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What Are the Best Wargame Conventions?

This article is being written as COVID continues to rage, and many wargaming conventions are still in flux as to whether they will be held in person, virtually, postponed, or even happen at all. So this article is written to talk about the wargaming conventions as if they are all happening, with the hopes that this will be about the conventions themselves as they have historically happened and as they would happen if it were not for a global pandemic.

#1. Gen Con

What is Gen Con?

The biggest gaming convention in the United States, Gen Con attracts as many as 70,000 gamers from across the country (and the world) and it is dedicated to everything game-related. It is not–repeat, not–a convention specifically dedicated to wargaming. It is about board games and video games and wargames and roleplaying games, as well as all the ephemera and merchandise that can be associated with them.

Gen Con is a haven for cosplay, attended by every big games manufacturer in the country, if not world, and is four days jam-packed with demo games, retail booths, pick-up games in the hallways, and late nights in hotel rooms playing games around a dimly lit table.

Admittedly, Gen Con can be a bit overwhelming for the first-time gamer who is just looking for their first in-road into wargaming, as they can easily be swallowed up in the sea of seasoned pros who seem to know where everything is and how to get the special seats and the special events. But if you’re ready to jump into gaming with both feet, then you can’t find a better place in the world than Gen Con.

Where is Gen Con?

Gen Con is always held in Indianapolis, Indiana (or, at least, it has been since 2003. Prior to that it was held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin–where “Gen” gets its name.)

What Makes Gen Con Special?

Gen Con was founded by Gary Gygax, who went on to start Dungeons and Dragons. It is the largest gaming convention in North America.

#2. Origins

What is Origins?

Origins is an annual tabletop gaming convention that boasts more than 3000 events, which range from demo games to LARPs to the World Boardgaming Championships.

For miniature wargaming, the convention has demo games of everything from Warhammer 40k to Bolt Action to Kings of War: Armada, but despite having its origins (har) in miniature gaming, the convention is much more focused on boardgaming, card gaming, and roleplaying.

Where is Origins?

Origins is held every year in Columbus, Ohio.

What Makes Origins Special?

Origins is perhaps most notable for the Origins Awards, which are given out to outstanding games and developers. The most recent miniatures games to win the prestigious award are Necromunda, Star Wars: Legion, and Warhammer 40k 8th Edition.

#3. NOVA Open

What is NOVA Open?

Compared to Gen Con and Origins, NOVA Open is downright small, with about 3000 wargamers in attendance, but it is a beloved convention by many because it is dedicated to miniature wargaming. There are organized tournaments which in the past have included massive Warhammer 40k tourneys, as well as X-Wing, Infinity, Malifaux, and many more.

One of the standout experiences at NOVA Open wargaming convention is the access to many game creators and content creators: many of the people who teach painting classes on YouTube and Twitch will teach seminars and workshops at NOVA.

Where is NOVA Open?

The name NoVa comes from “Northern Virginia” but is now held in the Washington D.C. metro area.

What Makes NoVa Open Special?

The NOVA Open is special for its focus on charity. The NOVA Open Charitable foundation raises money through the generous donations of beautiful models which are then auctioned off to serve Doctors Without Borders, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the Fisher House Foundation. From the time the NOVA Open has been in operation they have raised $320,000.

#4. TMX

What is TMX?

TMX is a very small wargaming convention, but deserving of note on this list. It’s the convention that is run by Uncle Atom from the YouTube channel Tabletop Minions. The convention is known to be a lot of fun for the small number of attendees (fewer than 100), where miniature games and demos are held. Sam Lenz is frequently there doing painting tutorials, as well as other YouTube personalities from the region.

Where is TMX?

TMX is in the Gruenhagen Conference Center, UW-Oshkosh, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

What Makes TMX Special?

The biggest draw of TMX is the small size which gives attendees close access to the YouTube personalities they have come to admire. It also has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

#5. Historicon

What is Historicon?

Historicon is a wargaming convention run by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society (HMGS) that is exclusively dedicated to historical wargaming. Although it doesn’t have a large fanbase, they are loyal, and they are dedicated to preserving and bringing more historical gamers into the convention. Attendance runs between 2000 to 3000. Historicon is a regular haunt of Little Wars TV.

Where is Historicon?

This year the convention will be held at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, although previous conventions have bounced back and forth between Virginia and Pennsylvania.

What Makes Historicon Special?

Historicon is special because, in addition to wargaming, there are classes and events that are dedicated to the history behind the battles. Also, every year the convention has a theme: this year is it “Aircraft of War: Balloons, Bombers, Helicopters and more,” while in the past it has included ‘Extreme Terrain Edition: Jungle Warfare”, and “100 Years of Tanks.”

#6. Warhammer Games Day

What is Warhammer Games Day?

Warhammer Games Day is a wargaming convention that has run since 1975, almost from the start of Games Workshop. The event is not only a gaming convention (though there are certainly plenty of Games Workshop games to be played and tournaments to be entered), but there is also the prestigious Golden Demon award given to the best painted models.

Where is Warhammer Games Day?

Games Day is held in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, but there have also been special US Games Days held in California, Maryland, Illinois, and Georgia. There have even been at least two Games Days held in Canada and one in France.

What Makes Warhammer Games Day Special?

Warhammer Games Day is special because it is not merely a gaming convention but is also the launching ground where many new Games Workshop products are announced. There are exclusive figures available only at Games Day, as well. In 2021, because of COVID, Games Day turned into Warhammer Fest Online.

#7. Las Vegas Open

What is the Las Vegas Open?

The Las Vegas Open, or LVO as it is called, is a major gaming convention exclusively for miniature wargaming, sponsored in large part by Frontline Gaming. Games featured, which are both played in tournament but also demo’ed, are Games Workshop products, Warmachine and Hordes, Infinity, Star Wars: Legion, X-Wing, Bolt Action, and more.

Where is the Las Vegas Open?

The Las Vegas Open is held in (obviously) Las Vegas, at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino.

What Makes the Las Vegas Open Special?

This event, unlike many of the others mentioned above, is exclusively dedicated to miniature wargaming and the miniature hobby (including painting and modeling classes).

#8. SPIEL

What is SPIEL?

Also known as the Essen Game Fair, this is the largest tabletop gaming fair in the world, with attendance breaking 209,000. It is largely dedicated to board games, and, being in Germany, the board games that tend to be hottest are European-style board games.

SPIEL is known for being a place to get hard-to-find board games, and the awards that accompany the festival can make a game company’s career.

Where is SPIEL?

SPIEL (technically Internationale Spieltage SPIEL), is held in the Messe Essen Exhibition Centre in Essen Germany.

What Makes SPIEL Special?

Its sheer size makes it most notable. It is not an exclusively European or German festival, as game companies from more than 50 countries routinely attend and display their games.