Good News! The OSR at GenCon Again!

I'm passing along a post by Bill Barsh of Pacesetter Games & Simulations... :-)

I would like to announce that for the second straight year, there will be an OSR booth at Gen Con! Last year, Joe Browning of XRP did a fantastic job and really gave the OSR a boost. This year, I will be running the booth, with some help from the good guys at Faster Monkey Games. 

So far we have some great OSR companies participating including Expeditious Retreat Press, Black Blade Publishing, Faster Monkey Games, Center Stage Miniatures, Frog God Games, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Henchmen Abuse, Weird Adventures and Pacesetter Games & Simulations. There will probably be more to add to this list.

If you are an OSR publisher, send me an email I will get the relevant information to you.

Just like last year, I am offering up the OSR booth as a nexus for anyone who would like to use it as a meeting place. I will also bring along a whiteboard and you can post information during the con regarding events, open gaming, etc.

For more information, contact me at your convenience at bbarsh@pacesettergames.com

Gen Con Round Up

Well, Suzi and I are finally home. Gen Con was great and it was fun seeing everyone. We're tired and still have several more post-con things to do, but thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth!

Day Three of the OSR booth (and a whole picture!)

Day three was quite busy and the traffic heavy. Today began with a short podcast interview about the OSR that should appear in a week or so at All Games Considered and we've now sold out of several different titles and I believe have only a few remaining copies of some others. I have to say the highlight of the day was the nice long conversation with Frank Mentzer who dropped by the booth to talk about his future plans. I do admit finding them very interesting.

We've been having a blast so far and I'm really pleased to be so busy.

***Picture in which one can see the booth, John Bingham, Tavis Allison (who's really helping out with the Gygax Memorial Fund) and the back of Sniderman of The Savage Afterworld. As you can see from his shirt, he's a master of fashion.... :)***

Day Two of the OSRG booth

I am tuckered out. :) Finally got to met John Bingham and chat a bit as well hang out at the booth. Friday went well, lots of people and conversation. Sorry I haven't any pictures today - I honestly forgot to take any. I am total picture-taker fail. :) I think tomorrow may be a bit of madness given the Thursday response. Sat is usually the big day as all the weekenders come it.

The OSRG Booth (day 1)

Whew! It's been a very busy day at the OSR booth. We've got everything up and running and we're doing good business. There's been a lot of smiling faces when it dawns on a passer-by what exactly the booth is selling. :) Had some great chats with various people, met some of you guys I know from online. Tomorrow is the Gen Con tourney game, The Obsidian Sands of Syncrates. I'll have to see which of the 3 groups manages to claim 1st place.

Below is a less-blurry pick of the big line of racks in the booth. Thanks to everyone who's come out all ready and hope those of you who haven't drop by for a look.

The OSRG Booth Unveiled

We've got pics! Everything's done except for a few final touch-ups before the dealer hall opens tomorrow. :)


Here's a pic of the booth from the corner looking in...

Here's a pick of the front left of the booth...

And lastly a sadly blurry look at the wall 'o goodies... (my picture-taking-fu is weak - I'll do better tomorrow)

The OSRG Booth (the beginning)

Here are two pics of the booth from right after we moved everything in from the loading dock. It's always hot and sweaty work. The AC isn't turned on until Wednesday evening after they kick out all of the exhibitors. :)

The front of the booth.

And our gigantic pile 'o goodies.

Off to Gen Con

We're off to Gen Con! See you all at booth 1541!

Booth Signs are In!

The signs for the booth just showed up in the mail today. There's only a few days left before we pack up and head on over to Indianapolis for Gen Con 2011. I've got so much old-school goodness that I've rented a trailer for everything to travel in.

So drop by the booth (#1541) and help me get better gas mileage on the trip back home! :)

Gygax Memorial Fund at the OSRG booth at Gen Con

We're glad to announce that the Gygax Memorial Fund will be at the OSRG booth (#1541) at Gen Con 2011! I like to think it's a perfect fellowship and hope that the Fund's presence at Gen Con will help them reach their goals. Below is a message from the Fund to everyone who loves the game.
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Fellow beneficiaries of Gary Gygax's inspiration and legacy,

On Gary's birthday this July 27th, I'd like your help publicizing the Gygax Memorial Fund and its goal of building a monument in his honor.

The Fund has achieved its initial goals to incorporate as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and petition Gary's hometown of Lake Geneva, WI to grant parkland for the memorial - the first time the town council has ever approved plans to construct a statue of one of its residents. Although three years have gone by since Gary's passing, his memory is still very much alive. Recent news coverage of the Fund's successes to date, including a story in Slashdot, resulted in hundreds of thousands of unique visitors to http://www.gygaxmemorialfund.com/. 

The Gygax Memorial Fund's next step will be to exhibit at Gen Con, the convention Gary began, this August 4th-7th. At the Old School Renaissance Group booth (#1541), Gail Gygax will be talking about conversations she had with her husband before his death about how he wanted to be remembered, the resulting vision for the statue, and the goals of the Memorial Fund. Gail will also be presenting the ENnie Awards on Friday night.

At the booth, we'll be taking contributions and offering donor rewards including T-shirts with the Gygax Memorial logo -  Argent, a Bar Azure, Three Lozenges Gules  - and a book called "Cheers, Gary" which selects the best of his correspondence with fans at the EN World Q&A threads. Editor Paul Hughes will also be at the booth with Gail signing copies of "Cheers, Gary" and discussing plans for another volume based on the Dragonsfoot Q&A.

If that goes well, we'll be poised to launch a Kickstarter effort in support of the Lake Geneva statue. As someone who raises money for a non-profit hospital as my day job and is doing a successful OSR Kickstarter in my spare time, I think there is real potential for the Fund to achieve the $500K goal for this campaign through crowdfunding alone. This would be the most ambitious Kickstarter goal in history, but it's not unprecedented and if Gary doesn't have ten times the dedication that Robocop does I'll eat my dice bag.

To help continue the Fund's momentum, and in recognition of everything Gary meant to us, I'm asking for your assistance in getting the word out about our efforts. Many of you will already be marking the occasion of Gary's birthday by posting to your blogs, social networks, and communities. Adding a mention of the Fund's booth number, #1541, or website, http://www.gygaxmemorialfund.com/, would mean a lot to us. 

If you'd like to do more in-depth coverage, I've attached the Memorial Fund logo; the introduction to "Cheers, Gary" which contains more information about the project; and the Erol Otus illustration which will be used for the book's cover. (Both this and the EN World posts are re-used with permission). I will also be glad to answer questions, provide links, and arrange interviews with Gail, Paul, and myself either at Gen Con, via email, or on the phone/Skype. I'll also be glad to talk about opportunities to make tax-deductible contributions of goods and services to the Fund, and explore ways to do cross-promotion with others who are building on Gary's pioneering work. 

Sincerely yours, by the Ring of Gaxx and the City-State of Fax,

Tavis Allison