Nerd Serengeti

I am roaming the Serengeti Plain of nerdness, the floor of GenCon in Indy.

I am at once native and observing scientist; at home among the various sub-species of gaming nerds, while also more then a casual observer of the different families, phylum, genus and species that surround me and participate with me in my nerdier hobbies.

To classify myself, I am primarily a paper-based roleplaying game player; Dungeons and Dragons, as well as a few others such as In Nomine, Traveller, and Shadowrun will catch my eye. I am quite different from, say, the computer-based roleplaying gamer, or the Collectible Card Game ( CCG ) plaer, or the mini-painter.

My particular family of gaming nerds does not outwardly present in any particular way; we do not dress alike, or in radical clothing or costume. We do not have to carry about portable cases of thousands of cards, racks of paints and stocks of figures. At most the gamer of my persuasion has a backpack with a few rules, some paper, dice and a few necessary rulebooks, by all estimates one of the lighter-traveling of the species here. My type of gamer is typically intelligent, and at least semi-social: it is hard to play my type of games except in a group. Appearances vary, though it is a common mythology that the roleplaying gamer is unkempt, unshowered, and unsavory. This is to some small extent true, but mostly we’re all pretty agreeable, physically and mentally. We do not cave the short-term buzz or excitement of CCG players of computer gamers; we are more likely to be drawn to the elegance of a gaming system, or the lengthy unfolding of a good plotline.

I also enjoy a few collectible card games, which are also well-represented on the floors and rooms of GenCon, but most of those gathered here to play CCGs are nationally ranked; and I am a pretty pedestrian player. I enjoy the games, but I find it takes too much time to immerse myself in any of them to the point where I could offer any credible play to most gathered here. My favorite game is based on the mythologies of Japan and China, called Legend of the Five Rings. The game is often described as “the thinking man’s CCG”.

There are different areas of network computers where people can lay xbox, PS2 and PC games. While I enjoy these, particularly SOCOMII and Quidditch World Cup, I am an even more casual player of computer games then I am of card games. It’s something I do totally on my own time, and I have no desire to get in the way of more serious players.

There are huge areas for miniature-based games as well… historical re-enactments of battles from the past, starship battles of the future, fantasy battles between warbands set in the period of never-was. I enjoy watching these battles, but even more then that I like watching the people who take part in them. They are down to a member a group of people dedicated to precision, attention to detail, and patience. Their tiny metal figures are mostly painted with exquisite detail, and their settings are also similarly lavish, encompassing many large tabletops with landscape appropriate to the genre. This activity represents a very interesting form of immersion, where the “reality” has a high level of fidelity, albeit on a small scale. The people who engage in these activities can be seen to glaze over a bit, as they “see” the action happening in their mind’s eye. I am only an observer here, familiar with none o the rules systems and not having the skill or patience to paint my own miniatures.

Board games are also very popular here at GenCon, which embraces all types of gaming in one way or another. There is a large ballroom with easily a hundred large tables set up, and many many different types of board games available for check-out and play. In much the same way one would start a pick-up game of basketball in the neighborhood back home, strangers gather with friendly spontaneity here for pick-up games of Risk or Axis and Allies. There are mostly strategy or competitive games available… but also a small amount of more traditional games such as Monopoly and Sorry. I’ll spend a bit of time in this place, as Risk and all it’s contemporary flavors are favorites of mine.

Gaming is just one aspect of how one can pass time here at GenCon. There are many, many different classes, workshops and seminars about all things gaming-related- building better adventures, getting your ideas published by major gaming companies, how to paint your minis like a pro, and so on. Also, there seems to be a great deal of overlap between gamers and people who enjoy writing, so there are many writers’ classes offered. Writing novels, short stories, character development and publishing tips are common topics. I’ll go to a few of these, as I am definitely interested in writing. I’ve also already attended a few lectures on game development and design, as well as marketing a new game.

The main area of the convention of course in the Persian bazaar of people who sell items reevant to the gaming industry. The Exhibitor’s Hall is always the most crowded place at GenCon, row after row of decorated booth selling games, dice, software, minis, books, art, and so on having to do with gaming, or other tangential interests such as SciFi and fantasy, anime and monsters of all stripes. I’ll spend a bit of time here everyday, looking at the wares but also doing a great deal of people-watching.

Other things to do at GenCon: walk in the art galleries and chat up the artists; duck into a movie room and catch some anime or hong kong action film; Stop a game developer and chat about how he is shaping the game you love; get something to eat at one of the cool places local to downtown Indy; people watch; Attend great-and-speaks with various celebrities who act in, write, direct or produce movies that gamers would like.

Oh yea, and blog : ) And sleep.