Darrin Drader

Darrin Drader has been a prolific roleplaying game designer for two and a half decades You may have seen his work with Wizards of the Coast, Paizo Publishing, Legendary Games, or his own publishing company, Darrin Drader Designs (DDD). He's been gaming since 1984 and provides a perspective that bridges modern game design and old school sensibilities. This year, you can discuss this column with him in person as he guests at DragonCon.

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Fiona Dickinson

Fiona's love of tabletop gaming began as a search for a hobby that she and her wife Amy could enjoy together and use to become more sociable. 15 years later, and not only has tabletop gaming been a connection to a network of friends and like-minded people around the UK, it also spawned a (now retired) board game blog, and eventually became the idea of a business - Tabletop Rescue. Tabletop Rescue grew from Fiona's love of bargain hunting at UK charity shops and car boot sales into a pre-owned tabletop games business that is now the number one seller of pre-owned board games on Ebay UK. Still a board gamer at heart, the business has led her to a new-found appreciation of TTRPGs, Warhammer and Magic the Gathering too.

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Graeme Davis

Graeme Davis played his first roleplaying game in 1978, published his first paid article in 1982, and got his first games industry job in 1986. He is best known for his work on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay , but has contributed to over 100 games and supplements over the years, as well as 50 video games. Among his current projects is the Monster of the Month Club, a Patreon-driven collection of creatures from myth and folklore presenting system-agnostic stats (yes, it is possible!), with fantasy, historical, and modern-day adventure seeds and much more. Find it at https://www.patreon.com/MonsteroftheMonthClub

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Upcoming Events

Find upcoming tabletop gaming events, tournaments, and conventions

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Fighting Fantasy Fest 6, London, Saturday 5th September 2026

Fighting Fantasy Fest, the convention of Firetop Mountain, returns for its sixth year this September and will feature a special guest appearance from Games Workshop Co-Founder and Co-Creator of the Fighting Fantasy Series, Sir Ian Livingstone.

In-person @ University of West London, London
Tickets Required - ticket prices vary
A stylized illustration features a man in a dark, layered outfit with various accessories, looking thoughtfully to the side. He holds a red gem in one hand, while a large, ethereal figure with a colorful, geometric headpiece looms behind him, adorned with intricate patterns and jewelry. The background is a bright yellow, enhancing the vibrant colors of the characters.
Spiel Essen, Germany, 22-25 October 2026

Spiel Essen is the world’s largest public convention dedicated to board games and brings players from all over the globe together to discover new titles, buy the best gear and most importantly, play loads of games. Last year it was attended by 220,000 visitors from more than 80 different nations, and 948 exhibitors from over 50 different countries. Seven halls, four days and thousands of new releases to discover.

In-person @ Messe Essen, Essen
Tickets Required - Ticket prices vary
The image features the text "ACWEST" prominently displayed, with "Telford" in a bold, white font on a black banner beneath it. The design includes a stylized, dynamic font that conveys a sense of excitement, with some lines suggesting movement or flow. The overall color scheme is primarily black and white, emphasizing the event's branding.

ACWest

Wed, 30 Sept 2026, 9:00 am
In-person @ Ramada Telford Ironbridge, Telford
Event
A circular logo featuring a blue background with a white outer ring. In the center, a stylized knot pattern is visible, symbolizing Celtic design. The word "gaelcon" is prominently displayed in white, with a slightly distressed font, emphasizing the convention's name.
Gaelcon

The oldest independent gaming convention in Ireland - now in its 38th year - Gaelcon, held by The Irish Games Association CLG, takes place from 23rd - 26th October at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel.

In-person @ Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport, Dublin
Tickets Required - Ticket prices vary, see website for details

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