DARK TOWER – IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER! OCTOBER 16TH, 2024

Posted to social media October 16, 2024.

Hello all! An update for The Jerry Stefek Memorial Crawl for the Cure at Gamehole Con 11, October 19th, 2024, 10 AM – 8 PM! We will be running the Goodman Games Original Adventures Reincarnated version of Jennell Jaquays’ legendary adventure, Dark Tower, as a “mega-funnel”. 0-level characters will be pitted against the full-octane adventure to fight to survive with their wits, luck and donations to the worthy cause of the American Cancer Society. ALL collected donations will, as always, be given to the American Cancer Society for research and assistance benefiting those and their loved ones in the hold of this terrifying disease.

The story will unfold on a 12’ x 12’ massive map of the Towers and dungeon, and it is HUGE. You will not want to miss this call to Adventure! Get your ticket to pick up your memorial token for the event at the link below! Can’t purchase a ticket online or unsure of your schedule? Not a problem! Place your $10 donation at the Crawl for the Cure Atrium registration table and receive your token to play!

We are happy to announce our incredible sponsors providing you with raffle prizes (digital and physical!) for your generous donations – many have heeded the call!:

  • 321Action RPG
  • Blind Visionary Publications
  • Bill Walters
  • Bridget Traut
  • Cranky Clydesdale Publishing
  • Dandyline Games
  • Dark Nebula Games
  • Frog God Games
  • Mike Badolato of Frog God Games
  • Gamehole Publishing
  • Get Haunted Industries
  • Goodman Games
  • High Dive Games
  • Hobbs & Friends
  • Horse Shark Games
  • Limithron
  • Marz Press
  • Nate Marcel
  • Ophoric Labs
  • Pacesetter Games
  • Per Aspera Games
  • Purple Pirate Games
  • Purple Sorcerer Games
  • Shield of Faith Studios
  • Stiff Whiskers Press
  • Studio 9 Games
  • Thickskull Adventures
  • Super Savage Systems
  • Troll Lord Games
  • Wayward Studios

(See all of our incredible sponsors HERE and support their awesome endeavors!)

More fun things to announce, which create delays in communication, but it is SO worth it; SO MANY GREAT THINGS TO COME!

  • The event donation and menu, prizes and special rules for the Dark Tower event have been updated
  • We have a quest for you! Keep an eye out for mysterious envelopes at Gamehole containing your free Memorial Token and your soul link to a Mitriatic Hero to ramp up your 0-level immediately! Already have a token? Give one to a friend (and keep the Avatar)! We’ll have the envelopes placed randomly Thursday and Friday, and we’ll let you know when you should hunt!
  • We have handsome CRAWL HERO badge ribbons to display your support for the Crawl for the Cure! Also, 2 lucky players per hour have a chance for SQUIRE and KNIGHT ribbons with awesome ACS magnetic pins on them that really draw the eye and has game effects!
  • Bridget Traut has donated 3 AWESOME Owlbear plushies for raffle! Open to all Con attendees, take these sweet little beasties home to adore!
  • Nate Marcel has created an awesome original artwork of Jennell Jaquays as her favorite character transforming from wizard to dragon, AND he has also done his rendition of Aaron Koelman’s alter ego, Akaerrian Keenblade! (See the teasers) The special raffles are open to all Con attendees, so tell your friends! Details link below!
  • We will be displaying memorials for our lost friends and fighting survivors this year: those who have passed this year in our community, “Adventurers’ Rest”, and Peter Garancis has created a stunning “The Pillar of Strength” honoring those we have lost to cancer and those loved ones who have survived! An optional, small donation to the event would be much appreciated to place ribbons in your loved ones’ honor upon the pillar, but not necessary. We love to celebrate and honor those affected and bring hope to others who are in need! Bring those warm memories!
  • Mike Badolato’s donated collection of Judge’s Guild commons will be returning to Gamehole for anybody who’d like to own a piece of history! Peruse and take home some old school today!
  • Your play is enhanced by the number of people playing at one time and collected pieces of the sacred Lion of Mitra Statue scattered through the dungeon and Towers! The more you collect, the more bonuses you will receive! Additionally, our sponsors have put special prizes in the dungeon for roll-off to the team that accesses them in the dungeon! Claim victories for reaching the room before other teams! (Starting rooms are randomized!)
  • An update, Doug Kovacs’ portrait of Aaron Koelman’s Akaerrian Keenblade persona will still be coming, but Doug is a busy man! We wil get you updates on the awesome artwork as it proceeds!

We hope you’ll join the cause and help us smite cancer! Watch the website for updates as the event comes closer! Thank you for your support!

Thank you!

Cory Welch and Staff
The Jerry Stefek Memorial Crawl for the Cure

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, MY FRIEND! REMEMBERING AARON KOELMAN…

We have lost a great warrior from our clan on Thanksgiving, November 24th, 2023. The mighty Aaron Koelman has passed from our world after an incredible and unrelenting battle with pancreatic cancer. His physical form has passed, but his spirit, kindness and legacy will always live on in our hearts. Aaron took on his battle with faith, courage and uncommon wisdom, always planning ahead for what we hoped would not pass, but fighting always for his continued life with the family he dearly loved. Thank you, Aaron, for all the gifts you gave us in this world.

I first met Aaron at Gary Con, when I was running Call of Cthulhu regularly, way back when (when I had more time to give it the proper love!), in my version of Blackwater Creek. Aaron looked the imposing hero legend: a shocking mane of long red hair and a matching mighty beard, a bulk of massive muscle, kilted and ready for battle! That image had never changed for me, mentally, whatever challenges had set upon him. I was honored to have had Aaron play with me in a Call of Cthulhu online recording (sadly, yet to be released because of technical issues I need to nail down), be a part of our award-winning XCrawl Classics tournament team, The Punxsutawney Painiacs, and he has been a stalwart supporter of The Jerry Stefek Memorial Crawl for the Cure! I was proud to hear from Aaron that he loved playing the Crawl and he was inspired by its success! Aaron always wanted to help others and we are honored to have helped enable that.

Aaron played at the Crawl for the Cure: Gamehole Con, Take Back Tegel Manor! this year. He played the entire day supporting the event, even though you could tell he was tired and could use some rest. I was able to sit a few minutes during the run, put a hand on his back, and thank him for being there, and I treasure that. This is who Aaron was: he took on hard challenges for the greater good, he was a true hero in our lifetime with all the class and courage we all strive to possess.

I did not want to put Aaron on the spot with everything going on, but I think in his memory, it is imperative that everybody truly understand the person that Aaron was. For The Jerry Stefek Memorial Crawl for the Cure: Gamehole Con 2023, Take Back Tegel Manor!, we had an angel donor providing us $2,000 to the American Cancer Society for the Good of those suffering from cancer. I don’t think it is much of a surprise that it was Aaron, giving back in solidarity with the community he loved to help those suffering from what he courageously endured. I pray that his spirit and will are also an inspiration for others who are afflicted: you can get passed this. Aaron fought and fought – this was a long ordeal which he made the most of and won more years with his family because of his conviction and positive thoughts; I know that others can emulate this true hero and other battles will be won. God Bless you, Aaron Koelman. Thank you for everything you have done for our community and in our lives to make this world a better place. Until we meet again… Love ya, Brother.

Cory