All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

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 lis...

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...

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...

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-collection We 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 inf...

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 informati...

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...

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 sh...

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...

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...

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 hum...

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...

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 LANDSCAPE Anyway, 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 gbsgs how to talk about Gen Con Google how to talk about Gen Con why is Google not working Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.