1. Tell us a little about yourself...

My name is Jeff Wilcox, the Special Events Coordinator for KublaCon.  I am a student studying to finish a degree and improve my programming skills.  I am a game designer/hobbyist - I self-publish Phantasy Realm, a fantasy adventure board game.  And I am a huge fan of the band Dead Can Dance (my fan Web site is DeadCanDanceLibrary.com).

My main love in the game world is role-playing, but I happily play board games, or poker, at the drop of a hat.

Jeff Gesturing for others to make fools of themselves!

2. What do you do at KublaCon?

I am the Special Events Coordinator.  My job is to organize the amazing events you find in the Foyer, such as the giant Shadows Over Camelot and the live-action Aliens the Board Game.  Last year we added a movie night featuring Dungeon Majesty, The Gamers, and more!!

I try to bring at least one new, different, and interesting, event to KublaCon, because a game convention differentiates itself by what cool things it offers beyond the expected array of board games, rpgs, etc. (Of course, it helps that KublaCon has a fabulous number of all the core events!)

3. How did you get involved with KublaCon and how long have you been here?

I joined the producers of KublaCon back when they were the producers of ManaFest back in... 1996. I started by running seminars and CCGs. When ManaFest and GameCon merged I pleaded with Japji and Anthony to create a new position, Special Events Coordinator.  They said yes and I have been doing the happy dance ever since.

4. What motivates you and what rewards to you get out of being involved with KublaCon?

I have run 200+ tournaments, helped run over 75 conventions, and KublaCon has, since it began, been the best around.  I take pride in being part of the family and helping make that happen.

The rewards are fairly specific.  I get to fly back to my old stomping ground - Silicon Valley - see friends, help run the best convention in the world, and have a ton of fun!

5. What is your earliest gaming or game convention memory?

My first game convention was GrimCon, at the Oakland Hilton(?).  I was 15.  My mother gave me $100.00 for the weekend.  I had no room, and no clue.  I hit the Dealer's Room at 6pm Friday and promptly spent $90.00.  Then I proceeded to game straight from 9pm Friday until 6pm Sunday (yes, with no sleep.)  My friends bought me a sandwich that evening so I wouldn't starve, I slept someplace for five hours then gamed until Monday morning.

I was hooked!

6. What is your favorite gaming or game convention memory?

My favorite game convention memory was a huge official AD&D game I GMed.  I ran for 18 players who were all playing 18th+ level characters for twelve hours.  As we entered the final battle (about 10 hours into the game) I realized, with surprise, the other table in the room had stopped their game to listen in.  And when my game ended, the final battle over, the final words putting the night to rest, my players gave me a standing ovation.

7. What is your least favorite gaming or game convention memory?

Everyone plays in games with bad players at times.  Or mediocre GMs. Some even bad.  Any of those would do.  But if I get stuck in a bad situation, I have no problem moving myself out of it and on to other fun things!

8. Give us a top 3 list of your favorite games and tell us your least favorite game.

Top 3:

- Poker (most any variation will do)

- Balderdash

 - Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (or, um, Call of Cthulhu)

9. Where do you currently play games and what do you play when you are there?

At home I play Settlers of Catan, Starship Catan, The Big Idea, and Evo.

At Third Place Books (a cool mall with a great community space area where a game playing group meets weekly) I play anything!  Domaine, Modern Art, Villa Paleti, Die Sieben Siegel, Carabande, Montgolfiere, and more!

10. If you want to tell all of the KublaCon attendees one thing, what would it be?

We are working to make your convention the best it can be.  Let us know when we do it right, and let us know what we can improve.  We are listening.  And we care.

Least Favorite:

  - Talisman

  - Cranium (what a crummy board/movement mechanic)

  - Trivial Pursuit