Saturday, May 5, 2018

CAR-PGA Newsletter February 2018


CAR-PGa NEWSLETTER

Vol. 27, No. 2
An international network of researchers into all aspects of role-playing games
February 2017

David Millians, Editor
Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA

FROM THE CHAIR

Dear members,

I have received no feedback on the proposed Bylaws amendment. Therefore, I am calling a vote for the duration of February. The amendment proposal is unaltered from last month.

Additionally, per the Bylaws, I am reporting that the Board passed the attached resolution by a vote of 1–0. Only Bob Bledsaw II voted. Carsten Obst, Ron Pehr, Ted Skirvin, and William Walton did not vote. Carsten Obst, Ron Pehr, and William Walton did not reply to the requests to vote at all. During February, if there is a petition by at least 10% of the active membership, this Board action will be referred to the active membership for a vote; otherwise, it will take effect in the manner it describes.

Thank you.

M. Alan Thomas II
Chair

ARTICLES

Gamescience at Genghiscon
By Lou Zocchi

When I attempted to buy a booth for Genghiscon, their computer told me that I could not use the name Gamescience because it was already taken by Edward Nygma r***, r@batman.com, I'm now trying to discover if this is the first time someone has used Gamescience for a Denver Area Convention.

Book Review: Into the Wild Nerd Yonder
By Ted Skirvin

The full title of this book is Into the Wild Nerd Yonder: My Life on the Dork Side. It was written by Julie Halpern and was published in 2009. The publisher was Feiwel and Friends which is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. I believe the book would be described as belonging to the girl-oriented Young Adult category of fiction. I saw it on display at my local library some time ago and noticed the cover art depicting a great many d20s and a dress. The story is about 15-year old Jessie Sloan who is a sophomore at a high school in Wisconsin. 

The crux of the story is that she feels betrayed by her two best friends and winds up making friends with a different group of folks. It just so happens that the new group plays Dungeons & Dragons. She joins the game despite her worries that it means she will become a geek and thus unpopular at school. She gradually gets over these fears and even goes to a LARP event with the group. She even gains one member of the group as a boyfriend. There are various other "teen angst" plot threads that get resolved by the end of the book. 

I don't know much about YA literature so I don't know if this book is typical of the genre. The book certainly seemed to be written with a specific mission, so to speak. That mission was to convince female teens that it is "OK" to play tabletop RPGs and there's no reason to feel self-conscious about it. I found the book to be rather blunt and heavy-handed in delivering this message. Maybe all YA fiction is like that. Of course, I do support the concept.

Overall, I found the book to be a fairly enjoyable read although it has a somewhat slow start. I did take a brief look at Ms. Halpern's website. I noticed a brief comment about her having spent many years as a Dungeon Master.

The SPIEL ´17 in Essen
Part One: From Martin Luther, Love to RPGs, Dystopias and the Tsar´s Wolves
By Carsten Obst

From October 26 to 29, 2017, the game fair SPIEL ´17 occurred in Essen, Germany. As in years before, it proved the successful development of the German game community and the versatility of the market. Around 182,000 visitors (2016: 174,000) rallied in six halls with 72,000 square meters (2016: 66,000) to test, play, and buy games of all kinds. 1100 exhibitors (2016: 1021) from 51 nations (2016: 50) gathered in Essen, where they offered around 1200 new games (2016: around 1000).

As in 2016, however, there were negatives. Most visitors used the west entrance, where the station of the subway-line U11 is located. This gate leads into Hall 3, where several large publishers of board and family games had their stalls. Here the crowds of parents and children often blocked unintentionally the way for people who wanted to visit the other halls. Regular visitors walked from the subway station to the nearby south entrance.

Comics obviously lost their former importance for the game fair even more this year. Just one large German publisher participated in the SPIEL ´17, which resulted in a visible lack of national and international artists as guests. For comic-enthusiasts this was a great disappointment. At the traditional Zeichnerallee (Artist´s Alley) you met only a small number of artists. Once a large area of happiness, this year it was a really sad sight. I learned that most publishers and artists consider the game fair no longer an important event. It is even doubted that in 2018 the Zeichnerallee will be organized again.

In spite of these negatives, I had a very happy time at SPIEL ´17. This article will be a compilation of German RPGs, books, and magazines, which may be of interest for our readers. As usual I can recommend them all after intensive tests.

My first station at the SPIEL ´17 was the annual exhibition of the Europäische Spielesammler-Gilde (European Guild of Game Collectors). In 2017 the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther´s “95 Thesis,” which started the Protestant Reformation, was celebrated. For this reason the ESG organized an exhibition of mostly German games with religious topics. Even the Christian churches use this way to spread the faith. So around 1925 the Missionsgesellschaft Bethlehem (Mission Society Bethlehem) promoted its activities with the Welt-Missions-Spiel (World Mission Game). An interesting sign for the feeling of Europe´s cultural superiority during the Age of Colonialism is Afrikanisches Schnipp-Schnapp (African Snip-Snap”, issued between 1912 and 1931 by the St. Petrus Claver-Sodalität, a solidarity of missionaries. This card-game advertised the work of friendly Christian priests in Africa, teaching the true faith to happy natives. Of special interest is Sag die Antwort (Tell the Answer), a lottery for children, published in 1954 by the Catholic St. Benno Verlag in the former GDR. At that time the Christian churches were still able to promote their faith in the communist part of Germany. Around the same time the Evangelischer Bund (Evangelical Union) enabled the Protestants with the Martin Luther Quiz to prove their knowledge about Luther. In 1962 the Herder Verlag published the Heiligen Quartett (Saints Happy Families) for children, allowing them to learn about the saints. Around 1994 the German Diocese of Erfurt offered Bistum Erfurt (Diocese Erfurt), also a happy families game to inform about its activities. In 1996 the Rüdiger Weyer-company published the Luther Quartett (Luther Happy Families) about Martin Luther, while the Hänssler-Verlag introduced Der gute Hirte (The Good Shepherd), a board game for children, who must guide sheep safely into the stable. A modern way to use religion as a topic for games is Die Siedler von Kanaan (The Settlers of Canaan). Published in 2002, it transformed the popular game The Settlers of Catan into the setting of the Old Testament.

Andreas Michels is a German fan of RPGs, LARPs, tabletops, computer-games, cosplay, and everything related to them. From his experiences of more than twenty years, he compiled in a book with the title 111 Gründe, Rollenspiel zu lieben. Eine Hommage an Würfel, Schwert und Raumanzug (111 Reasons to Love RPGs. A Homage to Dice, Sword and Spacesuit), published by Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf. In this book Michels explains in a humorous but loving way these hobbies for people who have not participated in them so far but also for gamers looking for new insights. For that he offers the title-giving 111 Reasons. The 111th reason, by the way, is the encouragement of our creativity. Michels gives also an informative report about the history of RPGs, LARPs, tabletops, cosplay, and computer-games, compiling information which even many fans do not know. Furthermore, the book includes a list of webpages, a bibliography, and a glossary of terms. This allows a reader to start academic studies. The author manages always to keep the balance between a winking humor and detailed information. Recommended to all RPG, LARP, tabletop, cosplay, and computer game fans but also to all newcomers and interested people.

With the adventure-book Die Tränen der Gorgone (The Tears of the Gorgon) the Mantikore Verlag expanded its product-line about the village Schnutenbach. Like the other publications the adventure can be used for all fantasy RPGs, because the descriptions of places and characters are given in a general way. It is most suitable for a darker setting with elements of the horror-genre. The adventure starts in Schnutenbach, where a little girl has vanished. Here the PCs meet an alchemist from Quin-Di, a distant China-like empire. Accompanied by his mysterious daughter he needs the tears of a gorgon to complete a quest. The PCs shall assist him to find one in the Waisenwald (Wood of Orphans), a wood infamous for its dangers. Other people, however, are also interested in the gorgon, while there may be a connection to the missing girl. The adventure offers a description of the Waisenwald, and so it can be used for future adventures - if the PCs are brave (or crazy) enough to return. Elaborate biographies of the NPCs depict their intentions and secrets, enabling the GM to portray them easily. If the PCs survive (if!), they may win them as contacts or allies. Recommended for all fantasy-RPGs, especially with darker settings like Warhammer.

The Mantikore Verlag also distributed for free the adventure-booklet Das Biest im Waisenwald (The Beast in the Wood of Orphans), which can be used as a prequel or sequel for Die Tränen der Gorgone. When a farmer reports to Schnutenbach´s militia a missing cow, it seems to be the attack of an unknown beast. The PCs are hired to patrol the area, but when a farm is assaulted, a hunt in the dangerous Wood of Orphans starts. Finally the PCs find the monster´s lair, where they are confronted with a much larger threat. The Alien movies give an impression of what may happen to the people of Schnutenbach, if the PCs can not destroy the nightmarish beast in time. Recommended for all fantasy-RPGs, especially with a darker setting. For 2018 the Mantokore Verlag has announced the adventure-book Das Dorf der Verdammten (The Village of the Damned).

Farukan - Unter dem Pfauenthron (Farukan - Under the Peacock´s Throne) is a new sourcebook for the fantasy RPG Splittermond, published by the Uhrwerk Verlag. It deals with the empire of Farukan, a mythical oriental setting as known from the stories of 1001 Nights. Proud of their unbroken history, its people follow a strict code of honour. PCs should always pay attention to this social element. A gazetteer describes important cities, provinces, landscapes, border regions, mysterious places, the nobility, leading personalities, as well as the current conflict between traditionalists and reformers. Another chapter informs about the life in Farukan, dealing with social classes, the code of honour, politics, the military, the law, slavery, trade, religion, magic, and other topics. Altogether this gives a colourful setting. The empire´s long history is told in an own chapter. Often endangered, it was never conquered. A special highlight is the part about the emperor and his court. Here you get everything expected from a mythical orient: intrigues, secret politics, political groups, oracles, officials, and the bodyguard. Here the PCs can be entangled in adventures, where social skills will be important. The Lamassu mythical beings are introduced. They act as guardians of the empire, sometimes hiring brave mortals (read: PCs) for special missions. A chapter about sages, sciences, libraries, and universities creates a setting for academic-based adventures. New rules, the character- lass of the sage, magical spells, supernatural creatures, and lists of equipment are also included, while the last chapter gives ideas for adventures. All in all the sourcebook offers a valuable expansion of the game-world. For the Splittermond-fans Farukan is a must, but GMs looking for an oriental background should also try it. Highly recommended!

Esmoda: Die Zitadelle der Unsterblichkeit (Esmoda: The Citadel of Immortality) is another new sourcebook for Splittermond. With Esmoda, the city of the dead, we get a dark background, even usable for horror-RPGs. Once rebels tried to gain immortality, but the magical ritual turned them into undead. They no longer needed food, water and sleep, but emotions became a distant memory, while the magic forces them to stay in Esmoda forever. Thus, a weird society developed, based on desperation and hopelessness, but living people come to the city too, among them merchants procuring necessary goods, sages looking for lost knowledge, and magicians researching necromancy. Esmoda even attracts people who want to become undead. Some are terminally ill, but others pursue nefarious quests. The sourcebook informs about the city´s history, its unique society, the weird daily life, and the political system. Furthermore, we learn about the relations with the outside world. Magic, crimes, and current affairs are further topics. Two chapters give the necessary information for playing in Esmoda. Finally the adventure “Letzter Wille” (Last Will” allows the PCs to explore the weird city. Overall, the new sourcebook offers an unique dark setting, which can be a campaign´s highlight (or dark-light). If a GM wants to confront the PCs with a society of undead, Esmoda is the right place for this. With some changes the sourcebook can also be used for horror RPGs like Cthulhu . Highly recommended!

With Das Unreich: Grenzlande am Graulenkamm (The Un-Empire: Borderlands at the Graulen-Ridge) the Splittermond fan gets a sourcebook about a wild region of the game world, which reflects old legends from Britain and Germany. The Graulenkamm is a mountain, surrounded by woodlands. If you want to live there, you must be tough and self-sufficient. The first chapter informs about the region´s often bloody history, followed by a description of the mountain, the woods, and their inhabitants. It includes hints for adventures in an area, where dangers lurk everywhere, but the real threats are the “three evils”: a black unicorn, a serpent-human magician, and a dragon. For centuries their conflict prevented any attempts to colonize the region. Of course, this attracts adventurers (read: PCs), as well as creating dark agendas. Another chapter gives the GM information for a campaign in this region, among them secrets, monsters, and mysterious locations. With the Grenzgänger (Border-Walker, a ranger), a new character-class is introduced. Finally, two adventures enable the PCs to explore the Graulenkamm. In “Die lange Wacht” (The Long Guard) a nobleman hires them as guards for a new settlement. “Das Mädchen mit den grünen Augen” (“The Girl with the Green Eyes“) is a search for a missing little girl in the woods. The Graulenkamm offers exciting adventures in a dangerous region, which can be used with some efforts also for other fantasy RPGs. Recommended, especially for wilderness adventures.

The  Splittermond sourcebook Zhoujiang: Der Phönix im Schatten des Drachen (Zhoujiang. The Phoenix in the Shadow of the Dragon) deals with Zhoujiang, a large empire based on China as known from old legends. It is threatened by a possible civil war, caused by the death of Empress Yin and the rise of the successful General Wu. The sourcebook begins with a description of the empire, its provinces, important cities, and special places. Of great significance are the Province of the Winged Snake, controlled by General Wu, and the Province of the Phoenix, where Crown Princess Yi hides. Another chapter explains the culture of Zhoujiang, which is characterized by the demand for a stabile order, honour, hierarchies, the affiliation to your family, and religiousness. Women have a very strong position in the society, while men dominate the military. Further topics are the nobility, monasteries, the imperial administration, officials, travelling, trade, and crafts, followed by religion, magic, customs, art, and other cultural aspects. Another chapter informs about organized crime, piracy, and forbidden cults. With the detailed history of Zhoujiang, we get also a list of important NPCs. Martial arts, the military, mercenaries, and bodyguards are also treated, but the sourcebook informs about magic, ghosts, alchemy, and medicine too. It also includes advice for adventures and lists of equipment, while the Martial Artist is introduced as a new character class. Zhoujiang expands the world of Splittermond with an interesting background for campaigns in a mythical China-like empire. It may be used with some changes for other fantasy-RPGs, if a Far East-setting is needed. Highly recommended!

Obviously the German edition of Fate was successfully established on the RPG-market. With the sourcebook Scherbenland: Musketen, Klingen und Worte der Macht (Country of Broken Pieces: Muskets, Blades and Words of Power), Judith and Christian Vogt, the authors of Eis & Dampf, offer a swashbuckler setting combined with magic. The background are the Beiden Reiche (Both Empires), an empire based on Russia around 1800. Ruled by Tsar Koloj III, the country just defended its borders but is now threatened by a religious schism. Ambitious noblemen, evil sorcerers, political disputes, social problems, and selfish politicians cause more problems. An elite corps, the Tsar´s Wolves, is the ruler´s best defense for the empire. The PCs are members of this corps, where soldiers, rogues, magicians, martial artists, thieves, and other experts for unusual assignments can volunteer. Their missions include diplomacy, espionage, commando raids, and similar tasks, which demand discretion. For this, the Fate system is expanded with new stunts and aspects for the swashbuckler genre. Furthermore, the sourcebook informs about the empire, its history, and internal struggles, the religion and the schism, the Tsar´s Wolves, martial arts-styles, the character-creation, and the magic. Six characters, who form a pack of the Wolves, can be used as PCs, while an adventure introduces the setting. Recommended, not just for Fate fans but also for GMs  who are looking for an unusual setting. With some changes the Tsar´s Wolves may even be used in other swashbuckler or in historical RPGs.

A special highlight was the sourcebook Atlas der bekannten Welt (Atlas of the known World) for the fantasy RPG Aborea. It is a detailed atlas of the continent Palea, printed completely in color. The text is written like a real book from the game world. It starts with a description of Palea, including information about its geography, natural wonders, flora and fauna, intelligent beings, the seas, and astronomy. A timeline of important events gives an impression of the continent´s history. The following sections deal with smaller territories, trade, and valuable goods. If the GM wants a fantasy version of the famous Silk Road, here wait lots of ideas. A general map of Palea starts the sections about the continent´s kingdoms, principalities, provinces, and countries. No less than 110 of them are described. Each section describes a territory´s geography, history, important places, particularities, government, local customs, people, and other important facts. This information are relative short but sufficient to use them as backgrounds. Songs, stories, and pictures of the landscapes give further impressions, while comments of the fictive author complete the sections. The territories are based on historical examples and the fantasy genre, and so we find feudal kingdoms besides barbarian countries or realms of elves and dwarves. Altogether the atlas offers a versatile high fantasy world with lots of possibilities for adventures and campaigns. For Aborea fans, this sourcebook is a must, but the continent can also be used for other fantasy RPGs, because all descriptions are written in a general way. GMs looking for a new world should try the atlas. Highly recommended!

NoReturn is a new German dystopian/post-apocalyptic RPG, published by Manfred Altenschmidt, its author. Developed by fans, the Corebook with the rules and a gazetteer of North America was available in Essen. The description of the background is relative short. In the year 5407 Mars and large regions on Earth are controlled by the Zentrum (Center), a state resulting from the fusion of humans and AIs. Officially a utopia, it is actually a dictatorship. The gazetteer informs about several independent areas in North America, which are ruled by gangs, warlords, and corporations, while some idealists try to rebuild a free society. About the Zentrum-controlled regions we get only few hints, giving the GM the freedom to expand the background with their own ideas. Most chapters deal with the rules, character creation, combat, skills, talents, equipment, vehicles, PSI-powers, injuries, diseases, and cinematic actions. Seven species are available as PCs: humans (able to develop PSI-powers), adivasi (elf-like humans), evos (genetically modified humans), mutants (hunted by the Zentrum), zeneritones (PSI-talented children, who never grow up), prodigys (humans with inborn PSI-powers), and blendlinge (hybrids of humans or evos and adivasi, also hunted by the Zentrum). They all live in the independent areas, where they may be survivalists, outlaws, bounty hunters, gang members, mercenaries, gladiators, or criminals. Several ideas for adventures are suggested. The  NoReturn team invites the fans to develop their own ideas and to publish them on the RPG´s homepage. Here you find also additional material and additional products. Recommended for fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic worlds.

NEW MATERIAL

FROM DAVID MILLIANS

Kay, Jonathan (2018 January 21) The Invasion of the German Board Games. www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/01/german-board-games-catan/550826. Some business data and further evidence of games going mainstream.

Tresca, Michael (2018 January 29) When the Pen becomes the sword. www.patreon.com/posts/is-d-d-too-on-16588287. An examination of Dungeons & Dragons’ origins in terms of contemporary play.

Vice (2018 January 17) Escaping Prison with Dungeons & Dragons. www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=_kDseTCNGyA. Inspiring and insightful short documentary of two men and their Pathfinder games in prison and then on the outside.

FROM HAWKE ROBINSON

Mazzanoble, Shelly & Greg Tito (2018 January 22) Dragon Talk: RPG Research. www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5IaxXgKs5o. Hawke Robinson and John Welker from RPG Research talk about their work using RPGs in therapy, community programs, education, and more.

Robison, Hawke (2018 January 6) Key Essays, Presentations, and Research from RPG Research. www2.rpgresearch.com/about/key-essays-presentations-and-research-from-rpg-research. Most requested articles.

FROM JOHN BOARDMAN

Byrd, Christopher & Michael Thomsen (2017 December 17) Dreams and screams. The Washington Post, E13. Best video games of 2017.

Egner, Jeremy (2018 January 6) No ‘Game of Thrones’ Until 2019, but All’s Not Lost. The New York Times. Prequels in the works at HBO and possibly other George R. R. Martin worlds as well on other networks.

Hess, Amanda (2018 January 6) The Game So Bad It’s Good. The New York Times. HQ trivia game app and its reasons for success.

Oliver, Marie Elizabeth (2018 January 11) In golden age of board games, take a turn as host. The Washington Post. How to host a board game night with recommendations: Captain Sonar, Hotshots, Junk Art, Kill Doctor Lucky, New York 1901, Pandemic, Werewords.

Parker, Laura (2017 December 21) A Shooter Game Cries Out for a Storyline? Get Me Rewrite. The New York Times, B7. Increasing sophistication of narrative in video games and involvement of big-name writers.

CALENDAR

New listings this month were provided by Paul Cardwell and Lou Zocchi. Others are urged to submit information. If you attend a convention, be sure and check the conventions table and let us have a copy of the fliers (or at very least the when, what, where, and contact information) for upcoming conventions available there. CAR-PGa is international, so this includes anywhere in the world.
Dates, precise venue, contacts' URLs or phone numbers, and other information, where missing from this list, would be particularly appreciated.
"[LARP]" means only LARP events as many RPG cons include at least some LARP, as likewise applies to the mention of specific game systems. The same bracketed information applies as well to game systems when the con will have only those games present.
In an attempt to get more face-to-face meetings of the membership, we list who will be going to what convention, if they will tell us. Get this type of information in at least two months before the convention itself, so we can run it at least once. Support your local cons by helping in the staff. It is a good way to promote RPG and you generally get in free for the brief time spent helping.
A review of any attended convention afterwards for the Newsletter would be appreciated too. These reviews should include demographic data such as attendance, percentage male/female, white/ethnic minorities (or what- ever is the majority/white/others), games in addition to tabletop RPG, and more subjective matters such as unusual events, quality of games and dealers' room, encouragement of new gamers, and whatever seems worth reporting. We need to work to restore CAR-PGa's reputation as the media's go-to on gamer demographics, especially since the media are still citing a study that cut off all those over 35 - at a time when that was the median age of gamers - it is closer to 40 now - which indicates we also need to work on recruiting younger players, although some increase in college age players at conventions has been noted.

February 2018
1-4: Game-o-Rama, Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, Atlanta, GA; game-o-rama.com
2-3: Ambercon Northern Ireland, Belfast; ambercons.com
2-4: Captain Con, Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, RIcaptaincon.com
2-4: Wizard World Comic Con St. Louis, America's Center, St. Louis, MO; wizardworld.com
3-4: RTX, International Convention Centre, Darlington Harbour, Sydney, NSW; rtxsydney.com
7-11: Winter Fantasy, Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, IN; wintfan.baldmangames.com
8-11: Rapier, Jacksonville Airport Doubletree, Jacksonville, FL; rapiercon.com [mostly board and miniature]
9-11: Farpoint, Delta by Marriott, 245 Shawan Rd, Hunt Valley, MDfarpointcon.com
9-11: Furry Fiesta, Intercontinental, Dallas, 15201 Dallas Pkwy, Addison, TX; furryfiesta.org
9-11: Seishun-Con, Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center Atlanta, Atlanta, GA; seishun-con.com
10: Spaghetti ConJunction, Geek Retreat, 38 The Priory Queenswayk, Birmingham, W.Mids; ukroleplayers.com
15-18: Capricon, Westin Chicago North Shore, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL; capricon.org
15-18: GenghisCon Denver, Hyatt Regency, 13200 E 14th Pl, Aurora, COgengiscondenver.com
16-18: Anachrocon, Wyndham Atlanta Galleria,, Atlanta, GA; anachrocon.com [alternate history]
16-18: Anime Milwaukee, Hyatt Regency, 333 W Kilbrne Ave, Milwaukee, WI; animemilwaukee.com
16-18: Bashcon, University of Toledo Student Union, 2801 W. Bancroft, Toledo, OH; bashcon.com
16-18: Boskone, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St, Boston, MA; nesfa.art/boskone
16-18: Con DFW, Radisson Fort Worth Fossil Creek, Fort Worth, TX; condfw.org [literary]
16-18: Con of the North, Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Minneapolis, MN; conofthenorth.org
16-18: LepreCon, Goldsmith Hall, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; leprecon.ie
16-18: London Anime Con, London Metropolitan University, Rocket Complex, London; londonanimecons.com
16-18: Planet Comicon, Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO; planetcomicon.com
16-18: RadCon, Red Lion, 2525 N 20th Ave, Pasco, WAradcon.org
16-18: Williamsburg Muster, Clarion Hotel, Williamsburg, VA; hamptonroadsgamers.org [mostly wargame]
16-19: DunDraCon, San Ramon Marriott, San Ramon, CA; dundracon.com
16-19: OrcCon, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA; strategicon.net
17-18: Oddmall, Expedition Elsewhere, Canton, OH; [Free Admission]
17-20: New York Toy Fair, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York, NY; toyfairny.com
19-25: PrezCon, Doubletree Hotel, 990 Hilton Heights Rd, Charlottesville, VA; prezcon.com
22-25: Dreamation, Morristown Hyatt, 3 Speedwell Ave, Morristown, NJdexposure.com
22-25: Hoop and Stick Con, Ravenwood Castle, 65666 Bethel Rd, New Plymouth, OH; ravenwoodcastle.com/hoopandstick
22-25: Total Confusion, Best Western Royal Polaza, Marlborough, MA; totalcon.com
23-25: AdCon, Eidelstedter Bürgerhaus, Alte Eibagaustr.12, Hamburg; sdnv.de
23-25: Con Nooga, Chattanooga Conventiuon Center, 1 Carter Plaza, Chattanooga, TN; connooga.com
23-25: Fire and Ice Convention, Manitowoc County Expo Center, 4921 Expo Dr, Manitowoc, WI; fireandiceconvention.com
23-25: Gamicon, Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1200 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IAgamicon.org
23-25: Midgard West Con, Jugendherbrge, Burg Blankenheim; midgard.westcon.de
23-25: Mysticon, Holiday Inn Tanglewood, 4468 Cathrey Rd, Roanoke, VA; mysticon-va.com
23-25: OwlCon, Rice Memorial Center, Rice University, Houston, TX; owlcon.com
23-25: Pensacon, Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E Gregory St, Pensacola, FLpensacon.com
23-25: VisionCon, Hilton Branson Center, 200 Sycamore St, Branson, MOvisioncon.net
24-25: Revelation, Garrison Hotel, 635 Penistone Rd, Sheffield, S.Yorksrevelationgames.org.uk

March 2018
1-4: Emerald City Comiccon, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA; emeraldcitycomicon.com
1-4: LeiriaCon, Quinta do Pinheiro, Leira, Portugal; spielportugal.org/leiriacon
1-4: Salt Con, Davis Conference Center, Layton, UT; saltcon.com
2-3: PlatteCon, Ullsvik Hall, 1 University Plaza, University of Wisconsin Platteville, Platteville, WI; plattevillegaming.com
2-4: Cincycon, Butler County Fairgrounds, Cincinnati, OH; cincycon.org
2-4: Genericon, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY; genericon.union.rpi.edu
2-4: GnomeCon, Ramada Inn, 301 Governor Treulen Rd, Pooler, GA; gnomecon.org
2-4: Gryphcon, University Center, University of Guelph, 158-50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, ON; www.gryphcon.org
2-4: Itzacon Eire, NUI Galway, Newcastle Rd, Galway City, Eire; itzaconeire.ie
2-4: Kawaii Kon, Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI; kawaii-kon.org
2-4: Wild Wild West, Old Tucson, 201 S Kinney Rd, Tuscon, AZwwwc3.com [steampunk]
3-4: Bremer Spiele-Tage, Bremer Volkshochschule, Bremen, Germany; spieleninbremen.de
3-4: ZiegeCon, 1530 N Old US Hwy 23, Howell, MI; ziegegames.com
8-11: Garycon, Geneva Ridge Resort, W4340 State Hwy 50, Lake Geneva, WI; garycon.com
9-11: AireCon, Harrogate International Centre; airecon.uk
9-11: Amelia Con, Days Inn, Amelia Island, FL; ameliacon.com
9-11: Ando Con, Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, Atlanta, GA, andocon.com
9-11: Cleveland ConCoction, Bertram Inn, Cleveland, OH; clevelandconcoction.org
9-11: ConVergence, NW Gaming Centre, Stockport, Manchester; convergenceuk.co.uk
9-11: Fogcon, Walnut Creek Marriott, 2355 N Main St, Walnut Creek, CAfogcon.org [primarily writer workshop]
9-11: Gateway Furmeet, Doubletree St. Louis-Westport, St. Louis, MO; gatewayfurmeet.org
9-11: Toylanta, Marriott Century Center, 2000 Century Center Blvd, Atlanta, GA; www.joelanta.org
9-11: Lexington Comic Con, Lexington Convention Center, 430 W Vine, Lexington, KY; lexingtoncomiccon.com
9-11: Madicon, Festival Conference Center, 1301 Carrier Dr, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA; madicon.org
9-11: Mace West, Doubletree, Asheville, NC; justusproductions.com
9-11: MidSouthCon, Memphis Hilton, Poplar & I-240, East Memphis, TN; midsouthcon.org
9-11: Omni Fandom Expo, Florida Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL; omniexpo.com
9-11: TN Game Days, Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN; tngamedays.com
9-18: South by Southwest, Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, Texas 78704; sxsw.com
10: Egocon, Holiday Inn, Hwy 10 E, Stevens Point, WI; discoverwisconsin.com
10: March to Oblivion, InterAction School of Performing Arts, 228 Germain Street, Saint John, NB; impossiblerealities.com
10-11: LANtasy, Peakes Arena, 3100 Tillicum Rd, Victoria, BClantasy.com
12-16: GAMA Trade Show, Peppermill Resort, Reno, NV; gamatradeshow.com [trade only]
15-18: All-Con, InterContinental Hotel, 15201 Dallas Pkwy, Addison, TXall-con.org
16-18: CoastCon, Mississipi Coast Convention Center, 2350 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS; coastcon.org
16-18: Made in Asia, Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium; madeinasia.be
16-17: Twister Con, Reed Conference Center, 5750 Will Rogers Rd, MidWest City, OK; twistercon.com
16-18: CosCon, Vagabonds Hall, Butler, PA; circleofswords.com
16-18: Princecon, McCosh Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; princecon.org
16-18: Toronto Comicon, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON; comicontoronto.com
17: Concrete Cow, Old Bath House, 205 Stratford Rd, Wolverton, Milton Keynes; mk-rpg.org.uk
22-25: AdeptiCon, Renaissance Schaumburg, Schaumburg, IL; adepticon.org
22-25: AggieCon, Brazos County Expo Center, Bryan, TX; aggiecon.tamu.edu
23-25: Clockwork Alchemy, Hyatt Regency, Burlingame, CA; clockworkalchemy.com
23-25: CogCon, Butler-Carlton Hall, 1401 N Pine St, Rolla, MOcogcongaming.com
23-25: ConnCon, Sheraton Stamford, 700 E Main St, Stamford, CTconncon.com
23-25: ConQuest SAC, Crowne Plaza, Sacramento, CA; conquestsac.com
23-25: Eville Con, Holiday Inn, 7101 US 41, Evansville, INevillecon.com
23-25: Hydra, Brookfield Scout Camp, Rd 1 562 Moore Valley Rd., Wainuiomata, Wellington, NZ; nzlarps.org [LARP]
23-25: Nashicon. Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC; nashicon.com
23-25: Pyrkon, Miedzynardowe Targi, Poznan, Poland; pyrkon.pl
23-25: Revelcon, Wyndham West Energy Corridor, Houston, TX; revelcon.com
23-25: Wondercon, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA; comic-con.org
24-25: Gem City Comic Con, Dayton Convention Center, Dayton, OH; gemcitycoomiccon.com
24-25: Seven Hills, Garrison Hotel, 635 Penistone Rd, Sheffield, S Yorks7hills.org.uk
24-25: Terminal City Tabletop Convention, Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr., Vancouver, BC; terminalcitytabletop.com
24-25: Zuiderspel, Congerence Centre Koningshof, Locht 117, Veldhovenklogebow.nl
28-April 1: Fastaval, Aarhus; fastaval.dk [specific venue traditionally secret]
29-April 1: Anime Matsuri, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX; animematsuri.com
29-April 1: HavenCon, Doubletree Austin, 6505 N I-35, Austin, TX; havencontx.com
29-April 1: Norwescon, Doubletree Seattle Airport, 18740 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA; norwescon.org
30-April 1: Anime Boston, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; animeboston.com
30-April 1: Conglomeration, Crowne Plaza, 830 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KYconglomeration.info
30-April 1: Gothcon, Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet, Göteborg, Sweden; gothcon.se
30-April 1: Marmalade Dog, Bernhard Center, 1903 W. Michigan Ave, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI; marmaladedog.org
29-April 1: Sakura-Con, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA; sakuracon.org
30-April 1: Simcon, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; sa.rochester.edu/simcon
30-April 1: Who's Yer Con, Wyndham Indianapolis West, Indianapolis, IN; whosyergamers.org
30-April 2: Conquest, Melbourne High School?, Forest St, South Yarra, Melbourne, Vic; conquest.asn.au
30-April 2: Follycon/Eastercon, Hilton Metropole, NEC, Birmingham, UK; eastercon.org

April 2018
1-8: Swordcraft Quest, Western Oval, Park St, Melbourne, Vic; swordcraft.com.au [LARP]
5-8: Furry Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA; furryweekend.com
5-8: Game Storm, Red Lion Jantzen Beach, 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR; gamestorm.org
5-8: PAX Easr, Boston Convention Cejter, 415 Summer St, Boston, MAeast.paxsite.com
5-8: Tekko, Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA; teamtekko.us
6-8: Chicago Comic Expo, South Bldg, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL: c2e2.com 
6-8: CyPhaCon, Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles, LA; cyphacon.org
6-8: Fan Expo Dallas. Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX; fanexpodallas.com
6-8: JohnCon, Levering Hall, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD: jh.edu/~johncon/
6-8: PLAY, Modena Exhibition Center, Modena, Italy; play-modena.it
6-8: Sci-fi on the Rock, Sheraton Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. Johns, NF; scifiontherock.com
7: DevaCon, Crowne Plaza, Trinity St, Chester; devaconblog.wrdpress.com
7-8: MAG Con, NCISD Annex, 21569 US 59, New Caney (Houston area), TX; magcon.org
13-14: CodCon, Turner Conference Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL; codcon.com
13-15: 1d4Con, Holiday Inn, Martinsburg, WV; 1d4con.com
13-15: 221B Con, Marriott Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA; 221bcon.com [Sherlock Holmes]
13-15: Conpulsion, Teviot Row Student Union, Bristol Square, Edinburgh; geas.rg.uk/conpulsion
13-15: Protospiel, Best Western Plus, 5105 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee WIprotospiel-milwukee.org
14: Transcontinental Gaming Convention, WHS Student Union, 530 E Cherry St. Winslow, AZ; Facebook.com/transcon2018
14-15: Gaqmer's Equinox, Holiday Inn, 150 George St, Peterborough, OH; phantasm.pfga.com
14-15: LuxCon, Forum Geeseknäpchen, Luxemburg; luxcon.lu
15-19: DeepCon, Centro Congressi Ambasciatoril, Fiuggi, Italy; deepcon.org
20-22: Cape Comic Con, Osage Center, 1625 N Kingshighway, Cape Giradieu, MO; cape-con.com
20-22: Constellation, Cornhusker Hotel, Lincoln, NE; www.constellationne.net
20-22: Filk Ontario, Monte Carlo InnBrampton Suites, Coventry Rd, Mississauga, ON; filkontario.ca
20-22: JordanCon, Crowne Plaza Atlanta, Perimeter Center Pkwy at Ravinia, Atlanta, GA; jordancon.org
20-22: Lexicon, Clarion Convention Center, 1950 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY; lexicongaming.com
20-22 RavenCon, Doubletree Williamsburg, 50 Kingsmill Rd, Williamsburg, VAravencon.com
20-22; Starfest, Marriott & Hilton DTC, Denver, CO; starland.com
20-22: Triway Peak, Glenbarr Historic House, Paris Creek Rd, Stratalbyn, SA; arc-adelaide.com.au [LARP]
20-22: UBCon, Student Union, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; ubcon.org
20-22: Vaticon, UCD Student Centre, Dublin, Ireland; vaticon.ie
21-22: Bookwyrm RPG Convention, Woodward Park Regional Library, Fresno, CA; www.facebook.com/bookwyrmcon
21-22: GameforLife, Europark Salzberg, Europastraße 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; www.game-for-life.at
21-22: Marble City Comiccon, Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, TN; marblecitycomiccon.com
21-22: Tupelo Comic Con, Tupelo Furniture Mart, Bldg 5, 1879 Coley Rd, Tupelo, MS; tupelo.net/events/tupelo-comic-con
21-23: D8 Summit, Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort, 2843 Il Rt 178. Great Bear, Morth Itoca. IL; tabletop.events/conventions/the-d8-summit-2018
22-25: Ambercon, Embassy Suites Detroit-Livonia, 19525 Victor Pkwy, Livonia, MI; ambercon.com [Amber Diceless only]
23-25: WillyCon, Student Center, Wayne State College, 1111 Main St, Wayne, NE; www.wsc.edu/willycon
25-27: Treklanta: Marriott Century Center, Atlanta, GA; trekatlanta.org
26-29: Calgary Expo, Stampede Park, 20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary, AB; calgaryexpo.com
27-29: Gaming Hoopla, Doubletree, 510 E IL Route 83Mundelein, IL; gaminghoopla.com
27-29: Farmegeddon, Farmer City American Legion, Stensel Dr, Farmer City, IL; farmegeddon137.com
27-29: Ice & Fire, Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke, VA; iceandfirecon.com [LARP]
27-29: International Steampunk Symposium, Crowne Plaza Blue Ash, 5901 Pfeiffer Rd, Cincinnati, OH; thepandorasociety.com/symposium
27-29: OdysseyCon, The Lodge at Crooked Lake, 24271 St Rd 35N, Siren,, WI; odysseycon.org
27-29: Oz-Con, West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St, West Plains, MOoz-con.com,
27-29: PandoraCon, Crowne Plaza Blue Ash, Cincinnati, OH; pandoracon.com
27-29: Teck-Con, Mehrgenerationenhaus Linde, Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany; rsct.net
28: Spiel mit den Wölfen, Stadtmission Wolfsburg, Mühlenpfad 2, Wolfsburg; spiel-mit-den-wölfen.de
28-29: North Star, Garrison Hotel, 645 Penistone Rd, Sheffield, S Yorksnorthstarcon.org.uk
28-29: Pretzcon, Ralston Arena, 72nd & Q, Omaha NE; pretzcon.org
28-30: Conventus Leonis, Lomder- und Jugendzentrukm Mühlel Braunschweig; www.facebook.com/ConventusLeonisBS

© Copyright 2018 by the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games (CAR-PGa), ISSN 1071 7129. The CAR-PGa Newsletter is a monthly publication. For more information contact David Millians, Editor, Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA, phone (404) 808-1070, fax (404) 377-3491, e-mail millians.david@paideiaschool.org. Back issues are available. Contributions of material from the membership are urged, and the byline is responsible for content. Deadline is the last weekday of the month, email preferred. Permission is granted to copy anything in the Newsletter, provided we get a credit line in the publication copying it, and it doesn't have someone else's copyright on it. Information, including details on joining CAR-PGa, can be obtained on the Internet at car-pga.org.

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