Another Presidents’ Day weekend has come and gone, and with it, the tabletop gaming tradition of the California Bay Area: DunDraCon. This was the 49th DDC (and would have been the 50th, had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the convention to skip a year), bringing another full weekend of board games, tabletop games, LARPs, and more.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at this year’s DunDraCon, explore all that it had to offer, and see how it played out.
Location
DunDraCon 49 continued the convention’s streak of staying in the Santa Clara Marriott, which has remained an excellent location. The hotel is large enough to hold multiple game rooms of all sizes, including smaller hotel rooms for individual game sessions, and could fit the attendees nicely. Check-in and check-out were both quick and painless, so attendees could drop off their bags and get to gaming quickly.
Attendees could dine at the hotel’s bar or restaurant, although that did mean having to choose between hotel prices and convention quality. Fortunately, there were also plenty of options within an easy walking distance, including bagels, Mexican food, ramen, and pizza, with even more options a short drive away. (Driving was an easy option, since the convention had a special parking price of $5 per day, with in-and-out privileges for hotel guests.)
Gaming
Of course, people don’t go to DunDraCon just for the location – they go for the games! Suffice to say, there were plenty of options for all gamers, whether they were looking for a pickup game of Magic: The Gathering or wanted to get fully in-character for a LARP.
DDC featured a large assortment of scheduled games throughout the weekend, starting as early as 8 AM and running late into the night. Players could sign up for these games in advance online, but if any spots remained open during the con, they could try to grab one while there. These scheduled games included a wide variety of RPGs (plenty of Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, of course, but also newer systems like DIE, Daggerheart, and Draw Steel), as well as board games like Wingspan, Red Dragon Inn, and even Trogdor: The Board Game.
Speaking of RPGs, Pathfinder Society was back with organized play for Paizo’s RPGs. They hosted multiple tables throughout the weekend, covering several levels of play, including a five-hour multi-table game on Saturday night. Organized play is a fun opportunity for players to bring their characters across conventions and stores, and many familiar faces continue to reunite for more adventures year after year. (There was still no Dungeons & Dragons Adventurers League at DDC, but that’s been the case for a while now.)
Some of the biggest games were Live-Action Role Playing games (LARPs), which filled large rooms to bring players through an interactive adventure. Many LARPers showed up in costume for their games, while other players experienced LARPing for the first time. The convention had a table where players could sign up for open spots in upcoming LARPs, complete with a useful flier explaining the system of hand signs players could use to signal comfort levels during the game.
Although when we talk about “big” games, that’s where the Miniatures Room came in. Players waged war with large-scale sets and tables, featuring detailed miniatures and impressive set pieces. The game pieces may technically be “miniatures,” but the games were anything but that.
Of course, players didn’t necessarily need to sign up in advance to enjoy a game, because there were multiple Free Play rooms. Players could go there with a group and grab a free table, or look for a “Players Wanted” flag to learn a new game.
Attendees didn’t even need to bring their own games, as DunDraCon’s game library featured an extensive assortment of options for all ages.
Players could even provide playtesting and feedback for games in progress in the Protospiel room. There, up-and-coming game designers were showing off their newest works, receiving valuable feedback while letting players try a game they’ve almost certainly never seen before. The Protospiel room was always a popular draw and is a great resource for game developers looking to reach players and see how their games work with a large and varied group of gamers.
Even walking down the halls, it was impossible not to see games in action. Some players took tables in the lobby to relax with casual games, while other halls had rows of tables set up for massive Dice Throne tournaments.
No matter what type of game you were looking for, DunDraCon had it.
Panels & Seminars
If attendees wanted to sit down and take a break from gaming, they could always check out seminars. These panels covered a wide range of topics, including a “Storytelling for Games” workshop, a presentation on “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Context of Tabletop Gaming,” and plenty of War College presentations that blended real world history and war game design.
The panels were hosted by experienced presenters, making them informative and entertaining experiences. Some delved into topics people don’t normally associate with games, like the criminal justice system, while others were hands-on workshops for embroidering or designing terrain.
Miniature Painting
DunDraCon’s Miniature Painting Room has, for several years, been a great place for attendees to sit, chat, make new friends, and paint free miniatures. This year was no exception, as the Painting Room remains one of the best parts of the con (in this writer’s opinion, sure, but it’s a commonly shared one).
The Painting Room featured rows of tables and chairs and a Paint ‘n’ Take table, so attendees could grab a free miniature and some paint, then get to painting. The staff was always welcoming, friendly, and eager to help new painters learn some tricks, so the room remained full for most of the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday also featured painting contests. Participants had until 5 PM to paint a miniature to the best of their abilities, and convention attendees could vote on their favorites, with the winners getting little 3D-printed dragons to commemorate their wins. The contests showcased some amazing miniatures from attendees, and the level of competition has only improved with each passing year.
(Full disclosure: I spent a lot of time in the painting room, and only barely managed to maintain my streak of taking home a tiny dragon by tying for third place once. Clearly, I need to up my game for next year.)
Weapons and Demos
If there’s one thing tabletop gamers like as much as their games, it’s medieval weapons and getting to whack friends with foam swords. (I’m pretty sure that’s a proven fact, though I can’t point you to any studies on it.) Well, DunDraCon had that as well.
The convention featured fighting demonstrations by Amtgard and The Society for Creative Anachronism. Attendees could check out their display room to see armor and clothing, try their hand at leatherwork, or see people bop each other with foam weapons for a bit.
Or, for those looking for a cracking good time (that’s a horrible pun, and I apologize), Randy Bartlett brought his 20+ years of whip experience to the convention with demonstrations and lessons throughout the weekend.
Shopping (and Free Stuff)
Of course, DunDraCon is a convention, and for many that means shopping. DDC’s Dealer’s Hall was packed with booths, including nearby game stores and vendors, artists, and even local game designers. Attendees could buy 3D printed figurines, discounted games, RPG supplies, jewelry, and of course, tons of dice (because we all love pretty math rocks that go clickety-clack).
Additionally, the Games Auction was an exciting chance to buy and sell games, where attendees bid on donated games. On Monday morning, attendees could sell and buy their well-loved games at the Bazaar. There, lucky attendees could find hidden treasure and out-of-print games, while sellers could find new homes for old favorites.
Or, if you’d rather not pay for anything, the Freecycle table was constantly filled with games that attendees dropped off to rehome.
And More
DunDraCon didn’t stop there, as there was plenty more to see and do. Other attractions included:
- The Anime Room, where attendees could relax and watch a great combination of new and classic anime series.
- A Kids’ Room for children to play, have fun, and even learn a little.
- An unofficial Hawaiian Shirt Day, which is exactly what it sounds like. (Although it was included in the convention’s program book, the entire section was surrounded by the word “Unofficial” over and over.)
- A blood drive from the Stanford Bloodmobile, so attendees could give back and donate.
- Pin Trading, for those who like collecting and trading commemorative pins.
- Drawings and contests throughout the weekend for free prizes, ranging from game books to figurines to GenCon tickets.
President’s Day and Valentine’s Day may have fallen on the same weekend, but for DunDraCon attendees, those days meant little. The convention weekend was filled with games of all sorts, providing no shortage of fun for all. Whether you’re there for gaming, shopping, seminars, or hours of painting miniatures, DunDraCon remains a great way for tabletop gamers to meet, play, and enjoy a nice, long weekend of fun.
