Convention Chronicles! Origins 2025 (Episode 237)

Convention Chronicles! Origins 2025 (Episode 237)

Author: Tabletop Journeys July 27, 2025 Duration: 1:09:52

Join Lewanika and Michael as they take over the mic while Josh is on vacation, promising "havoc and chaos". Michael shares his insights from the recent Origins Game Fair.

Origins celebrated its 50th anniversary, with approximately 20,000-25,000 attendees – about a third the size of Gen Con. Most RPGs are conveniently located in the Hyatt Hotel's lower levels, making it easily accessible and self-contained. He even highlights the great Jets Pizza in the attached food court.

Michael's primary mission this year was to play as many different superhero RPG systems as possible, seeking his ideal game for future campaigns. He shares a positive experience with the new Marvel game, noting it was a bit dungeon-crawly but still good for seeing someone else GM. His favorite game of the weekend was Mutants & Masterminds, highlighting an exceptional GM and a table where "everybody got their moments". In contrast, he recounts a less positive demo of a Batman RPG, citing issues like lengthy solo vignettes that left players waiting and showcasing characters not present at the table. He also had a very positive first impression of Daggerheart, Critical Role's new game, praising its "fun, frenetic and chaotic" design, leading him to buy the core set. Lewanika confirms he'll be starting a full Daggerheart campaign soon, noting its similarities to Star Trek Adventures' use of metacurrencies and traits.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Introduction

00:02:15 – Origins Game Fair Overview

00:05:16 – The Superhero RPG Mission 🦸‍♂️

00:11:44 – Convention Layout & Navigation 🗺️

00:26:12 – The Best Game: Mutants & Masterminds 🔥

00:33:10 – Lessons from a Poor Demo Experience 🛑

00:44:55 – First Impressions of Daggerheart 🗡️

00:53:16 – Convention Do's & Don'ts: General Tips ✅

00:58:05 – Convention Do's & Don'ts: Health & Snacks 🍎

01:01:47.82 – Convention Do's & Don'ts: Try Something New!🌟


#OriginsGameFair #TabletopJourneys #RPGConventions #GamingTips #ConventionLife #Daggerheart #MutantsAndMasterminds #GameDesign #Podcast #ConSurvival #ttrpgcommunity #ttrpg #ttrpgnews


Three longtime friends, with a combined century of experience around the gaming table, invite you into their ongoing conversation. Tabletop Journeys is a podcast born from decades of shared history, not just as gamers but as people who have spent a lifetime thinking deeply about the worlds we create together. You’ll hear the easy, often hilarious dynamic of a group that has played in and run every kind of tabletop and live-action roleplaying game imaginable. Their discussions are the kind that usually happen late at night, after the dice are put away, where ideas get pulled apart, rebuilt, and passionately debated. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in one of those living rooms, listening in as they dissect everything from game mechanics and storytelling techniques to the unexpected life lessons found in collaborative imagination. It’s less a formal review show and more a chronicle of a lifelong journey through games, packed with the kind of insight and friendly argument that only comes from truly knowing your fellow travelers. Tune into this podcast for a natural, deep, and often very funny exploration of why we play.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Tabletop Journeys
Podcast Episodes
Preservations (S3 Ep 7) - Flesh Made Manifest (Prt. 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
The line between machine and life begins to blur.The battle may be over, but the cost of victory is only just beginning to unfold.As the U.S.S. Dilamus Christian returns to calm, a chilling discovery within its own syste…
The Wilderness Unboxed! A TTJ Starter Set Review (Episode 247) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:27
Step into adventure with Tabletop Journeys as we dive into The Wilderness, the first adventure from the brand-new D&D 2024 Starter Set! 🌲⚔️In this episode, we break down everything the adve ture booklet offers for new an…
Preservations (S3 Ep 7) - Flesh Made Manifest (Prt. 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:04
A titanic vessel drifts in the shadow of a blue sun. The crew of the U.S.S. Dilamus Christian must rely on daring maneuvers, razor-sharp tactics, and unshakable resolve as they confront a foe unlike any they’ve faced bef…
Unboxing the new 2024 D&D Starter Set (Episode 246) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:59
Welcome everybody to today's episode of Tabletop Journeys! This week, we dive into the brand-new Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. From cracking open the box on-air to sharing first impressions, w…
Preservations (S3 Ep 7) - Flesh Made Manifest (Prt. 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
In the depths of uncharted space, the crew of the U.S.S. Dilamus Christian pursues the final remnant of a multidimensional threat. Secrets unravel in the conference room, tension rises in engineering, and the blue light…
The Devil's Bargain. Class Warfare Cleric, Part 2! (Episode 245) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:55
What happens when a band of clerics defies a pit fiend’s ultimatum? In this thrilling episode, our heroes face fiery destruction, a strange resurrection, and a fateful walk down a dirt road that leads them into a carniva…
New Campaigns and The Keys from the Golden Vault [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43
Some new video content will be coming out! Josh is starting a new in person campaign with brand new players running through Dragons of Stormwreck Isle! Also, he's putting together a series on homebrewing with Keys from t…
Preservations Quick Treks – “Signals in the Dark” (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:21
🌌Preservations Quick Treks – “Signals in the Dark” (Prt 2)🌌The void hides secrets, and shadows carry echoes. Lt. Neelan and Lt. Thenev press deeper into the mysteries of GR-1292, where science and survival collide. 🌑What…