PAX South 2020! January 17-19

Hard to believe it, but this is less than three weeks away! Please RSVP here and let's make a plan for our yearly Thursday night GWJ Slap & Tickle (dinner and gaming).

Going
------–-
Fed + several friends
TheWalt
Grumpicus & the fam
Markcov +3
momgamer
KuyaNoypi

Omegathon streams: PAX2's Channel - Twitch
https://www.twitch.tv/pax2/

Still no tickets but if we go, it'll be a down and back on Saturday.*

* We've spent a fair bit on family trips** this year and lodging (that comfortably sleeps five) adds so much to the PAX total.

** 18 months until they graduate so apparently we're cramming in all those deferred family trips before they do.

Grumpicus wrote:

** 18 months until they graduate so apparently we're cramming in all those deferred family trips before they do.

Man, time flies! Hope you can make it!

Ok, typing that last message gave me a twinge so I ordered our tickets. As I said, down and back on Saturday. Last year (which was Saturday & Sunday), we didn't make it into PAX until after lunch; with only one day, we're going to work to be more on time this year.

I'm arriving on Thursday afternoon. Available for any meetups that night. We have 3-day passes and we're staying through Sunday mid-afternoon. I've got family coming in, so we'll be a group of 4 total.

I did the "Pre-South Gametacular" last year and had fun. Worked like a mini version of the board game freeplay area at PAX.

markcov wrote:

I did the "Pre-South Gametacular" last year and had fun. Worked like a mini version of the board game freeplay area at PAX.

I liked that there was a small game library there, but I didn't really dig the space that it was in. However, it's in a totally different venue this year, so who knows?

I also found the lobby of the Marriott Rivercenter to be a comfortable gaming spot last year. You've got to BYOG, but that's probably not a problem at all.

It was mixed for a venue. The private backroom was a lot quieter than I was expecting for a D&B though. I was worried it was going to be in the middle of the arcade with all the distracting noises and flashing lights. The private room was well lit, quiet, and nicely separated from the rest of the D&B. Easy to forget you were at a D&B. They had several rows of long tables with chairs, so they had the proper setup. There weren't waiters to bring drinks, but it was it a pretty short walk to the bar. The venue worked if you brought your own group of friends and a couple games. I figure that venue will be more flexible for large groups to split into two small groups or perhaps pick up a couple extra players.

The Marriott lobby worked fine up to a point. The table was good for card games that didn't require much surface area. But it would have been crowded for more complicated board games like Blood Rage.

We've got plenty of BYOG too. I'm leaning towards the Pre-South Gametacular. We could even do something really crazy like three phases!

1. dinner out somewhere
2. games at the Pre-South, let the sleepy people depart afterward
3. finale at Hilton lobby

I'm planning on bringing some nametags this year.
Fed - You're still bringing a tablecloth for the freeplay area? Trying to decide if I want to bring a 2nd one. Maybe it's still early, but the GWJ crowd seems like it might be smaller this year....

Yes, I will bring my glorious maroon tablecloth! I'll also, as usual, have an assortment of games. However, my movements will be a bit erratic this year, as I will be competing in the Omegathon!

Also, I am frequently one of "the sleepy ones" on the first night, so it kind of appeals to me to play in the same building I'll be sleeping in. Regardless of what we end up doing, I can tell you that we've successfully played a game of Blood Rage in the Marriott's lobby and bar two years in a row! Or unsuccessfully, I suppose, since I didn't win either time.

Looks like I'm out this year everyone. Sorry for your loss.

To busy of a winter... need some time actually at my house.

Fed - Congrats on getting into the Omegathon! When’s your first event? I’ll mark it my PAX calendar so I can go cheer you on.

I’m flexible with post dinner locations on Thursday. I hope you’re looking for dinner options again, b/c I really liked your suggestion from last year.

I'm still waffling on South vs possibly visiting some old friends in Boston and hitting up East this time around, though one side of that waffle may be getting pretty burnt by now. Fed in the Omegathon adds an appealing buttery aroma to the southern side. I need to do a final assessment so I can get down to enjoying the results of this increasingly tortured metaphor.

I did enjoy the Gametacular (in all but name, eww) last year, so to the extent that my possibly-irrelevant opinion counts, I'd be in favor of doing that again for at least a portion of the evening.

markcov wrote:

Fed - Congrats on getting into the Omegathon! When’s your first event? I’ll mark it my PAX calendar so I can go cheer you on.

I’m flexible with post dinner locations on Thursday. I hope you’re looking for dinner options again, b/c I really liked your suggestion from last year.

First Omegathon round is Friday at 2pm, featuring Burnout 3, which I absolutely adored back in the day. Hopefully all the hours I logged back then will see me through! Full schedule here:

https://south.paxsite.com/schedule?s...

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Yes, I will bring my glorious maroon tablecloth! I'll also, as usual, have an assortment of games. However, my movements will be a bit erratic this year, as I will be competing in the Omegathon!

Congrats!

I'll be there, but I'll be running the press room with Fire and Kretol, so no early shennanigans for me. I do have more evil minions this year, and so I want to at least get down to the floor this time.

So far the only folks who are definitely coming are not available for our usual dinner on Thursday night. Should we try to look at another time, or just figure our hanging out will all take place during the con?

I'm officially out, major medical stuff going on with my in-laws that I don't think we'll be fully recovered from by then even in the best case scenario. I hate to miss it - any idea if they stream the Omegathon stuff?

benign1 wrote:

I'm officially out, major medical stuff going on with my in-laws that I don't think we'll be fully recovered from by then even in the best case scenario. I hate to miss it - any idea if they stream the Omegathon stuff?

I believe they do. If I find out more, I'll be happy to share it. Hope the medical stuff is resolved successfully and everyone is okay.

Thanks to moving back into public accounting, I'm out this year, too. Congrats on getting into the Omegathon, Fed. That's awesome. I'm really hoping they stream it on Twitch, because even if I'm not there, I'll be cheerin' ya on from behind a stack of tax returns.

If I'm lucky, I'll be able to attend next year, but we shall see.

First time going to a convention. I'll be driving into town Friday afternoon. Any recommendations?

KuyaNoypi wrote:

First time going to a convention. I'll be driving into town Friday afternoon. Any recommendations?

You can't do everything, so pick a few things that appeal to you the most and do those.

Personally, I'll be at the Omegathon events until I'm knocked out; most of the rest of my con time will be spent with my friends in the Tabletop area; look for the aforementioned maroon tablecloth to find us.

Gearbox will be there... Of course when I want shift codes is when I'm not there. Anyone that sees one and doesn't want it, let me know.

manta173 wrote:

Gearbox will be there... Of course when I want shift codes is when I'm not there. Anyone that sees one and doesn't want it, let me know.

I don't know what that means.

LOL If you see a borderlands code of some sort then I'd like it. It typically gets you cosmetics or high end guns in game.

Share video of the annual Secret Hitler session(s). Gonna miss hanging out with ya'll. Cheering you on in the Omegathon, Fed!

Scottish_Leprechaun wrote:

Share video of the annual Secret Hitler session(s). Gonna miss hanging out with ya'll. Cheering you on in the Omegathon, Fed!

Thanks!

I'm here, setup in my usual aerie above the but front lobby area. Come on and say Hi if you can. It's me, Fire, and Kretol again.

I dropped what I believe is a good link to the Omegathon streams in the OP.

For any interested, I had the worst score in the first round (Burnout 3) that still advanced.

Kerplunk is at 8pm.

Bunch of us are lunching at Chris Madrid's at 11am. All are welcome!

Welp, lost in the fourth round. It was a fun but intense experience!

That's still awesome, though. Congratulations on that!

momgamer wrote:

That's still awesome, though. Congratulations on that!

Thanks! We're headed out now! Maybe we'll see you next year, when I'm not so consumed with the tournament, including practicing. It really dominates your weekend!