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synDCon II - MD, DC, VA
Good day to all. As the title says synDCon II is near. As always this is a convention for gamers, by gamers. Preregistration is now OPEN at the new registration site. Preregistration goes until March 15.
This year our events will be held from Friday to Sunday, April 1-3, 2011, at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, Maryland. The Hilton is located only 3 miles from the National Capital Beltway (I-495) and one block from the Twinbrook Metro Center. To make hotel reservations please contact the hotel directly and request the synDCon II pricing.
We are continuing to add new events to the schedule on a daily basis, and it's shaping up nicely. As we did last year, we continue our support for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and we'll have several events geared to raise awareness, as well as raise funds for them.
PATHFINDER Society
In addition to all our regular Pathfinder society events, synDCon II will be host to the Pathfinder Society Exclusive 2011 Special -“The Midnight Mauler". This adventure may only be run by a select group of people, and that makes it difficult to find. In addition, the Pathfinder Society's "Year of the Shadow Lodge Battle Interactive" will also be available. Don't miss out on these opportunities to play these exclusives.
Savage Worlds
Pinnacle Entertainment Group, publishers or Savage Worlds will be in full force at the convention. Our special guests from Beautiful Brains Books and Games have facilitated this for us and are taking the helm. They'll be running games, hosting seminars, and even an Artist and Author Call. Joel Kinstle, VP of Pinnacle Entertainment Group (PEG to you Savage Worlds fans), will be available to look through portfolios for those hoping to become an artist for PEG. He will also answer questions about becoming either an author for PEG or new Savage Worlds licensee.
Are you still on the fence on attending? To make that decision even easier, how about a free badge? Come participate in the Back Room Chat on March 3rd, hosted by Beautiful Brains Books and Games, and you will have a chance to get a free 3 Day badge to synDCon II.
What else is going on?
Guests such as Hal Mangold of Green Ronin, and Atomic Overmind Press will be running some Dragon Age games, and demoing the yet-to-be-released Dragon Age Set 2. While we are speaking of Green Ronin, did you know that they are one of the sponsors of the IRON GM Competition?
IRON GM Regional Semifinals
IRON GM, what's that? Well simply put, do you have what it takes to be the last GM standing? Combine the given ingredients of an adventure into an event of epic proportions, and win it all. "There can be only One!"
This event has prizes for players and GMs alike. The Grand Prize Winner will get hotel accommodations, a free badge, and air fare to GENCON Indy 2011 and a chance to participate in the Iron GM finals with a grand prize worth up to $5,000.
Nevermet Press
Jonathan Jacobs of Nevermet Press will be participating in some seminars and selling their products. These include sourcebooks and adventures for 4th Edition D&D sourcebooks, as well as the premier of their new Savage Worlds campaign setting!
SPECIAL EVENTS
Ashes of Athas
Kicked off at DDXP 2011, this campaign takes you to Athas, the brutal and unforgiving world described in the Darksun Campaign Setting, where the crimson sun drenches a blasted desert landscape and savagery is a way of life.
Ashes of Athas is a continuing 4e D&D campaign by Baldman Games set in the Dark Sun campaign setting. Chapters of three linked adventures are offered at major gaming conventions. Each adventure continues the story, beginning with your character being asked to aid a secretive faction of the Veiled Alliance against an unknown assailant. PCs take up the mantle of heroism in a grim desert world where simple survival cannot be taken for granted. As a central character in the story, you have an opportunity to shape that future while you grow in power and prestige. Your choices might have effects broader than you can imagine. Characters provided, or create one using the campaign rules.
For more information and campaign downloads visit the Baldman Games Site:
Ashes of Athas Site, and Campaign Downloads
Return to the World of the Palace of the Frozen Skulls
Last year saw the release of "The Palace of the Frozen Skulls", a synDCon exclusive adventure for 4th Edition D&D. This event was such a great success that this year we return to that locale and now explore it as an Exclusive synDCon Campaign. Get an opportunity to play some of the introductory adventures that will kick this off.
The Camarilla
Returning this year, Story Tellers from our region will be running Live Action Role Play sessions of Vampire: the Requiem, Changeling: the Lost, and as well as an introductory World of Darkness LARP Social/ Character Creation and Integration, a meet and greet that combines out of character socializing with character creation, introductory scenes, and the opportunity for background ties so that your character can step right into the other games hosted throughout the weekend.
Heroes of Rokugan
Also returning this year we have Legend of the Five Rings, as part of the Heroes of Rokugan Campaign. Last year the players and gamemasters for this campaign raised the bar with their charitable contributions to our hosted charity, the JDRF. We are extremely pleased to have them with us again. There is also talk about having an Interactive as part of their games, but that is still in negotiation. More details to come.
Living Divine
This year marks the premiere of the new living campaign for 4th Edition D&D, Living Divine, and synDCon is one of the exclusive events for the campaign’s launch. Be a god among mortals, born with the spark of divinity within you. Gather followers, build an empire, start a legacy. Bring a new, legal 1st-level D&D 4th edition character, or pick up a pre-generated character on-site, and begin the adventure!
LIVING FORGOTTEN REALMS
Among our events we'll be running a host of Living Forgotten Realms adventures from heroic all the way to epic tier, including some adaptables, and specials. Matt James, freelance designer and co-author of Monument of the Ancients, Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale, and author of Soldiers of Fortune, has been feverishly working on exclusive material that will premiere at synDCon II.
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
Steve Jackson Games' Men in Black will be hosting the Munchkin Regional Tournament, as well as several other games throughout the convention.
Other Events
Boardgames
We'll have an available library of games and volunteers to teach you how to play; no experience required. Play one of the games already selected, with your table of players decide on a different one, or bring your own game. No matter how you slice it there will be boardgaming galore.
Settlers of Catan Tournament
Compete in the Settlers of Catan Tournament. Two preliminary rounds lead to a semifinals, and finals round. Be the last one standing and win the Grand Prize. Other prizes are also available for participants.
Magic the Gathering
We have Draft Tournaments, Sealed Tournaments and a Special - Commander/Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH) Tournament. Don't miss out on these opportunities.
BTW, if you haven't looked at our events yet, there is much you might be missing. Did you know that we'll have demos of Eclipse Phase? How about a game of Gamma World? We could not have an April Fool's weekend event with out some Tales from the Floating Vagabond, Lee Garvin, the author, will be running some games. We'll have Savage Worlds games, Shadowrun, Traveller, and the list is simply too extensive to show it all here.
If you’re interested in getting published or just improving your gaming experience, we’ll have plenty of seminars scheduled. Our panelists include a distinguished list of published fiction authors, game designers, game publishers, and community leaders. Come and learn from the experts, including Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Mike McPhail Dave Chalker, Matt James & Erik Nowak, Mike Shea, Mike Surbrook, Sandy Antunes, and many others.
Thanks to all, and I hope to see many of you at our games.
-Vic Morales
Gamers' Syndicate
synDCon II Events Coordinator.