A podcast about board games, role playing games and gaming conventions! We bring on game designers, creators, players and game masters to talk about their passion.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Dave and Rich along with the rest of the HSG community had a lot of fun at the first-ever Gen Con online. We go through some of the obvious differences with Gen Con being fully virtual and talk about some of the surprising aspects. Well, surprising to us. For instance, most of the players in our games were 1st time Gen Con attendees, they expected to be in contact with the GMs weeks in advance and seemed to want to keep playing games with us after the convention. Which... is so bazaar when you think about how normal conventions go. Virtual conventions seem to be an excellent place to find new people for your discord as HSG and several of our community members ran games in HSG's discord and pulled players to their own discords.
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
WE ARE BACK!
Gen Con Online is fast approaching at the end of July 2020 and there's a lot of learning we all have to do. Effectively this is a First-Year online convention. To help us navigate these waters we brought on two folks from Gen Con. Derek is the Sr. Event and Program Manager at Gen Con and Dominic is the Event Coordinator for Gen Con.
They join us during the run-up to Gen Con Online to help us all understand what the convention will be like this year and talk about what we can all do to get the most out of it.
A few more helpful links when considering Gen Con Online:
Links for hosts:
https://www.gencon.com/host/bestpractices
https://www.gencon.com/host/thirdpartyplatforms
https://www.gencon.com/host/new
https://www.gencon.com/host/eo-gm
YouTube and Twitch
https://www.youtube.com/user/GenConVideo
https://www.twitch.tv/gencontv
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
Thursday Mar 05, 2020
Thursday Mar 05, 2020
We are so fortunate Randall Porter reached out asking to come on and dive deep into Gen Con's history. The stories he shares are mind-boggling. From remote-controlled robots poaching customers from other booths to folks sleeping in parking lots in early Gen Con days. We get a strong sense of how Gen Con worked under TSR, WOTC, and now as an independent entity. We even get a bit of a glimpse into the rift between Gen Con, Origins, and how they mended fences.
Randy is an excellent guest and brought a wealth of information to the show.
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
Friday Feb 28, 2020
Friday Feb 28, 2020
Scott has been a fixture in the high shelf gaming community for over a year now, and he runs the RPG Zone at Pax South! This year we had the opportunity to partner with him to get some signage up, boost the RPG turnout at Pax South and provide a ton of giveaways from R. Talsorian Games, and Hot Springs Island! RPGs at Pax South grew a ton this year and are poised to go even bigger in 2021. We are so excited to be invited on this ride and hear some great insights on how PAX South differs from other PAX conventions.
Also, there was a San Antonio Spurs (basketball) game going on...
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
![HSG103: 2019 BGG Con Wrap-Up [8 games reviewed]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog2211935/BGG_Con_Podbean_300x300.jpg){kind=logo}
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
Rich and David review the new location for Board Game Geek Con, in Downtown Dallas and 8 boardgames rich got to play at the show. Having left the DFW airport, BGG Con has followed in the footsteps of some incredible DFW based cons such as A-Kon and Anime-Fest which now see much larger attendance numbers. But with that growth came some growing pains. Rich sites a few of them along with the benefit of being closer to better food options and the rest of what Dallas has to offer.
We cover several games!
Masmorra Dungeons of Arcadia
First Martians
Homeworld by Looney Labs
Spynet by Z-man Games & Richard Garfield
Shobu
Cretaceous Rails (proto-alley)
Lucidity
Too Many Bones
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
![HSG101: Gen Con Survival Guide: Food and Drink [Refreshed]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog2211935/Gen_Con_Survival_-_Food_Drink_Podbean_300x300.jpg){kind=logo}
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
HSG returns to Gen Con Food and Drink in and around the convention center. We add more tips and advice from our first attempt in 2017, and make sure to talk about places that are still open! 2017's guide was great but it mentions a few places that have since closed down. Rich and David walk you through the most likely places to find food, and some tips on what you can do to get better food options with a tiny bit of effort. One point we don't say enough in the episode is stay hydrated. Gen Con's wonderful air conditioning and all the walking is going to dry you out. We recommend getting a little flat-pack water bladder just to keep your head cleared while you play in the world's best games and tournaments.
As always we love feedback and more food suggestions. be sure to leave comments on Facebook or twitter, wherever the discussion is.
Lastly - we are running a giveaway! contest winners will get a bundle of goods!
We will be accepting submissions from December 23rd, 2019 through January 10th, 2020.
Contest details: To enter simply go to Facebook or Twitter and tell your friends and followers about your favorite HSG episode! Maybe tell them a bit about why you like that episode. Tag us so we see it. 1 entry per human. After January 10th we will gather all the submissions and roll a die to figure out who our two winners will be!
#1 - You will get a copy of the Cyberpunk Red Jump Start Kit! (US winners get a physical copy, international sorry but we hope the .PDFs will suffice) + Beta access to Legend Keeper a tool that helps you track your imaginary world, RPG campaign, or write your next fantasy or sci-fi novel. It effectively combines Google Maps with Wikipedia just for your projects. + something special from Rich (details in the episode).
#2 - You will also get beta access to Legend Keeper + something special from Rich (details in the episode)
Huge thank you goes to R. Talsorian Games for their continuous boosting of our show on social media and sponsoring this episode. We are all pumped for what 2020 will mean for RTG.
Also, we want to thank Legend Keeper for kicking off an ongoing sponsorship of HSG staring now with 2 give away licenses! We'll be giving away more of these in the future, we're so excited for this relationship and the success of LK.
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
![HSG99: Gen Con Survival Guide: Registration [Refreshed]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog2211935/Gen_Con_Survival_-_Registration_Podbean_300x300.jpg){kind=logo}
Monday Dec 16, 2019
Monday Dec 16, 2019
HSG takes on Gen Con Event Registration to add more tips and advice from our first attempt in 2017. Rich and David break down strategies for groups of gamers who can pool their effort and are comfortable paying each other back for events registered. We cover solo attendees and some good suggestions there and give some insights into how Event Organizers are measured by Gen Con. Also, we talk about the things you can do without registering, there are tons of ways to enjoy Gen Con without booking every second of your time.
Not mentioned in this episode, which we should have, try not to over-book your Gen Con. Leave time in there for food, socializing, walking the dealer hall. If you have back to back events all convention long you will be exhausted by the end of it.
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
![HSG98: Gen Con Survival Guide: Running Your Own Event [Refreshed]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog2211935/Gen_Con_Survival_-_Events_Podbean_300x300.jpg){kind=logo}
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
Running events at Gen Con is one of the most rewarding things we do every year. Last year, we went bigger than ever and plan to grow again in 2020. This episode shares the lessons High Shelf Gaming has learned over the years to help individuals and groups of event organizers have a successful con!
Rich and David have been running events at Gen Con and other conventions for years, so this is a blending of not only Gen Con-specific knowledge but also general convention gaming prep. We also sneak in some pro tips for players too, so if you attend Gen Con or one of the larger conventions there are some kernels of wisdom here for you.
High Shelf Gaming will run events at Gen Con. If you want to join us as a GM or play in our games, be sure to join the HSG Facebook group and Discord where we organize all those efforts. We have many independent contributors and folks from other podcasts and channels who team up to make for an awesome group of games. This all helps us pool our efforts to earn badges and hotel reimbursement from Gen Con, which is a big deal!
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
![HSG97: Gen Con Survival Guide: Housing [Refreshed]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog2211935/Gen_Con_Survival_-_Housing_Podbean_300x300.jpg){kind=logo}
Wednesday Dec 04, 2019
Wednesday Dec 04, 2019
The Gen Con Survival Guide series that launched HSG has aged a bit and changes have hit Gen Con and Indy. Meaning, we need to remake this series and update it with current tips and suggestions.
In this episode, David and Rich talk all about housing for Gen Con. We cover the housing portal and how it behaves leading up to the con when rooms will suddenly become available. HSG discusses how to stack the odds in your favor as well as contingency plans with places like Airbnb, VRBO, and some…err creative solutions for when the portal doesn’t go well.
Episode Correction: We talk about changing and canceling rooms in the housing portal. Changing rooms is free, canceling entirely is where you get hit with a $50 fee.
Helpful links:
Gen Con housing and travel
Fans of Gen Con Facebook group (EXCELLENT RESOURCE)
Gen Con Housing Portal auto-checker (Github link, programmer-friendly resource)
Listen on:
iTunes Google Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN
Tuesday Aug 27, 2019
Tuesday Aug 27, 2019
Mark joins us from the Shelfie community to talk about a truly unique gaming experience at Gen Con, Megagames! These are 50-70 person games that took place at Lucas Oil Stadium, on the field. They are asymmetric games. Lots of players are doing different things and their actions influence the game for other groups and individuals in the most engaging and fascinating way we've ever heard. Mark clearly loved it as he played and helped run several games this year. Impressive, given this was his first time at Gen Con and his first time playing a megagame. These tend to be longer games, at four hours or more, and run in the tens of dollars to play. But, to hear Mark tell it, they're also dynamic and interesting. Apparently, megagames are huge in Europe as well, so lots of opportunities to play these games.
Another great episode from our community!
If any other Shelfie ever wants to come on the show do what Mark just did. Find us on social media and tell us about and an awesome game you played!
Listen now on:
iTunes GooglePlay Spotify Stitcher
Other places you can connect with the HSG Squad:
Facebook @High Shelf Gaming Podcast
Twitter @highshelfgaming
Twitch /highshelfgaming
Discord Chat https://discord.gg/tMPCXgN