We got back from Reading yesterday after four days relaxing at Gencon 07, all in all this year was better than the last Gencon at Butlins. I got to play some new games which is what it’s all about but missed out on role playing again.

I hope that Reading becomes the permanent home for Gencon UK as it has moved around a lot over the last few years which could be one of the reasons for its decline in popularity as other conventions seem to have remained pretty localised.

What I did like and would like to see more of is other media entertainment, Atari were there this year showing off their next RPG The Witcher  which looked visually great and was easy to play. I will be getting a copy when it is released in October 07 hopefully.

A good showing for the independents the guy with the Manga porn tentacle game (I’ll post a link later) had 2 new expansions and had moved into the non porn side with some books on providing plot hooks, I will post some details when I’ve had a chance to read it. The Crimson Empire stand was busy as usual with games running throughout the days, Chris can be a devious GM. I picked up a copy of Corporation from James Norbury and Qin the Warring States a translation from a French game, more on these when I’ve I had a chance to read through them,

I got sucked in the World of Warcraft TCG from UDE mainly because of the energy and fantastic demo by Remy, he eats and sleeps the game running demos from 8am through to 2am I hope he gets paid well! Although his Welsh boss plays a meaner game!

WizzKids were well represented and seemed to be busy most days, I got right into playing Pirates with the little boats you build and buy in packs oh and again collect! The demo was fantastic the guy was even dressed as a pirate. Esdevium Games as always were well into the Gencon spirit with games being demoed through out the 4 days, they also had games that you could pick and play on the spur of the moment. They did fall down though by making me endure the Talisman 4th edition which is 4 ½ hours I will never get back, read more about Talisman later.

What I didn’t like was the WOTC staff manning this and the Magic card rooms were completely disengaged from the rest of Gencon and ignored most people unless they played Magic or weren’t intimidated by the flock of WOTC staff standing around the PS3.