My beloved Gen Con was last weekend and I’m shocked they made masks along with proof of vaccination mandatory. Indiana is a moron state ruled by a local branch of Amerika’s Taliban and there is a pathetic segment of gamers who worship Joe Rogan, Alex Jones and Ayn Rand.
I did some navel gazing about my only time on the other side of the booth 15 years ago here. But like Hollywood, I think enough time has passed to re-visit the event, I just promise not to re-imagine it, provide more clarity and wisdom which comes with age.
What has changed? I remember better on how much I was burning the candle at every end better. Those of us involved with Mythus were working long hours. I was so dedicated (and naive), I had a cot in the office for naps and since I was in my twenties, I was more accustomed to working into the wee times. This stupidity on my part went on from Spring until the two Mythus books were physically published by mid July. I squeezed in enough recovery to repeat the insane hours Gen Con would take. I stopped giving up my extra time on this planet for all employers after GDW too.
The deflated feelings for Mythus’ reception were muted for me. I was more excited to be back in Milwaukee. (Austin cured me after a couple years so I can’t imagine returning to the birthplace of Beer Goggles.) White Wolf handing out free copies of their mediocre magazine with its hit job on Mythus was a low blow even if some criticism was valid. These clowns published Vampire: the Masquerade, a game tailor made for immature Goths and Drama Club Dorks. I didn’t dwell on White Wolf’s dick move as I embarked on a good time at and away from the GDW booth. Mythus being a turd would have plenty of time to sink in a couple weeks later alongside my boss/friend Lester being poached by TSR behind our collective backs.
Another insight three decades has given me, I am more grateful about how much D&D and other related Nerddom matters have expanded their audience. I wasn’t against it in 1992 like the complainers who claim their culture was co-opted by Big Bang Theory or the novel Ready Player One. Back then, getting just a sizable population of girls and women to play was the Holy Grail of the industry. You also didn’t publicly state your hobbies if D&D was one because it continued to be stigmatized by the Satanic Panic and the dominant Bully Culture. Today we get several MCU films a year, Disney+ making more Star Wars stories, shirts with all kinds of inside jokes…the list goes on. How the 14- or 24-year old me would jump for joy over. I think it was a positive side effect from the Internet being made more publicly available through Bush the Elder.
When Gen Con was more of a secret club in the past, it did feel more special. The shift to it getting on the same level with the San Diego Comic Convention or Star Trek’s biggest/best gathering in Las Vegas is better. Sure I hate the larger, ruder crowds and Johnny/Janie-come-latelys but I would prefer the acceptance. Now if the owners could convince move Gen Con back to Milwaukee, I’d make a bigger effort to attend.