Tabletop_Gaming__April_2019

April 2019

Each year the GMs are asked to relate their games

to the theme as much as possible, and ‘death’

may be the easiest theme to incorporate so far!

RPGs are often illed with NPC, and sometime

PC, deaths, acting as a catalyst for many

adventures, but we have plenty of lighthearted

and family-friendly games on ofer too.

As well as playing games (of course), what else is

happening over the weekend?

Other than RPGs and LARPs we will be ofering a

trade hall with some of the best independent and

local businesses in our community, demo tables of

exciting new games and panels/workshops, board

games, logo and best games competitions, and

even a chance to try out medieval sword ighting!

What advice would you give to those attending a

roleplaying/gaming convention for the first time?

For our convention, the wide variety of RPG one-

shots available are the highlights of the weekend,

so I would recommend arriving as soon as doors

open on Saturday morning to grab a programme

and make your choices! Sign-ups will open straight

before each game slot, so keeping an eye on the

clock and making sure you arrive early is key to

avoid disappointment!

Why is Edinburgh’s Teviot Row House the perfect

place to hold a gaming get-together?

Afordable food and drink, a relaxed atmosphere,

evocative décor and architecture are some of the

irst things that spring to mind, as well as all the

friendly members of the roleplaying society!

What have you got planned for next year’s

Conpulsion – and beyond?

We want Conpulsion to grow bigger and stronger

each year, and be at the forefront of innovation in

roleplaying games and board games. From a more

practical sense, we hope to have at least enough

conventions to complete the alphabet!

Conpulsion has been running a long time. When did

it start, and how has it changed over the years?

Conpulsion has had a tumultuous journey which

started sometime in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s,

providing nerds of all ages a place to celebrate

and share their hobby for many decades.

Hosted by the University of Edinburgh’s

roleplaying games society, GEAS, it has steadily

grown to a convention that attracts attendees

from all over the world, while maintaining its

unique sense of community and highlighting

local talent, businesses and charities.

What’s new for this year’s event?

We are moving to a bigger room for traders

this year for the irst time in a while due to high

demand, as well as bringing back a selection of

panels and workshops from a variety of topics and

with some very talented and experienced guests.

You feature a different theme each year. What

does this bring to the event, and what have

some of your favourites been?

he theme each year is voted upon during our

logo competition over the course of the weekend,

allowing our community to be involved with the

selection process.

We believe that the themes make each

Conpulsion memorable and varied, whilst also

giving us an excuse to reimagine our logo and

produce more merch! he one constant we

employ is our mascot, Grify, which has had

many diferent reincarnations thanks to the

wonderful interpretations of the artists taking

part. It allows us to showcase the artistic talent

of the members of our community and to

lavour the RPGs and LARPs that will be ofered

at each convention.

Your 2019 theme is ‘death’. What are you

expecting to see in the vein of the macabre

subject during the weekend?

Sakura Brandi tells us about the Scottish convention

hosted by the University of Edinburgh’s RPG society

Interview by Matt Jarvis

CONPULSION

EVENT REPORT

tabletopgaming.co.uk 93

UPCOMING EVENTS

CONPULSION DEATH

Friday April 5th to Sunday 7th

Teviot Row House, Edinburgh

conpulsion.org

SALUTE

Saturday April 6th

ExCel, London

The biggest wargaming-focused show

in the UK, the South London Warlords’

one-day event includes trades, demos and

participation games to enjoy.

salute.co.uk

SEVEN HILLS

Saturday April 6th to Sunday 7th

Garrison Hotel, Sheffield

The roleplaying convention returns with

games to play inspired by this year’s

theme: historical.

7hills.org.uk

UNCON 5.0

Saturday April 6th to Sunday 7th

St. George’s School, Broadstairs

Run by a local group, this family-friendly

event puts socialising at the front of its

welcoming feel.

unconuk.co.uk

HAMMERHEAD

Sunday April 28th

Newark Showground, Newark

This historical, fantasy and sci-fi miniatures

show features tables of visitor participation

games, letting you jump into titles new and old.

hammerheadshow.co.uk

CONTRAPTION

Friday May 3rd to Sunday 5th

Chatsworth Hotel, Worthing

Sessions of Pathfinder, Starfinder and Call of

Cthulhu join a packed three days of gaming,

plus meals and a film screening.

warhorn.net/events/contraption-2019

NORTH STAR

Saturday May 11th to Sunday 12th

The Garrison Hotel, Sheffield

A weekend of sci-fi roleplaying awaits

those that come along to this con held in

Sheffield’s unofficial home of gaming, the

Garrison Hotel.

northstarcon.org.uk

UK GAMES EXPO

Friday May 31st to Sunday June 2nd

NEC, Birmingham

A mainstay of the UK gaming calendar, the

long-running convention returns to its Brum

home for another year.

ukgamesexpo.co.uk