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Gripes aside, what's one specific thing YOU plan to do differently next year?

24

Posts

  • PorkchopPorkchop Registered User regular
    ultimakay wrote: »
    2) Have a panel plan before getting there. I didnt do this either time ive been to pax and i always kick myself for it. Really love the panels and need to have a better idea about what I want to see going into it.

    If you have a smartphone, Guidebook was invaluable for this for me. I only planned out the majority of my panels a couple days ahead of time, but the 1 hour reminders and me constantly checking my schedule kept me on target for each panel I wanted to go to. @PAX_Lines twitter was a huge help too to know which ones were starting to line up and/or fill up.

    (And on the smartphone note, having a spare battery or two is really nice too! Unless you're an iPhone owner of course...then maybe one of those goofy external battery packs, or finding a wall to charge at sometime during the afternoon)

  • MalgarasMalgaras Registered User regular
    edited April 2012
    Porkchop wrote: »
    (And on the smartphone note, having a spare battery or two is really nice too! Unless you're an iPhone owner of course...then maybe one of those goofy external battery packs, or finding a wall to charge at sometime during the afternoon)

    On that note, if there is one thing I DO want to make sure to do again next year, it will be to bring one of those goofy external battery packs as it was incredibly helpful. For my cell phone and my 3DS, it was a life saver. While not quite as nice for one device as a spare battery, it's incredibly useful if you're using multiple devices a lot (and even if you are going with just one device, it is nice because it contains about half a dozen spare batteries worth of juice). With a full charge, it was able to recharge my phone back to full from like 10% 3 times (thanks to twitter, text messaging, phone calls, guide book, picture taking, and some video recording) and keep my 3DS going all day and I finished up with over half left. When I unfortunately missed my train home, it kept my phone running with the GPS and screen on for the entire car trip from Boston back to MD since I didn't have my car adapter with me.

    Malgaras on
    1tLJUH2O.png
  • ultimakayultimakay Registered User regular
    Porkchop wrote: »
    ultimakay wrote: »
    2) Have a panel plan before getting there. I didnt do this either time ive been to pax and i always kick myself for it. Really love the panels and need to have a better idea about what I want to see going into it.

    If you have a smartphone, Guidebook was invaluable for this for me. I only planned out the majority of my panels a couple days ahead of time, but the 1 hour reminders and me constantly checking my schedule kept me on target for each panel I wanted to go to. @PAX_Lines twitter was a huge help too to know which ones were starting to line up and/or fill up.

    (And on the smartphone note, having a spare battery or two is really nice too! Unless you're an iPhone owner of course...then maybe one of those goofy external battery packs, or finding a wall to charge at sometime during the afternoon)

    Yeah, guidebook helped me out a lot but it was still annoying having to figure out what I wanted to see on the fly rather than have some stuff planned out before being in the convention.

    I actually was using an iphone but will definitely think about getting an external battery charger thing as trying to find a place to sit down and charge my phone was difficult and could be pretty time consuming. Also due to the poor convention wifi I was running my battery down faster using 3G, though it still lasted a good long while.

    hLeTR.png
  • ishtraishtra Long IslandRegistered User regular
    - Wear a costume that allows me to Take Pictures. I have some only while I was gaming later in the evening :P
    - See more of the Expo floor. For my second PAX East - I think I did pretty well, as PAX E #1 I ended up doing mostly panels, so I flipped to tabletop and D&D this time - still pretty good though.
    - Will Definitely keep with the "get my own room" thing, b/c that was good
    - bring breakfast foods. We brought only lunch stuff, and I was peckish throughout the day.

    Attendee: PAX East 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, Unplugged 2017
  • TheAggroCraigTheAggroCraig Ultimate Lucky Douchebag MassachusettsRegistered User regular
    I'm starting to realize the Expo Hall isn't all there is at PAX, I'm slowly branching out from just video games there now and checking out more stuff.

    The best thing I did there this year was playing Ninja in the hallways of the convention center on Saturday... so much fun.

  • flatlineflatline Registered User regular
    edited April 2012
    gespo89 wrote: »
    Porkchop wrote: »
    (And on the smartphone note, having a spare battery or two is really nice too! Unless you're an iPhone owner of course...then maybe one of those goofy external battery packs, or finding a wall to charge at sometime during the afternoon)

    On that note, if there is one thing I DO want to make sure to do again next year, it will be to bring one of those goofy external battery packs as it was incredibly helpful. For my cell phone and my 3DS, it was a life saver. While not quite as nice for one device as a spare battery, it's incredibly useful if you're using multiple devices a lot (and even if you are going with just one device, it is nice because it contains about half a dozen spare batteries worth of juice).

    For anyone who'd like to get into Making, I highly recommend looking into a MintyBoost. You can use it to charge anything that can take power over a USB connection (although I don't think it has enough juice to really power an iPad), and it's a great little project if you'd like to try out soldering.

    flatline on
    East 2014 Status: Badge [ Friend got it ] Hotel [Crappy] BYOC [YES] Transport [ ] Name on Forum Badge [ ] Challenge Coin [ ]
  • SpectacledBearSpectacledBear Ontario, CanadaRegistered User regular
    These forums have helped me to make some corrections for my strategy next year. I'll be spending less on food (and bringing more of my own), spending more time in Tabletop, and picking one seminar a day.

    Currently playing Stardew Valley and I Am Setsuna.

    LPr3CtQ.png
  • xenardxenard Registered User regular
    1. Talk to more people
    2. Remember to hand out contact cards to the people I do talk to
    3. Room alone
    4. Sling backpack is a NO. My shoulder is still sore
    5. Pack food or head to 7-11

    steam_sig.png
    3DS Friend Code: 2449-5711-0640
  • vicechanvicechan Registered User regular
    ottoman673 wrote: »
    9. Actually bring my phone charger next time, instead of fucking up and buying one in Boston. ouch.

    HAX:

    1. Buy one at a place you can return it at a different location (like Best Buy)
    2. Use it while you're away from yours
    3. Return it when you get home
    4. Make up for your karma by purchasing DVDs in store instead of Amazon

    -

    Bring bottled water. I don't drink tap unless I have to and $3.50 is a scam.
    Be on and get a forum badge.
    I'd bring a piece of relevant technology, like the 3DS. No DS phat or PSP love, it seemed.
    I'd spend more time at PAX, but I couldn't avoid that because I wanted to see Boston and go to Anime Boston.
    Go to free parties. Especially ones I can just walk into. Especially ones with open bar.
    Bring a multi purpose jacket. Just fancy enough for fancy, just casual enough for hanging out.
    Thinking about staying at a closer hotel next time to cut down on travel time, although the T owns.

  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    vicechan wrote: »
    Go to free parties. Especially ones I can just walk into. Especially ones with open bar.
    Bring a multi purpose jacket. Just fancy enough for fancy, just casual enough for hanging out.
    Thinking about staying at a closer hotel next time to cut down on travel time, although the T owns.

    The only free party with an open bar was the Curse one... and that one wasn't all that. It was sort of lame, really... I did get a free drink out of it, but meh.

    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • vicechanvicechan Registered User regular
    Kiashien wrote: »
    The only free party with an open bar was the Curse one... and that one wasn't all that. It was sort of lame, really... I did get a free drink out of it, but meh.

    Free drinks are free drinks! My roommate said it was awesome, but I'm not sure how he parties.

    So maybe a better lesson is the pay attention to the PAX Parties thread.

  • testsubject23testsubject23 King of No Sleep ZzzzzzzRegistered User regular
    Next year I'll be sure to research which US cell network my phone can actually use - I got an AT&T pay-as-you-go SIM that turned out to be useless. Since the BCEC wireless network is unable to handle a PAX-sized load, that left me "dark" for the most part. Being off-network when most people are using Twitter/GroupMe for communication meant flying solo for most of the weekend because I couldn't find/be found by anyone. On the bright side I never once felt a lack of interesting things to do/see and I actually participated in random conversations and met a lot of really awesome folks (whose names and contact info almost all completely escape me, now).

    The past two years I've promised myself I'd get more sleep and eat more meals, but after this year I know now that this is a LIE. There's too many fantastic things happening during PAX for me to waste time being unconscious or feeding myself. Instead I hauled along a large cache of meal replacement bars and other snacks, and continued the practice of only eating substantial food when nearing physical collapse. I can't recommend the strategy, but it seems to work for me.

    I'd also recommend one of those portable battery packs. I used my phone as a camera, for Guidebook, and to stare forlornly at the Wifi trying to connect, which tended to drain the battery - having a spare charge or two with me helped a lot.

    Next year I will not bring my PSP. It is a paperweight now, I accept that. :) I had shoulder-bruises from packing too much into the backpack, so it's time to lose those things I'm not sure to need.

    camo_sig2.png
    Steam: Chaos Introvert | Twitch.tv: Chaos_Introvert | R*SC: Chaos_Introvert | PSN: testsubject23
  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    Next year I'll be sure to research which US cell network my phone can actually use - I got an AT&T pay-as-you-go SIM that turned out to be useless. Since the BCEC wireless network is unable to handle a PAX-sized load, that left me "dark" for the most part. Being off-network when most people are using Twitter/GroupMe for communication meant flying solo for most of the weekend because I couldn't find/be found by anyone. On the bright side I never once felt a lack of interesting things to do/see and I actually participated in random conversations and met a lot of really awesome folks (whose names and contact info almost all completely escape me, now).

    The past two years I've promised myself I'd get more sleep and eat more meals, but after this year I know now that this is a LIE. There's too many fantastic things happening during PAX for me to waste time being unconscious or feeding myself. Instead I hauled along a large cache of meal replacement bars and other snacks, and continued the practice of only eating substantial food when nearing physical collapse. I can't recommend the strategy, but it seems to work for me.

    I'd also recommend one of those portable battery packs. I used my phone as a camera, for Guidebook, and to stare forlornly at the Wifi trying to connect, which tended to drain the battery - having a spare charge or two with me helped a lot.

    Next year I will not bring my PSP. It is a paperweight now, I accept that. :) I had shoulder-bruises from packing too much into the backpack, so it's time to lose those things I'm not sure to need.

    Most networks are going to be overwhelmed in Boston. the BCEC is in.. well.. a shitty location Boston-wise. FIOS is illegal there (No I'm not kidding) and the cell networks implode, since the normal BCEC "heavy load" is something like 10k concurrent connections- except none of them use data anywhere near what PAXers do.

    Short version: There isn't enough pipe. And there won't be for many years.

    I will be organizing a Coin Lunch next year if my plan to Enforce doesn't make it impossible. If it does, I will organize a Coin Dinner- I highly suggest anyone fretting over getting good meals in sign up. It's a few hours, and you meet more awesome paxers in a more relaxed setting.

    And it makes you eat a real meal.

    PS: Coins will likely not be distributed at the next one, and really I don't care if you have a coin- it's just a "Dude, let's book a restaurant and swarm it with people who play games for a meal!"

    I'm silly like that,

    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    Super short version of the above post: Data is suck, so plan ahead and deal.

    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • testsubject23testsubject23 King of No Sleep ZzzzzzzRegistered User regular
    Kiashien wrote: »
    Most networks are going to be overwhelmed in Boston. the BCEC is in.. well.. a shitty location Boston-wise. FIOS is illegal there (No I'm not kidding) and the cell networks implode, since the normal BCEC "heavy load" is something like 10k concurrent connections- except none of them use data anywhere near what PAXers do.

    Short version: There isn't enough pipe. And there won't be for many years.

    I will be organizing a Coin Lunch next year if my plan to Enforce doesn't make it impossible. If it does, I will organize a Coin Dinner- I highly suggest anyone fretting over getting good meals in sign up. It's a few hours, and you meet more awesome paxers in a more relaxed setting.

    And it makes you eat a real meal.

    PS: Coins will likely not be distributed at the next one, and really I don't care if you have a coin- it's just a "Dude, let's book a restaurant and swarm it with people who play games for a meal!"

    I'm silly like that,

    The others I was travelling with had only a few problems with their AT&T/T-Mobile connections... I just had the bad luck to pick a provider that doesn't like my particular phone. So next year... either a new phone or a new provider.

    The Wifi, well, I didn't really expect it to work. Last year I was able to get on it rarely, and this year not so much at all, but them's the breaks with 70K of net-savvy attendees.

    Count me in for the dinner next year - you're one of the few people whose name I *do* remember. Had a blast on the Pokecrawl.

    camo_sig2.png
    Steam: Chaos Introvert | Twitch.tv: Chaos_Introvert | R*SC: Chaos_Introvert | PSN: testsubject23
  • BIGmogBIGmog DenverRegistered User regular
    edited April 2012
    Spend less time glued to my Nintendo 3DS. Like many other 3DS owners I saw, I frequently played Find Mii and Puzzle Swap. PAX is a rare chance to complete these games but I wish I had spent that time meeting real people instead of just their Miis.

    BIGmog on
  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    Kiashien wrote: »
    Most networks are going to be overwhelmed in Boston. the BCEC is in.. well.. a shitty location Boston-wise. FIOS is illegal there (No I'm not kidding) and the cell networks implode, since the normal BCEC "heavy load" is something like 10k concurrent connections- except none of them use data anywhere near what PAXers do.

    Short version: There isn't enough pipe. And there won't be for many years.

    I will be organizing a Coin Lunch next year if my plan to Enforce doesn't make it impossible. If it does, I will organize a Coin Dinner- I highly suggest anyone fretting over getting good meals in sign up. It's a few hours, and you meet more awesome paxers in a more relaxed setting.

    And it makes you eat a real meal.

    PS: Coins will likely not be distributed at the next one, and really I don't care if you have a coin- it's just a "Dude, let's book a restaurant and swarm it with people who play games for a meal!"

    I'm silly like that,

    The others I was travelling with had only a few problems with their AT&T/T-Mobile connections... I just had the bad luck to pick a provider that doesn't like my particular phone. So next year... either a new phone or a new provider.

    The Wifi, well, I didn't really expect it to work. Last year I was able to get on it rarely, and this year not so much at all, but them's the breaks with 70K of net-savvy attendees.

    Count me in for the dinner next year - you're one of the few people whose name I *do* remember. Had a blast on the Pokecrawl.

    Booyah my pokebro! Two years running! :P

    I'll do my best to make it known, but it'll be in the coin thread :)

    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • ChorazinChorazin Lancaster, PARegistered User regular
    Porkchop wrote: »
    ultimakay wrote: »
    2) Have a panel plan before getting there. I didnt do this either time ive been to pax and i always kick myself for it. Really love the panels and need to have a better idea about what I want to see going into it.

    (And on the smartphone note, having a spare battery or two is really nice too! Unless you're an iPhone owner of course...then maybe one of those goofy external battery packs, or finding a wall to charge at sometime during the afternoon)

    I had three batteries with me for my Galaxy Nexus, it was awesome to not have to worry about battery life every day!

    Twitter//@chorazin
    Google+//http://gplus.to/chorazin
    FitBit//Profile
    3DS Friend Code: 3823 8527 9997
    Wii U NNID Chorazin
  • PorkchopPorkchop Registered User regular
    Chorazin wrote: »
    I had three batteries with me for my Galaxy Nexus, it was awesome to not have to worry about battery life every day!

    Same here! One extended, the one that came with the phone, and the one that came with the external battery charger. And somehow, due to the 3g/4g switching and clogged up data lines, I actually went through all three on Friday. (Granted I also started travelling at 5AM) On Saturday I dimmed the screen, kept 4G off for most of the day, and shut off sync, and battery was greatly improved--I started up on my third late at night.



  • ChorazinChorazin Lancaster, PARegistered User regular
    Porkchop wrote: »
    Chorazin wrote: »
    I had three batteries with me for my Galaxy Nexus, it was awesome to not have to worry about battery life every day!

    Same here! One extended, the one that came with the phone, and the one that came with the external battery charger. And somehow, due to the 3g/4g switching and clogged up data lines, I actually went through all three on Friday. (Granted I also started travelling at 5AM) On Saturday I dimmed the screen, kept 4G off for most of the day, and shut off sync, and battery was greatly improved--I started up on my third late at night.



    Haha, i have that exact same battery configuration! :)

    Twitter//@chorazin
    Google+//http://gplus.to/chorazin
    FitBit//Profile
    3DS Friend Code: 3823 8527 9997
    Wii U NNID Chorazin
  • TriiipledotTriiipledot Registered User regular
    1) Plan out places to eat and bars to hit up beforehand, my friends and I were going crazy on some days trying to find a close place to eat that wasnt too expensive. Ended up being most places were expensive and had crazy wait times.

    2) Get a closer hotel, i booked last minute and ended up with the Qunicy Marriot. It was a nice hotel and had shuttle service to the closest T-Line station but since that service ends at 12AM i had to drive to the convention the days we wanted to go out at night.

    3) Post on this forum more! If i would have known about events like the Pokemon Pubcrawl or people bringing their 3DS' i could have better prepared.

    4) Dont get so wasted on the day before the convention starts, being incredibly hungover Friday wasnt fun.

    5) Find out more about the Panels id be interested in seeing.

  • tvethiopiatvethiopia Salem MARegistered User regular
    1) be more assertive about ditching my group if i want to go do something and they don't. i did almost nothing i planned this year, and while i still had an amazing time, there are a few things i wish i hadn't missed. like...

    2) D&D! how do i keep missing you?! once again, this year i planned to do a learn-to-play session and the d&d beginner panel and i was all "THIS WILL BE THE YEAR I LEARN D&D!!!" yeah... totally didn't happen. next year!

    3) i took tons of pictures and video this year, which was awesome. in fact, my new year's resolution was to take more pictures of things! the problem? i'm not in even ONE of them. it's all my friends and cool cosplayers and stuff, which is great, but next time i'd like to have some evidence i was actually there.

    4) cosplay, but not all weekend. cosplay can be really time consuming, especially if you do it well and lots of people want pictures, but this year i didn't wind up doing a costume and it made me a little sad. next year, i'd like to do either a comfortable cosplay that i can be relaxed in or just do one dedicated day of something awesome and over the top.

    5) ask the westin to turn on that fridge. would have been REALLY helpful to stash groceries and take out leftovers.

    <3 Daintier. Smarter. Better dressed. <3
    7YIpfE5.png
  • Brew78Brew78 Registered User regular
    So much for "one thing", lol

    I will say, the first thing I did upon making the jump to a phone that is "smart" was to buy an additional battery that I keep on me at all times. And its come in handy on many an occasion. Just gotta swap them out from time to time so they wear evenly, like rotating your tires.

    Guidebook was a great help, but don't count on internet there. My friend with Verizon had no trouble, but I only had a clear data signal towards the center of the expo floor. I was not able to take part in the Wil Wheaton Twitter Penis Bomb. No problem with the regular signal though, so text messaging became very helpful in maintaining communication with the friend I carpooled with.

  • RayzillaRayzilla Registered User new member
    jonxp wrote: »
    Knight_ wrote: »
    Actually play Tabletop games. I tell myself every year that THIS will be the one I play more tabletop games at (also finally learn how to play D&D) but I never manage it. Maybe Prime I'll finally accomplish that. :/

    Though, I guess Cards Against Humanity sort of counts, but it's not what I meant going in! :p

    Dude, last Prime was my fourth PAX, and I've said the exact same thing every year. I wonder how hard it would be to find someone willing to DM a newbie game of D&D.

    The kids and I finally did some table top gaming last prime including a 'learn D&D' campaign and we had a blast....the hard part is trying to remember the names of the games we played...they all jumble together...

    Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things.-J. Lennon
  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    edited April 2012
    jonxp wrote: »
    Knight_ wrote: »
    Actually play Tabletop games. I tell myself every year that THIS will be the one I play more tabletop games at (also finally learn how to play D&D) but I never manage it. Maybe Prime I'll finally accomplish that. :/

    Though, I guess Cards Against Humanity sort of counts, but it's not what I meant going in! :p

    Dude, last Prime was my fourth PAX, and I've said the exact same thing every year. I wonder how hard it would be to find someone willing to DM a newbie game of D&D.


    I dunno, I can't imagine it'd be that hard... I know at least 3 DMs that would be fine DMing a 3.5 D&D or Pathfinder game for newbies at East. I'm not as good a DM for D&D as I am for Shadowrun, so I wouldn't want to do it... But plenty would!

    For 4th, WotC runs a bunch of newbie games. I'm personally not really a fan of 4th, but it's very easy to learn.

    Kiashien on
    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • CreamsteakCreamsteak Thrall Registered User regular
    If people on this forum are looking for a "Learn D&D" session, feel free to ask me via PM when it gets close to any PAX. I'll gladly free up some time to run one. The WotC sessions are going to be hit or miss in my experience (my good friend Kevin Kulp was DMing some of them this year, that would have been a definite hit).

  • tvethiopiatvethiopia Salem MARegistered User regular
    Creamsteak wrote: »
    If people on this forum are looking for a "Learn D&D" session, feel free to ask me via PM when it gets close to any PAX. I'll gladly free up some time to run one. The WotC sessions are going to be hit or miss in my experience (my good friend Kevin Kulp was DMing some of them this year, that would have been a definite hit).

    i might just take you up on that!

    <3 Daintier. Smarter. Better dressed. <3
    7YIpfE5.png
  • MalgarasMalgaras Registered User regular
    tvethiopia wrote: »
    Creamsteak wrote: »
    If people on this forum are looking for a "Learn D&D" session, feel free to ask me via PM when it gets close to any PAX. I'll gladly free up some time to run one. The WotC sessions are going to be hit or miss in my experience (my good friend Kevin Kulp was DMing some of them this year, that would have been a definite hit).

    i might just take you up on that!

    Same here, sounds like fun. Been trying to get going with D&D for a while now, largely unsuccessfully.

    1tLJUH2O.png
  • d3r371ctd3r371ct pittsburghRegistered User regular
    gespo89 wrote: »
    tvethiopia wrote: »
    Creamsteak wrote: »
    If people on this forum are looking for a "Learn D&D" session, feel free to ask me via PM when it gets close to any PAX. I'll gladly free up some time to run one. The WotC sessions are going to be hit or miss in my experience (my good friend Kevin Kulp was DMing some of them this year, that would have been a definite hit).

    i might just take you up on that!

    Same here, sounds like fun. Been trying to get going with D&D for a while now, largely unsuccessfully.

    count me in as well! i'll be playing my first game in a couple weeks. i'm always down to meet some folks and roll some dice!

    lemon curry?
  • JaylewJaylew Registered User regular
    Well, for one, we're making sure that we save one of my girlfriend's sick days from her Friday class free so she can be there for the keynote/opening. For her sake I missed it (AT MY FIRST PAX KFHKJGDFUEK) so we could arrive at the same time.

    Another is preparedness in the morning. By default neither of us are morning people and we have a habit of rationalizing being late while laying in bed, then berating ourselves once we're actually up and on our way. Considering we missed some really good stuff in the mornings we've sworn to have plenty of caffeine ready for us by our bedside for first thing in the morning, we can crash in the handheld lounge if need be later.

    Most importantly, we're not going to be shy dolts and we'll be remembering to get people's contact info. We met some phenomenal people over the weekend and, other than one guy at the Omeganaut final round, we never once thought to ask for their Steam ID or IM or anything, something we both regret (not knowing any gamers in our day-to-day lives and, frankly, having drifted in tastes from what online gamer friends I DO have).

    Oh, and we wont be sitting on our own playing MTG for hours either. That's something we can/do at home, why spend our time at PAX doing the same exact thing? Nonono, we'll find OTHER people to play in Magic!

  • tvethiopiatvethiopia Salem MARegistered User regular
    on a positive note, something i did wrong last year and did totally right this year was i came to pax on thursday, not friday. i'm fairly local, so for east 2011 (my first) i figured we'd just pay for the westin for fri and sat and show up friday morning. as a result, we missed a good chunk of friday lugging bags around, getting checked in and settled at the hotel, etc. this year we came in thursday, did the pre-pax dinner and little westin gaming and were rested and ready on friday morning. totally worth paying for an extra night in the hotel.

    <3 Daintier. Smarter. Better dressed. <3
    7YIpfE5.png
  • TripleozeroTripleozero Registered User regular
    jonxp wrote: »
    Knight_ wrote: »
    Actually play Tabletop games. I tell myself every year that THIS will be the one I play more tabletop games at (also finally learn how to play D&D) but I never manage it. Maybe Prime I'll finally accomplish that. :/

    Though, I guess Cards Against Humanity sort of counts, but it's not what I meant going in! :p

    Dude, last Prime was my fourth PAX, and I've said the exact same thing every year. I wonder how hard it would be to find someone willing to DM a newbie game of D&D.

    We did the "Learn to Play D&D" thing in the tabletop area Saturday at 3pm. It was me (total D&D noob), 3 friends with experience, and 1 random guy in line. It went pretty slow at first with all the explaining and whatnot, but once things got settled it was great. The DM did a great job (forgot his name), and everybody had a good time. Highly recommended.

    As far as things I'd do different: Go off the beaten path a bit. Since everybody wants to see different things, you'll make yourself nuts if you try and keep the group together at all times and keep up with where everybody is. I missed a few panels I really wanted to see because I decided to 'stick with the group.'

  • ChenzillahChenzillah Resident Geek Scarborough, MaineRegistered User regular
    These are my things I'm doing differently next year:

    1. Have a better lens for my camera- switching between my 50mm and my telephoto lens was such a pain in the ass (if anyone has a recommendation, I'm all ears!)
    2. Have an external flash, (also taking suggestions!)
    3. Bringing a external battery charger thing, someone else mentioned it in a earlier post and it seems like a great idea... I had to spend about 45 minutes recharging my phone at around 5pm on Saturday...
    4. I really need to experience more of the upcoming new games, reflecting on it now I should've left the booths that I was more familiar with and went into other booths that I wasn't so familiar
    5. Poster carrier/cases, I ended up coming back home with like 6 posters... lol

  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    Chenzillah wrote: »
    These are my things I'm doing differently next year:

    1. Have a better lens for my camera- switching between my 50mm and my telephoto lens was such a pain in the ass (if anyone has a recommendation, I'm all ears!)
    2. Have an external flash, (also taking suggestions!)
    3. Bringing a external battery charger thing, someone else mentioned it in a earlier post and it seems like a great idea... I had to spend about 45 minutes recharging my phone at around 5pm on Saturday...
    4. I really need to experience more of the upcoming new games, reflecting on it now I should've left the booths that I was more familiar with and went into other booths that I wasn't so familiar
    5. Poster carrier/cases, I ended up coming back home with like 6 posters... lol

    1 and 2: Get a fast, wide lens. If you don't have a full frame sensor (and you don't have a "made for digital" lens), your 50mm is more like a 80mm. It's hard to fit a lot into a shot. I would suggest something like a 24-70 f/2.8, and maybe a wider fixed. Telephotos are only useful in the larger panels and concerts, and between those two, concerts are going to give the most interesting pictures, and those are the easiest to make your way closer to the stage. External flashes cause you to lose the lighting of the scene (which is often very important for shots of the booths), so use it sparingly.


    (Can you tell what my non-videogame hobby is?)

    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Pax Train, My wallet got raped with tolls and Westin charging for parking.

  • ChaosLightChaosLight Registered User regular
    This was my first PAX. Next time, I'm going to get some sort of quilted shirt to wear under my chainmail. I'll also probably bring samples and more business cards. I'm going to take more pictures, go to more panels, make it to the keynote, and in general do ALL the THINGS.

  • _jnup_jnup Boston, MARegistered User regular
    1) Buy a camera so I can take pictures. Relying on my phone doesn't help when the batteries dies after 6 after heavy use.
    2) Plan where to eat instead of going to the Sam Adam's bar.
    3) Book a room at the Westin. Don't have to worry about driving and parking. And be able to hit up any bar crawls and after parties.
    4) Attempt to be less socially awkward and talk to people.
    5) I guess not to spectate any of the Street Fighter tourneys, feels like it takes the whole day.

    Feel free to follow me: https://twitter.com/_jnup
  • XX55XXXX55XX Registered User regular
    Well:

    1. Spend less time on the expo hall and check out more panels/freeplay areas, etc.
    2. Let people know that they can contact me on Steam or whatever if I've spent more than twenty minutes talking to them. It's difficult to know that you've chatted with cool people but never got their contact info.
    3. Go all three days. Seriously. I've always attended only one day.
    4. Try to go with a group of friends (which isn't easy, admittedly).
    5. Become an enforcer (maybe).

  • ChenzillahChenzillah Resident Geek Scarborough, MaineRegistered User regular
    edited April 2012
    jonxp wrote: »
    Chenzillah wrote: »
    These are my things I'm doing differently next year:

    1. Have a better lens for my camera- switching between my 50mm and my telephoto lens was such a pain in the ass (if anyone has a recommendation, I'm all ears!)
    2. Have an external flash, (also taking suggestions!)
    3. Bringing a external battery charger thing, someone else mentioned it in a earlier post and it seems like a great idea... I had to spend about 45 minutes recharging my phone at around 5pm on Saturday...
    4. I really need to experience more of the upcoming new games, reflecting on it now I should've left the booths that I was more familiar with and went into other booths that I wasn't so familiar
    5. Poster carrier/cases, I ended up coming back home with like 6 posters... lol

    1 and 2: Get a fast, wide lens. If you don't have a full frame sensor (and you don't have a "made for digital" lens), your 50mm is more like a 80mm. It's hard to fit a lot into a shot. I would suggest something like a 24-70 f/2.8, and maybe a wider fixed. Telephotos are only useful in the larger panels and concerts, and between those two, concerts are going to give the most interesting pictures, and those are the easiest to make your way closer to the stage. External flashes cause you to lose the lighting of the scene (which is often very important for shots of the booths), so use it sparingly.


    (Can you tell what my non-videogame hobby is?)

    Your non-videogame hobby... must be... salsa dancing...!

    I have a Canon T2i, I don't think it's a full frame IIRC from the specs/reviews I've read when I bought it.
    I just recently picked up photography as a hobby, and been trying to soak up tips and looking to buying a tammy 28-75 2.8 and start playing around with that at a local anime expo in maine to see how that works in a convention style environment.

    Imma sponge wanting to soak up information, so lemme know your thoughts :)

    Chenzillah on
  • ChimneyImpChimneyImp Shifty Eyes BostonRegistered User regular
    Show up Wednesday, go home Monday. Spend more time in the Expo Hall - I may have overcompensated for spending a whole day there last year, didn't get to demo enough games.

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