Editing Gen Con

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'''Gen Con''' is a convention that is essentially a massive collection of miniature [[wargaming]], [[boardgames]], [[D&D]] related [[awesome]]ness, and other things to go along with it. It is in this anons humble opinion that anyone claiming to be a [[neckbeard]] should go at LEAST once (or have already done so).

Gen Con is (now) held in Indianapolis, Indiana yearly. The convention is (now) a 4 day affair, running in mid August (often coinciding with the Indiana State Fair, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED). Bring a backpack for swag (the good kind) and your own water (otherwise $6 a bottle).

[[File:Troll - GenCon 2011.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Neckbeards attacking a giant troll statue.]]

== About ==
Gen Con works a bit differently than most conventions, as most of its events revolve around specific times and games that require a list of players. As with most, you purchase a badge to actually get access to the con (usually around $90), then spend the next few months browsing their fuck-off huge catalog of events - mostly board games, [[Magic:_The_Gathering|Magic]] tournaments, and actual pen and paper games sometimes also tournaments. You can either sign up on the website for your choice event, which nets you a guaranteed seat at the table (provided you show up on time), or purchase generic tickets for about $4 a pop that work for almost every event, ''but'' are provisional - you only get in if there's room. If there's 10 seats and all 10 are filled, tough shit.
[[File:Gencon_Event_Count.png|left|thumb|Seriously, there's tens of thousands.]]

Most of the weekend is usually spent taking pictures, wasting money in the giant dealer room and playing games you've never heard about. And getting drunk.

== History ==
Gary Gygax himself founded the "Lake Geneva Wargames Convention" at Lake Geneva, WI, in 1968. (Cute reference to international law!) TSR in 1976 took ownership of the event. It outgrew Lake Geneva in 1978 when it moved over to UW Parkside. In 1985 it settled in Milwaukee until 2003 when, under WotC, its wagons went east to Indianapolis, probably for good.

Several famous adventures - with their beasties and loot - were aired out here, first. We must note the legendary tournaments [[Drow Trilogy]] at GenCon XI, 1978; then [[Scourge of the Slavelords]] at XIII, 1980. (We do not speak of 1979.)