Glitches
The organisers’ aim to produce a large quality gaming convention for Scotland is well in its way to being achieved.
However, the event was slightly spoiled for me by two related things - none of which is under the control of the organisers.
Firstly the venue is on a sprawling campus next to Edinburgh airport. This is unclear on Map applications on mobile phones and is more difficult to navigate than it should be. I am not sure the exact venue used is even listed on any digital applications or known by name to local Taxi firms. Tabletop Scotland takes place at the Highland Hall which is part of the Highland Centre but which is ten minutes walk away around the back. The Highland Centre is on maps. As far as I can see, Highland Hall is not.
Secondly, though there are many hotels seemingly convenient to the event venue, the exact routes to and from those hotels are eclectic and unclear. I found a reasonably priced Travelodge hotel. Though my phone was unable to navigate me to it, I eventually found a good route which was a 20minute walk each way. However, that route was closed in morning and evening just as I needed it and there didn’t seem to be any reasonable alternative I could find. This necessitated me taking taxis far more than I’d planned. A total of 4 unexpected taxi rides. These weren’t cheap because the car route between the hotel and the convetion venue was circuitous and eclectic. For some reason the route from the venue to the hotel at night was different from the route from the hotel to the venue in the morning.
Factoring in these taxi rides, it may have proved cheaper to stay at a seemingly more expensive hotel nearer the venue. I’ll have to consider this if I come back next year. I don’t normally factor taxi rides into my calculations at the end of my blog posts but this time I’m going to show the difference they made to my cost per hour of gaming.
A couple of further points, just like at Canterbury Gaming convention a few weeks ago, every time a taxi driver picked me up that asked me what I’d been doing and were completely unaware of the event. One even commented that none of the (many) events at the Highland Centre were ever communicated in advance to taxi firms.
I didn’t see any shops, even when walking to and from my hotel, which punters can nip to to buy sandwiches, drinks and snacks if you don’t like the food or costs at the event. So you’re reliant totally what’s provided there. This wasn’t a problem for me.
And, of course, being in Scotland, the travel costs were higher than other venues for me. It was my choice to fly, of course, but that’s because travelling by train would have been less convenient and more expensive. (Except possibly in special cases involving advance booking and split ticketing.)
Of course a coach would be much cheaper but the journey would be long and probably require you to book extra nights accommodation which would wipe out any potential savings.
Positives
The convention web-site is informative, well maintained and up to date. Everything you need is on it well in advance. Communication is clear and prompt. Submitting games to Referee is straightforward and you feel welcomed. The separate Games on Demand track is equally well organised with excellent communication with Referees.
The venue of the convention is excellent and only 20 minutes walk from Edinburgh airport. The main hall is a bit rough and ready but contains countless stands and even more open gaming space. There are lots of hotels nearby of varying costs (and accessibility).
I only come to Conventions to play and Referee Table-top Role-playing games. I have no interest in anything else. However, I need to point out that as well as the organised TTRPG Games, trade stalls and open gaming I’ve mentioned above there were also seminars, a quiz, a game library and many many other things I didn’t care about, pay attention to or of which I probably wasn’t aware. There is plenty to keep everyone occupied. I don’t play games other than Role-playing ones. However, if you’re someone who does play and collect more general games I’m sure you’ll find lots here that will be new and interesting. There seemed to me to be a lots of independent game companies present.
The food kiosks are good. I ate well for the weekend.
This convention is not primarily a role-playing one but the role-playing games track is large and supremely well organised. I’m not going to say it’s the best in the country but I will confidently say that there is none better. Some of the general issues with sign ups to games remain but a lot of thought goes in to minimising these. Sheer hard work means this convention does things that others might consider - for example production of notices to go on stands on every table prior to every game giving the game title and Referees name, making it really easy for Referees and players to find their tables.
I chose to alternate between offering “full” game sessions and offering games in the “Games on Demand” slots. This really worked for me, allowing me to do something in every session but still have a long break in between to eat and do other things. I was even able to walk to my hotel and back to sign in on Friday.
It’s a very personal thing but I found the players in my games to be experienced, enthusiastic, inventive, and just great fun. I’ve used the phrase “chewing the scenery” multiple times in my posts about TableTop Scotland but it fits. The players were just amazing.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first Tabletop Scotland. If, after doing the number crunching, it turns out that it made economic sense for me to come, I would definitely like to return next year and thoroughly recommend it.
The Numbers
Ulp….
Entry costs - Free because I was offering games. (Net profit - one T-shirt.)
Travel - 2 flights from Birmingham to Edinburgh - £148 (ignoring travel to/from Birmingham airport and Taxi Fares at Edinburgh.
Accommodation - £192
Total: £340 (this ignores incidental and food cost, of course).
Pint of Lager: £6.90
Hours played - Actual (choosing to alternate between full games and Games on Demand) - 18
- Potential (I could have chosen to Referee 7 full sessions) - 22
Cost per hour (Actual) - £19
Cost per hour (Potential) - £15.50
However, if I factor in the 4 completely unnecessary (I think) and unexpected Taxi journeys, these numbers go up to £23 and £18 respectively. That’s £3 - £4 per hour difference just to pay for Taxis.
I’ll need to calculate these numbers in advance and get them down before returning to TableTop Scotland in 2026.
Here’s a review which shows all the parts of the convention I missed:
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2025/09/10/tabletop-scotland-2025-convention-report/
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