Attending Big Bad Con 2015: Everything you need to know!

extra-life-logoYou’re coming to Big Bad Con! Awesome. Here are some important Con 101 reminders:

Before you head out

Bring non-perishable food for donation!

Big Bad Con will have a food barrel for the Alameda County Community Food Bank at the registration desk. Please bring a can of something tasty for all the hungry folks in the Bay and we’ll give you a pin! Here is a list of food they are looking for (PDF)

Directions:

  • Driving: Here is a link to the hotel on Google Maps.
  • Flying into OAK: Call the hotel at 510-635-5000 for a complimentary shuttle
  • Flying into SFO: Take the Fremont or Dublin/Pleasanton train to Oakland Coliseum and then call the hotel at 510-635-5000 for a complimentary shuttle
  • Public Transit: BART to Oakland Coliseum and then call the hotel at 510-635-5000 for a complimentary shuttle

Contact Information:

In a bind and need to contact us? You can tweet @bigbadcon or send an email to thewolf@bigbadcon.com. Once you’re on site there will be staff members and volunteers in the registration area and open gaming. Just stop by and we’ll be happy to help.

At the con

Hungry?

The program has a list of nearby food. Food Truck hours:

  • Friday 4PM-10PM (Benedict Arnolds and King Knish)
  • Saturday 8AM – 10PM (Ultra Crepes, El Porteño Empañadas, Siam Loco Wraps, and Opie Burger)
  • Sunday 8AM – 4PM (Ultra Crepes, Gogo Gyro, and King Knish)

You can also access a Google Map of nearby eating here.

Where to go?

Hotel check-in is in Building 1. The convention is in Building 5 and Building 3. You can find a map of the building on the hotel page.

Parking

Parking is complimentary for all attendees. If you are staying at the hotel, your room key will get you in and out of the lot. If you’re commuting to the con, we have passes at the registration desk, just ask for one when you get your badge

Internet Access

Wireless access is available for $12.95/day. Both AT&T and Verizon have good service in the con buildings as well.

Registration

If you signed up before 10/13 (either paid admission or volunteered) your badge will be ready for you at the door. If not weekend passes are $50 and one day passes are $25. You can purchase these at the con registration desk.

Games

Sign-ups:  To get into any games at the con put your name down on the game sheet at the registration desk. Like we did it on the website, all open games will be first come, first served. The current day’s games will be posted on the wall, and updated for the next day at 8PM.

Games on Demand: Stop by the Empire Room and to jump into a game. More information about games offered and times games start here.

Open Gaming: All the game slots full and nothing to? Head over to Open Gaming in the Empire Room, where we’ll have awesome games running all weekend!

Community Standards

Policy: Everyone at the con (attendees, volunteers, vendors, staff, and GMs) must adhere to the Community Standards.

Content Policy: The con is 18 and over; we expect games to cover the gamut of gonzo silly to very mature themes. More detail is on our content policy page.

Accessibility

If you have an accessibility concern or question let us know. Email us at accessibility@bigbadcon.com. We’ll also include this in the program, so if you notice anything while you’re there, you can let us know!

If you’re running a game and accessibility needs come up, contact any of our staff and they will get in touch with Elsa Henry (our accessibility consultant) immediately to work towards a solution.

Surviving at the Con

Sleep, eat and shower. In the excitement of gaming it is easy to forget some of the basics. The 3-2-1 con rule is a good one. Every day you need at least 3 hours of sleep, 2 meals, and 1 shower.

Up for little exercise? The Wolf Chase 2015 is open to all who can stumble out of bed by 7AM. It’s our opportunity to not only get in some exercise, but also bring a little more aid to Doctors Without Boarders, via the Crowdrise fundraiser!

Wolf Den Under Construction

The Wolf met today with the Hilton and found out that Building 5 (where we normally host the con) will be undergoing renovation while we’re there. We live in exciting times!

There is good news though!

Building 3 is just down the hall from Building 5, and we’re getting 19 private gaming rooms in there that:

  • Are all on the ground floor
  • Will have the beds removed (previously they were just going to be turn up against the wall)
  • Have patios in some of the rooms
  • Will all be ready for use by 3PM on Friday (previously 1/2 the rooms weren’t available till 6PM)

Also the hotel has throw in a few extras:

  • We’ll have a second reception/lobby/hangout area in Building 3 (more hangout space).
  • All the guests rooms (which will now be in Building 3) will have mini-fridges included.

Updated layout

Gaming spaces highlighted in yellow.

Gaming spaces highlighted in yellow

Building 5 will still be used for Games on Demand, LARPs, open gaming, and other large events!

The Hotel Hunt is on!

Hotel_ImageYesterday the Hilton sent confirmation that they will not wave the overcharge from last year, and that it must be paid before we can book there again.

So, the hunt for another home is on! While nobody has taken the Hotel Liason position yet (though many people have contacted The Wolf to offer support, you all rock!) we still would benefit quite a bit from crowd-sourcing leads.

This is what the con is looking for in a hotel:

  • Located in the East Bay
  • Has 5500+ square feet of meeting room space (preferably broken up into several smaller rooms)
  • Is willing to convert private rooms into game rooms
  • Close to multiple food options
  • Reasonable guest room rates (can you find a room for $150 or less there on a travel site like Expedia)
  • [Optional but preferable] A place you already have some relationship with that we could springboard off of

Here are the hotels that we’ve already investigated and ruled out either because they couldn’t accommodate the con or because their rates were too high:

  • Hilton Oakland Airport
  • San Ramon Marriott
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • Waterfront Hotel
  • Oakland Holiday Inn Express
  • Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel Oakland
  • Oakland Marriott City Center
  • The Marina Inn on San Francisco Bay
  • Coral Reef Inn & Suites
  • The Inn at Jack London Square
  • Berkeley City Club
  • The Washington Inn Hotel
  • Holiday Inn Oakland Airport
  • Oakland Convention Center
  • Courtyard Oakland Airport
  • Red Lion Oakland Hotel Airport
  • Comfort Inn and Suites (multiple locations)
  • Quality Inn (multiple locations)
  • La Quinta (multiple locations)

There are about 30 more that we’ve looked at and just from their websites could tell wouldn’t be big enough for us.

Know a place that has what we need? Please let us know! (On Comments, G+ posts, or email thewolf at bigbadcon).

Big Bad Programs

BigBadConProgramCover2013The program is complete. Here’s all the deets about Big Bad Con!

Big Bad Lodging (update 9/13/2013)

Grandma's HouseWe have rooms! Fifteen (15) rooms have been added to the block! As expected they don’t have the full con discount, but they are still lower than the standard hotel rate. Enough so you can afford to buy the The Wolf a drink or two!

The new block is available Friday – Monday for $129/night. Click here to book at the the con rate, or call 510-635-5000 and used group code BBC.

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