All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

On this very special episode of All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions, Quarex and Ben delay the dealer hall interviews to bring you an interview with Ron and Phil from PAGE: the Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo. Held this year from January 15-18 in sunny Oaks, PA, They've got everything you'd want from an RPG con: Over 1000 events in their growing event catalogOver 100 special guests who will actually interact with and run games for you An earnest diversity initiative that is trying to bridge the gap between the convention and gaming communities A big old exhibit hall featuring publishers of all sizes A charity auction to benefit the Gamer Assistance Program that helps game designers in needIt's our professional podcasting opinion that if you like RPGs and you're not going to PAGE 3, you're gonna regret it. Don't forget: when you go to get your PAGE 3 badge, put in the coupon code DREAMERS to save $10 off your four day badge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is our previewsode for Gamehole Con 2025... the XII-ening. On this episode, we get you ready for everything you need to know... and the things you don't know you need to know. Mentioned in the episode: The first Wardens of the Eastern Marches adventure (link)The rising phoenix of RPEX (link)The Dragonbane tourney, The Sinking Tower (link)Castles and Crusades for Kids (link)Badge Quest with Ron from PAGE (link)Portland Oregon Trail (link)Playing in Someone Else's Sandbox (link)The Beautiful Mess of 5E (link)You Should Write a Book about RPGs (link)Adventuring in Parenting: Raising the Next Generation of Gamers (link)Munchkin: Design Issues, Expansions and Imagery with That Steve Jackson (link)And don't forget the auction! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts Ben and Quarex get a chance to speak with Madison area illustrator, game designer, and charity biker John Kovalic! In addition to being the artist of the long-running comic strip Dork Tower, John has illustrated Apples to Apples, Munchkin, Kobolds Ate My Baby, and Chez Geek. For the last several years, John and... let's face it, this is really his crew of friends who run Dorkstock, which is a celebration of all things that John loves with gaming. But also: you can attend Game Con Junction at the fabulous Marriott East in sluggery Louisville, KY from October 31 to November 2 this year! This charity con is run by Dukes of Highland and Nerd Louisville, and it has a lot of great events you can still sign up for! Check it out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything you wanted to know about applying to exhibit at Gen Con but you were too afraid to ask! (Or read.) Gen Con Exhibitor PageNew Exhibitor ApplicationAppendix A: Exhibitor Rules and RegulationsFern ExpoTable covers and podiums"Let Them Eat Thomas Paine" taken from Dillinger Four's "Versus God" album (link). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben held court for a crowd of attentive dreamers on the 2nd floor of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. You've heard our after action episodes (128-131), now here what it was like in the heat of the moment! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we're talking with Lyla Fujiwara (link) and Ethan Yen (link), who are both amazing game designer in their own rights. However, Ethan and Lyla are the driving forces behind the POC Industry Dinner and related seminar events! Over the course of a half hour, they help explain the impetus behind the dinner, what they're doing in year 2, and where they envision the POC Dinner expanding in future years. And you're a convention organizers who is looking to foster this kind of offering, they're totally worth reaching out to! Check out their events at Gamehole Con this year: Game Design for You https://www.gameholecon.com/events/event/28632 Project Communication 101 https://www.gameholecon.com/events/event/28634 Narrative Storytelling in Nonlinear Systems https://www.gameholecon.com/events/event/25909 Freelancing 201: Progressing your Tabletop Career https://www.gameholecon.com/events/event/28633 Writing Games for Convention Play https://www.gameholecon.com/events/event/28636 Let's Get Physical  https://www.gameholecon.com/events/event/28631And don't forget their games! chainXlinkPrequelFetch My Blade Estate of PlayMusical: the Karaoke Musical TTRPGStonewalkers adventure path for the Cosmere TTRPG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray... but we won't be feeling forlorn on some Madison autumn days!Gamehole Con is being held from October 23-26 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI, and both your hosts will be present this year. To help you prepare for your own trip to the capital, we are reviewing the best ways to travel, the sliver of a hope at lodging, the parking situation, and the food & drink...... to say nothing of the gaming and special events. We even hear there's a charity auction, even if Quarex hasn't been able to attend it yet.You won't want to miss it!!Referenced in the episode are: Wardens of the Eastern Marches adventuresTrouble at Mossbeard Mill adventuresShadowdark adventures that aren't sold out yetDark Matters in Monroe, MD with Bill SlavicsekLearn to Play Melee with That Steve JacksonDrinks with Authors and Game Designers IVFarm: A Miniatures Adventure with That Zeb CookA Panel on "When Nostalgia Meets Gaming"A seminar on being a "Nerd for a Living"And let's not forget the Gamehole Con Collectors' Auction for Charity on Saturday from 3-6 pm.... or the Shadow Scar adventure "The Auction" earlier that day in the West Lobby Hallway at 10 am. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the prompting of a dreamer, your host Ben checked out a convention in Northern Virginia called Final 3 Con, which focuses on social deduction games like Blood on the Clocktower, Werewolf, and Mafia. Ben had a great time, and we've sat on this interview... until now. On September 14, 2025 at 3 pm ET, tickets for Final 3 Con 2026 go on sale. You'll want to set an alarm, because the full day badges will sell out in hours, not days or week. And if you want to hear just how fun and unique Final 3 Con 2025 was, you can listen to our interview with convention organizer Emily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From May 1 to September 2 of this year, your hosts Quarex and Ben made it to the following conventions: Congress of Gamers, Spring SessionDes Moines Con ... or was it Des Moines Comic Con?Living Dead WeekendOrigins Games Fair EGG ConGen ConOtakon Once Upon a Con... buckle up for the drama NOVA OpenGames and groups highlighted include: Love, Career, Magic by Wonmin Lee1490 Doom by Buer GamesGoblins and Growlers in Richmond, VAAnd let's not forget the dreamer dispatch from Kristine, who attended Kublai Con in San Francisco Bay Area! Submit yours using our Google Form!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben go through all the conventions you'll want to attend* from September 2 to December 31, 2025, including: Dice Tower Retreat, Council Con 2025, Metagame 2025, Mini-KennyCon, CuseCon, Meeples & Peoples, MegaMooseCon, RockyCon, World Series of Board Gaming, MañanaCon, Barrage 2025, FriendCon, The Ettin, Tabletop Scotland, Game mORe Con, Con on the Cob, ICON, Gem City Gathering, Tsubasacon, Arnecon, ConQuest Avalon, Be Excellent Festival, Congress of Gamers Fall Session, Gamehole Con, Warhammer Fall Retreat, Capital City Gaming Con, Multiverse Con, Battle Zone Ursa, CRIT Con, Carnage Con, FLAG Con, Chaosium Con Europe, Effing Con, Dire Consequences, Tabletop Oahu, EuroQuest. Metatopia, U-Con Gaming Convention, Meeple-a-thon, KublaCon Fall, BGG.CON, PAX Unplugged, Encuentro Nacional de Juegos de Mesa, Dragonsteel Nexus 2025, Everwinter, Yamacon, Sac Gamers Expo, Manchester Board Game Festival, BGM Shanghai....AND EVEN MORE THAT DON'T FIT INTO OUR FORMAT!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this selection of interviews from the exhibit hall floor at Gen Con 2025!Luke of Limithron, publishers of Pirate Borg!Corey from Amigo Games, fine makers of Where Is Mausi?Sarah from Astra Fauna, the accelerant for your other host Ben's nightmare fuel since Gen Con 2024 Bri from Rollacrit, who are the publishers of Heroes of Barcadia, makers of the renewed Bags of Holding, and official merch partner of Gen Con! Listen in to hear some cool stories in each interview, and check their products out online and at future conventions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this dreamer-requested episode, Quarex and Ben discuss their best practices for constructing and following a convention calendar to keep track of all the key dates and deadlines for the conventions you want to attend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rarely imitated, never duplicated — Ben and Quarex are back with our second annual Games of the Convention!!! This is the only annual award given out by a podcast about gaming conventions. Who will win the GOTC for the best kids game, best RPG, or best board game? Who will take home what is undoubtedly the electrum for the game of the year? Will either host ever acknowledge the acronym itself? You'll have to listen in to find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 (link) Triangle Agency (link) And listen in on Thursday for the next reviewsode!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Munchkin Champion! You won't want to miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.