All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

One of the more unique programs at Origins Game Fair is the Tournament of Pieces! This section of the exhibit hall is filled with all kinds of puzzling — speed puzzling, fun puzzling, live laugh love puzzling... and there's even three An Ohio State Cups you can compete in!To help our dreamers assemble their plans for the Tournament of Pieces, we spoke with Linda Maxwell of Cobble Hill, the fine Canadian puzzling company who is helping bring the puzzles to the Origins Game Fair.Cobble Hill websiteTournament of PiecesTournament of Pieces signup on Tabletop.Events!100 Piece Puzzle ChessThe events page for the USA Jigsaw Puzzle AssociationAnd there's so much more that will be revealed at the event itself that you couldn't possibly want to miss it!

In the first part of our patented convention review, Quarex and Ben discuss all the conventions we attended in March, April, and May 2026 that we haven't already reviewed, including:GAMA ExpoUnpub FestivalFinal Three ConBeefy Wizard ConGameface ConBalticonAnd remember... Please check out the crowdfunding campaign for Abattoir Hymnal, authored by best friend d4ever of the pod, Tiger Wizard... as well as the Beefy Shotgun Wizards campaign coming to Kickstarter soon!Also, thank you to Raccoon Fink for the snippet of "The Long March from Morstone" from Beyond an Age of Wonder!

In the first part of our patented convention review, Quarex and Ben discuss all the conventions we attended in January and February of this year that we haven't already reviewed, including: Midwest Gaming Classic Super MAG Fest The Adam ConToy Fair NY... and tomorrow we'll release March, April, and May's conventions as well! There's just so much stuff that it doesn't fit into The Format.And please check out the crowdfunding campaign for Abattoir Hymnal, authored by best friend d4ever of the pod, Tiger Wizard!

On this episode, Quarex and Ben bring back Alex Kammer for another interview: this time, about gaming auctions, consignment shops, and flea markets. Alex isn't just talking about growing his own impressive collection, but also ways for new and budding collectors to begin growing their own collections.What you need to know for the upcoming Rushmores: Get your items in for the Origins Consignment Shop by June 13!Get your items for the Gen Con Live Auction by July 19 and Consignment Shop by July 26! Check out Gamehole Con ahead of its biggest and best year, including: Season 2 of Wardens of the Eastern MarchesFree receptions from Wednesday through Saturday evening at the Spark hotel! Gamehole Con Special Events, including the Collector's Auction for Charity!And we also get some scoops on the special events at Gamehole Con 2026! You won't want to miss it.

On this very special, very quick episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben remind you when and why you want to get your badges for Gamehole Con 2026... the badger mitzvah! Don't miss out on dancing the hora in Madison this October because you slept on buying your badge!

Everything you need to know to get ready for Origins 2026—just under a month away! Buy Night City 2045 and pick it up at Origins!Play in some great cyberpunk themed events! Attend the live play of Cyberpunk Red, featuring voice actors from the Netflix series!Buy your badge so you can get event tickets!Book your Southwest flight with code "SWABIZ"!Book your parking at the GCCC!Check out the special programming at Origins! Watch some events on stage!Compete in the Miniatures Painting Competition!Submit your items for the Origins Consignment Shop!And like/subscribe for more Origins content as we approach Origins 50+1!

On this episode, Quarex and Ben take stock of the best and/or worst afternoon in the Mays of Gen Con: Wishlistmas! How did your wish list process? And also: consider attending Game Market Indianapolis on Saturday night of Gen Con! Games so newly published you can taste the ink, from the names you'll get street cred for knowing now!

On this episode, your hosts interview Ben Reed, who is renowned as both a progenitor of the dungeon synth AND for being one of the 23 Mike Carrs of the JoCo Cruise. Listen in as he helps us understand gaming cruises through the JoCo lens.Get on a boat with JoCo Cruises (famously not a sponsor)Episode 117 of this podcast, when we last reviewed cruise consThe Raccoon Fink Bandcamp Page, where you can listen to Ben's latest dungeon synth stylings.And if you like watching videos, you can also check out pal of the pod Travel the Board in their three part series about their time on the Dice Tower Cruise!