Surprised nobody has started this yet...interested to hear what others think.
The Good:
- All things considered, I thought mask compliance was very good and low-drama. My prediction of hands-throwing over a difference of opinion did not come true to my knowledge. I did hear like 5th hand gossip of someone being asked to leave a game due to non-compliance but that was it.
- Most of the new restaurants in the area that I tried were good. Enjoyed GoodWood, had "drinks night" at Inferno Room (not new, but new to me) and enjoyed Artisan Pastry Bar for bruch.
- Enjoyed meeting new vendors. Chatted a bit with the felted hat/clothing booth owner and she was telling me how she was ecstatic to finally be "in" as she had been on the waiting list for 5 years.
- Found some new games, of course.
The Bad:
- This was the first year I did not schedule myself to the teeth, and as opposed to making me more "free" to drop in on games, I felt less motivated and spent more time just putzing around and relaxing in the hotel. Not that relaxing is a bad thing, but I did a lot less Gencon-specific stuff this year.
- I know some people probably really appreciated the low census but overall it felt a little low-energy and less friendly this year. I know gamers, myself included, are categorically not the most outgoing but I usually end up meeting and chatting happily with a decent about of strangers over the Con. This year I felt like groups and individuals kept more to themselves.
- Did try one new restaurant that was a bust.
The Ugly:
- Gencon attendees making snide comments about the football game attendees on Sunday in the block party. Obviously I am not omniscient but I heard several bratty comments from GenCon attendees about "the Jocks", yet I did not hear a single person in football attire make a condescending comment about GenCon, mostly just expressions of mild bewilderment at most. I wore my football shirt on Sunday and was getting the stank eye from people as well. We make such a big deal about being accepting "of all", yet here we are making snap judgments about people based on their attire and appearance. We are better than this, guys.
The Wishful:
- Where was the Bud Tent Wed-Sat???? I think it was sponsored by the radio station spinning music, but that would have been amazing!
- (Yes, some of us do prefer light beer -most beer- over Sun King. See previous comment about making snap judgements about people. )
- (Yes, some of us do prefer light beer -most beer- over Sun King. See previous comment about making snap judgements about people. )