Post Gary Con

This was my first Gary Con and I had a blast!  I've been meaning to go for years and I only live about an hour and a half from Lake Geneva but I just am now getting the chance to go.  It's been a while since I've really played any games outside of Dungeon! so that was really nice.

I pretty spent the whole time war gaming instead of role playing but I walked around and looked in on a lot of the rpgs.  Next time I go I'll get some role-playing in,

I was signed up to play Classical Warfare but I guess nobody else signed up for it so I played in the Tractics vs. Dungeons and Dragons game.  Mike Reese one of the original co-authors of Tractics ran the scenario so it was nice getting to talk to him during and after the game. That was interesting, the two competing rule systems on top of fantasy vs. WWII Germans was interesting.  I'll post more later with pictures.

I also played a regular Tractics game, Chainmail Joust, and Fletcher Pratt's Naval Rules.  They were all a lot of fun, it took a bit to understand the rules but became more smooth as the gaming progressed.

It was also really nice to get to meet some of the artists and game designers who were with TSR at the beginning.  I met Tim Kask, Frank Mentzer, and Jeff Easley.  I had a nice conversations with Bruce Heard and also with Jeff Perren.   When talking to Jeff Perren about wargaming I found out he at one time owned Royal Hobby in Rockford, IL which is pretty much where I got into the hobby in the first place.  It didn't dawn on me at the time but I do remember him from his days at the store.  What a small world.  I was able to get all of their autographs on my copy of the D&D Rules Cyclopedia which I'll keep forever!

I also met Jeffrey Talanian of Astonishing Swords and Swordsmen  fame,  Alan Grohe (aka Grodog is his handle on his Lake Geneva Original RPG blog) Jon Hershberger who owns Black Blade Publishing and Robert Bledsaw III of Judges Guild.  All three nice guys and it was nice to meet people face to face after having corresponded over the internet.


On top of the gaming I took time out to take my kids swimming at the hotel pool and go explore Lake Geneva.  I found a great pizza place called Mama Cimino's that really knows how to do Chicago style pizza.  And a beautiful chrome plated 1950's diner called Joni's that has the best breakfast in town.

Overall it was a great weekend and I met a lot of nice people and got to share a gaming table with a lot of them.  It doesn't get any better that that!