All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

On this episode, Quarex and Ben return to a very special topic that should be near and dear to the heart of every dreamer: proper sleep practices at gaming conventions. In the past we've spoken with Kevin Kulp, sleep specialist and RPG designer extraordinaire. This time, we're going through how you feel, hour by hour, as you go without sleep. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we discuss two great topics to get prepared for events at Gen Con 2026!This year, Gen Con has pushed for more electronic ticketing, which means your event ticket envelope is understandably lighter! Given the different types of tickets, you'll want to be sure to have different types of tickets to play the events you couldn't get into before the convention!Listen in, listen up, because you don't want to get caught with the wrong kind of ticket around your lanyard! And don't wait... buy some generic tickets right now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This prepisode is our kinda early and not entirely complete because where is the food truck list, Mr. Hoppe! However, it is the first of our episodes that approach the topic of food and drink at Gen Con, cus you'll need repeated and rapid infusions of liquid and calories to ensure that the best four days in gaming is number one to the max! Listen in for our sneaky good recommendations about fast food, healthy food, and even booze as a food in and around the convention center. You won't want to miss it!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk about all the ways that you get into Indy, around the city, through the conventions spaces, out to dinner, and back home with all your games. You won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything that you wanted to know, and probably a few things you hadn't considered when it comes to packing for the best four, five, or even eight days in gaming: GEN CON 2026Happy Gen Con advent to all who celebrate! (For dreamers dying to know: this is the list of things that you can bring onto an airplane.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the event of our third anniversary, Ben and Quarex Cosmo Joe of Studio 6d6, RPEX, and Phoenix Con fameTim Kask, the curmudgeonly TSR editor and public school teacherLou Zocchi, the entrepreneur who pioneered distribution of adventure game and the manufacture of dice Jodi Black, an editor, author, and pioneer of gaming tablesAll are gone too soon, and each will be missed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben give our unvarnished—but still pretty positive—opinion about our time at Origins 2026. Whether we're yammering about our travel and lodging, the badges and event tickets, the Your Origins 2026 app, the apparent volunteer staffing shortage, the ticketed events we did, the layout of the exhibit hall, the new games we tried out, or the people we got to play with... we're letting you know what we think. Stick around for the end of the episode, where Ben and Quarex discuss the heart and spirit of Origins, and what 2027 is already looking like it's shaping up to be. We also used Origins to release our new sistercast: All Year I Dream About Game Reviews, coming to a podcatcher near you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this interview episode, Ben, Quarex, and Ben interviewed designers at conventions earlier this year! Stuart from Warcradle Studios, who was showing off Armoured Clash at Adepticon!Yochai from Cairn Press, who designed Cairn 2e, records the Between Two Cairns podcast, and is hosting Between Two Cons the weekend this episode releases! Sean from Relic Blade Studio, the engine behind the Relicblade miniatures game! Matt Fantastic from Forever Stoked Creative, former GAMA director, and current director of Unpub! Check out Matt's latest game, GOAT from Dolphin Hat Games!You won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, it's chatting from the Origins exhibitor hall about RPGs and merch!Kelly with Red Raccoon Games, who was the lead at the Origins Merch Booth on Saturday!The better of the two interviews we conducted with Gabe and Le of Weird Place, publishers of Fluff 'n' Fury who were demoing their new game Chaotika!Alan from Tuesday Knight Games, publishers of the Mothership RPG, the explosive social deduction game Two Booms and a Room, and their latest offering... Fatherfog. Check them out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, it's chatting from the Origins exhibitor hall about board games and components!David from Intersection Games, who was showing off Flip Draw: Mondrian and Concrete Canvas, currently available for preorder!Alyssa from Brooke and Joy Games, who was showing off their new game Speed Swap Chaos and the rest of their upcoming games!Paul from Limiting Factor Games, whose are non‑magnetic, non‑slip Dynamaps dungeon tiles are great for tabletop mapping!Emily from Pink Hawk Games, who was showing off Pirates of the High Teas and demoing Super Chonk and Good Kitties with Ben Jones... sign up to be the first to know when they come to Kickstarter in late September!An unnamed person definitely doing something Probably Illegal under Ohio state law. (Probably.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are previewing Origins at the speed of GAMA! The following is a list of things that we talk about... The security and metal detector FAQ that was released between recording this episode and releasing this episode! The exhibitor hall map, both text searchable and not!Order some emergency dice from Black Oak Workshop!Our live podcast recording on Thursday night! See the man behind the mask challenging the fool who left the championship belt in Iowa!Check out the latest games, like: Golden Goal from All Play at Booth 2300!Wispwood from Czech Games Edition at Booth 1903!Carnuta from Repos Productions at Booth 2218!Five Card Spud from Marmot Card Games... at booth undetermined. DNUP from Asmodee at Booth 2300!Cyberpunk Legends from Night Crew Games at Booth 2301!And check out past, current, and future friends of the pod who are exhibiting like: Pink Hawk Games at booth 1404 The XP Network at booth 1904Ink Splot Games at booth 1905Uloomi Games at booth 2507Archania Workshop at booth 1212Retro Plus Games at booth 1312 Prime Chaos Glass Studios at booth 1711Saving Throw Pillows at booth 2023Long Pack Games at booth 1528Crime No Crime at both 1321Browncastle Games at booth 2811Goodman Games at booth 1807Pizza with a Fork Games at booth 2206Tuesday Night Games at booth 1604And check out events and special events like: The Other Guys (D&D)Builders of Baldur's Gate (Wiz Kids)Train Game Potluck (Train Gamers Association) Fellowship of the White Star (Rosebud)Piracy and Law of the Sea (seminar)Punish Your Players with Landscape Science (seminar)Meet Mike Pondsmith (Cyberpunk!)Taskmaster LA (special event)The Magic of Erica Carlson (special events)To say nothing of Pin Bazaar, Barley's pint glasses, and all the food North Market has to offer. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on Friday, June 12, it's the deadline to elect to have your Gen Con badge shipped to you! No need to brave the will call line, because your badges and event tickets will show up at your home. With that in mind, your hosts interrupt our Origins coverage (and use our econ degrees!) to forecast when and when Gen Con will sell out in 2026. Don't get caught by surprise when the badges sell out — get on it now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're talking with three creatives who will be at Origins Game Fair 50 Plus 1!Bug Boll of 9th Level Games, who is running so many games in the Hyatt while also manning booth 1808! Chrys from Hectic Electron Games, who is selling her queer sword and sorcery game Defy the Gods while also showing off the total chaos edition of Raccoon Sky Pirates, currently crowdfunding! Find her at booth 1813.Brian from Windmill Games Co, who are running sessions of Dread, Daggerheart, and Ben's favorite Origins game: Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts talk with game designer Ian Zang, who is a board member of the Unpublished Games Network!Check out the Unpub Network!Get involved at Unpub Festival or any of the the conventions Unpub has a presence!Become involved in either side of the Unpub Tabletop Mentorship Program!Check out the Unpub space in the GCCC at Origins Game Fair this month!Don't forget to check out Ian's games, including: Please Fix the Teleporter!Genotype, a Mensa Recommends Award Winner!Kingdoms of the Deep!And launching at Gen Con this year is A Familiar Find, a charming brand-new card game in the Critical world of Exandria! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the more unique programs at Origins Game Fair is the Tournament of Pieces! This section of the exhibit hall is filled with all kinds of puzzling — speed puzzling, fun puzzling, live laugh love puzzling... and there's even three An Ohio State Cups you can compete in!To help our dreamers assemble their plans for the Tournament of Pieces, we spoke with Linda Maxwell of Cobble Hill, the fine Canadian puzzling company who is helping bring the puzzles to the Origins Game Fair.Cobble Hill websiteTournament of PiecesTournament of Pieces signup on Tabletop.Events!100 Piece Puzzle ChessThe events page for the USA Jigsaw Puzzle AssociationAnd there's so much more that will be revealed at the event itself that you couldn't possibly want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first part of our patented convention review, Quarex and Ben discuss all the conventions we attended in March, April, and May 2026 that we haven't already reviewed, including:GAMA ExpoUnpub FestivalFinal Three ConBeefy Wizard ConGameface ConBalticonAnd remember... Please check out the crowdfunding campaign for Abattoir Hymnal, authored by best friend d4ever of the pod, Tiger Wizard... as well as the Beefy Shotgun Wizards campaign coming to Kickstarter soon!Also, thank you to Raccoon Fink for the snippet of "The Long March from Morstone" from Beyond an Age of Wonder! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first part of our patented convention review, Quarex and Ben discuss all the conventions we attended in January and February of this year that we haven't already reviewed, including: Midwest Gaming Classic Super MAG Fest The Adam ConToy Fair NY... and tomorrow we'll release March, April, and May's conventions as well! There's just so much stuff that it doesn't fit into The Format.And please check out the crowdfunding campaign for Abattoir Hymnal, authored by best friend d4ever of the pod, Tiger Wizard! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben bring back Alex Kammer for another interview: this time, about gaming auctions, consignment shops, and flea markets. Alex isn't just talking about growing his own impressive collection, but also ways for new and budding collectors to begin growing their own collections.What you need to know for the upcoming Rushmores: Get your items in for the Origins Consignment Shop by June 13!Get your items for the Gen Con Live Auction by July 19 and Consignment Shop by July 26! Check out Gamehole Con ahead of its biggest and best year, including: Season 2 of Wardens of the Eastern MarchesFree receptions from Wednesday through Saturday evening at the Spark hotel! Gamehole Con Special Events, including the Collector's Auction for Charity!And we also get some scoops on the special events at Gamehole Con 2026! You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this very special, very quick episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben remind you when and why you want to get your badges for Gamehole Con 2026... the badger mitzvah! Don't miss out on dancing the hora in Madison this October because you slept on buying your badge! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything you need to know to get ready for Origins 2026—just under a month away! Buy Night City 2045 and pick it up at Origins!Play in some great cyberpunk themed events! Attend the live play of Cyberpunk Red, featuring voice actors from the Netflix series!Buy your badge so you can get event tickets!Book your Southwest flight with code "SWABIZ"!Book your parking at the GCCC!Check out the special programming at Origins! Watch some events on stage!Compete in the Miniatures Painting Competition!Submit your items for the Origins Consignment Shop!And like/subscribe for more Origins content as we approach Origins 50+1! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben take stock of the best and/or worst afternoon in the Mays of Gen Con: Wishlistmas! How did your wish list process? And also: consider attending Game Market Indianapolis on Saturday night of Gen Con! Games so newly published you can taste the ink, from the names you'll get street cred for knowing now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts interview Ben Reed, who is renowned as both a progenitor of the dungeon synth AND for being one of the 23 Mike Carrs of the JoCo Cruise. Listen in as he helps us understand gaming cruises through the JoCo lens.Get on a boat with JoCo Cruises (famously not a sponsor)Episode 117 of this podcast, when we last reviewed cruise consThe Raccoon Fink Bandcamp Page, where you can listen to Ben's latest dungeon synth stylings.And if you like watching videos, you can also check out pal of the pod Travel the Board in their three part series about their time on the Dice Tower Cruise! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the upcoming wish list processing day, your hosts Quarex and Ben go through the highlights from the event catalog depending on your flavor of Gen Con.Session Zero offerings for all five days! Gen Con Opening CeremoniesThe Stink that can Drink!DiscWorld Adventures with ModiphiusTORG Eternity sessionsPlaytest For the Good of the Hive!One hour means twelve 5 Minute Dungeons!Sessions of Treat, Please!Get accused of Berrymandering!Roll a pack of Dragon Dice!Cast your Spellfire! Heighten the stakes with the Doomtown card game!Don't you dare give up the ship in Don't Give Up the Ship!Channel your orkish Ricky Bobby in Formula Waaaagh!What Makes a Color, anyways? They made True Dungeon affordable again! (Or least more affordable.)Play in room 1 or room 2 of Roll for Escape!Get your old-fashioned LARP on in Fallen London: Palimpsest!Your actual human children can craft all weekend with Motley Kids!Your actual human children can also enter the Costume Contest!Make some stuffies to take home from Gen Con!Watch a live play of Fiasco with the comedians from Gumption Improv!Roll a con save! (Convention not included.) Yes and this GM improv seminar onto your wish list!Close out Gen Con with a cozy puzzling event!AEG has a Big Game Night that is such value!Get your tickets for the Games Library at Lucas Oil!Play MetroRunner with the game designer!Play Coloroo with the designer, and ask your burning questions about the eBay game!Play DungeoNomics with the designer!Spend a thousand dollars to play D&D at St. Elmo's... again!Play D&D with GooeyCube's chief goomaster, Alphinius Goo!Run an hour gauntlet with the team at the Glass Cannon Network!And if you're looking to attend or play events that your hosts are involved with, you can check out the following events!Our Thursday seminar with the everything of the pod Matt Shoemaker that asks "What Will Conventions Look Like in 5 Year?"Our third annual Saturday night live recording, this time at the Regular Marriott. Ben's GM group has 8 interactive adventures for Shadowdark, Call of Cthulhu, and Root the RPG! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the weekend, Gen Con published its biggest ever day 1 event catalog — over 23,000 events! While our next episode is our summary of the events you want to check out, we wanted to release this episode on how to use your wish list ahead of Wish List Processing Day on Sunday, May 17!Search the official Gen Con event list!Use our favorite unofficial search tool, the Gen Con Event DB!What's you have put on your wish list already? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben interview Yoshi, the director of gaming of one of the oldest sci-fi conventions in the US... Balticon, the 60th anniversary that was held from May 22-25, 2026!Balticon website2026 Guests of Honor, including Jim Butcher and Andy Weir Gaming Track for BalticonConcert and Filk for BalticonBaltimore Science Fiction Society website, including the Balticon historyAnd check out Yoshi's Fabula Ultima livestream on Twitch! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we are talking about a number of conventions in 2026 you can attend from May Day to Labor Day!May ConventionsEcclesiconBeefy Wizard ConRichmond OpenWagonconFurry Weekend AtlantaGeekway to the PainbowLexiconWest Wars ConventionGameface ConFargo CoreConBalticonKublaCon1d4conThy Geekdom ConConcoctionChupacabraCon Gaming ConventionBGG.SpringMayday!Protospiel OnlineSan Marino Game ConventionJugarxJugarOctogonesChaosium Con UKUK Games ExpoJune ConventionsDieCon North Texas RPG Con Quest Con Magstock Adventure Con CNY RPG Con Origins Game Fair MAGE Con Too Many Games MisCon Between Two Cons Göttingen Game Designer Convention Manchester Board Game Festival Game Con Canada TTOX Yeti Con Paris est ludique July ConventionsCONvergence Dice Tower East Roswell Galacticon CharCon Game Convention InConJunctionDream Con KantCon EGG Con Matt Con Historicon Gen Con Indy Otakon Southern-Fried Gaming Expo World Boardgaming Championships Berlin Con Animaritime KingCon! Tabletasticon  Conference of Wargamers Spielfest Vienna Diversão Offline August ConventionsPhoenix Con Flamecon Nashcon Epic Nerd Camp Hijinx Con Great Escape on the Lake Bit Gen Gamer Fest Farm to Tabletop Play Retreat Draconicon Brussels Games Festival Labor DayPAX West DragonCon Matsuricon SaltCON End of Summer Nova Open Council Con Splotter Con TCEP (Tad & Craig's Excellent Party), Alliance Open House Who's Yer Con Reaper Con Pacificon Game Expo GrandCon MAGE (Minneapolis Anime & Gaming Event) Tabletop Scotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you believe it's already been 200 episodes? We can't, but we also recognize that a big occasion deserves a big celebration. Neither Quarex nor Ben could think of any guests more exciting to bring on for this occasion than Richard Denning and Tony Hyams, the organizers of the largest hobby games convention in England: UK Games Expo. We were blessed to have them join us to talk about the early days of the Expo, as well as having a chance to discuss the incredible growth they've experienced over the last 20 years. They also talk about why the 20th anniversary of their convention is not only just special but an expansion of what they've built over the last two decades. Check out the UKGE website! (link)Get your ticket for the best 72 hours in gaming! (link)Check out the events for the 20th anniversary convention! (link)Win Tony's Thousand Pound Giveaway! (link)Check out this year's merch for UKGE! (link)And if you can't make it this year, why don't you start planning to attend next year?!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we bring you interviews from our convention travels over the first four months of 2026, including: Tiger Wizard of Exalted Funeral (link) at a birthday party at Gary Con. Check out the Tavers: The Meow Wolf RPG ... the exquisite corpse that just funded through Kickstarter!The team from Stillfleet Studio (link) on the exhibit hall floor at PAGE! We are very excited to hear that Stillfleet, Blister Critters, and Danse Macabre should all be back in print soon!Luke at Limithron, the congenial geniuses behind one of the top three Borgs... Pirate Borg! You really need to check out the core rules, the dynamite starter set, or the first campaign expansion Down Among the Dead. Jefferson from One Page Rules, who was at Adepticon showing off their first physical release for Grimdark Future: the Broken Truth Box!Seth from Archon Studios, who released what was probably the hit of Adepticon: the Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game!And last, but certainly not least: Sarah Joshua, who designed the cozy bewitching B&B game that is Enchanted Ivy -- which happens to be this publisher's first solo game! In this long interview, Sarah and Ben get somewhat inside baseball on game design and manufacturing, which is something our dreamers who are aspiring game designers would benefit from listening to! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The event submission process has opened up for Gamehole Con 2026. To help our dreamers get their submissions in before space fills up, we're talking with Gamehole Con's Director of Gaming and Facility, Josh Hoyt! Gamehole Con Website (link)GM Policies (link)Submit an Event! (link)Bulk submissions, you coward! (link)Some of Josh's adventure module for Gamehole Publishing! (link)Campfire Tales, the newest release from Chaosium with Josh's name on the cover! (link)And don't forget — it's not too late if you didn't book your hotel already, as the Gamehole team is always working to get new housing added to the block! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts review their time at some of the best conventions of the year — each inconveniently held in the month of March! Listen in to hear about:Gary Con (link)Awesome Con (link) Adepticon (link), along with challenger to the Undisputed Midwestern Inter-convention-ental belt... Ben T. Barackus! And even though we have an exhibit hall interviewisode coming up later this month, Quarex manages to squeeze in some discussion about his favorite kind of pod... the BattleTech Cockpit Simulator Pod! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we talk with Wes from DM Tales about the charity convention he hosts in Palmyra, NJ: Ecclesicon!Ecclesicon is held May 1-2, 2026 — check out the games at Tabletop.Events!Book Smiles—the charity partner for Ecclesicon!Check out the DM Tales YouTube channel!And support Wes's Ko-Fi page that will get you access to the TTRPG Book Club!You won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are talking with esteemed author Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan about his past works, the Irish RPG scene — and of course, his upcoming project for the DIE RPG, the DIE Metadungeon (link). Listen in to hear why this should be an auto-back for anyone who loves RPGs and the history of RPGs, because Gar is putting chocolate into that peanut butter! Visit Gareth's website (link)Check out one of Ben's favorite novels of the last decade, The Sword Defiant (link)Check out DIE: The Roleplaying Game products (link)Publisher: Roward, Rook and Decard (link)But don't forget to check out Hijinx Con, coming to New Hampshire from August 14-16! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adepticon 2026 is returning to the Baird Center in Milwaukee, WI! From March 25-29, you can attend the preeminent miniatures convention in the United States.This year is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. Listen in for our take about some of the things you can do, especially if you've pulled a Quarex and haven't signed up for anything yet.Links in the Show Notes!Baird Center Policies (link)Adepticon Parking (link)Pop Up Lockers (link)Fria Ligan (link)Jolly Lark (link)Panda Cult Games (link)Buer Games (link) and the 1490 Doom Narrative Event (link)Eldritch Foundry (link)Para Bellum Games (link)Hero Clix! (link)Heat: Pedal to the Metal Tourney (link)Gaslands Refueled Tourney (link) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pride of Madison, WI itself—Gamehole Con has grown from being just a regional convention and is now the largest RPG-focused convention in the US! Starting on Monday, March 16 at noon CT, you can start getting ready for Gamehole Con 2026 by booking your hotel through the block! The important event dates come fast and furious over the next several months (link), culminating in the best four days in fall Midwestern Gaming from October 16-19, 2026.Set your calendar to get tickets to the Faster Purple Worm Kill Kill live event! (link)Check out the Gamehole Con GM policies and benefit! (link)Join the official Gamehole Con Facebook group! (link) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not quite 8 days to Gary Con XVIII in Lake Geneva, WI—here's what you want to know. The Opening Ceremonies (Flaming Polyhedrals Optional)The Gary Con ShuttleFriends of Bill at Gary ConCAR WARS! Shadowdark in Space!Trouble at Mossbeard Mill!RPEX: the wise man's True Dungeon! Tickets for Dawn PatrolA Gygax Society?!?Puzzled Pint (drinking optional)The judging and plain ol' walking events for the cosplay schedule Tour the Gygax family homeGet signatures from Jeremy Crawford, Jon Peterson, Luke Catgax, and maybe even Kelsey Dionne!Of course, it wouldn't be a Rushmore convention without the chubby on the food scene by Quarex. And don't forget to check out TAVERS: the Meow Wolf Roleplaying Game — on Kickstarter right now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exaltedfuneral/tavers-the-meow-wolf-roleplaying-game Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're talking with three creators who are bringing new games to crowdfunding while they attend Gary Con and Adepticon. Yoav Niv is bringing books 2 and 3 his 5E adventure series The Lichseed Trilogy to BackerKit during Gary Con. Join the launch party so you can know when it goes live!Not only will Eric and Cody from Buer Games have the physical product from 1490 Doom at Adepticon, but the Gamefound for their cataclysmic dinosaur skirmish game, Carnivore, has already funded! Check out Booth 1490 in the Booth 1406 slot at Adepticon and get in on the project!Erik Frankhouse and Storyteller's Forge are going to start crowdfunding for The Black Ballad conversion for the official unofficial RPG of the pod, Shadowdark! 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 help you get over your Lottery Day blues and figure out how to get the room of your dreams by the time Gen Con rolls around. Tools:The Gen Con Hotel site: https://www.genconhotels.com/ — this will come online in the next few days. The GitHub script: https://github.com/mrozekma/gencon-hotel-check Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Gen Con housing lottery for 2026 has come and gone, you undoubtedly have feelings. We're here for you now—solutions come on Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're getting you prepped for Gary Con XVIII from March 19-22, 2026! You'll want to be sure to: Buy that badge! Book that hotel! Park that car!Take that Trolley! Buy those event tickets!Eat that food!Have a Spotted Cow!... to say nothing about figuring out how to fly or drive to Lake Geneva! But if you can't make it to Gary Con, why don't you consider coming to Unpub Festival in Maryland from March 12-15? Play unpublished games, win published prizes, and best of all -- it's free to attend! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we talk with Gregoire Boisbelaud, the Events Director for Origins Game Fair! Listen in as Get your badge for Origins 2026 (link) — only the Premier badges have sold out! Submitting events for Origins 2026 (link) — they're still accepting late submissions!Teasers for the Featured Programs at Origins 2026 (link) — we heard some unofficial spoilers, and they're going to knock your socks off! But don't forget: you can still submit nominations for the 2026 ENNIEs at this link! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gen Con Badges go on sale on Sunday, February 8, and the Gen Con Housing Lottery kicks off at 12 pm ET on Sunday February 22. Only one podcast helps you understand and maximize your chances at winning! (That's us. It's this one.) Listen in or lose out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen in to hear all about the conventions we attended in the last third of the year, like EuroQuest, Vintage Computer Festival Midwest, Tabletop Central, Quad Con Dubuque, and even Hanucon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarex and Ben don't often attend the same convention at the same time, so when you can find them at the same convention in the middle of January, you gotta know it's something special. On this episode, we review our time at the 2026 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo in Oaks, PA. It's a fast growing convention that's just a delightful time sitting in a spot in the calendar where conventions are needed. Check out some of the great things we saw and played, like: ARKYVR, a zine for the Mothership RPGMAZES City of Skull, an RPG in the style of ElricSneaky Burrito, which is neither a food nor a small donkey And don't forget: you can already buy badges for PAGE 4 in 2027, and you can prepare to attend the new baby brother convention Concoction from May 29-31, 2026 in Vineland, NJ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shortly after this episode releases, the fine folks at Steve Jackson Games are releasing the long awaited 2nd Edition of Munchkin! As better explained on BackerKit, this new edition promises faster setup and gameplay, gold pieces to help sell items for levels, and reference cards so you don't need to pass around a Cheeto-stained rulebook any time there's a rules question.Best of all — all the art is still being done by guest of the pod, John Kovalic!To get the scoop, we're joined by the game dev behind the curtain to whom dreamers should pay no mind — the almighty and powerful Oz himself, Will Schoonover. Listen in and and get ready to back a game that could use a fresh coat of paint, even if promises to remain largely backward compatible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting this Thursday, January 15, you can attend PAGE 3 in the Philly suburbs! To get you ready, we're talking with a special guest and a creator who will be at this year's show.First up, we have Mike Shea a/k/a The Lazy Dungeon a/k/a Sly Flourish, who is one of the special guest at PAGE 3 this year. Visit his website!Shop at his bookstore!Listen to his podcast after this one!Join his social media of the future... a mailing list!Next, we have Wythe from Stillfleet Studio, vendor of fine games that use their Grit System, like: The titular Stillfleet Blister CrittersDanse MacabreListen to their podcast Why We Roll, where Wythe and Chris have in-depth conversations with professional game designers with a focus on contemporary indie TTRPGs. At PAGE 3, Stillfleet is running games with tickets available that you can find at the following link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben tell you everything you wanted to know about running events at Gen Con but were too afraid to ask. Key links include: Gen Con Events Page: https://www.gencon.com/events Gen Con EO/GM Portal: https://www.gencon.com/host/eo-gm  New GM Page: https://www.gencon.com/gen-con-indy/newgm Gen Con Event Host Policy: https://files.gencon.com/genconeventhostpolicy.pdf And if you want to interact with your hosts, why not join our Discord server? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are getting you ready for the third annual Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo, known to all as PAGE 3! Both your hosts will be in attendance, elevating this show to such rarified air as Gen Con and Origins. These are the things getting them excited: Down the Dark Stairway Shadowdark Mega-EventPAGE Charity AuctionDraw Steel with one of its creatorsSecrets of Glass Shard Beach for the kids on bikes at heartWardens of the Eastern Marches events, mostly sold out Try the new Trinamyk RPG How to Play Doomtown on SundayHow Gaming Cons Have Changed Over the Last 60 Years by that Matt ShoemakerThe Good in Games World Premier Documentary Cosplaying your Character with Brett KingDefining the Star Wars Universe with Bill SlavicsekHistory of Palladium Books with Kevin Simebieda and Friends Yeet Vs. Appendix N... and many, many more! But first, a short tribute to the Curmudgeon in the Cellar himself, Tim Kask... somehow taken from us still too soon at 75. But second, listen in to find Quarex in Maryland this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Ben T. Barackus talks with the following vendors at BGG Con using his real life press badge: Steve Jackson Games, makers of Purrfect Potions, Car Wars, and just about any flavor of Munchkin that a brand is willing to license BGG Store, the online storefront for Board Game Geek and fine purveyors of the BGG GeekUp Bit SetsJames S. Cole, publisher of Zombie: Survivor Infection... and many more! We want to thank our many dreamers, new and old, for a wonderful and record breaking new year, and you can expect more hard hitting convention in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special Boxing Day release, our dreamers get five more interviews with creators in the indie RPG design space who came to PAX Unplugged!Brian Liberge, designer of fine RPGs like Last Kiss, an RPG where you play teens facing the end of the worldTiger Wizard, the head mage of Exalted Funeral, publisher of punk rock and doom metal RPGs like Mausritter, Land of Eem, and the only Monty Python game you'll want to play Metal Steve of The Metal Steve, who was playtesting his forthcoming game Band on Tour with the help of a deck of cards!Ryland Garnett, designer of Food & Evil, the food truck RPG game coming to Backerkit in February through past exhibit hall guest of the pod Goosepoop GamesStephen from AED Publishing, who was showing off the quickstart guide for The 5th Conspiracy RPG, an urban fantasy where everything people believe in is real because of your attention.Like Ben's train from BWI before PAX Unplugged.... you won't want to miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, our dreamers can unwrap an early Xmas gift — five interviews, hung with care from the All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions' chimney. In each gift box, you can listen to the following creators in the board game and miniatures space:Christopher from the always amazing Capstone Games, who just released the weird Wild West wrestling game Rowdy PartnersMike from Rock Manor Games, publishers of the award winning Set a Watch, who are now bringing Spanish language games to the English marketAnjuli from My Mini Factory, who not only provides a marketplace for creators to design the , but was showing off the prototype for the box set of Fighting Fantasy by Sir Ian LivingstoneHermes from Boken Games, who was showing off their prototype of Song of the Wildkin miniatures game at the Addax Games boothJames from Druid City Games, who was showing off the Off with their Heads roll and reveal, Tidal Waves 2 board game and RPGs, Wonderlands War, and Madcala Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.