This article is written in partnership with Old Guard Games.
The organizers of AdeptiCon – the largest gaming convention of its kind in North America – decided to move the event from Shaumburg, Ill. to Milwaukee for numerous reasons. Primarily, the event had once again outgrown its venue in suburban Chicago, but other factors came into play.
Milwaukee has a rich history of hosting gaming conventions including the legendary GenCon from 1985 to 2002. It’s also home to Old Guard Games, 3132 N. Downer Ave., a massive game store that’s received national attention and is playing a substantial role in the upcoming convention.
AdeptiCon takes place Wednesday, March 26 through Sunday, March 30 at the Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.
“I’ve been in a lot of gaming stores over the years, and Old Guard is one of the best for miniature gaming,” AdeptiCon co-organizer Hank Edley told OnMilwaukee last week. “It exists for the right reasons. Not just to turn sales and make money, but to promote play and community.”
During AdeptiCon, Old Guard Games will offer hourly shuttle services from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. People can catch the shuttle at the shop and go to the convention or leave from the convention to go to Old Guard Games. The business also contributed to AdeptiCon's charity raffles.
The shop will host myriad in-store promos and events including a series of demonstration and participation games and a 10 percent discount for anyone with an AdeptiCon badge or wearing a costume.
“Every gamer has a picture in his mind of the kind of game room he would build if he could. We applied that concept to Old Guard ... on steroids," says Old Guard Games owner, Ben Checota. "We know that Adepticon attracts a lot of veteran and not easily impressed gamers and hope the store will blow them away.”
On Wednesday, March 26, Old Guard Games will welcome famed English Wargames writer Andy Hobday and English miniature/figure sculptor Paul Hicks. At 5 p.m., Hobday will run a game of his new ruleset, “Baron’s War" Second Edition, and Hicks will lead a sculpting tutorial at 6 p.m.
“Paul is internationally recognized as one of the top sculptors in the world,” says Checota. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity akin to having Picasso give you a painting class or an acting workshop with Meryl Streep.”
AdeptiCon is primarily known for wargaming, a blanket term given to complex, usually dice-driven games used to recreate fanciful or historic battles on a tabletop with hand-painted miniature figures. Popular wargames include Warhammer 40K, Stargrave, Bolt Action, SAGA, Warhammer the Old World, Lord of the Rings and Age of Sigmar.
When Checota opened Old Guard Games last May, he brought his lifelong dream to fruition. His vision was primarily on building community and creating an inclusive gathering space.
“Old Guard is a different kind of game store. Our mission was to have a fantastic stock of what we carry to match the Internet coupled with a really cool look and feel that invites gamers to not just come in and look around but hang out,” says Checota. "I think we captured the wide and varied stock of the best game stores with an aesthetic unlike anywhere else and, of course, tons of space to game!”
Follow Old Guard Games on Facebook and Instagram to stay apprised of its offerings during AdeptiCon.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
