Getting ready for 2008, May 23-26, it's not too late!

Start planning your pilgrimage to KublaCon 2008. Listed below are some tips, hints and assorted links to help you get started.

Game Masters

Make sure your event (or events) is listed at the time and date in our onsite program as you think they are. It never hurts to triple check them to make sure that there are no scheduling mix ups. If you do find any mistakes or problems, please email the appropriate Department Head immediately to make sure we can correct it for the on site errata sheet.

Attendees

While it is too late to pre-register at this point, you can still get your weekend passes at the show for only $50. Also… create a KublaCon.com account and begin planning your weekend!  You can search for your favorite events and mark them as your personal favorites.  Create your weekend itinerary.  You can also submit your event requests into the Game Shuffler by creating an account.

Hotel Accommodations

As we said on the front page… The Hyatt hotel is NEARLY SOLD OUT and is very full and the KublaCon rate IS sold out! You can get a room at The Bay Landing Hotel which is a 5 minute walk from the Hyatt. When you can call them at 650-259-9000, be sure to ask for the KublaCon rate (which is $109). If you still wish to stay at the Burlingame Hyatt you can contact them at 1-800-233-1234. Just remember, the KublaCon rate is sold out!

Parking/BART

Last year we had almost 2100 attendees at KublaCon and needless to say (with only 800 parking spaces), the parking lot filled up fast. To help alleviate this problem this year, we really would like to encourage as much use of public transportation and carpooling as we can. The Hyatt does run a shuttle service between the SF Airport and the hotel. It stops on the upper level twice in the domestic terminal, and then once in the international terminal.

You can TAKE BART to the airport, with a short walk to the International terminal where you can take the Shuttle to the hotel. You can contact the Hyatt at 650-347-1234 for more info.

So many games, so little time... a KublaCon Primer

If you’re a veteran of game conventions, you probably have a system for filling your weekend with fun. You may have created a personal schedule of events, packed your lucky dice, leveled your characters, and know where and when you need to be for the duration of the Convention. On the other hand - if this is your first time at KublaCon - all of the excitement, an event list of over 700 games, and almost 2100 people gathering in one space for the weekend can seem a little overwhelming. To help you have a fun, safe and memorable weekend, here are a few survival tips to get you started -- and to help you along:

Staying Healthy

Start each day off the right way with a revitalizing shower to get those sleepy eyes opened and a good breakfast to get ready for another long day of gaming.

Try to eat well and try to moderate sugars, hi-carb or hi-fat foods and caffeine (aim for at least one balanced meal a day!). Drink lots of water as this will help keep you hydrated in a climate controlled environment.

Get some sleep. While it may be very exciting to try to play non-stop for 4 days... getting some sleep over the weekend will not only help you play better, it’ll also be safer for you and those around you.

Be considerate of others. No one wants to get grease or soda on their games so try to finish your drinks and meals away from playing a game (or at least bring lots of napkins and bring bottles of soda that can be closed to prevent spillage).

Getting Started

Once you get your wrist band - your “ticket” for the weekend. Please don’t remove it! By the way, you can upgrade a one day wristband to a weekend pass by bringing it to the registration desk -- while it’s still attached to your wrist!

Take a few minutes to browse the onsite program. You may want to jump to the sections (RPG, CCG, Etc.) with your favorite games and definitely take a quick look at the “Special Events” section!

Check out our “Beginners Track Demos.” Designed for the parent or friend of an attending experienced gamer, or for any new-to-gaming guests, this area can teach the basics of different types of games... and get you playing like a pro!

Playing Games

If you’re not sure what to play, walk through the Foyer and see what grabs your attention. Many of the games scheduled there are easy to learn and fairly fast to play. Also, the “Mega-Schedule” in the on site program shows you what’s happening in a running timeline and you can easily see what games are happening when.

Plan for future games. Referring to the program booklet, take note of the games or events (like the flea market) that you don’t want to miss and mark them in the Mega-Schedule so you can easily get an overview of your weekend plans.

If you play roleplaying games, you must plan ahead! Most RPG’s require that you submit event request slips well before the event starts - sometimes as early as the day before. Refer to the Game Shuffler pages in the on site program book for a detailed description of how this works.

Play your favorite games! Be sure to arrive on time and prepared with any materials you’re expected to bring. If scheduled games don’t catch your attention, then the “Open Gaming” area in Ballroom D is where pickup games happen. Join others – or start your own.