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Dawn Patrol |
Gary Con 2026 started today, but I am still traveling there, so here's the final installment of my report from last year.
This post covers Saturday, March 22 and Sunday March 23, 2025.
The previous days can be found here: Day 0 (Wed) - Day 1 (Thur) - Day 2 (Fri)
(1) Learn to Play Dawn Patrol (Snoopy vs The Red Baron) run by Skip Williams
My first game on Saturday was TSR's Dawn Patrol, designed by Mike Carr, who also wrote the first module for Basic D&D, B1 In Search of the Unknown. Mike still runs games at Gary Con, but this game was referreed by a different TSR alumnus, Skip Williams. I owned a copy of Dawn Patrol back in the 80s, but never actually played it, which is why I signed up for this introductory scenario, which pitted "Snoopy" Sopwith Camels versus "Red Baron" Fokker DRs.
Convention event listing description:
"Dawn patrol on Saturday morning is a Gary Con tradition. Did you know that Dawn Patrol (then called Fight in the Skies or F.I.T.S.) was the first event ever to run at Gen Con? (Now you do.). Become a legend! Join us! The scenario features Iconic aircraft: Sopwith Camels vs. Fokker DR Is."
Photos:
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Skip Williams (standing center) reffing |
(2) Planet of the Mists run by Chris Hunt
This was another first for me, playing WEG's classic d6 Star Wars for the first time. The scenario was a WEG module, Planet of the Mists, using a minis and a cardboard scenery setup that made for cinematic melee scenes. I got to be a Wookie and cause some mayhem as we escaped from an Imperial prison.
Convention event listing description:
"A band of unlikely allies is imprisoned on a world the star charts say doesn't exist and caught in a desperate struggle to save the Galaxy from the Empire! A Rebel agent, cynical slicer, brash smuggler, savage wookiee, Imperial expat, or fallen Jedi. Which will you be? Thwart the Empire’s evil plan and escape the Planet of the Mists. This Star Wars RPG adventure by West End Games is for all ages."
(3) The Future King run by Demos Sahlas
Another game run by Demos of the OSR Grimoire (see Day, Game 1 for the first), this is a very obscure adventure written and self-published by Tom Moldvay of B/X Basic fame after he had left TSR, one of his last RPG adventures. As can be seen in the event description below, this is a League of Extraordinary Gentleman-type scenario (before that even existed) where each played a historical figure from a different era and place. I'd known about this adventure for years, but never thought I'd get to play in it. An epic and poetic adventure, perfect for my last evening this year at Gary Con.
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Cover image from Wayne's Books |
Convention event listing description:
"Six historical figures: Doc Holliday, Nostradamus, Bruce Lee, Harald Hardraada, Owen Glendower, and Cyrano de Bergerac have been gathered together out of the mists of time. Their mission is to find and wake King Arthur, for it is time that he again don the mantle of kingship. A unique small-press role-playing adventure by the late, great Tom Moldvay, published in 1985."
I didn't take any photos during this game, which was mostly played theatre-of-the-mind.
Sunday
(4) G.I. JOE: Race To Reality
For my last morning at Gary Con, I played in a GI Joe vs Cobra two-sided game. This was another minis heavy game, and they GMs also provided us with lots of fancy swag. I got to play Snake Eyes, my favorite character from the 80s cartoon.
Convention event listing description:
"Who will be the victor in the race to find the Ancient Artifact that brings your thoughts to reality. Help the Joe's or Cobra out, and be the first to find the artifact. Characters provided to save time."
Photos:
That's it for Gary Con 2025 ... onward to 2026!
P.S. Spotted Cow, by local WI brewery Spotted Cow, is a perennial Gary Con favorite, and now I know you can buy it at the Milwaukee airport to bring home!
