We've been attending this Con since the first one in 2006, and it's always a good time. This year, our main goal was original and commissioned art. Also, for the first time, we went on both Sat and Sun, which was worth it. We got our planned commissions out of the way on Sat, so the smaller Sun crowds made for nice leisure browsing. We also stayed on budget and found some sweet goodies (one of which is still being shipped -- yes, it was something we could not physically carry home on the train!).
Vic has pictures of the LOOT at keroo.
Some highlights:
* Though not initially listed on the website, Jim Butcher was signing his latest Dresden book, Small Favor. As a bonus, the hardcover was 25% off. Really nice guy, chatting with each fan and posing for pictures:
* Got to play a brief D&D 4.0 demo. Interesting to see character sheets, even pre-packaged 1st level ones. Overall impression is there are more components for everyone to track (not just wizards have paperwork!) but lower level games are much more fun. The healing surge concept is pretty nifty and appeared to mitigate the "oh noes, we have no cleric!" issue. Spellcasters are easier to play and attacks more intriguing due to saves becoming combat defenses. Not a big fan of the change in skills, which are effectively pre-filled abilities now, but judging from the 15 minutes of play I had, it was a pretty easy transition from 3.5 core.
* Thanks to T.M. Revolution, the longest line of giggly asian fangirls I have personally seen formed on the convention floor.
* David Mack remembered us!
* The Heavy Metal booth had a 50% sale on all books! So I added to my Royo collection.
Some not so highlights:
* Rob Liefeld totally did not show at his assigned artist alley booth. Boo!
* Kotobuyia did not have Shunya Yamashita artbooks on hand. Their vending space was devoted mostly to "western" products like Star Wars and Halo, so I didn't get to see some of their cooler anime pieces. Ah well.
* An awesome Hulk being assaulted by Fin Fang Foom panel by Lee Weeks was way over our budget.
* David Mack originals were way over our budget
* Hell, a ton of stuff was way over our budget!
Overall, it was really fun. The organizers finally got decent space, so the crush of bodies wasn't too bad, except for areas with lines. I prepared lunch beforehand, so we didn't have to wait 30 minutes for a $4 hotdog! And it was neat roaming artists alley to admire the sheer amount of talent. I'm glad we focused on artwork this time, at a smaller, more intimate venue. Got it out of our system, so this summer at San Diego, we won't be stuck waiting in line for artists along with thousands of others!
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