PAX Unplugged kicks off tomorrow (December 6th) and will run until December 8th. This is the third year for the event and is a great place for gamers of all ages to experience tabletop gaming. Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade, PAX East, West, Unplugged, and Child’s Play children’s charity took time out of his hectic day to talk all about PAX Unplugged and the reasons he enjoys tabletop gaming so much.

Via: unplugged.paxsite.com

First Time To PAX Unplugged, Or Any Convention For That Matter?

Via: unplugged.paxsite.com

While PAX East and West have traditionally focused on video gaming, tabletop games have had their own sections and have been growing in popularity year after year. The entire reason that PAX Unplugged exists is because there was so much interest in tabletop gaming in their other conventions that it was clearly able to support its own event. If someone is a big board game fan, but have perhaps never been to any convention before, Jerry has some great tips for newcomers to get the most out of the experience.

“If you've never been to a convention before, obviously I'm biased, but I think PAX is a great place to start - regardless of which one you attend. I would start by grabbing the official app and see if there are any panels or actual play content you want to see. It's good to know that first, because those are times you'll know to leave free,” Jerry describes. A quick peek at either the app or web page reveals that there are several panels throughout the weekend. Depending on the popularity, you may even want to aim to be there early to avoid massive crowds or missing out entirely if the area fills to capacity.

Via: unplugged.paxsite.com

Beyond those panels however, the convention is like a massive playground with much to discover. Jerry continues by saying, “you really can build your own convention from what we have on offer. Find players in Freeplay, check out brand new stuff in First Look, take advantage of our profound lending library or find something new from an exhibitor. This last option is basically my whole show - I love getting demos, finding some new favorite, and then descending into obsession. I'm especially susceptible to Wargames.”

If You Enjoyed PAX East Or West, You’ll Feel At Home

Via: unplugged.paxsite.com

Video games as an industry has grown tremendously in the past decades, and there are so many high-quality titles available today that one could be forgiven if they have not dabbled in tabletop gaming. I asked Jerry if there was anything for an attendee who may love video games but is not familiar with board gaming, to which he replied, “From the very first PAX, our thesis has more or less been that if you like games, board games are something you should be checking out. There's a lot of reasons I think that, but that's why we've carved out space at our 'videogame' conventions for tabletop more or less from the jump.”

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Pinny Collectors Have New Targets To Acquire

No PAX event would be complete without the tradition of finding and trading the great looking enamel pins that circulate through every convention. Jerry recently posted on Penny Arcade about what to expect, and the pins are a mix of board game related characters, such as Meeples, to characters from other webcomics and well-known online sites.

Via: penny-arcade.com

What’s Different In This Third Year Of PAX Unplugged

Via: unplugged.paxsite.com

The first and second year for PAX Unplugged could certainly be considered as testing grounds for the concept of a tabletop-centric event, though there was little doubt that it would succeed because there are already several other massive shows devoted to the board game industry. The concept really came from the overwhelming demand for more tabletop space at PAX East and West, as Jerry describes, “PAX Unplugged is very much the runaway vigor of the Tabletop Sections of the other shows, given a chance to express itself. The tabletop sections have grown so big and so focused that they feel like conventions already!”

PAX Unplugged has been held in Philadelphia for its entire run, and this looks to remain the case in the future as well. When asked if they would be looking at other venues in the future, Jerry says, “We don't currently have anything like that in the works. I'd be sad if I couldn't get a roast pork, broccoli rabe, and sharp provolone sandwich from the Market after the show.”

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What Makes Tabletop Gaming Special?

Via: unplugged.paxsite.com

While video games can be an enjoyable solo or multiplayer activity, so too can tabletop gaming, but in a completely different way. Some players love the social aspect of getting together locally to play a game, while others may prefer the strategy that comes with a new game and can be madly competitive. For Jerry, it’s a mix of being highly enjoyable, but also something more, “Without getting too philosophical about it, I've been trying to figure out what I find so appealing about painting my minis or choosing where to put a meeple. I'm not especially competitive in any of these contexts! Maybe there's no way to discuss it without being annoying: I feel like I'm sharpening my mind on these games. It just feels good.”

As tabletop gaming continues to move towards a mainstream audience, we see a younger generation dive into the various types of board game options. This is also evident when examining the types of games that Child’s Play donates to children’s hospitals around the world. Jerry notes that, “For many of the usage cases in children's hospitals, electronic games tick a lot of boxes.” This makes perfect sense for someone confined to a hospital bed, and now more than before, “Tabletop Games often figure prominently in these lists - check the one for Seattle Children's for examples!”

PAX Unplugged – An Elaborate Ruse?

In the past, Mike Krahulik, the other half of Penny Arcade has described the immense physical toll that drawing comic strips live at conventions has on his hand and wrist. This has not been described by Mike directly, but by “Gabe”, his webcomic persona. When asked if PAX Unplugged is in fact an elaborate ploy to destroy this weak, frail body with the upcoming panel “Penny Arcade: Make a Strip,” Jerry says, “I'd describe this as the optimal scenario.”

Via: "The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition", 2009.

We wish everyone attending the third annual PAX Unplugged a fantastic weekend, and a "quick recovery" for Mike should Jerry's plan succeed. May you find every Pinny you desire, and may all your rolls all be natural 20s!

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