This weekend, the University Center may have more tabletop games than people in it when the Memphis Role Player's Association Game Convention gets started.
The convention will take up the third floor of the University Center from noon until 11 p.m., today through Sunday.
"The convention is free, which is a huge deal, but it's also different in that it's at The University," said Daniel Henry, president of the student-organized MRPA. "This will be a more secure family-friendly event. It's not going to be crazy or off the wall; it's going to be pretty laid-back."
MRPA Game Con primarily focuses on tabletop role-playing games, with scheduled games for popular role playing games including "Dungeons & Dragons," "Pathfinder" and "Dresden Files." Attendees can purchase gaming supplies from dealers or purchase other items of interest like martial arts equipment and movies from Dach Oriental Imports.
"We also have local artists and writers to sell art and answer questions," Henry said. "They'll be happy to talk to creative writing students and such."
Open tables for playing board and role playing games will be available throughout the floor, and there will be a library of board games for attendees to play.
"The Mid-South board gaming library will be there, or half of it," Henry said. "A huge selection—hundreds— of board games to play; it's free and you can check it out, borrow it and play it. You can just grab a table, sit down and play."
Henry said the convention would appeal even to those who do not normally play tabletop role playing games or board games.
"A random non-gamer should show up because it's free," he said. "They can come in, look around see what's going on without losing anything. If they don't like it they can leave and it didn't cost them anything. Most of the people we have running events are very newb-friendly. There may be a few elitists, but as a whole it'll be a friendly event to people who aren't as into the hobby."
