News

Tabletop Central will be returning for a fifth year on September 7 - 8, 2024. The convention will be held once again at the Savoy Recreation Center in Savoy, IL. Last year, we had our biggest turn out yet, and we expect this year to be even bigger. Stay tuned for announcements about registration, event submissions, and other fun stuff we have in store for you this year.

Pre-registration, game submissions, and event sign ups are closed to Tabletop Central 2023. Attendees will still be able to register on site and sign up for games during the convention.

This year, our pre-registration numbers are higher than the total attendance last year meaning this will be the biggest Tabletop Central yet! The event schedule has over 80 games running. Many of these are sold out, but there are still plenty with space available, not to mention our library with over 400 games.

So, if you haven't gotten a badge or signed up for any games, don't worry! There will still be plenty to do at Tabletop Central 2023.

A gaming convention is nothing without games to play! Event submissions for the 2022 edition of Tabletop Central are now open. You can head over to our Tabletop.events page to submit any games you want to run at this year's convention. As a reminder, if you run 2 games at the convention, you will be given a free Gamemaster badge, and for every event you run at the convention, you will get an entry into a GM specific prize drawing. So, submit your events today!

We have our dates locked in for the 2022 Convention!

The convention will be held Saturday September 10 and Sunday September 11, once again at the Savoy Recreation Center.

Event submissions will open up in just a few days on Sunday, April 10. Badge registrations will not open until May 14. All other date and deadline information is listed over on our Registration Info Page. Being able to submit an event before being able to purchase a badge means that you obviously won't need to have a badge in order to submit an event this year. If your event is approved, you will need to get a badge somehow before the convention in order to run your event. Prices for badges will remain the same as they were last year.

Don't want to pay for a badge? We have options!

If you're interested in running events, then you should run multiple games! If you submit and are approved to run two (or more) games, you will automatically be given a Game Master badge - no purchase necessary. Running an event can be a great way to guarantee that you get to play one of your games that you really want to play, but maybe don't get to play as often as you'd like. You just need to be comfortable teaching others to play the game. As another perk: for every game you run, you will be entered in an exclusive GM-only prize drawing that we will draw after the convention!

Don't want to host an event? Consider volunteering to help out at the convention! There are a lot of different ways you can volunteer. There are four hour blocks all throughout the convention you can sign up for to do things like help run registration and check out games in the convention library. Other skills and contributions you can think of can also earn you a free volunteer badge: got a particular passion for writing news posts? Then this could be you! Just let us know what you might be interested in doing on our volunteer application.

Other Details Are Still Being Solidified

With the convention still being over five months away, policies related to the health and safety of our attendees can't yet be fully locked in place. We will be following all health and safety regulations and recommendations of the CDC for this convention. Right now, we are feeling fairly confident and hopeful that by September there will not be a need for mask and vaccine requirements. We will have masks available for free to anyone who wants one, and our general policy is that everyone be respectful of the safety and comfort level of everyone they are sitting down to play a game with. If someone at the table asks you to wear a mask while playing with them, be respectful of that request.

We will be keeping our refund policies very flexible again this year in case, as situations change, you no longer feel comfortable attending for any reason. If you feel sick at all or were exposed to anything contagious, PLEASE STAY HOME and just let us know. We will work with you to get you a refund.

We will post updates on social media as we lock in details for this year. Please send us an email or message us on social media if there are any questions or concerns that you would like us to address.

See you in September!

The past 18 months have been at the very least disquieting, and at many times heartbreaking. Most of us have lost loved ones - myself included. The decision to continue running this convention is not something either Andrew or I weighed lightly. After listening to the experts in epidemiology, we believe that the available vaccines are finally the tool that will allow us to safely host this convention when combined with other precautions. We're finally ready to have some fun, and we're going to do it right. The following policies will be in place for the convention to be held October 23-24, 2021. All policies are obviously subject to change based on new evidence and situations that arise, to ensure the safety of all attendees.

Vaccines Required

Proof of vaccine/s against COVID-19 will be required in order to gain entry to the convention. Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 means that you must have received your final dose (2nd shot for Moderna or Pfizer, one for J&J) at least two weeks prior to the convention date (to ensure fully efficacy).

Once you pre-register online, you can send proof in advance to info@tabletopcentral.com. If you have pre-registered and provided vaccination proof in advance, then you will be able to use a designated fast-lane at badge pickup where you can get your badge faster. You can still show vaccination proof on-site if you registered online, but you will have to wait in line longer for badge pickup.

Proof of vaccine can be provided by:

• A copy or image of your vaccination card
• Printout or phone screen of IDPH website showing COVID-19 vaccine (apply filter for COVID-19 before printing)
• If you are affiliated with the University of Illinois and have the Safer Illinois App, show your Green status page

You do not need to provide any other medical information or records.

The only exception to the vaccine requirement are children under 12, since they are not eligible for the vaccines.

Masks

Masks are encouraged for all attendees. We will not be enforcing a mask requirement since all adult attendees will be vaccinated, and the risk or transmission is relatively low for vaccinated individuals. However we do strongly recommend wearing masks while up and moving around the convention hall as a precaution, and to show consideration for those around you.

If someone playing a game at your table politely requests that those who join them wear a mask for their comfort, wear a mask. You can never assume to know what everyone's situation and comfort level is, so please just be kind and respectful. And if you need a refresher on our harassment policy, you can head on over here.

If you need a mask at any time during the convention, there will be some available up at the registration table. We plan to have some free disposable masks, as well as hopefully something a little fancier...

Additional Measures

Social Distancing

Unless we're playing Happy Salmon, I, like most tabletop gamers, appreciate being given ample personal space. Unless you are at a table to play a game, please allow adequate social distancing space between all attendees when up and moving about. Our venue this year, the Savoy Recreation Center, is significantly bigger than the space our convention was previously held at in 2019, and additionally we will be capping attendance at around the same level we had in 2019. This should make the convention very roomy and open this year, with plenty of space to move between tables and groups of people.

Hand Sanitizer

We will also have bottles of hand sanitizer available throughout the room. Feel free to use it as much as you like before/after touching game components, or just because.

Keep staying safe out there so we can all keep gaming together!

We are sad to announce that Tabletop Central will not be happening in 2020. Due to the ongoing pandemic it will not be possible to safely hold an in-person convention in September of this year.

However, we are feeling hopeful for our date next year,

September 18, 2021.

If you had already registered or submitted events for the 2020 convention, those have now automatically been moved over to the 2021 dates. If - for whatever reason - you do not want to attend the 2021 convention, please just let us know and we will make sure you are issued a full refund.

New registrations and event submission for the 2021 convention are currently closed. We will be waiting until after September of this year is over to announce when those will reopen in an attempt to minimize any confusion about when the convention is happening.

I know this year has been difficult and full of disappointment for most tabletop gamers with conventions being cancelled and gatherings of all kinds being restricted. While it's not the same, I know us resourceful gamers have been able to figure out ways to scratch some of those gaming and socializing itches with video calls, online gaming services, and forcing a housemate to play every two-play game on the shelf with us.... It's been a difficult year for most people in many more ways, but I truly feel optimistic that things will significantly improve around the world by this time next year.

We hope you'll be able to join us for the 2021 convention, and we wish the utmost health and happiness for every gamer.

Remember to wear a mask and wash your hands!

So say we all!