Romeocon III 2024 Exhibitor Spotlight

In the small town of Romeoville, Illinois, a growing comic and collectible convention has started attracting vendors from all over the country to sell their wares. But of all the vendors, some really stand out. Among the Funko Pop vendors, cool artists' work, and even celebrity guests, there are always a few vendors who break from the norms, and this article will bring them into a spotlight all of their own!

Saucy Makes

Saucy Makes creates awesome 3D-printed and laser-cut items for very reasonable prices and can sell them either painted or unpainted. The items range from dice roller towers, dice boxes, goblets and cup holders, and other cool things! At the convention, Saucy Makes had several awesome dice roller towers,

Some readers may ask, "Why would I buy something not painted? Isn’t that part of the reason for paying for the item rather than making it on my own?” I thought the same until I saw the details of the items and talked to the creator about the time and cost of doing it myself. And, as for painting it on your own, it can be super satisfying and a bit fun to make the item personalized by your own hand!

The creator, Dan, makes all the items himself and is always looking for new and cool ideas. So regardless if you are interested in what he has, or if you have your own idea for a cool model you might want, he will work to make it for you!

Saucy Makes is a fun company that looks to create what their fan base wants, will love, and needs, to play any game with dice. Dan also runs a YouTube and Twitch channel to show off his skills, artistry, and personality perfectly. He really captures the reality of how long and arduous the work is to put together all the 3D models, from finding ideas and making files to placing them through the proper programs, actually sculpting them, and then working to paint those that he wants painted. One of my favorite pieces he had was a very cool Mimic dice tower, as well as a cool goblet that you can place any size, can into so that it hides the actual can. These will keep the mood for when playing any tabletop game but drinking various cans of energy drinks and carbonated beverages.

SCALE: Rise of Dragons by Upscale Games

While walking down the aisles of the convention, I turned and there was a group of friendly-looking people with a card game sitting in front of them. Behind them a large, colorful, but very cute, dragon. The beaming team of Upscale Games were all beckoning me to join them for a game.

Sitting down, there is a beautiful playmat set on the table, with a deck of trading cards, and little gem-like pieces. If you want to see more about the game, stay tuned, because there will be a more in-depth article that will be released later. In that article, I will explain all about the game, the pieces, and how the game is played!

After sitting down, I spoke with the actual creators of SCALE: Rise of Dragons. The group was welcoming, all hail from Minnesota, and have created the game (as well as a digital version too) using grass-root funding for their whole project! This game is an amazing amalgamation of Magic the Gathering and Star Realms rolled into one great game. The artistry on every card is fantastic, and the team loved speaking about how they came up with all the ideas for the different cards and characters.

The game's physical set of trading cards will run about $30 for the set and will come with everything that players need to be able to play this game. The team did offer cool add-ons of a nicer playmat, some pog-like coins that are reminders of the abilities of the cards, and a deck box that has enough room for all the cards (in sleeves) and the extra pieces for the game (the coins, gems, linen playmat, and rulebook).

The team has tons of more news coming out in the next year, like updates and upgrades to the video game, as well as additions to the sets as new cards come out, a book about the lore of the game, and they are even working on an animated show too! With so much going on for Upscale Games, they are definitely a group to follow and seek out at any and all conventions!

POWW Entertainment

Now, while most vendors are usually selling items, be it collectibles or food/beverages, some vendors sell services. A few of the vendors seen at a lot of conventions are mobile phones, internet services, and even specialty and entertainment services.

The next company falls into the last category: entertainment. And when I say entertainment, I mean this company puts on a full production for a small fee. POWW Entertainment offers the amazing service of bringing pro wrestling to any event or space that can hold them! That is right, POWW Entertainment is a company that will show up, set up a ring and sound system, and bring with them the announcer, refs, and wrestlers, all in one package to any space that will hold them.

Jimmy Blaze, the owner/manager of the company, was super nice, while staying professional, and explained everything they would need to put on a great show. He explained that all he needs is the space, electricity, and a room or tent, and he will bring everything else needed to put on a show for the audience.

This booth not only had a running video of the previous events that the company had put on but also sported some of the talent that Jimmy would bring with him to the events: the wrestlers. All the wrestlers there were willing to chat, shake hands, take pictures, and even sell or sign their own creations and artwork. Every single person at this booth was very kind, welcoming, and willing to tell anyone about their most recent victory, defeat, or injury!

The video being shown ran through about 20 different events and highlights, showing the skills and activities that can be held at the events. From takedowns to jumping from the top ropes to the wrestlers talking smack to each other, and even the various attacks on fellow wrestlers with chairs and tables. It was amazing to watch the feats of athleticism and strength, as well as showmanship, that these wrestlers were willing and able to put on for a variety of audiences.

Conclusion

While there were plenty of amazing and fantastic vendors at Romeocon III this year, these three stood out. They offered specialty and interesting items or services to the public, and all three had great stories of building their companies from the ground up. They were kind, loved their craft, and were passionate about bringing their specialty to their fans and to the public. Their companies all differed from others around them, and shined bright at this year’s convention!