I’m really not that into dungeons. Or dragons for that matter. I’m more into crafts and cute stuff, not dark and scary stuff. So when my son invited his son and his dad to join him at something called DunDraCon at the San Ramon Marriott, I decided to skip it and go shopping for more crafty and cutesy stuff.
When they got back, I asked, “So what is this Dundercon thing?”
“It’s DunDraCon,” my grandson, Brad, corrected me. “It’s a convention where you can play a bunch of games with people who like to play the same games. Plus there’s a lot of cool merchandise.”
Brad pulled on a hideous octopus-looking mask — called a Cthulhu — then held up a Nerf gun that had been turned into a steampunk movie prop. So cool! I asked my son, Matt, if he thought it was cool too.
“Well, Brad wanted to go, but I enjoyed it too, especially the tabletop games. There were a lot of old board games and cards games, and people brought their own game designs to test on players.”
I looked at my husband. “And you?”
“Yeah, it was cool, especially the detailed Civil War games with miniature soldiers.”
OK, this I had to see. I pulled up the website, discovered there was one day left in the four-day event and sped over to check it out.
Wow. The place was packed with people playing games. Yeah, mostly guys, but the occasional woman and everyone from kids to seniors. They were all rolling dice, moving little figures and speaking in another language (perhaps Klingon?).
Apparently DunDraCon is one of the oldest game conventions worldwide. It’s been celebrated at the Marriott for the past 25 years, offering 80 hours of nonstop gaming! Aside from the 186 role-playing games to choose from, you can play eight historical games, 67 board games, 37 card games and more. Plus, you can attend seminars, paint figurines and dress up in cosplay. There’s even a Kids Room where young gamers can play “Monstermash” using Play-Doh monsters that fight for body parts!
Who could resist playing “The Place Where You Die” (“a beast wreaks havoc on the world for 10 hours”) or “The Great Alpha Complex Bake-off”” (“a wacky game of dark humor that will give you impossible missions you can’t win.”) How about “My Little Sister Wants You to Suffer,” “Cthulhu Wars,” “Babystiting for Mutants” or “League of Nicholas Cages: Trailer Park Shark Attack.” You can’t say gamers don’t have a sense of humor.
Maybe you’re a Buffy the Vampire Slayer buff, a Harry Potter muggle or a Battlestar Galactica fan? Or do you prefer zombies, superheroes, mutants, goblins, infestations or labyrinths. Yep, there’s a game for you.
For newbies, the website offers tips for surviving the convention: “Eat something besides potato chips and candy. Make sure your family knows where you are (in case you die?). Don’t run in the halls (there’s no teleporting.) And if you bring children, remember to pick them up.”
Personally, I loved the Dealers’ Room, where I found a nice selection of eyeball rings from Octopunx, steampunk Nerf guns from Moonmajick and Cthulhu ski masks from Knitnut. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to wait a year before DunDraCon returns to San Ramon.
Meanwhile, Pleasanton Scrapbook Expo is March 2-3! No costumes required.
Contact Penny Warner at pennywarnerinink@yahoo.com.