Events

Each year, SIMCON is a mix of both large "feature" events, such as our Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer tournaments, and many smaller events, most of which are submitted by outside volunteers.

Submitting Your Event

Online event submissions for SIMCON XXX are now closed. However, you can still submit an event in person at the convention, and it will be added to the schedule (space permitting).

Running a convention event is often fun, and also a good way to meet people who like to play your favorite game -- or to introduce a game you like to players who haven't tried it. Running events also earns rewards such as free SIMCON admission -- Click here for details.

To submit YOUR event, just

Event Listings

The events scheduled for SIMCON XXX are listed below.

General Notes: The following notes apply to all gaming events:

  • Pre-generated characters will be provided in all roleplaying events, unless otherwise noted in the event description. Events are not "bring your own character" unless specifically stated to be.
  • All Dungeons & Dragons events will be run using version 3.5 unless otherwise stated in the event description.

Skill / Difficulty: The rating that appears with each event listing is an indication of two things:

  • The letter shown indicates the degree of skill in or familiarity with the game and its rules that is expected for that event, from A (no experience needed) through E (expert).
  • The number indicates the degree of difficulty of the event, in terms of the challenge it will pose to players of the appropriate skill level. The scale runs from 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging).

Special Events

The Gaming Pentathlon

The inaugural run of what we hope will become a new Western New York gaming tradition, not just at SIMCON but as a cooperative effort across all of the region's gaming clubs and conventions. Teams of 3 to 6 players each, representing their gaming clubs, fraternities, or other collegiate or trade school student organizations, compete in a slate of five events spanning the various forms of gaming:

  • Boardgames: Settlers of Catan and Roborally (event 04804 in timeslot 4)
  • Collectible Card Games: Magic: The Gathering Booster Draft (event 08804 in timeslot 8)
  • Miniatures Gaming: Star Wars Miniatures Tournament (event 09804 in timeslot 9)
  • Video Gaming: Smash Brothers Tournament (event 11804 in timeslot 11)
  • Roleplaying: Dungeons & Dragons Colosseum (event  12804 starting in timeslot 12)

For further details, see the Gaming Pentathlon rules.

Retro Video Games Tournament

In keeping with our 30th anniversary "Gaming Through The Ages" theme, we will be running a tournament in vintage/classic/retro (read: "old") console video games. Were you once king of the family woodgrain Atari? Did your friends know not to mess with you on the NES? Come show off your mad old school skills! This event will be taking place over much of Saturday at the convention. Check with the Registration Desk for more details.

The Games Asylum Intenational Game Room

Once again, longtime SIMCON favorites Dallas Hoag and crew will be bringing a huge assortment of board games and other games from the world over, for the enjoyment of convention attendees. For more information on Games Asylum, click here to visit their website.

Arena 51 LAN Party

Rochester's One And Only Computer Gaming Center, Arena 51, will be hosting a LAN Party at SIMCON Friday through Sunday. Six high-end gaming systems will be available, plus 18 network ports for players bringing their own computers to join in the mayhem. The LAN Party will be available both to SIMCON attendees and the general UR public, but SIMCON badgeholders get discounted rates:

  • With SIMCON badge: $1 per hour, their system or bring your own
  • Without SIMCON badge, bring your own system: $3 per hour
  • Without SIMCON badge, use Arena 51's system: $5 per hour

A number of popular games will be running, exact details coming soon. Some extra monitors may be available for the use of players bringing their own computers.

Reaper Miniatures "Paint & Takes"

Our friends at Reaper Miniatures will again be represented at SIMCON with their popular "Paint & Take" sessions, where convention attendees can sit down, choose a Reaper miniature from those available, and paint it using Reaper paints and supplies -- and get to KEEP the mini they just painted, all for FREE. "Paint & Takes" will be held at various times throughout the convention -- Check at the Registration Desk for scheduling.

Assassin

Spoon Assassin Game  (Steve Jackson's Killer variant)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: LARP      Gamemaster(s): Verbridge & Kingery

Starts in timeslot 7 on Saturday morning and runs through the end of timeslot 16 on Sunday. Signup opens on Friday at the SIMCON Registration desk.

In this game, each player becomes an assassin, stalking other players. Your only weapon? A spoon! This variant of Steve Jackson's Killer will run all day Saturday & Sunday, or until only one assassin remains, and does not prevent your participation in other convention events!

Photos will be taken at registration. Packets can be picked up anytime starting Saturday, early morning at the Registration desk. Unlimited players.

Current Scheduled Events

The events already on the schedule are listed below, by timeslot. More events will be added as they come in or as the scheduling of events already in planning is finalized.

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Timeslot 1: Thursday, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

01001   Warhammer Ancient Battles Tournament

Skill / Difficulty: B3       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Boldo      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

01106   Memoir '44

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Bob Reed      

Timeslot 2: Thursday, 10:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight

Prior event(s) continue.

Timeslot 3: Friday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

03001   The SIMCON Dungeons & Dragons Tournament -- Preliminary One

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Greg Welch (Director)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

03106   Conquest of the Pacific

Skill / Difficulty: C2       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Bob Reed      

03107   Born To Die  (Shadowrun 4th Edition)

Skill / Difficulty: B3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Joseph Baum      

Timeslot 4: Friday, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

04003   Magic Extended Tournament  (Magic: The Gathering)

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Mike Ruff (Boldo's Armory)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

04106   Dark Heresy Secret Missions

Skill / Difficulty: A0       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Jason Beck      

04107   The King In Yellow  (Arkham Horror)

Skill / Difficulty: A2       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Chris Nasipak      

04108   Dark Secrets  (CJ Carella's WitchCraft)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Eugene / Colin      

04804   The Gaming Pentathlon -- Boardgames Event

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Pentathlon Judges      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

Timeslot 5: Friday, 10:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight

05106   Nuclear War!  (Nuclear War/Proliferation/Escalation)

Skill / Difficulty: B1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Scott Taylor      

05107   The Rise and Fall of Civilization

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Pat Albano (Boldo's Armory)      

05108   Dungeon of Despair  (Dungeons & Dragons 3.5)

Skill / Difficulty: B4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Benjamin Jilson      

05110   D&D 101  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Lore      

Timeslot 6: Friday All-Nighter, 1:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Prior event(s) continue.

Timeslot 7: Saturday, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

07001   The SIMCON Dungeons & Dragons Tournament -- Preliminary Two

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Greg Welch (Director)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

07002   Da Boyz Spring Warhammer Fantasy Tournament 2008

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Da Boyz (sponsored by Boldo's Armory)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

07107   House Call  (Savage Worlds)

Skill / Difficulty: B1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Mike Sprague      

07108   The NAN E-Tours Incident  (Shadowrun 4th Edition)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Bjoern Braese      

07110   D&D 101  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Lore      

07906   AMPUTHEATRE Splatter Royal

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Gil Merritt      

Timeslot 8: Saturday, 12:00 Noon - 2:00 PM

08003   Magic Booster Draft  (Magic: The Gathering)

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Mike Ruff (Boldo's Armory)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

08107   Terror of Romney Marsh  (Savage Worlds)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Tim Hannon      

08108   Star Trek Starship Combat

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Ron Walls, Brion Swanson, David Mioduszewski      

08109   Operation Barbarossa

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Bob Reed      

08110   Netrunner Demo & Play  (Netrunner CCG)

Skill / Difficulty: A3       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Rik Van Horn      

08111   Destroy the One Ring  (Lord of the Rings)

Skill / Difficulty: A4       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Morbid      

08112   Munchkin Battle Royale!

Skill / Difficulty: A0       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Joseph Baum      

08113   Giant Monsters Eat America

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Steve Gerke from AvatarArt      

08114   Dagorhir Winterfell Demo  (Dagorhir)

Skill / Difficulty: A2       Type: Other       Gamemaster(s): Richard Hewett, a.k.a. Hallbjorn of Winterfell      

08115   HeroClix Cosmic Combat

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Brian Thorpe      

08116   Of Shadows Yet to Come  (Scion)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Eric Stix      

08804   The Gaming Pentathlon -- Magic Booster Draft

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Pentathlon Judges      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

08906   AMPUTHEATRE Splatter Royal

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Gil Merritt      

Timeslot 9: Saturday, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

09003   Forward to the Past: Against the Wasting  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: C4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): SIMCON Staff      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

09107   Netrunner Demo & Play  (Netrunner CCG)

Skill / Difficulty: A3       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Rik Van Horn      

09108   Nary a Trace  (Shadowrun 4th Edition)

Skill / Difficulty: C4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Joseph Baum      

09110   ZOMBIES!!!  (All Flesh Must Be Eaten -- Unisystem)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Eugene / Christopher 'Digaaz' Ward      

09111   Dark Tower Spectacular

Skill / Difficulty: A3       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Kingery      

09804   The Gaming Pentathlon -- Star Wars Miniatures Event

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Pentathlon Judges      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

09906   AMPUTHEATRE Splatter Royal

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Gil Merritt      

09909   The Great Space Race

Skill / Difficulty: A5       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Crazy Egor      

Timeslot 10: Saturday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

10000   The SIMCON Dungeons & Dragons Tournament -- Round One

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Greg Welch (Director)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

10107   Working Class Heroes  (Savage Worlds)

Skill / Difficulty: B3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Tim Hannon      

10108   The Kurgan of Keldimedes  (3.5 d20)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Matt Whelehan      

10109   A Hot Time in Hot Springs  (Savage Worlds)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Mike Sprague      

10110   The Forgotten Dungeon  (Basic Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Steve Verbridge      

10111   Battle Royale!  (HeroClix)

Skill / Difficulty: B1       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Brian Thorpe      

10112   Magic: The Gathering Standard Constructed Tournament

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Card Game       Gamemaster(s): Jerry Gao      DDC

10906   AMPUTHEATRE Splatter Royal

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Gil Merritt      

Timeslot 11: Saturday, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

11002   Forward to the Past: Thaddeus' Scheme  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: C4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): SIMCON Staff      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

11013   Sudden Death Overtime  (Mind's Eye Theatre)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: LARP       Gamemaster(s): Eugene      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

11110   D&D 101  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Lore      

11111   Battle of Yavin  (Silent Death)

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Chris Nasipak      

11804   The Gaming Pentathlon -- Smash Brothers Tournament

Skill / Difficulty: B3       Type: Computer Gaming       Gamemaster(s): Pentathlon Judges      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

Timeslot 12: Saturday, 10:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight

12106   Age of Renaissance

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Boldo's Armory      

12107   Timing is Everything  (Shadowrun 4th Edition)

Skill / Difficulty: A2       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Bjoern Braese      

12108   Giant Blokus

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Steve Gerke from AvatarArt      

12109   Run Through the Mountain  (Dungeons & Dragons 3.5)

Skill / Difficulty: C5       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Benjamin Jilson      

12804   The Gaming Pentathlon -- The Colosseum  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: C4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Cyas Braese and The Pentathlon Judges      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

Timeslot 13: Saturday All-Nighter, 1:00 AM - 8:00 AM

13000   The SIMCON Dungeons & Dragons Tournament -- Round Two

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Greg Welch (Director)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

Timeslot 14: Sunday, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

14002   Da Boyz Warhammer 40,000 Tournament

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): Da Boyz (sponsored by Boldo's Armory)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

14106   Nary a Trace  (Shadowrun 4th Edition)

Skill / Difficulty: C4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Joseph Baum      

14107   Giant Monsters Eat America

Skill / Difficulty: B2       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Steve Gerke from AvatarArt      

14108   Search in the Evermoors  (Dungeons & Dragons 3.5)

Skill / Difficulty: C3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): David Schneider      

14110   D&D 101  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Lore      

Timeslot 15: Sunday, 12:00 Noon - 2:00 PM

15000   The SIMCON Dungeons & Dragons Tournament -- Round Three

Skill / Difficulty: D4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Greg Welch (Director)      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

15001   Forward to the Past: Thaddeus' Downfall  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: C4       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): SIMCON Staff      

FEATURE EVENT.  See full description for details.

15107   Star Wars: Legacy of the Force  (Star Wars Miniatures)

Skill / Difficulty: B1       Type: Miniatures       Gamemaster(s): John Ling      

15108   The Haunted Keep on the Hill  (Basic Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A3       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Steve Verbridge      

15110   D&D 101  (Dungeons & Dragons)

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Roleplaying       Gamemaster(s): Lore      

15906   AMPUTHEATRE Splatter Royal

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Gil Merritt      

Timeslot 16: Sunday, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

16107   Giant Blokus

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Steve Gerke from AvatarArt      

16906   AMPUTHEATRE Splatter Royal

Skill / Difficulty: A1       Type: Board Game       Gamemaster(s): Gil Merritt      

Timeslot 17: Sunday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Prior event(s) continue.


Staffing/Gamemastering Rewards

Running an event at SIMCON, or helping out in other ways (working at  the Registration Desk, serving on SIMCON Security, helping with setup or strike, or other general staff duties) earns you rewards as our way of thanking you for being a part of making SIMCON happen. The rewards system is based on points earned, as follows:

  • For each timeslot of General Staff work, you earn 1 point.
    (Includes working Registration, Security, Gophering, etc.)
  • For each 2-hour timeslot in which you run an event, you earn 1 point.
    (Events that run for more than one timeslot earn 1 point per timeslot.)
  • Writing an event (roleplaying adventure/characters) earns 2 points.
  • Writing an event (other, but more than just taking a boxed game off the shelf) earns 1 point.

(Note that rewards are given per-event, not per-GM. If two people run an event together, each person gets half the points earned for the event. Exceptions for very large events such as LARPs may be made at the discretion of the directorate.)

What You Get

The total points you earn through any combination of the above can be redeemed as follows:

  • 4 Points: Free standard admission to the convention.
  • 5 Points: In addition to your free convention membership, receive one choice from among the SIMCON imprinted items designated as available as staffing rewards. Currently, these will include items such as dice and shot glasses. Other choices may be available by the time of the convention.
  • 6 Points: Receive a second item from those available.