The conventions in question are:
Nine Worlds
This was a huge multi-strand "Geek" convention in London. There are talks, craft panels, all sorts of things. I went to the first one a couple of years ago to help run RPGs. However, in subsequent years there doesn't seem to have been a specific RPG strand at the convention. I spotted one Facebook post following the convention which seemed to indicate that some people had met up and played a couple of games, but I wasn't able to find out anything more. Worth a look if in 2018 you're a Geek but maybe not if you're a gamer.
BritCon
This was Britain's biggest residential, multi-period Wargames convention. It took place in Manchester, as it does every year. It seems to have a long tradition. To their credit, the organisers tried to offer RPGs this year - which is very forward thinking and welcoming of them. Unfortunately, the pre-convention interest wasn't enough to justify them continuing with the idea. At established and popular conventions, RPGs can sign out well in advance of the event. However, when it's new event or offering them for the first time, they can take a while to "get traction" and advance booking just doesn't seem to work. It's a chicken and egg situation. People don't book into games unless they know it's an established convention for RPGs and the games will definitely run. But unless people book games, they don't run. I really hope BritCon tries again next year. It looks like a great event for us to make inroads into.
Grand Tribunal
From the organiser, with my immense gratitude:
"Grand Tribunal 2017 was as always a convention dedicated to Ars Magica, Unknown Armies, Feng Shui, Over The Edge and other Atlas Games rpgs and board games. This year even Rune and Furry Pirates got run! The con runs from Friday to Sunday but Friday night is a boardgames social element, while the rest of the weekend was rpg.
This was the eleventh convention and as always we had a strong international presence - the Norwegians and French attend every year. However numbers were the same as most years - with only 30 delegates this is an intimate con. We will be back in 2018 raising even more money for charity and running our fabulous raffle. The website is at www.grandtribunal.org"
It took place in Cheltenham, as always. I tend not to go to conventions devoted to game systems I don't Referee but I was invited last year and was encouraged to referee a couple of sessions of my own games - even though I'm patently nothing to do with Atlas games. The convention IS small and intimate but it is incredibly friendly and welcoming. The game sessions are shorter than most conventions to allow you to fit four different games into a day. And the Atlas games are very good and they are offered by excellent referees. This would be a wonderful convention for anyone new to try hobby or attending conventions as it is so small and friendly. It certainly deserves to be larger.
ShaCon
This was a convention devoted to the "Savage Worlds" game system. It took place in Sheffield, at the Garrison Hotel, which has become THE Hub for RPG conventions in the North of the U.K. Just look here:
http://garrison.omnihedron.co.uk/
Savage Worlds is a generic system which can be used to play role-playing adventures in a variety of settings and genres. In fact the publishers actively encourage people to produce and publish their own Game Worlds using the rules. Because of this there are literally hundreds of different settings out there. I've played Savage Worlds at conventions in all sorts of different, usually highly imaginative games. It's a good, reliable system. But it's not one I referee, and I like to referee RPGs. So I didn't attend ShaCon.
However, I have NEVER seen so many overwhelmingly positive convention reports for an event. Everyone had a great time playing in a breathtaking range of settings and genres. It seems to have been very very very successful. I have no idea of the size but I'd expect it was in the usual 50-100 size range you get at Garrison cons. If you play Savage Worlds, or are willing to play it for an entire weekend, then I'd say you simply HAVE to go to ShaCon 2018.
I've even considering writing a Savage Worlds setting book myself just so
I'd have something to run and could attend. Everyone who went just seems SO happy!
AlderCon
This was a weekend convention in Surrey. I haven't had any feedback about this one. It seems to have been quite small - it took place in a scout hut. I could be wrong but it seems to be a local club arranging to play games solidly for three days with a few extra invited visitors coming along to join in. Games were successfully booked in advance, I know many of the referees - who are all excellent - and it looks like the event did take place successfully. So I'd expect there to be another one in 2018.
ShadowCon
This two day convention took place in North London. It is, again, the annual event of a local Games Club. However, this particular club is also known for being active at other RPG conventions across the country.
ShadowCon has a significant Pathfinder element, and those "living world" games are well supported with lots of pre-convention booking. The convention also ran in parallel with TobCon, a Con devoted to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, which shared the venue and for which all the games were fully booked before the weekend. The report I had estimated that over 40 people were present. Given that games played included Warhammer, Hot War, Psi Run, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu and, possibly, Cypher planned, plus the fact that Board Games are usually played there, I'm assuming this to be a bit on the conservative side. It's a regular event which takes place every year and the range of RPGs on offer seems to be growing.
I've found August to be a bit of a drought in RPG conventions in the past, but this list shows that the scene actually seems to be thriving, with lots of opportunities to play if you're free.
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