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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Egg Embry" data-source="post: 8454824" data-attributes="member: 6808965">In the <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/origins-game-fair-2021-%E2%80%93-after-report-part-one.683987/" target="_blank">first part</a> of this two-part series about the tabletop RPG scene at <a href="https://www.originsgamefair.com/" target="_blank">Origins Game Fair</a> 2021, I looked at the attendance at the show and 2021 tabletop gaming conventions in general. In addition, I talked to Chaosium, 9th Level Games, Fragging Unicorn Games, Imagining Games, and Inkwell Ideas about their thoughts on the convention. In this part, I talk to IGDN, Free League Publishing, Gooey Cube, Chris A. Jackson, World of Game Design, and Penny for a Tale to get their impression of Origins 2021.[ATTACH=full]146539[/ATTACH]Matthew Orr, Convention Coordinator for <a href="https://www.igdnonline.com/" target="_blank">IGDN</a> [<a href="https://www.igdnonline.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/igdnonline/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IGDN_Official" target="_blank">Twitter</a>], helped with the IGDN booth, a collective offering many indy publisher’s books. I’ve spoken with Matthew about <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/9148/Wet-Ink-Games/subcategory/38340/Never-Going-Home?affiliate_id=814082" target="_blank">Never Going Home RPG</a> (<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/never-going-home-campaign-dossiers-kickstarter-brandon-k-aten-and-matthew-orr.669881/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.d20radio.com/main/rpg-adapations-never-going-home/" target="_blank">here</a>), so it was nice to meet him in-person.[ATTACH=full]146540[/ATTACH]Doug Shute, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/victoryconditiongaming1" target="_blank">Victory Condition Gaming</a> [<a href="https://www.youtube.com/victoryconditiongaming1" target="_blank">Youtube</a> <a href="http://facebook.com/victoryconditiongaming" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/DougVCGaming" target="_blank">Twitter</a>], was at Dragon Con (<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-the-scene-–-dragon-con-2021.683137/" target="_blank">here</a>). He was at the Free League Publishing booth at Origins. We caught up, talked about Free League’s upcoming <a href="https://www.bladerunner-rpg.com/" target="_blank">Blade Runner RPG</a>, and I had a chance to see all of their <a href="https://ennie-awards.com/" target="_blank">ENnie Awards</a> for their many great games.[ATTACH=full]146541[/ATTACH]Alphinius Goo, High Archmage of <a href="https://gooeycube.com/" target="_blank">Gooey Cube</a> [<a href="https://gooeycube.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gooeycube/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GooeyCube/" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/15229/Gooey-Cube?affiliate_id=814082" target="_blank">DriveThruRPG</a>], was at Dragon Con where we talked (you can see our Dragon Con photo <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-the-scene-–-dragon-con-2021.683137/" target="_blank">here</a>). At every convention, Gooey Cube offers a large 5e presence with loaded boxed sets of material. It was good to see him selling and working his magic.[ATTACH=full]146542[/ATTACH]Zac Goins, Creative Director at <a href="https://www.wogd.com/" target="_blank">World of Game Design</a>, Publisher of Scrap Rats, Oceanic Depths, and Drifter's Atlas' Ascension line [<a href="https://www.wogd.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wogdcom" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wogdesign" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/16733/BiteSized-Gaming?affiliate_id=814082" target="_blank">DriveThruRPG</a>], had a great booth with a nice mix of RPG zines. We talked a bit about their upcoming Kickstarter, which I’ll have more on closer to the launch date.[ATTACH=full]146543[/ATTACH]Chris A. Jackson, <a href="https://www.jaxbooks.com/" target="_blank">author</a> [<a href="https://www.jaxbooks.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chris.a.jackson.967" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisAJackson1" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse.php?author=Chris%20A.%20Jackson&affiliate_id=814082" target="_blank">DriveThruFiction</a>], talked to me about his experience at Dragon Con (<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-the-scene-–-dragon-con-2021.683137/" target="_blank">here</a>). He writes fiction for multiple RPGs including Pathfinder, Shadowrun, and more as well as original works of fiction.[ATTACH=full]146538[/ATTACH][L to R] John McGuire, Leland Beauchamp, and Egg Embry after playing CHEWMitchell Wallace, <a href="https://www.pennyforatale.com/" target="_blank">Penny for a Tale</a> [<a href="https://www.pennyforatale.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pennyforatale" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mitchsbustillos" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/19577/Penny-for-a-Tale?affiliate_id=814082" target="_blank">DriveThruRPG</a>], and I have done several interviews including our discussion with Pete Petrusha about the CHEW RPG (<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/chew-the-roleplaying-game-an-interview-with-pete-petrusha-and-mitchell-wallace-imagining-games.683139/" target="_blank">here</a>). Mitchell ran a session of CHEW for me and my friends which was outstanding as it captured the feel of the comics.Egg Embry, <a href="https://www.enworld.org/ewr-porta/authors/egg-embry.6808965/" target="_blank">EN World Columnist</a> [<a href="https://www.enworld.org/ewr-porta/authors/egg-embry.6808965/" target="_blank">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/egg.embry" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EggEmbry" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/16964/Egg-Embry-Publishing" target="_blank">DriveThruRPG</a>]. For my part, I always enjoy Origins Game Fair. It has everything I want from a big convention, but at a relaxed pace. They had some great features this year including print on demand badges and tickets. The convention coordinators had printers setup with scanners to scan your QRG code, which automatically printed your badge and event tickets. This was faster than the setup at Dragon Con, which is still face-to-face, but not as good as Gen Con’s option to mail the badge and tickets to you. One of Origins great advantages is the Greater Columbus Convention Center, it’s larger than they need which makes the convention easy to navigate without the press of bodies up against you. While we were there, we saw that Hilton was building a new hotel onto the convention center which looked to add a lot of capacity for 2022. This is part of the Columbus advantage, the convention center is hooked to a parking deck, a small shopping area with an excellent food court, and two (soon to be three) hotels you can easily access without stepping outside. If you do step outside, there are restaurants, more hotels, and a <a href="https://bigfuncolumbus.com/" target="_blank">great toy store</a>. GAMA does a good job with the show, but its greatest strength is the Greater Columbus Convention Center.As with every convention, the highlights are the connections and games. I talked about the games I wanted to play at the con <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/origins-game-fair-2021-–-the-games-begin.682933/" target="_blank">here</a>, so I’ll skip that breakdown to say this, talking to great creators, publishers, and getting to play games is as much fun as I can have. If you’re looking for a big convention that still offers the relaxed feel of a local con, I recommend <a href="https://www.originsgamefair.com/" target="_blank">Origins Game Fair</a>. But for another perspective on Origins Game Fair 2021 including the games I played there, read my publishing partner, John McGuire’s review of the con <a href="http://tesseraguild.com/origins-2021-recap-part-one/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://tesseraguild.com/origins-2021-recap-part-two/" target="_blank">here</a>.While Egg Embry pays for his travel, hotel, and food, certain conventions discussed in this article provide complimentary entry to their cons because he registers as a member of the press/media. Egg’s written about the return of conventioning in 2021 at d20 Radio (<a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/will-you-attend-a-gaming-convention-in-2021-part-one/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/will-you-attend-a-gaming-convention-in-2021-part-two/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/will-you-attend-a-gaming-convention-in-2021-part-three/" target="_blank">here</a>) as well as past conventions (<a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/check-out-the-scene-dragon-con-2019/" target="_blank">Dragon Con </a><a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/check-out-the-scene-dragon-con-2019/" target="_blank">2019</a>, Gen Con 2019 [<a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/gen-con-2019-attendee-reflections-part-1-of-2-with-green-ronin-tabletop-gaymers-crafty-games-and-more/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/gen-con-2019-attendee-reflections-part-2-of-2-cubicle-7-nerdburger-games-hammerdog-games-and-more/" target="_blank">here</a>], <a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/check-out-the-scene-origins-game-fair-2019/" target="_blank">Origins Game Fair </a><a href="https://www.d20radio.com/main/check-out-the-scene-origins-game-fair-2019/" target="_blank">2019</a>, among others). Egg Embry participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Games’ Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Games, and Amazon.</blockquote>

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