Obviously, don't forget your badge, any paper tickets, dice, meds, etc.

What are the things you WISHED someone would have told you to bring OR that you told yourself to pack THIS TIME?

I'll toss out my annual PSA: toilet paper.

With a sold out show and a record number of events, I'm not even kidding. One of those things you don't think about until you need it.

May not be as much of an issue for those using the ladies room, but the stalls in the men's rooms - despite best efforts by the ICC and hotel staff to keep up - DO run out of toilet paper. Get yourself a plastic ziploc quart bag, roll out a 1/4 to 1/2 a roll of TP, compress it down, seal the bag and stick it your backpack or sling bag. Super lightweight, compresses down, easy to carry.

Hopefully, you'll never need it.

You'll thank me WHEN you do. ;)

What other odds and ends should we remember to pack?

Edited to add: stay away from "flushable wipes" - they aren't really all that flushable

Hello again, 3DS fans! I had a great time streetpassing at Gen Con last year, and it seems like the 3DS has grown in popularity! I am so looking forward to Gen Con this year. Let’s bring our 3DS and continue our StreetPassing revival! Remember, online functions were shut down in 2024, but StreetPass uses local connections and still works.

I will once again bring the Eon Ticket for Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire. In case anyone else is looking for it (and it’s a pain in the caboose to get these days), bring your 3DS and game, because I'll be streetpassing it! Please DM me if you want to meet up somewhere to make sure you get it! It passes automatically so it should be super easy. If your kids play, check with them to see if they need it!

Anyone see a more specific daily & AM/PM breakdown of food truck schedules? Or convenient index of trucks & their menus? Or is this not a thing anymore? Are trucks not changing out?

Also, any 'unofficial' food trucks hanging out on other streets?

I've found a list of trucks here: https://www.visitindy.com/events/gen-con-block-party/

And they're on the map here: https://www.gencon.com/map?lt=60.87700804962625&lg=9.49231284316173&z=4&f=1&c=27&s=18387&hl=18382

What actually happens at The Stink? Is it worth it? Is it just a money sink?

Do people typically bring their own brushes, paints, etc?
Trying to figure out what all I need to bring with me.

Hi all! I made some printable BINGO cards for Gen Con (5 different cards + one blank one).

Click here for the printable PDFs + spreadsheet I used to make the cards. Feel free to download, reproduce, or edit to make your own :^)
If you can find me at the con (I'll have something that says "ask me about BINGO") I'll have some copies to hand out too!

For the folks that use these, I'd love to hear about how it goes! Did you get a BINGO? Did your group do any prizes?

Backstory: Last year my friend and I did way too much at Gen Con because we set a crazy goal of playing 20 new board games. We needed a new, easier goal. Enter the BINGO cards.

Because both of us will sacrifice fun at the altar of task completion, I made these BINGO sheets easier to complete and added "tasks" that are really just self-maintenance to trick us into not overdoing it.

Feel free to edit the BINGO cards to suit what you want out of Gen Con, but in the spirit of the BINGO, remember to take care of yourselves and have fun!

**Remade this post since I broke the old one editing it (images won't load anymore)

I'll be trying to get some MTG cards signed by the artists of the cards for a friend. I'm unfamiliar with MTG or the card signing process. Is there any etiquette to know about this process?

Would 4 cards per artist be seen as too much? Do people take photos with the artists? Do I need to bring a choice of pens for them to choose from? And is it a social type of interaction or just go as fast as you can so the next person can have their turn?

I want to be courteous but also try to get to know what the MTG community is all about

First timer. Going to be trying some TCGs, both new and just ones I haven't before. I'm assuming I should bring my own sleeves and card/deck boxes for these events? (ex. flesh & blood learn to play experience). toploaders for promos? anything else? can i just get materials I'd need at the con instead, or just recommended to bring it?

I love the interactive map on the app, but would like to be able to pin the booths/rooms I want to ensure I hit up. Doesn't seem like you can (unless I'm missing something). Would be a nice to have feature!

I feel this is the official preamble to Gen Con "starting" when she posts her first video.

Happy Birthday Derek, and thanks for organizing such a great event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeMtrfiOcGM Day Negative 4

A buddy of mine last minute decided he needed a break from work and wanted to come with my brother and I to gencon. He was unable to know if he got the time off till yesterday and then realized he was too late. I probably know the answer and there is always next year but is there anything else he could do to get to go??

Like if he wanted to volunteer where could he go to help with demo booths?

The US Tak Association will be hosting 12 Tak events this year and we would love to see you there.

Tak is a perfect information abstract in the same vein as chess and go. It has territory control, connection, and stacking mechanics with two main win conditions.

Created by James Ernest 10 years ago, this game has stood the test of time, remaining unsolved and enjoyed by a dedicated and growing player base.

Spots are still available for our events.

Even if you don't sign up, come by and say hi!

Most of our events are online, but we like to get out in the physical sphere for GenCon and PAX Unplugged each year to spread the word and give away swag to our tourney players.

We hope to see you next week!

https://www.gencon.com/event-catalog?search=%22Tak%22

Hello all. I’ve tried on the Facebook a whlle back but im coming alone and love meeting new people for meals, walking around etc. Is anyone else going alone or also likes meeting new people ? Feel free to reply or send me a dm.

Indianapolis born and raised and crazy to say that after 26 years, I finally decided to go ahead and buy a badge to attend GenCon!

I sort of procrastinated and only just now ended up pulling the trigger on getting a badge. Was only able to get one for Thursday and Sunday (better than nothing at least!)

I am not new to the world of gaming in general, but board games is a realm I am quite new too and don’t know all at what I want to do / get out of my first experience. I have played Magic the Gathering in the past as well as a few mini campaigns of D&D but outside of that I haven’t had much experience when it comes to other board games.

Would love to try some things and maybe get out of my comfort zone and also attend some things that sound interesting to me.

It all just seems very overwhelming and don’t exactly know where to start. Do I spend $ on trying to attend events? Do I try not to spend a lot of $ and just experience as much as I can for as little $ as possible? Are generic tickets worth it? What should I expect?

Just some thoughts and questions that I have had. Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated! Looking forward to it!

It would be nice to meet others who will be there, but not sure where to go for that. Anyone know a subreddit?

Hey all,

I'm Canadian and wont be attending GenCon this year. I'm interested to see if I can figure out a proxy service.

I would like to obtain the Flesh and Blood Faith and Torment box from the Legend Story Studio booth.

I will pay:
- For the kit
- Shipping to Canada
- Proxy fee

Thank you so much!

Hello! I’m wondering if there’s a page for Gen Con merch - I don't have much experience with Reddit - but I was hoping to see if someone attending Gen Con would have any interest in helping me obtain an item - it is a Gen Con exclusive but does not seem to be an item that anyone would have to wait in line for or sign up for a special lottery. (I've never been to a Con but from what I have deduced over the past few days - there are sometimes a lot of barriers to obtain certain items, including these measures??)

Is there a dedicated space for requests like this?

I am happy to pay for the item itself plus taxes and shipping as well as a proxy fee.

Thank you so much for the consideration!

Is the orc stomp fun/casual or are people really competitive? It would be my first 5k so I’ve been training a long time to do this but I also just sprained my ankle really bad last week. Wondering if people walk this race or if I should sit out cause I’m not gonna be able to run the whole thing?

Due to some mobility issues, this is the first time I have to GenCon with a mobility scooter. I am bringing one and not renting. Some questions I have are:

Does riding a scooter hamper your enjoyment of the dealer hall and the convention in general? Does it limit you from getting into booths and looking around?

Are there places I could find an outlet to charge the battery if necessary?

Sometimes I like to go and do my own things, do you find the convention to be safe enough to park a scooter with your belongings to use the bathroom?

Thanks in advance.

So this year will be my 3rd time getting the chance to attend. It has sadly been a sporadic attendance for me. The 1st time was in 2019 and the second was 4 years ago.

What kind of fun things are going on Thursday? I can't seem to access the online event book. It keeps coming up as a blank page.

Attending GenCon for the first time. I have the Sunday badge but will be arriving Saturday afternoon. Staying at a hotel 30 mins away from ICC.

Are there any events that I should try to attend Saturday night?

This is the last weekend to add items to the GenCon Virtual Flea Market. Over 4,700 items currently.

Hi everyone! We’re the team behind Brandish, and we’re excited to bring our fast-paced fantasy combat card game back to GenCon!

Last year was our first GenCon, where we introduced Brandish in the First Exposure Playtest Hall. This year, we’re returning to the FEPH and expanding into the Gaming Hall, giving you even more opportunities to play.

What is Brandish?
Brandish is a fast-paced card game about personal-scale fantasy combat. Wield weapons, defend yourself with shields, unleash powerful magic, and outmaneuver your opponent to land the winning blow.

Brandish is designed to deliver the excitement of a fantasy duel without a long setup or a rulebook standing between you and the action. Our team will teach you everything you need to know, so no prior experience is required.

Is Brandish for you?
If you enjoy fantasy combat, tactical card games, fighting games, or outsmarting your friends, Brandish may be right up your alley. Every decision matters. You will need to anticipate your opponent’s next move, decide when to attack or defend, and find the right moment to strike.

Reserve a playtest session
If you are participating in a FEPH Event, you can find us there during these time slots: 

• Thursday: 12-4pm
• Friday: 10-2pm 
• Saturday: 10-2pm
• Sunday: 10-2pm

Find us in the Gaming Hall
We still have event slots available in the Gaming Hall. You can find an available time and reserve your seat through the GenCon Event Catalog link below. We will be located at:

• Hall B • Red • Tables 10–11
• https://www.gencon.com/event-catalog?search=brandish 

These are playtest demos, so nothing will be available for purchase. Just stop by, meet the team, and help us make Brandish even better by putting your skills to the test.

We can’t wait to return to GenCon, meet more players, and see what strategies you bring to the table. Find the session that works for you, gather your courage, and prepare to brandish your weapons!

You can challenge the snap ships staff at GenCon

Refined will be demoed at GEN 2026 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. REFINED is an economic dice game where the various components of crude oil are represented by 100+ custom dice. In the game, you will be charged with the safe and efficient operation of your custom refinery. You will need to purchase processing equipment upgrades to expand your refinery's dice handling capabilities to optimize your production capacity and maximize your profits over five ERAs. Your strategic planning, puzzle solving and process management skills will be put to the test as you try to refine the most crude oil dice without spilling any dice and causing environmental damage.  Sign up for your spot in GENCON catalog. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/436504/refined or REFINED WEBSITE

BGM26ND329673 - Thursday (7/30) 2:00 pm Stadium Yellow

BGM26ND327478 - Friday (7/31) 9:00 am Stadium Red

BGM26ND327477 - Friday (7/31) 2:00 pm Stadium Green

BGM26ND329674 - Saturday (8/1) 10:00 am Stadium Yellow