NOTACON Charity Gaming Event - Tucson

The Vul-Con Team will be joining the festivities in Tucson next weekend.  NOTACON is a charity event supporting The Creative Play Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing table-top games, gaming programs, and training materials to youth clubs and activity centers across the United States.  Entrance is only $10 and will include access to an open game library with hundreds of games, scheduled games, tournaments, game demos, and a charity auction.  The event will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Swan and 22nd St. (4831 East 22nd Street, Tucson) on October 8th with registration and gaming beginning at 10am.

The Vul-Con Team will be taking on the challenge of transporting our Gladiatorial Coliseum to Tucson.  This will be the first appearance of the 5' Diameter Coliseum in Tucson and the next to the last chance to test your mettle in Gladiatorial combat during 2011 (the last chance will be at Vul-Con Arena III on December 10th).  If you haven't made it to one of our Phoenix Events, this is a great chance to see and play it.

We're thrilled to be part of such a worthwhile event and have a chance to visit the great Strategy Gaming Community in Tucson.  If you turn out for NOTACON, be sure to stop by and say, "Hi!"  You can't miss us, we'll be the guys with the giant Coliseum.  See you there!

Right Games - Russian Board Game Publishers - Sponsor Vul-Con

The Vul-Con Team is proud to announce that Right Games - Publishers of Russian Board Games - is on board as our latest sponsor. We're very excited about this opportunity to share great games like Evolution, Potion Making Practice, The Kingdoms of Crusaders, and The Enigma of Leonardo with our members.

In preparation for Vul-Con Arena III at Samurai Comics and Games on December 10th, the Vul-Con Team ran a "test-play" of Evolution last weekend.  We were blown away by how easy the game was to learn to play, how tactically rich it was, how well it taught concepts of evolution, and how well it simulated a functioning ecosystem.  Most of all, we had such a great time playing it, we felt compelled to immediately play it again.

Be sure to join us are Vul-Con Arena III and register early, so you can lock in a seat at the Russian Board Game Table.  You're going to want to have a chance to try these great games, and certainly don't want to miss the opportunity to win one of the copies we will be giving away courtesy of Right Games.

Vul-Con 2012 Welcomes the Arizona Desert Rats and Shifting Sands 2012 Flames of War Tournament

The Vul-Con Team is very proud to announce that Vul-Con 2012 will be the Host Site for Shifting Sands 2012 - Duel in the Desert, the annual Flames of War Tournament run by the Arizona Desert Rats.  The event will take place at Vul-Con 2012 on February 25th and 26th, 2012 at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Shifting Sands is one of the premier Flames of War Tournaments.  Because of this we are both proud to be the host site and feel a great responsibility to work with the Arizona Desert Rats to make this the best Shifting Sands Tournament to date.

Shifting Sands 2012 - Duel in the Desert is a 2000pts desert doubles event covering Early war, Mid War and Raiding.  The event will be played in five rounds (three Saturday and two Sunday).  Air support will be decided by raiding missions.  Day One will be Early War and all lists will be built from Hellfire and Back. Day Two will be Mid War and all lists will be built from North Africa along with modifications listed on the Shifting Sands Web Site.  During the event, players will be pulled away from their partner to play raid missions which will influence the rest of the battles. All raiding and defending forces will be provided.

Slots are limited, so be sure to go to the Shifting Sands Web Site today to register. Discounted Vul-Con 2012 Memberships will be made available to those participating in the Shifting Sands 2012 - Duel in the Desert Tournament.  Early registration will not only make you available for this discount, it will allow you to take advantage of the current Vul-Con Membership before the increase on November 1st.  This is going to be a top-tier event, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Back2Basic - A 70s Dungeons & Dragons Experience

Olde School

The Vul-Con Team is very proud to announce a new event.  Back2Basic: A 70s D&D Experience is a combination 70s Costume Party and Dungeons & Dragons gaming event held at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx in Glendale, AZ on October 29^th, 2011. This Charity Fundraiser Event will include a costume contest for best 70s outfit (several categories) and D&D gaming using the late 70s Basic Set for rules and the modules included in it in 1978 and 1979 for adventures - B1 In Search of the Unknown and B2 The Keep on the Borderlands.  Seats at the gaming tables for these events are limited, so please register early to lock in your place.

We'll also be joined by Mike Carr via Skype.  We're very excited about this opportunity for you to interview Mr. Carr as he is one of the last survivors of the team that developed the original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set.  Mr. Carr wrote In Search of the Unknown and was one of the early editors for TSR.  His editing credits for Dungeons & Dragons include the original Monster Manual (1977), Vault of the Drow (1978), Players Handbook (1978), White Plume Mountain (1979), The Village of Hommlet (1979), The World of Greyhawk (1980), The Keep on the Borderlands (1981), Descent into the Depths of the Earth (1981), Against the Giants (1981), and Deep Dwarven Delve (not printed until 1999).  Additionally he is the creator of the game Fight in the Skies (1968, also known as Dawn Patrol).

Event entrance is free, but please bring some money along, as we will be fundraising for Tracie's Tooth Fairy, a charity focused on helping Cancer patients.  There will be opportunities for your to donate by purchasing in game potions and magic, raffle tickets, merchandise, and more.  One set of items we are very excited about are the Back2Basic T-shirts that will be available during the event in limited quantities.  They come in all your favorite 70s colors - burnt orange, olive green and harvest gold!

I Came, I Saw, I Played, I Got the T-Shirt

If you're interested in joining us, seats at the D&D Tables are limited, so we suggest you pre-register as it is the only way we can guarantee you a seat. We look forward to seeing you at Back2Basic: A 70s D&D Experience on October 29^th, 2011.  It's Gonna Be Outta Sight!

Vul-Con Interview with Boilerplate Creator Paul Guinan

The Vul-Con Team posted a 15 minute excerpt from our Skype interview with Paul Guinan, creator of Boilerplate.  If your interested in the origins of Boilerplate, how he connects to the Steampunk movement, what's up with the upcoming movie from J.J. Abrams, little known facts about history, and more, check out this interview.  If 15 minutes of Paul Guinan isn't enough for you (we could listen to him all day), be sure to join us at Phoenix Vul-Con 2012 where he will be one of our virtual guests.  We have more guest announcements and several event announcements that will trickle out over the next few weeks, so keep checking back.  Also, one more round of thanks to the organizers of Mustache Bash, Steam Crow and Gamer's Inn, for providing the venue for this interview. We'd also like to extend our apologies for the popping in the audio track.  We're still perfecting our Skype technique and hope to be able to offer cleaner audio in the future (besides it gives the interview a Steampunk, transmitted over the Aetherwebs feel).

Mustache Bash Photos and More

The Vul-Con Team had the pleasure of attending Mustache Bash sponsored by Steam Crow and Gamer's Inn on Saturday August 6th at Gamer's Inn in Mesa, AZ.  We brought two things to the party.  The first was a customized version of Wings of War that pitted Pterodactyls again Sopwith Camel Bi-Planes in a battle off the coast of the Isle of Caprona and over the HMS Furious.  The Pterodactyls were set on destroying the observation balloon tethered to the HMS Furious for the purpose of locating lost survivors in the area.  A great time was had both by those who played and those who watched.

The second thing the Vul-Con Team brought to the party was a virtual guest.  Via the magic of Skype and the Aetherwebs, Paul Guinan, creator of Boilerplate, joined us for a nearly 40 minute interview with fans.  He shared fascinating information and great stories about the creation of Boilerplate, the optioning by J.J. Abrams and Paramount of Boilerplate for a forthcoming movie, the development of the Boilerplate Coffee Table Book, and the upcoming Coffee Table Book set in the world of Boilerplate with a new protagonist.  Mr. Guinan provided an amazing interview and graciously fielded questions.  We hope to be able to share portions with you via our YouTube channel some time soon.

Great Costumes were the Norm with the Mustache Bash Attendees

Dog Fight?  Lizard Fight?

Pterodactyls Move in on the HMS Furious' Observation Balloon

The Pterodactyls Latch on to the Observation Balloon

Paul Guinan on Skype

Vul-Con Arena II Videos Live and More Pics

We've recently posted two videos from Vul-Con Arena II held at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx on July 16, 2011.  The first is our interview with Andrea Angiolino (creator of Wings of War) via Skype.  Please forgive the video/audio synch issues, as this was recorded in the very lively and loud environment of Arena II, and Mr. Angiolino was calling in from Rome, Italy.  The second video is a quick tour of the event.  Arena II was an absolute blast, and we hope the video captures some of that energy.  The videos can be found on our YouTube Channel:

Interview:

Overview:

There are also fresh pictures posted to the Vul-Con Facebook Page.  Check them out here:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.205927972787915.46327.137331599647553&type=1

Now we're looking forward towards Arena III at Samurai Comics and Games on December 10, 2011.  We also had a great time attending Mustache Bash at Gamer's Inn in Mesa, AZ this past Saturday and will share a few photos later this week.

Vul-Con at Mustache Bash Steampunk Gathering

Gamer's Inn and Steam Crow are hosting a Steampunk Gathering called Mustache Bash at Gamer's Inn in Mesa, AZ on Saturday August 6th, starting at 1pm.

The Vul-Con Team will be there running Battle Over Caprona Demo using the Wings of War rules. Come join in and pilot either one of the Sopwith Camels from the Aircraft Carrier HMS Furious as it engages a flock of pterodactyls over the island of Caprona (from the Edgar Rice Burroughs book "The Land that Time Forgot") or  one of the ferocious pterodactyls.

The Vul-Con Team is also please to announce that at 3pm we will be conducting a Skype interview with Paul Guinan, creator of the hit Steampunk character Boilerplate, featured in pictures, books, comics, and, if the rumors are true, an upcoming movie project connected with J.J. Abrams. Join us to find out more, ask your questions, and meet an amazingly talented individual through the miracle of the Aetherwebs.

We hope to see you there!

Interview on The Gaming Gang More Vul-Con Arena II Coverage

Vul-Con Co-Consuls Rick and Jay had the pleasure of being interviewed last weekend by Elliott and Jeff of The Gaming Gang. If you're not familiar with their site, you should really check it out. They cover the full gamut of the Strategy Gaming Hobby in articles, reviews, sneak peeks, blog posts, podcasts, and more. Shoot over to http://www.thegaminggang.com for the latest in gaming news, reviews, and some of the best gaming opinion columns we've had the pleasure to read. Oh yeah, don't forget to check out the interview with Rick and Jay while you're there (click here to link directly).

We promised more pictures of Vul-Con Arena II, and you'll find them below.  Before returning to photos, there are some folks we owe thanks for the success of the event.

First off we'd really like to thank Darren and Aaron of Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx for hosting Vul-Con Arena II.  Not only is their newly remodeled double-store phenomenal, these two gentlemen had a huge hand in making Arena II the great success that it was. We truly appreciate their support and friendship.

We'd also like to give another shout of thanks to Andrea Angiolino for being our first virtual guest.  The Skype interview is in the works for posting, and all involved had a great time. We're looking forward to having Mr. Angiolino as a virtual guest at the full convention, Phoenix Vul-Con 2012, next February.

To our Senators, we just want to let you know that we haven't forgotten that none of this works without you. You give up your time and opportunity to game, so that others have an excellent experience and that is a most noble endeavor. This is one of the reasons we've started a separate raffle of prizes for Senators at Arena II. We'll continue that and more Senator perks and benefits are forthcoming.

To our Citizens, thank you so much for attending. Without you playing the games there would be no point to any of this. Our goal is always that you have a great time, and it certainly looked like you did at Arena II. Don't forget to take advantage of opportunities to pre-register in the future, as it gives you a chance to provide input prior to the event. The earlier you pre-register, the more likely we will be able to make certain we have the games and tournaments you desire.

Thanks to everyone who came and had a great time.  As promised, here are more pics:

 

 

 

100+ Into the Breach - Vul-Con Arena II

Vul-Con Arena II held on Saturday June 16th at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx was a day of firsts:

• First Arena attended by over 100 Strategy Gamers
• First Event at the newly remodeled Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx (If you haven't stopped in yet, you really need to.)
• First Virtual Guest via Skype - Andrea Angiolino, creator of Wings of War
• We met Jeff McAleer one of the masterminds behind The Gaming Gang website
• First theme-linked multi-game Tournament - combined Wings of War: The Dawn of War and Dust Tactics
• First Father/Son Team Tournament winners took First Place in the Dust Tactics Tournament (A Father and Daughter took First and Second Place in the Arena I Dust Tactics Tournament.
  

More Arena II wrap-up is forthcoming and more pictures will join the ones below:

Looking into the Imperial Outpost Side in the AM - Note the Hippodrome

Savage Mars was a huge hit and ended up running groups the entire day

The quonset hut was section was the backdrop for Wings of War: The Dawn of WWII and Dust Tactics

Looking into the Back Half of the ManaWerx side in the AM (the front half housed more RPGs and Board Games)

Showdown at Salt River Canyon was so popular it ran a second time by player request

Zulu!

In a few turns the armored, genetically altered Gorilla will turn on the girl in the tank top, in an attack that will go horribly wrong

Vul-Con Arena II Adds Wings of War Creator Andrea Angiolino as First Virtual Guest

Vul-Con is very proud to announce their first virtual guest.  Game designer and Wings of War creator Andrea Angiolino will be the first ever Vul-Con virtual guest.  Mr. Angiolino will be interviewed by fans playing one of his games at Vul-Con Arena II, the second in a series of Mini-Strategy-Gaming Conventions leading up to Phoenix Vul-Con 2012.  Vul-Con Arena II will be held on July 16th at Imperial Outpost Games/Manawerx in Glendale, AZ.

Those interested in attending Vul-Con Arena II would do well to pre-register and lock in slots for games, as they are filling quickly.  The roster is extensive, including everything from a variety of RPGs, to Miniatures Games, Card Games, Board Games, and everything in between.  If you haven't had a chance to Chariot Race on the 22' Long Hippodrome, this will be the last chance until Phoenix Vul-Con 2012 next February.  Check out the schedule of events on Google Docs and sign up at Planet Reg.  Registration is only $10 and includes a coupon for $10 off your full Phoenix Vul-Con 2012 membership in the program guide.  More information can be found at the Vul-Con Web Site.

Sign up now, choose your games, and say "hi" to us on the 16th at  Imperial Outpost Games/Manawerx.  We look forward to seeing you there.  Veni, Vidi, Lusi!

Free RPG Day at Samurai Comics on Camelback

The Vul-Con Team will be joining Samurai Comics on Camelback Road (1051 E. Camelback Rd.) this Saturday for Free RPG Day. It looks to be a lot of fun with the good folks at Samurai hosting some RPGs and a Magic Tournament. The Vul-Con Team will be bringing a few miniatures/board games into the mix. We'll have two of our personal favorites from Fantasy Flight Games, Dust Studios, and Nexus Games on hand with Dust Tactics and Wings of War. We'll be teaching folks how to play and running games. What get's run when is entirely up to you.  Show up and let us know what you want to play and we'll be glad to oblige on a first-come/first-served basis.  Festivities start up around noon and run until 8pm. We hope to see you there!

Also, don't forget to check out the updated schedule for Arena II July 16th at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx.  We've added some updates and will have a few more games up on the schedule this weekend.

Vul-Con Arena II Adds Historical Miniatures Game Track

Vul-Con is proud to announce the addition of a Historical Miniatures Gaming Track at Vul-Con Arena II - July 16th at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx.  These games are sponsored by The Table Top Gaming Society and the first scheduled event is Zulu!

Zulu! will utilize the Principles of War rules system and both experienced and new players are welcome.  Seats are limited, so register for Arena II soon as slots for games are allocated on a first-come/first-served basis. Can you as a British officer and gentleman lead your men into the heart of the lion's den and emerge victorious? Can you as a Zulu Impi commander wash your spears in English blood and chase them from your lands? Want to find out? Sign up for Vul-Con Arena II today and lock in your seat for Zulu!

World's Largest Chariot Racing Game at Phoenix Comicon 2011

The World's Largest Chariot Racing Game had its second outing at Phoenix Comicon 2011.  Not only was it incredibly well received - those who played had a blast and those who swung by for a quick look stayed a while to drink in its immensity and splendor (and enjoy watching those playing), but it accomplished a new milestone at this event.  The final game of the day was a completely full race card of eight players.  It was a wild and exciting game with a lot of whip attacks and some wild rolls that resulted in one player taking three other players whips as they attacked him, only to have his own whip grabbed a few turns later.  A great time was had by all, and we can't wait to have another eight player game running.  If you missed it at Phoenix Comicon 2011, your last chance to see or play it in 2011 is coming up soon.  It will be at Vul-Con Arena I on July 16th at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx, then it will be packed away until Phoenix Vul-Con 2012 in 30,000 Square Feet of intense gaming at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 25th and 26th, 2011.  Until then, here are some pictures to tide you by:

Chariots Controlled by the Hands of Fickle Gods

Eight Charioteers Fight for Position

Pouring on Speed in the Straightaway

Approaching the Turn

In the Turn

Spectators Gather as the Charioteers Pour on the Speed

Legio Vulcani Debut at Phoenix Comicon 2011

Saturday at Phoenix Comicon was a pretty exciting day for the Vul-Con Team.  The Legio Vulcani made their first appearance at a public event.  Amidst and amongst all the madness and wild costumes at Phoenix Comicon, you would think Roman Soldiers and a Roman Lady would go unnoticed.  That certainly was not the case.  They were mobbed for photos before even entering the convention center.  The short time we were on the floor with them, we saw hundreds of people stop them to take photos.  We have a few teaser pics below, with more to come:

Legio Vulcani

Posing for Photos

Guarding the Portal

Shields at the Ready

Vul-Con Team at Phoenix Comicon

We're into the third day at Phoenix Comicon and thought it might be nice to post some pictures of our presence there.  Thursday night we had the opportunity to run one of our favorite games - Dust Tactics.  Two gentlemen joined us to learn how to play, and we drew quite a number of onlookers during the game and after it wrapped up.  It seems that Dust Tactics appeals to a lot of folks out there, and we're thrilled to be sharing it with others.

Friday we brought out the 5'+ Diameter Coliseum for 14 hours of Gladiatorial combat.  Attendees loved the game.  Many played and a lot more ogled and whispered under their breath "That's so cool."  If you didn't have a chance to play Gladiator at Phoenix Comicon, don't worry you can still play this summer at Vul-Con Arena II on July 16th at Imperial Outpost Games/ManaWerx.

Saturday was the best day yet, with the unveiling of our Legio Vulcani.  They made quite a stir on the floor, posing for hundreds of pictures.  Keep checking back, we'll have the first pictures up in short order.