Tabletop Cafe - GenCon Friday (Episode 293)

Not every game at Gen Con is a home run, and Michael Ross doesn't pretend otherwise. 🎯In this episode of Tabletop Cafe, Michael breaks down Gen Con 2026 Day Two: Friday, and it's a tale of two very different gaming experiences. First up: a Spaceballs-themed RPG that had everything going for it on paper. The IP, the humor, the Schwartz jokes... but it struggled under the weight of too many players and execution that didn't quite land. A for effort. D for execution. He still had fun. It just wasn't great. 😅But then? Friday night delivered. Flying solo from his crew, Michael snuck off to play the Marvel 616 RPG run by a convention gaming group called McKenzie's Marauders and walked away calling it his best convention experience with the system in four tries. Everyone got their moment to shine, the GM ran a tight comic-book-style story, and it reminded him exactly why he keeps coming back to Gen Con every year. 🦸‍♂️🎲Along the way, Michael digs into what makes or breaks a convention RPG session. Player count, table chemistry, group cohesion, and why gaming with your crew can rescue even a rough session. Real talk, honest takes, and genuine enthusiasm for the hobby. That's Tabletop Cafe.👇 Drop a comment below: Have you ever played the Marvel 616 RPG? And what's your max player count before a convention game starts to fall apart?And remember:✅ Like✅ Subscribe✅ Ring the Bell to never miss an Episode🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeMarvel 616 RPG: the superhero tabletop game Michael keeps returning to at conventionsMcKenzie's Marauders: convention gaming group out of Toledo, Ohio; look for their events!37 Zombies: referenced from the Thursday episode; another convention group worth seeking out🔗 Tabletop Journeys LinksPatreon: http://patreon.com/ttjourneysBluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ttjourneysYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneysWebsite: https://ttjourneys.com/Email: podcast@ttjourneys.com#TabletopCafe #TabletopJourneys #GenCon2026 #GenCon #TTRPGPodcast #Marvel616 #MarvelRPG #SavageWorlds #TTRPG #RoleplayingGames #ConventionGaming #GameMaster #TTRPGCommunity #SpaceballsRPG #IndieRPG #ComicBookRPG #TableTopGaming #PodcastersOfInstagram #YouAreHavingFunDoingItRight