10th level freeze-out: the return of the Midwinter Gaming Convention
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Thanks to the double-barreled suck of the Packers loss and the return of actual Wisconsin winter, the January blahs are hitting hard and fast. Riding out the worst month of the year is never easy, and any chance to get away from salt-crusted cars, shoveling with numb fingers, and making soup just for the heat should be relished. Luckily, running away from reality is just the ticket at the Midwinter Gaming Convention. The convention returns for its second year at the downtown Hyatt, Jan. 17-20.
The con will cater to gamers of all stripes, from the neck-bearded grognards still upset that Gen Con isn’t in Lake Geneva to the kids who still play Pokemon even though they can legally drink. The Milwaukee Company of Gamers and their massive board-game library lets players take new games for a demo spin, or give gamers an excuse to dust off their copies of Mansions Of Madness without having to beg a significant other to play. Magic: The Gathering allows players to get their cardboard crack mojo working with $15 booster drafts. The con grew out of LARPs, which come in flavors ranging from undead conspiracies to steampunk adventures. Combat LARP also makes an appearance at the show for those looking to work out any Kaepernick-based aggressions with foam-based weaponry.
Two of the big guests also come from the con’s connections to the world of LARP. Eddy Webb and Matt McElroy represent Onyx Path, the company putting out new materials for all flavors of the World of Darkness. Jason Andrew hosts a writing workshop for aspiring Gygaxes and Rices. The Dream Theater Company of Chicago is premiering a play at the show. Nerds At Heart Milwaukee is presenting a panel on dating tips for those looking to find love with someone who is clan-compatible. Rounding out the experience will be a concert by nerd-rapper extraordinaire, The Great Luke Ski.
Ticket options include $60 VIP passes, $45 weekend passes, or $15 single-day passes. For those too young or too cool to truly appreciate tabletop gaming, a $5 observer pass lets you rubberneck with the option to upgrade should the nerd muse strike. The convention is also sponsoring a clothing drive for those who are not able to buy their own leather trenchcoats.
