Dragonmeet 2014 review
Yeah, I know, I'm sucking at this 'journalling my life' stuff.
Vic and I went to Dragonmeet this weekend. It's an annual 1 day gaming convention we've gone to over a decade. Originally run by fans this past few years it was run by games company Cubicle 7. This year it was managed by Modiphius Entertainment, another RPG publisher. Unfortunatly for them the regular venue at Kensington Town Hall was unavailable plus I hear they increased the charges highly. So the convention moved to the ILEC Convention Centre which is part of an Ibis hotel behind Earls Court. And it's the venue which defined my experience this year...
When in the old venue Vicky and I would start with brunch in the Pret A Manger in Kensington High Street station. This year we had a limp (but in fairness cheap) panini in a small coffee shop opposite West Brompton station. It was that or the dodgy looking pub. After we ran into my friend Isi who was looking for the venue. So anyway we now lack the range of useful shops near the old venue. I'd often nip down to Boots for a meal deal sandwich to have in a game session.
The venue is an uninspiring chain hotel made of dull concrete. Nothing like the modernism of Kensington Town Hall. We bought our memberships; still £10, which is good, even if the goody bags of a decade ago are a distant memory. But then we walked in to the 'main' corridor. Which is to say the regular corridor hunderds of people are trying to use. The single double door to the trade hall/game running area was a major choke point.
We had a look in the trade hall. Ran into Tracy aka 'Scorch' and Andy from OpenBet who were running a stall sellling Tracy's home made items. I bought a lovely leather bookmark with a burnt in squid pic and a pair of cthuloid ear rings. We also made our way to All Rolled Up where I bought another ARU. Sadly the none of the TARUs gripped me which is what I really wanted but the Laundry inspired one was just too beautiful. I also got a couple of dice to go with it.
We then went to the panel with James Wallis talking about the Paranoia Kickstarter as I'd backed it. After getting totally confused we eventually found the suite being used as a seminar room. Yes, suite; the panel in one room being looked at by the audience in the other through the door. It was a total farce and the 30ish people were crammed in.
Vic and I went for a drink after. the 'coffee bar' didn't do sandwiches or real food like the one in the old venue. Plus there was only one table so nowhere to sit and drink. We went up to the 'pub' a floor above but it was packed too.
Later I tried a session of The Consortium RPG, another Kickstarter I'd backed run by former OpenBet gamer Ed. Fellow OpenBet trooper Lucy was there asw ell as 'money guy' Alistair. The project is looking really good and I enjoyed our short demo game (Sorry about the genocide, Ed!). Sadly I struggled to hear some players; the glass divided rooms of Kensington Town hall meant that there was little sound pollution but the one, big room right next to the dealers room was just a big echo chamber.
It was nice running into friends like Isi, Shaun, Civi and Sam who I hadn't seen in years. Just a pity it was hard to find a place to sit and chat.
We had one final sweep of the trade room. Fatal mistake of course, I bought 4 short story collections from Pelgrane press. However the Dragonmeet stalwarts the Dempsy's were working there (Steve had stories in the books I bought) so it was really lovely to see them. We also chatted to the team doing the new X-Com game which will be Kickstarted next year. It sounds good and one I will look out for.
EDIT: Also a lot more Wargaming companies this year. Which is good as I'm all for a bit of diversification.
Vic and I lit out early evening due to having another function. But frankly with it's 'unwelcoming' facilities it would have been hard to get comfortable. odd, as they boasted it would go on to midnight; maybe it was catering more to the weekend people in the hotel? Regardless I think if the same location is used next year it may put me off.