For these CGC blogs, I have been doing my best to present these interviews and events in chronological order. For this last part of the actual convention, please allow to switch the order of events. I understand that this decision could be looked down upon, but I believe that I can tell a better story in this fashion. I will do my best and ensure this will not become a habit in future stories.
So what was technically the last thing I did? I returned to my sweet spot of the convention. By this time the convention was winding down. Sunday was not a full day of excitement. It was around 3:00 p.m. and vendors were beginning to pack up their stalls and booths in preparation to leave. While visiting with them, I learned that many of these board game entrepreneurs were visitors from Colorado and that there was some kind of local convention circuit they traveled to advertise themselves and their games. The CGC being one such stop on the railroad so to speak.
Returning to my little convention cubby corner, I found myself next to the booth of Our Own Game Company. Like most folks, they were taking down their stall for convention’s end. Like the other vendors I had interviewed during the con, I had been interested in their products back on day 2 of the event. They sold some leather goods like journals, but what was interesting to me was their game system called A’Kyria.
Different board games and tabletop RPG games and systems uses different kinds of dice to accommodate for their different playstyle. Dungeons and Dragons is based primarily on the d20 dice, while something like Dead Man’s Chess uses the d6. A’Kyria uses the d100 style of dice for its play. The standalone rule book allows for self-created versatility and digital “Pods” are purchasable from the website. My last interview from the convention was with one of Our Own Game Company’s owners, Mrs. Louise Hughes.
The second to last game on this board game shelf is Oathen. Yes, Oathen. The first game I sat down to during the convention, and it’s second to last? It is, and there’s a reason for it. And the reason is timing. Jason and Virginia were going to be busy operating the booth and talking to other guests. On the evening of day 2 shortly before the trolley arrived to begin ferrying people to the Flippers afterparty, there was something of an Oathen group meeting. The last game of the convention would be a big 3 vs 3 team brawl and who was participating was uncertain.
I did want to be in on the action, but I was ok whether I ended up playing or spectating. Jason informed me the morning of day 3 that it would be the latter. Maybe it worked out better that way since me not participating allowed me a go at Dead Man’s Chess and the interview with Mr. San Andres. Thus, after finishing up my Dead Man’s Chess game and taking some photos and the interview, I moved my attention and my video camera towards the back of the board game ballroom. The Oathen booth, previously on the lower portion of the big floor, had been taken down and partially moved back there.
Including the interview, I think I recorded just about two hours of Oathen related video. Well the interview which was recorded. Bemusing story with a lesson included: I initially conducted an interview with Jason that I think was about 10 minutes long. I say that I think it was that long because I actually didn’t record it. While fussing around with the camera trying to get it set up at an acceptable angle, I started recording then stopped 10 seconds later thinking that I had actually started it. So while proceeding with this longer interview, the camera wasn’t recording. Thankfully, Jason allowed me a do-over.
Well, that’s it. That’s the end of the 2022 Cheyenne Gaming Convention. After my final interview with Our Own Game Company, I returned up to my room to try and deal with a little bit of hold over reporter work. I believe the vendors were all gone by 4:00 p.m. My reservations had me staying through that night. Check out of the hotel was early in the morning, and I was back on the road towards home shortly after 7:00 a.m. with a respectable collection of merchandise.
And it looks like this post is also a little bit shorter just like the previous one. But is not the end of the book. There’s still an epilogue to see to. A few things have left unattended to, and I think it’s proper conduct to see them taken care of. So join me soon as I do some self review on the CGC in the next post.
James Meyer 