CanGames and Open Gaming

It is that time of year again, May long weekend and CanGames (which I think is Canada's longest running gaming con, they've been going since 1977!) I try to make it to CanGames every year, even though it comes right before Congress. The last couple of years I've run Dungeon World at the con, showing off our Dungeon World Encounter Decks and telling outrageous fantasy stories with interesting people. This year I connected with the Ottawa/Indie Games folks, played some great indie games and got to meet some really cool people. The picture is Jason Pitre (creator of Spark) masterfully running a very creepy game of Dread. The setting was a sleepover that went very sideways. The Ottawa Story gamer have a great mechanism they use with all these games, it is simply an X on a card. If at any point the game goes someplace anyone is not comfortable with you pick up the card, the play stops, adjustments are made and you continue. I saw it happen once. No judgment, it made sure the game remained enjoyable for everyone. I'm going to have to run Dread for my oldest daughter's friends, I'll get some pics and to a review. They love scary stories!

I also played Derek Gour's Hope Inhumanity which was fantastic. I picked up a copy so I'll definitely take that to my regular gaming group and get their impressions. This game takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting (you get to create that together) and you are trying to travel to a place you hope will be a haven. Along the way you risk and express your humanity to survive. Lots of tough choices, this game is a great piece of collaborative storytelling using cards to move the narrative along. I also got to hang out with Derek and play Super Motherload which was my big game purchase for the con. So much fun!

My one regret is that I didn't get to play Dog Eat Dog. I linked the review that made me want to play that one. Unfortunately I was booked to run Dungeon World during the time when Jason Pitre was running Dog Eat Dog. Next con for sure.