Classic Con Report - GameHole Con

High light: Getting invited to the show and meeting some peers, fans and friends who all were having a good time.

Low light: The parking lot was jam packed and the hotel didn't seem to have good options beyond "Uh, good luck."

Best experience: Lunch with some of my favorite folks in Madison. They are both nerds with kids, so here's hoping they raise the next generation right.

Worst experience: Walking into the wargames room and getting the stinkeye from the table closest to the door with a really cool mini terrain version of Settlers of Catan. If you didn't want people admiring your minis why did you pick that table?


Best bargain (had to buy it, no freebies): I didn't really buy anything due to my current budgetary lock down


Best Freebie: I'm Bored! handed out those fancy pass pouches. It even matches my con bag.

Most welcome surprise: The Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition games were very busy. It seems like this edition is quite popular even before all of the main books are out...

Most unwelcome surprise: ...which meant I didn't get a chance to play in a game. I'll be sure to pre-reg next year.

Best game: Talking with Cynthia Miller about Cartoon Action Hour got me excited to run it again. And F.L.A.G. Force is coming early next year!

Most interesting game concept: Sheriff of Nottingham is a customs inspections game where you have to smuggle items past the other players. Everyone gets a chance to be the smuggler and everyone gets a chance to be "The Man".

Sleeper game: ICONS is looking to have an interesting future from some of the projects Dan Hauser talked about. Just in time for the Batman TV series DVDs to come out, too...

Coolest booth: All the FLGS booths were crammed together, so they had really competitive pricing.

Strangest moment: People recognizing me by my name tag. Always strange. Always awesome.

Played: 
Sheriff of Nottingham
Mage Wars

Purchased:
Nothing. Well, I did stop at Pine Cone on the way home.

Swag:
5th Edition Monster Manual
Pathfinder Skull and Shackles Adventure Deck #2
Pathfinder Skull and Shackles Character Add-On Deck

Things to pick up after the con:
5th Edition dungeon Masters Guide
Pathfinder Skull and Shackles Adventure Deck #3

Milwaukee Record - UberDork Cafe

My latest work for the Milwaukee Record is an interview with the owner of UberDork Cafe, a lovely little startup out in Menomonee Falls, where they can use a little more geekiness.

Classic Con Report - Fantasticon

High light: Seeing a lot of nerdy families at the show. Loved seeing mom as Black Widow, dad as Captain America, and the kid in a Bat-Stroller.

Low light: The RPG area was a ghost town. I had some people show up for Firefly, but there were some awesome D&D and Pathfinder GMs who were stuck waiting around with their hands in their pockets.

Best experience: Playing board games Sunday morning with some Board Game Barrister staff and an adorable little girl in a TARDIS costume.

Worst experience: The con was spread out over two hotels that shared a common parking lot. Luckily, the weather was gorgeous this past weekend, but it would have sucked if it was a typical Wisconsin. 


Best bargain (had to buy it, no freebies): The Milwaukee/Star Wars mashup magnet I got is pretty cool.


Best Freebie: The organizers gave me a free badge, which is always a hard freebie to beat.

Most welcome surprise: I found a dice game that Lindsay likes. Chupacabra plays fast and fun, with a cryptid theme that she loves. 

Most unwelcome surprise: My quest to get my Firefly RPG book signed by all the cast members was foiled again as Adam Baldwin backed out of the show a few months ago.

Best game: I enjoyed my run through Rise of the Runelords. It's not quite an RPG, but streamlines a lot of things about Pathfinder while still keeping the stuff players love.

Most interesting game concept: Sushi Go is a set matching game that has some of the most adorable chibi artwork ever.

Sleeper game: Roll for It is a dice worker placement game that looks like it would be a big hit for civilians.

Coolest booth: The Indiana Jones Fan Club booth had some great artifact replicas.

Strangest moment: Walking past a guy with a really realistic looking python around his neck and then realizing it was, in fact, a real snake.

Played: 
Geek Out
Sushi Go
Roll For It
Chupacabra
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Rise of the Runelords

Purchased:
Chupacabra
Bay View Star Wars magnet

Swag:
Free pass
Business cards

Things to pick up after the con:
Roll For it
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game