Big Cons, Adventures in Collecting, R.I.P. Reggie Bannister, & Eggiversary, and more!

In this newsletter

Stillfleet Studio

The Game Design Grind: Big Conventions

A half-empty stadium sits filled with tables and chairs. Daylight filters in along with people wearing stuffed book bags.

Where are we? Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, the first day of Gen Con 2026. Soon, the tables will be packed with gamers playing TTRPGs. And this isn’t even the main venue! The convention center and attached hotels are even more full.

Gen Con is a massive game convention. While fun, it’s costly to attend, and it’s a danger for the immunocompromised. From a small publisher perspective, getting a retail booth is competitive. Everyone is haggard from talking day and night. It’s a classic (one might joke “old-school”) business grind. So why does Stillfleet or any small TTRPG studio bother to attend?

Because for four days, an entire city is transformed. You can’t order a latte: it’s a “Necromancer’s Breath” (etc.). An overheard conversation may jump from a critique of a Magic: The Gathering set to an endorsement of Kids on Bikes. Anyone you pass may invite you to sit and try a new board game.

A mega convention is not simply “a con.” It’s a wholesale disassociation with that other grind—the one in which most of us have day jobs and can’t count on strangers to know what a saving throw is. Psychologically, this is reinvigorating. We get to see people playing our games, our friends’ games, and games in general, en masse. Specifically, for an indie publisher:

1) A big con is a golden opportunity to run games for a random sampling of nerds from across the U.S. (And—depending on which vile anti-immigration politicians are currently in office—the world.) We can get honest feedback and build word-of-mouth interest.

2) We can show off our games and learn what else is happening via our distributors. Many indies distribute via Studio 2 or Indie Press Revolution, or distributor–publishers like Plus One Experience and Exalted Funeral. They’re all at the big cons with booths. We don’t often get to be in the same space with our distributors and with our indie comrades who make the games that inspire us.

3) We exchange ideas, and we challenge each other. Panels, seminars, and—more so—networking events provide spaces in which creators can learn and teach. We come away with a list of to-dos, people to follow up with, etc.

In fact, I met some of the other Analog Union folks for the first time at Gen Con this year. I don’t know who I’ll see at the other big con we attend, PAX Unplugged, so I may not see them again until next summer. So even if much of Gen Con exists for the likes of D&D, Daggerheart, and other non-indie games, we’ll return to Indy to connect with other gamers who support small studios that focus on innovation and storytelling. Numbers-wise, it’s simply easiest to find these folks at a big con.

Final observation: even if the big cons are driven by the big trad games, the indies are seeing real growth. To highlight just two names, Justin Sirois of Severed Books, part of Analog Union, was nominated for two of the biggest ENnie Awards (the biggest in TTRPGs), for Best Game and Best Rules 2026, for Sickest Witch. And Viditya Voleti and moreblueberries (Elliot Davis) were nominated for Best Rules for A Land Once Magic. These are two very different, very rad indie games that deserved all the attention they received, and it was inspiring to hear that sentiment echoed widely.

(Full disclosure, I technically won a small part of a group “Judge’s Spotlight” ENnie as part of Plus One Experience’s RPG Zine Club Year 2, for PICARO! Big ups to Wes Franks, Tony Vasinda, and the POE team.)

Takeaway: if you see an indie game at a big con that looks fun, consider giving it a try, and see if the creator is around.

Another way to help make TTRPGs better is to participate in game jams. Reminder: the Grit System Game Jam is open for submissions until August 25!

Friends of the Union

Adventures In Collecting

Those conversations quickly grew into interviews, those interviews into opportunities, and those opportunities into… well… content. Lots and lots of content.

Flash forward 7 years and through hundreds of recorded episodes, thousands of posts, a global pandemic, and the advent of gen AI, we have organically grown Adventures in Collecting into a trusted source of news for the toys and collectibles community. We’ve had the opportunity to interview the likes of Jeremy Padawer (President of Jazwares), Todd McFarlane, and even famed screenwriter Bob Gale. We’ve been given the chance to break news for multi-million dollar corporations like Hasbro — hell — we got to attend a special VIP screening of an original 1954 print of Godzilla straight out of Toho’s archive. 

It still doesn’t feel real sometimes, and that’s something I never take for granted. The fact that people show up to see my toy photography, that companies trust us with early looks at their products, and that we keep getting invited to events and conversations is not lost on me. 

I’ve learned a lot along the way, but the main thing we set out to do is still at the core of all of this. It’s really easy to let the world force us to disconnect with the people we care about — and while this podcast has opened my doors to a rich community filled with folks from seemingly every walk of life — it also gives me an excuse to sit down and have thoughtful conversations with my brother.  

“Hot as Love” across the Rainbow Bridge
Reggie Bannister 1945-2026

On Sunday, August 9th, the world of horror lost a titan as Reggie Bannister shed his mortal coil at age 80. 

Reggie was an actor, musician, and producer. He is best known as Reggie from the Phantasm series of movies, where over the course of five films he stood steadfast by his best friend as they fought an endless battle against the Tall Man. 

According to Deadline, Bannister’s other credits include Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation (1990), The Demolitionist (1995), Wishmaster (1997), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), Cemetery Gates (2004), The Mangler Rebor (2005), Last Rites (2006), The Rage (2007), The Quiet Ones (2008), Carnies (2009), Sawblade (2010), Not Another B Movie(2011), The Ghastly Love of Johnny X (2012), Bloody Bloody Biuble Camp(2012), The Obsidian Curse (2016), and Bonejangles (2017)

For me, this one hits harder than most because Phantasm is my all-time favorite horror movie. I loved the character of Reggie, and the balding yet ponytailed ice cream-slinging everyman he brought to life was proof that anybody could be a hero. 

Let’s also not forget he looked cool as hell wielding the iconic four-barrel shotgun and behind the wheel of the Hemi ‘Cuda that became staples of the Phantasm series. 

Here’s to you, Reggie Bannister. I hope you have the top down on the ‘Cuda as you cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Ham & Egg Publishing

Ham & Eggiversary

August 8th, 2026 marked the 6th anniversary of Ham & Egg Publishing. Time sure does fly when you are having fun.

I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to all the folks who contributed to our longevity as a publisher. To all the artists, backers, contributors, our friends and family, and players. Thank you. 

Because of you, we have been able to release eighteen titles–for 321RPG and other systems–as well as two co-releases, and even more to come later in the year. We’ve even expanded to minis, novellas, soundtracks, and soon dice. 

More important than that, however, is that we made friends and found a place in the TTRPG community where we belong. We are so grateful to be here. 

So, on behalf of Geo, my creative partner of over 20 years, and myself, thanks. 

If you’d like to see what we’ve got coming up next, click the link below to learn more and get notified when we go live. 

Stay safe out there, and may the dice always roll in your favor. 

-JHM

Analog Union

Join the Analog Union subreddit

The Analog Union subreddit has launched, and it’s starting to grow! Join us in our new community where you can tell us what you really think of all these shenanigans we’re getting up to. We listen, and we care. And I really want to see what you’re up to in your gaming world.

It’s easy to find; it’s literally r/AnalogUnion.

Get in now so you can say “I was there before it was cool.” (Spoiler alert: we’ll never be cool)

ShireCon

North Canaan, CT – September 25th & 26th

ShireCon is celebrating its 8th year! Two days of role-playing and board games in the Berkshires! Come for a day and a half of OSR and modern gaming. Visit our vendors selling old and new games and enjoy the local fare in North Canaan, CT

Under The Dice Fest 

Enfield, CT – October 2nd, 3rd & 4th

Under The Dice Fest returns this October 2nd- 4th! 

UTDFest is focused on independent tabletop gaming, with a focus on miniatures and wargames! The New England Mordheim Open returns, along with roleplaying games, game tournaments, workshops, live music, and more! You don’t want to miss it!

ArcaneCon

Northampton, MA – October 16th & 17th

ArcaneCon is returning October 16th & 17th, 2026. Join us in a celebration of indie, old school, and old school-inspired RPGs, miniature games, board games, and more! ArcaneCon is Western Massachusetts’s premiere tabletop hobby convention! Game submissions are open now!!! See more information at Tabletop Events.

Your editor this week has been Hambone of Ham & Egg Publishing. 

Keep on emailing us at hello@analogunion.com to let us know what you’d like to see more of/less of and to share ideas.

If you enjoy the Analog Union newsletter, please tell your friends to sign up at AnalogUnion.com.

Until next time!

—JHM