NTRPG Con 2025 - Acquisitions Part 1

NTRPG Con 2025 is coming to a close, and it's time to start taking some inventory. Some highlights (in no particular order) include:

Awesome to See one Convention Actively Supporting Another!

I'm regularly amazed at just how awesome our RPG community can be. We have some great people, some of which actively try to come off as assholes, but that's a discussion for another day. I can think of one guy who kind of is an asshole, but also a good guy....just don't be a fanboy grognard or a psuedo-intellectual rules-lawyer....

...anyway, again something for another day or for shit-talking at the bar after-hours at a con.

Speaking of cons, (and this wasn't an intentional bad attempt at a transition) I've stopped going to the big cons (Origins & GenCon) and made North Texas RPG Con my "home" convention. Already stocking up for next year's event (more than halfway there as far as whiskey aquisition) but I decided to branch out a bit and attend Long Con again. We're 129 days out from that convention and I did go once, but it was a bit of a drive. It's only five hours, but the one time I went it felt a LOT longer. Not something I'm looking forward to, but will just have to suck it up....

....unless I decide to get on the NTRPG party bus! Wait, what? Yep, NTRPG is helping support Long Con by making it easier for people to attend. How cool is that?!

From Facebook: "NTRPGCON will be sponsoring the NTX Express from Dallas to Longview for LongCon this year. We are leasing a 60 passenger bus with WiFi and BYOB party favors. Anyone flying into Dallas is welcome aboard. We will be departing from the Westin Hotel in Irving. The Westin has also agreed to let anyone who wants to park there, from our group, park for free. More details to come as we have them."

I have to assume this bus won't work out for me because of timing, or if I need/have to stay at a Marriott to maintain my status (it's important to me), but I have at least few days out of the 129 remaining to get that figured out.

My NTRPG 2024 "Haul"

Last weekend was North Texas RPG con and it was a good convention for me, for the most part. The worst part was probably Sunday with the %!$@#ing fire alarms.

I got to see almost everyone I wanted to see and the Whiskey Tasting went better than last year, but if I served everyone toilet water (as-in Eau de toilette) it'd have been better received than last year's hooch!  I finally experienced the Chariot races and played in an OSR game, a MCC game, and in a Dare-Luck Club game. Unfortunately I had to bow out of one game because the tasting was scheduled for an odd time, presumably for an attendee that didn't actually attend the event. These things happen.....especially when the schedule is made months in advance. We'll square that away next year.

Since Erik posted last Sunday I took the opportunity to have a leisurely drive back home and get myself mentally prepped to go back to work....something that was actually needed this year.

Today, before I mention my "haul" from NTRPG, consider this a PSA: Ticket sales have already been opened up for next year. Don't fiddle-fart around and wait until next spring to get yourself one of the limited opportunities to attend.....

This year, between the Dealer's Room and the auction(s), I mostly picked up art and modules. Only a couple of items fall outside this range:

I've been kicking around an idea for a choose-your-own-adventure that I wanted to write and I've collected a few of the Endless Quest books to look at as an example. When I saw this one from Douglas Niles I had to have it. I wrote to Mr. Niles back in the day after finishing one of his novels that I just could not put down. I think I read it in record time, which is generally not something I do. My reading pace is usually a bit haphazard. To my surprise he wrote me a response to my thank you letter.

So his work is something I'm often on the lookout for....

At the Saturday auction there were four (?) sets of old D&D minis that were up for grabs. The other three were probably more desirable because they were generally unpainted and had the insert ad paper in them. I have no idea if I got these at a good price or not, but it's for the con to begin with and I wanted the box more than anything.....

Now we get into the modules.....

I bought the Pacesetter adventure from the convention tournament that I completely forgot to try and play in this year. It wasn't even on my radar until they were announcing the winners.....d'oh!

I also picked up a free RPG day DCC adventure...for free and I was gifted the last adventure from one of the writers (or was it editor?) that ran it for a few of us at the con. I have to do some research to see if I can get in on some online games this larger group has.

Of course I had to get the convention tournament (reprint) that I didn't pick up last year...or at least I don't think I got it last year. It would not surprise me at all if I find a copy later that I had failed to document as having picked up before.....

I also managed to pick up a 1st Edition adventure signed by the author and the cover artist...

Now we get to the majority of my purchases for this con...the art!

I paid (probably) too much money for this piece, but I really don't care. This money raised from this piece wasn't for the con, but part of a fund raiser to help Darlene with some home repair expenses. Her story is pretty cool, and it isn't mine to tell (and I think Wikipedia is totally missing the mark!), but you can get some of it here.

Now I'm not some philanthropist here.....I only pick up pieces I like and I liked this for a couple of reasons. It's just Darlene's sign from Garycon IX that was salvaged by Bad Mike from the post-con trash heap. He schlepped it back to Texas and she added her signature and a quick (?) mermaid drawing. This thing is absurdly large and the story is amusing to me. It's going to cost me a small fortune to get it framed and displaying it will be hassle....but it will definitely be a unique piece.

I did, however, pick up a more "normal" piece that I hope to get framed and displayed at my work desk. I think it will accurately portray what I mean when I try to explain to my co-workers what I mean when I tell them I'm a gamer.

They still won't get it, but whatever.

At my first NTRPG I picked up some cheap-assed prints from Jason Braun (now Brauncowski). Kind of crappy prints really....as in how they were reproduced, not crappy drawings. Now I firmly recally paying an appropriate price at the time, so that's not a complaint even though it sounds like one. I've since picked up nicer prints and originals from Jason and I was pretty "meh" when I first saw this piece, but I do have another one in this style and this one kind of gnawed at the back of my mind and I found myself keep coming back to look at it.....eventually I realized it was pretty cool, I was being a cheap dumbass, and if I didn't pick it up I'd be pissed that I hadn't when I had the chance. I'm really looking forward to getting this matted and framed so I can get it up on my wall.

I floating art shelves all over my house, and I have a few more to still put up. The idea is I can rotate what I have on display because I have a lot of framed pieces, with more still needing to be framed. I try to pick up something every trip, and I'm kind of surprised that I'd say about half of it is smaller B&W pieces. 

I have quite a few pieces from James Shields (jeshields) and his work hits a sweet spot for me. It doesn't hurt he's a good guy and I enjoy his company (I can say that about most every artist I've met, but I've had more opportunities with James). This year he brought the whole family and I played in two games with him and his son. After meeting the family I felt bad I wasn't able to break away and visit him at his home last time I was in his general vicinity (Alaska) while on a business trip. Hopefully I'll go back this next year and have another opportunity.

Anyway, I bought two pieces from his wife (well, she was manning the booth at the time), a relatively larger piece used as a cover on an RPG product and the smaller piece from his MACE book, which I had the pleasure of backing on Kickstarter.

What I really like about this cover piece....I don't have the name/product info handy at the moment. Is that it's kind of unfinished, as it was. This is the original and you can see all the marker strokes. I'm sure when scanned in it's perfect for the end product, but the raw initial work is pretty cool on its own.

The smaller piece is one of the monsters from MACE, but I liked the Dwarf myself. He's what made me want to pick it up.

One of the things James does, which is cool as well as frustrating (because I have to make a decision and I know I'm going to frame it out...) is that he has a loose stack of small pieces that he gives away as a bonus if you buy certain other pieces (like anything from this book or that other....). I was surprised that this giant eagle wasn't for sale on its own, but I'll take it.

I like the tabletop scene, but since its trimmed to the edge of the art it doesn't lend itself to easy framing. I do have a big (enough) jug of deep-cast resin I need to use up and I'm thinking of making a big block of black resin, fixing this piece to that so it forms a backing & border, and then adding a thinner layer of clear resin on top. After getting it cleaned up and polished I'd drill holes behind the art, into the thick black layer, to serve as a pencil holder. I think it could come out pretty cool, would serve as a learning project, and give me something good-looking and useful for my desk.......assuming I can pull it off.

NTRPG Con - Day 4 - Con Wrap Up

All good things must come to an end, and NTRPG Con 2024 is no different. Sure, a handful of games are still running, but the dealer's room is mostly packed up, if not totally.

Yesterday was the Awards Ceremony and the Main Auction. ShadowDark won the Three Castles Award this year. Above is Kelsey with the first of the new Three Castles Awards designed by TSR alumni Diesel. Note, that Kelsey and Diesel have agreed to come on the Talking Crit Livestream with me and Bad Mike later this summer. Oh, and also James Raggi, Chris Clark, Ben Burns, and one or two others that Bad Mike and I currently are holding up our sleeves. It's going to be a great summer :)

Thanks to all the supporters of The Tavern that I had the amazing opportunity to speak with over the last few days. Your support means more than I can ever put into words.

NTRPG Con - Day 3 - Dealer Room Pics and More

 

Random NTRPG Con Day 1 Pics

 

Someone Donated a Very Special Item for the Saturday Night Midnight Auction @ NTRPG Con

Better start saving those nickles, boys and girls! This opportunity might not come again ;)

Heading to NTRPG Con in the AM

Over the next few days, posts may become spotty as I enjoy everything that NTRPG Con has to offer.

I'll try and regal you with con photos and more :)

NTRPG 2024 (a bit of a PSA)

This week we've passed into the NTRPG-60 day mark, which is significant for planning purposes. Now I'm not running anything this year, but if I wanted to....I'm too late. The deadline for submitting events was yesterday. The con has had a record number of submissions at 368 games, which for a con capped at 500 attendees, IIRC they have 503 currently sold, which I'm thinking includes some vendors, special guests, and staff, so a bump over the cap is to be expected.

The 60 day mark is significant because if you're flying down your best ticket prices are before that mark, and you can expect price bumps at 30 days, 14 days, and a sharp upturn to the day before. It's also important for generalized planning purposes. 

From an organizer (not con staff, more like you're running an event) perspective now is the time you're checking to make sure that your adventures are written, hopefully you have staff lined up, etc. Things that aren't where they need to be can still be addressed, and hopefully fixed.

I'm running an event that isn't on the schedule, as it's invite only (and I don't do the invites) and I've got my "adventure" prepped, actually had that part ready for over a year now. I've got some freebies for attendees that are halfway done. The initial prep work is done, I just figured out what I think is a better way to do something, more like a better way to make something....nicer, so I'm taking the opportunity to do so, otherwise I'd be 110% done already.

One of the things I love about small conventions is that there is a lot less separation between the attendees and the organizers. I didn't come by the information about 368 games and 503 attendees by any sort of real legwork....I just made sure to follow the NTRPG Facebook page.

Early event registration (as in table seats for events) has already came and went, but the con only releases half of the seats at that time and between that and the new events....there's a lot of seats still available....

...and they will become available tomorrow, April 15th at 1800 (6pm CDT). 

So if you got yourself tickets to NTRPG 2024, you have time to get event tickets tomorrow and hopefully get your travel squared away.

Believe it or Not, NTRPG 2024 Prep Has Begun

 

So I know that North Texas RPG Con is like 27 weeks away, but this weekend is the time to begin preparing for next year. 

So the last 3, maybe 4 if you count the unintentional 1st time, conventions I've hosted a tasting event. Last year's event was...well it was interesting. By most accounts everyone had fun, except maybe me. The themed...libations....I had brought, at no small expense or effort, were simply atrocious. I mean they were bad. Everyone had fun in the shared misery and in making fun of the drinks.

It was a fair cop....the drinks were pretty bad. 

Thing is that I brought an extra...a bonus...drink that was supposed to taste bad, at least relatively bad, but it ended up being the group's favorite.

A couple weeks ago I delivered a walnut liqueur to my Step-Father as souvenir from the same distillery that I got a few of the bad drinks from. I don't know why I'm actively trying to avoid saying "Whisky". That stuff.....that stuff was pretty much the best alcohol I've ever tasted. Seriously....as bad as all that whisky was, this walnut liqueur was on the opposite side of the taste spectrum. I'm going to try and see if I can get some more imported since I'm not going back to Germany anytime soon.

I've already go the Whisky procured for 2024. It's actually what I had originally planned for this year before I had an opportunity to try and get some Germany Whiskies (yes, it's a thing and if you're paying attention you already know it wasn't good....I think they need another couple hundred years to work on it) and when I had a friend visiting special for the con. 2024 will be themed like 2023 was and I plan on having coasters for the participants again, as well as a special bonus drink....but this time it'll be an actual drink, and just not a taste of an alcohol.

It's a custom drink I've made before, but the infused Whisky I use takes a month or two to...well infuse...and the main ingredient/mixer will take some time as well. Today was the first stage of work on those drinks. I am not willing to have a repeat of last year, so I'm starting now so I can re-do everything in time if needed.

In addition to working on next year's stuff I finally managed to bag and box my various Zines I mentioned, I don't know....months ago. I got the bags easily enough and managed to figure out that a certain size magazine board cut in half fit the bags perfectly. I just had to spend some time to fix my paper slicer....ends up it was easier than anticipated.

The zines do fit amazingly well in those cheap Harbor Freight ammo boxes I got for about $2.50 each. I just put them all into two for right now, but I'll get off my butt eventually and actually sort/file them into a few boxes.

NTRPG Con - Its a Wrap!

It's pretty much a wrap here at NTRPG Con. All that is left is the final goodbyes, to be said at the hotel bar in a few, after a few drinks and then heading off to bed. We need to catch the 7 am shuttle to the airport in the morning.

To say NTRPG Con was amazing this year would be an understatement. It broke attendance records - 517 attendees if I recall correctly - and more first-timers than I can ever remember. 

A reoccurring note from the new attendees? Even for first-timers, NTRPG Con is like being with family. The environment is relaxed, the people are welcoming, the OSR vibe is strong as hell, and the weekend went by way too fast. Isn't that always the way.

As an aside, I met well over a dozen attendees that told me not only was this their first time at NTRPG Con, but that they learned about the con due to The Tavern's YouTube Channel. Now THAT is a good use of one's influence ;)

If I have one regret, it's that I didn't get pics with all of the people I wish I had. James Raggi and Courtney Campbell are at the top of my "missed pics list", but there are others. Still, I got some quality time in with both, so my complaints are minimal. Heh!

So glad I finally caught up with Kelsey Dionne of ShadowDark fame and fortune today, after a weekend of the two of us constantly missing each other. Just as awesome in person as she is online, if not more so. Her wife is pretty cool too! Look for more ShadowDark coverage on the blog and the YouTube Channel, and hopefully a return of Kelsey for another Talking Crit Live. There is simply so much for us to talk about.

Got to meet Aaron Koelman face-to-face for the first time. Simply an amazing man. I truly appreciate everything this community has done to support Aaron and his family in these difficult times. We connect on many levels, and for that, I consider myself blessed.

Alright, time for a mini-photo dump:

NTRPG Con Day 3 - Top Secret With Merle Rasmussen

This morning at 8 AM, Rach and I played in a Top Secret: New World Order session with Merle Rasmussen. Too early to normally be awake and fed, but worth it to play with Mr. Top Secret himself.

Our team was sent to recover a nuclear bomb lost in the Aussie Outback over 60 years ago, a Broken Arrow mission. Needless to say, we went off script in unexpected directions as a group, but Merle handled us well.

As is usual with Merle, Legos were involved ;)

Afterward, there was a Small Publishers seminar by Zach Glazar and Skeeter Green. Well done and informative.

Did I mention Steve Marsh and I caught up after the seminar? Note, the pic is from earlier in the con ;)

Next up - Awards & Auction

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. 

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

NTRPG Con - MCC Did a Job on Me, Now I am a Real Mutie!

Today is Day 2 of NTRPG Con, and it started early for us. There was a podcaster breakfast at 7 am (ungodly time if you ask me), but we made it by around 730. Great bunch of folks and always great to get some Facetime in with other casters in the community.

After breakfast, Rach and I napped until our noon MCC RPG session - Hail Ceaser Salad! run by Ian McGarty. It was an extremely entertaining and fun funnel. Funnels work well as convention sessions - character death becomes part of the fun. 

We had well over a dozen character deaths among the players - Rach and I only had one death each time for (pure luck), but others burned through their sheets and had to grab a second ;)

We have another livestream tonight!

https://youtube.com/live/ZtuSIRdZGQg?feature=share

NTRPG Con - We Wuz Fuzzy Heroes!

Rach and I played in our NTRPG Con 2023 experience - Fuzzy Heroes from Inner City Games.  We had a blast!

Chris Clark ran a game full of puns (no pun is truly bad), stuffed toys, dolls, homemade terrain, Halloween decorations, and more. A great time was had by all, and the two-hour time slot blew by in no time at all.

Before the game, I got to meet James Raggi in person, as well as Courtney Campbell, and a few members of The Tavern's community for whom this was their first time at NTRPG Con. So many first-timers, so many hands to shake, and hugs to give.

Tonight at 9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central there will be a live Whiskey Tasting. You can catch the live stream at The Tavern's Youtube Channel -https://www.youtube.com/tenkarstavern

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. 

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

NTRPG Con - Day Zero - The Socializing

I seriously find it amazing that today is technically Day Zero of NTRPG Con. It's the Pre-Con Get It On, but the number of attendees that are here the day/evening before is rivaling a typical Thursday Cn Morning. Holy shit, it's a beautiful thing to see. I shook hands and hugged more people this afternoon and tonight than I usually do in an entire con. How awesome is that?

Mike & I had an amazing live stream from the vendor hall. Special guests galore, but if you want to hear some amazing stories about Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, watch Jim Kitchen retell some amazing stories about both. Tonight's live stream is linked below to start with the stories from Jim.

https://www.youtube.com/live/kLlLXWGuEBo?feature=share&t=4970

Full livestream below: