PAX Unplugged came a little earlier this year, but honestly? I’m so glad it did. There’s something magical about stepping off a plane, walking into the convention center, and immediately feeling that familiar warmth with a mix of cardboard, dice, friendships rekindled, and the low rumble of thousands of gamers vibrating through the halls. I got to Philly a bit early, letting rest/relax for some great fun ahead. Truly for me, PAX Unplugged isn’t just a con. It’s the annual reminder that our community is huge, friendly, and wildly enthusiastic. I’m incredibly lucky and thankful to be part of it. This convention reminds me of that every year, so let’s get into it!
A City Already Running
Philadelphia was extra alive this weekend thanks to the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday and the half marathon on Saturday. That meant the streets were packed, the energy was high, and the vibe was infectious. Cool people everywhere, running on endorphins, carbs, and pure we got this. It might have been caffeine too. It made the con feel even busier but in a good way. The whole city felt like it was in motion, and we were just riding the current.
Pre-Con Encounters & Celebrations
Before I even picked up my badge, I had the kind of serendipitous moment that can only happen at a gaming con: I ran into Persephone Valentine (Persephiroth). I of course introduced myself politely. She told me I smelled great (thank you, John Varvatos Vintage) and very generously informed me that I could still be gay, despite being good at math. Truly a sweetheart. And yes, absolutely gorgeous outside and within!
We also kicked off the weekend by celebrating Brian Liberge’s birthday on Thursday, which is always a highlight. Good friends, good vibes, and the calm before the storm. You might have noticed the main image is of my PAX Unplugged badge. That amazing pin “Please tell me if you’re flirting” was some marketing for Last Kiss. Check it out! Truly joyous to see all those who’ve come into the circle of the gaming community Brian and Games on Demand have fostered. Very thankful for that and of course Brian! Happy Birthday again!
Shopping Wins (and Cat Dice, Always Cat Dice)
I hit the Expo Hall first for some treasure hunting and scored a fantastic deal on Magic cards thanks to the wonderful folks at Battleground Games who, as it turns out, are just north of me in Massachusetts. Small world moment unlocked! Then my heart was completely stolen by Black Oak Workshop’s cat dice. Adorable. Irresistible. And the folks at the booth were incredibly friendly. Let’s just say someone special is going to be very pleased with the set I picked up.
While wandering, a familiar silhouette caught my eye. The lats. The legend. Johnny Stanton, just casually strolling the expo floor ahead of me. He’s exactly as friendly as you’d expect. He even handed me a promo card for Ultra, which got me a free Magic binder. Different celebs were handing out promo cards, and a few others were hidden around the con.
The Tabletop Table
One booth I’d been quietly excited to check out was Tabletop Table. I’d seen their ads floating around social media, plus an endorsement from Ginny Di, whom I briefly chatted with in the expo hall, upbeat and kind as always. Surprise, surprise: we both have a mutual weakness for dice. I’ve been wanting to upgrade our game table setup for a while now. Earlier last year I bought some 3D-printed map stands which I ended up gifting to my brother. While they worked decently for printed battle maps, they’ve got limitations. They’re a bit flimsy, not exactly travel-friendly, and absolutely allergic to anything with real weight. Dwarven Forge? Forget it. They’d buckle like they were rolling nat-1s.
Tabletop’s system looked sturdy, modular, and genuinely practical. The exact kind of upgrade that makes you go, “Oh this would actually change prep and play.” I had questions and I wish I’d kept the names of the two fine gents running the booth, because they were incredibly helpful. I’m fairly certain that’s Connor the creator on the right. They walked me through the different configurations, weight limits, and use cases, and really took their time making sure I understood what their products could do. So big thank you to them. Their setup might just be the thing that finally elevates (literally) our gaming experience ‘cause you can bet I invested in!
The Magic (the Gathering) Expo Hall
Wizards of the Coast went big this year with a massive Magic: The Gathering booth and play area. One entire side was themed around the Cabbage Merchant from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Of course I got a picture. Of course. On the other side, they were demoing a starter version of the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Magic set. I played the Aang deck, got thoroughly destroyed, but still walked away with a couple Jumpstart packs and a promo card, my kind of consolation prize.
Oops All Himbos: The Blunder Road Edition
I told Johnny I was excited for Jay Foster’s Oops All Himbos and wow, the show absolutely delivered. The chaotic joy of seeing Jay herd this group to intro their characters (and vehicles this time) is always hilarious. Anjali Bimani joined the himbos and stole the show (naturally). I kept thinking how proud Aimee Carrero would be so proud of that perfect blend of selfie-princess, biker-badass energy that Anjali brought.
This run of Oops All Himbos took place in the ThunderRoad Vendetta RPG by 9th Level Games, which gave the whole performance a Mad Max and Furiosa vibe, which then the amazing cast made quite the Himbo or Herbo flavor. Vehicles were characters unto themselves, loaded with tricks, weapons, and personality.
I snagged the Drivers Manual quickstart, and I am very excited to run a one-shot or maybe a two-shot. Special shoutout to the Bus (piloted by Kyle Shire) for spiritually guiding us, and to a certain ramp named Jesse Jerdak for being passed around like a party… hm, we’ll say favor. The true blunder spirit.
Games on Demand: Discovering Sign
One of my absolute highlights came from Games on Demand, where I got to try Sign (from Thorny Games): a game inspired by the creation of Nicaraguan Sign Language, built by children who needed to communicate but had no shared language. The structure is simple: a brief explanation phase, then the entire game shifts into silence. You play via cards, expression, gesture, and creativity. Your character has personal goals, but the true heart of the game is understanding while fighting to be understood, really. It was beautiful, thoughtful, and one of the most moving games I’ve ever played. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Sadly I didn’t get a chance to play my friend Betty’s book-based game The Open Book or Natalie Pudim’s Crying Court they’ve been playtesting. I need to beg them for a spot at an off-convention game. The Open Book apparently had an amazing, best-game-ever, so ever thankful to hear that. You use books you bring (or Betty provides) to build your character and the game. The Crying Court is “a game of stolen daughters, courtly tactics, and feminine cruelty.” Sounds fabulous.
Food, Friends, and Philly’s Best
Finally, a huge shoutout to Rosie of OddDuckDice, who not only gifted me a set of lovely dice, but also led me on two separate brunch adventures.
- Harp and Crown offered a buffet that could convert the loudest brunch skeptic. Diverse, delicious, and entirely too easy to overfill your plate.
- Talula’s Garden had so many appealing options that choosing felt like a skill check. I ended up with the sausage gravy and corn bread (image below) and have no regrets whatsoever. You can see a bit of
Both places are must-visits next time you’re in Philly.
Thank You PAX-goers!
PAX Unplugged this year reminded me why I love this community so much. The games were incredible, the booths were vibrant, and the city was buzzing but ultimately, it’s the people that make this con special. Running into friends, meeting creators, discovering new games, getting lost on the expo floor, and sharing good meals… that’s what it’s all about. And if I walked away with great memories, cool promos, adorable cat dice, and a quickstart screaming to be played? Even better.
Here’s to next year! Same con energy, same chaos, and hopefully fewer marathons as it returns to its normal week, the week after Thanksgiving! See you next December! Remember to support one another and much love to all!
Investing In:
I wasn’t quite sure what to name my article series when I first started but the idea of showcasing or discussing things that make me excited, that I find new and interesting, or maybe I’m otherwise passionate about seemed to fit with the idea of Investing In something like the Pathfinder 2E mechanic. To use some magic items you have to give that little bit of yourself, which helps make these things even better. I like the metaphor of the community growing and being strengthened in the same way!
I also want to hear what you’re Investing In! Leave me a comment below about what games, modules, systems, products, people, live streams, etc you enjoy! You can also hit me up on social media as silentinfinity. I want to hear what excites you and what you’re passionate about. There’s so much wonderful content, people, groups (I could go on) in this community of ours that the more we invest in and share, the better it becomes!
Sources
Banner – Rob’s PAX Unplugged badge, modified, PAX
- Ripley dice, Black Oak Workshop
- Tabletop Table’s fine sales gents, Tabletop Table
- Rob with the Cabbage Merchant, Nickelodeon / Wizards of the Coast for respective right
- Blunder Road marketing, Jay Foster
- Sign, Thorny Games
- Dice from Odd Duck Dice
- Sausage gravy deliciousness from Talula’s Garden
