Winter Fantasy
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Winter Fantasy is an annual gaming convention which takes place in the United States every Jan or Feb.
History
[edit | edit source]The convention was held as early as 1977[1] under the name Winter Fantasy. In 2007 the convention was renamed to D&D Experience (often abbreviated as DDXP or D&DXP).[2] In 2012 Wizards of the Coast announced it would now use the title D&D Experience for the events it held at the Gen Con convention.[3] Baldman Games, the company currently operating this and other conventions for Wizards of the Coast, decided to continue the tradition and brought back the name Winter Fantasy for the 2013 convention.[4]
The convention was closely tied to and was sponsored by the RPGA,[5] from 1989 until TSR went bankrupt.[citation needed]
Winter Fantasy has played host to a wide variety of tournament and organized play games. These include popular living campaign programs such as Living City, Living Greyhawk, and Living Forgotten Realms. The 2013 convention included Pathfinder Society games run by Paizo Publishing in addition to Wizards of the Coast organized play events.
Winter Fantasy has often featured special events either not available elsewhere or with a limited release. 2013 included a special Pathfinder scenario and multi-table battle interactive events for the Living Forgotten Realms and Ashes of Athas campaigns. Ashes of Athas is a Dark Sun campaign, which started at Winter Fantasy 2011 and concluded at Winter Fantasy 2013.
The location of the convention has moved over the years. It is currently held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a site it has held since 2009[6] and also several times in the past. The first Winter Fantasy was organized by Rob Kuntz and held Jan 8 to 9, 1977, at American Legion Hall in Lake Geneva, WI.[1][7] Other locations have included Milwaukee (1992),[8] Chicago, New Jersey (2004),[9] and Washington, DC (2005–2008).[10][11]
Timeline
[edit | edit source]| Event | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Winter Fantasy 1" | 1977 Jan 8–9[1] | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12]—Organized and chaired by Rob Kuntz[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 2"[12] | 1978 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12]—First Official Invitational AD&D Masters Tournament held. J. Eric Holmes was one of 45 invited to the event. 18 actual tournament participants.[13][12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 3" | 1979 Jan 6–7 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12]—Second Official Invitational AD&D Master Tournament[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 4" | 1980 Jan 5–6 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12][14]—Third Official Invitational AD&D Master Tournament[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 5" | 1981 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12]—TSR either sponsoring or co-sponsoring Winter Fantasy at this time.[15] |
| "Winter Fantasy 6"[12] | 1982 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 7"[12] | 1983 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 8" | 1984 Mar 3–4 | Lake Geneva WI | American Resort[12]—The tournament adventure by Frank Mentzer, The 384th Incarnation of Bigby's Tomb, for levels 15–25, ran twice.[16] Combined with "Spring Revel".[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 9"[12] | 1985 | Lake Geneva WI | American Resort[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 10"[12] | 1986 | Lake Geneva WI | American Resort[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 11"[12] | 1987 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 12"[12] | 1988 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 13"[12] | 1989 | Lake Geneva WI | American Legion Hall[12]—Becomes the "Home" show for the RPGA[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 14"[12] | 1990 | Milwaukee, WI | Ramada Inn Airport[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 15"[12] | 1991 | ||
| "Winter Fantasy 16" | 1992 Jan 3–5 | Milwaukee, WI | MECCA[12]—Events included Living City, Paranoia, Marvel Super Heroes, Torg, and Star Wars. Registration through the RPGA.[8] First two-round Living City tournament, "Eye of the Leviathan". RPGA's first interactive event, "Terrors of Terre Haute".[17] |
| "Winter Fantasy 17" | 1993 Jan 8–10 | Milwaukee, WI | MECCA[12]—First year in MECCA site. Preregistration is $16, $10 for RPGA members. Events included electing a player as Lord Mayor in the Living City campaign, Living City, D&D, Gamma World, Star Wars, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu, and Dawn Patrol.[18] |
| "Winter Fantasy 18" | 1994 Jan 7–9 | Milwaukee, WI | Hyatt Regency[12]—Guests of honor Bruce Nesmith, Bill Slavicsek, James Lowder.[19] |
| "Winter Fantasy 19" | 1995 Feb 10–12 | Milwaukee, WI | Hyatt Regency[12]—Guests of honor Wolfgang Baur (TSR), Chuck Crain (Ral Partha). Events included Living City tournaments, Ravens Bluff interactive, Axis & Allies tourney, writer's workshops, seminars, premiere of Living Jungle.[20] |
| "Winter Fantasy 20" | 1996 Feb 9–11[21] | Milwaukee, WI | MECCA[12]—Living Death premeiere[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 21" | 1997 (Did not take place) | (none) | Convention was canceled the year TSR went out of business.[22][12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 22" | 1998 Feb 26-Mar 1 | Chicago, IL | Introduced Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game[23][24] |
| "Winter Fantasy 23" | 1999 Feb 25–28 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| "Winter Fantasy 24" | 2000 Jan 13–16 | Fort Wayne, IN | TSR staff and some of future Triads and Circle members on hand to speak about upcoming Living Greyhawk campaign (launched at Gen Con 2000).[25] Third edition previews[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 25" | 2001 Jan 25–28 | Fort Wayne, IN | Preregistration exceeds previous year's total attendance. Living Force campaign launched. Celebrated 20th year of RPGA on Saturday.[26] First 3rd edition Living City scenarios. Guests of honor Monte Cook and Andy Collins run Moathouse portion of Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil[ for Living Greyhawk.[27] |
| "Winter Fantasy 26" | 2002 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| "Winter Fantasy 27" | 2003 | Fort Wayne, IN | Included Assault on the Vault special for Living Greyhawk. |
| "Winter Fantasy 28" | 2004 | East Rutherford, NJ | Only year in New Jersey. Sea of Dust Living Greyhawk Core Special[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 29" | 2005 | Crystal City, VA (Washington, DC) | First year in DC area. Baldman Games begins as the organizer of the event,[12] for Wizards of the Coast |
| "Winter Fantasy 31" | 2007 | Crystal City, VA (Washington, DC) | Began using the "D&D Experience" name—Last year of the Living Death organized play campaign.[28] |
| "Winter Fantasy 32" | 2008 | Crystal City, VA (Washington, DC) | Last year in DC area and last year for Living Greyhawk events. Two adventures previewed upcoming 4th Edition. |
| "Winter Fantasy 33" | 2009 Jan 29 - Feb 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | Returned to Fort Wayne, first year of Living Forgotten Realms 4E campaign.[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 33" | 2010 Jan 28–31 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Featured 4E "Death in the Arena" Dark Sun setting preview.[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 35" | 2011 Jan 27-30[29] | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Premiere of Ashes of Athas campaign.[12][29] |
| "Winter Fantasy 36" | 2012 Jan 26-29 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Last year the event used "DDXP" name. First ever public playtest of D&D Next.[12] |
| "Winter Fantasy 37" | 2013 Jan 2-27 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Return of name "Winter Fantasy".[12] First year with Paizo events. Conclusion of Ashes of Athas campaign. |
| "Winter Fantasy 38" | 2014 Feb 5-9 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Final adventures for the Living Forgotten Realms campaign and conclusion of Epic series. Paradigm joins the show with Witch Hunter and Living Arcanis adventures. Classic Living Greyhawk special adventures Isle of Woe and Castle Greyhawk run, converted to D&D Next. Paizo does not return to the show. |
| "Winter Fantasy 39" | 2015 Feb 4-8 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—First year providing adventures for the D&D Adventurers League program as part of the Tyranny of Dragons storyline. Previewed the Shadow of the Demon Lord and Red Aegis RPGs. Living Arcanis, Witch Hunter, and NeoExodus Legacies were also present at the show. |
| "Winter Fantasy 40" | 2016 Feb 3–7 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Adventurers League concludes the Rage of Demons storyline and offers an All-Access premium pass of adventures written and run by WotC or campaign admins. Paizo returns after a 2-year absence. Paradigm returns with Living Arcanis. Schwalb Entertainment offers linked adventures for Shadow of the Demon Lord. |
| "Winter Fantasy 41" | 2017 Feb 1–5 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Adventurers League concludes the Storm King's Thunder storyline, offers Baldman Games convention content adventures, and featured several Author-Only adventures written by administrators. Epics included The Iron Baron and The Ark of the Mountains. Paradigm returns with Living Arcanis. Schwalb Entertainment offers linked adventures for Shadow of the Demon Lord. |
| "Winter Fantasy 42" | 2018 Feb 7–11 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Adventurers League continued the Tomb of Annihilation storyline, offered Author-Only adventures, and featured Baldman Games convention content adventures. Paradigm offered Living Arcanis, Schwalb Entertainment returned with Shadow of the Demon Lord, and Pelgrane Press adventures for Nights Black Agents and Timewatch were run in several slots. Living Divine returned after being away several years. The convention also featured a workshop on writing adventures.[30] |
| "Winter Fantasy 43" | 2019 Feb 6–10[31] | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Events included Living Arcanis, Shadow of the Demon Lord, The Forest Hymn & Picnic, Pathfinder 2.0 and The Delve, the D&D eXPerience, D&D Adventurers League—Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, and others.[32] |
| "Winter Fantasy 44" | 2020 Feb 5–9 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Events included Living Tal’Dorei, the D&D eXPerience, D&D Adventurers League—Descent into Avernus, Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, Eberron: The Oracle of War, and others.[33] |
| "Winter Fantasy 45" | 2021 Feb 3–7 | Fort Wayne, IN | Only held as virtual online convention;[12] included events for the D&D eXPerience, D&D Adventurers League—Rime of the Frostmaiden, Shadows Rising: A Moonshae Campaign, and Eberron: The Oracle of War, and others.[33] |
| "Winter Fantasy 46" | 2022 Feb 2–6 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Adventurers League events for The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Shadows Rising – A Moonshae Campaign, Dreams of the Red Wizards, Ravenloft: Mist Hunters, and Eberron: The Oracle of War, and others.[34] |
| "Winter Fantasy 47" | 2023 Feb 1–5 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center[35] |
| "Winter Fantasy 48" | 2024 Feb 7–11 | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center[36] |
| "Winter Fantasy 49" | 2025 Feb 5–10[37] | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center[38] |
| "Winter Fantasy 50" | 2026 Feb 4–8[37] | Fort Wayne, IN | Grand Wayne Convention Center—Featured WotC's new Legends of Greyhawk living campaign; featuring many adventures from other in-game regions, premiering adventures in Duchy of Urnst, Ferrond, finsihing the ToEE/Thrommel IV storyline.[39] |
Scheduled future events
[edit | edit source]| Event | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Winter Fantasy 51" | 2027 Feb 3–7[37] | Fort Wayne, IN | Planned |
External links
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b c Greyhawk's Tournament History.
- ↑ WotC Re-Brands Winter Fantasy as D&D Experience (24 December 2006).
- ↑ GenCon - GenCon.
- ↑ Changes to Winter Fantasy 2013 - Pathfinder, Board Games, and Magic: The Gathering (11 October 2012).
- ↑ Polyhedron 105.
- ↑ DDXP 2009
- ↑ Different Worlds Publications - My Life & Role-Playing.
- ↑ a b Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 11, Number 6, Issue 62, August 1991
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Winter Fantasy 2005 Unleashed!. www.wizards.com.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at History of Winter Fantasy. baldmangames.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved on 27 November 2025.
- ↑ http://212.227.57.87/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=58529&view=next Dragon #22 (Feb 1979), pg 31.
- ↑ Dragon #31 (November 1979), pg 22.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, Guest Editorial, Dragon 65 (September 1982), pg 5.
- ↑ Ebay auction for Gary Gygax's copy of The 384th Incarnation of Bigby's Tomb.
- ↑ Notes from HQ in Polyhedron Volume 12, Number 4, Issue 70, April 1992
- ↑ Notes from HQ and Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 12, Number 8, Issue 75, September 1992
- ↑ Advertisement in Polyhedron Volume 15, Number 7, Issue 87, July 1993
- ↑ Advertisement in Dungeon Volume IX, Number 2, Issue 50, November–December 1994
- ↑ Dragon #224 (December 1995), pp. 51-52
- ↑ Dragon 362 article Part 2: Success and Decline in the Living City, by Chris Tulach; Feb 6, 2008; https://web.archive.org/web/20090217155038/http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20080206a
- ↑ Polyhedron, Issue 131
- ↑ Event advertised in Polyhedron Volume 17, Number 2, Issue 127, December 1997
- ↑ Greytalk Archives: Winter Fantasy 2000 (29 December 2008).
- ↑ Polyhedron Volume 20, Number 6, Issue 145, Dec 2000 / Jan 2001
- ↑ Polyhedron Volume 21, Number 1, Issue 146, Mar 2001
- ↑ Dragon 363 article Part 3: Living Fever, by Chris Tulach; April 25, 2008; https://web.archive.org/web/20090217155043/http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20080425
- ↑ a b Baldman Games—Current Conventions. baldmangames.com (19 November 2010). Archived from the original on 02 February 2011. Retrieved on 27 November 2025.
- ↑ Winter Fantasty 2018 Event Schedule; http://wintfan.baldmangames.com/events/
- ↑ Winter Fantasy [@WinterFantasy] (February 22, 2016). If you had fun at our show this year, you'll be glad to know we're doing it again next year. See you Feb 1-5, 2017! (in en).
- ↑ Winter Fantasy—Events (in en). BaldmanGames.com.
- ↑ a b Winter Fantasy—Events (in en). BaldmanGames.com.
- ↑ Winter Fantasy—Events (in en). BaldmanGames.com.
- ↑ Winter Fantasy 47 (in en). Tabletop.events.
- ↑ Winter Fantasy 48 (in en). Tabletop.events.
- ↑ a b c Future Show Dates (in en). Winter Fantasy 48.
- ↑ Winter Fantasy 49 (in en). Tabletop.events.
- ↑ Events-WF (in EN). baldmangames.com. Baldman Games. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved on 27 November 2025.
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