Also, I'm a fan of the 3-2-1 rule, as modified for age and metabolism and stuff; always get at least 3 hours of sleep a day, 2 good meals a day, and 1 shower a day. Bare minimum for a fun convention experience.

My smelling might be acute, but man, I'm telling you i wish it wasn't. With that said, i went to play warmachine and M:TG for multiple years, so it might just be my impression of it. if it is, i wish i had your sense of smell, because I'm telling you man, when i was there, it got RIPE in even the tourney halls after about 36-40 hours of gaming.

And, there's your problem. I had no problem with smell my few times at Gencon. Except, for when I wandered by the Magic players. I would say that the con is pretty good, especially with the stereo types. But if you value your nose, avoid the Magic area.

Personally, I find there is a lot of fun things to do at Gencon, even outside of gaming and the hall. I hope my finances and school schedule will allow me to attend this year. When looking at hotels outside of downtown, you may want to check to see if any of them will have shuttle service to the convention center.

I need honest feedback for my research.

I would like to plan a Gencon 2015 trip. My first time going to Gencon. If I go, I would like to look into playing X-Wing while there.

Yes I know its a tournament, but aside from the Regionals getting a ticket, I think anyone can enter the tournament... my question is as follows:

For Gencon is the X-Wing games historically played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

I know the schedule is not out yet, but I would like to look into reserving hotel rooms, etc.

Also, how was peoples experience there? other than playing did you have fun?

For those that flew into Indianapolis, what day did you arrive and when did you leave?

Thanks in advance....

I know a lot of people have already addressed your questions, so I'll just add what I know.

"For Gencon is the X-Wing games historically played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?"

The tournament will most likely be held on Thursday (Flight 1), Friday (Flight 2), and Saturday (The Finals). Since the con ends on Sunday at 4:00. That said, People usually just walk around the con on Sunday.

If you plan to enter on the first day for Flight 1, you will need to "buy in" when the Event Registration goes live on May 17 at 12:00 noon EDT. The entry cost will most likely be $14.00. If you are planning to play in Flight 2, on Friday, and you did not participate in Flight 1, you may use generc tickets (again $14.00 [Generics are in $2 denominations]), but you will get preferred entry over those who played on Thursday.

I know the schedule is not out yet, but I would like to look into reserving hotel rooms, etc.

If you're looking into reserving a hotel room, this might be of some help to you: http://www.gencon.com/attend/hotelmap.

FYI -- The pre-registration has been moved to Friday, January 23, and Housing (where you put in your reservation) will be on Sunday, January 25.

For more info, check out: http://www.gencon.com/attend/faq.

Also, how was peoples experience there? other than playing did you have fun?

I've been going since Gen Con moved to Indianapolis from Milwaukee in 2003, save one year.

At first, I was like a deer in headlights, in awe. Yes, I always have fun when I attend Gen Con.

For those that flew into Indianapolis, what day did you arrive and when did you leave?

I'm a native of the Indianapolis area, but I do take advantage the housing, just to take in the "Gen Con Experience". In the first few years, I did the commuter thing, but in the past few years, I've checked into a hotel. I arrive on Wednesday just to pick up my badge, and get my final squad tweeked, and loaded into my kit bag (a Battle Foam P.A.C.K. Go).

I went to GenCon my first time last year specifically for X-wing, and I had a blast! I only ended up playing Thursday, but I got to play some pickup games of Epic play with a couple that I met there. It was awesome! I also got to meet some of the great guys here like Khyros and Sable Gryphon, which was a real highlight for me. It makes the community come to life for me. I hope I can make it down to GenCon again this year!

I second that notion that meeting some of the guys behind the name was awesome. Especially Sable with his steampunk attire!

I'm in steampunk attire one day every year and openly admit to being a Sable fanboy...I must find him this year!

I'll be there with you; but in regular clothes.

Don't do what I did....

Uh qualify for the final 64 on Friday then go out to 4:30AM and become conscious at 9:50AM on Saturday suddenly realizing you didn't find out what time the finals started. Uh oh, they started at 10AM.

I remember running into a wall then my friend Weeks telling to put my **** pants on.

As luck would have it I made it somehow in the nick of time.

I remember running into a wall then my friend Weeks telling to put my **** pants on.

I did, in fact, lol. thank you :-)

My smelling might be acute, but man, I'm telling you i wish it wasn't. With that said, i went to play warmachine and M:TG for multiple years, so it might just be my impression of it. if it is, i wish i had your sense of smell, because I'm telling you man, when i was there, it got RIPE in even the tourney halls after about 36-40 hours of gaming.

And, there's your problem. I had no problem with smell my few times at Gencon. Except, for when I wandered by the Magic players. I would say that the con is pretty good, especially with the stereo types. But if you value your nose, avoid the Magic area.

Personally, I find there is a lot of fun things to do at Gencon, even outside of gaming and the hall. I hope my finances and school schedule will allow me to attend this year. When looking at hotels outside of downtown, you may want to check to see if any of them will have shuttle service to the convention center.

I'll never understand that by the way.

What the hell is so hard about taking a shower? Or dressing to not look like a bum? Or brushing your teeth?

When i go to cons, or actually when i go out at all, i make it a point to dress in something with a collar, nice jeans, sperry's, that kind of dig. I always see it as when i go to play somewhere, i am representing my home town or at a minimum myself, and as a big guy, i am very VERY conscious of how i smell, and how i look.

I might be the typical fat gamer, but i don't have to be the typical neck beard. I will also add that i agree, it seems that the worst smelling areas were always the congregation of magic players and warhammer 40k players, regardless if it's a local tournament, regional con, or national con.

sorry to go off topic, but it has always bothered me.

I went to GenCon my first time last year specifically for X-wing, and I had a blast! I only ended up playing Thursday, but I got to play some pickup games of Epic play with a couple that I met there. It was awesome! I also got to meet some of the great guys here like Khyros and Sable Gryphon, which was a real highlight for me. It makes the community come to life for me. I hope I can make it down to GenCon again this year!

I second that notion that meeting some of the guys behind the name was awesome. Especially Sable with his steampunk attire!

See how much fun those name tags turned out to be . Unfortunately I cannot attend GenCon 2015 as the move in dats has collided with a family vacation I take the same week every year I do hope it moves back to mid August for 2016.

You are good until 2020

http://www.gencon.com/attend/futuredates

I'll put a few thoughts down.

1) Never noticed a pervasive stink. A few people here and there, but not throughout. I'll also add that showered or not, everyone was sweating bullets in the hall outside the dealer area each morning waiting for the doors to open, and there isn't much to be done about that. But it isn't all to be blamed on gamer laziness and poor hygiene when the con packs everybody into a sweat lodge to start each day. So, wear deodorant I guess.

2) Plan. Plan. Plan. If you schedule no events, you will get bored unless you happen to have a large group you are going with. On the other hand, leave 1 day free or mostly free to roam about and don't book back to back to back events either.

3) If you really want a hotel close downtown, just spring the extra money and book it now ahead of the GenCon booking. If you don't car, just book at a hotel a ways out. Indy is a very easy city to get around and almost everywhere is at most a half hour from downtown.

Better or worse, GenCon is a bucket list event for gamers. I can't speak to X-Wing experience, but go with friends and don't be afraid to make plenty of new ones. Also, be on the lookout for pickup games. That's accounted for some of my favorite GenCon experiences.

Another bucket lister is GaryCon. It's in March, in Lake Geneva. I haven't seen any organized X-Wing events, but you're guaranteed to get a pickup game or 100.

If anyone is visiting right now and has access to new ships, please contact me. I don't want ships, I want information on them!