In my entire life I’ve never attended a Fantasy or RPG convention before. Except for an invitation from one of my favorite childhood fantasy authors, I may never have. Join Rediscovered Realms as we explore some of the awesomeness that is Gary Con!
The convention does look like a great time and I like how did it seem as chaotic as some larger conventions. Seems designed for conversations and a relaxed time.
Totally, Eric. Don't get me wrong - there were certain times (special events) where it got pretty crowded - I just didn't snap any pics during those times. And overall, there were always places you could get away to sit down and have a bite or just relax. I can't compare to huge ones like Gen Con, but I imagine they would be a bit too crazy for me!
What a fun post and looks like you had a trip of a lifetime at GaryCon! I can’t believe you got to meet so many D&D luminaries all in the same visit and congrats on going to your first con. Thanks for the post!
Oh, Ian. She is so wonderful. I think she told me she's planning on going to Gen Con as well.
Sorry about any confusion about the prize - I think you saw there was a winner drawn for the giveaway and for the DriveThruRPG card. Don't worry, though, you have several more chances this year!
Thanks for sharing this! As a New Zealander, the chances of me getting firsthand experience with ... ANY of this is near zero 🤣 The trip down artist memory lane (and the side link to your Clyde Caldwell piece) made me reminisce for a D&D solo adventure I bought *and never finished*. I can't even remember the name of it - had a Caldwell-esque woman on the cover, sort of cleric-adjacent, and I want to say a pyramid and skeletal dragon theme in the background. I will never find this again 🤣
Thanks for commenting, Richard! I guess it would be really hard for folks across the ocean to get to these cons where most of the old school authors & artists are American. You gave me another reason to be grateful to experience this.
I wonder which module you're referencing? Does it feature a skeletal dragon like the one in his "Spellfire" painting? I'll see if I can track it down for you (and will ask Clyde if I can't!)
Ok I fell down the well of the Internet today. It took a long-ass time to find the book I had, but: victory! It was Faerie Mound of Dragonkind, sold under the Catacombs banner (I think these came after the Endless Quest line?).
I LOVE that book cover! Always saw it in the TSR catalogs in the late 80s to early 90s. I did get to pick one up a couple of years ago because I'm enthralled by that cover.
It's a gamebook like Endless Quest, but using some D&D rules. That series is large - like 8.5" x 11" - and there were some in the D&D world and some in Top Secret.
And guess what? That IS a Clyde Caldwell! When I was speaking with him back when I did his interview, he mentioned the model he used for this cover was the same one he used for Dragon Magazine #147. Look that up and you'll see what I mean!
Clyde is a treasure, he contributed a lot to my early D&D imaginings 🙂 And you're absolutely bang on, the model is very similar between Dragon 147 & FMoD!
Never made it to GaryCon myself. My first con was MichiCon '82, where I had fun despite not playing anything. Then Origins '83 (also MichiCon'83) then a scattering of others before finally getting to GenCon in '91 and attending for 9 years straight. Glad you had a great time - GaryCon is on my bucket list to hit eventually
That's cool you have several in your area, Charles. I found that I have some game cons in my general area that I wasn't aware of that I didn't feel confident going to (never being to one before), but now I'm going to give them a visit!
As an aside - volunteering, either for a specific vendor, a gaming group, or the con itself (have done all three) is a great way to get to know the con and help defray costs, which can get quite high for the big ones like GenCon or Origins
The convention does look like a great time and I like how did it seem as chaotic as some larger conventions. Seems designed for conversations and a relaxed time.
Totally, Eric. Don't get me wrong - there were certain times (special events) where it got pretty crowded - I just didn't snap any pics during those times. And overall, there were always places you could get away to sit down and have a bite or just relax. I can't compare to huge ones like Gen Con, but I imagine they would be a bit too crazy for me!
What a fun post and looks like you had a trip of a lifetime at GaryCon! I can’t believe you got to meet so many D&D luminaries all in the same visit and congrats on going to your first con. Thanks for the post!
Thank you, Scott! It really was quite magical. Glad you enjoyed this post (and thanks for the re-stacks!)
Thanks for the write-up! I’m hoping to make the GaryCon pilgrimage some year.
Awesome, Matt! Let me know when you can go. I'd love to meet you out there.
I would love to meet Rose Estes! I’m a huge gamebook fan/collector and love Endless Quest!
Has the prize drawing happened yet? I can’t seem to find where I would learn that info…
Oh, Ian. She is so wonderful. I think she told me she's planning on going to Gen Con as well.
Sorry about any confusion about the prize - I think you saw there was a winner drawn for the giveaway and for the DriveThruRPG card. Don't worry, though, you have several more chances this year!
What great fun! It sounds like you made the right choice!
Totally, Stace! (Though it hurts my wallet to admit that. 🙃)
Sounds like you had a great trip J.Q. 👍🏼
I would love to go to GaryCon but I fear I would have to re-mortgage my house to pay for all the artwork I would end up buying! 😁
LOL, Dan! No doubt. But . . . if we were to both sell our houses and buy one REALLY big one - with extra walls - we may be able to make a go of it ...
Sounds like a plan! 👍🏼😁
Thanks for sharing this! As a New Zealander, the chances of me getting firsthand experience with ... ANY of this is near zero 🤣 The trip down artist memory lane (and the side link to your Clyde Caldwell piece) made me reminisce for a D&D solo adventure I bought *and never finished*. I can't even remember the name of it - had a Caldwell-esque woman on the cover, sort of cleric-adjacent, and I want to say a pyramid and skeletal dragon theme in the background. I will never find this again 🤣
Thanks for commenting, Richard! I guess it would be really hard for folks across the ocean to get to these cons where most of the old school authors & artists are American. You gave me another reason to be grateful to experience this.
I wonder which module you're referencing? Does it feature a skeletal dragon like the one in his "Spellfire" painting? I'll see if I can track it down for you (and will ask Clyde if I can't!)
Ok I fell down the well of the Internet today. It took a long-ass time to find the book I had, but: victory! It was Faerie Mound of Dragonkind, sold under the Catacombs banner (I think these came after the Endless Quest line?).
You can see the cover I was referring to in this YouTube video (not my content): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0hVlwHaBKE
Looking at it, I can see why I thought it might have been a Caldwell cover; stylistically it channels big Caldwell energy.
There is *no way* I'll ever be able to get this book again 🤣
I LOVE that book cover! Always saw it in the TSR catalogs in the late 80s to early 90s. I did get to pick one up a couple of years ago because I'm enthralled by that cover.
It's a gamebook like Endless Quest, but using some D&D rules. That series is large - like 8.5" x 11" - and there were some in the D&D world and some in Top Secret.
And guess what? That IS a Clyde Caldwell! When I was speaking with him back when I did his interview, he mentioned the model he used for this cover was the same one he used for Dragon Magazine #147. Look that up and you'll see what I mean!
Clyde is a treasure, he contributed a lot to my early D&D imaginings 🙂 And you're absolutely bang on, the model is very similar between Dragon 147 & FMoD!
Never made it to GaryCon myself. My first con was MichiCon '82, where I had fun despite not playing anything. Then Origins '83 (also MichiCon'83) then a scattering of others before finally getting to GenCon in '91 and attending for 9 years straight. Glad you had a great time - GaryCon is on my bucket list to hit eventually
Oh wow. You've been to a bunch of cool Cons, Charles! Hope you get to go to Gary Con in one of these upcoming years.
Same. Haven't been to a "major" con since 2007 (Origins). Usually just stick to local ones like Arisia, TotalCon or Carnage.
That's cool you have several in your area, Charles. I found that I have some game cons in my general area that I wasn't aware of that I didn't feel confident going to (never being to one before), but now I'm going to give them a visit!
As an aside - volunteering, either for a specific vendor, a gaming group, or the con itself (have done all three) is a great way to get to know the con and help defray costs, which can get quite high for the big ones like GenCon or Origins
Great suggestion! One of the friends I made was a volunteer for Gary Con - I didn't think about volunteering for vendors!
looks like you had a wonderful time, i cant really get to cons, so i have been collecting the d&d people as friends on FB
Totally a great time. Do you have a collector's case for your d&d people, or do you just keep them on the shelf? 😁
Cool stories and pics, JQ. Glad you had fun and got to meet so many legends.