All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

We take a break from our Origins and Gen Con coverage to discuss the fourth or fifth head on the Rushmore of US Gaming Conventions -- Dragon Con. It's not until August 29, but it's never too early to start planning! This is a Dragon Con: https://www.dragoncon.org/The Definitive Guide to Guests: https://www.dragoncon.org/people-to-see-2/guests/Hotels: https://www.dragoncon.org/travel/hotels/Transportation: https://www.dragoncon.org/travel/transportation/Volunteer! https://www.dragoncon.org/participate/volunteer/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, Ben is joined by Dr. Drew to talk about the Gen Con Live Auction! Quarex shows up late and regales our dreamers with stories of almost 20 years of his attendance at the auction. Register your stuff for the Gen Con Live Auction and Consignment Sale! https://livegameauctions.com/Watch someone gift Frank Mentzer $3,000 in dice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3voQGTnP9AGet tickets for our live podcast recording on Saturday night of Gen Con! https://www.gencon.com/events/251393 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's early May and we already have the map for the Gen Con Exhibit Hall? Next thing you'll tell us is that Pastimes submitted all the Magic the Gathering events in time for the event catalog. (Oh wait...)Ben and Quarex take you through our first impressions for the Exhibit Hall this year. You won't want to miss it.No idea why the first uploaded version had bonus silence and Quarex Googling in it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Sunday, May 19, GEN CON processed our dreamers' wish lists. Your hosts Ben and Quarex talk about their experience on Wish List day and give broader voices to those dreamers who are coping with a nightmare. We still have tickets to our Live Podcast Recording! https://www.gencon.com/events/251393 Play in Ben's epic adventure, Operation Tango at Twistwarden Abbey! https://www.gencon.com/events/250865 And if you're suffering from depression, please reach out to a resource like SAMHSA's National Helpline (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline) or the Suicide Crisis Hotline (https://988lifeline.org/). Believe us when we say that we really want to play games with you. Reach out at Gen Con! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alec Usticke joins us to talk about his year round Gen Con experience, helping to run the Fans of Gen Con Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2246486901). He also clues us into WGG Con, held from August 29 to September 2 (http://www.westchestergaming.org/wggcon/). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dreamers, Ben and Quarex are both going to Origins this year! With this in mind, and knowing that this is Ben's first time thinking about going to Origins since the halcyon days of 2004, your hosts talk about the hotels, the driving, the food, the food, the gaming, and the food at Origins Games Fair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps one of the least understood and easiest to screw up parts of attending Gen Con is the Wish List process. List to this super short episode, where we'll highlight everything you need to know about the wish listing process and processing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gen Con event catalog can be accessed here: https://www.gencon.com/events?c=indy2024. This is the EventDB website that collects everything: https://gencon.eventdb.us/These are the event listing we discuss in this episode: You can find everything Return to Dark Tower, whether board game or RPG, here: https://www.gencon.com/event_finder?search=return+to+dark+tower Dungeons and Damsels and Chiptunes, Oh My!, the hydra headed nerd vaudeville event: http://www.gencon.com/events/259202Cold War 1960, a megagame in the nuclear holocaust that almost was: https://www.gencon.com/events/255216 The Elfsong Tavern: A Baldur’s Gate Theme Party: a Baldur’s Gate theme party featuring a D.J., drag, burlesque, and possibly aerialists! http://www.gencon.com/events/254117DREAMS FROM GARY’S BASEMENT, a documentary about the early days of D&D: https://www.gencon.com/events/255221# Don't Give Up the Ship, the game played at every Gen Con ever! https://www.gencon.com/events/255592 The British Are Coming: Using TTRPGs to Teach History, an industry day seminar: http://www.gencon.com/events/246923MARC GUNN: SCI FI IRISH DRINKING SONGS IN A KILT: https://www.gencon.com/events/246349 Age of the Dragon: a 50th Anniversary D&D  epic adventure for characters of any level and any campaign, complete with special NPC guests: https://www.gencon.com/events/267112 Orc Stomp 5K Fun Run: https://www.gencon.com/events/246692 The Kessel Run : https://www.gencon.com/events/255201 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Gen Con 2024, we will be recording a live podcast, including live games and a killer fourth meal! and other live games! Get your ticket at the following link!https://www.gencon.com/events/251393You can also find your hosts at the following events:Ben's RPG EventsThursday, 10 am. Haunting of the Ironwood Thorp, a Gen Con exclusive adventure for Tales of the Valiant (https://www.gencon.com/events/248861)Thursday, 2 pm Swallowed Whole, a VIP game for Tales of the Valiant. One room, one table, one swag bag makes for an unforgettable experience (https://www.gencon.com/events/251866)Thursday, 7 pm. Operation Tango at Twistwarden Abbey, an interactive adventure for Tales of the Valiant (https://www.gencon.com/events/250865)Friday, 10 am. Shards of the Spellforge, an intro adventure for Tales of the Valiant (https://www.gencon.com/events/249406) Friday, 2 pm. Lost Tomb of Nargoth, a higher level Tales of the Valiant adventure (https://www.gencon.com/events/249400) Sunday, 10 am. Haunting of the Ironwood Thorp, a Gen Con exclusive adventure for Tales of the Valiant (https://www.gencon.com/events/248861)Quarex's ScheduleFriday Auction: Sci-Fi RPGs (https://www.gencon.com/events/250774)Friday Auction: TSR Roleplaying Games (https://www.gencon.com/events/250822)Friday Auction: Collector Section (https://www.gencon.com/events/250823) Saturday Auction: TOVA (https://www.gencon.com/events/250857)Saturday Auction: Charity (https://www.gencon.com/events/250858)Also, we will have an assistant at Gen Con! Go find Aimee and get a ribbon for your badge! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our regular roundup of the convention you ought to check out, dreamers!ALSO, Ben is a stretch goal for Campaign Builder: Dungeons and Ruins! Check out the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deepmagic/campaign-builder-dungeons-and-ruinsMay ConventionsCoreCon: https://www.fargocorecon.org/DemiCon: https://demicon.org/35/Kobold Con: https://koboldpress.com/first-ever-kobold-con-online-convention/Kubla Con:https://kublacon.com/Paizo Con: https://paizo.com/paizoconDie Con: https://www.diecon.com/Main/June ConventionsQuad Con: https://quadcitycon.com/Origins Game Fair: https://www.originsgamefair.com/Planet Funk Con: https://www.planetfunkcon.com/July ConventionsDex Lite: https://dexposure.com/home.htmlConvergence Con: https://www.convergence-con.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this very special episode of All Your Gaming Conventions Are Belong To Us or whatever, Ben asks the hard-hitting questions about Quarex's extensive recent conventioning, covering the latter's trips to EverCon, DuPage Mighty Con, Founders & Legends Convention, Gary Con, and Collectorabilia! Are all of those conventions really gaming-related? ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT!Plus, after 33 Quarexes in a row, I think we can all tell a special guest voice is narrating the show opening. Who is it?! ALSO ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT!!!EverCon: https://www.evercon.org/DuPage Mighty Con: https://mightyconshows.com/show/dupageFounders & Legends Convention: https://foundersandlegends.com/Gary Con: https://garycon.com/Collectorabilia: https://collectorabiliacon.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're joined by Mattie Schraeder (@frozenpeach on all the socials), designer of games like Heckin' Hounds and Oops All Bangers, as she's telling us all about the upcoming Geekway to the West convention in St. Louis MO from May 16-19. Play games! Playtest games! Win games! Cosplaytest as a pirate! Quarex, go trademark cosplaytest!Geekway to the West: https://geekwaytothewest.com/Mattie's website: https://afrozenpeach.net/ Buy Heckin' Hounds here: https://sapphirecitygames.com/merch/heckin-hounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben has a head cold so he's trying not to talk that much. Luckily, Quarex is here to discuss the death and dying scootershare companies and the impact that has on the U.S. cities hosting gaming conventions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we interview Kendo (@kendomakesfilms), the media production manager for Kobold Press. We chat about Kobold Chats, attending gaming conventions, KP's new game Tales of the Valiant, and the upcoming online convention Kobold Con! Kobold Press website (link)Info about Kobold Con (link)Kobold Chats (link)Kobold Press Discord (link)Check out Start Playing dot Games to sign up to even or even run games at Kobold Con!!!Please note: neither Ben nor Quarex received remuneration of any kind from Kobold Press for this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five interviews from Gameface Con 2024!Gameface ConSite: http://www.gamefacecon.com/Coming back for 2025! Severed Books, Games and ToysWebsite: http://www.severedbooks.com/Prelaunch for the Mork Borg Action Figure: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/justinsirois/mork-borg-action-figure-w-zine-by-stockholm-kartell/Plus One ExperienceWebsite: https://plusoneexp.com/RPG Zine Club: https://plusoneexp.com/pages/rpg-zine-clubFeral Indie StudioWebsite: https://www.feralindiestudio.com/Into the Cess and Citadel: https://www.thiscityeatspeople.com/High Level GamesWebsite: https://www.highlevelgames.ca/Army Men RPG: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/452622/army-menTerrible GamesWebsite: https://www.tokenterrors.com/Black Mold (Horror Board Game): https://www.tokenterrors.com/black-moldToken Terrors (40K): https://www.tokenterrors.com/token-terrors-battlegrounds-newAlso, shout out to Epic Level Rap Gods (https://epiclevelsrapgods.com/), who covered the Severed table while Ben interviewed Justin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben educates Quarex as well as our dreamers about what they can do to submit their Gen Con events through the EO/GM Dashboard, available at the following link: https://www.gencon.com/event_submissions?c=indy2024Also, Quarex regales us of his recent trip to Lake Geneva, WI... famously the home of lake houses, the first Playboy resort, and a simple cobbler and insurance underwriter named Gary Gygax. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarex and Ben do a post-mortem on just quickly the Gen Con block sold out this year. There's some opining, some speculation, and as always — the best gaming convention podcast advice in the industry. Gen Con Hotels: https://genconhotels.com/Donate to the Gen Con Hotels Guy: https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=I4_q-Im9rZuUiZDQFr9jK_OP9qfpJxmucZ_ngiuG_4UxcTCWnUMz4YMrsGS0JUxVMTD3EXWb8F0vB5hX Partners for Pets: https://www.partnersforpets.org/adopt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you stuck on the outside looking in, with not a room in sight that will let you stay near the Best Four Days in Gaming? Dreamers, your hosts Ben and Quarex are here with the best of the worst options you have left. Listen in so you know how to get a room!Gen Con Hotels: https://genconhotels.com/Gen Con Hotels Script: https://github.com/mrozekma/gencon-hotel-check Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we interview game designer, archivist, author and (most importantly) OG dreamer, Matt Shoemaker about his years of attending Gen Con and the book he's writing about the history of Gen Con. You wanna know what year Matt thinks is the most pivot for Gen Con and the gaming industry as a whole? You gotta listen. You wanna know whether Matt thinks Indy is better than Milwaukee? You gotta listen. You wanna know how to horde cards for the game Spellfire in 1994? You gotta listen. You wanna know where Matt really was when the French armies invaded Algeria in 1857? You really need to listen. You wanna know who else was on the grassy knoll in Dallas? We don't talk about that one. You can find Matt's games for sale at his gaming company's website: https://hitemwithashoe.com/You can find his Gen Con game history project work at https://www.best50yearsingaming.com/ You can read his academic bio on the Temple website: https://sites.temple.edu/tudsc/about/current-staff/matt-shoemaker/ You can find the Loretta C. Duckworth (OBM) Scholar's Studio blog where Matt sometimes posts updates on the Temple University website: https://sites.temple.edu/tudsc/And don't forget to buy your badges for Gen Con by Friday at midnight!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarex regales Ben with his tales of Winter Fantasy that somehow do not involve Anna or Elsa. Your hosts review the upcoming convention schedule, including two awesome opportunities to game: Dreamation in Morristown, NJ (https://dexposure.com/d2024.html), and Gameface Con in Baltimore, MD (http://www.gamefacecon.com/).If you're attending the latter, why don't you play You And Your Friends (Have Been Turned Into Bears And The Only Way To Turn Back Is To Do All These Odd Jobs About Town) with Ben as gamemaster? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have we talked about Gen Con lately? If we haven't, we really need to do this now because you can buy your badges this Sunday February 11th.Buying a badge gets you a ticket into the Gen Con housing lottery, which (like Ron Burgundy) is kind of a big deal. But your pals Quarex and Ben are here to help you navigate this process! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben is actively missing a convention to record this podcast, and Quarex hasn't been to a convention since December -- not even a QuadCon?!? Dreamers, we're starting the year off right by looking at a bunch of fun conventions in January, February and March: Midwinter Gaming Convention, January 11-14, in Pewaukee (https://tabletop.events/conventions/midwinter-gaming-convention-2024)Super Magfest. January 18-21 in the DC Metro Area (https://super.magfest.org/)Winter Fantasy. February 7-11 in Fort Wayne, IN (ttps://tabletop.events/conventions/winter-fantasy-48)Genghis Con. February 15-18 in Aurora, CO (https://tabletop.events/conventions/genghiscon-2024) Gamers of Winter. February 17-19 in Harrisburg, PA (http://www.gamersofwinter.net/) Con Nooga. February 23-25 in Chatanooga, TN (http://www.connooga.com/) GalaxyCon 2024. March 15-17 in Richmond, VA.  (https://galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-richmond)Founders and Legends Convention. March 16-18  in Lake Geneva, WI (https://tabletop.events/conventions/founders-legends-convention/)Gary Con 2024. March 21-24 in Lake Geneva, WI (https://garycon.com/)Ben’s pals at Kobold Press also recently announced the online-only Kobold Con in March, with details to be released soon! Watch them at their website (https://www.koboldpress.com). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben gives his review of PAX Unplugged 2023 -- aka LINECON. We've also pulled together advice from you international dreamers on how to best navigate the mini-boss of your convention adventures... the US Border. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, we talk about the latest drop of Gen Con Roll-A-Crit merch, just in time for whatever holiday you celebrate in December. https://www.rollacrit.com/collections/gen-con-winter-collectionWe also talk about the filings and status of Upper Deck's lawsuit against Ravensburger, publisher of Disney the Gatheri... we mean Lorcana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I think Ben uploaded the last few, so I apologize if you are the kind of person who actually reads this section as I cannot imagine Ben fills those in. He is not the kind of person to waste time on something that likely nobody will ever read. Whereas I am the kind of person who almost exclusively wastes time on things nobody will ever read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a fall away from the show with that pesky "real life", Quarex and Ben are back with an update about conventions Quarex has attended -- and conventions that Ben dreams about attending. If you're interested in what's kept Ben away from conventions, check out Kobold Press' Trouble at Mossbeard Mill. This is the second of the adventures for the new Tales of the Valiant gaming system. Ben would tell you it's a great investigative adventure module, if that's your cup of horchata, set in a small town at the edge of civilization. It seems as a great jumping off point into greater adventures! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our maybe too late episode on Dragon Con 2023. But seriously, who schedules a huge convention less than 30 days from Gen Con? (Also, our friend Baka walks us through the whole experience.)We swear this doesn't have a "finished the paper the night before" feel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben and Quarex reflect upon their goals in attending Gen Con 2023—budgeting, sleeping, eating, time management, packing and repacking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben and Quarex review their experience at Gen Con 2023 — the good, the bad, the true neutral. Topics include the ENNIES, the auction, LORCANA, and Malort pickles. (We shan't speak of them again.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a Sunday evening JW Marriott couch, we're wishing (Lord) that we were still gaming... 'cuz there's something in the last day of the convention that leaves our bodies all alone. And there's nothing short of dying that's half as lonesome as the sound of the departure from the convention, and Sunday evening coming down. Twelve hours later than expected (QUAREX), we are recording our last live show from Indy before we head back to our lives and resume dreaming about gaming conventions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we did, what we're doing, and why Quarex is running the nerds TOMORROW instead.Also, the peanut gallery joins in to express opinions about 25 year old ska records and some mooches ask for pizza. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the Wednesday before Gen Con, and Ben and Quarex are in the same room for once — the Rathskeller, Indy's finest bier garden. In the corner of a crowded room, we discuss traffic, temperature and our convention friends. 12 hours until Gen Con! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Make sure to check out Dungeons, Dudes, & Ginny Di: https://www.gencon.com/events/230909; A Letterkenny Tabletop Homebrew: https://www.gencon.com/events/224431; and DA GOF ROCKERZ: https://gencon.eventdb.us/event.php?GameCode=ENT23ND222128! Beyond that, just please go to Gen Con Indy and say hello to us! Quarex in particular is easy to find! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gen Con Indy Program Guide: https://issuu.com/marketing-gencon/docs/gc23_digitalprogrambook; Gen Con Indy Block Party and Food Truck List: https://gencon.blog/2023/07/21/gen-con-block-party-2023/; Gen Con Indy Pin Bazaar: https://www.pinbazaar.com/gen-con-2023; Gen Con Indy Gen Con Indy: https://www.gencon.com. Also features a surprise review of a different gaming convention entirely! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussing getting enough sleep for gaming and driving purposes, including advanced napping strategies and encouraging you to please stay alive so you can go to more gaming conventions! This episode sponsored by Big Slumber. Also featuring reminders to get your Gary Con and Dave Con badges! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cover everything from making a list, to checking it twice, to assuming everyone is nice just to get to the good stuff. Conserving space, contemplating what you truly need, ensuring you bring what you do truly need, Tetrising your life, and generally preparing to be prepared. Be Pre Paaaaaaared Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarex reviews Origins Game Fair 2023, then the hosts take turns discussing Gen Con Indy 2023 events and games that intrigue them. Honestly I could talk as long on any given subject as we usually do about all our subjects in one episode. But nobody wants to hear Quarex pontificate about the nuanced differences between using the skywalk or taking the streets depending on the day's relative humidity. Honestly if it is below 80 you might as well walk outside, given how stuffy it can get in the un-air-conditioned parts of the "hamster tubes" as we lovingly call them. Especially that one part between the Embassy Suites and the mall, you know the one. Right after the Artsgarten. Hey, do you want to grab a sandwich? Also Fallout 76 taught me how to pronounce "Appalachia" but I do not think Ben has played that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is amazing that I survived my first time attending in 1997 considering I basically knew none of the things we cover, from rest to hydration to hygiene to the most important, not getting into a fistfight with your roommates about the shower in the morning. No wonder I had to be basically dragged through the entire event. Actually being both prepared and ready for anything was basically anathema to my childhood self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cover everything from bringing your own food to not bringing your own food, including food trucks, delivery, restaurants, bars, and a polite reminder to tip, keeping up our reputation as The Best Convention For People Forced To Work During A Convention. And yes I know it is pronounced Shau but I could not stand to correct Ben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

\ _|_ /- / \ -- \___/ -/ | \__@ /__\_______|____________|__|___________AW MAN C'MON WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED WIDTH, YOU RUINED MY SUMMER LANDSCAPEAnyway, this is an overview of the biggest aspects of the convention, actually ensuring you have your badge and how to tackle the Exhibit/Dealer Hall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the summary visible enough that anyone is going to see this? I will probably draw a picture in Episode 5's summary. But this episode is basically about making sure your home base for the convention serves your needs to allow you to enjoy whatever gaming convention you are attending (Gen Con Indy specifically!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time ever, learn the difference between microscooters and macroscooters! Plus lots of other advice about getting around regardless of where you are staying, and join us in hoping the construction is all completed by August! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What to bring, what to wear, what to eat, what to what, to what to what to, bag, bag, bags, bags, bsgsa bgsb abgs abgsba gbsgshow to talk about Gen ConGoogle how to talk about Gen Conwhy is Google not working Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the conventions we attend and supremely briefly discuss our first times attending Gen Con, then dive into some tips for attending Gen Con Indy, for first-timers, casual attendees, and the hardcore alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.