The Fellowship of the Thing

04/15/2026

ArneCon 4 Special Guest: Matthew Tapp

Matthew Tapp is a Proto-D&D 3rd-wave OSR tabletop RPG game designer, writer, and YouTuber. He produced the Weird Science Fantasy TTRPG, Barrows & Borderlands, and has been writing/playing tabletop games for well over a decade.

He also runs a Massive Multiplayer Tabletop Roleplaying Game using his B&B-Game of Games mixed system that is connected to the same campaign he started in 2014. It currently has over 200+ players, and 10+ Referees that all run 5-30 Characters in a shared 1:1 open sandbox world. It boasts a multiversal setting that spans 10+ universes at this moment. Each player may bring in classes/races from almost any Classic Fantasy ttrpg and mix it in.

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03/23/2026

ArneCon 4 Special Guest: Jeffrey Talanian

Jeffrey Talanian is the publisher at North Wind Adventures and the creator of HYPERBOREA, a tabletop adventure game of swords, sorcery, and weird science-fantasy. HYPERBOREA is inspired by the pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith, with mechanics inspired by the works of E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Previously, Jeffrey coauthored Castle Zagyg, working closely with the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, E. Gary Gygax, until his passing in 2008. These days, Jeffrey lives in New Hampshire with his wife, children, and other creatures, and he’s always at work on the next HYPERBOREA project.

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October 9-11, 2026

02/12/2026

ArneCon 4 Special Guest: Richard Whitters!

Richard Whitters is a concept artist, art director, and world builder that has worked on D&D, Magic the Gathering, and with Larian Studios. He’s currently working on his own TTRPG project called Ruttigers with three of his oldest friends. Winston is their puppy mascot!

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02/03/2026

THE ALTERNATE MAGIC SYSTEM

We recorded a show that describes a way to use Magical Power as a Point System instead of the standard Spell Slots in the old game.

It is somewhat in a prototype stage. I also do not feel it needs to be used exactly as I describe it.

Feel free to alter what I am presenting and make it your own.

As I described things in the video I got a formula wrong because I tend to jumble things when I write. I must have had a dyslexia moment when I was prepping my show notes before we recorded. If I do not pay attention I will re-arrange letters in typed words too!

The correct equation is: Character Level + (Character Level * Magical Aptitude)

The video about the system is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1WZbwp5RXI

I think the options it provides can make Magic-user characters more interesting to play.

The use of Hit Points as exhaustion from spell casting makes them more vulnerable as they cast more spells.

The Desperate Sorcery rule also gives magical types a way to risk it all when low on magical power.

Because it is comparable to the old system it can also be used along with Vancian magic.

Those players who prefer the standard system can use that and players who want something more flexible, yet slightly more complex, can use this system in the same game session.

Thanks!

10/03/2025

One week until ArneCon 3! We open up this year with "How to Create Your Own Campaign World" A Panel Session with Special Guests Sandy Petersen (Call of Cthulhu, Civilization, Doom, Quake), Ken St. Andre (Tunnels & Trolls, Monsters! Monsters!), Alexander Macris (Adventurer Conqueror King, Adventurer Conqueror King II, Ascendant, and Modern Spearhead). Hosted by Griffith Morgan

Still a few seats left!

https://tabletop.events/conventions/arnecon-3/schedule/39

09/10/2025

We are inevitable (and distracting)! And we are a month away!

Hope to see you there: www.arnecon.com

09/10/2025

Just Added: Two Gaming Events w/Michael Mornard!

Michael started wargaming in 1972, playing Chainmail at Don Kaye’s with Gary Gygax’s sand table. Rob K***z invited him to try Gygax’s new game, Greyhawk. At the University of Minneapolis, Michael joined the Conflict Simulation Association under Prof. Phil Barker, introducing him to D&D and Gygax, leading to TSR’s Tekumel. Join Michael’s gaming events: “ROCKETSHIPS Exclamation Point!” and “OD&D - By Wargamers For Wargamers”!

Join Michael to play in his gaming events (below). It will be a blast, as always!

ROCKETSHIPS Exclamation Point!, a game of Space Adventure!

and

OD&D - By Wargamers For Wargamers : Play Original D&D as it was in 1974, in a dungeon dating back to 1973!

Get tour badges now at https://tabletop.events/conventions/arnecon-3/badgetypes

08/27/2025

Ticketing for events is now open to all badge holders.

If you can't get into an event, please stay tuned as we are still working on adding a few more great events.

Thanks for your support - we look forward to seeing you all!

https://ArneCon.com

Mineapolis, MN

07/10/2025

Lots of fun special events.
Classic Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, Tunnels and Trolls, War Games, Computer Games, and much more.
I expect this to be better than last years convention.
Only 3 months away! Get your badges now.
https://ArneCon.com

Lots of fun special events.

Classic Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, Tunnels and Trolls, War Games, Computer Games, and much more.

I expect this to be better than last years convention.

Only 3 months away! Get your badges now.
https://ArneCon.com

06/19/2025

Join ArneCon for epic gaming with legends! Panel on creating campaign worlds with Sandy Petersen (Call of Cthullu), Ken St. Andre (Tunnels & Trolls), & Alexander Macris (ACKS). Play Tunnels & Trolls, Call of Cthulhu, Dungeon!, ACKS, Mutant, & Braunstein with their creators.


Minneapolis, MN • October 10-12
More information at ArneCon.com

05/16/2025

Make Your Own Dungeon!

I make a dungeon in the next video in order to prove how simple it is to do.

I think prep work like drawing maps and populating them with critters is relaxing and fun to do.

More tips for gamers who are wanting to explore the original Dungeons & Dragons game, or any adjacent RPG spin off.

The link is in the related post.

Let us know what you think.

Since so many have asked for it, here is a long video! Today, I take some of my own medicine by making a basic dungeon while you watch. There is no reason wh...