Who says big is better?
More fun than Gen Con or Origins.
GallowsCon, with about 100 people in attendance, was the most fun I’ve had at a convention in YEARS (NOT counting the Palladium Open Houses; nothing beats them)!
The people were friendly and kind. They loved games and enjoyed Palladium Books.
Everyone welcomed us with open arms, and made Wayne and I feel like an important part of the event from the get go.
The room/suite they got us at the Residence Inn was fantastic. A sitting room, kitchenette, and two separate but adjoining rooms with individual bathrooms. Woohoo, nice. So nice that Wayne made the comment, “Too bad we aren’t spending more time in the room.”
The second we pulled up to the convention site, Todd Wilson, the GallowsCon organizer/coordinator and 3-4 other Hangmen rushed out the door to give us a hand unloading the van. They offered to help set up our four tables too, but Wayne and I had that under control.
It was a super-nice venue attached to a Lutheran church, and there was a nice dealer’s area with used sf books, board games, comics, Hero Clix, daggers and figurines.
Shortly after finishing set up, we were introduced to Todd’s parents (who kindly volunteered to handle the hot food and concession stand for the convention; hard work), Jay, Brian, Eric, MiLinda, Chris, and a cavalcade of other Hangmen who were in various stages of enthusiasm or exhaustion. “Roach” was one of the most memorable “characters” among the Hangmen, frenetic, always smiling and clowning around, but he never got a chance to play in one of my games. Maybe next year, buddy.
We instantly felt like part of the Hangmen crew and their gaming community, which is appropriate since I was made an “Honorary Hangman” years ago. (In fact, I tried, in vain, to find my old Hangman T-shirt to surprise everyone, but couldn’t dig it up.)
They took Wayne and I to their favorite pizza hangout and we feasted outside on a selection of pizza; the Yohan (a blend of multiple cheeses) being my fave.
After chowing down we crashed in our lavish suite.
Saturday Morning is the GallowsCon game day. We showered, ate breakfast and headed to GallowsCon just a short way down the road.
We feared it would be a long day, 9:00 A.M till 10:30 P.M., but time flew by and Wayne and I had a blast.
I had 9-10 GREAT PLAYERS in each of my two DeSilca tournament style fantasy games, which were full of pulse pounding action, laughs and down to the wire excitement. Both defeated DeSilca and we all had fun.
Of course, the event wasn’t hurt by seeing familiar friends like Diane and James Brown, Lonnie Langston, Dennis Hughes and Glen Evans, not to mention a few folks I recognized from the Palladium Open House events.
Jay and other Hangmen would stop by to check on us or to chat, we sold
some books and prints, Wayne got to play some games, I enjoyed talking with a lot of gamers, signed a lot of books, and had a blast. Heck, I even forgot to eat dinner I was having so much fun!
I was invited to play in 3-4 other games, but I chose to spend time with my pal, Glen Evans, his beautiful almost-three year-old daughter, Maggie, and Diane Brown, the delightful wife of James Brown, head of the Megaversal Ambassadors and G.M. extraordinaire. I think Diane and I drove Glen a little crazy playing with Maggie as much as we did, but I hope he didn’t mind. Getting a chance to visit with Diane, Glen and engage in a little mindless kid fun with Maggie (little children, dogs, cats and Grandparents love me, and the feeling is generally mutual) was a nice change of pace for me.
Toward the end of the night, the Hangmen surprised me with a gorgeous, hand crafted and painted Glitter Boy miniature made from modified Gundam and other kit-bashed parts. It looks awesome and has an honored place on my shelf in my office! Thank you everyone, but especially madman, Eric who worked his fingers to the bone on this masterpiece. Wow, Eric, I love it. Thanks.
The Make a Wish Foundation is the con charity and they raised a bit over $800 for it, a new record. Congrats.
Those of you who missed GallowsCon missed out on a truly AWESOME day of gaming fun. We all had a great time. The fun and friendly atmosphere there was the closest I have ever seen to Palladium’s own Open House event.
You should come to GallowsCon in 2008
In fact, we told them we had so much fun that we’d come back any time. They said, “Really?! How about next year?!!” And I said, “YES.”
It will be held sometime next October, and Wayne and I will be there, even if we have to miss the Alliance Fort Wayne Retailer Summit! That’s how much fun it was!
Seriously, you need to put this excellent one day event on your calendars right now. I’m not kidding. If you are anywhere within a four hour drive of the Chicago/Merrillville area, you NEED to come to GallowsCon and enjoy the fun. I’ll be running at least two events, and I’m sure James Brown (a godly G.M.), Lonnie Langston and other Megaversal Ambassadors will be there. Plus, the other G.M.s seemed skilled and friendly, and there were plenty of miniature and board game events too.
There won’t be a Palladium Open House in 2008 (it will be back in 2009!!!!!), so I say we make GallowsCon the 2008 Palladium Open House substitute! (Actually, Lonnie is planning to have M.A.s run all kinds of events at Gen Con 2008, too).
FYI: Palladium cannot host a 2008 Open House, because we’ll be moving at the end of April to a new office and warehouse (yeah, we’re downsizing and we’ll miss the old place too). But the Palladium Open House will be back in 2009. Count on it.
Almost forgot, here is a link to some pictures from GallowsCon:
http://www.palladiumbooks.com/press/Gal ... wscon.html
Photos include the Palladium Booth, game groups playing (one is James another is mine), the welcome banner, Glen Evans and Maggie, Diane and James H. Brown, Dennis Hughes, Loni Langston (who refuses to smile for photos), James, Lonnie, me, and Wayne with The Hangmen (GallowsCon crew), and me with Nicohol and Loyd (they both played in one of my DeSilca games and are Open House regulars).
Okay, I gotta go. I have books to write.
Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Artist, and Game Master
© Copyright September 25, 2007. All rights reserved, worldwide.