Zubby Newsletter #132: Hole Lotta Gamin’
Dice o’ plenty at Gamehole.Gamehole XII was an amazing tabletop convention cram-packed with good gaming and great friends. My only regret was that I wish it hadn’t kicked in right after New York Comic Con because I started things off already half-exhausted and the con crud I fought off ended up taking root in Stacy as we arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, knocking her flat for half the trip. Thankfully, she bravely powered through and ran her scheduled game on Saturday.
Even with those setbacks, it was a really good time. The games Stacy and I ran (Stacy with a new D&D adventure she created, and me with Shadowdark and Conan: The Hyborian Age scenarios) went really well and social time with some of my favorite people in tabletop gaming recharged my creative batteries even while we ran down our stamina with late night stories and celebratory libations.
Running games for strangers at conventions is an enjoyable challenge. In 2-3 hours we super charge a bond at the table, coming together to see how narrative choices and die rolls play out and make memories. Even when things go “all wrong” and a group ends up doomed, it can create unexpected comradery and, in fact, some of my favorite game sessions are ones where things go off the rails. It’s better to have a memorable gaming session than one that feels too straight forward without any surprises.
A few quick highlights from the weekend:
• Seeing Ben from Questing Beast on the showfloor, losing him in the crowd before I could tell him I liked his YouTube channel, then heading to my first game session and seeing him already there signed up to play my adventure.
• A player in my second Crucible game failing almost every single roll of the session, taking his Cleric through a tragi-comedy crisis of faith none of us could have foreseen.
• Michaël Croitō Ryū running a first edition Legends of the Five Ring scenario for a few of us after hours. My young Crab Clan warrior, dubbed the “Crab Rocket” by end of the session, brought a bit of chaos to the proceedings.
• Running my Conan game in the New Holland building, which heated up a lot in the midday sun – “As you traverse the desert, the sun looms large and its heat is stiffling and oppressive…which I’m sure all of us can empathize with right about now.”
• Late night chatter with Luke Gygax about the nature of the business and how thankful we are for all these opportunities while Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads played in the background – “Well, how did I get here?” indeed.
Now that Stacy and I are home, we need to rest up while hitting our next slate of writing deadlines before our big UK trip for D&D in a Castle and then Thought Bubble takes us to the well-earned finish line of Convention Season 2025. Wish us luck!
The Robert E. Howard Museum Needs Your Help
After over 110 years, the home of Robert E. Howard requires serious repairs: its foundation and piers are rotting and collapsing, there is termite damage to a large section of an outside wall, and many of the floors are starting to buckle and drop. While the hard-working folks of Project Pride in Cross Plains have restored and cared for the house since acquiring it back in the 1980s, their small volunteer army cannot address the extensive repairs that are needed. Professional restoration is required for this 100+ year old home on the National Historical Register, and it is needed now, before damage gets worse.
If REH’s work has left an impact on you over the decades, please consider donating to the cause-
You can help by heading HERE to the official website and making a donation. Current + Upcoming Releases
My event schedule is finally slowing down as we move closer to the end of the year.
• Game streamer and journalist Rob Weiland passed away just before Gamehole and there’s a fundraiser underway to help his family cover upcoming expenses. Please contribute if you can.
• Near Mint Condition has an extensive rundown of the Conan the Barbarian: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe hardcover that arrives in stores this week!
Jim
