How to Avoid Getting Overwhelmed at TTRPG Conventions
Conventions are designed to pack as much into a short time as possible. Larger ones can have hundreds of presentations, panels, and games to choose from. And that's before we even get to the mainstage events, parties, or the sometimes endless Artist Alley.
For the extroverted, this is a wonderland, but for some of us, it can be a little overwhelming if not downright intimidating.
If wading through a sea of people, even friendly nerds, makes you a little nervous — you're not alone. And it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy TTRPG conventions as much as any high charisma character. You just might need to take some preparations to protect your peace.
Here's some tips from our community for staying cool at your next one
Have your party with you.
Meeting people and making new friends is half the fun of a convention, but if this is your first one, I'd recommend you go with at least one friend, preferably 3-5 with a balanced mix of melee and support classes. It can be less intimidating, and it can also be more fun to experience events like this when you have friends to talk about it with.
This doesn't mean that you have to spend the entire time together; maybe you split up for some panels or art tutorials if you want to see different ones. But knowing you have someone to call if you need a little help can make new experiences much more approachable.
If you're prone to panic attacks in crowded or unfamiliar settings, talk to your friends about what those symptoms look like for you. Let them know how they can help you if one happens when they're around. Having one doesn't have to be the end of your fun weekend, especially if you have a party to rally around you.
Going with friends also means getting encouragement to break out of your comfort zone and try something you might otherwise have overlooked.
If this is your very first convention, we have more tips for making the most of your time here.
Pack your dungeoneer's kit.
It's good to go into battle prepared. Keep in mind that you may not be able to get back to your room quickly (if at all) during the day, depending on how far your hotel is from the convention hall. So bring everything you’ll need to survive a long day of walking on hard surfaces through packed crowds. Most conventions take place on hard concrete floors and require a fair bit of standing in line that can be difficult for those with chronic pain.
Use the stress-relievers and focus tools that work well for you, as long as they wouldn’t add to the chaos of a packed convention. Some of the essentials people in our Discord server suggested were:
fidget toys that are wearable or easy to hang on to
comfort items like a stuffed animal
noise-cancelling or isolating earbuds
single-use earplugs to give away
high-energy snacks and hydration
mobility or accessibility aids
comfortable walking shoes
“I love my Loop earplugs. They just take everything down a notch, but you can still hear.”
If you’re in cosplay, don’t forget to bring a small repair kit (or be on the lookout for a Con Cleric who have extra repair supplies) and maybe a change of clothes if you’re concerned about getting overstimulated by the costume.
Scout the location.
There’s no fog of war over a convention. In fact, there are teams of people making maps to help you understand the layout of the halls and where the panels are long before you arrive. Use them not only to plan your routes between events, but also to find less overwhelming places that are open to the public.
Most hotels have courtyards, rooftop patios, or other outdoor spaces that you can use to get away from crowds. Check the hotel’s website for a map, so you know where to look for them if you need them. If they don’t have any listed as amenities, you can always call or email the concierge desk to check.
GMing for a convention for the first time? Get some expert advice here.
Keep an eye on your spell slots.
You need to think of a convention as a marathon and not a sprint. If you push yourself too hard, you're likely to burn out before the con is over, and it might sour some of your experience. You don't want to spend your Saturday night hiding in your hotel room or Sunday morning arguing with your friends as you pack up.
Build a schedule around your energy levels and stick to it. You should at least be taking a 15-minute break every few hours, but if you know you usually need a break after walking for half an hour — take it! Give yourself regular time to decompress and process everything that’s going on around you.
Take the dungeon less traveled.
If you’re at an especially large convention, like GenCon, there will be lots of events that have thousands of tickets and still sell out. But there are also hundreds of panels, presentations, cosplay tutorials, artist demonstrations, and more to choose from — many of which may only have a few reservations made.
Not necessarily because they’re not good, but because there's so much else going on that it can be hard to get people to commit. These events are great alternatives for people who are looking for some quiet time, but still want to enjoy the con. You could even go as a party and know that you’d be able to sit with all of your friends.
“Don’t be afraid to attend panels with low attendance as a way to get some lower-energy time. As a bonus: panelists love having extra people in the room.”
And don’t forget, this is just a one-shot.
Conventions are not your normal life. That can be intimidating, but it’s also a big part of the fun. It’s a great time to take a risk. Wear that costume you’ve always been dreaming of. Stand 3 hours in line to meet a childhood hero. Play a strange European board game that only kind of makes sense to you.
You’ll probably have a wonderful time. But you might not. There might be some stressful moments, and you might discover a whole bunch of things that you know you don’t like. That can be part of the fun too. If that panel you go to is the most boring 30 minutes of your life, you and your friends will probably laugh about that for years.
And if you do get overwhelmed and have to miss out on some of the things that you were excited about — that happens to the best of us. It doesn’t have to be the end of the adventure. There will be another one next year. Maybe even next month. There are so many TTRPG conventions.
We’ll see you there.
This blog was written by Rayne B. Whitington, a member of the board of directors for the Chicago Tabletop Gaming Association. We help connect TTRPG-lovers all across Chicagoland and even run bus programs to help get them to Midwest conventions.
Check out our next upcoming event here or use the button below to join the community!
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