A tabletop gaming convention focused on indie and small press games. Big Bad Con is built on the community standards of respect, support, and kindness.
We welcome you to join us on October 24-27 for Big Bad Con 2024, featuring four days of TTRPGs, LARPs, board and card games, panels, workshops, and more.
Big Bad Con is a tabletop gaming convention focused on supporting gamers from marginalized backgrounds. We do our best to nurture a space that grows the gaming community by hosting a convention that is as physically, socially, and financially accessible as possible. We are a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization composed of volunteers, staff, GMs, and players.
We're running this campaign to support both the con and our scholarship program. Below you'll find:
Big Bad Con 2024 is happening October 24-27 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel. We have a discounted room rate so attendees can book rooms for $149/night.
We're running this crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of hosting the event, including renting the hotel convention space, providing rooms for our staff, and all the big and small things needed to put on a con (like badges, signs, and cool Big Bad Con KN95 masks).
In addition to our operation costs, our crowdfunding supports our scholarship fund, which helps attendees from marginalized identities attend the con. This year we hope to offer over 100 awards, a new record for Big Bad Con!
Your support of the campaign, especially contributions to the scholarship fund, goes a huge way towards ensuring that we have the best Big Bad Con possible. And once we exceed our initial funding goal, our stretch goals include bringing out amazing game designers and community leaders to attend and run events!
Our community standards are to treat each other with respect, support, and kindness. Here are some of the many ways you can connect and play games with wonderful folks at the con:
Tabletop RPGs and LARPs: We focus on small press and indie games and even have designers running playtests of their new work. Are you interested in running something yourself? Submissions are open!
Panels and Workshops: Our panel track grew so much last year that we had to add a second (and third!) panel room. Join us for discussions about gaming, community, best practice, industry challenges, and more. We also host smaller hands-on workshops where attendees share their skills and knowledge.
Games on Demand: We offer players a roster of games to jump into without having to schedule ahead, and GMs the opportunity to run their favorite RPGs, from the classics to brand new systems!
Special Events: Thursday Night is an evening of getting to know each other and playing silly games. After our opening ceremonies, we'll have an evening full of knitting circles, Big Bad Con squares, and maybe even another fashion show! And this year we've expanded our offerings: during the con we'll be hosting other special events in the Poolside Pavilion.
This year we're adding a POC Lounge as a space available to all POC attendees throughout the con to connect, relax, and socialize. We are hosting this space in place of the POC Dinner, an event that we deeply valued but which, due to the presence of food, placed an undue burden of risk on our POC attendees. In accordance with our Public Health Policy, the POC Lounge will be a masking-required space, like all Big Bad Con spaces and events this year.
Outdoor Lunch Room: Extended Hours
Last year our Outdoor Lunch room was a hit! This year we're extending the hours to offer that space for dinner, as well!
Expanded Special Events
This year the Poolside Pavilion will be available for Special Events throughout the con. All the fun we've had Thursday evenings during the Fashion Show, Intergalactic Wicket Gala, and knitting circles? Prepare to have that kind of fun all con long!
Office Hours
This year we're adding a new way for creators and companies to connect. Based on the incredible success of our Virtual Office Hours during Big Bad Online, we’re adding in-person Office Hours at the con. From Friday to Sunday we'll host dedicated conference room spaces to give industry professionals more opportunities to meet with attendees at the con, offer career advice, and discuss new ventures together!
By pledging you'll help us put on Big Bad Con... in addition to receiving these wonderful rewards (Please, note that all physical rewards require a pledge level that includes a badge, so you can pick up your rewards at the con. Unfortunately, we don't have the capacity to ship physical rewards.):
$20 Support the Scholarship - Funds collected from this pledge will go towards providing free badges and subsidizing travel expenses for attendees who would otherwise not be able to attend. This is a tax-deductible donation. Additionally your name, organization, or cause will appear on the Big Bad Con Hall of Heroes as one of our supporters. You can pledge any amount to our scholarship in the form of add-ons.
$75 Big Bad Badge - Get a 4-day badge to attend Big Bad Con and a special BackerKit-exclusive pin! Additionally your name, organization, or cause will appear on the Big Bad Con Hall of Heroes as one of our supporters. You'll also be commemorated on the website and in our program. Badges can also be added to pledges as add-ons.
Included Items
Big Bad Con 4-Day Badge
Hall of Heroes Entry
BackerKit Backer Pin
$100 Sponsor a Room - We'll name one of the private gaming rooms after you or a cause you support. Everyone who plays a game in that room will have you to thank! This pledge does not include a badge, but one can be added as an add-on! This is a tax-deductible donation. Sponsored rooms can also be added to pledges as add-ons.
Included Items
Hall of Heroes Entry
Private Room Dedication
Tax-deductible charity receipt
$150 Con-Drop Recovery Kit - Get a 4-day badge to attend Big Bad Con, a sampling of Hyacinth coffee roasted by Denny Peseau OR tea from Friday Afternoon Tea in Seattle, a game by Nathan Black printed on your very own Big Bad Mug, and a special BackerKit-exclusive pin! Your name, organization, or cause will appear on the Big Bad Con Hall of Heroes as one of our supporters. You'll also be commemorated on the website and in our program. Mugs, coffee, and tea can all be added to any pledge containing a badge as add-ons.
Included Items
Big Bad Con 4-Day Badge
Hall of Heroes Entry
BackerKit Backer Pin
Big Bad Mug (featuring a game by Nathan Black!)
Hyacinth Coffee OR Friday Afternoon Tea
$210 Little Red's Satchel - Get a 4-day badge to attend Big Bad Con; a Big Bad Tote designed by Eden Parkinsonfilled with Little Red and Wolf dice by Wood Tactics, the Big Bad Mug game by Nathan Black, Hyacinth coffee, AND Friday Afternoon Tea; as well as a special BackerKit-exclusive pin! This one's for all the marbles!
Your name, organization, or cause will appear on the Big Bad Con Hall of Heroes as one of our supporters. You'll also be commemorated on the website and in our program. Totes, mugs, coffee, and tea can all be added to any pledge containing a badge as add-ons.
Included Items
Big Bad Con 4-Day Badge
Hall of Heroes Entry
BackerKit Backer Pin
Big Bad Tote
Little Red and Wolf dice by Wood Tactics
Big Bad Mug (game by Nathan Black!)
Hyacinth coffee
Friday Afternoon Tea
$500 Convention Sponsorship - Become one of our our official convention sponsors. Your name, logo of a company or cause will be featured at the registration desk, in the program, and on our site as as official sponsors of the con. Your contribution will be split between supporting the general funds and our scholarship program. Every attendee at the con will know they have you to thank for making Big Bad Con happen! This is a tax-deductible donation. Convention sponsorships can be added to pledges as add-ons.
This pledge does not include a badge, but one can be added as an add on.
After you select a pledge level, you can also add on these amazing rewards (Note that all physical rewards require a pledge level that includes a badge, so you can pick up your rewards at the con. Unfortunately, we don't have the capacity to ship physical rewards.):
$20 Scholarship Contribution - Funds collected from this pledge will go towards providing free badges and subsidizing travel expenses for attendees who would otherwise not be able to attend. This is a tax-deductible donation. $25 Hyacinth Coffee - Fresh from Hyacinth Coffee in Seattle, we're bringing you a special blend roasted by Denny just for Big Bad Con!
$25 Friday Afternoon Tea - A Big Bad brew custom mixed by Friday Afternoon Tea just for Big Bad Con attendees.
$25 Big Bad Mug - Play a game by Nathan Black to help you remember the amazing time you had this year while you sip your morning (or afternoon--we won't judge) wake-up drink with this Big Bad Mug!
$25 Wolf and Little Red Dice - Make your games bigger and badder this year with Wolf and Little Red Dice! You'll get two wooden dice by Wood Tactics, each with a special face (one Wolf and one Little Red).
$40 Big Bad Tote - A Big Bad Tote designed by Eden Parkinson will keep your vendor hall haul safe on all your travels.
$75 Big Bad Badge - Add a 4-day badge to attend Big Bad Con!
$100 Sponsor a Room - We'll name one of the private gaming rooms after you or a cause you support. Everyone who plays a game in that room will have you to thank! This is a tax-deductible donation.
$100 Mega Scholarship - This is just like a scholarship contribution, but bigger! Funds collected from this pledge will go towards providing free badges and subsidizing travel expenses for attendees who would otherwise not be able to attend. This is a tax-deductible donation.
$500 Convention Sponsorship - Become one of our our official convention sponsors. Your name, logo of a company or cause will be featured at the registration desk, in the program, and on our site as as official sponsors of the con. Your contribution will be split between supporting the general funds and our scholarship program. Every attendee at the con will know they have you to thank for making Big Bad Con happen! This is a tax-deductible donation.
Our highest priority in returning for 2024 is putting on a convention that is as safe as possible for our whole community. We have the following policies in place for Big Bad Con 2024:
Masks that provide KN95 or better protection are required in all convention spaces. We’ll be giving out free Big Bad Con KN95 masks to all attendees!
All attendees must show proof of COVID vaccination before entering the con. Make sure to pack that vaccination card, update your app, or take a pic before you head out.
We request that all attendees take COVID tests and confirm they are negative before the con. We’ll have free rapid tests available upon request.
As part of our community standards of respect, support, and kindness, we ask before giving hugs or making other physical contact.
Keeping ourselves and each other safe is part of our community standards of respect, support, and kindness. We know that risk tolerances are different for everyone, so what might seem like overkill to one person might still not be enough for others. We’re looking out for our most vulnerable attendees. Together, we believe we can host a wonderful event.
For more information about our policies, check out the links below:
This year, we have united the powerhouses of our POC Programming Track and our Big Bad Con Scholarship program! Bringing these two scholarship programs together will allow us to continue our work to support people of color at Big Bad Con through financial aid, an industry meet and greet event, and the opportunity to spend a weekend with an international community.
The track includes the following:
POC Scholarship. In addition to the scholarship funds we raise through this campaign, we're working with individual and industry donors to raise $75,000+ to aid people of color in attending the con by paying for travel, boarding, admission, and related expenses.
POC Meet & Greet. We're hosting a meet and greet for POC writers, artists, editors, and creators with their fellow peers and industry contacts. Non-POC industry attendees will also be invited with the specific goal to offer mentorship, publishing, or employment opportunities to the attendees of color.
POC Lounge. This year we're adding a POC lounge as a place for attendees of color to connect with each other, play, and relax throughout the con.
Besides pledging for rewards, there are several ways you can help out:
Promote Big Bad Con. Talk about the con, especially if you've attended before and can share your personal experiences. Not only does it make us feel warm and fuzzy inside, it's also the best way for folks in your community to learn about it.
Run an Event. Would you like to GM a game? Host a panel? Run games in Games on Demand? Yes! Fantastic! Head over here to Run an Event.
Join the Rangers. Big Bad Con is a volunteer led and run convention. We're always looking for friendly folks to join us at the reg desk, welcome folks as greeters, and host Games on Demand. Head over here to Join the Rangers.
Sponsor the con. Individuals and companies who pledge at the $500 or higher level are eligible to be listed as sponsors of the event. We'll list you as Sponsors ($500 and up) or Epic Sponsors ($1000 and up) on our website in our program. Contributions made for sponsorship are tax-deductible.
