All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

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://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/6909 They Keep Killing Thomas: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/5354 Poker Peril: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/8587 Grimdark Future: https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2025/schedule/8991 GAMES! Origins New Games List: https://www.originsgamefair.com/featuredproductstry Raising Chicago: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/330579/raising-chicagoPlease Don't Burn My Village: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/438119/please-dont-burn-my-villageSlambo: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/435357/slamboWine Cellar: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/411033/wine-cellarUh Oh Dino: https://ludoliminal.com/products/uh-oh-dino-board-gameS'mores Galore: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/419206/smores-galoreINKUBUS: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19mVPb8Rhp/ PIN BAZAAR: https://www.originsgamefair.com/pin-bazaarNORTH MARKET: https://northmarket.org/GRAETER'S: https://www.graeters.com/neighborhood-locations

On this episode, Ben and Quarex interview Josh Berling, who is the other TOVA auctioneer for the Gen Con Live Auction (link), as well as the magician behind the Valhalla charity auction on Saturday night in the Indiana Convention Center. Josh weaves tales about his first auction experience in Milwaukee, his favorite auction memories throughout the years, and why you'll want to be in the audience for the auction this year. But first, we also talk about the return of the Origins Consignment Shop (link), although for reasons that confound us, Big Mallet Auctions didn't look at our recording schedule to determine when to stop accepting items. Still: worth checking out at Origins 50. You won't want to miss it.

With Origins coming up this month, Quarex and Ben help you prepare for all the fun you can have at the 50th anniversary show. Highlights include: Tournament of Pieces (link)Paint and Take (link)Origins Special Guests (link)Attend trade day (link)Game Based Education Therapy Conference (link)And don't forget: Watch Quarex play “Heart of Darkness” with Origins special guest Andrew E.C. Gaska (link)Get tickets to our live recording on Thursday at 8 pm (link)

Ahead of a summer of massive Rushmore conventions, Ben and Quarex sit down to discuss whether and how to best bring kids to gaming conventions. Replete with real world advice from the preeminent podcasters on the topic, we're not joking when we say you won't want to miss this.

While your hosts Quarex and Ben are gearing up for the 50th Anniversary of Origins next month, there are still plenty of things our dreamers want to know about Gen Con. We're talking shoes, shots, bags, and lockers. We're talking about our wish lists and dreams for the exhibit hall. We're talking thieves of yore and the shuttering of the forums. Most importantly -- we're talking the likelihood of another sell out—because the easiest way to miss out on the best four days in gaming is to wait too long to buy that badge. Important links: Exhibit Hall PolicyLocker Room TalkExhibitor List for 2025"I'm the map, I'm the map"Update for the Gen Con 2023 HeistShuttering of the Gen Con Forums

On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk with Joe Smiddie-Brush, the blood drive chair of the Heinlein Society, who has partnered with Gen Con to arrange for the blood drive, which is entering its 19th year at the convention! Wow!!!Important links:The Heinlein SocietyGen Con Blood DriveThe Blood Drive's partner, Dscryb, who coordinates much of the swag for donorsDonate blood with last year's Gen Con blood drive partner, Versiti!The Notebooks of Lazarus Long, by the titular Heinlein himselfAnd if you're looking to arrange for a blood drive at your favorite local convention (PHIL), you can reach out to Joe at blooddrivechair@heinleinsociety.org.... and if you're going to Origins like Quarex, Ben, and all the other cool kids -- don't forget you can donate blood there too! GAMA even gave us an extra day of gaming, so why not give a little of your blood? (You won't miss it.. that much.)https://www.originsgamefair.com/blood-drive