GenCon 2025: Successful playtests, new games, old friends, and one horrible nightclub.
GenCon 2025 was an incredible experience that was equal parts exhausting and energizing. For Point 1 Games, it marked a huge milestone: our first public playtests of Drashar: Age of Steel and Spells using the 2dX Engine. We had an incredible team, great feedback, and got to spend time with some of our favorite people in the TTRPG community. Here’s a quick look.
Drashar / 2dX Engine Playtests
We ran multiple public playtests of Drashar: Steel and Spells at GenCon, and the reception was better than I could have hoped. Across every core category, from game flow to setting engagement, player feedback averaged above 4 out of 5. The Action Point turn structure was the standout mechanic that not only scored high on the feedback forms but also had players consistently praising the tension and sense of agency it created each round.
The Destiny and Doom dice also hit the mark. They made rolls feel risky and important, reinforcing the game’s gray fantasy tone. Many players singled them out as one of the most exciting parts of the system. Combined with the setting’s tone and themes, a clear majority said they would gladly play again.
Of course, we received helpful feedback on areas to improve:
• The damage > wound > injury flow was confusing without an aid
• The character sheet layout (font size and organization) slowed down gameplay
• Some players felt the math and long skill lists made the system feel bulkier than it needed to be.
None of these issues are dealbreakers. In fact, most are already being addressed in the next iteration , including updated character sheets, streamlined references for wounds, and quicker guidance for actions and rolls.
Huge thanks to Jason Ward and Mikey Hawryluk (Accidental Cyclops Games) for running absolutely killer sessions. Also, a massive shoutout to my good buddy Matt Trilus, who brought the perfect blend of rules clarity and story energy to every game he ran. You all made this weekend possible.
Other Games I Played
After playtests, I managed to play in a couple other TTRPGs and both left an impression.
Urban Shadows (Magpie Games): I finally got to dive into this one with a 4 hour game. I played a wizard named Roland that I based off of Papa Midnite from the Constantine movie. The Playbooks in this game are just so well done. Each one drips with theme and story potential. I found myself immediately invested in who these characters were and what they were hiding. While our GM struggled a bit with pacing, the other players made for some great interactions.
We Can Be Heroes (Budstuff Games): This one definitely had that pulpy superhero feel. I played Psi-Lo a psionic fungus man who got his powers after he ate some radioactive mushrooms. Not only did he have telekinetic and telepathic powers but he also had an inventory item called "Fancy Hat" that gave him a bonus to persuasion rolls.
What stood out to me the most was how every hero's superpower just works. No fiddly “activation” mechanics or chance your superpower will fail. If your character can fly, they fly. If they shoot energy beams, they shoot energy beams. It’s simple and it ensures you don't miss out on using your super powers.
Time with Friends
As much as I love games, the best part of GenCon is always the people. We had some great dinners, lots of laughs, and late-night conversations that drifted across the spectrum; family and friend updates, favorite games both new and old, game design theory, movies, TV, you name it.
That said, I owe some of my friends an apology for one particular choice: The Rabbit Hole nightclub. I thought, “Hey, how bad can it be?” Turns out, very, very bad. Terrible service, overpriced drinks, insanely loud and terrible music, patrons who were even worse than the staff, and an ambiance that felt like someone tried to merge Alice in Wonderland with a crappy Vegas club. Again I am so sorry, everyone.
That’s it for now. GenCon 2025 left me inspired and excited for what’s next! We’re already taking what we learned and applying it to the next version of the Drashar Quickstart and prepping for future playtests! If you played in a game, hung out, or just stopped by to chat, thank you.
A quick look at our table before more playtesters arrived.
Rohiro the Tariak Oath-Sworn is quick becoming a fan favorite!
The view before i descended into places best left unknown.
