Running a Home Convention: Charlie Con 7

Miss that gaming convention vibe? Why not run one from the comfort of your home?

Miss that gaming convention vibe? Why not run one at home?

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What I like about gaming conventions is hanging out with my friends and feeling like a gaming rockstar. I used to look for this combination in attending big conventions. But now I think home conventions are even better. This topic is huge so I’m just going to highlight my own experiences at the highest level without getting in to too much detail. If you want more, please post a comment below.

I used to think big conventions were great because vampires ran a bar in the middle of a dealer hall and gave you a free beer or a life size troll (statue) guarded a two story castle (prop but really did have two floors) in the same venue. Or when a large NFL game let out, all those fans stood in line at a popular restaurant while the gamers were whisked right in to a private room. As I said in the opening though, what those long ago cons really captured was hanging out with my friends while feeling like a gaming rockstar. Easier to do this at home now that all the vampires are gone and the castles torn down.

What is a Home Convention?

My home convention is a small private gathering of gamer friends in my home (or you could split the cost of a private rented space) occurring over a long weekend. I provide the space; everyone chips in on food and the gaming.

Why Have a Home Convention?

Same reason you have any weekend event with friends. Fun. But you also get to game. And you don’t have to pay to play games.

And people will want to come back. I’m on Charlie Con 7 this year and people take two days off of work and will drive four hours to attend. I’m no large convention, but in my gaming circle my convention is quite popular. My buddy Phil had that plaque up above made for me and sacrificed a whole set of metal dice to the cause. And Mike (and others) have given me RPGs just because he’s (they’re) awesome.

You also avoid the danger of contracting con crud.

What About the Dealer Hall?

I’m looking at RPGs every day so not a concern for me. But a visit to your Favorite Local Game Store with your convention group is a great idea.

What About Meeting RPG Creators?

You’re on the internet. Meeting an RPG creator across the world in 2024 is easier than getting in touch with TSR back in the 1980s. If you have an RPG creator nearby and you get to know them online, invite them to your next home convention. Plus, we’re all RPG creators.

What About the Vampires?

If you want to dress up as vampires at a home convention, now’s your chance. Stormtrooper outfits and being a trollslayer (that one really is dedication) are also awesome.

Logistics

I throw out two or three dates that will work for me to the group. I get back what dates are best. Those are the dates. Everyone attending attends when they want and for as long as they want. I provide lodging and game space; everyone provides games and food. People come and go as needed and no one does anything they don’t want to do. Want to nap instead of play Zombicide Chronicles? Go for it. Dress up as a vampire and serve me a free beer (and not even the cheap stuff)? Please do.

I don’t plan out the game play hour by hour like big conventions. But I have plenty of ideas in mind ahead of time. I also schedule breaks including a movie night. Because I’m old and I get tired and need some downtime even during a home convention. I also try to stop by 1 AM and get at least six hours of sleep. And eat some fruits and veggies every day of the convention. And drink plenty of water.

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This is how I like to think my friends see my house during Charlie Con.
Manipulation Digital Art Fantasy - Free photo on Pixabay

Old Stand Bys

Regardless of anything else, we always play Talisman (D&D Adventure Generator Using Talisman the Board Game). I prefer edition 4.5 because the owner goes first. And I spent hundreds of bucks on that game over the decades. I mix and match the supplements differently each year.

Is It Really that Easy?

Yes. If you’ve invited people over to play a boardgame or RPG, this is just like that. But for four days. I’ve been to my brother and his friends home convention (it was great of course) and I’m running my seventh in October. Everyone who loves RPGs and hanging out with friends should start hosting and attending these conventions. Because it’s fun and you get to see your friends and game lots. And (I can't emphasize this enough) no con crud.

Your Turn: How did the last home convention you hosted or attended go?
 

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Charles Dunwoody

Charles Dunwoody



Osgood

Hero
Next month will be my group's 4th "Cabin Con" where we rent either a group of cabins or a big lodge and have our own mini-con. Since the non RPGer spouses come, it's mostly board games, but it's a lot of fun. It's an updated version of something we used to do years ago, where we'd have a long RPG weekend in a cabin or two.
 

Umbran

Mod Squad
Staff member
Supporter
Your Turn: How did the last home convention you hosted or attended go?

I know them as "house cons" rather than home conventions.

I go to one every year that seems a bit bigger than yours - more on the order of 50 people, three days, a total of 5 slots for games (one Friday, three Saturday, one Sunday) and up to 7 games running in each slot.

The logistics for this are significant. You can't just potluck food for 50 for a weekend, for example. And there's a major task of matching up people to games and laying out the schedule. There's handling the refuse that 50 people can generate over the course of a weekend, and so on. They actually have a harassment policy, and have had covid policies for the past few years.

But these folks have it down pat. All I have to do is tell them what game I want to run, what I want to play, prep what I am running, and show up.
 

payn

I don't believe in the no-win scenario
I know them as "house cons" rather than home conventions.

I go to one every year that seems a bit bigger than yours - more on the order of 50 people, three days, a total of 5 slots for games (one Friday, three Saturday, one Sunday) and up to 7 games running in each slot.

The logistics for this are significant. You can't just potluck food for 50 for a weekend, for example. And there's a major task of matching up people to games and laying out the schedule. There's handling the refuse that 50 people can generate over the course of a weekend, and so on. They actually have a harassment policy, and have had covid policies for the past few years.

But these folks have it down pat. All I have to do is tell them what game I want to run, what I want to play, prep what I am running, and show up.
We are doing something locally here just for the Battletech community. We are close to 60 players. Plan to run Friday-Sunday. We rented a roomy gamespace from a FLGS and will have food catered. Really looking forward to kicking it off.
 

Hungry Hobbit

Villager
Next year is my tenth year of organising and hosting and event like this. From a chaotic start where no one could decide what to play, I now have 20-25 people descend on my house in the summer for one long day, we set out what games are being played/offered and people sign up to what they want. Everyone chips in for food and drink and it so far has been pretty good fun.
 

Distracted DM

Distracted DM
Supporter
Wow, funny this came up now. This Thursday begins my first DistractedCon. Even got some shirts and mugs made.

I've done friend-gaming-weekends away at cabin-airbnbs before, but this is a work event for me: I'll be marathon DMing for the long weekend! It's gonna be a great excuse to pull down some of the biggest, scariest minis I have at my disposal 🐉
 

jpmg90

Explorer
We have our 7th annual 'Brycon' this year that the organizer just sent out the dates 2 days ago. It's mostly board and party games, but now that I've read this article, I may try to run an Aliens game. We've always gotten a banquet hall or con. room in a casino or hotel. It's a nice way to get my gaming fix since it's hard to get dedicated game nights setup with young kids.
 

My buddy does a convention to raise money for a local children's hospital. Over 13 years he's raised tens of thousands of dollars. It usually happens over the course of a week and most events are out of his house.

He has a buy-in for certain board games like Monster Mash, he runs a VR set, has a silent auction, a scotch tasting and 'movie night' and ends it with a big party. Sometimes he has special guests and He's had some of the guys from The Gamers Video-call in to have a Q/A with them.

He gets people to run various rpg games that people can buy in: D&D, Cyberpunk (for 2020) etc...

He ends it off with a party.
 

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