When I first started this blog, I delved into a few posts about my background and how I found myself immersed in the world of tabletop role-playing games. I’ve always been fascinated by origin stories, and one of my favorite things to do is learn how others were introduced to this hobby. In honor of the Gen Con game convention happening in Indianapolis, IN this week, I thought it’d be fitting to revisit an old post about gaming conventions.

I’ve previously shared how I received the Holmes edition of Dungeons & Dragons as a birthday gift in the late 1970s, as well as my eye-opening experience when I first stumbled upon a game store and realized that there was actually much more to the hobby than I had ever dreamed.

In the following years, I developed a keen interest in the game convention listings found in Dragon magazine. Though I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from a gaming convention, the concept intrigued me. Encouraged by my supportive parents, in the spring of 1983, we made the journey from Rochester, NY to St. Catherine’s, Ontario, for the Niagara Gamefest & Computer Show.

To my young eyes, the convention was a wonderland. Having played D&D (and possibly AD&D by then) with my neighborhood friends for a few years, we were somewhat isolated in our gaming adventures. But this small, weekend gathering revealed to me just how popular this hobby was becoming.

Everywhere I looked, I discovered new RPGs that I had never even heard of before. And then there were the wargames. While I had some exposure to miniatures from Campaign HQ, a tiny gaming store in downtown Rochester, NY, I had never witnessed the grandeur of the massive miniature armies on display at the wargame section of the convention.

Yet, the most significant impact on me was the warm reception I received from other gamers, most of them older than me. As a 12-year-old, I was treated as an equal by everyone I encountered. It was an incredibly welcoming environment, and it didn’t matter whether I was joining college kids in a Car Wars event or testing my skills with seasoned veterans in a Napoleonics game – I felt at home. I was completely hooked.

Later that same year, I attended the granddaddy of them all – Gen Con, held at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside that summer. If my first convention amazed me, this one simply blew my mind. It was everything I had experienced before but multiplied tenfold.

The campus, nestled in a rural setting near Racine, felt comfortable enough for my parents to drop me off in the morning and pick me up in the evening. While I had been late in registering for specific events, it didn’t matter, as the concourse of the campus was brimming with open gaming sessions anyone could join.

Not a single minute was wasted during my time there. Groups of gamers gathered on the floor, spontaneously embarking on game sessions. People were playing Ogre just a few feet from a Champions group, while across the hall, an engaging Ace of Aces match was in full swing. Yet again, my age was irrelevant – I only had to stand there for a moment, and someone would invite me to join their game.

The epic miniature battles in the wargaming area left me in awe. The largest among them was a multi-day reenactment of one of the crusades. I spent hours marveling at the intricacy of the models and the meticulously crafted terrain.

The dealer’s room at Gen Con was nothing short of massive. Games, dice, miniatures, apparel, and every other gaming-related item you could imagine were on display. I’d wander from booth to booth, eagerly listening to the enthusiastic pitches from vendors.

Many of the vendors set up “mini-games” for attendees to try out their systems, which filled even more of my time. During one such demo for Gangbusters, I was fortunate to meet Mark Acres and Tracy Hickman. Mark, one of the game’s designers, and Tracy, who would later co-author the successful Dragonlance series, left a lasting impression on me.

Those early gaming conventions left me with cherished memories. I returned to Gen Con the following year and attended Origins the year after that. Although gaming has often faced social stigmas, which have lessened over time, the shared experience of a large gaming convention has always been refreshing to me.

These days, I try to seek out conventions that take place further away, and in 2018, I was fortunate enough to attend the UK Games Expo in Birmingham. Exploring gaming events in different parts of the world has added a new layer of excitement to my hobby. It’s fascinating to see how gaming brings people together in a shared passion for adventure and imagination.

Nowadays, I find myself living in Indiana, and I frequently roam the halls at Gen Con in Indianapolis. While things may not feel exactly the same as they once did, the allure of the convention draws me back year after year. Having returned to the hobby after so many years, I’m happy to witness the incredible diversity it has now embraced.

And what about you? If you’ve made it this far, something must have piqued your interest. Have you had the pleasure of experiencing game conventions? If so, which ones have you attended, and what aspects did you enjoy the most? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share in the comments.