All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions

Episode 216: An App-etizer for Origins 2026

On this episode, Quarex and Ben are previewing Origins at the speed of GAMA! The following is a list of things that we talk about... * The security and metal detector FAQ [https://www.originsgamefair.com/security-metal-detector-faq] that was released between recording this episode and releasing this episode! * The exhibitor hall map, both text searchable [https://www.originsgamefair.com/exhibitor-resource-hub ] and not [https://www.originsgamefair.com/show-map ]! * Order some emergency dice [https://www.originsgamefair.com/emergency-dice ] from Black Oak Workshop! * Our live podcast recording on Thursday night [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule/3362 ]! See the man behind the mask challenging the fool who left the championship belt in Iowa! Check out the latest games, like: * Golden Goal [https://www.allplay.com/board-games/golden-goal ] from All Play at Booth 2300! * Wispwood [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/445044/wispwood ] from Czech Games Edition at Booth 1903! * Carnuta [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/457386/carnuta ] from Repos Productions at Booth 2218! * Five Card Spud [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/464154/five-card-spud ] from Marmot Card Games... at booth undetermined. * DNUP [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/432456/dnup ] from Asmodee at Booth 2300! * Cyberpunk Legends [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/450672/cyberpunk-legends ] from Night Crew Games at Booth 2301! And check out past, current, and future friends of the pod who are exhibiting like: * Pink Hawk Games [https://www.pinkhawkgames.com/ ] at booth 1404 * The XP Network [https://xpnetwork.com/ ] at booth 1904 * Ink Splot Games [https://www.facebook.com/inksplotgames/ ] at booth 1905 * Uloomi Games [https://www.uloomi.com/games ] at booth 2507 * Archania Workshop [https://archaniaworkshop.com/] at booth 1212 * Retro Plus Games [https://www.retroplusgames.com/games ] at booth 1312 * Prime Chaos Glass Studios [https://www.primechaosstudios.com/] at booth 1711 * Saving Throw Pillows [https://www.savingthrowpillows.com/ ] at booth 2023 * Long Pack Games [https://www.savingthrowpillows.com/ ] at booth 1528 * Crime No Crime [https://crimenocrime.com/ ] at both 1321 * Browncastle Games [https://www.browncastlegames.com/ ] at booth 2811 * Goodman Games [https://goodman-games.com/] at booth 1807 * Pizza with a Fork Games [https://goodman-games.com/] at booth 2206 * Tuesday Night Games [https://www.tuesdayknightgames.com/] at booth 1604 And check out events and special events like: * The Other Guys [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=Kevin%20Rank&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id= ] (D&D) * Builders of Baldur's Gate [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=Builders%20of%20Baldur's%20Gate&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id=] (Wiz Kids) * Train Game Potluck [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule/4243] (Train Gamers Association) * Fellowship of the White Star [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=Rosebud&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id=] (Rosebud) * Piracy and Law of the Sea [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule/6287 ] (seminar) * Punish Your Players with Landscape Science [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule/7559] (seminar) * Meet Mike Pondsmith [https://www.originsgamefair.com/special-guests ] (Cyberpunk!) * Taskmaster LA [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule/7942 ] (special event) * The Magic of Erica Carlson [https://www.originsgamefair.com/erica-carlson ] (special events) To say nothing of Pin Bazaar, Barley's pint glasses, and all the food North Market has to offer. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 215: GET ON IT with your 2026 Gen Con Badge

Coming up on Friday, June 12, it's the deadline to elect to have your Gen Con badge shipped to you! No need to brave the will call line, because your badges and event tickets will show up at your home. With that in mind, your hosts interrupt our Origins coverage (and use our econ degrees!) to forecast when and when Gen Con will sell out in 2026. Don't get caught by surprise when the badges sell out — get on it now! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 214: Creators and Organizers at Origins 2026

On this episode, we're talking with three creatives who will be at Origins Game Fair 50 Plus 1! * Bug Boll of 9th Level Games [https://9thlevel.com/], who is running so many games in the Hyatt [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=9th%20level%20games&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id=] while also manning booth 1808! * Chrys from Hectic Electron Games [https://hecticelectron.com/], who is selling her queer sword and sorcery game Defy the Gods [https://hecticelectron.com/products/defy-the-gods-standard-edition] while also showing off the total chaos edition of Raccoon Sky Pirates, currently crowdfunding [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hecticelectron/raccoon-sky-pirates-total-chaos-edition]! Find her at booth 1813. * Brian from Windmill Games Co [https://www.patreon.com/Windmillgameco], who are running sessions of Dread, Daggerheart [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=windmill%20games&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id=], and Ben's favorite Origins game: Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555 [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=ADGNEPSEF555&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id=]! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 213: Getting Unpublished at Origins Game Fair 2026

On this episode, your hosts talk with game designer Ian Zang, who is a board member of the Unpublished Games Network! * Check out the Unpub Network [https://www.unpub.org/]! * Get involved [https://www.unpub.org/get-involved] at Unpub Festival or any of the the conventions Unpub has a presence! * Become involved in either side of the Unpub Tabletop Mentorship Program [https://www.unpub.org/mentorship]! * Check out the Unpub space in the GCCC at Origins Game Fair this month! Don't forget to check out Ian's games, including: * Please Fix the Teleporter! [https://gravitation.games/please-fix-the-teleporter/] * Genotype [https://www.geniusgames.org/products/genotype-a-mendelian-genetics-game-mensa-recommended-strategy-board-game-about-the-science-of-genetics-punnett-squares-and-gregor-mendel-s-pea-plants?srsltid=AfmBOorjpNsFlLSZVsn4VSdAEmn2GijBi_3qyS--A1AqONdcfUwnVpHE], a Mensa Recommends Award Winner! * Kingdoms of the Deep [https://allplay.com/board-games/kingdoms-of-the-deep]! And launching at Gen Con this year is A Familiar Find [https://darringtonpress.com/afamiliarfind/], a charming brand-new card game in the Critical world of Exandria! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 212: The Tournament of Pieces at Origins 2026

One of the more unique programs at Origins Game Fair is the Tournament of Pieces [https://www.originsgamefair.com/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 website [https://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/] * Tournament of Pieces [https://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/pages/tournament-of-pieces] * Tournament of Pieces signup on Tabletop.Events [https://tabletop.events/conventions/origins-game-fair-2026/schedule#?query=%22tournament%20of%20pieces%22&filter_liked=0&day_id=&eventtype_id=&startdaypart_id=]! * 100 Piece Puzzle Chess [https://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/collections/puzzle-chess-100-piece-puzzle-cobble-hill] * The events page [https://www.usajigsaw.org/usajpa-events] for the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association And there's so much more that will be revealed at the event itself that you couldn't possibly want to miss it! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.