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I've never been to a POH. Never been to a Gen Con or any gaming thing really. Over the span of 15 years I have about 30 hours of actual gaming experience.

Anyways my gf and I plan on attending the open house but I am wondering what should I really expect and how should I prepare for it?

Any and all advice welcome. Luckily I live 30 minutes away from the OH.

Expect a lot of like minded people, all ready for a fun weekend of gaming. Prepare by sleeping the whole week previous, cause the gaming goes all day, and all night. Most if not all GMs provide Characters for their games, so no need to do that, unless you want to. If you want to win prizes, start building/creating your costumes now. Lots of Gms also provide prizes. Best way to prepare is get the expenses you can out of the way now like tickets, and possibly travel (not in your case). That way you can buy stuff there, like products in the warehouse, and there are auctions with unique items.

Also save up some money, because aside from all the cool swag Palladium has to offer in the form of books, dice, shirts, hats, and other weirdness, Artists have come from all across the country to do sketches, sign Autographs, or sell prints! And the writers will be there, too.

Bring your dice, any characters you have in case a GM is open to letting you use your own, and plenty of cash for books, merch, character sketches, art prints, etc. There will most likely be a costume contest with a few different categories (sci-fi, modern, etc.), so come up with something for that if you wish. Other than that, just be ready to geek out for a few days, meet some awesome people, and have a blast!

I think I am most looking forward to learning from the GMs and by playing in a couple different games. Plus meeting some of you people who have helped with advice and such here on the boards.

I can't add more than what the guys said above. Keep and eye out on Palladium's website the week prior to the POH. That is when the schedule goes up telling you what panels are going on and what games are being run by who and what the game description is. This will allow you to plan your weekend. Also bring any books you want autographed. We're all willing to sign your books, if you're interested in that. Don't be shy, just introduce yourself to any freelancer or staffer if you have any questions, want to ask about upcoming projects, got questions about something that was written, anything. This is your chance to have complete access to one of the largest gatherings of Palladium creators. It's an awesome weekend!

One thing that is surprisingly hard to do is get out to get a proper lunch/dinner. You'll be having too much fun.
I recommend snacks with a mix of protein and sugar. Your brain will be burning a lot of sugar you'll want to replace (not to mention shorting sleep) and the protein helps avoid the crash. I bring a nice supply of reeces peanut butter cups and snickers. Also bring an big water bottle that you can keep filling up.

One other thought. Bring a gamer shirt of some sort and you'll find some of the nicest people in world coming up to talk to you or help you.

Hi there,

O, you are in for a treat!

You might know these books like "1000 places you must see". Well, I think for gamers that book is much shorter but definitely features Pally's Open House at a, for me the, top spot. 

I cannot rightly tell you what to expect as much as I can tell you what I found and what I will come back to. The Open House is a meeting of the most welcoming and friendly crowd of gamers (& and any people) I have ever met, and the special thing is that truly includes everyone. Everyone of the Palladium crew, be that Kevin, Julius, Alex or Wayne and each of the artists and freelance writers, they all may be the people who have been giving you hours of fun at your gaming table (or just reading / viewing their work) - and, yes, you will have those fanboy moments - but at the OH they are "just" gamers like you. You can talk and dice away for days - as simple as that, a gamer's heaven. 

Now, you may think this to be too positive a take - well: veni, vidi, ieci! and I am sure you will happily do the same.

How to prepare:
- bring dice (last OH there were none to buy)
- bring the usual gamer survival pack (whatever that is for you)
- come rested, at the OH chances are you won't get to much rest
- put some money aside in time, you will want to buy stuff
- check the Pally website and this board 1-2 weeks in advance of the event for the games/events schedule to get a firmer idea on what you want to do but be aware that you cannot book individual events in advance - in fairness to those not frequenting the boards you choose games every morning at the OH but that works out fine. I guess, your problem will not be to get into event X but that there are usually at least 2-3 at the same time you could do. The talks, any events really (don't know with the costume thing) are without registration and free for all.

Cheers & see you there,
Hendrik

What concept are you looking to have explained, Hendry? The Open House in general?

hendrykills wrote:I am new here and I am not clear with the concept, can you describe it in more detail.

In a nut shell there will be tables with games running based on a schedule that should be posted before OH and printed out several places at the OH. There will also be an area used for forums like the artist or auction. The artist all get their own area to show off their wares (bring cash as they can't take credit).
Last but not least you'll see all the people who names are on the covers of your favorite books walking around chatting.

And we can't forget the hotel areas having even more games

kamikazzijoe wrote:

hendrykills wrote:I am new here and I am not clear with the concept, can you describe it in more detail.

In a nut shell there will be tables with games running based on a schedule that should be posted before OH and printed out several places at the OH. There will also be an area used for forums like the artist or auction. The artist all get their own area to show off their wares (bring cash as they can't take credit).
Last but not least you'll see all the people who names are on the covers of your favorite books walking around chatting.

And we can't forget the hotel areas having even more games

This is about right.

Expect Brandon Aten to be a Hack who steals any sweets or goodies you brought to eat.

Josh Singsapaugh should not be allowed sharp objects, we've had several open house goers who have lost fingers when they got to close to his cage.

Irving Jackson is cool but you know he's going to die first, after all he will be just three days from retirement.

Taylor White is too cool to tell you about his next writing project

Bradshaw is the guy in the bib and adult diaper, don't ask, you do not want to know.

Kevin Siembida can fly, like superman but he gets self conscious when people draw attention to it. Just tap him on the shoulder when you catch him floating.

Jason Richards is totally that guy.

That guy totally won't be there.

Also expect rat-bastard to lick everyone. Don't worry, as far as we can tell he's not actually tasting you. It's just his way of saying he's in heat.

mumah wrote:That guy totally won't be there.

Also expect rat-bastard to lick everyone. Don't worry, as far as we can tell he's not actually tasting you. It's just his way of saying he's in heat.

its my curse.

No, it's OUR curse.

mumah wrote:No, it's OUR curse.

Have you ever licked you?

My Curse.

You kiddin' me? Licking me would be like tasting heaven.

mumah wrote:You kiddin' me? Licking me would be like tasting heaven.

Well, you are always covered in a glaze of cookie crumbs and syrup.

rat_bastard wrote:

mumah wrote:You kiddin' me? Licking me would be like tasting heaven.

Well, you are always covered in a glaze of cookie crumbs and syrup.

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

This is exactly what should be expected at the open house. Being drunk helps. There is no proper way to prepare yourself for that kind of banter, except maybe years of practice.

Jorel wrote:This is exactly what should be expected at the open house. Being drunk helps. There is no proper way to prepare yourself for that kind of banter, except maybe years of practice.

Jorel only speaks the truth.

best thing to do when going to anew place for the first time with alot of strangers and things that require mental effort and staying up late.....Drop acid before you show up. People will think your cool , watch out for you, and be happy to have you at their gaming tables.

Shinitenshi wrote:

The Galactus Kid wrote:

rat_bastard wrote:

mumah wrote:You kiddin' me? Licking me would be like tasting heaven.

Well, you are always covered in a glaze of cookie crumbs and syrup.

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

Well I supplied the cookie crumbs and you supplied the syrup

I'm all sugar, baby!

*licks Ninjabunny*

Why thank you shini...hope things have been good for you and yours lalety.

Shinitenshi wrote:

The Galactus Kid wrote:

rat_bastard wrote:

mumah wrote:You kiddin' me? Licking me would be like tasting heaven.

Well, you are always covered in a glaze of cookie crumbs and syrup.

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

Well I supplied the cookie crumbs and you supplied the syrup

Great the original poster is going to think we're all wannabe juciers now. Thanks alot

More like loons that belong in the bin.

Ninjabunny wrote:

Jorel wrote:More like loons that belong in the bin.

I am not a fowl I am a lagomorph which is trained in the art of the ninja.

I am confused, you do have a looney toon as an avatar.

I really have only a few words to describe it.

Friends
Home
Love
Togetherness
Safe

*shrug*

The POH is a lot like here, only moreso.

-Dennis

Subjugator wrote:I really have only a few words to describe it.

Friends
Home
Love
Togetherness
Safe

*shrug*

The POH is a lot like here, only moreso.

-Dennis

You got that right, buddy.

Even if you make it sound like Woodstock on Dice ... which is not a bad thing anyway (although I prefer playing at Kevin's table to listening to Joe Cocker) ...

VERY well put, Dennis!

A SONG! wrote:

Spoiler:

(to the tune "Woodstock" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)

Well I came upon a child of God, he was walking along the road
And I asked him tell where are you going, this he told me:
(He) said, I'm going down to Kevin's farm, going to join in a dice slingin' band.
Got to get back to Westland, and set my soul free.
We are Supers, we are Nightbane, we got ourselves a boomgun,
And we got to get ourselves to table, game and fun
We are juicers, we are wizards, we got ourselves a boomgun,
And we got to get ourselves to table, game and fun.

Well, then can I roam beside you? I have come to lose the smog.
And I feel myself a cog in something turning.
And maybe it's the time of year, yes, said maybe it's the time of man.
And I don't know who I am but life is for learning.
We are Psychics, we are Splicers, we got ourselves a boomgun,
And we got to get ourselves to table, game and fun.

By the time we got to Westland, we were hundreds strong,
And everywhere was song and celebration.
And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the sky,
Sending dice to R-P-G for all the nation.

We are Heroes, we are golden, we got ourselves some soda pop,
Now we got the table, pen & paper - let's roll and rock!

Just don't roll the brown dice.

I don't do brown dice, cat! No worries. My sandals ain't flip flop that way. When I fire 'em up I do it with black polyhedrons - I'm an old fashioned hippie gamer that way.