A Mid-Core Life: Erick Vallejos on Conventions

“I don’t like paying to play board games.”

These were the words a friend of mine told me when I asked him if he was going to Gateway, a large board gaming convention that took place over Labor Day weekend.  However I think he’s missing the point of the whole convention…it isn’t SIMPLY about playing board games.  If I wanted to play board games there are dozens of places around Long Beach and Orange County and possibly dozens of people who want to play on-line.

Gateway is just one of three different conventions held annually under the larger banner for a group of conventions named Strategicon.  The conventions of Strategicon are held in Los Angeles, CA and are four days of all different types of gaming: ranging from board games, to miniatures, to tabletop role-playing games, to video and computer games.  Four days of gaming paradise for almost every type of gamer out there.  However one has to pay for a pass in order to join in the festivities.

Paying to go to a convention isn’t about paying to play the games; it’s about experiencing the convention and meeting people who share your passions.  These arguments can be made for many other things (like Comic Con, Penny Arcade Expo, or even college), but in the end that’s the truth.  No matter what games or how many games you play at a convention it comes down to WHOM you play with.  It’s always fun just getting a few people to come into a game, get to know them over the course of the game, and then go off and play more games.  Or stick around with them and make some new friends.  A friendship founded on common interest is always a good place to start on.

The wonderful thing that I’ve found about gaming from going to a convention is just how passionate people are about it and how accepting they are of new people.  But the point of this post isn’t to advertise about Strategicon, nor is it about going out to a convention.  The simple fact of the matter is, gaming is a social thing.  Or rather gaming is at its best when it’s social.  So if you talk to you friends about the new Skyrim trailer or play a quick game of Settlers of Catan with your family, then you’re having fun right there.

But going to a convention and meeting other people who love these things to doesn’t hurt.  The next Strategicon event is Orccon happening over President's Day Weekend 2012 (Feb. 17-Feb.20).