All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

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

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

On the first episode of our patented two 2-part reviewsodes from Gen Con 2025, your hosts Quarex and Ben review the games we experienced that are worth checking out, including but not limited to: Rocket Age: Blood Red Mars Savaged ( link ) Hues and Clues ( link ) Cat and the Tower ( link ) Blind Jack ( link ) Caution Signs ( link ) The Super Show ( link ) Tricky Kids ( link ) Cookie Run Braverse (...

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

As we say goodbye to Gen Con 2025, Quarex and Ben have made a secondary pilgrimage to the year-round home of Indianapolis gaming: the Elf N Moon ! While we will bring the heat with our patented four part review episodes later this month, we couldn't let the opportunity pass to provide our thoughts about this year's show for everyone's drive home. We're also joined by Diana, the 2025 National Munch...

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

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

It's the night before Gen Con Eve, and all through the house, a not Quarex was stirring... because he's already in Indianapolis for day negative four of the best four days in gaming. On this episode, Quarex and Ben bring you: A traffic report straight from the heart of Gen Con A weather report that seems less dire than last week A cashless ICC -- except for the exhibit hall -- and where to find AT...

You can find the interactive list of exhibitors for Gen Con 2025 here . Check out: AMIGO Games at booth 1907 1985 Games at booth 1459 Hammerdog Games at booth 2309 Q-Workshop at booths 149 and 1749 Rowan, Rook and Decard at booth 455 Pelgrane Press at booth 623 Two Little Mice at booth 1929 and 2029 Family Time Fun is at booth 459, where you can find the promo card for Calliope Bush. Lisa Falkenst...

On this episode, Quarex and Ben introduce you to three content creators that we're big fans of -- and not just because they'll be at Gen Con 2025. First up, we interview Correy from the YouTube channel Travel the Board . Correy who vlogs about his travels across the US on conventions and cruises with real life not-internet human partner and his regular probably cohost, Scott the Bard! (We're tryin...

On this episode, we're joined by the esteemed author Maurice Broaddus. An Indianapolis local, Maurice has attended Gen Con since 2008. This year, he's taken an active leadership role in the Writer's Symposium -- the convention within the convention where authors and aspiring authors hone their craft, learning how to tell better stories, and maybe even how you get those stories published in a way t...

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

While once the domain of Renn faires and Eras Tours, trinket trading has exploded at Gen Con over the past few years. To better understand this new phenomenon, we talk to Bri Pettegrow-Lajoie, the head of the official Gen Con Trinket Traders Facebook group! On this episode, we discuss what trinket trading is, what qualifies as a trinket, the etiquette for trading, and exactly how fun it is to driv...

When he was last on the show, Matt Shoemaker was the man who was writing a book on Gen Con. Dreamers, he's done it — he actually wrote the book on Gen Con, and A Gathering of Gamers is releasing later this year. You can sign up to find out more at the Play Story Press website . At Gen Con this year, you can come to Matt's seminar with Jon Peterson entitled "Exploring the Process and Sources for Wr...

Did you know that, when he isn't writing elfgames and Gumshoe tales, renowned RPG author Kevin Kulp is a consultant on fatigue, alertness, and shift work? We are absolutely blessed that he joined us this episode to talk about the most important thing to prepare for Gen Con (or any con)-- making sure you get safe amounts of sleep! While Kevin can't make it to Gen Con 2025, you may still pick up his...

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

In the third of our prepisodes, we talk about each and every only way to eat at Gen Con 2025... from the restaurants to the concessions to the food trucks to the food delivery apps to bringing/buying your own food from a grocery store like Major... I mean Meijer. Ben and Quarex also discuss other food based concerns, like diabetic-friendly diets, managing allergies, and the meager gluten free dini...

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

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

On this episode, we're joined by a very special guest — Alex Kammer, the principal owner of the only convention bold enough to call their exhibit hall a dealer hall... GAMEHOLE CON ! We had the best time talking everything gaming with Alex, including Gamehole Con 1, Gamehole Con 12, the other conventions he attends, and what the Gamehole Con's bar mitzvah might look like. Important links: Get your...

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

Both Ben and Quarex were at Origins Game Fair for all five days of this historic 50th anniversary, and we spoke with so many great exhibitors. On this episode, we highlight some of the exhibitors who have new releases or awesome events at Gen Con, too. Thanks to: Matt from Motley Kids , where kids can be kids at Origins, Gen Con (check out the event schedule ), and other midwestern conventions Aly...

Both Ben and Quarex were at Origins Game Fair for all five days of this historic 50th anniversary, and we spoke with so many great exhibitors. On this episode, we highlight some of the exhibitors with cool and future releases on display at Origins. Thanks to: Bobby and Ted with Cavernwire Games , who were selling pre-sale copies of their new game Vine , coming to Kickstarter in July Jim from The M...

Both Ben and Quarex were at Origins Game Fair for all five days of this historic 50th anniversary, and we spoke with so many great exhibitors. On this episode, we highlight some of the publishers with new and newish releases at Origins. Thanks to: Sabrina at Ludoliminal Games , who was releasing an early GOTC candidate "Uh Oh Dino" Heather at 9th Level Games , who just released the second edition...

Are you ready for the 50th anniversary of Origins Game Fair? It's here on Wednesday morning! EVENTS! Origins Events: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025 Games on Demand: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/1695 Blood on the Clocktower: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/7160 Builders of Baldur's Gate: https://t...