My first board game convention was overwhelming in the best possible way. The dealer hall is genuinely dangerous — a hundred games you want to buy, limited budget, and the FOMO of walking away from something you might not find again. I recommend a strict budget and a list before entering.

Open gaming areas at conventions are where the real value is. Finding a demo of a game you were unsure about, teaching an old favorite to a stranger who becomes a regular opponent, discovering a game in a genre you thought you did not like — these happen in open gaming in ways they cannot happen anywhere else.

Library systems at conventions are underused. Most major conventions have a game library with free checkouts. Use it. This is the correct way to try before you buy and it is entirely free.