For the past 11 years, a tabletop gaming convention has steadily built a name to be reckoned with.

Jennifer Aspden, organizer of the KippersB次元官网网址� Melee event to be held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo from Oct. 13-15, said her convention is one of only two events of its kind in the province.

B次元官网网址淭he competitive tournament scene has become very large,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檙e seeing more people come from the States, weB次元官网网址檙e seeing people come from all over Canada for this event.B次元官网网址�

When the first tournament was held in 2012, Aspden said there were only 18 players in a rented hotel room. This year, KippersB次元官网网址� Melee is hosting 250 participants.

B次元官网网址淟ast year, we were the second largest Warhammer 40K event in Canada,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hen you start seeing numbers like that, people from other communities start paying attention.B次元官网网址�

As a world qualifying event for the World Championships of Warhammer, KipperB次元官网网址檚 Melee received two B次元官网网址榞olden ticketsB次元官网网址� for the Age of Sigmar and the 40K events. Winners will be able to compete in the world championships held in Atlanta in November.

The first day of KippersB次元官网网址� Melee will be B次元官网网址渕ore as a social hang out,B次元官网网址� Aspden said, and the weekend is when the big events start. Competitive games include both Warhammer 40K and Age of Sigmar, Kings of War, Marvel Crisis Protocol and Warmachine. Each event will have various winners, such as best in class, best overall, favourite opponent, favourite painted, and a wooden spoon awarded to last place.

Since moving to the Island from the Lower Mainland, Aspden said sheB次元官网网址檚 seen the table-top gaming culture grow, including in smaller communities such as Campbell River and Courtenay. Gaming stores in Nanaimo, such as Drop Zone Games on Bowen Road, have expanded from a few tables to hosting tournaments with dozens of players.

B次元官网网址淎nd as people are having kids, weB次元官网网址檙e introducing the games to our kids who are introducing it to their friends,B次元官网网址� Aspden said. B次元官网网址淢y oldest is 16 and heB次元官网网址檚 been playing at my event for several years and his friends are coming and everything.B次元官网网址�

Aspden continued to say what she enjoys most about the players that attend her event is the inclusivity they foster, as all people are welcome.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e going to come to one of my events, you better be able to put a smile on and have fun B次元官网网址� No matter how competitive it gets, weB次元官网网址檙e there to have fun,B次元官网网址� she said.

Prizes to be won at KippersB次元官网网址� Melee will be products related to the games provided by sponsors, which may include models, army and display cases, books and paint kits. New this year will also be a miniature figure painting contest.

More information on KippersB次元官网网址� Melee can be found at .

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