Knowing the best way to prep your game for a convention can be hard. Fantastic GM Mike Paine shares how he does it.
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How to Run a Convention Game with Mike Paine – Wargaming Recon #155
Posted in Featured, Games, Podcasts
Tagged Events, Havoc Con, Historical Gaming, Miniatures Games, People, Podcasts, Pulp, Pulp Wargaming, Troll in the Corner Podcast Network, wargaming
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5 Tips for Wargamer Dads – Wargaming Recon #154
Being a wargamer parent is hard. You’re pulled in different directions at the same time. Try these five tips to be a successful wargamer dad (or mom).
5 Tips to be a Successful Wargamer Dad
- Put your child first
- Get creative
- Planning is key
- Communication is vital
- Technology is your friend
Posted in Featured, Games, Podcasts
Tagged Miniatures Games, Parenting, Podcasts, Troll in the Corner Podcast Network, Wargamer Dad
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TotalCon 2016 – Wargaming Recon #153
Dilly Green Bean Games’ TotalCon 2016 Cocktail Hour Class Photo depicting some of the talented industry guests, con staff, vendors, and your’s truly too.
TotalCon is one of the most exciting, entertaining, and enjoyable tabletop gaming conventions in New England. They successfully combine RPGs, board games, old school RPGs, minis gaming, and live events together for a truly geeky time. This year was the 30th anniversary for the convention. We cover the con in this episode.
Events Attended
- Tiny Epic Galaxies with industry guest GM Ben Gerber
- Convoy to Malta War at Sea Game with GM Dan Eustace
- Writing for RPGs panel with industry guests Michael Curtis, Jeffrey Talanian, and Mike Pondsmith
- My wife and daughter visited for the afternoon
- Riding the Rocket the First 5 Years at TSR panel with industry guest Tim Kask
- Playing 1775 with listeners (and friends) Patrick and Cary
- Dilly Green Bean Games Cocktail Party
Problems Encountered
- Hotel under renovations despite promising con it’d be finished before Feb 1, 2016
- Guests were given wrong rooms
- Interior of some rooms were covered with plaster dust (on the bed, TV, etc)
- Problems with the water in some bathrooms. Turns off randomly, only gives scaldingly hot water in spurts
- Telephones were not hooked up/operational in some rooms
- Furniture haphazardly tossed into some rooms
- It impacted all rooms but surprisingly it heavily hit suites and rooms for industry guests
- More than 60 parking spots are filled with construction debris and tractor trailers storing items
- Construction debris could be found in some hallways making it difficult for attendees with limited mobility to get by
- The hotel’s restaurant had exceedingly slow service
- NONE OF THIS WAS TOTALCON’S FAULT. They did their due diligence but the hotel gave them incorrect information.
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Mailbag
Via our Facebook page:
- Listener John said of Ep 152: Pulp Wargaming Hanghai with Mike Paine “Great to hear the Grand Poobah speak and enlighten us all. Nice job.”
- Listener Richard said of Ep 152: Pulp Wargaming Hanghai with Mike Paine “”Great interview.”
Do you have questions, comments, or constructive feedback? Then please share it with us on Facebook, Twitter, or via e-mail at [email protected].
GIVEAWAY IS OVER. Listener Kyle won the free weekend pass to TotalCon. Here is his 5 star iTunes review:
Wargaming Recon is dedicated to the memory of long time listener Andrew who helped to give the show its name. I ask all listeners to join me in a moment of silence in Andrew’s honor.
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Thank you to:
- Dave & the Wargames @ BattleShades Facebook group
- Patrick
- Chris P.
Announcements
Wargaming Recon LIVE Page
Jonathan is recording Wargaming Recon LIVE for your viewing pleasure. You can watch the live streaming episodes through our brand new LIVE page.
It shows the live streaming recording, a calendar of upcoming live recordings, and it features a chatroom for you to chat with other listeners and with Jonathan!
Please visit our LIVE page to be an active part of the community.
The Maine Historical Wargamers Association (they’re the people behind HUZZAH “Historical Wargaming for New England” are a new sponsor for the show. So grateful for their support. Please be sure to go to Huzzah May 13-16, 2016 at the Doubletree Inn in South Portland, Maine. I’ll be there doing a LIVE podcast recording.
Episode Guide Tells You What’s in the Pipe
Some Reminders:
- We suggest Mobile Users use Pocket Casts ($3.99 for iOS, Lite version is FREE). $3.99 for Android users.
- Read the Episode Guide for sneak peeks at future episodes.
Many thanks to Jeremy Kostiew, Troll ITC’s logo designer, for our amazing logo. Check out his portfolio at MightyNightGaunt.com
Penny for Your Thoughts
We hope you enjoy this episode of Wargaming Recon and welcome your feedback. Send it all to:
- [email protected] (Audio files welcome)
- Leave Telephone Voicemail: (347) 470-4263
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Our Theme Song
“Downtown” by Matthew Ebel is our theme song. Please give his other music a listen at www.matthewebel.com.
This recording is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 license.
Posted in Featured, Games, Podcasts
Tagged Board/Card Games, Contests, Events, Historical Gaming, Miniatures Games, People, Podcasts, TotalCon, Troll in the Corner Podcast Network, War at Sea
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Jonathan’s TotalCon 2016 Schedule
TotalCon begins this TODAY! If you haven’t pre-registered don’t worry. You can get your ticket on site. There are heaps of games, events, panels, and fun to be had.
This year I will be in attendance with Troll in the Corner owner & Indie Talks host Ben Gerber. Ben, as a Guest of Honor, is running a few events and is also sitting on a slew of panels. Be sure to look at Ben’s Schedule to see what he is doing.
If you are coming to TotalCon this year, I’d love to meet you. Below you can find my public con schedule. Just look for the tall guy wearing either a black or gray Wargaming Recon t-shirt. If you like us on Facebook you will be able to see a photo of me during the con to make it easier for you to find me.
Friday February 21
1-3pm Arrival/Stairs of the Immortal: Duke Crestfaul and the Lightess/Small Board and Card Games: Big Fun!
Hoping to arrive for 1pm. If I make it in time and if there is still space I’m hoping to play either in Guest of Honor Jay Libby’s Stairs of the Immortal RPG or Guest of Honor Ben Gerber’s Small Board and Card Games event. Don’t play many RPGs so it’d be nice to try something different and although I own a copy of Love Letter I’ve never played it. No matter what happens it is sure to be fun.
3-5pm Meander
This is a great time to visit the vendor room and then walk around taking photos. There’ll be a lot of people playing games and fun stuff happening.
5pm Dinner
I’ll be dining in Pike’s Peak with Guest of Honor Ben Gerber. If you see us don’t be shy, feel free to come up and say hi!
6-7pm Perusing the Con
There are numerous events I need to pop by. You can find me visiting:
Guest of Honor Peter “Blix” Bryant’s Blixapalooza in the lobby.
7-11pm Convoy to Malta
Convoy to Malta is a War at Sea event (GMed by Dan Eustace) in the minis room. Dan has taken the standard War at Sea game as created by Wizards of the Coast and he’s enhanced it with resources, info, and ideas from the excellent Axis & Allies ForuMINI online community. Dan’s events are always a blast. If you’re not playing in anything at 7pm you should try to get into the game.
11pm Podcast the Day’s Events
When I return to my hotel room I am recording my thoughts on the day. With luck I may even be able to edit and release the recordings from the con, for your listening pleasure. This will most likely be a LIVE recording you can watch on YOUTUBE! Should warn if you watch the live recording I may be imbibing alcoholic beverages so it will be for mature audiences only. The actual podcast episode will be safe for all per usual.
Saturday February 22nd
9am Breakfast
A guy has to eat. The hotel serves a good breakfast buffet. This is a good way to meet other gamers and catch up. Feel free to have breakfast with me if you’d like (everyone pays their own way).
11am Writing for RPGs (Auditorium)
Industry guests discuss the process of writing for a roleplaying game. The panel is moderated by Jenn Gerber. Looking forward to learning a lot about the writing process.
Noon-2/3pm Lunch/Family visit
My wife and infant daughter are coming to visit and check out the con. My wife has never been to TotalCon before and there’s a lot of people who want to meet the baby.
1-5pm Hanghai Hustle
GM Mike Paine is running his Hanghai pulp wargame. After my family leaves Mike said he’ll make room for me to play even if the game is half over. Mike is one of the GMs I ALWAYS look for at a gaming convention. YOU. NEED. TO. PLAY. THIS. GAME.
5-7pm Riding the Rocket TSR’s First 5 Years
Guest of Honor Tim Kask discusses the first five years of TSR’s existence covering how they made Dungeons & Dragons and hopefully Chainmail too.
7pm Dinner
Consider this an informal meetup. Any who wish to can join me for dinner at the hotel restaurant Pike’s Peak. Everyone pays their own way but we can have a meal and discuss the fun at TotalCon. If you see me don’t be shy, feel free to come up and say hi! Please try to connect with me BEFOREHAND so I can be sure everyone is together before going into the restaurant. Makes it easier on the restaurant staff.
11pm Private Event
I can’t speak about this but please know it has the opportunity to open quite a few doors for Wargaming Recon.
Sunday February 23rd
11am Open Gaming
I’ll be around to game for a bit. Got a game you’d like to play? I’m also bringing some board/card games to play. Maybe I’ll pack X-wing minis too
Noon Adios
Homeward bound.
Posted in Announcements, Games
Tagged Announcements, Board/Card Games, Collectible Minis, Events, Historical Gaming, Miniatures Games, People, Pulp Wargaming, TotalCon, Troll in the Corner Podcast Network
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