GameHole Con 2026 - What to expect?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Every single scheduled event I participated in cost extra money. In the grad scheme of things, given that I spent $1,000+ on my hotel, it doesn't amount to a whole lot. I think the events were all between $4 and $18. It would have been nice to get a little something extra for having to pay those fees. Chaosium and Free League both gave out little coupons for 10% off books purchased from their vendor's in the dealer's room.

The nominal charge is to ensure people who sign up actually show up. Apparently people who pay even a small event fee make more of an effort to show up.

I can see that. I know some people will over estimate how much gaming they can do and over book stuff.

And while I'm spending under 400 for the Wed thru Sunday Its not a big deal if I blow a hundred more on games. My bar tab will be more than that...

 

[payn]

So games are extra? Wasn't aware of that but its not a big deal unless they are insane. All games cost extra or just "premium events"?

Im heading to Adepticon next week and they have an extra charge. Its usually low like 5 bucks for every 2-4 hours. I am in a class that cost 200 bucks but its a 4.5 hour airbrush class and I get to take the brush home with me. So, I expect something similar at GHC.

And didn't know about the VIP situation, kind of lame but it is what it is.

Yeap, the tiered society we have become is not that awesome.

On another note, here in Minneapolis, we do Con of the North which was last month. Its 60 bucks for a badge and all events are free. They had plenty RPGs including OSR going down.

 

[MGibster]

Im heading to Adepticon next week and they have an extra charge. Its usually low like 5 bucks for every 2-4 hours. I am in a class that cost 200 bucks but its a 4.5 hour airbrush class and I get to take the brush home with me. So, I expect something similar at GHC.

I'm going to put Adepticon on my list of cons to hit before I die.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Im heading to Adepticon next week and they have an extra charge. Its usually low like 5 bucks for every 2-4 hours. I am in a class that cost 200 bucks but its a 4.5 hour airbrush class and I get to take the brush home with me. So, I expect something similar at GHC.

Yeap, the tiered society we have become is not that awesome.

Adepticon sounds cool. I've thrown around the idea of going to Adepticon one of these years, or another big wargaming con. Always looked cool but I'm not a big tourney gamer. But if the guys I wargame with ever made the decision to all go up there as a group for something like Bolt Action then who knows.

 

[payn]

I'm going to put Adepticon on my list of cons to hit before I die.

Adepticon sounds cool. I've thrown around the idea of going to Adepticon one of these years, or another big wargaming con. Always looked cool but I'm not a big tourney gamer. But if the guys I wargame with ever made the decision to all go up there as a group for something like Bolt Action then who knows.

The interesting thing is Adepticon added a bunch of RPGs this year. PF, D&D, but also lots of Free League stuff. Looks like now that they got more space at the Baird its becoming more than a wargame fest.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

That's interesting. I wonder if the goal is to become another general purpose gaming con?

 

[bsss]

Another thing to note is Gamehole Con has a very generous GM reward policy. If you run a scheduled event, you get access to a lounge for other GMs and Special Guests that has snacks and drinks (and is a place to rest for a moment). If you run 12 or more hours of scheduled games, they refund your weekend badge. 12 hours is tight for me but I'm still thinking about it anyway. There's also a raffle.

 

[payn]

That's interesting. I wonder if the goal is to become another general purpose gaming con?

Stepping up to the Baird leaves more space to fill. Im guessing that has something to do with it.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Another thing to note is Gamehole Con has a very generous GM reward policy. If you run a scheduled event, you get access to a lounge for other GMs and Special Guests that has snacks and drinks (and is a place to rest for a moment). If you run 12 or more hours of scheduled games, they refund your weekend badge. 12 hours is tight for me but I'm still thinking about it anyway. There's also a raffle.

That sounds cool, not sure I'm up for running Con games. Though I've got a lot of 28mm Old West stuff, buildings, figs, etc. I 've thought about putting together a con style game scenario using one of the various rulesets I have for that time. Played a great game at GaryCon like that, but can't remember what rules we used. I don't think it was Boot Hill.

 

[billd91]

Another thing to note is Gamehole Con has a very generous GM reward policy. If you run a scheduled event, you get access to a lounge for other GMs and Special Guests that has snacks and drinks (and is a place to rest for a moment). If you run 12 or more hours of scheduled games, they refund your weekend badge. 12 hours is tight for me but I'm still thinking about it anyway. There's also a raffle.

There's a lot about Gamehole that's reminiscent of Gen Con back when I was younger. GM a certain amount of time and you get your badge refunded, games cost money for the tickets - both things I experienced at Gen Con in the 1980s and 90s. Gamehole fits pretty comfortably within that paradigm.

I have been regularly running 4 sessions of D&D organized play - previous years it was Adventurer's League, last year it was Gamehole's home-grown Wardens of the Eastern Marches - and that covered my badge. Then I had the rest of the time to be a player and try out new stuff. This year, the requirement for time has dropped from 14 hours of GMing to, I think, 12. So I could get by on 3 sessions of organized play to get my badge refunded.