The Griffie for Best Roleplaying Product is awarded to Dark Harvest: Legacy of Frankenstein by Iain Lowson, published by Cubicle 7.

About Dark Harvest.
What if Frankenstein got it right? Welcome to Promethea; a country carved from the chaotic politics of the Balkans in the mid-19th Century by Victor Frankenstein. Imagined as a bright focus for the industrial and scientific revolutions that were changing the world for the better, the reality is a dark, brutally feudal regime where all but the elite must fear the Harvest. The game was published by Cubicle 7 in May 2011. Further information can be found at: http://www.darkharvest-legacyoffrankenstein.com/

The Griffie for Best Board Game Product is awarded to Ora et Labora designed by Uwe Rosenberg, published by Z-Man Games.

About Ora et Labora.
In Ora et Labora, each player is head of a monastery in the Medieval era that acquires land and constructs buildings – little enterprises that will gain resources and profit. The goal is to build a working infrastructure and manufacture prestigious items – such as books, ceramics, ornaments and relics – to gain the most victory points at the end of the game.
Further information can be found here: http://www.zmangames.com/boardgames/ora&labora.htm

The whole closing ceremony for Conpulsion 2012 is available here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwYok1Q1VbI&feature=relmfu

Paul Bourne is the first “art” winner of the Banquo award. Selfless, modest and hugely talented Paul has consistently produced stunning work (for 10 years and always ahead of the curve) on RPGs with rendered computer art, typography, design, form and layout.

His major award-winning works are a|state (2003), Cold City (2006), 3:16 Carnage Amongst The Stars and Hot War (both 2008), and The One Ring (2011). One senior professional described him as follows “I have never worked with anyone so capable, stoic, loyal and able, EVER.” Paul’s “can-do” attitude (often on limited time and budget) really deserves to be rewarded, and so we do.

He powerfully and gloriously brings forth the vision of writers to the printed page and the minds of gamers (particularly Greg Porter for EABA, Malcolm Craig for a|state and Cold City/Hot War, Sarah Newton with Mindjammer and for The One Ring). A resident of Falkirk Paul shines brightly on the world stage. His humble demeanour belies the great warmth, respect and affection in which he is held by artists, publishers and gamers. Paul, well done. We salute you.

The video of the Banquo Award ceremony (Courtesy of Nearly Enough Dice) can be found here. Banquo Award 2012

Making use of all the open spaces of the building that aren’t exclusive to Conpulsion the IGE will be running indie card and role-playing games in comfortable chairs and nooks and crannies wherever they can find them. And they will be gaming late into the night in the Dining Room on Saturday night (rumours abound that there are games of Monsterhearts and My Life with Master planned).

Also note that the Indie will have Mobile Frame Zero and Chronicles of Skin in the Dining Room, as well as Best Friends, Dead of Night and 3:16 on the main RPG schedule.

This is something more than just a second edition and the announcement will take place in the Trade Hall.

What makes Conpulsion the place to be at this time is that many of the Nightfall Games team will be there to answer questions about the announcement.

Conpulsion Coordinator
Phil Harris

The buck stops here

Deputy Coordinator
Gregor Hutton

The buck stops close to here

Feel free to come and talk to us and ask questions. We’re here to help

Green Shirts
Conpulsion Committee members who should be able to answer more complex questions.

Blue Shirts
Our wholly and totally valued stewards who will be able to help you, direct you to events or to places around Edinburgh.

We ask you to respect all our staff.
Everyone, from Conpulsion Coordinator down, is working for free and serious concerns should be directed to Phil Harris or Gregor Hutton.

Grey Shirts are Roleplaying GM’s and Yellow Shirts are ordinary punters who pre-registered to get an exclusive Conpulsion T-Shirt
Hope you have a great time.

Phil Harris
Conpulsion Coordinator

Dominic will be in the talks on The One Ring (Sat 1:30-2:30, Middle Reading Room), Publishers (Sat 5-6pm, Middle Reading Room), Shadows over Scotland (Sun 12-1pm, Middle Reading Room) and on the Cubicle 7 stand in the Debating Hall.

Available exclusively at Conpulsion from Pyre Studios this weekend Paint Brawl will not be available anywhere else in the world for a full two weeks!

Come up and ask us for a demo!

Game Summary

• Play one of six different coloured teams each of which has its own strengths and tactics.
• Paint your opponents combatants to take control of them and gain the advantage!
• Place paint puddles on the board to protect your combatants and expand your network.
• Invoke Paint Golems and explode those of your opponents.
• Stay in the game: no player elimination means anyone can win so don’t surrender!
• Choose from five scenarios included in the box with more to come.

The 11 types of Khromaz and Golem combatants represented in the game can be replaced with resin miniatures. While you do not need to we think it would look more awesome if you did…

So in the bar there will be a showing of cult classic The Princess Bride, with potential drink related shennanigans.

Whilst in adjoining rooms there will be some gaming going on.

You’ll also be able to pick up T-shirts and tickets if you’ve pre-registered to get you into Conpulsion quicker the next day.

As you wish.

SATURDAY
10:30-11:30 Middle Reading Room
Creative photo-reference for fantasy artists
Through the use of models and props, Scott Neil and Andy Hepworth will run a hands-on drawing workshop designed to show the uses and drawbacks of relying of photo-reference for fantasy art. From a sample brief, the workshop will take a step-by step approach to getting the best from simple – and more complex – props, situations, and ideas. Including camera use, drawing skills and composition this one-hour workshop offers a fun and practical insight into the nuts and bolts of preparing fantasy illustrations.

12:00-13:00 Middle Reading Room
Layout, Cartography and Art in Publishing
This session with Paul Bourne and Andrew Law covers “art” skills like logos, maps, layout and non-traditional methods like 3D rendering. Paul and Andrew are both award winning artists who have worked on some of the most high-profile role-playing books released in the last decade.

13:30-14:30 Middle Reading Room
The One Ring
A panel, featuring Francesco Nepitello, Jon Hodgson, Dominic McDowall-Thomas, Paul Bourne and Gar Hanrahan, about The One Ring, the astounding and beautiful new RPG set in the world of JRR Tolkien. Includes Question and Answer session.

15:30-16:30 Middle Reading Room
Working Art and Working as an Artist (working title, details to follow)
Dave Allsop and Jon Hodgson, two stars of the gaming industry, are hammering out the details of their workshop. They’re aiming at doing something that will be of interest to gamers as well as aspiring artists.

17:00-18:00 Debating Hall at the Guest Tables
Portfolio Critique
Have your portfolio critiqued by acclaimed art guests including Dave Allsop (Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, SLA Industries) and Jon Hodgson (Art Director of Cubicle 7). Let them tell you what you need to hear about your portfolio.

SUNDAY
10:00-17:00 Debating Hall
Creator Zone
We want it to be a market type of area where artists, novelists, games designers and musicians can share their work and meet-up with like-minded creators.

Attendees at the convention will each be allowed votes for their favourite role-playing (one) and board-gaming (one) product in the last year from the finalists listed below. The awards cover the period between Conpulsion conventions, from March 2011 to April 2012. At the end of the convention the winner will be announced, with a statement made on the convention website (http://www.conpulsion.org) and a certificate mailed to the winning publisher.

The Role-Playing Game Griffie Nominees are as follows.

Chronicles of Skin (CobWeb Games)
Cthulhu Britannica: Shadows Over Scotland (Cubicle 7)
Dark Harvest: Legacy of Frankenstein (Cubicle 7)
The Agency (Realms Publishing)
The One Ring (Cubicle 7)

The Board Game Griffie Nominees are as follows.

Crooks (White Goblin Games)
Last Will (Czech Games Edition, Rio Grande Games)
Ora et Labora (Z-Man Games)
Proud Monster Deluxe (Compass Games)
Ristorante Italia (ElfinWerks, Red Glove)

FOR INFO
Conpulsion is an annual game convention held in Edinburgh, Scotland. In its 25th year it is Scotland’s national roleplaying convention. Conpulsion is located in Teviot Row House, the world’s oldest Student Union building in the very heart of Edinburgh. Conpulsion covers role-playing, LARPing, board games, wargames and card games. This year the convention is themed as Conpulsion Apocalypse with an end of the world aesthetic.

2012 is the first year that Conpulsion has awarded Griffies to the best role-playing and board-gaming products released in the previous year.

conpulsion@gmail.com

http://www.conpulsion.org

Although this policy is normally relaxed before 6pm (allowing free access to the building) anyone who is coming and going later needs to be aware of what they need to get into the building.

The policy also explains what time children are expected to vacate the building.

Any questions or need the PDF in a different format please contact conpulsion@gmail.com

Thanks

Phil Harris

Conpulsion Coordinator.

As well as producing cover work for independent publishers Scott has produced a large body of historical illustrations for the heritage and museum sector.

Having joined the stable of artists producing work for Cubicle 7 Scott has been drawing everything from ghouls to goblins and psychics to pirates.

As always Conpulsion centres around the Charity Auction; this year for the excellent Pass It On.

We’re delighted with all the events we have running; enjoy your planning.

The PDF is below.

Schedule_Conpulsion_2012

If you have any problems with the schedule or need to ask something concerning it please email conpulsion@gmail.com titling your email: Schedule issue

Looking forward to seeing you at the convention.

Cheers

Phil

The plan is that this space in the trade hall will be open to aspiring creators and creatives to sell their wares and to network with each other.

We want it to be a market type of area where artists, novelists, games designers and musicians can share their work and meet-up with like-minded creators.

So, how do you take part? Well, buy a ticket for the con and we’ll see you at the tables on the Sunday. We’ll post a staff member in the area to help facilitate the zone too.

We hope that societies will bring along their art, writing and music zines and it would be great to see aspiring artists and self-published novelists and game designers selling their books.

There is no fee to be on the Creator Zone tables, all we ask is that be respectful and mutually supportive of other people using the area.

The rules are simple:

Sign up at the RPG sign up desk  on Saturday, and collect your three random GURPS supplements.

Write an RPG Scenario based on the three books given to you.

Hand in the sign up sheet and synopsis (as well as the supplements) on Sunday morning.

Run your game on the Sunday afternoon and be judged.

Prove that you can pull and RPG out of thin air with the best of them and win a prize.

The title of Scottish King of Games will be awarded to the best player of board and card games on Saturday. The SKoG will also walk away with a £50 prize voucher to spend on any trader stall at the con. (Special consideration will be made for people who can’t come back on the Sunday to spend the voucher.)

The games contestants will be playing are listed below, covering these categories:

• Board games: abstract strategy, worker placement, auctioning, pick up and deliver and area control
• Card games: deck building and hand management.

All rules will be explained as needed but you can use the links provided below to the games’ pages on Board Game Geek; each page has links to the game’s rules that you can look at beforehand.

The set up and rules:

• Contestants must play in all games
• Contestants must be available at all times between 10am and 6pm on the Saturday (there will be a lunch slot and breaks )
• Games will be played mostly in groups of 4
• There is no minimum age but contestants should check the individual games suggested age ranges (see the links below).

The board games:

• Torres – abstract strategy:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/88/torres
• Troyes – dice rolling, worker placement:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/73439/troyes
• Modern Art – auction/bidding:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
• Mississippi Queen – pick up and deliver, race:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256/the-mississippi-queen

The card games:

• Bohnanza – negotiation, hand management:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11/bohnanza
• Thunderstone – deck building:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/53953/thunderstone

Guest, Mayan-apocalypse theme game:

• Tikal (board game) – area control:
•    http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54/tikal
•    The auction/bidding of the action point allowance variation of Tikal will be played.

To find out more you can visit their website.

Or Facebook page.

Black Lion Games is a specialist games shop in Edinburgh. Selling roleplaying games, collectible card games, miniatures, board and card games, wargames and all the accessories you could want.

Feel free to wander round their website and see what they have to offer.

All items must be listed individually on an official Conpulsion B&B form which will be made available shortly.  If you wish to pre-number your goods, please contact us to be issued with your unique reference.

THE STALL RUNS ON SATURDAY ONLY.  Roleplaying and other gaming products will be given priority if stall space is limited.

A 10% commission will be taken from the stall to be donated to this year’s charity.

Bring_&_Buy_Form_2012

Picture courtesy of Pierre Vincent http://www.pierre-vincent.com

Enjoy an alternative future on the Saturday evening at Conpulsion as the cogs and pistons kick into high gear at our Steampunk Disco .

The Look 24/7 DJ Silvertouch is stoking the music engines for the evening and providing a mix of styles to entertain the most discerning of convention goer from 10:00 pm until 3:00 am.

The disco is free for Conpulsion ticket holders but the event is also open to those non-gamers who want to join the fun for the cheap price of £5.

For each entry paid for we promise to donate £4 to our charity Pass It On so everyone wins: Great music, fabulous company and student union prices.

Entry to Teviot after six in the evening requires the following, Read Teviot Entry Policy here.

Then make your way down to the Underground, costume or not, and enjoy the fun

Their pick up and play selection will be: Kittens in a Blender, Bears!, Braggart, Seven Dragons, Fluxx (Space and Zombie, to mention but 2), Zombie in my Pocket and Zombies – … writing this now I’m realising how important Zombies are to our subculture.

The games they’re demo-ing are:

• Saturday am – Mansions of Madness and Game of Thrones;
• Saturday pm – Elder Sign and Blood Bowl: Team Manager;
• Sunday am – Dust Tactics and Rex: Final Days of an Empire;
• Sunday pm – Nexus Ops and 7 Wonders.

1. 2 more games are pending arrangement, watch this space
2. * Begins at 10am but continues through the afternoon slot

The Cold Steel Weapons of Fantasy and Steampunk with Edinburgh’s DDS

Come and see what happens when people throw cuts rather than polyhedral dice! Handle bastard swords, two handed swords, sword and buckler combos, sabres and rapiers. Get a taste of how they work for real, and why not all of them can coexist.

The DDS will be in full swordplay downstairs in the Underground on Saturday lunchtime.

To find out more about the DDS visit their website.