Packing Smart for a Gaming Convention at the Showboat Hotel
A gaming convention at Atlantic City’s Showboat Hotel can combine tabletop role-playing, live-action role-play, workshops, panels, vendors and immersive activities in a single busy weekend. Packing well means preparing for long days on your feet, changing room temperatures, character costumes, hotel logistics and the small supplies that make play easier.
For visitors travelling from Australia, the trip adds extra planning. International baggage limits, US currency, airport transfers and the distance between Australian cities and New Jersey all affect what is sensible to bring. A compact, flexible kit will serve you better than a suitcase filled with equipment you may never use.
| Packing priority | What to bring | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Comfortable layers and supportive shoes | Hotel ballrooms can vary in temperature, and convention days are long |
| Gaming gear | Dice, pencils, notebooks and character sheets | Essential supplies are easy to lose in a crowded venue |
| LARP items | Lightweight costume pieces and safe accessories | You can participate without sacrificing luggage space |
| Technology | Phone, chargers, power bank and adapters | Useful for schedules, communication and navigation |
| Travel documents | Passport, insurance details and booking records | Keeps international travel and hotel check-in organised |
| Personal care | Medication, snacks, water bottle and hygiene items | Helps manage fatigue, queues and limited meal breaks |
Start With the Convention Schedule
Before packing, review the event programme and mark the activities that genuinely interest you. A tabletop campaign may require character notes and dice, while a panel or workshop usually needs little more than a notebook. Escape rooms, LARP sessions and social events can each call for different clothing or footwear.
The convention’s official event information is a useful reference for understanding the mix of gaming sessions, exhibitors and immersive activities associated with High Level Games Convention. Save important pages offline in case mobile reception is patchy inside the hotel, and take screenshots of registration details, room locations and session times.
A small cross-body bag or daypack is ideal for moving between ballrooms and gaming areas. Keep it light enough to carry all day, with room for a water bottle, phone, programme and any purchases from the exhibitor hall. A foldable tote can handle books, dice, art prints and other merchandise without forcing you to carry a large backpack everywhere.
Build a Layered Convention Wardrobe
Hotel convention spaces can shift from warm and crowded to cool and heavily air-conditioned. Pack breathable shirts, a light jumper or cardigan and a compact rain layer. Atlantic City weather can be changeable, and walking between transport, the hotel and nearby restaurants may expose you to wind or rain.
Shoes deserve more attention than costume details. Choose supportive walking shoes that you have already worn, rather than brand-new boots that may cause blisters. If you plan to wear LARP costume footwear, bring comfortable backup shoes for travel and extended sessions. Australians accustomed to strong sun should also pack sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat for time outdoors, even though much of the convention takes place inside.
Keep costumes modular. A cloak, waistcoat, themed shirt, jewellery or prop can suggest a character without filling an entire suitcase. Avoid fragile pieces that cannot survive checked baggage, and place costume accessories in resealable bags so they remain together.
Pack for Tabletop and LARP Sessions
The best gaming kit is compact, replaceable and easy to identify. Convention rooms are busy, and small items can disappear beneath character sheets, drink bottles and rulebooks. Use a pencil case or labelled pouch for dice, pencils, erasers, counters and a small ruler.
Useful supplies to keep in your daypack include:
- A notebook or refillable journal for campaign notes
- Two pencils, a pen and a small sharpener
- Personal dice sets in a zipped container
- Printed character sheets plus a digital backup
- A few binder clips, sticky notes and spare sleeves
Ask the organiser or game facilitator whether maps, miniatures, books and other materials are supplied. Rulebooks are often heavy and may be available at the table or through a digital reference. If you need a particular volume, consider packing only the relevant pages or using an authorised electronic copy.
For LARP, check safety requirements before bringing props. Foam weapons and costume accessories may need inspection, and realistic-looking items can create confusion in public spaces or during travel. Keep props clearly packed while moving through airports and hotel corridors, and follow the event’s instructions about approved materials.
Keep Tech, Documents and Money Secure
Your phone will probably handle schedules, messages, maps, tickets and photos, so protect it with a case and carry a charging cable. US outlets use a different plug configuration from Australia, making a suitable travel adaptor essential. A power bank is useful during long sessions, but keep it in carry-on baggage because airlines generally restrict spare lithium batteries in checked luggage.
Store your passport, travel insurance information, hotel booking and emergency contacts in both paper and digital form. Australian travellers should check their passport validity, entry requirements and airline rules before departure. Keep medication in original packaging and carry prescriptions or a doctor’s letter where appropriate, particularly for controlled medicines.
Australian dollars will not be convenient for ordinary purchases in New Jersey. Bring a card with international use enabled and notify your bank about overseas travel. A small amount of US cash can help with tips, small vendors or transport, while a concealed pouch is safer than keeping everything in a wallet that comes out repeatedly.
Prepare for Long Travel and Hotel Days
A journey from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth to the US can involve several flights, a major time-zone shift and a long final transfer to Atlantic City. Pack sleep essentials in your carry-on: an eye mask, earplugs, a neck pillow, medication and a spare shirt. Keep one change of clothes and basic toiletries accessible in case checked luggage is delayed.
A practical personal kit includes:
- Refillable water bottle for use after airport security
- Protein bars or familiar snacks for irregular meal times
- Blister plasters and basic pain relief
- Hand sanitiser and tissues
- Small laundry bag for worn clothing
Check whether your accommodation provides a hairdryer, iron, towels and basic toiletries before packing duplicates. Hotel rooms may offer limited storage, so soft packing cubes can separate clean clothes, costumes and gaming equipment. A compact combination lock is useful for a suitcase or daypack, but do not leave valuable electronics unattended in a convention room.
Food planning is worthwhile for visitors used to Australian café habits and supermarket convenience. Convention schedules can run across standard meal times, and queues may be long. Pack sealed snacks that comply with airline and border requirements, then buy fresh food locally after arrival. Do not bring undeclared meat, fresh produce or other restricted items into the United States; customs rules can apply even to small amounts.
Leave Room for Community and Discovery
An exhibitor hall can be as demanding on luggage space as the gaming programme. Independent artists, publishers and vendors may sell books, cards, prints, dice, miniatures and costume pieces. Start with an empty section of your suitcase or bring a lightweight foldable bag that can be checked against airline limits on the return journey.
The social side of a convention benefits from small, practical choices. Name badges should remain visible, and a marker can help label personal items. Earplugs or noise-reducing earbuds provide a break from busy halls, while a compact deodorant, toothbrush and mints make long days more comfortable for everyone nearby.
Inclusive participation is part of a healthy gaming community, and the convention’s diversity panel recap offers useful context for respectful interaction. Pack with accessibility and comfort in mind: bring any mobility aids, hearing equipment or medication you rely on, and tell organisers about support needs early rather than trying to manage alone.
Make the Final Packing Check
Lay everything out two days before departure and divide it into three groups: carry-on essentials, checked clothing and optional extras. Weigh your bags with a household luggage scale if possible. Australian airlines can enforce cabin and checked-baggage limits closely, and an overfilled return bag can become expensive after convention purchases.
Review every planned activity one last time. If you are joining an escape room, confirm footwear, arrival time and any restrictions on phones, bags or props. The escape room details can help you decide whether you need practical clothing rather than a bulky costume.
Keep the final kit simple: documents and medication in your personal bag, technology together in an accessible pouch, comfortable layers ready for the hotel and enough empty space for discoveries. The most useful packing rule is to prioritise items that support participation, comfort and safe travel, then leave everything else at home.