A weekend of immersive gaming
The University of Guelph Games Club held its annual not-for-profit gaming convention, Gryphcon, from March 3 to 5 in Peter Clark Hall.
The club hosted an entire weekend’s worth of events—including board games such as Settlers of Catan, card games like Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic the Gathering, table-top role-playing games (RPGs) such as Pathfinder and Dungeons and Dragons, as well as various live action role-playing games (LARPs).
Gryphcon started back in 1988 and has expanded to include vendors, panels, and artists in addition to gaming.
Gryphcon coordinators, Dean Martin and Crystal Timmings, plan to expand the convention further and draw in bigger crowds every year.
“We want to give a place for old attendees to come and get reacquainted with each other since some of them only know each other from online platforms, new faces to come and try something new, and have entire families come out for the weekend,” Martin explained in an interview with The Ontarion.
For Martin, having entire families come out to Gryphcon to try out the activities together was a success.
Underworld LARP, a medieval-themed gaming group, organized multiple events throughout the weekend. Participants of the high fantasy game immerse themselves as otherworldly characters and creatures, complete with elaborate costumes and makeup.
Ivanna Iwasykiw, a member of Underworld LARP, explained that the group likes to go to events like Gryphcon because they like “meeting new people, hanging out with friends, and, of course, watching people fight each other.”
The complex world of LARP demands well thought out designs. Games require the participation of many different characters, the creation of a playable story, the invention of fictional settings, and game masters to referee and enforce game rules. The group emphasized their welcoming nature and encouraged new players to try it out.
Highlights from the convention included a pirate-themed miniature escape room by Fantescapes, virtual reality gaming demos from Ctrl V, and several gaming tournaments.
Feature photo by Karen K. Tran.