PAX Unplugged 2024
Philadelphia, PA
megagame coalition
2024 PAXU Event Schedule
Megagame Coalition is proud to produce five megagame events for PAX Unplugged 2024. This year featuring DWARVES! DICTATORS! DARK ONES! DEN OF WOLVES! AND MORE!
We had a great time at PAX Unplugged 2024 & even took some PICS! Click the yellow buttons in the schedule to see them!
Full Game Descriptions
The Generalissimo is Dead
Player Count: 38
Friday 9am – 3pm (6 hours)
Il Generalissimo is dead! How can the country go on? Who will lead the people?
Enter the political arena as the glorious nation of Yugenya goes through its first succession crisis in this megagame inspired by the Death of Stalin. A Megagame about a country in Crisis! The all-powerful leader is dead, but even in death, he casts a long shadow on the future of Yugenya!
Play as the various Ministries and Departments that hold together the small nation of Yugenya as it struggles to forge a new identity after its charismatic leader dies.
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present the acclaimed conspiratorial megagame masterpiece, The Generalissimo is Dead, originally designed by Ciaran Sullivan in association with True North Megagames, and most recently updated by Sydney Megagames.
The Generalissimo is Dead is a negotiation-heavy megagame of diplomacy, politicking, and possibly a coup or two in the wake of the death of a charismatic strongman leader, inspired by the absurdist (if not entirely unrealistic) political satires of Armando Iannucci (Death of Stalin, The Thick of It), and similar media (Papers Please, House of Cards, The Regime) set roughly in the golden age of neoliberalism (80s – 00s).
The Setting
Il Generalissimo is dead! How can the country go on? Who will lead the people?
Take up a role vying to come out on top as the glorious nation of Yugenya goes through its first succession crisis! The all-powerful leader is dead, but even in death, he casts a long shadow on the future of Yugenya!
The Generalissimo is Dead is a Megagame set in the chaos that follows the death of a strong, autocratic leader without any clear plan for succession. Most of the players in this game are Party Members of the People’s Party of Yugenya – the only political party in the fictional nation of Yugenya. Party members are either members of the Central Committee – the Generalissimo’s Inner Circle – or one of the many departments that keep Yugenya functioning as a country. However, your position at the start is not set in stone. It is certainly possible to rise to the Inner Circle of the Committee, and it is possible for those in power to fall from grace.
On the geopolitical horizon, Yugenya is now on the frontline of an economic cold war between China and the West due to the discovery of large rare-earth metal mines- whose profits were used to fund the Generalissimo’s revolutionary guard, navy, air force, palace, generous gifts for his political allies, the new and even more secret police, and a host of other grandiose paranoia- or ego-driven projects. Perhaps now is a good time to reassess our spending priorities.
It Came From... The Skies!
Joshua Kramer (New York City)
Player Count: 50
Friday 5pm – 11pm (6 hours)
Think Model UN meets Independence Day in this dramatic megagame of geopolitical tensions amid extraterrestrial incidents.
The Event
It Came From… The Skies by Tony Dougherty (The Dukes of Highlands) is a new spin on the megagame classic Watch the Skies! by Jim Wallman (Stone, Paper, Scissors; in association with the Megagame Makers), popularized by the phenomenal Shut Up & Sit Down let’s-play videos.
It Came From… The Skies! will feature a new pre-designed alien storyline for each run – ensuring new player experience each time!
The Setting
It all begins on an ordinary day when mysterious alien spacecraft suddenly fill the skies, casting eerie shadows over the nations of Earth. As chaos erupts and panic spreads among the global population, you and your fellow leaders must navigate a treacherous path to secure the survival of humanity. The fate of the world rests on your shoulders, and the decisions you make will shape the future of Earth.
Will you choose diplomacy and seek peaceful coexistence with these enigmatic beings from beyond the stars? Or will you lead your nation into a desperate and courageous defense against the alien invaders? The clock is ticking, and every decision you make will have far-reaching consequences. Forge alliances, mobilize your military, engage in high-stakes negotiations, and make choices that will determine the destiny of our planet.
Welcome to “It came from… The Skies!!!”, a thrilling megagame where you take on the roles of Earth’s leaders during a moment of unprecedented crisis. As the Head of State, Military Commander, Foreign Minister, and Chief Science Officer, you find yourselves facing an extraterrestrial threat that has descended upon the planet with an incomprehensible technological advantage.
Players will be dealing with international and domestic issues whilst juggling with the unknown ramifications of alien visitors from from the Stars. Meanwhile, another group of players take the role of the mysterious Aliens who have their own agendas on Earth.
You can read more about the design from the Dukes of Highland website.
Deephaven
Trenton Greyoak (Minnesota Megagames)
Player Count: 50
Saturday 9am – 3pm (6 hours)
Come to Deephaven! A narrative megagame about overly-ambitious dwarves building a new city fortress. Players will delve deep into the mountain to discover unique resources, forge legendary weapons, develop thriving trade and culture, and fight back against the many dangers they uncover!
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present Deephaven – a player-driven megagame about dwarveen shenanigans by veteran megagame designer Trenton Greyoak.
Deephaven is a semi-cooperative fantasy megagme with LARP elements that has been run several times previously.
The Setting
All Dwarves are welcome at Deephaven! From the proud Mountain Clans and industrious Hill Clans, to the mysterious Clans of the Deep. Yes, even Gully Dwarves are allowed, as odd as they may be! But take heart, we have abolished the caste systems of old! You are not stuck to one role. Only you can craft your destiny!
Players delve deep into the mountain to discover unique resources, forge legendary weapons, develop thriving trade and culture, and fight back against the many dangers they uncover! MINERS delve deep to find arcane metals! SHAPERS forge legendary weapons, armor, and new inventions. ARCHITECTS build awe-inspiring structures and massive fortifications. MERCHANTS handle foreign trade, FARMERS feed us, and BREWERS keep us, uh, well-hydrated! The CARTOGRAPHERS maintain the Grand Map and the INKBEARDS chronicle discoveries, announce oaths, grudges, and important events. The GUARDIANS keep the peace, and the LEGION leads us to war! Come to Deephaven! Build a new home for all Dwarves!
The Guilds
Players are given roles with narrative backstories but are left free to choose their own mechanical roles & abilities in the game via joining the guild of their choice! With varied mechanics and tones, the Deephaven guilds allow for a wide variety of players to find something they love!
Deephaven
Joshua Kramer (New York City)
Player Count: 44
Saturday 5pm – 11pm (6 hours)
43 players! 6-hours! 100% fun! Inspired by the pilot of Battlestar Galatica, Den of Wolves is a cooperative megagame that combines elements of board games and diplomacy. Players cooperate to allocate resources while fending off waves of attacks from the vile “wolves”. Beware! These wolves are tricky, and a traitor may roam amongst us.
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present Den of Wolves – the modern megagame classic by the UK upstart designer, John Mizon of SW Megagames.
This is part of the PAX Unplugged 2024 suite of megagame events being hosted by the Megagame Coalition. Badges to the PAX Unplugged convention are required to attend the event and can be purchased here.
Den of Wolves is one of the most-played megagames of all time, sporting strong themes common in military sci-fi (like the Alien series or The Expanse) and satisfying resource management mechanics. Folks familiar with the pilot of Battlestar Galatica will find very similar themes and setting.
The Setting
A small fleet of interstellar vessels tries to balance survival, politics and military challenges as they attempt to stay one step ahead of their pursuers.
It is the 27th Century. After a catastrophic attack on humanity, one battleship and a few civilian vessels must fight to survive, govern themselves and maintain order, as they flee from their pursuers. Den of Wolves is a game about difficult political, military and survival choices in a long-term crisis scenario. Players will take on the roles of starship captains, officers, and engineers, as well as politicians and military personnel. The game has a focus on managing resources, as well as various units and assets – however, talking and negotiating with other players will be crucial in order to achieve success. The game also seeks to represent political and military systems, and their decisions, and so players should expect some political simulation.
Wolves
Beware! There may be secret traitorous roles among us!
Touched by Darkness
Player Count: 46
Sunday 10am – 4pm (6 hours)
Darkness is coming! Gather resources, light beacons, and survive with up to 4 friends. But beware! Darkness may have claimed a teammate, and they cannot be trusted!
Can you hold this last bastion of humanity together and banish the Eclipse? This is a Den of Wolves inspired Megagame with gameplay tweaks and a new setting.
The Event
The Megagame Coalition is proud to present Touched by Darkness – a semi-cooperative dark fantasy megagame by games designer Ben Kanelos (BK Game Design)
This is part of the PAX Unplugged 2024 suite of megagame events being hosted by the Megagame Coalition. Badges to the PAX Unplugged convention are required to attend the event and can be purchased here.
Touched by Darkness is a fantasy re-design of the extremely popular, sci-fi megagame, Den of Wolves, by John Mizon of Southwest Megagames. Players fairly with the board game mechanics of Den of Wolves will recognize many similarities.
The Setting
Centuries ago, the Dark One shrouded the world in perpetual night with their Eclipse. They were defeated, and you believed they would never return… You were wrong. Somehow the Dark One has returned. Darkness has swallowed the Empire as well as the minds of its citizens whom the Dark One has corrupted into its thralls.
Only your frontier settlement, Cleaveslind, managed to relight the ancient Beacons. You are the last bastion of light in a world of darkness. Now the forces of the Dark One are massing on your borders, and rumors swirl that there are those within Cleaveslind who have already fallen under the Dark One’s sway. Will you be able to survive the onslaught and restore light to the world?
Players will work with their Faction teammates toward their common goals by managing resources, passing legislation, and fighting the forces of the Dark One. Cleaveslind might survive if players keep the Beacons lit by performing Rituals to end the Eclipse. There will be different tables and play areas for different activities: faction tables for members of a team to meet and manage their Locations, an area for members of the council to meet, and a Battle Map to resolve combat.
Shadow Agents
You may be secretly contacted by Control before or during the game to become a Shadow Agent. Keep this a secret! Shadow Agents are not members of their Faction’s team, but a secret team of their own. Their goal is to undermine the other players, preserve the Eclipse, and usher in the Dark One’s rule. How they do this is up to them. Note that players will never be told if and how many Shadow Agents are in the game.
VOLUNTEER WITH MGC @ PAX Unplugged
Volunteering with the Megagame Coalition is a great way to experience PAX Unplugged while enjoying some sweet perks!
This will be our first time at PAX Unplugged so we don’t have the logistical span to organize group housing.
Check out the volunteer benefits below.
Once you’re ready to orchestrate some narrative chaos, sign up to volunteer here.
