SimuCon 2020
SimuCon is a yearly gathering in St. Louis near Simutronics headquarters usually taking place near the end of the summer.
OFFICIAL dates for 2020 are Wednesday, August 5 through Sunday, August 9, 2020 at the Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel. Room reservation link currently not available.
2020 Schedule
| Day | Time | Activity | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday August 5 | |||
| -:-- AM | |
ALL | |
| Thursday August 6 | |||
| -:-- AM | |
ALL | |
| Friday August 7 | |||
| -:-- AM | |
ALL | |
| Saturday August 8 | |||
| -:-- AM | |
ALL | |
| Sunday August 9 | |||
| -:-- AM | |
ALL |
Notes:
- All event schedules subject to change without notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SimuCon cost?
Cost and sign-up information will be available soon.
Where do I sign up?
Sign-up is usually initiated by the GM organizing SimuCon and details are released closer to the event.
Who organizes SimuCon?
Typically GameMasters from Gemstone IV and DragonRealms are the official organizers. However, many players pitch in to plan unofficial events or to offer support. All work is strictly volunteer, so please be sure to thank your organizer team!
What is it like to attend a SimuCon?
SimuCon is a gathering of players and GameMasters for Simutronics games, including Gemstone IV and DragonRealms. The convention includes several events, as listed in the 2020 Schedule, that are planned by both players and staff. In-between events, attendees typically gather at conference tables similar to a large LAN party to play. Board games and other activities are frequently available as well.
How many people attend SimuCon and when do they show up?
SimuCon has experienced a growth spurt over the past three years or so. A current rough estimate would be 100 attendees (GS and DR combined) over the course of the weekend. The main convention days are Thursday through Sunday, although several people arrive on Wednesday and stay through Monday. The convention room is typically setup by Wednesday evening.
What equipment should I bring?
Bring your laptop/computer so that you can play Gemstone during the convention. Internet access and power strips are typically provided. Note: It is not recommended that you leave your equipment unattended in the conference room.
Will I need a car?
Many attendees never leave the hotel. However if you are planning to explore St. Louis, a car is recommended as public transportation options are slim. Lyft and Uber are both operational in St. Louis and are ideal for single trips. For any excursions listed in the schedule, carpool options may be available. A shuttle may be available to and from your hotel for airport travel, but don't forget to bring cash for a tip!
Is SimuCon family friendly?
In general, yes. Some attendees do bring children but activities in the convention room may be of limited interest to them. Note the Attractions section listed below for additional kid-friendly activities available in St. Louis. Please expect to encounter explicit language and consumption of alcoholic beverages, which will increase in the late night hours.
What is the weather typically like?
Missouri is nicknamed "Misery" for its hot and humid summers. For a current local forecast, click here: https://www.ksdk.com/weather
Do I need to bring food or beverages?
Depending on funds available, basic snacks will be provided. You are generally on your own for meals and can purchase food at the grocery or restaurant options listed in the Dining/Eating section. SimuCon is strictly BYOB. Alcohol can be purchased in most grocery stores and gas stations in Missouri.
What should I wear?
Family friendly costumes are encouraged, and there is often a costume event included in the schedule. In general, however, attendees come in casual / comfortable attire.
Is there a pool?
YES! Pack your bathing suits because the official SimuCon hotel has an outdoor pool! There is even a poolside bar with snacks and beverages, and towel service is available. It is recommended that you pack sunscreen ahead of time, because the hotel and nearby shops do not stock any! It is also recommended that you bring pool noodles, because pool noodles are wicked cool.
Visitor Information
The convention is typically held at the Sheraton Westport Chalet, located at 191 W Port Plaza Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146. Below are some nearby shops and other information for visitors. All distances calculated from the host hotel.
Accommodations
| Name | Distance | Address | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Westport Chalet (Official Hotel, Discounted Rate) | onsite | 191 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | [Booking link with group rates coming soon] |
| Sheraton Westport Plaza (Sister Hotel next to the Chalet) | onsite | 900 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | Booking Link |
| Staybridge Suites | 0.3 miles | 25 Progress Pkwy, St. Louis, MO 63146 | Booking Link |
| Comfort Inn Suites | 0.7 miles | 12031 Lackland Rd., Saint Louis, MO, 63146 | Booking Link |
| Residence Inn St. Louis Westport | 0.6 miles | 11918 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 | Booking Link |
| Farfield Inn and Suites St. Louis Westport | 0.6 miles | 11918 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 | Booking Link |
| Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Westport | 0.7 miles | 11888 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 | Booking Link |
Dining/Eating
| Name | Type | Distance | Address | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drunken Fish | Sushi | onsite | 639 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | https://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Fuzzy's Taco Shop | Baja Tacos | onsite | 302 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | https://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| IMO's Pizza | Pizza | onsite | 318 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Kobe Japanese Grill | Japanese/Hibachi | onsite | 645 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| McDonald's | Fast Food | onsite | 25 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Paul Mineo's Trattoria | Italian | onsite | 333 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| St. Louis Bread Company | Coffee/Sandwich/Soup | onsite | 147 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Smoothie King | Smoothies | onsite | 324 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Starbucks | Coffee | onsite | 111 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Trainwreck Saloon | American/Grill | onsite | 314 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.westportstl.com/drinkdine |
| Dino's Deli | Mediterranean | onsite | 314 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://dinosdeli.us/ |
| O'Fallon Brewery | Beer/American Food | 0.3 mi | 45 Progress Pkwy, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 | http://www.ofallonbrewery.com/ |
| Companion Bakery | Bakery/Sandwich | 1.2 mi | 2331 Schuetz Rd, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.companionbaking.com/ |
Off-Site Dining
For attendees who want to explore St. Louis cuisine, local players recommend the following restaurants.
| Name | Type | Distance | Address | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DD Mau | Vietnamese / Bao | 1.3 mi | 11982 Dorsett Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 | http://www.ddmaustl.com/ |
| Guerilla Street Food | Filipino | 1.6 mi | 11658 Dorsett Rd., Maryland Heights, MO 63043 | https://www.guerrillastreetfood.com/menu-dorsett/ |
| Gobble STOP Smokehouse | BBQ Poultry | 2.8 mi | 1227 Castillon Arcade Plaza, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 | http://gobblestopsmokehouse.net/ |
| Nudo House STL | Ramen / Japanese | 3.0 mi | 11423 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63141 | http://nudohousestl.com/ |
| Dave & Tony's | Premium Burgers | 3.2 mi | 12766 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63146 | http://www.daveandtonys.com/ |
| Sugarfire Smokehouse | BBQ | 6.0 mi | 9200 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63132 | https://sugarfiresmokehouse.com/locations/mo-olivette/ |
| Salt + Smoke | BBQ | 9.0 mi | 501 S Main St, St. Charles, MO 63301 | https://saltandsmokestl.com/ |
| Midwestern Meat & Drink | BBQ | 20.4 mi | 900 Spruce St, St. Louis, MO 63102 | https://facebook.com/midwesternstl |
| Broadway Oyster Bar | Cajun | 23.7 mi | 736 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102 | http://www.broadwayoysterbar.com/ |
| Ted Drewes | Famous local frozen custard | 21.6 mi | 6726 Chippewa, St. Louis, MO 63109 | http://teddrewes.com/ |
| Bombay Food Junkies | Vegan Options | 5.2 mi | 3580 Adie Rd, St Ann, MO 63074 | https://www.bombayfoodjunkies.com/ |
Shopping/Groceries
| Name | Distance | Address | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 5.9 mi | 12275 St Charles Rock Rd, Bridgeton, MO 63044 | website |
| Costco | 13.3 mi | 200 Costco Way, St Peters, MO 63376 | website |
| Schnucks Dorsett (Grocery Store) | 1.5 mi | 2030 Dorsett Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 | website |
| Gateway Newstands | onsite | 519 W Port Plaza Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146 | https://www.westportstl.com/specialty |
| Walgreens | 1.6 mi | 12509 Dorsett Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 | website |
| BP Gas Station | 0.3 mi | 11988 Westline Industrial Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146 | |
| ALDI | 2.6 mi | 11745 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 | website |
| Trader Joe's | 2.4 mi | 11505 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 | website |
Attractions
Most attractions are a 15-30 minute drive from the hotel. For tourism information, click here: https://explorestlouis.com/
| Name | Description | Address | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gateway Arch | Oh look, it's the Arch | 200 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102 | https://www.gatewayarch.com/ |
| Busch Stadium | Cardinals Baseball Stadium | 700 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102 | https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/ballpark |
| Forest Park | Large public park, home to several free attractions | 5595 Grand Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112 | https://forestparkmap.org/ |
| St. Louis Zoo | Free zoo, located inside Forest Park | Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110 | https://www.stlzoo.org/ |
| St. Louis Art Museum | Free art museum, located inside Forest Park | 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110 | https://www.slam.org/ |
| Creve Coeur Lake Park | 3.4 mi from the hotel. Trails, kayak rentals, Go Ape | 13725 Marine Ave, St. Louis, MO 63146 | website |
| The Muny | Outdoor theater, located inside Forest Park | 1 Theatre Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112 | https://muny.org/ |
| Missouri Botanical Gardens | Outdoor garden | 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110 | http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ |
| Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery | Main brewery, offers tours | 1200 Lynch St, St. Louis, MO 63118 | https://www.budweisertours.com/locations/st-louis-missouri.html |
| City Museum | Architectural Anomaly/Interactive Art/Climbing Museum | 750 N 16th St, St. Louis, MO 63103 | https://www.citymuseum.org/ |
| Grants Farm | Free wildlife park with tram tours and free beer | 10501 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123 | https://www.grantsfarm.com/home.html |
| The Butterfly House | Indoor butterfly pavilion | 15193 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield, MO 63017 | http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/butterfly-house.aspx |
| Science Center | Kid-friendly interactive museum, includes IMAX and planetarium | 5050 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 | https://www.slsc.org/ |
| Magic House | Kid-friendly interactive museum, includes magic | 516 S Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122 | https://www.magichouse.org/ |
| Fox Theatre | Historic theater, offers tours | 527 NORTH GRAND BLVD., St. Louis, MO 63103 | https://www.fabulousfox.com/visit/tours |
| St. Louis Neighborhoods | Shopping/Nightlife/Exploring | Various | https://explorestlouis.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/ |
| Live Music Venues | St. Louis is known for its blues and jazz scene | Various | https://explorestlouis.com/discover/st-louis-music-lovers/st-louis-live-music-venues/ |
| Casinos | Gambling | Various | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g44881-Activities-c53-Saint_Louis_Missouri.html |
Attendee List
The below lists are of those people that have made mention that they are attempting to attend the 2020 conference. You may edit this page to add your character to the list.
Prime Players
Platinum Players
- Whick
Shattered Players
- PlaceHolder
Game Staff
- Estild
- Naiken
Indiegogo Campaign
The annual Indiegogo Campaign's purpose is to fund expenses for SimuCon, and all funds raised are used for the direct support of the convention. Any funds raised beyond the original goal are used for additional perks such as extra snacks and prizes for attendees.
Currently no campaign link is available, but will likely be available in early June.
See Also
- SimuCon channel (official Discord server)
- Unofficial SimuCon Server (unofficial SimuCon dedicated Discord server)
- DragonRealms Simucon Page (DR's Wiki Page)