Winter War Gaming Convention Opens in Champaign

More than 400 gamers from east-central Illinois and across the country are expected to attend the 38th annual Winter War Gaming Convention during the January 28-30 weekend at the Hawthorne Suites in Champaign.

Convention Chairman Don McKinney said the Winter War convention is the longest continuously running convention in the Midwest devoted to adventure gaming, as compared to video games.

"This is old-school, table-top, face-to-face gaming," McKinney explained. "Board games where your opponent is sitting across the table from you. Some of them have been computerized, but we're planning the table-top, board game style here.

McKinney said gaming events at Winter War 38 also involve play with painted figures and battlefield simulation. There are also events where games where players who usually compete over the Internet such as Forgotten Realms and Pathfinder Society can engage with players in person.

Winter War was started by students at the U of I Urbana campus in the 1970s, and was held on campus for several years. McKinney said as the convention grew, it moved to now defunct Chancellor Hotel, before moving to its present home at the Hawthorn Suites. McKinney said what was once an event for students now attracts players of all ages --- he notes that both he and his college-age son will be playing.

Winter War 38 runs day and night, through Sunday afternoon, January 30.