Time is growing short before the SoE FanFaire. It runs August 2 - 5, 2007, although the main events are on Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th.

Am I ready? Hell no. It has been a running joke here for the past five years that I never have my armor done in time. I usually end up working on it on the plane and AT the FanFaire, usually until 3 or 4 am before donning it on the Friday.

Who am I to mess with tradition?
Hehehehehe. Besides, if worse comes to worst, I have four sets of armor to fall back on.

FanFaire is a chance for players of all of SoE's games to get together for a weekend, although past experience has shown that the overwhelming majority of attendees play EQ and EQII.

Thursday is traditionally for check-in, registration and a casual get-together. I didn't see Karaoke listed this year, sadly!

On Friday and Saturday, there are a LOT of panels with devs sharing their game with players. There are so many that you have to pick and choose which to sit in on, and I have never been disappointed or bored with them.

There are also the LiveQuest events, which I hope I get to act in again (that is only a slightly veiled plea to the organizers to write me a part!). It is a manic and fun team-based event, organized by server.

FanFaire also offers tournaments for their various games - great for the competitive folks among you - I just lean back and watch the virtual scurrying at the long banks of computers, hehe.

This year will certainly be interesting, with SoE's acquisition of Vanguard, and their publishing partnerships with Perpetual Entertainment (Gods and Heroes/Star Trek Online) and Flying Labs (Pirates of the Burning Sea). SoE is sure to showcase EQII's Rise of Kunark expansion, as well as their brand new title, The Agency. There will be NO shortage of interesting games to discuss!

I am particularly happy at the promise of beta keys for attendees of the FanFaire. Mmmmm, beta. Specific titles were not given, but I will keep my secret hopes up!

The event will be held at the Rio Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas. I had grown comfortable with the Hilton, where the FanFaire has been hosted several times.

I will really miss my pilgrimage to Quark's Bar at the Star Trek Experience!
I have very fond memories of sitting there in full Dwarven regalia, chatting amiably with a pair of Klingons. They seem to respect well armored, heavy-drinking Dwarves, while putting some human worm on the floor for his insolence in daring to talk to them.

What I will lament the most is that I finally learned the convoluted floorplan of the Hilton, and now I have to learn new maps for the Rio! I am getting too old for this. Maybe I'll ask SoE to send a lackey up to lead me to the right place every day.

The Rio is not a cheap hotel, and SoE's block of special rate rooms has long since sold out, but Vegas offers a LOT of other options within walking distance that offer great rates and still have availability. Many people book dates on either end of the convention and see the sights and shows of Vegas as part of a longer holiday. Smart move!

The FanFaire itself is a little cheaper this year, at $89 for the full deal, and only $39 for the day pass for panels on Fri/Sat.

One thing that has always annoyed me about the event is the lack of advance information. At least the dates were announced very early in the year - but tournament times, details, firm info on panels, and so on... one gets a bit tired of seeing the "coming soon" fib on the official site. I have just learned to go with the flow, and always enjoy myself, but I am sure it looks unprofessional and disorganized to the uninitiated who are considering attending for the first time.

I sure wish I had some of my long-time guildmates coming along, but I'll have to manage on my own this year.

There is still time to come and keep me company.
Register today!

Brasse's FanFaire Survival Kit:
- small packet of asprin or other painkiller of choice that can fit in your pocket or purse.
- antacid. Carry it along too, because you will be miles from your room when indigestion strikes.
- comfortable shoes. Honest. Don't wear those sexah tight shoes anywhere other than to the closing banquet. Standing around is just as hard on your feet as walking.
- when you get to the hotel, find out where registration is, and plan to get there EARLY. The lines are long, and nothing makes a queue fun. Don't even pretend.
- after registering, take the event schedule out of the convention kit, fold it up, and carry it with you. Now YOU will be the go-to guy for answers! I'll be counting on you.
- understand that there will be delays, problems and annoyances. Smile anyway and go have a beer with a Dwarf. Look for the grumpy, mal-adjusted one bitching about an unannounced schedule change.
- do not gasp audibly when you see how much the hotel charges for alcohol - people all around you will think "n00b"! Complain loudly instead - I'll join you!
- eat breakfast every day. You will need it to carry you through the events. Breakfast - not just for Halflings! If you are hungover, you'll need the food and juice to recharge your batteries.
- don't be shy. We are ALL geeks. Say hello!