Winter Fantasy

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Winter Fantasy is an annual gaming convention that takes place in the United States every January or February.

Contents

History

The convention was held as early as 1977 [1] under the name Winter Fantasy. In 2007 the convention was renamed to D&D Experience (often abbreviated as DDXP or D&DXP). [2] In 2012 Wizards of the Coast announced it would now use the title D&D Experience for the events it held at the Gen Con convention. [3] Baldman Games, the company currently operating this and other conventions for Wizards of the Coast, decided to continue the tradition and brought back the name Winter Fantasy for the 2013 convention. [4]

The convention was closely tied to and was sponsored by the RPGA, [5] from 1989 until TSR went bankrupt.[ citation needed ]

Winter Fantasy has played host to a wide variety of tournament and organized play games. These include popular living campaign programs such as Living City, Living Greyhawk, and Living Forgotten Realms. The 2013 convention included Pathfinder Society games run by Paizo Publishing in addition to Wizards of the Coast organized play events.

Winter Fantasy has often featured special events either not available elsewhere or with a limited release. 2013 included a special Pathfinder scenario and multi-table battle interactive events for the Living Forgotten Realms and Ashes of Athas campaigns. Ashes of Athas is a Dark Sun campaign, which started at Winter Fantasy 2011 and concluded at Winter Fantasy 2013.

The location of the convention has moved over the years. It is currently held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a site it has held since 2009 [6] and also several times in the past. The first Winter Fantasy was organized by Rob Kuntz and held January 8 to 9, 1977, at American Legion Hall in Lake Geneva, WI. [7] [8] Other locations have included Milwaukee (1992), [9] Chicago, New Jersey (2004), [10] and Washington, DC (2005-2008). [11] [12]

Timeline

EventDateLocationNotes
"Winter Fantasy 1"January 8–9, 1977 [13] American Legion Hall
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Organized and chaired by Rob Kuntz
"Winter Fantasy 3"January 6–7, 1979Lake Geneva, WIFirst Official Invitations AD&D Masters Tournament held. J. Eric Holmes was one of 45 invited to the event. 18 actual tournament participants. [14]
"Winter Fantasy 4"January 5–6, 1980Lake Geneva, WIHeld at American Legion Hall. [15]
"Winter Fantasy 6"1982?TSR either sponsoring or co-sponsoring Winter Fantasy at this time. [16]
"Winter Fantasy 8"March 3-4, 1984Americana Resort, Lake Geneva, WIThe tournament adventure by Frank Mentzer, The 384th Incarnation of Bigby's Tomb, for levels 15-25, ran twice. [17]
"Winter Fantasy 16"January 3–5, 1992Milwaukee, WIEvents included Living City, Paranoia, Marvel Super Heroes, Torg, and Star Wars. Registration through the RPGA. [18] First two-round Living City tournament, "Eye of the Leviathan". RPGA's first interactive event, "Terrors of Terre Haute". [19]
"Winter Fantasy 17"January 8–10, 1993Milwaukee, WIFirst year in MECCA site. Preregistration is $16, $10 for RPGA members. Events included electing a player as Lord Mayor in the Living City campaign, Living City, D&D, Gamma World, Star Wars, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu, and Dawn Patrol. [20]
"Winter Fantasy 18"January 7–9, 1994Milwaukee, WIGuests of honor Bruce Nesmith, Bill Slavicsek, James Lowder. [21]
"Winter Fantasy 19"February 10–12, 1995Milwaukee, WIGuests of honor Wolfgang Baur (TSR), Chuck Crain (Ral Partha). Events included Living City tournaments, Ravens Bluff interactive, Axis & Allies tourney, writer's workshops, seminars, premiere of Living Jungle. [22]
"Winter Fantasy 20"February 9-11, 1996 [23] Milwaukee, WI
"Winter Fantasy 21"1997 (Did not take place)(none)Convention was canceled the year TSR went out of business. [24]
"Winter Fantasy 22"February 26-March 1, 1998Chicago, ILIntroduced Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game [25] [26]
"Winter Fantasy 23"February 25–28, 1999Chicago, IL
"Winter Fantasy 24"January 13–16, 2000Fort Wayne, INTSR staff and some of future Triads and Circle members on hand to speak about upcoming Living Greyhawk campaign (launched at Gen Con 2000). [27]
"Winter Fantasy 25"January 25–28, 2001Fort Wayne, INPreregistration exceeds 2000 attendance. Living Force campaign launched. Celebrated 20th year of RPGA on Saturday. [28] First 3rd edition Living City scenarios. Guests of honor Monte Cook and Andy Collins run Moathouse portion of Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil for Living Greyhawk. [29]
"Winter Fantasy 27"2003Fort Wayne, INIncluded Assault on the Vault special for Living Greyhawk.
"Winter Fantasy 28"2004East Rutherford, New JerseyOnly year in New Jersey.
"Winter Fantasy 29"2005Crystal City, VA (Washington, DC)First year in DC area.
"Winter Fantasy 31"2007Crystal City, VA (Washington, DC)Last year of the Living Death organized play campaign. [30]
"Winter Fantasy 32"2008Crystal City, VA (Washington, DC)Last year in DC area and last year for Living Greyhawk events. Two adventures previewed upcoming 4th Edition.
"Winter Fantasy 33"Jan 29 - Feb 1, 2009Fort Wayne, INReturned to Fort Wayne, first year of Living Forgotten Realms 4E campaign.
"Winter Fantasy 33"Jan 28-31, 2010Fort Wayne, INFeatured 4E "Death in the Arena" Dark Sun setting preview.
"Winter Fantasy 35"2011Fort Wayne, INPremiere of Ashes of Athas campaign.
"Winter Fantasy 36"January 26–29, 2012Fort Wayne, INFirst ever public playtest of D&D Next. Last year event used DDXP name.
"Winter Fantasy 37"Jan 23-27, 2013Fort Wayne, INReturn of name Winter Fantasy. First year with Paizo events. Conclusion of Ashes of Athas campaign.
"Winter Fantasy 38"Feb 5-9, 2014Fort Wayne, INFinal adventures for the Living Forgotten Realms campaign and conclusion of Epic series. Paradigm joins the show with Witch Hunter and Living Arcanis adventures. Classic Living Greyhawk special adventures Isle of Woe and Castle Greyhawk run, converted to D&D Next. Paizo does not return to the show.
"Winter Fantasy 39"Feb 4-8, 2015Fort Wayne, INFirst year providing adventures for the D&D Adventurers League program as part of the Tyranny of Dragons storyline. Previewed the Shadow of the Demon Lord and Red Aegis RPGs. Living Arcanis, Witch Hunter, and NeoExodus Legacies were also present at the show.
"Winter Fantasy 40"Feb 3-7, 2016Fort Wayne, INAdventurers League concludes the Rage of Demons storyline and offers an All-Access premium pass of adventures written and run by WotC or campaign admins. Paizo returns after a 2-year absence. Paradigm returns with Living Arcanis. Schwalb Entertainment offers linked adventures for Shadow of the Demon Lord.
"Winter Fantasy 41"Feb 1-5, 2017Fort Wayne, INAdventurers League concludes the Storm King's Thunder storyline, offers Baldman Games convention content adventures, and featured several Author-Only adventures written by administrators. Epics included The Iron Baron and The Ark of the Mountains. Paradigm returns with Living Arcanis. Schwalb Entertainment offers linked adventures for Shadow of the Demon Lord.
"Winter Fantasy 42"Feb 7-11, 2018Fort Wayne, INAdventurers League continued the Tomb of Annihilation storyline, offered Author-Only adventures, and featured Baldman Games convention content adventures. Paradigm offered Living Arcanis, Schwalb Entertainment returned with Shadow of the Demon Lord, and Pelgrane Press adventures for Nights Black Agents and Timewatch were run in several slots. Living Divine returned after being away several years. The convention also featured a workshop on writing adventures. [31]
"Winter Fantasy 43"February 6-10, 2019 [32] Fort Wayne, INGrand Wayne Convention Center; Events included Living Arcanis, Shadow of the Demon Lord, The Forest Hymn & Picnic,, Pathfinder 2.0 and The Delve, the D&D eXPerience, D&D Adventurers League—Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, and others. [33]
"Winter Fantasy 44"February 5-9, 2020Fort Wayne, INGrand Wayne Convention Center; Events included Living Tal’Dorei, the D&D eXPerience, D&D Adventurers League—Descent into Avernus, Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, Eberron: The Oracle of War, and others. [34]
"Winter Fantasy 45"February 3-7, 2021Fort Wayne, INVirtual convention online; included events for the D&D eXPerience, D&D Adventurers League—Rime of the Frostmaiden, Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, and Eberron: The Oracle of War, and others. [35]
"Winter Fantasy 46"February 2-6, 2022Fort Wayne, INGrand Wayne Convention Center; Adventurers League events for The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, Dreams of the Red Wizards, Ravenloft: Mist Hunters, and Eberron: The Oracle of War, and others. [36]
"Winter Fantasy 47"February 1-5, 2023Fort Wayne, INGrand Wayne Convention Center [37]
"Winter Fantasy 48"February 7-11, 2024Fort Wayne, INGrand Wayne Convention Center [38]
"Winter Fantasy 49"February 5-10, 2025 [39] Fort Wayne, INGrand Wayne Convention Center [40]

Scheduled future events

"Winter Fantasy 50"February 4-8, 2026 [39] Fort Wayne, INPlanned
"Winter Fantasy 51"February 3-7, 2027 [39] Fort Wayne, INPlanned

References

  1. "Greyhawk's Tournament History".
  2. "WotC Re-Brands Winter Fantasy as D&D Experience". 24 December 2006.
  3. "GenCon - GenCon". Archived from the original on 2012-08-08.
  4. "Changes to Winter Fantasy 2013 - Pathfinder, Board Games, and Magic: The Gathering". 11 October 2012.
  5. "Polyhedron 105".
  6. DDXP 2009
  7. "Greyhawk's Tournament History".
  8. "Different Worlds Publications - My Life & Role-Playing".
  9. Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 11, Number 6, Issue 62, August 1991
  10. "Winter Fantasy 2005 Unleashed!". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  11. "Wizards of the Coast". Archived from the original on February 17, 2013.
  12. "Greyhawk's Tournament History".
  13. http://212.227.57.87/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=58529&view=next Dragon #22 (February 1979), pg 31.
  14. Dragon #31 (November 1979), pg 22.
  15. Gary Gygax, Guest Editorial, Dragon 65 (September 1982), pg 5.
  16. "Ebay auction for Gary Gygax's copy of The 384th Incarnation of Bigby's Tomb".
  17. Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 11, Number 6, Issue 62, August 1991
  18. Notes from HQ in Polyhedron Volume 12, Number 4, Issue 70, April 1992
  19. Notes from HQ and Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 12, Number 8, Issue 75, September 1992
  20. Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 15, Number 7, Issue 87, July 1993
  21. Advertisement in Dungeon Volume IX, Number 2, Issue 50, November–December 1994
  22. Dragon #224 (December 1995), pp. 51-52
  23. Dragon 362 article Part 2: Success and Decline in the Living City, by Chris Tulach; February 6, 2008; https://web.archive.org/web/20090217155038/http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20080206a
  24. Polyhedron, Issue 131
  25. Event advertised in Polyhedron Volume 17, Number 2, Issue 127, December 1997
  26. "Greytalk Archives: Winter Fantasy 2000". 29 December 2008.
  27. Polyhedron Volume 20, Number 6, Issue 145, Dec 2000 / January 2001
  28. Polyhedron Volume 21, Number 1, Issue 146, March 2001
  29. Dragon 363 article Part 3: Living Fever, by Chris Tulach; April 25, 2008; https://web.archive.org/web/20090217155043/http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20080425
  30. Winter Fantasty 2018 Event Schedule; http://wintfan.baldmangames.com/events/
  31. Winter Fantasy [@WinterFantasy] (February 22, 2016). "If you had fun at our show this year, you'll be glad to know we're doing it again next year. See you Feb 1-5, 2017!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 4, 2021 via Twitter.
  32. "Winter Fantasy—Events". BaldmanGames.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  33. "Winter Fantasy—Events". BaldmanGames.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  34. "Winter Fantasy—Events". BaldmanGames.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  35. "Winter Fantasy—Events". BaldmanGames.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  36. "Winter Fantasy 47". Tabletop.events. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  37. "Winter Fantasy 48". Tabletop.events. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  38. 1 2 3 "Future Show Dates". Winter Fantasy 48. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  39. "Winter Fantasy 49". Tabletop.events. Retrieved 28 June 2025.