Which conventions you’ll see me at in the coming weeks and which you won’t. And why.
Canterbury Gaming Convention
9th and 10th August
https://canterburygamingconvention.co.uk/
This is a new one to me. It is a multi-format convention. There is a quiz on the Friday night but that doesn’t interest me so I’ve booked the on-site accomodation for the Saturday night only. I’ve offered to run 3 games. I’ll have to get up and set out at an ungodly hour to get there from Birmingham but that’s better than paying an extra night’s accomodation.
Airecon North-west
15th to 17th August
A large multi-format convention in Central Manchester. The Role-playing games don’t seem to be a big part of it so I’ve decided to to treat this as a one day convention, travelling up from Birmingham on the Saturday, running a couple of games, and travelling back down.
Grand Tribunal - not going
15th to 17th August
https://www.grandtribunal.org/wiki/Main_Page
A very small intimate convention in Cheltenham. Though nominally devoted to the Ars Magica system and other games from that publisher, loads of other games are offered. It’s on the same weekend as Airecon so I had to choose. I think GrandTribunal is the better experience but I couldn’t commit to the full weekend.
Strange Games Festival - not going
22nd to 25th August
https://strangegamesfestival.co.uk/
Camping - ‘nuff said.
Norwich Games Convention - not going
23rd August
https://www.norwichgames.uk/whats-on#roleplaying
A one day con which seems to have some nice role-playing on offer. However, it looks too late for me to offer to Referee.
Tabletop Scotland
5th to 7th September
https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/
Big multi-format event in Edinburgh (near the airport) with a strong TTRPG presence. I’ve booked my flights, accomodation and am offering to run some games. Half the tickets in each game can be prebooked with the other allocated at the event. My games already have enough players so I know they’re running.
Other times, I’ll be offering or playing in games in the “Games on Demand” area.
Really looking forward to this one. It’s one of the events I couldn’t go whilst I was still working. I’ve been waiting years to get a chance to attend.
The Owl Bear and the Wizard’s Staff
13th to 15th September
https://asakosoh.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/the-owlbear-and-wizards-staff-13th-15th-september-2024/
This is a one-day event in Leamington Spa which has grown to cover the whole weekend as years have gone by. It is highly regarded by a niche group of attendees on-line and usually books out quickly. I was too late to run games this year but I’m still going to play. It’s that good. I’m only going on Saturday to play two games. It’s easy to get to and from from Birmingham.
Armaghged(C)on - not going
19th September to 21st September
https://www.facebook.com/armaghgedcon
Overseas. ‘Nuff said. Also - no offence - I’ve got a much better alternative that weekend.
Concrete Cow
20th September
https://www.concrete-cow.org.uk/
A small-medium sized convention in Wolverton near Milton Keynes. The perfect convention of its type. If you can get to Milton Keynes on 20th September, come.
The beauty of Concrete Cow is you don’t have to preplan in any way. You wake up in the morning and decide on the day if you’re going or not. (I am.) You can decide what games - if any - you want to run on the train if you want. You can decide everything on the day.
If you can get there - attend. It’s great.
Autumn Leaves in London
27th September
https://warhorn.net/events/autumn-leaves-in-london
Organised by the Dahn Sarf organiser. A games day in London. A (good) venue is provided but it looked liked you had to sort out your own games and layers. This lack of structure put me off initially. As I’m not local I didn’t think I could get enough players together to make it worth my attending. Since then I’ve attended the wonderful Dahn Sarf II - The Games Can’t Be Stopped - and the organiser has advertised for some games. Do I’ve booked the cheapest advance train ticket I can and have decided to go.
Dice and Balls - not going
10th October to 12th October
https://www.diceandballs.co.uk/events/
Nottingham. The link goes to a generic Hub for a club and I couldn’t work out anything about the event. Too much work for me, sorry!
Airecon West
2nd to 5th October
A sister con to Airecon North-West based in Telford. I’ll decide about this one after attending the one in Manchester.
Furnace - not going
11th and 12th October
Really good convention based at the Garrison Hotel in Sheffield. I’m not going because by the time I’d decided to start going to conventions again, it was full up. Let alone being able to offer to Referee games. People will leave it on 12th October and immediately book into the event for 2026. So that’s what I’m going to be doing.
It’s just one of a number of brilliant conventions at the hotel throughout the year. Here’s where you find the details:
https://garrison.omnihedron.co.uk/
Gaelcon - not going
24th to 27th October
Overseas - ‘nuff said.
SoxCon - not going
2nd November
https://www.soxsgamingday.org.uk/
South Oxfordshire. I think I went to this one once years ago. Small event in a church hall with homemade cakes on sale etc. Seems to be the special event or games day for a local club. It was extremely welcoming. But it starts at mid-day so its too far for me to travel for so little gaming.
SpireCon - not going
4th November
https://www.facebook.com/Spirecon
A one-day event in Chesterfield. Organised via Facebook with the page being unclear and not often updated. Probably be fun for those in the know.
Twin Con - not going
1st November
North London. Seems a nice little event but at over 3 hours travel either way, it’s just not worth it for a one day event, for me.
Epic-LAN - not going
8th to 10th November
Warwick. This seems to an adjunct to a computer event. Just loads of table for Role-Playing. You organise stuff through Discord. I’ll look into it more but it feels a bit too free and easy for my tastes. My mind might be getting a bit too old for this and the idea of having to organise your own games and pay for the privilege feels a bit odd.
Condensed
14th to 16th November
https://www.facebook.com/groups/499592967602345/
Worthing. I know nothing about this. The facebook page isn’t very helpful - sorry. I guess it’s one of those “if you know, you know” events. But it’s organised by people who I know are brilliant at this sort of stuff so I’ll look into it and will probably be going.
Dragonmeet
29th November
THE big one day convention in London. Of COURSE we’re all going!
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