Every year, TsunamiCon brings together tabletop gamers from across Kansas and beyond for a weekend of adventure, laughter, unforgettable stories, and new friendships. But TsunamiCon has always been more than a convention.

It’s a community.

Every Game Master who volunteers their time, every attendee who brings a friend, every vendor, sponsor, volunteer, and supporter helps make TsunamiCon what it is today. That’s why we created the Very Important Gamer (VIG) Experience.

A VIG isn’t simply a premium badge. It’s our way of recognizing the people who choose to invest a little more in the convention and help us continue growing Wichita’s premiere tabletop gaming convention. When you become a VIG, you’re not just upgrading your weekend—you become one of TsunamiCon’s core supporters.

Silver VIG

Silver VIG includes everything you need for an unforgettable convention weekend while helping support the future of TsunamiCon. Your Silver VIG includes:

🎟️ Weekend Admission

👕 Official TsunamiCon T-Shirt

🎲 Commemorative Convention Dice

⭐ Early Event Registration

Reserve your favorite games beginning August 15, giving you access before standard registration opens on September 1. For many of our gaming events, this is one of the most valuable benefits of becoming a VIG.

🎲 Exclusive Gaming Opportunities

Enjoy access to special games created specifically for our VIG community.

🛋️ Access to the VIG Lounge

The VIG Lounge is a place to relax between games, enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks, meet fellow VIGs, and even jump into private games throughout the weekend.

Sometimes the best convention memories aren’t made during scheduled events—they’re made while sitting around a table with new friends between adventures.

Gold VIG

Gold VIG is designed for attendees who want the most complete TsunamiCon experience. Gold VIG includes everything offered in Silver, plus:

🎁 Additional exclusive convention swag

🎲 Access to Gold-exclusive gaming experiences

These premium events are designed to be intimate, memorable, and available only to our Gold VIG community.

Why We Limit VIG Membership

You may notice that VIG badges are limited every year. That’s intentional. We want the VIG Lounge to remain welcoming. We want exclusive games to stay personal. We want every VIG attendee to feel like part of a close-knit community instead of just another premium ticket holder. This year, VIG membership is limited to approximately 40–45 attendees. That means every person who joins becomes part of a small group helping support TsunamiCon’s continued growth while enjoying one of the most immersive convention experiences we offer.

More Than Perks

Yes, you’ll receive exclusive swag.

Yes, you’ll enjoy early event registration.

Yes, you’ll have access to the VIG Lounge and exclusive gaming opportunities.

But perhaps the greatest benefit isn’t something we can put in a welcome bag. It’s knowing that you’ve chosen to become one of the people who help TsunamiCon continue to grow. As a community-supported convention, every VIG helps us improve programming, create new experiences, invite special guests, and continue building the welcoming atmosphere that has become the heart of TsunamiCon.

Simply put…

VIGs aren’t just premium attendees. They’re partners in helping shape the future of TsunamiCon.

For that, we’re incredibly grateful.

We hope you’ll join us this October as one of our Very Important Gamers.

One of the questions we hear most often from first-time attendees is: “How do I sign up to play games?”

The good news is that it’s simple—and planning ahead helps you get into the games you’re most excited about!

Step 1: Our Game Masters Build the Schedule

At TsunamiCon, everyone who hosts an event is known as a Game Master. Whether you’re running an epic tabletop RPG, teaching a new board game, hosting a miniature wargame, organizing a tournament, or leading another tabletop experience, our Game Masters are the heart of the convention. Right now, our Game Masters are submitting games and events for approval. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing more and more of the incredible adventures, tournaments, and gaming experiences you’ll be able to enjoy in October.

Interested in running a game? We’d love to have you! Visit our website for Game Master information and event submission details.

Step 2: Browse the Event Schedule

As the schedule takes shape, attendees will be able to browse hundreds of hours of gaming and build their own personalized convention experience.

Maybe you’ll spend your weekend:

• Exploring an unforgettable roleplaying adventure
• Learning a brand-new board game
• Competing in a tournament
• Painting miniatures
• Joining a social game with new friends
• Trying something you’ve never played before

That’s one of the best parts of TsunamiCon—your weekend is yours to create.

Step 3: Register for Your Favorite Events

To help everyone get a fair opportunity to reserve seats, registration opens in stages.

August 15, 2026 — Early Event Registration

This registration period is reserved for our Very Important Gamers (VIGs). One of the biggest benefits of becoming a VIG is getting first access to reserve seats in many of the convention’s most popular games before general registration opens. If you’ve ever worried about missing out on that must-play RPG or limited-seat event, early registration is one of the most valuable perks available.

September 1, 2026 — Standard Event Registration

Beginning September 1, all other badge holders can begin signing up for available games and events online. By this point, you’ll be able to browse the full event schedule and build your ideal TsunamiCon weekend.

October 15, 2026 — Online Registration Closes

Online event registration closes on October 15. Don’t worry if you miss the online window! Once you’re at the convention, you’ll still be able to sign up for any events that have open seats. Many attendees also discover new games throughout the weekend and jump into sessions they hadn’t planned on attending.

A Few Tips for First-Time Attendees

🎲 Purchase your badge before event registration opens.

🎲 Review the schedule ahead of time and make a list of your must-play games.

🎲 Leave a little room in your schedule for unexpected discoveries—you never know what amazing game you’ll stumble across!

🎲 Don’t be afraid to try something new. TsunamiCon is full of welcoming Game Masters who love introducing players to new games and new friends.

Whether you’re joining us for a single day or the entire weekend, we’re excited to help you create your own unforgettable gaming adventure. Game Masters are already preparing incredible experiences for October, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Your table is waiting.

The past few weeks have been very nose-to-the-proverbial-grindstone as we started working on logistics for this year’s convention. We are all truly excited to be sharing this experience again with our Wichita gaming community! It’s hard to believe that this October marks our 10th year with TsunamiCon.

We still have some major obstacles to overcome. Many venues were booked up before we even hosted our 2021 event – including last year’s venue – and for a while our only hope was a cancellation. Fortunately, the Holiday Inn came to our rescue. We held our second event at their hotel back in 2015, and we left on really good terms… but they are pricey. In 2016 we shopped around because we could barely afford the space. It’s definitely worth noting that we’re looking at a very high price tag this year as well. And we need your help.

For TsunamiCon 2023 we’ve launched a Kickstarter to help meet the bare minimum funding we need to make it happen. And it’s not a small figure. We’ve raised prices a few bucks on some products, but the last thing we want to do is make it harder on our community to hang out all weekend and play games with us. It’s important that you can afford to be there and help us make 2023 another great year for the con.

Badges are currently available exclusively on the Kickstarter page, including some very nice packages for merch and VIG options. We absolutely must hit our funding goal, so we need everyone to pledge now and help us get the word out. Let your friends and family know; if the platform seems intimidating, let us know and we’ll help you with the details. It’s all super easy, and as long as we hit our goal you’ll be charged on the day the Kickstarter comes to a close. We even have some vendor booths and sponsorships available on the campaign page.

Finally, by popular demand, we’ve opened up event registration for GMs who want to get games on the schedule early. It’s pretty early in the game, so to speak, but I don’t mind getting events on the schedule now and showcasing some of the fun that will be available at the con. So submit your games now, if you are so inclined. This goes for panels and other events. too.

Ideally, we’ll reach our goal quickly and start building some additional funds to bring more features and guests to the con. Keep an eye out for further updates to learn more about how you can help make TsunamiCon 2023 an unqualified success!

Every year at TsunamiCon we have offered official merchandise to help celebrate and commemorate your hometown game con, and we feel that 2020 should be no exception! As such, we are producing a limited number of TsunamiCon T-shirts and dice to enhance your convention experience this year, despite moving to an entirely virtual format. Shirts and dice are currently available for purchase, but we’ll be printing to order so buy now! Our current plan is to take orders through the 20th of September.

This year’s T-shirt will be available in a wide assortment of sizes in maroon or midnight blue, and will feature our TsunamiCon 2020 Virtual Logo with Homeslice looking on from above. You won’t want to miss out! Get your merch today!

Incidentally, we are offering premium badges for a limited time that also include this merchandise.

Note that shipping is included in the price.

Another week down, and the convention looms ever nearer as the summer heat finally starts to give way to pleasantly warm days and cooler nights.  October will be here before you know it, and with it TsunamiCon.

Our focus over the past week has primarily been the event registration schedule.  Over a dozen new RPGs have appeared on the site, and we’re expecting nearly as many more in the week or so.  Highlights include a panoply of Shadowrun missions helmed by RPGKC Castellan Brad Kelley, a few games run by TsunamiCon management personnel, and an exciting chance to game with one of our special guests at this year’s con, game designer and scribe Casey Christofferson.  You should expect to see some D&D Adventurers League hit the schedule this week, along with some Call of Cthulhu sessions, more Savage Worlds and Fate, and even No Thank You, Evil! for the kiddos.

I also mentioned in a recent article that the VIG Gold package had expanded to include a couple more goodies, including a commemorative pint glass.  I’ve ordered some extras to sell at the con, but the best way to ensure availability is to pick up one of our few remaining VIG tickets.

Updates on the site are numerous, but subtle.  A lot of cleanup and improved functionality and aesthetics on some of the landing pages.  As always, if you have a question that you can’t find an answer to on the website, you can check our FAQ or drop me a line at info@tsunamicon.org.

Next week, we’ll start taking a closer look at individual events.  So get excited.  It’s almost Go Time.  (Did I really just say that…?)

Ciao.

Every year, TsunamiCon offers a special selection of high-end tickets for attendees who want to show their support for the con and get the most out of the experience.  We call these packages VIG memberships, and they come with a few perks.  These tickets package together your basic weekend pass with our standard TsunamiCon swag, the T-shirt printed with this year’s logo and sponsors and a commemorative dice puzzle emblazoned with our logo and the date, and we sweeten the deal with a dedicated “VIG Lounge” where attendees can relax, enjoy some provided refreshments throughout the day, or even get involved in some additional gaming with other VIGs away from the noise of the con.

The Silver Level VIG earns the aforementioned rewards.

The Gold Level VIG gets a few extras.  This year, we’ve added a commemorative TsunamiCon 2016 pint glass to the gold package, as well as a $5 token for the TsunamiCon Marketplace.  As a Gold-level member, you also gain access to an exclusive D&D adventure designed and run by TsunamiCon management staff.  This is an adventure that has yet to be published, and you will among the first victims intrepid heroes to give it a whirl.  We’ll also buy you dinner after the con on Sunday evening, where you can hang out with TsunamiCon staff, special guests, and the cast of Metagamers Anonymous.

Because we order the swag and plan our exclusive games (and dinner!) based on volume, we have to limit the number of VIG tickets available.  We’ll be reaching our critical mass very soon and can only offer them for a limited time, so get them now while you still can!

Before I ran TsunamiCon, my experience with gaming conventions was admittedly quite limited.  I had a great deal of experience organizing other kinds of large-scale events – concerts, faires, home and leisure shows, wedding and trade shows, etc. – but one of the things that drove me to start a gaming con here in Wichita was that we would often see gaming and gamers at local and regional fan conventions, but the gaming was something of an afterthought.  Like a fun thing to do for geeky attendees, but all the convention did was supply the space and maybe organize someone to manage it.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

A game con, however, is clearly a different animal.  At a fan convention, the focus is exhibitors and guests.  A hoppin’ con is filled to the gills with vendors, plying their trade, selling unique items and collectibles, and generally adding to the substance of the event.  Oftentimes, convention organizers can even offer their space at a premium to bring in small vendors, because they are dedicating enough of their overall space to make it easy to cover the costs.

A gaming convention, however, is about gaming.  This presents a unique challenge… the majority of the available space absolutely must be made available for gamers who come in, sit down, and spend an entire weekend at the table.  This is another huge difference in this kind of con, as most smaller fan conventions attract attendees who browse for a couple hours, maybe meet a guest or catch a panel, and otherwise are just there to socialize and/or show enjoy their cosplay craftsmanship (whereas larger fan conventions have attendees attempting to pack as many panels, autographs and photo ops into three or four days as humanly possible).

So herein lies the challenge.  As a merchant at a gaming convention, you have access to a fairly broad audience.  But their interests are primarily oriented toward the activities at the con.  So your wares, your presentation, and your salesmanship have to compliment this arrangement to be successful.  Some opportunities are quite obvious… if you sell games and gaming accessories, it’s a good venue.  If you sell collectibles that will appeal to gamers and genre aficionados, you’re also in good company.  And if you’re a game designer, publisher, or demo team… you’re definitely in the right place.  That being said, you still have to play the long game.  Clearly, you get a mix of impulse buys and carefully considered selections, since they often have all weekend to decide.

It can also be enterprising to make the process of interacting with you about having fun.  Use dice or games of chance, have drawings and giveaways, engage passersby with the enthusiasm you have for your product or craft, and so forth.  One of the advantages over a fan convention is that there are fewer exhibitors, a more select market, which virtually guarantees that almost every attendee who walks through the room will take a look at your wares and perhaps stop to visit or ask a few questions.  And it’s important to note that the smaller size of the marketplace is not a detractor, as your customers are there for the gaming.

It’s a unique experience, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know our vendors over the past couple years.  I am certainly pleased at the number of returning vendors, and I love seeing everything from homegrown games and handmade items to top gaming merchandise and collectibles.

If you are interested in joining us, we still have a handful of vendor booths available for TsunamiCon 2016.  Reserve your space now by pledging on our Kickstarter page.

We all know that the beating heart of any game con is the big damned room where the magic happens, and this year we don’t aim to disappoint.  Schedules are going up, which means it’s time to start planning your weekend at TsunamiCon!  We have piles of new games being posted on our event schedule, as well as a host of game demos courtesy of Cardboard Carnage, Tabletop Heroes, and our own TsunamiCon game wardens!  We’ll update the site with new event information as plans are finalized, so continue to check back with us and be sure to sign up for some games.

To get started, you can list a new game or sign up to play HERE.

Highlights include:

• D&D Adventurers League and Pathfinder Society.  There are numerous games scheduled for each system throughout the convention, starting as early as Friday morning and running through Sunday afternoon.  Don’t miss out!  Reserve your seat at the table now!
• Warmachine/Hordes Steamroller Tournament.  Starts on Sunday morning at 10am and runs through the afternoon.
• Star Wars Xwing Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
• Duel Grounds’ new Cthulhu Deckbuilder game demos.
• Numerous games and demos from volunteer GMs!

Additionally, this week on our Facebook event page, we’ll start highlighting different gaming opportunities for the con and make announcements as new events are posted.  TsunamiCon is weeks away, and we plan to make the most of it!