All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben go through all the conventions you'll want to attend* from September 2 to December 31, 2025, including: Dice Tower Retreat, Council Con 2025, Metagame 2025, Mini-KennyCon, CuseCon, Meeples & Peoples, MegaMooseCon, RockyCon, World Series of Board Gaming, MañanaCon, Barrage 2025, FriendCon, The Ettin, Tabletop Scotland, Game mORe Con, Con on the Cob, ICON, Gem City Gathering, Tsubasacon, Arnecon, ConQuest Avalon, Be Excellent Festival, Congress of Gamers Fall Session, Gamehole Con, Warhammer Fall Retreat, Capital City Gaming Con, Multiverse Con, Battle Zone Ursa, CRIT Con, Carnage Con, FLAG Con, Chaosium Con Europe, Effing Con, Dire Consequences, Tabletop Oahu, EuroQuest. Metatopia, U-Con Gaming Convention, Meeple-a-thon, KublaCon Fall, BGG.CON, PAX Unplugged, Encuentro Nacional de Juegos de Mesa, Dragonsteel Nexus 2025, Everwinter, Yamacon, Sac Gamers Expo, Manchester Board Game Festival, BGM Shanghai....AND EVEN MORE THAT DON'T FIT INTO OUR FORMAT!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this selection of interviews from the exhibit hall floor at Gen Con 2025!Luke of Limithron, publishers of Pirate Borg!Corey from Amigo Games, fine makers of Where Is Mausi?Sarah from Astra Fauna, the accelerant for your other host Ben's nightmare fuel since Gen Con 2024 Bri from Rollacrit, who are the publishers of Heroes of Barcadia, makers of the renewed Bags of Holding, and official merch partner of Gen Con! Listen in to hear some cool stories in each interview, and check their products out online and at future conventions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this dreamer-requested episode, Quarex and Ben discuss their best practices for constructing and following a convention calendar to keep track of all the key dates and deadlines for the conventions you want to attend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rarely imitated, never duplicated — Ben and Quarex are back with our second annual Games of the Convention!!! This is the only annual award given out by a podcast about gaming conventions. Who will win the GOTC for the best kids game, best RPG, or best board game? Who will take home what is undoubtedly the electrum for the game of the year? Will either host ever acknowledge the acronym itself? You'll have to listen in to find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben discuss what passed for drama at Gen Con 2025... which, much like the weather, was mild and manageable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this very proud conventioncast, your hosts Quarex and Ben talk about everything Gen Con 2025 that didn't involve a game -- from the travel to the parking lots to the TSA agents to (yes) the live auction. You gotta listen to learn all our opinions, but this picture posted to Reddit sums up our feelings about a transitional Gen Con. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the first episode of our patented two 2-part reviewsodes from Gen Con 2025, your hosts Quarex and Ben review the games we experienced that are worth checking out, including but not limited to: Rocket Age: Blood Red Mars Savaged (link)Hues and Clues (link) Cat and the Tower (link)Blind Jack (link)Caution Signs (link)The Super Show (link)Tricky Kids (link) Cookie Run Braverse (link) Triangle Agency (link) And listen in on Thursday for the next reviewsode!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The only way to recover from Gen Con while still recording an episode is to talk about Gen Con 2026. 358 days, dreamers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we say goodbye to Gen Con 2025, Quarex and Ben have made a secondary pilgrimage to the year-round home of Indianapolis gaming: the Elf N Moon! While we will bring the heat with our patented four part review episodes later this month, we couldn't let the opportunity pass to provide our thoughts about this year's show for everyone's drive home. We're also joined by Diana, the 2025 National Munchkin Champion! You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We didn't record at the VIG Mixer! Instead, here's some live content from the ground from the Omni Severin! Come catch the live recording tomorrow at 9 pm in the Lucas Oil Stadium! You won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Quarex and Vice President Ben cast pod from the balcony of the presidential suite of the Omni Severin while the sun sets on Indy. We talk about the vibes, the experience and the excitement of the next best four days of gaming. Now with special guests Michael, Sean, and Abacus!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the night before Gen Con Eve, and all through the house, a not Quarex was stirring... because he's already in Indianapolis for day negative four of the best four days in gaming. On this episode, Quarex and Ben bring you: A traffic report straight from the heart of Gen ConA weather report that seems less dire than last weekA cashless ICC -- except for the exhibit hall -- and where to find ATMs in the convention space A trip to the Indy farmer's market might be in order! A brief review of the Gen Con 2025 program! A short comparison of the Official Block Party and the less official Stink!A long form review of all the official beverages and foods for Gen Con this year! 6 songs that will help manifest our Gen Con experience! And you can bet that we do a deep dive into some more food recommendations, including the finally official food trucks!Don't forget to come to our live podcast recording in the WOTC Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night at 9 pm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can find the interactive list of exhibitors for Gen Con 2025 here. Check out: AMIGO Games at booth 19071985 Games at booth 1459Hammerdog Games at booth 2309Q-Workshop at booths 149 and 1749Rowan, Rook and Decard at booth 455Pelgrane Press at booth 623 Two Little Mice at booth 1929 and 2029Family Time Fun is at booth 459, where you can find the promo card for Calliope Bush. Lisa Falkenstern is at table 65 of the Art ShowSchmandrewArt is at table 61 of the Art ShowGoater Mac's Funhouse is at the Entertainer's SpotlightOne Page Rules is at booth 7104 in Maker's MarketFor new and demoable games, check out: Up or Down from Capstone Games, booth 3027Boom Patrol from Smirk and Dagger Games, booth 429VNTYPL8S from 25th Century Games, booth 1457 Umami from HeidelBaer Games, booth 1003 for demosTwinkle Twinkle from AllPlay, booth 1849Lucha Lucha 3-4-5 from Whales Entertainment, booth 2860Necromancer from Kobold Press, demo at booth 1649Tamagotchi Collection from Kess, booth 521And for some last minute ticketed events: Blood on the ClocktowerMunchkin Charity GameGreat Big Convention Panel about Conventions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben introduce you to three content creators that we're big fans of -- and not just because they'll be at Gen Con 2025.First up, we interview Correy from the YouTube channel Travel the Board. Correy who vlogs about his travels across the US on conventions and cruises with real life not-internet human partner and his regular probably cohost, Scott the Bard! (We're trying to make fetch happen on this one.) Adding a layer of slight jealous: Correy is also an official Gen Con content creator for 2025.Next up, we speak with Ross from Roleplaying Public Radio, one of the O.G.-est of the gaming podcasts out there. Check out their main podcast as well their spin off RPPR Actual Play (which predated most actual plays by years, Matthew Christopher Mercer). Ross and Co. have five seminars and one live episode recording on Saturday at the JW, which is the only event that you're allowed to attend instead of our live podcast recording. Check out all the events here.Last but not least, we talk with JP Coovert, record label owner and former designer of Target kids t-shirts... who is currently one of the best YouTube channels out there for system neutral RPG content! JP is probably the living embodiment of a happy little tree, and he creates maps and adventures, plus zines and quirky content that are just the greatest. You can hop onto his pre-order for Flik Silverpen's Guide to Dragontown and the Darkness Below on BackerKit, and listen for his calming voice around the convention while he hands out zines like a Vloggy Applezine.You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're joined by the esteemed author Maurice Broaddus. An Indianapolis local, Maurice has attended Gen Con since 2008. This year, he's taken an active leadership role in the Writer's Symposium -- the convention within the convention where authors and aspiring authors hone their craft, learning how to tell better stories, and maybe even how you get those stories published in a way that you're proud of. The Writer's Symposium2025 Writer's Symposium EventsMaurice's Books Maurice's WebsiteThe Kheprw InstituteUnlike Trade Day, you don't need a special badge to attend Writer's Symposium events, and you can dip your toe into attending a single event or even a Coffee Klatch with one of your favorite authors who attend the Best Four Days in Gaming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the third of our Gen Con topicsodes, Quarex and Ben step away from the interviewing racket to talk about the lockers in the ICC that have returned after almost 20 years. It shouldn't go without saying that your hosts spend time talking about what led to this change — the proliferation of makeshift shopping carts in the exhibit hall. If you're outside the downtown block, you're going to want to make sure you listen in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While once the domain of Renn faires and Eras Tours, trinket trading has exploded at Gen Con over the past few years. To better understand this new phenomenon, we talk to Bri Pettegrow-Lajoie, the head of the official Gen Con Trinket Traders Facebook group! On this episode, we discuss what trinket trading is, what qualifies as a trinket, the etiquette for trading, and exactly how fun it is to drive from Maine to Indy and back again! Join the Facebook Group!Attend a Trinket Trade Meetup at Gen Con 2025!Maybe play a game that Bri is GMing for Kobold Press?Shoutout to artificer of the pod Shawn for suggesting this topic -- and reach out to us if you want to hear more about any topics! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When he was last on the show, Matt Shoemaker was the man who was writing a book on Gen Con. Dreamers, he's done it — he actually wrote the book on Gen Con, and A Gathering of Gamers is releasing later this year. You can sign up to find out more at the Play Story Press website. At Gen Con this year, you can come to Matt's seminar with Jon Peterson entitled "Exploring the Process and Sources for Writing Gaming History" (link). If you have a trade day badge, you can go to his seminar on "Teaching With Games That Challenge Gaming Norms" (link). And of course he's going to be at everyone's favorite Saturday night event at the WOTC Lucas Oil Stadium: our live podcast recording, where tickets are going fast. Matt has been busy with more than just the book and the Gen Con events, as he documented the oral history of Origins 50 (link). You can also find him at PAX Unplugged, the Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo (PAGE), Gary Con and Adepticon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that, when he isn't writing elfgames and Gumshoe tales, renowned RPG author Kevin Kulp is a consultant on fatigue, alertness, and shift work? We are absolutely blessed that he joined us this episode to talk about the most important thing to prepare for Gen Con (or any con)-- making sure you get safe amounts of sleep!While Kevin can't make it to Gen Con 2025, you may still pick up his work from our friends Pelgrane Press at Booth # 623!You can also check out Kevin's other work at the following links:Swords of the Serpentine, the Ennie winning GUMSHOE game of swords and sorcery (link)Time Watch, where you play as secret agents defend the timestream from radioactive cockroaches, psychic velociraptors, and human meddlers (link)13th Age Bestiary, which is everything you want in a lore-laden and beautifully illustrated monster manual (link)Hoot Owl Trail, a fantasy steampunk Wild West shoot 'em up that's "D&D with spurs" (link)And yes, if this sounds a lot like episode 57, it is. Sleep is so very important to our Gen Con dreams, and we couldn't improve on a perfect episode — we could only make sure it reaches your ears again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the fourth of our five Gen Con prepisodes, we're looking at all the ways you can move around the greater Gen Con convention center. From skywalks to escalators, from alarms to calendar events, you'll want to listen in for all the best tips and tricks when it comes to moving around the convention spaces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third of our prepisodes, we talk about each and every only way to eat at Gen Con 2025... from the restaurants to the concessions to the food trucks to the food delivery apps to bringing/buying your own food from a grocery store like Major... I mean Meijer. Ben and Quarex also discuss other food based concerns, like diabetic-friendly diets, managing allergies, and the meager gluten free dining in Indianapolis. You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Gen Con prepisode, Quarex and Ben get your pistons firing on how you can travel to Indianapolis for Gen Con 2025, as well as other key considerations when traveling outside the convention spaces during the best four days in gaming. Planes? Trains?Automobiles? Microscooters? PARKING?!?You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Gen Con prepisode, Quarex and Ben get your gray matter working for all the things you'll want to consider when packing for the best four days in gaming. Bags? Food??Toilets in trees?!?You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're joined by a very special guest — Alex Kammer, the principal owner of the only convention bold enough to call their exhibit hall a dealer hall... GAMEHOLE CON! We had the best time talking everything gaming with Alex, including Gamehole Con 1, Gamehole Con 12, the other conventions he attends, and what the Gamehole Con's bar mitzvah might look like.Important links: Get your Gamehole Con badges before they sell out! (Log in is required.) Gamehole Publishing's new living RPG campaign, The Wardens of the Eastern Marches, including their new adventure paths by Alex, Joshua Hoyt and someone named Ed GreenwoodThe End of Everything, Alex's epic 5E D&D adventure that properly brings the Cthulhu mythos into 5E The rest of Alex's RPG publishing pedigree on RPG Geek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our recap of Origins 2025, the 50th anniversary of this esteemed convention — a celebration you might have missed if you blinked — all delivered to you hot and ready in thirty minutes or less. Get your Origins Merch here: https://www.originsgamefair.com/origins-merch-storeAnd see how Quarex helped JP Coovert become a better GM! https://youtu.be/68Kcdi4WHU0?si=mTMrscwUV58xUbW- You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both Ben and Quarex were at Origins Game Fair for all five days of this historic 50th anniversary, and we spoke with so many great exhibitors. On this episode, we highlight some of the exhibitors who have new releases or awesome events at Gen Con, too. Thanks to:Matt from Motley Kids, where kids can be kids at Origins, Gen Con (check out the event schedule), and other midwestern conventions Aly, Richard, and Michael with Kess Co, who was demoing Tamagotchi Collection ahead of its Gen Con release Chris at Capstone Games, who was showing off new Gen Con releases like Tea Garden, Meltwater, and Up and Down You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both Ben and Quarex were at Origins Game Fair for all five days of this historic 50th anniversary, and we spoke with so many great exhibitors. On this episode, we highlight some of the exhibitors with cool and future releases on display at Origins. Thanks to:Bobby and Ted with Cavernwire Games, who were selling pre-sale copies of their new game Vine, coming to Kickstarter in July Jim from The Museum of D&D, who was showing off what this nonprofit is looking to do in Orlando David from Recycled Realms, who was selling bespoke wargaming terrain — contact him to commission your next boss scene Theresa and John from Geekify. who sell books, maps, and other ephemera at great prices Cheyenne from Action Fiction, who was demoing Goblin Cave, which is coming to crowdfunding later this year You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both Ben and Quarex were at Origins Game Fair for all five days of this historic 50th anniversary, and we spoke with so many great exhibitors. On this episode, we highlight some of the publishers with new and newish releases at Origins. Thanks to:Sabrina at Ludoliminal Games, who was releasing an early GOTC candidate "Uh Oh Dino"Heather at 9th Level Games, who just released the second edition of the Nazi-punching space opera Rebel Scum Breeze at Zephyr Workshop, whose Second Ignition of AEGIS: Transforming Robots beat the tariffs across the sea Josh from Arc Knight, whose Mimic Dice delight Quarexii and Actual Human Children alike Eric from Escape Mail, who braved the U.S. border to show off The Shackleton Series Box Set for your next game nightYou won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready for the 50th anniversary of Origins Game Fair? It's here on Wednesday morning!EVENTS!Origins Events: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025 Games on Demand: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/1695 Blood on the Clocktower: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/7160 Builders of Baldur's Gate: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/6909 They Keep Killing Thomas: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/5354 Poker Peril: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/8587 Grimdark Future: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/8991 GAMES! Origins New Games List: https://www.originsgamefair.com/featuredproductstry Raising Chicago: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/330579/raising-chicagoPlease Don't Burn My Village: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/438119/please-dont-burn-my-villageSlambo: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/435357/slamboWine Cellar: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/411033/wine-cellarUh Oh Dino: https://ludoliminal.com/products/uh-oh-dino-board-gameS'mores Galore: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/419206/smores-galoreINKUBUS: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19mVPb8Rhp/ PIN BAZAAR: https://www.originsgamefair.com/pin-bazaarNORTH MARKET: https://northmarket.org/GRAETER'S: https://www.graeters.com/neighborhood-locations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Ben and Quarex interview Josh Berling, who is the other TOVA auctioneer for the Gen Con Live Auction (link), as well as the magician behind the Valhalla charity auction on Saturday night in the Indiana Convention Center. Josh weaves tales about his first auction experience in Milwaukee, his favorite auction memories throughout the years, and why you'll want to be in the audience for the auction this year. But first, we also talk about the return of the Origins Consignment Shop (link), although for reasons that confound us, Big Mallet Auctions didn't look at our recording schedule to determine when to stop accepting items. Still: worth checking out at Origins 50. You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Origins coming up this month, Quarex and Ben help you prepare for all the fun you can have at the 50th anniversary show. Highlights include: Tournament of Pieces (link)Paint and Take (link)Origins Special Guests (link)Attend trade day (link)Game Based Education Therapy Conference (link)And don't forget: Watch Quarex play “Heart of Darkness” with Origins special guest Andrew E.C. Gaska (link)Get tickets to our live recording on Thursday at 8 pm (link) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of a summer of massive Rushmore conventions, Ben and Quarex sit down to discuss whether and how to best bring kids to gaming conventions. Replete with real world advice from the preeminent podcasters on the topic, we're not joking when we say you won't want to miss this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While your hosts Quarex and Ben are gearing up for the 50th Anniversary of Origins next month, there are still plenty of things our dreamers want to know about Gen Con. We're talking shoes, shots, bags, and lockers. We're talking about our wish lists and dreams for the exhibit hall. We're talking thieves of yore and the shuttering of the forums. Most importantly -- we're talking the likelihood of another sell out—because the easiest way to miss out on the best four days in gaming is to wait too long to buy that badge. Important links: Exhibit Hall PolicyLocker Room TalkExhibitor List for 2025"I'm the map, I'm the map"Update for the Gen Con 2023 HeistShuttering of the Gen Con Forums Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk with Joe Smiddie-Brush, the blood drive chair of the Heinlein Society, who has partnered with Gen Con to arrange for the blood drive, which is entering its 19th year at the convention! Wow!!!Important links:The Heinlein SocietyGen Con Blood DriveThe Blood Drive's partner, Dscryb, who coordinates much of the swag for donorsDonate blood with last year's Gen Con blood drive partner, Versiti!The Notebooks of Lazarus Long, by the titular Heinlein himselfAnd if you're looking to arrange for a blood drive at your favorite local convention (PHIL), you can reach out to Joe at [email protected].... and if you're going to Origins like Quarex, Ben, and all the other cool kids -- don't forget you can donate blood there too! GAMA even gave us an extra day of gaming, so why not give a little of your blood? (You won't miss it.. that much.)https://www.originsgamefair.com/blood-drive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Ben and Quarex share their tips and tricks on how to do Gen Con without spending too much money. Topics include travel options to Indy, lodging in and around the situation, food/drink/alcohol, free badges, low cost/now cost events and seminars, and things to do around the city. Even if you're not the most frugal attendee, you might be able to glean some insights from the combined experience of the hosts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Ben and Quarex review the conventions we attended thus far in 2025... other than Gary Con, Adepticon, and Awesome Con. Congress of GamersWinter WarGamiConDreamationGameface ConMoComConUnpub FestKobold ConC2E2Chaosium ConFinal 3 ConDid you attend any conventions during this time that we didn't cover? You can send us a Dreamer Dispatch at the following link! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk with Matt from the Lurking Fears GM Group! Matt regales us with his tales of starting and maintaining one of the best GM in all Conventionry.Lurking Fear website (link)Publishers they work with (link)Sign up to be a GM! (link)You can also catch a game with them at Origins Game Fair (link to Tabletop Events) and even Gen Con! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a day where the fourth might have been with us, the Gen Con event catalog definitely joined in all its Midichlorian glory. When you can find all the events on the official page (link) or the Gen Con 2025 Event DB page (link), your hosts Quarex and Ben picked out some events you'll want to check out:The Necromancer's Curse for Fabula Ultima (link)Deathwise5E, the Thousand Dollar experience (link)Coffee Klatch with Michael A. Stackpole (link)Punch Nazis on Mars (link)Bees, Beer, and the Hip: a Canadian LARP for Call of Cthulhu (link)T2D2 Toys POG Tournament (link)Your hosts also walk you through the wishlisting process, and event registration process on Sunday, May 18th at 12 noon Eastern. And don't forget, we have our live podcast recording at 9 pm on Saturday in Lucas Oil Stadium: https://www.gencon.com/events/278485You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben discuss the latest phenomenon in gaming conventions -- con cruises! We discuss the why, the whether, and the cruises you can book, including: JoCo Cruise Dice Tower CruiseD3/B3 at SeaCongress of Gamers Cruise Session... and more! And don't forget that after over a decade of promising, Real ID is taking effect in May! You won't want to miss it, especially if you are flying anywhere between now and Gen Con. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we talk about the conventions you want to know about between May 1 and September 2, including: Buckeye Game Fest, Midwest Games Fest, Farmageddon, Congress of Gamers Spring Session, Shirecon, Dungeon Con, PAX East, Geekway to the West, OrakCon, Game Market (Chiba City, Japan), Thy Geekdom Con, Fargo CoreCon Halfoween, Balticon, StrategiCon Gamex, Rooks Con, LinCon, ChupacabraCon Gaming Convention, KublaCon, Dream Con, CanGames, UK Games Expo, Magstock, SaltCON Summer, CNY RPG Con, Pyrkon, Game Con, Southern Fried Gaming Expo, Origins Game Fair, SoonerCon, MisCon, MAGE Con, ROSECon, KantCon, Djiversão Offline, BorderCon, 18XXBelgium, Game Con Canada, Dexlite, CONvergence, Shadow Market Shanghai Board Game Exhibition, Dice Tower East, Roswell Galacticon, Crit Hit!, PlayCon, AdventureCon Ironweld, ConnectiCon, Historicon, Gem State Gaming Convention, EGG Con, San Diego Comic Con, Board Game Days, Ropecon, Northwest Tabletop Expo, World Boardgaming Championships, GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON, StarCon, MagWest, Epic Nerd Camp, Once Upon a Con, Phoenix Con, DragonFlight,FallCon, Make a Scene, Reaper Con, SaltCON End of Summer, GrandCon, The Nova Open, WGGCon, Gamers of Summer, Immerse Con, Matsuricon, PAX West, DragonCon. But also: Tabletop Scotland, which technically starts the week after Labor Day but you should attend!Quad Cons galore!And our new Gritty Game Day feature! You won't want to miss it!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the furious vortex of March and April conventions, Quarex and Ben carved out some time in the recording schedule to discuss how you can convince your friends to join you at gaming conventions. Whether your reasons are selfish, altruistic, or somewhere in between — listen in to learn how to convince your friends and family into entering the lifestyle of gaming conventions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben talk about their time at Adepticon (Milwaukee, WI) and Awesome Con (Washington DC) as members of the gaming media. We also introduce the Dreamer Dispatch, where if you tell us about your time at a convention, we may read your dreams on a future episode of the show. Drop your Dreamer Dispatches at the following link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 50th anniversary of Origins Game Fair starts June 18, 2025... which is so much sooner than you think! Your hosts Quarex and Ben walk you through everything you need to know now to make the convention the great time it can be, including: BadgesHotelsEvent ScheduleSpectacles like the Film FestivalEvents on StageSpecial GuestsAnd don't forget our just early enough recommendations for events you should sign up for: Motley KidsMatinee AdventuresKingdoms of KeshanarBuild a Shadowdark Adventure Live with Kelsey DionneADGNEPSEF555and the event you just can't miss because you'll have to wait until September when we release it—our live podcast recording!!!1!DON'T FORGET! You can contribute to the oral history of Origins by emailing Matt Shoemaker at [email protected]. (It's so much nicer than hitting him with a shoe.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex regales your other host Ben with all the things he missed by not attending Gary Con XXVI.But first: have you ever wondered what the Gygax Convention Industrial Complex is? Your hosts grapple to define a term of their own making without being hoisted by their own petard. Referenced conventions include:North Texas RPG Con (link)Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo (link)CNY RPG Con (link)... in addition to obvious Gygax conventions like Gary Con and EGG Con (link).And remember: if you want to contribute anything to the "History of Gen Con at University of Wisconsin - Parkside", reach out the director at [email protected]! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben release the interviews you want to hear from Gary Con and Gameface Con. Michael of Night Noon Games (link), whose successfully funded a zine on Shadowdark monster conversions that you can still make a late pledge for Dave from Smuggler's Coffee (link), a coffee shop in Dyer, IN that's best known for nerdy grounds (and their Malort barrel aged coffee)Laura from Extra Life (link), a fundraising arm of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Bill Slavicsek (link), current lead writer for Elder Scrolls Online... but who also designed much of Star Wars d6, wrote TORG, midwifed modern D&D, and wrote two editions to the Guide the Star Wars Universe Also, Ben challenges Quarex to a game of Shadowdark to determine the official RPG of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On March 20-23, the Gygax Convention Industrial Complex is returning to its roots for the 17th Gary Con! Much like Waldo, Quarex is able to be found at the convention, and of course your hosts are talking everything Gary Con in a digestible 20 minute dose.If you're going, don't forget to check out:The charity auction (link)Tales of the Valiant with Chris Hays (link)Katacombs and Kidventurers (link)Legends: Dawn Patrol (link)Legends of Roleplaying: Recall the Beginning (link)Legends & Lore: Editions Change, Greyhawk Endures (link)Reading D&D Aloud (link)Monty Python's Flying Gygax (link)...... and more!!!1!!!1!!!!!And of course we shout out Unpub Festival 2025, where you can try the games of tomorrow today! https://www.unpub.org/upcoming-events/unpub-25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gamehole Con housing portal opens up on March 15. If you want to attend, this is the first step to the Gamehole Con of your dreams! More information on the Gamehole Con website (link), and we review the broader administrative schedule you need to know. You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben sit down with James Winfield, the organizer of 1d4 Con, which you can attend from March 28-30 in Charles Town, WV slash Harper's Ferry, MD. In this episode, we discuss: The now defunct 1d4 Cast, which is still available through Podchaser and other platforms (link)1d4 Con, past and present (link)The upcoming events at 1d4 Con 2025 (link to Tabletop Events)You can interact with the 1d4 Con team on their Discord server (link), through Bluesky (link), or on Facebook (link).The convention is closer than you think, both geographically and temporally. What's certain is that you won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Wizards of the Coast released their plans for Gen Con 2025—this time, actually on time: https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1914-d-d-at-gen-con-2025-updateWhile Baldman Games claims (link) that the move doesn't mean they are running games on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium, Quarex and Ben can't envision how this can't mean anything but a WOTC Oil Stadium for 2025.Accordingly, your hosts boldly speculate for how this spoils the Gen Con event ecosystem this year. You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode title says it all. For many dreamers, hopes of a downtown room came crashing down on Sunday afternoon. Standing amidst the wreckage of these shattered dreams, your hosts Quarex and Ben speculate about better days ahead — as well as possible ways that Gen Con might improve the lottery situation. In the meantime, listen in for tips on how to: Watch the housing portal with the help of Gen Con Hotels (link)Run an automated script for Gen Con Hotels (link)Updates on new hotel construction in Downtown Indianapolis (link)And for mental health treatment, connect with SAMHSA's National Helpline by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.