Sequim tabletop gaming convention, OPTTACON, set for August

A small group of gamers look to bring fans of all-ages across the peninsula together for a new gaming experience this August.

OPTTACON, short for Olympic Peninsula Tabletop Association’s Convention, is the idea that grew from Jeff Tingelstad and Travis Britten as an all-inclusive gaming experience set for Friday-Sunday, Aug. 3-5, at the Guy Cole Event Center in Carrie Blake Community Park.

It’s the first of what Tingelstad, a Realtor at JACE Real Estate in Sequim, hopes becomes an annual event bringing tabletop game fans together to play, encounter and share games, and connect with the gaming community.

“I think the trend for board games is growing and we’re seeing conventions growing for them,” he said.

“Games are for everyone.”

Tingelstad launched a Kickstarter campaign online and exceeded his $1,009 goal to cover costs and purchase games for prizes. The online campaign ended on May 27 but ticket sales will be available on the association’s website http://opttacon.org/ and at the event’s doors, too.

Tingelstad said when most people think of board games, they think of Monopoly or Risk, but with Kickstarter and the Internet, “we’re in a real Golden Age for gaming.”

“A lot of new games have higher quality components and are more developed,” he said. “Some have sold millions of dollars in inventory.”

For the convention, Tingelstad said he hopes for at least 100 people to attend.

It will feature a large selection of games in its free-to-play library, play-to-win section along with vendors, and games being led by volunteers to teach newcomers.

“Games range from short, 10-minute card games to really involved two-three hour board games,” Tingelstad said.

Major game companies have donated games for the event’s play-to-win section, too, he said.

OPTTACON’s Kickstarter campaign states organizers are also considering a board game auction, board game exchange and a cosplay contest.

As a sampler to the convention, a gaming group, Meeples of Sequim, hosts opening tabletop gaming at 6 p.m. Wednesdays, at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.

Organizers are continuing to advertise the event locally including through its prime sponsor AnimeKat and online. They’ll also appear at Raincon, a pop culture event, on June 15-17, in the Rainforest Arts Center in Forks, to promote OPTTACON.

For more information on the event, visit http://opttacon.org or https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2110566857/opttacon-2018.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Sequim tabletop gaming convention, OPTTACON, set for August