intel/neotropolis
get to da future
This page contains some resources to help first timers prepare for and survive NEOTROPOLIS
Stuff you should bring or buy nearby. This is not an exhaustive list, but it's all I could think of at the time.
OUTFIT
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Yes fashion is first on the list! Obviously! Check out the official costumes resources before you get started. Remember, you can't be anything recognizable from popular media.
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If you're having trouble figuring out where to start, I always recommend you come up with a backstory/job that gels with your interests and personality. This can help narrow what kind of clothing and equipment you would have. For example:
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Corpo - Clean, kept, color-coordinated, expensive clothing and chrome, small weapons (if any), briefcase, business cards + cool card case
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Streetkid - Possibly grungy, mismatched streetwear duds, definitely armed, small gadgets needed for "work"
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Nomad - Definitely grungy, swaddled, personal storage, survival gear, barterable goods, hidden weapons
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Spacer - Outerspace worker, grungy, spacesuit, helmet, heavy tools, space-Carharrt
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Soldier - Armored, armed, condition of gear determined by status of service
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Merchant - Comfortable, cleanliness dependent on your industry and contacts, lots of big storage, armed
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Hacker - Comfortable, clean enough, lots of specialized tech
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Any of those could be fleshed out and/or combined into something totally different.
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A backstory will help a lot with roleplay and choosing a nickname.
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I [will make a] questionnaire that can help guide you through creating your character.
ENVIRONMENTAL
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Prepare for all weather. It can change drastically from hour to hour.
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Plan outfits with multiple layers, and layer up or down as needed.
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Daytime and nighttime outfit plans help a lot. Bonus points for pre-packaging a day outfit and a night outfit for every day of the week.
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Daytime can be 70-100 degrees Farenheit.
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Night can be in the 40s or lower. If day temps are high, night should be pleasant (~60s).
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Winds can be extremely high.
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It can rain. It will otherwise be very dry.
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Bring multiple shoes. Switching during the day will help prevent foot soreness. Easy on/off footwear like sandals can be handy for getting in and out of camp quickly.
BIOLOGICAL
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WATER:
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Stock up in California City (Tropicana Supermarket).
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Drink at least (6) 16.9oz bottles of water per day. (? I'm not a doctor)
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Small bottles are easier to deal with than big jugs, unless you plan to be near the jug a lot with your mug. More on mugs and recycling later.
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Get more than you think you need. You might need it for cleaning.
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FOOD:
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Again, stock up in California City. I like the Tropicana Supermarket because it appears to be a small local business rather than Dollar Grocery Outlet or whatever. Lots of fresh foods as well as dry goods.
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Super basic: Shelf stable camping food with no heating required. Bread, peanut butter, dried fruits/nuts, jerky, canned whatever you like, granola, boxed milk alternative if you can drink the whole thing in the morning, etc. Recommend you buy at least some fresh stuff occasionally in town, and also supplement with on-site food vendors.
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If you can get your water boiled: Ramen, Mountain House and other dehydrated food packs, coffee, etc.
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On-site food vendors have good food, but some may run out at some point in the day/week. Golden Bamboo Thai is especially good. Expect to spend like $15 per plate on average maybe? Whatever it costs, it’s worth it.
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Some factions serve food. Nutritional value is highly variable. You’ll need to be a friend and likely provide something in trade.
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VICES
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Donate a bottle of alcohol to the bars, get free alcohol for the whole event.
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Mixers are often needed at the bars too.
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Drug use is not allowed at the event. There is a weed shop in CA City.
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OTHER SUPPLIES:
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Hygiene/Medical (left at camp; not all essential):
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Cleansing wipes
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Toilet paper (backup only, portos have their own)
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All purpose soap like Dr. Bronner’s
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Nasal moisturizing spray
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Tissue
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Towel
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Toothbrush
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Toothpaste
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Mouthwash
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Floss
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Sunscreen
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Moisturizer
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Eyedrops
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Contact solution
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Cough drops
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Lip balm
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Tylenol
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Allergy pills
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GasX
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Lactaid
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Basic first aid kit
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Quarters for laundry if staying at hotel
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Personal gear (kept on person at all times):
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Pouch/purse/satchel/etc.
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Your own cup for drinking! Something insulated and covered.
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Hand sanitizer
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Nose/mouth cover like a gaiter to avoid inhaling dust
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Goggles for if it gets windy (and style)
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Hat, sunglasses, and other sun coverings
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Flashlight
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Phone charger - you can probably find someone to lend you an outlet
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Carabiner, for shiny trinkets
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Keys, wallet, phone
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Event-issued access bracelet
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CELL SERVICE
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There are NO data services provided by the event
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Cell reception depends on carrier. AT&T has always been good for me, most other carriers have been reported as spotty.
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I hear you can buy a prepaid month-long AT&T phone to create a wifi hotspot
There are many official Neotropolis resources.
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Read everything on Neotropolis.com. The Rules page is very important to maintain safety and enjoyment for all attendees. There are some that may be a surprise, like laser safety and costume restrictions. You really don't want to make the trip only to get nailed for something you're supposed to know.
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The Neotropolis Central Facebook page can be a good source of news, community planning, and FAQs. Search previous posts, as many issues have been discussed before.
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The Neotropolis YouTube channel has a few guide videos and lots of cool content.
Also check out the official highlight reels!
Most of what you need to know about getting to Neotropolis is covered here. Below are a few more tips, limited to hearsay and my experience of driving from Oregon.
FLYING IN
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LAX is busy and sucks
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Burbank airport is preferrable if available
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Hard mode for gear planning. If you bring prop weapons, you need to transport them in a checked bag and telling the airline about them can help avoid issues.
DRIVING IN
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Love's Travel Stops are great stopping points. Convenient locations, typically good gas prices, big and relatively clean bathrooms, well-lit and safe feeling, tons of options for food and supplies. You are allowed to sleep in your car in the parking lot.
LOS ANGELES -> NEOTROPOLIS
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Roughly two hour drive.
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I don't think a cab/Uber is a good option, but if you do, get dropped off at the California City Best Western rather than the Neotropolis site. Get someone going to Neo to take you the rest of the way.
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Renting a car can be nice if you want to be able to go to the store or hotel whenever you want. You don’t need anything fancy - a cheap sedan will be fine. A quick search says on average this costs $50 a day (Weds-Sun=$250, or Mon-Sun=$350).
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CAMPING
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Best Western: The hotel in California City is the easiest, most expensive, most luxurious sleeping solution. This is the best bet for first timers as it takes care of the most basic necessity and lets you focus on the other new challenges. Important amenities include:
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Shower and clean toilet!
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Continental breakfast 6-9AM - highly recommended to stuff yourself silly, and pocket a couple fruits and muffins for later too
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Microwave and fridge
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Trash
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Free ice and water
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Quarter-operated laundry
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Free parking
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Most general goods and services can be found nearby
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For the hotel to work you’ll also need a ride or a rental car. It’s a ~20 minute drive to Neotropolis from the hotel.
Cost as of NOV 2024 for two queen beds is about $140 per night (Weds-Sun = $600, or Mon-Sun=$900). You should book a room ASAP and can cancel if needed. Often sells out before January.
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Renting an RV: I haven’t done this and can't provide too many details, but I know it’s one of the best ways to camp ON-SITE. This is desirable for the ability to never leave the site, saving some drive time and being a safer alternative than driving out each night. You’ll likely park somewhere in the general camping area, which can be a ~5 minute walk to the main city.
To rent an RV maybe you can start with something like RV Share near Los Angeles. A tip I've heard is to avoid mentioning is that you’ll be taking it off-road to a desert festival. Say you’re taking it to Mojave National Park to go hiking, which is close enough to the truth. They’ll expect some sand, but no one wants to hear their vehicle is going to a festival. Obviously, avoid trashing it and giving Neotropolis a bad name.
RVs use holding tanks for grey water (sink and shower) and black water (toilet). You can’t dump the tanks at Neotropolis - you’ll have to talk to the RV owner to see if they have recommendations. Camping World near LA might have resources for where you can dump the tanks. I don’t know where you fill up on fresh water either, but the RV owner will know. Careful planning with water levels in all tanks is essential.
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Car/Tent Camping: If you have the means to do this, only you know what amenities you have and need. Plenty of people do this, it just takes a good amount of planning.
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Winds can be high. Tents require extra strong securing to ground with at least ¼” x 10” lag bolts.
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Daily considerations you're likely to experience during the event.
BATHROOM
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Multiple porta-potties are scattered around the site. They do a good job keeping them as clean as possible…
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Soap and non-potable water stations are located near the portos. Wash hands only.
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If camping, use bottled water to brush teeth. I spit into the water stations.
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Remember you can’t dump any water on the ground anywhere.
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If you’re camping and need a shower option, consider Love’s Travel Stop in Tehachapi.
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About a 45 minute drive from Neotropolis.
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There might be a line at 7-8PM. Go late at night.
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Costs about $15.
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Bring your own towel and sandals!
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TRASH
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Pack it in, pack it out. There are NO public trash cans.
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Keep all your trash at your camp.
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On Sunday there will be a guy collecting recycling near the entrance. Have your recyclables separated and ready to hand off. Make it as easy as possible.
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There will also be a dumpster near the entrance. They charge $5. Alternatively, take it with you for later disposal.
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Leave no trash behind.
ETIQUETTE
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I won’t get too deep into this topic, as a lot of it is covered on the Neotropolis page. Basically, and obviously, don’t be a dick.
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Everyone is there to have fun. Everyone is there to be themselves.
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There are many, many forms of life. This is completely normal on deep space trading posts.
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Don’t run, climb, or ride vehicles in the city.
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Don’t bring up politics or other real-world topics. Even if it seems “safe” to discuss, it is anti-immersive.
ROLEPLAY
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You don’t need to roleplay, but it can enhance the experience.
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At the minimum come up with:
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A pseudonym. A Neo Name is the easiest way to feel in character.
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A background/job for your character. Chef? Assassin? Bodyguard? Corpo? Missionary? Arms dealer? Pilot? Farmer? Princess? Lost soul?
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A home planet that isn’t Earth. The less Earth mentioned the better imo
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Remember that you are on a distant planet, with its own mix of customs and culture.
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The “Yes, and” tenet of improv can be very helpful. Go with the flow, add to it.
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You can opt out of roleplay by crossing your arms over your chest or just saying so.
LOOT
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Barter:
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Try to have something available for trade. Nothing is given for free.
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Shiny trinkets, gadgets, stickers, relics, art, collectibles, books, clothing
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I don’t recommend trading in/out food, candy, or any other consumables
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Services, skills, performance, information, jokes, stories
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The main goal is to provide something. All trades/bribes/cover fees are being improvised and will pass if you sell it. In my experience the easiest way to get what you want is to make the other person laugh. Except with the Sentinels, they don’t seem to laugh.
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Some vendors might not be able to process card/Venmo/etc., or might be dependent on your carrier
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MAP
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Each event has a unique, official map. Download and study it!
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The main THEMED areas, where costumes and decor are required, are:
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MegaBlock 001 - The main city block, composed entirely of various volunteer factions and official organizations. From ramen shops to mission hubs to the Sentinel HQ, all kinds of action happens here.
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MegaMall - All real-money shops, official merch booth, and some barter shops and services.
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The Core - Main music and event stage, at the end of the Main Drag.
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The Main Drag - Main street, connects all of the above. Other larger factions are also placed along the drag. Some of those factions include their own event stages, and all of them have their own programs and offerings.
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The non-themed areas are:
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The Outer Zone/General camping - Most people park and camp here.
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Civil Services - medical and security bases
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SCHEDULE
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There is no way to cover everything that will happen. This is the general schedule:
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Monday:
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Early access pass required.
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Earliest arrival date for most vendors and factions. Setting up camp, shop, etc.
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Gates are open all hours.
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Tuesday:
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Early access pass required.
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Scramble to get everything set up. Everyone is pretty busy. Get your supplies in order. Get the lay of the land. Electrical services coming online.
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Gates close at 10PM. General attendance starts to line up outside. If you can, spend the night on-site to avoid the line in the morning.
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Wednesday:
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Gates open at like 7 or 8? I forget sorry. There is a line. In the past the line has cleared by 10AM, but that should change each year. Gates are now open 24/7.
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General attendees are setting up camp and getting situated.
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Staff gets to buy official merch first. When that’s done, this is the best time to buy official merch like patches and shirts, as well as shop at the other vendors.
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During the day, get familiar with the city. Run quests. Do stuff.
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When it starts to get dark, figure out your dinner and sleeping arrangement. Switch to warmer clothes if necessary. Get drunk, catch some live music.
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Thursday:
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Do stuff in the day, do stuff at night! Explore!
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Friday:
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Do stuff in the day, do stuff in the night!
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Attendance and music shows tend to be larger this evening.
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Saturday:
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Last themed day/night of the event! Generally the busiest day as weekend warriors show up. New faces. Likely the biggest music shows and other events at The Core.
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Sunday:
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Breakdown and cleanup. People generally get packed, say their goodbyes, and get out as soon as possible.
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As mentioned previously, collect all of your trash and recyclables and either hand them off on your way out or take care of them on your own.
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