I do reserve the right not to include events that appear to be only very marginally relevant to RPG'ing, and I admit to some bias in favour of 'tabletop' RPGs. No offence or judgement is intended; it's just that I've only got so much space and time for this thing, and I feel entitled to my prejudices. I may mention some live-action events, but my coverage of those is probably all too patchy; LARP fans should search out specialist 'Web sites or magazines for more complete information.
I sometimes list some board game, wargame, and CCG cons and similar, lower down this page, for completeness. Anyone looking for a really complete events listing site should look elsewhere - say, upcoming.org, although that doesn't seem to have any games-related content at the time of writing this.
Calendar File Form: Roger Burton West has set up a site which converts this page to standard calendar file format, and updates that file periodically. See http://firedrake.org/infobot/ics/conventions.ics for this. Or - I'm told that by using webcal://firedrake.org/infobot/ics/conventions.ics instead, you should be able to "subscribe" to this calendar.
If you want your convention mentioned here, or you wish to correct my description of your event, PLEASE e-mail me with one or two paragraphs of information. Please mention events planned, whether or not there'll be space for trade stands, and expected numbers attending. HTML format codes in the text will be preserved, within reason.
26th-28th June: Q-Con XVI, at Queen’s University, Belfast. "Q-Con is the annual convention hosted by Dragonslayers, the Queen’s University Belfast Gaming and Anime Society. This year sees Q-Con enter its sixteenth year and we will be taking over the entire QUB Students’ Union for a weekend of gaming and anime fun ... Q-Con will feature a wide selection of games and events over the convention weekend, with roleplaying games, boardgames, LARPs, wargames, CCGs, console games, PC LAN, anime screenings, cosplay, special events, special guests and much more! ... Big events to watch out for: rock band live on stage, and Games Workshop's 'Field of Blood' Warhammer tournaments."
For those who pre-register, a full weekend ticket for Q-Con costs £10/€12. Accommodation is available for £17/€20 per night; availability is limited. Pre-register before 12 June 2009 and you will be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win an X-Box 360. For registration/accommodation forms, information on games and events, or if you would like to run games, see http://www.q-con.org.uk.
28th June: Dragonmeet Southwest 2009, at the Crofts Sports Centre, Swindon, Wilts., SN3 1RA, from 10am to 6pm; the trade hall will close at 4pm due to Sunday trading laws. "The show will have Traders, Games, Seminars, a Bring & Buy, Guests and on-site food and drink (non-alcoholic)." The first ever provincial offshoot of this very significant London-based one-day convention (see November). More details to follow; http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/ may have them first. (Yes, this event was previously scheduled for April. It was moved.) For further information, or to run games, book trade tables, etc., e-mail info@dragonmeet.co.uk.
3rd-5th July: Summer Stabcon 2008, at the Britannia Hotel, Stockport. Another in a very long-running series of friendly, small-scale general games conventions, always featuring a good number of interesting RPGs. Membership is £15 up to May 31st, £17.50 thereafter. The con has a minimum age limit of 18 in general, but enquire about babes-in-arms, accompanied 16-year-olds, etc.
Accommodation is of course available in the hotel; check with the organisers for con rates. All questions can be addressed to bookings@stabcon.org.uk, STABCON, 17 Davenport Park Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 6JU, or 0161 483 9131.
10th-12th July: Ambercon UK 2009, at the De Vere Harben House in Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes. A single-system convention: an annual convention devoted entirely to the Amber Diceless Role-Playing Game. "Harben House is a purpose-built conference facility, with lots of conference rooms, air-conditioning, free parking, hot tub, sauna, gym and free internet access. All residential memberships are in single rooms with breakfast and lunch included on Saturday and Sunday, cost £140. Non-residential memberships also include lunch both days and cost £62. Unlimited tea and coffee is also provided. There will be a banquet on the Saturday night, cost £20. We would like to receive all bookings and game descriptions [and a non-returnable £25 deposit] please by 2nd May, with full payment by 31st May 2009."
All details should shortly be available on the convention 'Web site at http://www.ambercon.org.uk, or send enquiries to feedback@ambercon.org.uk. Game descriptions, queries and requests should go to ambercon@ntlworld.com.
11th July: Raiders of the Game Cupboard, at The Salvation Army Citadel, Mosley Street, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1DR, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. "We're doing it all again - another full day of gaming, something for everyone, all sorts of games will be played - Board games, minis, card games and Roleplaying Games ... The venue is a good sized hall big enough to fit a good number of games ... Bring along any games you would like to play or let us know if you are running a Role Play Game and we'll add it to this write up." Entry: £ 2.00 (Accompanied Children under 16 Free). Contact events@raidersofthegamecupboard.co.uk for more details.
11th-12th July: Paizocon UK, at Aston University, Birmingham. A convention evidently dedicated to Paizo Press's games; details of the intention beyond this are unclear to me just now... Admission is £12.00 for one day, £23.50 for two. Watch the convention 'Web site at http://http://paizocon.co.uk/ for more details.
31st July-2nd August: Constitution, at at Murray Edwards College (formerly New Hall), Castle Hill, Cambridge. A "roleplaying, science fiction and fantasy convention run by the fans responsible for Recombination [in 2007]" - in fact, the next British Roleplaying Society convention, following Baroquon, Rocococon, Conjuration, and Consternation. Games Guest of Honour is Sean Punch, the long-time GURPS line editor. Not many other details announced yet, but the roleplaying side of this event has a long history. Membership is currently £20 "but prices will rise closer to the convention"; under-18s get reduced rates - see the 'Web site. Accommodation will be available in the college; single en-suite £52.50 per night, twin en-suite £75.00 per night. For more details, see http://www.constitution-con.org.uk/, or e-mail info@constitution-con.org.uk.
19th September: Concrete Cow '09½, at The Old Bath House, 205 Stratford Road, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5RL, probably (from past experience) from 9:00am-11:00pm, with first games starting at around 10am. Organised by Milton Keynes RPG Club; to quote the announcements of previous events in this series: "Any roleplaying or board game. You want to play it, bring it along and run it". See http://www.mk-rpg.org.uk/Concrete_Cow for more details, or e-mail concrete-cow-owner@yahoogroups.com.
10th-11th October: Furnace, at the Garrison Hotel in the Hillsborough barracks, Sheffield, S6 2GB. "Furnace is an annual roleplaying convention in Sheffield, around October, which is held in a converted gaol. Each year for the last three years 70+ people have come and enjoyed a relaxed friendly and yet game packed weekend amongst the 7 hills of Sheffield." Membership is £10 per day or £20 for the weekend; accommodation is available in the hotel -- current guide B&B prices are £59 per night for a double or twin or £79 for a family room.
Doors open 10am-11pm Saturday, 10am-6pm Sunday. See http://www.rpgfurnace.com/ for more details, online registration, etc., or write to Furnace, c/o 4 Fields End, Sheffield, S36 8WH.
16th-18th October: Game 09, at the Manchester City Centre Palace Hotel. "We've expanded the RPG side of the event to a total of 25 tables where we'll be running LFR, 4e, 3.5e, 1st ed, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Whitewolf, GURPS and many indy and homebrew systems. Game is now in its third year and has grown from a mainly tournament based event to include RPG, Boardgames and Computer Console games at the same level as its normal fayre of miniatures, cards and wargames."
See http://www.gamecon.co.uk for more details, or e-mail rpgmanager@gamecon.co.uk.
24th October: Gamesfest 4, at the Watford Colosseum (Watford town centre), from 10.00am until 6.00pm; tickets should be available in advance (via the website) for £5.50 each. "A one day convention to showcase the best of Role Playing, Wargaming, Boardgaming and Science Fiction/Fantasy literature ... facilities include a fully licensed bar, two venue halls, dressing rooms, a large kitchen and ample parking".
See http://www.gamesfest.co.uk/ for more details, including directions to the venue.
30th October-1st November: OddconUK, at the Park Inn, Telford. "We're a small friendly convention held in the West Midlands. We are back for our third year and it just keeps getting odder, now running over Halloween weekend!"
See http://www.oddconuk.org.uk/ for details.
19th-22nd November: Curious Consequences, at Naish Holiday Village, Christchurch, Dorset. The latest in a series of general RPG events at this venue, including Bizarre Consequences in 2008; see http://www.consequences.org.uk.
28th November: Dragonmeet 2009, at Kensington Town Hall, London. This is always one of the big events in the UK RPG calendar, with trade stands, panels, etc.; watch http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/ for details as they develop.
5th-6th December: Ludicrus 09, at Kesgrave Community Centre, near Ipswich, Suffolk; 10am-10pm Sat and 10am-6pm Sun. "Last year over 400 people visited Ludicrus 08 ... Now in its third year, Ludicrus aims to deliver a great gaming experience for everyone from the first-time player to the serious roleplayer. Last year's very successful demo hall will be even bigger and better, giving you the chance to try out the latest RPGs, board games and collectible card games before you rush to the trade hall to stock up for Christmas. ... As in previous years we hope to be running national qualifiers or equivalent tournaments for the main CCGs, but there's also lots of ad hoc competitions for tabletop miniatures and other games."
See http://www.ludicrus.co.uk for all the latest information.
10th April: Dragonmeet Midlands, at the Derby Assembly Rooms, Derby. The second regional spin-off of the regular London-based event. "Dragonmeet Midlands promises a day packed with games for you to play ... Role-Playing Games - Board and Card Games - Collectible Card Games - Trade Hall - Live Action Role-Playing - Bar and Food." See http://www.dragonmeetmidlands.co.uk/ for details as they develop.
2nd-5th July: Continuum 2010, in Leicester... "Continuum is a games convention featuring, but not exclusive to, games and worlds created by Issaries Inc and Chaosium ... attendees can participate in traditional table-top role-playing games, board games, card games, freeform/LARP games (large and small), discussion panels, and all manner of general silliness." See http://www.continuum.uk.net - and there's also a Yahoo Group at http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Continuum2010/ and a Facebook event at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9.
There are also numerous clubs and regular public games group meets, some of which come and go, some of which last a while. One regular meeting that may be of interest is that organised by Gameforce, who also run the annual Dragonmeet; they hold club meets in The Black Horse, 6 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1HH, on the third Sunday of each month, running 2pm-9pm. For details, contact Angus Abranson on info@gameforcehq.org, phone 020 8346 2327 (9.30am to 6pm) or join the Gameforce Community on Livejournal - http://community.livejournal.com/gameforce/.
For board games conventions, one place to look is the UK Boardgame Convention News mailing list; see http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-con-news/.
