-hawt when I was last there. But even if it is 40 degrees C outside, it is a pleasant AC-degrees inside the convention hall, so that won’t stop me!
Update: Since I am now a Venture Captain for Paizo, I will indeed spend the weekend running PFS sessions. In return I get my weekend pass and hotel room taken care of, so I call that a win!
Futurecon
When: December 30-January 1 Where: Toronto ON Canada Status: TBA
Update: You may notice this got bumped to the end. Because of circumstances that are, well, circumstances, I can’t do this con until the end of 2012. So still on the books, but it is going to be the cherry on my Year of the Con sundae.
Organized by my pal Liana K., Futercon will not only be my first con of the year, but the first con of the year; it takes place over the New Year’s weekend. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the new year than with a con full of nerds. I’ve already committed to being there and running some games (a little Kobolds Ate My Baby!, anyone?), and I fully expect to have a great time. Other cons beware; Futurecon will have set the bar pretty damn high for me.
