REVIEW: Icon 2014 (Day One)

by | Oct 16, 2014 | review | 0 comments

I will be dressing up as Harry Dresden until the end of time, or until I’ve gotten my money’s worth. Whichever comes last.

Harry Dresden giving Deadpool bunny ears. Your argument is invalid.

Anyways, a month or so before the convention, I had gotten as a point and shoot digital camera as birthday present. I made great use of it during my time at Icon, sparing my phone a great deal. Unfortunately, it eats AAs.

I started the con by getting four hours of sleep (gee, didn’t I say that one should avoid that in the last review?) I got on a bus that took me somewhat close to the con (near the Azrieli mall), suited up as Dresden, then proceeded to sweat my way there, arriving around 9 AM.

First thing I did was head straight for the bag storage, but of course they had yet to open. So I went straight to the Hotaru booth, talked to my friend Chen Moyal of said group, who let me keep my stuff near theirs (he’s an awesome guy. The group has an 18+ anime con planned by the way, so stay tuned). About this time, I started taking pictures. I present you….Icon 2014!

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After wandering a bit, I went straight to the line for receiving pre-ordered tickets (that’s always the smart thing to do, by the way), and…waited until 10 AM, at which point I got all six of them. Then I waited a half-hour in line to get a ticket for her, as she was volunteering, and for some reason hadn’t received her free ticket. And then I went and got books. And then more books (I got more the next day). The past two Icons, I spent my money mostly on books, bringing in 25-30 each time. This year, I was on a budget, AND I wanted to participate in the events. So I didn’t get nearly as much this time. Ah, responsibilities.

Then I went in search of Yael Geller of Hot-Cocoa Cosplay. She was cosplaying with three different costumes, one for each day. I took a picture of her, then one with her. Day one was a Steampunk Pirate.

I wandered around a bit, taking pictures of people in costume (I myself got my picture taken, with someone and by myself).  Behold!

Bronies. Bronies everywhere

I found the booth of Shir Brayer, an artist who draws just about anything and drew me something back at Yume-Con. So I asked her to draw…ME!

I’m so handsome…

From there, I made my way to my first event: a lecture on utopian and dystopian cities. It was rather interesting learning about the origins and what it meant in different centuries. Also, the 20th century apparently heralded the appearance of dystopian cities and societies in writing, a neat little thing that known before. The lecturer wrapped things up with a small section about apocalyptic writing.

Afterwards, I met up with a tall friend of mine.

Then I took some more pictures.

I hung out by the Hotaru table for a bit after that, talking with Chen and sometimes helping the people interested in buying their merchandise. I left after some time, wandered a bit (I’ve been doing that a lot, haven’t I?), and met some people who recognized me! WHOOO!!!
And now for a humorous story. Some guy came over, and asked if I was Batman. I responded with, ‘You must have mistaken me for someone else. I’m Harry Dresden,’ and we shook hands. Then he said, ‘Yeah, sure, Harry Potter or something,’ then walked away. Incensed at the idea that I was being compared to a lesser wizard, I immediately took out my gun and shot him in the back. Being a cap gun, all it did was produce a loud bang, but I did get a thumbs up from a nearby person.

Not long after that, I headed to my second event: a live roleplaying game. Unfortunately, I have no pictures, as I was specifically asked not to take pictures at this event. 
Except for the handsome DM here
It was hilarious, with three roleplayers playing:
-an orc priest who threw fruit
-a hobbit
-a kender clockmaker

As you can imagine, much fun was had by all. The audience was invited to participate at certain moments. Some particularly memorable moments:

-the roleplayers introducing their characters. At the sound of a bell, a roleplayer would go to the back of a line, and the next roleplayer in line would speak, starting from the previous character had left off.
-the orc priest attempting to gain a set of semi-cursed magic boots from a goblin king by offering him various citrus fruits
-the orc priest killing an elephant with a piece of gold.
-the audience deciding that the three roleplayers were looking for a…yellow submarine
-a little girl being called up to be the main body of an enemy creature…a beholder..
-the DM himself breaking the 4th wall to complain along with the roleplayers

One of the roleplayers participating in the live game was one I had played a game with at Gryphon 11 (which sadly, I didn’t write up on), and it was nice to see him roleplay, especially since I knew a little of his style.

Slightly, before the event had started, I saw some people who had recognized me as Dresden at Cami. And afterwards, I met another person who recognized me! The feeling was great! Here I was, getting someone recognizing my costume or just telling me how awesome it was left and right, Someone thought I was the Hebrew Hammer though.

Hmmm…this handsome guy does resemble me somewhat,,,

I walked around some more, taking pictures here and there.

El. Psy. Congroo

Around this point, I got myself a place at a huge arena set up near the etnrance, and set up a tripod with my camera. I wanted to take good pictures of the costume competition (by the way, starting the competition late is now officially a thing), so I got here twenty minutes early. I did not think to bring a chair, and when someone asked if I could crouch down so they could see (as I’m six feet tall) – only then did it dawn on me that I should have been smarter than that. My knees ended up hurting a lot throughout the course of the competition.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…the Icon 2014  Day One Costume Competition!

This cutie was supposed to go on, but for some reason, didn’t

The competition took a break around five, saying that in twenty minutes they would announce the winners. It certainly didn’t happen before my Pathfinder game at 6.
Here’s a random Skywalker picture. You’re welcome.
(Not taken by me)
The session was fun. There weren’t any…particularly memorable moments, but I still had a good time. This game in particular was a continuation of a series, which was originally scheduled for Myth, but ended up taking place now. Because this was game number three, I got to level my character up to level two!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!
After the game, I took a small walk around the place (again), looking on with interest at a pillow fight in the arena. I had a Star Trek lecture to go to right then, so I couldn’t participate.

The lecture was on the Prime Directive, and what could be learned from it. My 4 hours of sleep had finally caught up with me though, resulting in me missing half of what was going on. It seemed to me throughout the course of the lecture (when I was awake) that the audience consisted mainly of Trekkies. They were quoting things left and right from Star Trek episodes, so I imagine that they were.

*yawn* I think I’ll try for five hours next convention…
It was time for bed! Earlier, before the Pathfinder game, I had dumped my stuff in the bag storage.. Now, I waited in a long line to get my stuff, then I signed up for a males-only room. I was the first to do so, and thus had the room all to myself…
You’ll notice in the corner by my stuff, were some poster boards. I used this a a bedding of sorts, to make sleeping on the floor in my sleeping bag a bit easier on me. They helped – I think.
And thus did end my first day at Icon. I had had a blast, and couldn’t wait for what the next day would bring! Stay tuned for my review of day two!
(The full album for day one and two can be found here)
If you are aware of any convention taking place here in Israel, or some interesting event taking place, please notify me, and I will do my best to report on it!

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