There are no screens, pads or buttons to be found at this annual gaming convention — only cards, dice, miniature figures, pencils and paper.
Story by Alex Schroff; photos and video by Alex Schroff and Alex Weaver
In a gaming world dominated by first-person shooters, World of Warcraft and more versions of Madden football than one can count, CincyCon 2013 is old school. Yet the annual convention of people who enjoy ancient card games and table-top role-playing continues to attract a strong following.
Held the first weekend of March, CincyCon 2013 drew more than 700 gamers looking to compete and mingle with fellow fans. This year’s event was at the Atrium Hotel and Covention Center in Springdale, Ohio.
Jim Fox, who has helped engineer and shape CincyCon for the past three years, calls it “an all-inclusive gaming convention.”
“Role-playing, card games, board games and table top miniatures – it has a little something for everyone,” Fox said.
Eric Taeger rolls dice in the Warhammer 40k tournament. (Alex Weaver / NMB)
Bill Wilson of Ludlow, Ky., brought 12-year-old sons Ben and Ross so they could experience a different type of gaming than what most kids their age play. “It’s all about moving them away from the electronics and getting their minds working,” he said.
In addition to card games such as 7 Wonders, Magic the Gathering and Strat-o-Matic Sports, CincyCon 2013 featured dozens of role-playing and table-top games set in countless timelines and even more environments. Participants could engage in table-top Star Wars space battles, Civil War re-enactments, air-to-air ship battles, and even a game that let them save the always loveable Capt’n Jack Sparrow.
An entire hall was dedicated to a Warhammer 40k tournament, which featured more than a dozen landscapes on which participants could do miniature battle. With games played in hour increments, each move was measured precisely, and each roll of the dice carefully counted.
Sean Cabash of Cincinnati Arsenal Gaming, along with volunteers, built tables and set up areas for gamers. “More than anything, (CincyCon) is about having fun and getting to talk with people and share your experiences and hobbies,” Cabash said.
Each move was measured precisely. (Alex Weaver / NMB)An entire event was devoted to a game called Pathfinder, a variation of Dungeons and Dragons 3.5. The Cincinnati chapter of the Pathfinder Society has between 250 to 300 members and the Dayton chapter has more than 150. Brent Bowser, who was in attendance supporting the Pathfinder Society, said the game has become an international sensation.
“I’ve had people from Germany come over with their characters and play with mine,” Bowser said.
People of all ages came to CincyCon 2013 to share experiences, games and their imaginations.
“None of it’s really competitive at all,” Fox said. “It’s all just fun gaming.”