If you’re curious about what Gamehole Con is like, weren’t able to attend in-person this year, or want a different perspective on the event, check out my recap here where I go through some of my highlights! 

Jump to: 

• Vendor hall
• Playing games
• Talks and events
• Community and acceptance
• Where to next!

Vendors at Gamehole Con

Gamehole Con’s vendor hall is kind of like if you took just the indie RPG creators from a convention like Origins and put just those folks in one appropriately sized hall to 50/50 split the space with artists and crafters.  

Plus, and I think this is worth mentioning early because this consistently has impacted me at conventions, there’s carpet, which dampens the overall sound and makes it a bit easier for sound-sensitive folks to be in there for longer periods of time.  It was busy and interesting and engaging but not overwhelming. 

From the attendee side: This is just the right size and mix and comfort level to browse, and the concentration of TTRPG folks was very cool.  I got to visit booths from tons of friends all in one spot, and I found tons of wonderful games at every booth.  I’ve picked up quite a few new games to review, and I’m very excited to start digging in.

From the vendor side: Vendors actively worked with each other to share tips and supplies, and it was just a very wholesome environment where everyone wanted each other to succeed, respected each other’s work, and wanted to hang out.  Conversations with attendees were also GREAT.  Everyone who came by was kind and excited to be at the convention… and everyone also already knew what a TTRPG was.  There was no need to explain what a TTRPG was, and folks had some great questions that came from an understanding and appreciation for this type of game.

Playing games at Gamehole Con

When we get into games, I didn’t get to play in a ton of scheduled games because I was boothing and doing panels/events (which I’ll get into next), but the one game I did play was a highlight of the convention.  

I got to play Blood on the Clocktower again this year with a wonderful group of folks who made it quite a special experience.  Our game runner was FANTASTIC and managed a rowdy group, and the group did a great job getting into character and bringing chaos into the circle.  

The special thing about this group was that most, if not all, folks here knew each other and it was a regular meet up between friends who maybe work with each other or in the same space but only all get to be in one room at conventions like Gamehole Con.

And it was just joyful play.

This type of experience is what I have seen and participated in specifically at Gamehole Con.  There’s friends who only get to meet in person one or two times a year coming together to play and enjoy the presence of their friends, and it applies to everyone from attendees to indie creators to folks who have made it in the industry.  

At places like GenCon, at least for me, it is a different level of stress from how huge the convention is, and I’m less likely to just happen to see a friend while walking about.  Things have to be more scheduled to meet up, and, even then, it takes a bit of work to find each other sometimes.

At Gamehole Con, you regularly meet friends by happenstance, and you witness others doing the same.  Folks are joyfully waving down the hall because they see an out-of-state friend for the first time since last Gamehole Con… or maybe are just excited to recognize the person who saved their character from getting eaten by a dragon the year before.

I think the tone, size, and history of the convention uniquely lends itself to being a space of joyful connection through games, and it is a wonderful feeling to be part of it.

Talks and events at Gamehole Con

Gamehole Con hosts a wide variety of panels for folks who are looking to improve their GM’ing skills, create their own games, and discover new ways to use the games they already love.

I was on three panels during the convention and attended three others, and I learned quite a bit from each one, including from the other speakers on the panels that I was on.

Here’s my schedule of panels that I was on, and you can find out more details about each panel here, and I also participated in a mentoring session, in association with the POC creators initiatives, to interview potential writers for my next project!

As an attendee, the panels that I sat in on are listed below along with my #1 takeaway from each one:

Cartoonists on Games and Gamers – cartoons/comics about TTRPGs have been around for a while but also seem to be a bit underutilized by the overall TTRPG community

Breaking Into the Industry: Getting the Most out of Conventions – Keeping your introduction really clear, tight, and informative is really important (something like “hello, I’m Mark, and I’m an editor” or “Hello, I’m Steph from TTRPGkids”)

What Makes a Monster? – Something like a wolf is more of a creature or environmental challenge whereas a wolf covered in strange crystals who is hunting you to siphon off your mental energy is a monster because it is unfamiliar, a threat, and actively seeks something that is directly opposed to the needs of the player characters.

If you attend Gamehole Con in the future, I highly recommend attending some of the panels.  These talks are for everyone, whether you are in the industry or just enjoy playing games (for example, the monsters panel would be GREAT for GM’s), and you get to learn from industry leaders who have spent a significant amount of their time and career teaching themselves all these tips. 

Community and acceptance at Gamehole Con

Gamehole Con is an inclusive and accepting place, and I think this is largely due to the work and efforts of both the convention itself and the many initiatives and charities that are present at the convention. 

D8 Summit, the POC creators events, Tabletop Gaymers, and more are at the convention, and their presence helps it to feel like a safe place that is going to actively support all attendees and highlight creators of all backgrounds. 

One element of these org’s presence is that they submit for panels with diverse representation to be able to share different perspectives and normalize having folks from different backgrounds getting into the industry.   They are able to share their unique takes on topics that might not otherwise be talked about and share their knowledge with a community that wants to listen.  

This helps the individual to be highlighted when they otherwise might not be able to get the spotlight at other conventions, and it helps the industry as a whole to thrive by looking at the total sum of knowledge and experience that it contains instead of focusing on a few areas and groups of people.

Personally, I initially attended Gamehole Con last year because it was recommended by folks who were involved in these orgs and initiatives, and they told me about the work they were doing at the convention.  

It helped me to trust the space and ease some of the nerves about going to a new con on my own.  

Even though I’m not part of the target support demographic of all of these groups, their presence shows me that the space is welcoming.  It shows that the community sees some of the places it needs to work on and is doing something about it. 

Additionally, I get to meet my friends here every year! Sometimes, this is the only time I get to catch up with certain folks in person because we either met online through TTRPGs or just live out of state, and it is AMAZING to get to have lunch or a snack break with someone, see how they’re doing, share physical books, and give a hug.

The community around Gamehole Con is one of friendship, inclusion, and having each other’s backs in a dragon fight, and I’m here for it!

Where to next?

Next, I’m going to U-Con in Michigan!

I’ll be running my first booth in a full year there, and I’ll be bringing my own work and the works of others in the TTRPG community (like Bright Bard, 9th Level Games, Wet Ink Games, and Lone Colossus Games) to the show to help showcase the variety of all-ages TTRPGs that are out there. 

Stop by at U-Con in November to say hi, and, until then, happy gaming!

—

And… if you liked this post, make sure to subscribe to the TTRPGkids monthly newsletter and Patreon to stay up to date on the latest reviews, tips and tricks, game and podcast list updates, and more! Thank you for playing tabletop RPGs with your kids and sharing this awesome hobby with the next generation!