Break out your D20 and grab some friends,  because a local tabletop game convention returns for its sophomore outing this July. Two years ago, No Brand Con, a longstanding local anime convention, picked up its life tokens and took its talents to Wisconsin Dells. In its wake, demand built for a new gaming convention to take its place. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of No Brand’s exodus arose Clearwater Con, a board gaming convention and expo. The aptly titled “Clearwater Con II – Wrath of the Con” (I see what you did there) runs July 16-17 at Eau Claire’s Plaza Hotel & Suites. A weekend pass is a mere $30 and grants the holder access to two days of gaming, vendors, live panels, and a board game library. Don’t let college favorites like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride fool you, there’s a whole lot more to board games today than just hording wheat and building obnoxiously long railways to the chagrin of your friends. Dip a toe into strategy gaming with Pandemic, or dive into all of Westeros in the board game adaptation of Game of Thrones (before you ask: yes, Joffrey is still the absolute worst). If you’re a tabletop gaming veteran, you may still be wondering how Clearwater Con II it will compare to last year’s convention. I’ll let the website do the talking: “…it will be triple the awesome with a side of curly fries.” Fair enough, Clearwater Con. Fair enough.

Clearwater Con • July 16-17 • Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1202 Clairemont Ave. • Weekend pass: $30 • all ages • clearwatercon.com