First, we want to recognize the passing of Jim Wade, one of the RPGA Paragons. His impact on RPG play experiences at conventions can't be understated, and we open this episode celebrate this unsung hero.

To help get ready for Super MAG Fest (23-26 January 2025), Quarex and Ben spend some time discussion music at gaming conventions.

• Music at Super MAG Fest (link)
• FAQs for ChipSpace (link) and JamPod (link) at Super MAG Fest
• Performer application for Dragon Con (link)
• Entertainment Events at Gen Con (link)

Here are some of the artists we discussed in the episode:

• Melt Wizard: The Thermal Pod (link)
• Skatune Network's YouTube Page (link)
• Marshall Arts at Super MAG Fest (link)
• TIARA Tastemaker and His Precious Gemstones at Super MAG Fest (link)
• Blue Shift Big Band at Super MAG Fest (link)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Your Other Host Ben has collected five interviews from the board game space:

• Emily from Pink Hawk Games (link), whose first published game Knitting Circle is finishing its Kickstarter and whose next game, Pirates of the High Teas, will be crowdfunding in March—click the link to commit early and get exclusive rewards!
• John from Gamey (link), who was demoing Galaxy Fighters, a game coming to crowdfunding in 2025 (link)
• Danielle from Wise Wizard Games (link), who demoed Push Push Penguin (link) and talked with us about Pack the Essentials (link)—both of which are available for pre-order
• Mark from Next Big Project, who was demoing the next big party game called Terrible Influence coming to Kickstarter in 2025 (link)
• Christopher from Capstone Games (link), who was demoing Butterfly Gardens (link) and Pagan: Fate of Roanoke (link)

You won't want to miss it.

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On this episode, Your Other Host Ben has collected four interviews from the RPG space:

• Jon from Beadle and Grimm (link), who are making big waves beyond just D&D and Magic the Gathering -- and remember that they're taking late pledges for their Star Trek Party Games on Kickstarter here
• Joe from Inkwell Ideas (link), who are producing very useful and eminently practical products for GMs
• Clint Black from Carolina Game Tables (link), who is not a country singer but in fact a game designer and third generation furniture manufacturer who has merged his two passions
• Richard from R. Rook Studios (link), who along with Plus One Exp (link) and its Zine Club (link), are highlighting different voices and stories that we're now telling in the indie RPG scene

You won't want to miss it.

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In this episode, Ben and Quarex march you through many of the gaming conventions you need to know about in January, February, March and April, including (but not limited to because of character constraints):

• Midwinter Gaming Convention in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, from January 9-12 (link)
• Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo in Oaks, PA from January 16-19 (link)
• Ohayocon in Dayton OH from January 31-February 2 (link)
• CascadeCon in Bellingham, WA from Jan 30 - February 2 (link)
• Niagara Boardgaming Weekend in Grimsby, ON, from January 23-26 (link) 
• CanCon in Canberra, AUS, from January 25-27 (link)
• Rocket City Gamefest in Huntsville, AL from Feb 2-4 (link)
• Winter Fantasy in Fort Wayne, IN from February 5-9 (link)
• Williamsburg Muster in Williamsburg, VA from February 16-18 (link)
• Gamers of Winter in Harrisburg PA from February 15-17 (link)
• Dreamation in Morristown PA from February 20-23 (link)
• Evercon in Wausau, WI from February 28-March 2 (link)
• Games with Trains is at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore MD on March 1 (link)
• Gameface Con in Baltimore, MD from March 8-9 (link)
• Cleveland ConCoction in Cleveland, OH from March 8-10 (link)
• Gary Con in Lake Geneva WI, from March 20-23 (link)
• Adepticon in Milwaukee WI from March 26-31 (link)
• Alamo City Game Convention in San Antonio, TX from Mar 28-30 (link)
• Break Out Con in Toronto, ON from March 14-16 (link)
• LepreCon in Dublin, IE, from March 22-24 (link)
• RathaCon in Athens, OH on April 13 (link) 
• Raven Con in Richmond, VA from April 25-27 (link)
• Final Three Con, in NOVA from April 25-27 (link) 

You won't want to miss them!

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On this episode, Ben recaps his experience at Sunday of PAX Unplugged 2024.

On this episode, we're talking about (some of) the games Ben played:

• Ziggurat, a board game from Mindware (link)
• Butterfly Garden, an elevated reprint from Capstone Games (link)
• Galaxy Fighters by Gamey (link), coming to Kickstarter in March
• The Black Mold of Claus Manor, written by Mike Martens and distributed by Plus One Exp (link)

We're also talking about the events Ben didn't attend, as well as the controversy pre- and post-show. Ben even grades what he did right and wrong, and why he's gotta go all three days next year.

You might even hear the rarest of all things: an apology? (Ben might suggest you get in line, or maybe find another game to play.)

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It's smack dab at the beginning of the holiday season in December, and only one convention is bold enough to hold itself out for attendance: PAX Unplugged 2024 (link) from December 6-8 in famously sunny Philadelphia, PA. On this episode, your hosts Quarex and Ben discuss:

• What press badges mean
• The Venn diagram between line cons and gaming conventions
• Badges and hotels
• Parking through SpotHero (link), which is not an affiliate link
• Places to eat
• Using the PAX Nav app (link to Google Play and the App Store)
• Signing up for events, especially with groups like Indie Games on Demand (link) and Lurking Fear (link)
• Exhibitors to check out
• Games to demo
• The 3 Ps: Paint & Take, the Puzzle Room, and PAX Uprising
• The concert that everyone's excited about
• And the 4th P: Pinny Arcade! (link)

And as promised, here's the link to the Sprites and Dice Guide to PAX Unplugged 2024 (link) and the very late breaking PAX Unplugged Quickstart Guide (link).

If you're even thinking about attending PAX Unplugged this year, you won't want to miss this.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Ben and Quarex talk about the conventions they attended this fall that don't rhyme with Namevole John. This includes:

• Vintage Computer Festival Midwest in Schaumburg, WI (link)
• Flat Con in Bloomington-Normal, IL (link)
• Save Against Fear (link), organized by the Bodhana Group (link)

Let us know on social media what convention you've attended since Gamehole Con!

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On this episode, we are elated to talk with Mike Boozer about the Gen Con VIG Program.

The Gen Con Very Important Gamer Program (link) is a way to supercharge your Gen Con experience. While the badge is pricey, we talk with Mike about all the ways that the VIG Badge and VIG Companion badges provide bang for your buck.

Tickets are limited each year, and you'll want to email [email protected] between November 15 and December 15 to throw your name in the ring.

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