The One About PAX Unplugged 2025

Well it’s about that time. We’re less than a month out from PAX Unplugged 2025 and I’m looking forward to hopping on the train up to Philly and getting to see friendly faces and hang out over the long convention weekend!

It doesn’t feel like it’s been a year, which I realize is because it hasn’t. This year’s event is before Thanksgiving rather than the first weekend in December like usual, so everything feels a bit thrown off. It’s also going to be interesting because we’re sharing the venue–and the surrounding area–with the Philadelphia Marathon. Keep an eye on the street closings and prepare for some detours, y’all!

PAX Unplugged is always interesting to me, because I’ve never really been a convention goer–I know I’ve said this a lot. And with PAXU, I’m often working in some way or another. Being on panels or in a game, so it’s both work and fun. But generally, if I weren’t working, I might not go. Not only do I struggle with my feelings with “belonging” in this particular space, but attending conventions isn’t cheap, nor is that PTO infinite.

Schedule

Plain and simple, here’s where you can find me at PAX Unplugged over the weekend. I’ve got one TTRPG Live Play and two panels.

Friday, November 21

Enter the Stillness – Fifth Season Live Game (13+)
5:30-7pm ET, Kelpie Theatre

Saturday, November 22

How to Avoid Creating a Non-Melanated Game Group Revisited (13+)
11am-Noon ET, Kelpie Theatre

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So Your Friends Have Suckered You Into Running a Game. What now? (13+)
Noon-1pm ET, Crab God Theatre

Hangout/Chat

Outside of the above events, I’ll mostly be around the convention center, occasionally ducking out to get some food or fresh air or head back to my hotel. I’m pondering doing a very low-key coffee meetup one morning, but we’ll see if I can wrangle those details.

I suppose I should add something about networking, or business talk, which… the best way is to reach out ahead of time. I tend to be fairly flexible outside of my scheduled events, but more of that time is dedicated to catching up with and hanging out with friends. I still have tons of business cards leftover from an order a few years back, and don’t see myself running out anytime soon.

And maybe I’ll be playing some games…?

Games

Tabletop/Board/TTRPG

Per usual, I will have my dice, my reading glasses, my journal/notebook and my laptop. Every year, I say I’m going to sign up to sit in on a game, or get together with friends to play something and it rarely happens. Mainly due to the time commitment. Not all games are set up, explained and played quickly, nor are they drop-in/drop-out friendly. So more often than not, I will watch others play in case I need to go.

If you are running a fun game that there are sign-ups for, definitely let me know!

That said, I have large blocks of free time this year, so setting up a game in the free play area or the PAX Together Intersection works for me if it’s something that has a more or less fixed end point with respect to time.

Magic: The Gathering

I will bring at least one pre-constructed Commander deck with me, possibly two. I have realized that MtG is not super compatible with my brain when it comes to anything beyond the most casual and quick play. Something that generally, Commander isn’t really known for.

Add to that, my own issues trying to read the cards and properly hear other players, especially when they have a lot more assumed knowledge than I do and when the environment’s noise levels aren’t conducive and I generally pass on playing and stick to watching. Because I like to be social and I think the game is fun–when it isn’t taken too seriously.

So again, if it’s set up in the free play area, that’s a possibility, but if you’re looking to play in a bar or lounge someplace where everyone has assembled, chances are I’ll pass. (Should I have said “tap” out? That’s awful, right?)

Feelings

I mentioned up top that I often have a hard time with feeling like I belong in this particular gaming space, let alone as a “somebody” in the space. I was on a good and popular at the time show, that has now ended. I’ve done a lot of one-offs, and mini-series, and of course that awesome season finale for our show that one time, but nothing really steady.

I mean… I’m on the Special Guests page for PAX Unplugged, I’ve been part of the PTI Fellowship, I’ve run games, I’ve been invited to play a D&D live game at a Magic: The Gathering convention. And yet… I have these feelings a lot, which I also imagine is maybe normal for many others in this space. It’s not quite imposter syndrome because I know my talent and worth. But I also know those things–especially from the streaming side of things–can easily have an expiration date, so to speak.

It’s not my main job. Honestly, streaming isn’t even my main job. I can’t devote as much time to creative work as I’d like. And beyond being a player/performer that–I think–most people enjoy working with, I don’t really have other what I feel like are valued talents for this space. I can write, but I’m not a games writer or designer. I’m not being invited on TTRPG crowdfunding campaigns even as stunt casting. I don’t mind running a game, but imagining doing anything beyond a one-shot sends my mind spiraling.

Even when it comes to being on shows, my day job/work schedule has to come first. Which isn’t always friendly to dinner time or late-night call times, or trying to play nice with other time zones. I’m not anywhere people might see me regularly outside my Twitch streams, which aren’t generally TTRPG or tabletop focused aside from my love of deckbuilders.

So each year of PAX Unplugged, I have the thought, “Is this my last PAX Unplugged?” Whether that’s from my own personal interest or general industry relevance, I don’t know. As I said before, if I weren’t working in some respect, I might not go at all. Evidenced by the many conventions that take place practically in my own backyard that I never attend.

That’s very likely a longer conversation I have to have with myself and decide how much business or pleasure I wish to pursue this year. However, I will do what I always do, and attend PAX Unplugged as if it could my be last. Have a good time, spend that good time with friends and walk away with few to no regrets.

See You in Philly!

Sorry, that last bit got a little heavy, but sometimes that’s just how feelings do. I’ll get some posts up on social media about the game and panels soon. Honestly, I haven’t even put together the fun graphic I need for this blog post yet, so I better get on that!

Soon it will be time for to-do lists, packing checklists, and depending on what my Thanksgiving plans are the following week: a shopping list, especially if I’m planning to roast a bird. If you’re headed to PAX Unplugged, I hope to see you there, and that we all have a fun and safe convention weekend!