I’ve just returned from Furnace, one of the UK’s longest-running and most cherished conventions. Every year, around 70 punters (small cons give the best games, you know) descend on the Garrison Hotel in Sheffield and play for 5 slots. That’s pretty much all they do, too – there’s no seminars, no trade hall (stalls from Patriot Games and All Rolled Up are open throughout however), and no other activities – it really is All About The Games.

And I had one of my most consistently excellent gaming experiences at a convention. Five games that all really sang in their own way – I’m going to tell you about them, and try to identify the one thing that brought the magic. For all of these, I’ve not identified the GMs, although I’d recommend all of them if you get to sign up to one of their games.

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