I am not entirely certain where to start with this post. The three days I experienced in Dragonsteel Nexus had felt more like a dream than reality. There is something truly magical about the convention that made me forget about trying to churn out content for Socials and really just enjoy the moment. Maybe, a part of me was a little afraid that I won’t ever be back for some reason. And I just want to have those three days last forever.

For Creators

Starting from the very first day, as I was queuing for my Exhibitor’s Badge, I knew that this convention was something special. During this time, I met Ash who told me that Dragonsteel Nexus is the only convention she’d go to. And that this convention is the friendliest convention ever. Well, Ash helping me out and really just striking off a long conversation with me as we queued up was really a testament to that statement. She couldn’t be more right.

Dragonsteel Nexus wasn’t exactly a Board Game Convention, I’ve made that very clear from my little update video last month. And yes, for a little moment when I stepped into the hall and set up my little booth in the Indie Isles, it did feel out of place. But that estrangement went down the drain when I began to talk with the sundry of exhibitors in the convention. Here, you’d find Artists, Authors, Craftsmen, Book and Game Publishers. Every kind of creative endeavor, united by the love for Science Fiction & Fantasy.

I couldn’t be more thankful for these new cool people I met and talked to who hadn’t been anything but welcoming. And here’s some to name a few, and it is my wish that you’d check out their work too: Ash, my first friend in the Nexus. Kaden Love who is very welcoming to SLC, Kenny Gould who keeps the energy up with his daily high fives, Ethan & Salvador from Dragonroast Coffee who spared me some cable ties to get my banners up, Austin Hartell who came in clutch with the scissors! There are also Blake & Raven Penn, Lynn Buchanan, the guys from L99, Z.S. Diamanti, Kate Korsak, Jeff from BGG (gosh, I didn’t expect to meet him again).

Brandon Sanderson

The biggest highlight for me really is Day 0. Even now, I still can’t believe that I get to meet Brandon. I set out with a mission to give him a copy of Legion’s Collector’s Edition. Even asked Gameland to print an extra copy for it. Not only that I did it, I can’t believe he asked me for a signature!

Brandon himself told the story often about how his first signed book was given to Dan Wells. It’s crazy to think that I gave my first autographed game to Brandon Sanderson himself! I’ll cherish this forever.

Fantasy is Awesome!

I was afraid that nobody would play Legions, especially because the Nexus was not a Board Game convention. How foolish could my insecurities get?

The support every and each one of you had given me was overwhelming. It really felt that everyone was willing to give your idea a shot. For the first time, everyone seemed to care deeply about the idea of Morbidia and Death Summoning—the premise and the story the game is trying to tell. The demos we ran were met in a spectacular fashion. The support you gave put me into the brink of crying. And despite the hecticness and  the many highlights of Dragonsteel Nexus, you willingly sit down for 90 minutes, repeatedly asking for a full game instead of a small demo was one of the greatest gifts I could receive. 

The Nexus has been a really amazing experience for me. Surrounded by talented artists, authors and readers of our amazing Fantasy genre, I was kinda reminded why I chose to set sail on Stormbraver and pursue this voyage in the first place. It really is not just about selling a game. And it’s not about making those numbers. It is about showing our love to this wonderful genre, and creating something to share this love with more people.

And that’s an epic journey!