69 replies to this topic

[Dr.Bedlam]

I will go so far as to say that Luethar held vigorously to the Cardinal Rule, and was therefore treated like one of the guys. Well, that, and he's a good guy in general. Can't have enough of those.

I've been coming to ReaperCon for four years now, and I'm still boggling over the fact that NO ONE smells like they haven't had a bath lately. EVERY con has at least one troglodyte who can be detected from two doors away by his BO.

Not ReaperCon.

[Pole]

I will go so far as to say that Luethar held vigorously to the Cardinal Rule, and was therefore treated like one of the guys. Well, that, and he's a good guy in general. Can't have enough of those.

I've been coming to ReaperCon for four years now, and I'm still boggling over the fact that NO ONE smells like they haven't had a bath lately. EVERY con has at least one troglodyte who can be detected from two doors away by his BO.

Not ReaperCon.

This is made doubly amazing by the fact that last year it went from hotter than heck to pouring rain!

[MiniCannuck]

This is good to hear. I think we all had issues at conventions where people either forget to bath or want to wear the same clothes for a couple of days. Equally bad was when AXE body spray was super popular and some people doused themselves in it.

They must have really believed the commercials that told them women would chase them because they are wearing it. The sad fact is that the only reason women would chase most of them is if they were angry villagers with pitch forks.

[Wren]

I know you've got lots of helpful answers already, but I understand about wanting to be prepared, so I will add a few more in case it helps.

The Reaper forums default to showing topics from only the last 30 days. Older topics are still available. If you look at the top of a subforum, there's a red bar under the title. It starts with Recently Updated. This bar allows you to customize how you view the topics. If you click on the option at the right, Custom, you will bring up a drop-down menu. Under Timeframe, choose Show All. Then you should find other topics with titles like first time at ReaperCon, or more info about Classes and so on, and some of those might have answers to questions you didn't know you had. :->

How to find the people who know what you need to know at the con. There are a couple of areas that are almost always staffed. The people in that area may not know the answer to every question, but they should be able to help you figure out who you need to talk to, and possibly how to find that person. There are two entrance doors to the building. One leads to the on-site game store. There is someone manning the register during store hours. I generally do not assume that person knows a whole lot about the con, but they might be able to direct you to someone who does. The other entrance leads to a hallway. This hallway is right beside and in view of the store. It will contain a registration desk during the convention, which will be staffed by people who are there to help you find where stuff is happening and the person who can help you with a question if they can't. There is also an area of tables set up where the guest artists work and hang out when we aren't teaching classes, eating or sleeping. There will often be people there even if there aren't people anywhere else. Note that we do not tend to be super informed on the complete con schedule or how everything is run and so on, but since we know who people are, we might be able to find someone who can help you. We are also available to talk about painting and sculpting!

As mentioned, many classes are hands-on. Paints are provided in the classrooms, and usually minis if it is hands-on, but you should bring whatever brushes you prefer. (If you forget, don't be afraid to ask in class if someone has a spare, though.) If you have a previously painted miniature or two that relate to the technique topic of the class, you might also bring those in case there is time for reviewing people's minis. (And if there isn't, you can bring the figures by the artist's table and talk to the instructor another time.) I would bring similar stuff to your one-on-one, with a greater emphasis on minis you've painted with elements you have questions about or that you want feedback on. I would also bring a primed figure or two to practice on. You might also prepare a few questions or topics you want to talk about in advance if you think you might be tired or forgetful. For sculpting classes, bring any tools you use if you can, and any sculpts you've worked on related to the topic. I have very occasionally had someone who chose not to paint during a hands-on class, which I'm fine with.

[Shogan]

I'm really glad you responded to this Wren as I have my one on one with you. I will definatly bring some of my work and be ready to hit the ground running. I'm really excited and I want to make the best of the time. I'm desperate to improve my skills.

[psyberwolfe1]

OK I'll weigh in. Tools to bring: brushes, xacto knife, sculpting tools, flush cutter, green stuff, palette, basing material like flock or sand, and Super Glue. You'll thank me for that last one. If you're flying you'll have to put the hobby knives in your checked luggage.

Watching games is cool.

Food: we bring a cooler every year for our band of adventurers.

Finally bring your sense of humor. It will come in handy.

[ReaperWolf]

Bring your sense of Adventure 'cus this years games will rock your world.

>>ReaperWolf

[Dodson]

Kath I think you'll fit in fine. I went last year as a complete newbie and was able to meet a ton of people. They might not all remember me, but I certainly remember quite a few people.

- John

[warhorseminis]

And again, remember: this is not GenCon, or any other big convention. There are generally only a hundred or two people around, even on the busiest days. If you can't find someone to answer your question, or someone who can find the person you need to ask it of, within a couple minutes, then you must be painfully shy and antisocial. There is always someone nearby that will be able to help, staff or just repeat-offender attendee.

~v

lol! Thank you for the info! I'm a pretty outgoing person so I definitely don't see myself glued to the wall with a deer in the headlights look.

A word of advice: stay away from the bits area. It's evil.

No really.

Alright mainly I want all the bits for myself.

lol! As long as I don't have to arm-wrestle you for them, we're good.

Warhorsemania,

ROFL!!! It's War Horse Minis but I like this better. I might have to change my user-name.

I will let you know one thing that you did not ask but probably felt that a "con newb" (me) learned last year. You will not meet a friendlier group of con goers than the population at ReaperCon. I did not see anyone turned away. Everyone had time to explain games that they were running and made people feel as though they were not the newb! I look forward to paying that forward. If you have any questions on site look me up. I will have my forum tag on my name tag, even if ReaperBryan forgets it again!

Also another thing is that the ReaperStaff are top notch. if you do have a question, they will answer it or find someone that knows the answer. They literally bend over backwards to accomodate the con goers. I know this for a fact because I actually saw ReaperBryan contorted in a very unusual position last year so he must have been helping a con goer!

Well look forward to seeing you in May!

Lue.

Thanks Lue! I'll definitely look for you. It's also good to know this con is smaller. With the small class sizes, that really promotes a good learning environment.

I've been coming to ReaperCon for four years now, and I'm still boggling over the fact that NO ONE smells like they haven't had a bath lately. EVERY con has at least one troglodyte who can be detected from two doors away by his BO.

*Flashback to San Diego Comic Con* Oh, great, thanks Dr. Bedlam. That was one memory I could have left forgotten. Actually, I worked Comic Con back in the day, when it was much, much smaller so there weren't many trogs there but there were a few that could peel wallpaper at 50 paces. hehe

OK I'll weigh in. Tools to bring: brushes, xacto knife, sculpting tools, flush cutter, green stuff, palette, basing material like flock or sand, and Super Glue. You'll thank me for that last one. If you're flying you'll have to put the hobby knives in your checked luggage.

Finally bring your sense of humor. It will come in handy.

My sense of humor usually comes standard - no special ordering necessary. And thank you for the list! I'll make sure those items are in my go-bag. Fortunately, I'm driving up so no dealing with airport security. And the second fortunate thing is that miniatures are not near as big as the model horse shows I used to attend. I had my CR-V crammed full of totes. lol!

I know you've got lots of helpful answers already, but I understand about wanting to be prepared, so I will add a few more in case it helps.

The Reaper forums default to showing topics from only the last 30 days. Older topics are still available. If you look at the top of a subforum, there's a red bar under the title. It starts with Recently Updated. This bar allows you to customize how you view the topics. If you click on the option at the right, Custom, you will bring up a drop-down menu. Under Timeframe, choose Show All. Then you should find other topics with titles like first time at ReaperCon, or more info about Classes and so on, and some of those might have answers to questions you didn't know you had. :->

How to find the people who know what you need to know at the con. There are a couple of areas that are almost always staffed. The people in that area may not know the answer to every question, but they should be able to help you figure out who you need to talk to, and possibly how to find that person. There are two entrance doors to the building. One leads to the on-site game store. There is someone manning the register during store hours. I generally do not assume that person knows a whole lot about the con, but they might be able to direct you to someone who does. The other entrance leads to a hallway. This hallway is right beside and in view of the store. It will contain a registration desk during the convention, which will be staffed by people who are there to help you find where stuff is happening and the person who can help you with a question if they can't. There is also an area of tables set up where the guest artists work and hang out when we aren't teaching classes, eating or sleeping. There will often be people there even if there aren't people anywhere else. Note that we do not tend to be super informed on the complete con schedule or how everything is run and so on, but since we know who people are, we might be able to find someone who can help you. We are also available to talk about painting and sculpting!

As mentioned, many classes are hands-on. Paints are provided in the classrooms, and usually minis if it is hands-on, but you should bring whatever brushes you prefer. (If you forget, don't be afraid to ask in class if someone has a spare, though.) If you have a previously painted miniature or two that relate to the technique topic of the class, you might also bring those in case there is time for reviewing people's minis. (And if there isn't, you can bring the figures by the artist's table and talk to the instructor another time.) I would bring similar stuff to your one-on-one, with a greater emphasis on minis you've painted with elements you have questions about or that you want feedback on. I would also bring a primed figure or two to practice on. You might also prepare a few questions or topics you want to talk about in advance if you think you might be tired or forgetful. For sculpting classes, bring any tools you use if you can, and any sculpts you've worked on related to the topic. I have very occasionally had someone who chose not to paint during a hands-on class, which I'm fine with.

Thank you very much Wren! The forum info really helps. I was surprised when I couldn't find anything but knowing about the cut-off explains it. And that's a great idea to prepare my questions in advance because I probably will forget, especially if things get a little hectic and I'm taking a number of classes so they probably will.

Do they put a class schedule in the con handouts? I've got 8 classes. lol!

Bring your sense of Adventure 'cus this years games will rock your world.

>>ReaperWolf

Thanks ReaperWolf! That will be fantastic!

Thanks again everyone!!!!! I really appreciate all the help and info!!!!

[Wren]

Yep, the Con handout includes the schedule and location of classes. I usually make my own schedule in advance, but then cons are the one thing I'm remotely organized for. :->

[Pole]

Yea they should publish the officialy con schedule soon. Last year it had all the classes, games, and events in one place. It was handy to be able to figure out what you wanted to do ahead of time.

[warhorseminis]

Yep, the Con handout includes the schedule and location of classes. I usually make my own schedule in advance, but then cons are the one thing I'm remotely organized for. :->

Yes, that's one thing I would like to do. I had my list for the classes I wanted but when mouse met super-highway it click or be out-clicked.

Anyway, I have my list in my account history but realized some of them don't match the ones I had circled on my list. So I need to cross-reference codes or something.

Yea they should publish the officialy con schedule soon. Last year it had all the classes, games, and events in one place. It was handy to be able to figure out what you wanted to do ahead of time.

That would be fantastic if at all possible. Also the descriptions of the classes that were mentioned previously. I'm going to follow Wren's suggestion and look up old posts, so if the classes really haven't changed, then I guess it's all good if I find an old discription.

Okay off to look then I gotta get off the computer and get painting!!!!

[Captain Murray]

Thank´s for creating this topic Warhorse. Since this is my first ReaperCon it´s good to know what kind of stuff should I bring to the classes (specially when you do 11 of they).

I will separate my brushes, a primed mini and a some painted ones for my class with Anne Foerster)

Hope I can assimilate everything and learn as much as possible from each class.

[Kuro Cleanbrush]

Yes, thanks! This info has been invaluable to me as well!

I have one more very n00b-ish question to ask as well, however. Many of you mentioned that you will have you forum tag on your con badges. However, when I registered for the con, I used my real name to avoid any confusion. Can I still have both my forum tag and my real name on my badge, or is it too late now?

Thanks again!

[outek]

Unless it has changed, you should be able to add your forum handle to badge when you get to Reaper [worst case, there should be a space to write it on the badge].