All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk about the conventions that we attended (and those we wish we could have attended). Listen in to hear about our time at: Anime Magic in Chicago Michigan Retro Gaming Expo NOVA Open Tad and Craig's Excellent Party ... and listen in to hear our very special coverage of Necronomicon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're getting you ready for the thirteenth version of Gamehole Con 2026, held in gorgeous Madison, WI! Referenced on this episode is: Dane County Regional AirportThe Badger Bus from MKEHousing and campgrounds around the Alliant Energy CenterGet your tickets to Faster, Purple Worm: Kill, Kill!Take part in the Mad Orc Fun RunPlay in one of the learn to play and tournaments that Luma Events is bringing to Madison! Snag a ticket to Zombie Reign, the Shadowdark-meets-zombie movie! Demo Boss RPG out in demo row! The Mike Carr of Gen Con, Mike Carr, is running a giant game of Ford vs. Ferrari Le Mans!Try out the latest thing in roleplaying: Dungeon Crawler Carl RPGTry out the latest blend in roleplaying: the D&D x WOW preview eventPick up the last ticket to Ben's playtest event on Thursday eveningAnd best of all: Royce and the Gamehole Con have rolled out a great new app! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are talking about the importance of budgeting for a summer of gaming conventions in 2027. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can attend five of the seven G7 conventions, to say nothing of the many larger US conventions during that period... including a new entrance that is holding its first convention in late June 2027!And if you want to see where the tea is spilt, join our Discord server! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are there too many conventions! Hardly, even if our convention roundups are routinely our longest episodes! Conventions in September (after Labor Day) are plentiful and include: Strong Tower Con Council Con Tabletop Central CuseCon Justacon Dice Tower Retreat GAMEMasonHawkland Gaming Festival Southern Front SkålCon  Barrage BR&WL-CON Cap Con 2026 SIBcon Atlanta Game FestMegaMooseCon Pro or Con Shirecon The Ettin Geekway Micro Camp Wagoncon Conventions in October include: Virtual Greyhawk Con Pittsburgh Gaming ExpoCon on the Cob FriendCon Arnecon Congress of Gamers Fall Session Gamehole Con Carnage Asheville Scarefest Board Game Academics Conference MañanaConGeek Girl YouMaCon Spiel Essen  Conventions in November include:  Metatopia Mystic Con MetagameNortheast Wisconsin GameapaloozaSan Diego Historical Games Summit (SDHistcon) Game Con Junction  CarConPA Meeple-a-thon KublaCon Fall Acadecon  EuroQuest Mepacon  BGG.CON  Philcon  Chaosium Con New Zealand Bakaretsu Con HanuCon Effing Con Dragonmeet December conventions include:   PAX Unplugged Krampusnacht Gaming Shorehammer Yamacon Play Test Play Fest Everwinter CNY RPG Game Day Nerdronomicon Gorgoncon NoriKonDid we miss a convention? Tell us all about it on our Discord! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben award our Games of the Convention for the 2025-26 Gen Con Ludinal Year!Whether the games are freshly released, a little older, awaiting crowdfunding or just about to be released... these are our favorite games we discovered over the last 12 months. Featuring nominations from our friends and contributors: Ben T. Barackus, Yonit, David Havelka, and artificer of the pod Shawn! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben review the drama at Gen Con 2026... from the big stuffed owlbears at the D&D Carnival to the tornado touchdown that didn't involve the Colts to everything in the exhibit hall. Listen in because you won't want to miss it.Reminder: if this is you're first time listening in, our podcast offers almost exclusively positive coverage for most conventions—we generally want to accentuate the positive. After doing 90 episodes in the last 12 months and twenty episodes about Gen Con 2026 in the last six weeks, we think we've earned the right to focus on the drama for thirty minutes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk about everything that wasn't gaming or drama at the best four to eight days in gaming. Video evidence that Ben attended the Block Party (go to 6:50)!Video evidence that Ben and Quarex were in the same aisle in the exhibit hall at the same time but Quarex ignored Ben (go to 15:30)! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're focusing on the most important part of the Best Four to Arguably Eight Days in Gaming... the games! Listen in to hear about: The new board games! The new RPGs! The announcements from WOTC! The announcements from NOTC! The awards shows! You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you gotten your badge for PAGE 4 yet? This amazing convention in the Philly suburbs of Oaks, PA is held from January 14-17, 2027, and it's one of the fastest growing, most fun RPG convention that started in the last decade! Need another excuse? If you don't have your badge, you can't register for all the great events... including those we're talking about on this episode. SO GET ON IT!!!... and check out their Facebook group, which is a great hub for all info PAGE 4! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben have just gotten back from Gen Con, and they're already covering the next one? You wouldn't expect any less from the premier podcast for gaming convention coverage, would you? It's only 366 days, baby! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the third year running, we're coming to you live from Elf Con at Elf N Moon in Indianapolis, IN. Listen in to get our hot takes from Gen Con that are fresh out of the oven that is the ICC! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben commit our thoughts about Gen Con 2026 to recorded memory with everyone else at the Oceannaire this evening... including MIke Carr at Gen Con 60 minus 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quarex and Ben record our fourth annual live episode from Gen Con. From the Rathskeller to the regular Marriott to the Omni Severin to now the regular Hilton, it's a Gen Con tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are talking about everything else you need to know for Gen Con 2026 beyond the games... including the traffic, the construction in and around the ICC, the will call lines, the food trucks, and of course: the auction. Gen Con starts tomorrow with Trade Day!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we review everything gaming at Gen Con 2026... at least that will fit into a 20 minute previewsode! Highlights include: Forest Shuffle: Smoky MountainsPotemkin VillagesCrime Scene Tamperer, featuring the Homestar Runner castBring Your Own BookGhosts GaloreCats vs. CucumbersWizard Community CollegeFatherfog 0eCall of Cthulhu: InnsmouthCall of Cthulhu: Campfire TalesCourt and Shadow for DaggerheartTwilight SwordAnd written by Ben... Hastening Doom: the 5E megadungeonNorthlands Worldbook: for 5.5E and Tales of the ValiantA Lease on Art, a zine through Plus One ExpDefenestration of the Fell Queen, a Shadowdark adventure at booth 2464! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're talking about the dietary restrictions that dreamers might have to contend with at Gen Con 2026. Listen in to hear our tips, tricks, and advice for the following diets: KosherHalal VeganVegetarian Food allergies Diabetic friendly foods Gluten free for the Celiac and gluten sensitive crowd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are talking with three cool creators and designers who are doing cool things at the coolest convention around... Gen Con!Adam from Tabletop Vibes, the YouTube channel promising "Good Times, Great Vibes, Let’s Play". Check out their YouTube channel, filled with First Takes, How to Plays, and Play Through videos of new games coming to crowdfunding! For shorter form content, go follow their Instagram page Christopher High of Valor Mountain Games and the Board Again Gaming podcast, who is bringing new games to Gen Con 2026!Check out the 3 trick taking games he's looking to publisher through Kickstarter!Email Christopher at [email protected] if you're interested in checking out the games he's brokering at Gen Con!Michael Putlack of Night Noon Games is going to be at Gen Con 2026 helping to run The Arcane Library's booth at booth 2464!Check out his next Shadowdark adventure, Attack the Light: Avenge the White Mare -- on Kickstarter now!Check out Nyarlathotep's Liegemen and the Sea Weed on Itch, and get the base game for your own Baywatch meets Lovecraft fun! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're talking to the only, the only, the amazing, the incomparable Felicia Day. Her golden voice graces screens of all sizes, from silver to small to computer, and she has had starring roles on Supernatural, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Doctor Horrible's Singalong Blog. Felicia hopes to return to her most beloved role—that of Cyd Sherman, the modest, shy violin prodigy who is addicted to playing her priest Cyd on the MMORPG. It's almost the 20th anniversary of The Guild, and Felicia is looking to complete the crowning achievement that is six seasons and a movie before Dan Harmon and Community. But she needs your help, dreamers! Hollywood has never understood our culture, and the only way The Guild movie is going to be made the proper way is though crowdfunding... which launches today! Listen in as Quarex and Ben pepper the most unsung name in geekdom about The Guild, the Games, and of course... the conventions. Watch The Guild (dot com)!Watch The Guild (on YouTube)!Support The Guild on Kickstarter!Back The Guild Movie Kickstarter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we are talking with Carolyn from SHE! Super Heroines, Etc. is a joyful and inclusive non-profit organization that uses the power of fandom to fight for equity and representation who is one of the official charity partners for Gen Con 2026!SHE WebsiteSHE events at Gen Con 2026Donate by buying merch from the SHE Shop!Donate to the cause! Listen in to hear about all their great work! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're focusing on one of the events that you can only play at the biggest conventions like Origins, PAX Unplugged, and of course... Gen Con. On this episode, we're talking with Riley from the Megagame Coalition and Philly Megagames about the events they're bringing to Gen Con 2026. Check out the 15 events that you can play this year—even if it's using generic tickets! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 remember: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 diceJodi 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.