so the dragon con website tells me that it is on Labor day weekend, so when do most people go to the con fri-mon? also what is the best hotel to stay at? i figured its best to ask because ive only done simulated drops and those dont really count for me... let me know your opinions please

Have faith, bro. I managed to scrape my outfit and the gun together (and a 75% finished arm) in somethin like 6 months. You've got almost a year before the next D'Con. If you work really hard (and are willing to sink the money), you might be able to!

_________________

CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

- Most people arrive Thursday, I'll be there Friday.
- Marriott Marquis
- Drink PLENTY of water
- Prepare for the time of your life

Money's the sticking point right now. I recently discovered a girlfriend, do I need to say more?

Oh, and I have been waiting to hear word from Matsuo on his M56 kit but there's been nary a peep from the Matsucorp compound. So I wait patiently for the word.

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~Jay

Good man, good man, patience is a virtue.

Matsuo's time has been taken up with some real-life issues lately. Not my place to air his business so I won't, but suffice to say he has a very good reason. He'll get back to you as soon as he's able, I can promise you that... he's one of the most genuine people I've ever done business with.

Best thing you can do to make progress in the meantime, is start makin' a list and checkin' it twice, if you haven't already done so. Google doesn't cost anything, so while you're waiting, keep on the search for other pieces that you haven't locked down a source for yet. That way, once the money becomes available, you already know where to go.

_________________

CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

Quick Hotel Review

Based on my 3 years at D*Con I think the 3 hotels can be described as this:

Hyatt
Pros
-Where the evening action is
-Quieter and easier if booking in the International/Ivory Tower
Cons
-VERY crowded in the main lobby after hours
-2007, patrons of the hotel were denied entry due to building being at capacity
-Long wait for elevators in the main tower

Marriot
Pros
-Where the daytime action is
-Less wait time for elevators (so I hear)
-Pool open during convention
-Easier to get to and from the fan-table
Cons
-2007, was under renovation so less room to utilise

Hilton
Pros
-Quietest of the hotels (I believe)
-2007, dealer rooms were located here
-No longer giving money to Paris Hilton
Cons
-Furthest walk from the con and after hours parties

Con list for the Hyatt is longer as i've only ever stayed there.
If people can add to this or edit it to be more correct please do so.

Fingers crossed it'll help you out.
I do recommend booking ASAP and if a lot of you UKCM guys are coming over.....4 to a room saves you a lot of money.

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either i'm retarded or i cant read a calander..... the con in 2008 will be Aug. 28th through Sept. 1st..... right?

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OUT OF ORDER!??!?!

F*&^ even in the future nothing works!!!

August 29th - Sept 1st

But I'd plan on arriving the 28th

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Hmmm... Dom, if you're coming down Friday... I need to figure out where I can stay on Thursday night...

Eh, I'm sure I'll figure it out!

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CPL Conley, D. A06/TQ2.0.72147E1



"To err is human; to forgive, divine... Neither of which is Marine Corps policy."
"In Onoraigh Ar Marbh" ~ We Honor Our Fallen

Abe and I have a room booked for 28th August - 1st September in the Hyatt. It's too early for me to be so excited!

I sense a bug invasion ...

BTW, If you're definitely attending D*Con 2008, you might want to look here: http://dragoncon.org/dc_members.php - it seems the Con membership is $50 until the 15th November 2007, and some unspecified (higher?) price afterwards.

'Alan' will also be joining his Hive brother.

SAS

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Alan T. Alien
1st Lt Smith, SA "Sidewinder"
A13/TQ1.4.19720EX CMA
Founder of UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
Founder of Special Armaments Section (Heavy Weapons)
"People don't understand. people like me"

Look at THEEEEEEEM

_________________

Remember this past con when Pete in his drunken stupper jokingly said he'd be back with reinforcements.......

.....errrrrr...



Can't wait to be around more of my UKCM brothers

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Yes- the convention 3-day pass goes up in price the closer you get to the convention starting date. Last year it went up to $60 in November, then (I think?) $70 in mid February and up $85 the last couple of months before the con.

However prices might be higher this year. With the convention attendee numbers ever increasing (it was estimated that 55,000 were at the con per day in '07), they might actually try to keep the numbers down by raising the price of admission.

About the pro/con list that Tony started; I stayed in the Marriott four years in a row. Couple of things I'd add:

PROS:

- Friendly security staff. Believe it or not- this does make a difference! The Hyatt hotel staff/security (not mentioning the D-Con A-Holes) could be rude and offensive even going so far as man-handling people who don't follow their instructions immediately.
The Marriott staff is much more laid back- they understand they have a job to do, but aren't Nazis about it (at least that is my personal experience).

CONS:

-Elevators. Unless you are in a suite (with a direct "ground to 45th floor" elevator) the waits for the elevators are ridiculous. If you are on the second last floor it is common practice to walk one flight down to the bottom floor to get on the elevator (which is packed to capacity no matter what) as more people are likely to get off at the bottom or very top floor.

It has also become common practice to get on the elevator regardless of what direction it is headed in. For instance riding the elevator to the top floor just to go down to the bottom.

Basically I liken the elevators to a scene from "The Towering Inferno": the doors open and there are too many people in the elevator already- who all have the same look on their faces:

FOR GOD'S SAKE TAKE THE NEXT ONE! CAN'T YOU SEE THIS IS FULL?!?

Now about the Hilton:

I have nothing good to say about it. It sucks. Don't stay there.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

WOOHOO! More BUGS to shoot... I mean, be friends at! Hoo-rah!



Wha? I thought you liked the Hilton? I'm not confusing hotel names, am I?

_________________

CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

SHHH!!!

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

just booked my room for Dcon @ the Marriott Marquis Supposidly i got the last room avail. ..... sweet now just to get my armor and whatnot finished and to get the flight and ill be set up.... so that means 3 more are attending.....

_________________
OUT OF ORDER!??!?!

F*&^ even in the future nothing works!!!

Dont worry, they said the same thing to me when I booked weeks ago...


Derek

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Cpl D. Smith CMD
A04/TQ1.0.62147E1


RIP Pvt. Chris Chulamanis A14/TQ4.0.66993E7 You are missed.

For some reason, I though I had my membership paid for... OOPS. Just bought it now.

Derek C... well, you've got two options:
1- Find crash space for Thursday (given previous experience, I doubt this will be difficult)
2- Change accommodations with somebody else and I'll find another 4th for my room.

Either way, let me know what you want to do, OK?

Nice..... that sounds like they are scared to book em all up lol

_________________
OUT OF ORDER!??!?!

F*&^ even in the future nothing works!!!

I'm in...again. Gonna bring the wife this time to her first DragonCon. Room is already booked at the Marriott and passes were ordered last week.

Sad to say, but my partner in crime (Gilmore) that many of you met at DC07 will be over in the sandbox for DC08. Cheers to him for being a real Badass!

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Schwartz
A05/TQ1.0.72150E1

"He's just a Grunt, no offense." "None taken..."

Good evening Marines............


Doc is comming to DCON 08..will book a room tomorrow.


Semper-fi...Doc Vito

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"Doc" Vito
Sgt.V. D'Aiuto
A07/TQ0.042140E1

"I say we grease this RAT-F*CK Son of B*TCH RIGHT NOW!"

Speaking of which... *cough*... any word on that video?

_________________

CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

Oh man.... I just looked over this thread again and realized how many of our UK cousins are coming to join us this year. If I'm reading correctly ("It's readin' right, man!") we're gonna have three bugs this year?!

Plus I should have the rest of my rig done - arm, headset, effects board for the gun, and all - and hopefully a couple other smartgunners will be joining me too... some new faces as well as old, and not to mention Natalie's already talking about organizing some kind of Cobra vs. Colonial Marines photo op ( ) ...

Oh man, this coming DCon is going to be AMAZING!

_________________

CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

How can it not be? Three Aliens from the UK and potentially three Preds (which are nearly as good as Xenos, but not quite )