Overall Experience

We had an amazing time at North Texas RPG Con (NTX), and I can see why it’s one of the conventions people rave about. The volunteer staff embodied true Texas hospitality—warm, friendly, and welcoming. The printed guide was deluxe, packed with useful information, and even included a complete game listing in print. Super old school! I wish I’d read it earlier, since it explained so much.

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The con featured a wide range of great gaming systems, and the vendor hall was a treasure trove—mostly publishers, many of whom brought back issues and out-of-print gems.

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Why This Con Is for You

This convention is all about the games. If you love playing a variety of mostly old-school RPGs, you’ll feel right at home. The gaming rooms were spacious, with plenty of elbow room and little background noise. Communication with your party was easy. On the flip side, when conversation paused, the rooms went very quiet.

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The vibe here is special—like a homecoming. Many attendees were reconnecting with old friends, and the community energy was strong and welcoming.

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Why This Con May Not Be for You

From its origins, NTX has been dedicated to old-school tabletop gaming. The official site notes:

“Originally founded in 2009 by Doug Rhea and Mike Badolato, the con focuses on old school tabletop gaming including Original Dungeons & Dragons and other pre-2000 RPGs.”

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And the convention delivers on that promise. If your interest lies mainly in newer RPGs, you may have a harder time finding what you want. While there were a few younger attendees, the crowd definitely skews older. If you attend conventions for cosplay, spectacle, or big fan-driven excitement, this may not be your scene.

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Ticketing Process

NTX uses Tabletop.events as well as anyone. However, there’s a two-step process I completely missed as a first-timer: first, an initial round of seat sales, and then a later wave when more tickets are released (similar to Gamehole Con). Fortunately, a helpful volunteer walked me through it.

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The swag bags were great—I especially love my new tote bag!

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Theme of the Con

This is, first and foremost, an old-school gaming convention. Events were spread across ballrooms, meeting rooms, and hotel suites, giving players plenty of space. It was easy to hear DMs and fellow players. Interestingly, even with 600 registered attendees, the con felt smaller because of how spread out it was. I rarely saw more than 80 people in one place at a time, though groups constantly shifted between spaces.

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As a 57-year-old white guy with a shaved head and beard, I felt I blended right in with much of the crowd. But far from being stereotypical “grognards,” the community was incredibly welcoming and cool.

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Food Options

Overall, food quality was solid. Food trucks, however, weren’t consistently present—which threw me off until I realized too late that their schedule was printed in the guide (pro move for next time).

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The on-site restaurant served good meals but slowed down during peak hours since it was the only option. Adding a small service bar in the gaming area would be a simple improvement.

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Facilities

The location works well for the convention, with plenty of good gaming spaces. That said, having traveled a lot for work, I found this Westin a little below brand standards. Still, it was clean, and the staff was very kind and helpful.

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With only one restaurant and bar on-site, service sometimes lagged during peak times, but staff remained attentive and food was solid. Outside options were limited, since the hotel sits in a cluster of other hotels near the airport in a light industrial area—not exactly a dining hotspot.

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Travel

Travel was easy. The hotel shuttle from DFW took just 10 minutes, and there was ample parking for those who drove.

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