By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
She took a chance – and now the community will benefit.
“My husband introduced me to gaming about three years ago,” Shaun Smith told the Northern Kentucky Tribune, “and I fell in love with it.”
So much so CONington was born. CONington, is the brainchild of Smith, and for three days next week Covington will be transformed into a realm of strategy, creativity, and heroic quests.
“I just thought downtown Covington needed a Gaming Convention,” she said.
The action gets started April 24 and runs through the 26th across six of Covington’s local businesses.
“The idea was a simple one,” she said, “combine the tabletop gaming community and the local community into one unforgettable event.”
Games, panels, and events will be hosted at Leapin Lizard Lounge, Village Theater, OKBB, Doubt It Bar, Kung Brew, and Creative House of Art and Design,.
A tabletop gaming convention brings together Tabletop Role Playing Games (TTRPG), board games, Tabletop Card Games (TCGs), craft events, and panels.
“It’s a community event,” she says, “because I fell in love with Covington as well as gaming.”
Yet, Smith says there are people on her team to support this event, and she even expects visitors from Washington as well from Rochester, New York.
“People I talk to think I’m crazy,” she admits, “But I love it. It’s like a full-time, second-job for me, but I manage.”
Her day job is a Technical Project Manager at Paycor.
CONington is as much a community event as it is a gaming convention. An outdoor market runs Friday and Saturday, from, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free and open to the public.
In partnership with Covington Parks and Recreation, the Covington Local Branch Library, and the Center for Great Neighborhoods, CONington will present Knights of Covington – a free family fun area open Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. where kids of all ages can complete four training circuits to earn the title of Knight of Covington.
“The Center for Great Neighborhoods will be our charity of choice,” Smith said.
The guest lineup includes:
• Local Covington artist Mike Maydzak, Erica Lowe of Broken Brain Ganmwes, and local Covington resident Larry Hastings of Vulture Productions.
• Quest Through the COV: An immersive scavenger hunt and Choose Your Own Adventure experience built from the group’s own three-year tabletop campaign, exclusive to badge holders.
• Live Music and Entertainment: Local band Lords of LowFi performing classic tunes, and an improv performance from Crash Course brought together by Improv Cincinnati.
• Silent Auction: Proceeds benefit The Center for Great Neighborhoods.
• Local Sponsors: Woodburn Games, Dice on Draft, Lurking Fears, Northern Kentucky Medical Massage, and Momently.
“We have also gathered the finest local artists,. independent game designers, and craftspeople to showcase their work,” Smith said. “I created CONington because I wanted to promote the hobby and this city at the same time – not one or the other.”