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 informa...

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, be...

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...

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 2026 Happy 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 fame Tim Kask, the curmudgeonly TSR editor and public school teacher Lou Zocchi, the entrepreneur who pioneered distribution of adventure game and the manufacture of dice Jodi Black, an editor, author, and pioneer of gaming tables All are gone too soon, and each will be missed. Hosted on Acast. See...

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'...

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 Relicb...

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 expl...

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‑ma...

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 ! S...

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 ou...

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...

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 ou...

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...

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 Expo Unpub Festival Final Three Con Beefy Wizard Con Gameface Con Balticon And remember... Please check out the crowdfunding campaign for Abattoir Hymnal , authored by best friend d4ever of the pod, Tiger Wizard....

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 Con Toy 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 ple...

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 S...

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...

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 cons The Raccoon Fink Bandcamp Page, where you...

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 Ceremonies The Stink that can Drink! DiscWorld Adventures with Modiphius TORG Eternity sessions Playtest For the Good of the Hive ! One hour means twelve 5 Minute Dungeons ! Sessions...

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 yo...

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 website 2026 Guests of Honor , including Jim Butcher and Andy Weir Gaming Track for Balticon Concert and Filk for Balticon Baltimore Science Fiction Society website, including the Balticon history An...