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Gary Con

Gary Con is an annual gaming convention held in , dedicated to celebrating the life and works of E. Gary Gygax, the co-creator of and widely regarded as the "Father of Role-Playing Games." Founded in 2008 by Luke Gygax shortly after his father's death on March 4 of that year, the event began modestly at the Hall with around 160 attendees and no pre-scheduled programming, relying instead on spontaneous gaming sessions to foster community camaraderie. Over the years, Gary Con has expanded significantly, relocating to the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa and growing to attract over 3,000 participants by 2024, with more than 2,250 events spanning role-playing games, board games, card games, and seminars; the 2025 edition set records for attendance and events. As a family-run endeavor led by the Gygax family, the convention emphasizes Gygax's enduring influence on tabletop gaming, providing a space for enthusiasts to connect, share experiences, and engage in activities that reflect the collaborative spirit of . Typically held in March to coincide with the anniversary of Gygax's passing, it includes special features like a memorial service and options, underscoring its roots in personal tribute and inclusive community building; the 2025 event featured an additional memorial for Ernie Gygax Jr., who passed away on February 28, 2025.

Background

Gary Gygax's Legacy

Ernest Gary Gygax, born on July 27, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, moved to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, at age seven and immersed himself in wargaming during his youth. In 1968, he founded the Lake Geneva Wargames Convention, later known as Gen Con, which began with just 20 attendees at the local Horticultural Hall and grew into a major event drawing over 60,000 participants annually by the 21st century. Gygax co-founded Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) in 1973 with childhood friend Don Kaye, operating the company from his basement in Lake Geneva. The following year, he co-created Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson, publishing the game through TSR from his home at 330 Center Street, where early playtests occurred in a small office and dining room. This established Lake Geneva as the birthplace of modern tabletop role-playing games (RPGs), transforming wargaming's tactical simulations into collaborative, narrative-driven experiences where players embody characters guided by a Dungeon Master. Gygax's innovations profoundly shaped the RPG genre, wargaming traditions, and the wider gaming industry by introducing mechanics like polyhedral dice, character progression, and immersive fantasy worlds, which inspired countless adaptations in , , and . Under his leadership, TSR expanded to employ over 400 people in —a town of about 5,000—publishing hundreds of RPG supplements and novels that generated an estimated $1 billion in sales and engaged roughly 20 million players globally as of 2008; cumulatively, the game has engaged about 50 million players worldwide as of 2024. After his 1986 departure from TSR due to internal conflicts, Gygax pursued independent projects, including the development of Lejendary Adventure in 1999, a multi-genre system that blended class-based and skill-oriented mechanics while championing old-school styles emphasizing puzzle-solving, exploration, and player-driven storytelling. He remained an advocate for traditional RPG principles, conducting games and sharing insights until his later years. Gygax died on March 4, 2008, at age 69 in his home from an .

Origins of the Convention

, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons, died on March 4, 2008, at his home in , from an . His funeral was held on March 8, 2008, at the American Legion Hall in , where family, friends, and fellow gamers gathered to pay their respects. Following the service, attendees organized an impromptu gaming session at the same venue, featuring informal tabletop games throughout the day in Gygax's memory; this event, attended by approximately 160 people with no pre-scheduled programming, was later retroactively designated as "Gary Con 0." Inspired by the spontaneous nature of this wake and a guest's suggestion to make it an annual tradition, Gygax's son Luke Gygax took the initiative to formalize a memorial convention honoring his father's legacy. Joined by siblings including Ernie and Heidi Gygax—Ernie, a co-organizer, passed away on February 28, 2025—Luke organized the first official Gary Con, held on March 7, 2009, once again at the American Legion Hall in Lake Geneva. The event drew over 200 attendees, who participated in role-playing games (RPGs) and wargames reminiscent of Gygax's contributions to the hobby. From its inception, Gary Con's core mission has been to celebrate Gygax's life and enduring impact on gaming through community-driven events that blend old-school and contemporary tabletop experiences. Early iterations faced organizational challenges, including reliance on family and volunteer efforts for setup and operations, as well as limited funding sourced primarily from donations, reflecting its humble, grassroots origins.

History

Early Years (2008–2015)

Gary Con originated as an informal memorial gathering in March 2008, shortly after the death of on March 4, with approximately 160 attendees and no scheduled events, held at the Hall in , and organized by his son Luke Gygax. The event marked the beginning of an annual tradition to honor Gygax's contributions to games, evolving into the first official Gary Con I on March 7, 2009, at the same venue, which drew over 200 participants focused on casual gaming sessions. The convention maintained consistency at the American Legion Hall through 2015, utilizing the main hall for open gaming tables and smaller adjacent rooms for discussions and panels, fostering an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of early gaming meetups. Attendance steadily increased, reaching over 300 for Gary Con II in 2010, where structured programming emerged with scheduled events including sessions and board games led by industry veterans. Key milestones included the debut of charity auctions in 2010, featuring donated gaming memorabilia to support community causes, and guest appearances by early collaborators such as Rob Kuntz. This period saw growing participation, reflecting broader interest in Gygax's legacy. Early operations faced challenges including space limitations at the Legion Hall, which led to overcrowding during peak hours and limited expansion for larger groups, compounded by heavy reliance on Gygax family volunteers for setup and coordination. Promotion remained , primarily through forums and word-of-mouth among enthusiasts, without extensive . Throughout this period, the convention emphasized an "old-school revival" theme, prioritizing recreations of classic TSR modules like those from the campaign, to celebrate the foundational eras of tabletop role-playing.

Growth and Relocation (2016–Present)

In 2016, Gary Con VIII marked the convention's relocation to the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in , providing expanded ballrooms and on-site lodging that increased capacity to over 2,000 attendees and supported greater scale compared to prior venues. This shift enabled a doubling of participation levels and facilitated professional enhancements, such as improved logistics for larger crowds. Operational advancements followed, including the integration of the TableTop.Events platform for event submissions, registration, and ticketing, which streamlined processes and enhanced accessibility for global participants through online systems. Corporate sponsorships also grew, with major publishers like serving as premier supporters to fund expanded programming and resources. The disrupted operations, leading to the cancellation of the in-person Gary Con XII in 2020 and a full transition to virtual events for Gary Con XIII in 2021 to prioritize attendee safety. In-person gatherings resumed in 2022, followed by a post-pandemic attendance surge exceeding 3,000 by 2023, underscoring the convention's resilience and appeal. Recent milestones include the 2023 collaboration between organizer and designers like Andrew Scott Perry to develop the Founders & Legends tournament series, a multi-year event spanning D&D editions to commemorate the game's 50th anniversary in 2024. Gary Con XVII, held March 20–23, 2025, exemplified continued innovation with over 2,300 scheduled events and deeper ties to wider gaming festivals via hybrid formats and online ticketing for international engagement, attracting approximately 3,500 attendees.

Organization and Venue

Organizers and Leadership

Luke Gygax founded Gary Con in 2008 as a memorial to his father, the co-creator of , and has served as its since the convention's . An Ennie Award-winning game designer, Gygax has contributed to the industry through projects such as those published under his company, Gygax Ink. The core staff comprises family members and professional hires, supplemented by a large volunteer base essential to operations. Family involvement includes Bouchra Gygax as hotel and guest relations director. Professional roles encompass Josh Popp as convention manager and events director, Garner Andrews as marketing and sales director, and Courtney "Kat" Mason as communications manager, reflecting the event's expansion and need for specialized coordination. As of 2025, additional key roles include Dave Conant as exhibitor relations manager and special advisor, and Skip Williams as events director. Volunteers, coordinated by Austin Neal, handle numerous on-site tasks to ensure smooth execution. Gary Con features Founders & Legends, a premier event celebrating the pioneers of games. maintains the event's from corporate influences, as exemplified by Gygax's efforts to distance it from controversies involving entities like the rebooted TSR brand. Under Gygax's direction, the organizers emphasize inclusivity, creating a environment that welcomes gamers of all ages, backgrounds, and styles—from old-school enthusiasts to newcomers—while enforcing strict anti-harassment policies to foster a .

Location and Facilities

Gary Con has been held annually at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, located at 7036 Grand Geneva Way in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, since 2016. This venue, situated approximately one hour southwest of Milwaukee and 1.5 hours northwest of Chicago, provides a central location tied to the origins of the role-playing game industry, where Gary Gygax founded TSR, Inc. in 1973. The resort's integration allows for extended programming, marking a shift from the earlier, more confined setup at the American Legion Hall in Lake Geneva prior to 2016. The facilities encompass over 62,000 square feet of indoor event space, including ballrooms like the 13,500-square-foot Forum Convention Ballroom, as well as meeting rooms and dedicated areas suitable for activities, vendor exhibitions, and tournaments. Outdoor spaces add more than 15,000 square feet, featuring chalets, pavilions, and patios with views of the and lake, enabling diverse programming options. On-site includes 358 renovated guest rooms and suites at the main resort, supplemented by 29 upscale villas and additional accommodations at the adjacent Timber Ridge Lodge, offering a total capacity exceeding 600 rooms for convention attendees. Dining options range from casual to upscale, with multiple restaurants and catering services available throughout the property. Accessibility features at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa include ADA-compliant rooms (13 disability-equipped), elevators, and ramps to support attendees with mobility needs. Shuttle services are available from O'Hare and Mitchell International Airports, arranged through third-party providers or ride-sharing options, facilitating travel for out-of-town participants. amenities, such as indoor and outdoor pools at Timber Ridge Lodge (though closed during the convention) and recreational facilities like a and fitness center, enhance the attendee experience.

Events and Programming

Core Gaming Activities

Gary Con's core gaming activities revolve around structured tabletop role-playing game (RPG) sessions, which form the convention's primary focus, honoring Gary Gygax's legacy in the genre. These sessions include hundreds of slots for classic and modern editions of Dungeons & Dragons, alongside Pathfinder and various indie RPGs, all submitted and scheduled through the Tabletop.Events platform. Events typically run in 4-hour blocks across the four-day convention, accommodating diverse playstyles from old-school adventures to contemporary narratives. Board and card games are accessible through an open play library featuring nearly 300 titles, ranging from classic like Chainmail to modern Eurogames, available for drop-in sessions in dedicated spaces. This library, managed by InnRoads Ministries, supports unstructured gaming from Thursday morning through Sunday afternoon, encouraging spontaneous play without prior registration. Card games within this format complement the library's offerings, providing casual opportunities alongside more competitive tracks. Trading card game tournaments occupy dedicated schedules throughout the weekend, featuring Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Star Wars Unlimited, and others, with structured events like sealed decks, commander formats, and casual gunslinging. Learn-to-play clinics are integrated to introduce newcomers, such as 3-hour sessions for Magic: The Gathering on and introductory rounds for Flesh and Blood on multiple days. Custom D&D-themed cards and Adventurers League playtests also appear in the lineup, blending elements with competitive formats. Wargaming tracks emphasize miniatures battles and historical simulations, drawing from Gygax's early involvement with Gen Con's wargame traditions, including events like Chainmail recreations and WWII scenarios using rulesets such as Tractics. These sessions, often held in the "Legends of Wargaming" room, utilize custom boards and miniatures for immersive battles, such as medieval jousts or large-scale engagements. Game masters receive dedicated support to facilitate these activities, including access to a GM Lounge with printing, prep space, and refreshments via event vouchers. Organizers provide free tools and policy guidelines, while GMs running 16 hours of events earn rewards, including a and credits toward a for the following year. Submissions via Tabletop.Events must adhere to deadlines, ensuring a robust catalog of 4-hour slots integrated with brief themed elements where appropriate.

Special Events and Features

Gary Con's annual charity auction features the sale of rare TSR artifacts, signed memorabilia, and unique gaming experiences, with proceeds benefiting organizations such as for pediatric care. Held on Saturday afternoons, typically from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa lobby, the event has raised over $90,000 in 2025 alone, contributing to a cumulative total exceeding $100,000 from recent years for children's health initiatives. Donations of items are encouraged in advance via to [email protected], with previews available online to build excitement among attendees. The convention includes a dedicated memorium space and memorial service honoring and other contributors to the community, such as Ernie Gygax in 2025, held on Sunday mornings in the main lobby. This tribute features exhibits of Gygax's life and works, providing a reflective space for attendees to pay respects, with available on for broader access and recordings posted on afterward. Complementing this, an autograph booth operates through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where industry figures like Skip Williams and other special guests sign items on a first-come, first-served basis, with slots bookable via Tabletop.Events. The cosplay contest, launched in 2023 at Gary Con XV, encourages costumes themed around elements, such as Chaosium titles like and in 2025, and is held on Saturday around 12:00 p.m. in the Grand Geneva Lobby. Divided into Novice (at least 20% entrant-made) and Masters (at least 80% entrant-made) categories, excluding footwear, it awards prizes for creativity, with group entries up to four participants permitted and pre-judging required to ensure compliance with harassment-free policies. Exclusive to Gary Con, the Tower of Gygax offers a multi-round challenge using first-edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules, simulating classic dungeon crawls across varied settings like castles and planar nexuses in two-hour sessions run by industry professionals such as and guest DMs. Participants receive pre-generated characters, dice, and pencils, with survival stamps on sheets as keepsakes, emphasizing high-stakes adventure and fun in a drop-in format. Panels and seminars focus on RPG design history and community topics, featuring guests like Luke Gygax and creators such as Anna Meyer in events like the annual Celebrating Greyhawk discussion, held throughout the convention to explore the evolution of tabletop gaming from the 1970s onward. These integrate briefly with core programming by highlighting foundational influences, while the pre-con party on Wednesday evenings provides casual networking with pizza and beer in the Evergreen Hallway until supplies last, sponsored by entities like The Arcane Library. The event concludes with the dead dog volunteer party on Sunday at 8:00 p.m., offering pizza, drinks, and games exclusively for staff, volunteers, and special guests as a thank-you gathering.

Community and Impact

Attendance and Growth

Gary Con has demonstrated steady growth in attendance since its founding, evolving from a small memorial gathering to a major gaming event. The first iteration in 2008 attracted approximately 160 attendees with no scheduled events at the American Legion Hall in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. By 2009, participation exceeded 200 gamers, and in 2010, it surpassed 300, prompting a move to a larger lodge venue. The convention reached over 3,300 total attendees in 2024, including 3,141 in-person badges and 160 online, marking a significant increase from earlier years. In 2025, the convention achieved record attendance, estimated at approximately 3,500 participants, and raised over $90,000 for Children's Wisconsin. This expansion has roughly doubled attendance every three to four years since the mid-2010s, driven by broader appeal within the tabletop role-playing game community. The relocation to the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in 2016 enabled the accommodation of larger crowds and supported accelerated growth by providing expanded facilities. Attendee demographics primarily consist of enthusiasts aged 30 to 50, with a historical majority male (around 70%) but increasing diversity through targeted outreach efforts; approximately 10-15% of participants hail from international locations such as and . Growth has been fueled by efficient online ticketing via platforms like TableTop.Events, where badges for 2024 sold out rapidly, alongside promotion through dedicated online communities. Economically, Gary Con bolsters Lake Geneva's sector, with over 3,000 visitors annually, enhancing the region's $997 million total tourism impact in 2024. Post-event feedback mechanisms and a focus on community-building activities foster repeat participation.

Cultural Significance and Legacy

Gary Con has played a pivotal role in preserving the legacy of E. Gary Gygax through dedicated exhibits and reprints of works by his family, such as The Lost City of Gaxmoor co-authored by his sons and Luke Gygax, which highlight his foundational contributions to games. These efforts extend to archiving Gygax's original materials and adapting them for modern play, including D&D 5th Edition conversions by publishers like Troll Lord Games, ensuring his innovative designs remain accessible. This preservation work has inspired the "old-school " (OSR) movement, encouraging indie designers to revive classic mechanics and storytelling styles from Gygax's era, as evidenced by dedicated OSR panels and game sessions at the convention. The convention fosters a strong by serving as a "" for the Gygax family and the broader gaming world, where attendees from diverse backgrounds gather to share stories and experiences in , the birthplace of . It promotes inclusivity and intergenerational mentorship, welcoming newcomers alongside veterans through kid-friendly events and collaborative play that bridge generational gaps in the hobby. As a platform for emerging designers, Gary Con has facilitated debuts and expansions of systems tied to Gygax's influence, including sessions for Lejendary Adventures—his post-TSR creation—and indie titles like Shadowdark by Kelsey Dionne, which modernizes OSR elements. The event's ties to ' 50th anniversary in were particularly prominent, featuring panels with representatives and special programming that marked the milestone at the site of the game's origins. Gary Con stands as a symbol of fan-driven tributes to Gygax following his 2008 passing, organized by his family and enthusiasts to honor his vision in contrast to larger corporate conventions like , emphasizing intimate, homage-focused gatherings over commercial scale. It has received media coverage in reputable outlets such as and EN World, which highlight its role in sustaining Gygax's cultural impact on tabletop gaming. Looking ahead, Gary Con incorporates formats with events to broaden , alongside expansions like Gary Con , signaling plans for global reach while continuing to unify gamers for the next era of innovation.

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