GameHole Con 12 Report

Hi all,

Last week, I was in Madison, WI for GameHole Con 12. This was my first time at GameHole and only my second time ever playing games at a convention (after my recent trip to GenCon). And I had a blast.

GameHole attendance was around 6,300—6,400, so much smaller than GenCon. But what a great show!

They've launched their own organized play program, Wardens of the Eastern Marches, and I played in 5 linked games with the same DM and other players, culminating in an Epic Saturday night. Organized play is where you bring your character to a table and then you take that character, along with any treasure and magic you won in the game, on to your next table. An Epic is where everyone in the room is engaged in the same activity. The adventure is timed, and the number of tables the successfully complete each section on time is tabulated, determining the overall success of the mission and the future of the world. We had a good group and a good GM. I thought the adventures left a little something to be desired (compared to the Legends of Greyhawk trilogy I played at Gen Con), but the overall experience was fun.

I also got to play Vaesen, Dragonbane, and Pirate Borg, all for the first time. All three were very fun, and I bought them all in the dealers hall. (I already had the core books for the first two, but bought more product.) I was a little disappointed to learn that Pirate Borg, and the Mörk Borg game it descends from, are heavily stripped down versions of Dungeons & Dragons. I thought they used their own system, so this dampened my enthusiasm. Vaesen and Dragonbane, however, I absolutely loved, and I plan to run both games very soon.

Another wonderful aspect of the convention was the opportunity to meet a host of folks I only knew online, in particular the community around the Mastering Dungeons podcast's Discord server. Teos Abadia of MD is a great guy, as is everyone he's drawn together. It was also great to meet Mike Shea, aka Sly Flourish, and spend some time talking with him outside of text.

The only thing I didn't like about Madison is the food. There is NOTHING anywhere near the convention center, and with the exception of El Pollo Rumbero, a Columbian restaurant 18 minutes walk away, and the food truck Pablo's Tacos, I really didn't enjoy what I ate at the con or on the Isthmus. If you like cheese and brisket, you'll probably have a different experience, but as for this foodie, well, it's the first convention I've returned from weighing less than what I left as.

However, the games and the fellowship far outweigh the poor culinary options. I had an amazing time, and I plan to make GameHole Con an annual event.

That's all for now. More as I know it!