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All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

The podcast you didn't know you needed about Gen Con, Origins, PAX Unplugged, the Gygax Convention Industrial Complex, and beyond.

In "All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions," your hosts Ben and Quarex discuss how to prepare for, how to get to, and how to have the best time at gaming conventions

Latest episode

  • Episode 116: May We Interest You in Some Conventions through Labor Day?

    28:44|
    On this episode, we talk about the conventions you want to know about between May 1 and September 2, including: Buckeye Game Fest, Midwest Games Fest, Farmageddon, Congress of Gamers Spring Session, Shirecon, Dungeon Con, PAX East, Geekway to the West, OrakCon, Game Market (Chiba City, Japan), Thy Geekdom Con, Fargo CoreCon Halfoween, Balticon, StrategiCon Gamex, Rooks Con, LinCon, ChupacabraCon Gaming Convention, KublaCon, Dream Con, CanGames, UK Games Expo, Magstock, SaltCON Summer, CNY RPG Con, Pyrkon, Game Con, Southern Fried Gaming Expo, Origins Game Fair, SoonerCon, MisCon, MAGE Con, ROSECon, KantCon, Djiversão Offline, BorderCon, 18XXBelgium, Game Con Canada, Dexlite, CONvergence, Shadow Market Shanghai Board Game Exhibition, Dice Tower East, Roswell Galacticon, Crit Hit!, PlayCon, AdventureCon Ironweld, ConnectiCon, Historicon, Gem State Gaming Convention, EGG Con, San Diego Comic Con, Board Game Days, Ropecon, Northwest Tabletop Expo, World Boardgaming Championships, GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON GEN CON, StarCon, MagWest, Epic Nerd Camp, Once Upon a Con, Phoenix Con, DragonFlight,FallCon, Make a Scene, Reaper Con, SaltCON End of Summer, GrandCon, The Nova Open, WGGCon, Gamers of Summer, Immerse Con, Matsuricon, PAX West, DragonCon. But also: Tabletop Scotland, which technically starts the week after Labor Day but you should attend!Quad Cons galore!And our new Gritty Game Day feature! You won't want to miss it!!!

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  • 115. Episode 115: Convention Recruiting

    28:41||Ep. 115
    In the furious vortex of March and April conventions, Quarex and Ben carved out some time in the recording schedule to discuss how you can convince your friends to join you at gaming conventions. Whether your reasons are selfish, altruistic, or somewhere in between — listen in to learn how to convince your friends and family into entering the lifestyle of gaming conventions.
  • Episode 114: Adepticon *and* Awesome Con?

    25:54|
    On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben talk about their time at Adepticon (Milwaukee, WI) and Awesome Con (Washington DC) as members of the gaming media. We also introduce the Dreamer Dispatch, where if you tell us about your time at a convention, we may read your dreams on a future episode of the show. Drop your Dreamer Dispatches at the following link.
  • 113. Episode 113: Origins is Coming

    25:11||Ep. 113
    The 50th anniversary of Origins Game Fair starts June 18, 2025... which is so much sooner than you think! Your hosts Quarex and Ben walk you through everything you need to know now to make the convention the great time it can be, including: BadgesHotelsEvent ScheduleSpectacles like the Film FestivalEvents on StageSpecial GuestsAnd don't forget our just early enough recommendations for events you should sign up for: Motley KidsMatinee AdventuresKingdoms of KeshanarBuild a Shadowdark Adventure Live with Kelsey DionneADGNEPSEF555and the event you just can't miss because you'll have to wait until September when we release it—our live podcast recording!!!1!DON'T FORGET! You can contribute to the oral history of Origins by emailing Matt Shoemaker at contact@origins50.org. (It's so much nicer than hitting him with a shoe.)
  • 112. Episode 112: The Impeccable Vibes of Gary Con

    19:33||Ep. 112
    On this episode, Quarex regales your other host Ben with all the things he missed by not attending Gary Con XXVI.But first: have you ever wondered what the Gygax Convention Industrial Complex is? Your hosts grapple to define a term of their own making without being hoisted by their own petard. Referenced conventions include:North Texas RPG Con (link)Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo (link)CNY RPG Con (link)... in addition to obvious Gygax conventions like Gary Con and EGG Con (link).And remember: if you want to contribute anything to the "History of Gen Con at University of Wisconsin - Parkside", reach out the director at gencon@uwp.edu!
  • 111. Episode 111: Tag Teaming Old School Interviews

    25:46||Ep. 111
    On this episode, Quarex and Ben release the interviews you want to hear from Gary Con and Gameface Con. Michael of Night Noon Games (link), whose successfully funded a zine on Shadowdark monster conversions that you can still make a late pledge for Dave from Smuggler's Coffee (link), a coffee shop in Dyer, IN that's best known for nerdy grounds (and their Malort barrel aged coffee)Laura from Extra Life (link), a fundraising arm of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Bill Slavicsek (link), current lead writer for Elder Scrolls Online... but who also designed much of Star Wars d6, wrote TORG, midwifed modern D&D, and wrote two editions to the Guide the Star Wars Universe Also, Ben challenges Quarex to a game of Shadowdark to determine the official RPG of the podcast.
  • 110. Episode 110: Celebrating a Life Well Played by the Sixth Great Lake

    19:41||Ep. 110
    On March 20-23, the Gygax Convention Industrial Complex is returning to its roots for the 17th Gary Con! Much like Waldo, Quarex is able to be found at the convention, and of course your hosts are talking everything Gary Con in a digestible 20 minute dose.If you're going, don't forget to check out:The charity auction (link)Tales of the Valiant with Chris Hays (link)Katacombs and Kidventurers (link)Legends: Dawn Patrol (link)Legends of Roleplaying: Recall the Beginning (link)Legends & Lore: Editions Change, Greyhawk Endures (link)Reading D&D Aloud (link)Monty Python's Flying Gygax (link)...... and more!!!1!!!1!!!!!And of course we shout out Unpub Festival 2025, where you can try the games of tomorrow today! https://www.unpub.org/upcoming-events/unpub-25