It’s mixed feelings time of year!
Getting to go to Gen Con as often as I did when Blind Ferret set up a Looking For Group booth was always a blast, especially because I debuted a new tie-in game or expansion every time I went. The joy of sharing new ideas with a table full of eager fans and curious gamers, the thrill of performing to energize the demos, the encouragement of going over sales at the end of the day.
Of course I didn’t just enjoy my time as a Blind Ferret booth jockey. It’s not Gen Con without at least one walk around the vendor hall. Unlike at comic cons, publishers at a gaming convention outnumber stores. This makes the booths stand out. They aren’t just hanging products. Yes, at the end of the day they’re trying to sell you a product, but it’s the games and accessories they’re personally invested in. Some of them even have space to game! You get to try the game, play with the pieces, ask questions to people who know the most about that game of anyone on the floor, all with zero commitment to buy.
I’ll miss all of the above. But most of all, I’ll miss seeing my Gen Con friends. It was the one weekend of the year I would see most Know Direction network staff, Perram included. I got to meet listeners and industry connections and feel like a bit of a celebrity. I remember being recognized at the airport one year shortly after landing in Indy and my coworker Will said “Oh here we go.”
I know I’ll get to Gen Con again, when the States are safer to travel to and I feel better about spending my money there. Until then, I get to watch my friends post about the fun they’re having and then tell stories about what a great year it was. As someone who has created content to share my Gen Con experiences so others can know what it’s like to be there, I appreciate that there are people like John, Jason, and Ron who will be doing the same for people like me.
Speaking of content, here’s what came out from the Know Direction Network last week:
Review of July 21st to July 25th
What happened last week on knowdirectionpodcast.com?
Monday, July 21st, 2025
Intrepid Heroes 163 – Meltdown
The cosmic birthday party may be coming to an end, but things are heating up for our intrepid heroes!
Thursday, July 24th, 2025
Digital Divination 140 – Gen Con 2025
John, Ron, and Jason share their Gen Con 2025 plans, both professional and personal.
Friday, July 25th, 2025
Upshift 046: Hawk’s Personnel Files
I tell Charles about everything new and exciting in the latest Essence20 hardcover, Hawk’s Personnel Files for the G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game.
Preview of July 28th to August 1st
What’s coming out this week on knowdirectionpodcast.com?
Monday, July 28th, 2025
Now You Know – Gen Con From Home
I go the whole editorial without once mentioning that tomorrow’s my birthday.
Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
Danielle talks with Pete Petrusha of Imagining Games about bringing the super powered detective comic Chew to the tabletop.
Thursday, July 31st, 2025
Know Direction Beyond 99 Live! Starfinder Returns with Dustin Knight
Starfinder designer Dustin Knight joins Alex and James to talk about the release of Starfinder 2e. Live on Twitch!
Digital Divination 141 – Starfinder 2 Launch Day with Jenny Jarzabski
Starfinder Creative Manager Jenny Jarzabski join Jason, John, and Ron to talk about all the cool Starfinder 2nd Edition things going on at Gen Con for today’s Starfinder 2 release!
I have it on good authority that Rob is investing in Battlecry!, the latest Pathfinder 2e hardcover from Paizo.
Friday, August 1st, 2025
Essential Builds: Nightwing by Ryan Costello
Today is the second anniversary of Essential Builds, so I revisit the Bat-Family by building one of my favourite super heroes, Nightwing, as an Essence20 PC.
Now you know,
Ryan Costello
