Building upon my last post’s focus on extremely regional content, I’d like to alert all the Ontario folks out there that Gryphcon is around the corner. Gryphcon is about a venerable a gaming convention as you’ll find in Southern Ontario, with a 25+ year history at Guelph University. Originally a small convention put on by the, ahem, Guelph Adult Gaming Association, it is now run by the Guelph Games Club and draws hundreds of gamers from across the region.
I’ve been hosting the Pathfinder portion of Gryphcon for going on three years now, and it has become one of my favourite venues to run games. The whole event has a very grassroots feel to it, exemplified by an enthusiastic roster of volunteers, an eccentric mascot (Grypchon), and a roster of games that ranges from homebrew RPGs to 1980s board game revivals. The player-base is an eclectic mix of young and old, with enough newbies to avoid the cynicism that is almost omnipresent among serial gamers.
With the apparent demise of Spellstorm, Gryphcon remains one of the few true gaming conventions in Ontario. I heartily recommend you check out the event – running February 27 to March 1 at the University of Guelph – with an open mind, taking the time to soak in the variety of RPGs, board games, and LARPs available for play. It’s a great time in the Royal City!
