It just keeps getting better and better.  It's part gaming and part reunion.  It's also getting bigger.  We had 500 registrants and some walk ups.  We ran out of programs, bags and badge holders.

I am noticing is that it seems we're getting away from OD&D and 1st Edition as a percentage of the overall games available.  The diversity of game systems is astounding.  It seems like every year there's lots of new stuff.  

Another thing that's obvious is that we're losing founders/pioneers as they are getting on up in years.  Some, like Jim Ward, passed away.  Others have health issues that limit their ability to travel.  But the con has also attracted new gaming leaders, like Kelsey Dionne, who are creating some fantastic products.

A final observation is that Mike, Gary and David have implemented some good and needed changes.  They have a new warehouse location which is ten times closer.  The vendor hall location has changed into a bigger and better place.  Food trucks provide more food choices, although their quality and value vary.

NTX is becoming THE con to attend!   8)

Like benjoshua said it just keeps getting better. It's the highlight of my gaming calendar every year.
Saw and gamed with many Acaeum members it is indeed part reunion. Missed a couple too but there is always next year.

Played in many wonderful games, some highlights for me:
- played some 2e DM'd by Zeb Cook
- an OD&D/Chainmail Ancient Egyptian themed game which was loads of fun
- B1.5 continuation adventure run by Bad Mike (module co-written by Bad Mike and Thom Wilson)
- Barrowmaze run by Greg Gillespie using his new Dragonslayer ruleset
- 4 Hyperborea games run by Jeff Talanian, Zach Pierce, and Morgan Hazel (2 games) all of who run excellent adventures
- at the auction I bought the NTRPG minotaur miniature (sold at a very early NTRPG like year 2 or 3?) which was speed painted at this year's con by Angela Imrie

The only downside for me was I was not able to get into Bill Barsh's D&D tournament, which I have played in like 10 years in a row. He even expanded from 3 sessions to 5 this year but with 500+ attendees this year they just filled up fast.

Once again I find it hard to wait for next year. Might actually run something myself next year, we'll see.

Walter

I played in Bill Barsh's D&D Tournament Wednesday night with a couple other Acaeum members.  Return to Dark Tower was a blast.  No one in our party died and we got to the end but ran out of time before finishing the last encounter.  Our group managed to win the tournament.
Other highlights included a first edition Pendragon game, first edition Chill game with Steve Winter, Star Wars (West End version), Badmike's expansion to B1, Alex Kammer's Mutant Year Zero/Alien/Walking Dead mashup, Lost Dungeons of Tonisborg with a bunch of Knights & Knaves dudes, and a Tekumel adventure ran by Victor Raymond.

With the exception of the D&D sessions, everything else I played in was a first for me.  All were fantastic games.  I can't say enough great things about this convention.  And the Midnight Auction is a riot.
I'm getting too old to stay up drinking and laughing until 3 or 4 AM like I did the first 6 or 7 years.  But I manage to hang around long enough to catch up with friends I only see once or twice a year.
If you have thought about coming and haven't done it yet you should really try and make it.

I had a great time at the con, and I've been slow to post pictures.  So, no more delays!  The vendor area was bigger and better than ever!


The food trucks were hit and miss, but I really enjoyed the BBQ truck.  I loved their brisket(pictured below).  The other food trucks seemed unusually expensive for what you got.  $13.75 for a burger and fries, for example.  It's better than the hotel food prices, $25 for a breakfast buffet!   :shock:


Wednesday night Joshua and I played in Alan Hammack's game, Hammack's Ghost Tower - Imaria: Dimensions in Time and Space.


Thursday afternoon we played in Talanian's game, HYPERBOREA: Blocks of Quox.  There were quite a few traps and puzzles, but we solved everything to a satisfying conclusion.


Thursday night we played in the K&KA Social, and I've already reported on that.  It was a fun time.


Friday morning we played in Steve Winter's game, The Tomb of Decekorr which uses the The Fantasy Trip rules.  It was a combination of chess and D&D.  It was an interesting concept, but that's probably the last time I'll play that.


Friday night we played in tacojohn's game, The Tomb of Aethering the Damned Redux.  As always, we had a lot of fun, but never got to the lower levels where the main action was located.


Saturday morning, we played in, Grail Quest, which also uses The Fantasy Trip ruleset.  There were three kids aged 11 to 13 and that made the game both fun and challenging.


Saturday night, we played in grodog's game, Abyssal Rift in Greyhawk Wilderness, and this was my favorite game of the con.  We had to rescue an elven princess from an underwater fortress, and we succeeded.  So fun!


Sunday morning we played in Steve Winter's Gamma World game, Beta Testing 1, 2, 3, and it was my second favorite game of the con.  Steve is one of the best DM's around.

This year's staff was fantastic as always.  It's fun and interesting what goes on behind the scenes.


The best thing for me is getting to play and spend lots of time with my son, Joshua.  He comes away every year inspired as he DM's his own campaign back home.  We're looking forward to next year!   8)