Nashville's BroCoCon gives board game fans overwhelmed by Gen Con a smaller convention
If the thought of attending Indianapolis' Gen Con scares you, you have a more local and less intimidating alternative this year.
Gen Con is the first, best-attended and longest-lasting, gaming convention in the universe. Set for Aug. 4-7 this year, it is more than 50 years old, and for the past 10-plus of that, Indy has been its home.
But now a Nashville toy store owner, Hilary Key, runs a smaller convention at the Brown County Inn. All day on May 14, her store, the Toy Chest, will host the 110+ game event, BroCoCon. Key originated the convention in 2019, intending BroCoCon to be a yearly board game conference. After getting canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, it is returning for its second appearance.
More than 100 games from more than 20 vendors are waiting to be played. Game complexity ranges from toddler-accessible to brainiac-adult-worthy.
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"Board games are the best," Key said on the phone. "I don't love social situations." And games allow her to socialize in structured, rule-driven camaraderie. "With board games, you have a guide. And the players have something in common to start with."
Players also learn to lose in a safe environment. Speaking of losing, Key said players' personalities pop out during games. Of course, some take losing (and winning) better than others, but additional qualities emerge, such as focus, strategizing competency and teamwork.
"The strategy games are still the bestsellers," she said.
BroCoCon day consists of two parts: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for families; 7-11 p.m. for those 18 and older.
For parents who want to learn a game, the convention provides a play space, complete with a kids-on-the-stage program, where younger children are entertained on a viewable, accessible stage while parents learn game rules.
And then, there's "game speed dating," where players try out a quick "date" with a game to determine if there's any chemistry.
All of the games will be ready to play — and if desired — purchase or order. Demonstrators will be standing by to offer tutorials.
"People can have a demo or play the full game, on every game," Key said.
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Key admits she is not a "hard core gamer" and says she doesn't look as though she fits in to the gaming scene. But she does, and she emphasized that every type of personality will find something.
"The best part is that even someone with 100 games at home will discover a game they didn't know about," she said.
What always brings Key joy are the attendees who, assuming they would stay for just the daytime family games, rush home with the kids so they, the parents, can return for the adult evening session.
"We're calling all of our babysitting options," they've told her as they leave at dinnertime.
Since the conference is in the Brown County Inn, Key said there will be plenty of options for food and drink onsite, and of course around town.
“Reflecting on the 2019 event," said said, "I can’t recall another time that I’ve seen such a large group of people smiling and interacting without any technology for an entire day.”
If you go
What: BroCoCon board gaming convention
When: Main event is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 14, followed by a separate adult game session 7-11 p.m.
Where: Brown County Inn, 51 Ind. 46, Nashville; 800-772-5249.
Tickets: Available through TicketBud, https://bit.ly/3xXrEW3. Youth tickets are $10; adult tickets $15.Tickets for adult game night (18-older) are separate for $15. Event attendance will be capped at 400, so day-of-event tickets may not be available.
More: Find BroCoCon at facebook.com/Brococon. Find the Toy Chest store at browncountytoychest.com. Phone 812-988-2817.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Board games: Nashville's BroCoCon gives fans smaller-scale convention
