One Year Anniversary
Central Coast Game Community
Table of Contents
Happy 1-Year Anniversary to Nerdvana Community
MimicCon 2024
From the Discord (Homebrew Fantasy Race)
Thank You Local Game Stores
Teen D&D Club in Santa Maria
Dungeons & Dragons Adventurer’s League for the Central Coast
DMs Wanted
Board Game Meetup Group
Embracing a Philosophy of Community and Inclusivity in Gaming
Other Communities
Help Wanted
When we make our communities stronger, our communities make us stronger.
Happy 1-Year Anniversary to Nerdvana Community
Hey fellow gamers! Can you believe it's almost been a whole year since we started this incredible journey? August 28th 2022 seems like just yesterday. The support and camaraderie we've experienced from all of you has been nothing short of amazing.
Over the past year, we've seen our gaming family grow, and together, we've created a vibrant and welcoming community for all kinds of gamers, hobbyists, and cosplayers. From organizing local D&D groups to MimicCon, our “proof of concept” for a non profit tabletop gaming organization has seen nothing but success.
We want to take this moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who has been a part of Nerdvana Community. Your passion for gaming, your consideration for the community, and your enthusiasm have truly made this journey special. It's your support that drives us to continue organizing exciting events and building this awesome organization.
As we celebrate our first anniversary, we're excited to look back at all the memories we've made together. But we're even more thrilled to look ahead to what the future holds. We've got big plans for Nerdvana Community, including more diverse events, collaborations with other communities, and even larger tournaments. We can't wait to share these adventures with you!
Once again, thank you for being a part of our gaming family. Here's to many more years of dice rolls, epic battles, and the joy of gaming!
You’re invited to join us, and participate in our local community of over 500 tabletop gamers and hobbyists and 2000 additional hobbyists on the Central Coast of California through affiliate links.
Black Rose Designs LLC is donating 10% of sales from any purchases made using code CCG23 to us at Nerdvana Community, and you get 10% off your order as well.
https://www.blackrosednd.com/shop
MimicCon 2024
Plans are underway, venues are being secured, events are being prepared. MimicCon 2024 is coming. So save the date, April 5th, 6th and 7th we’ll be setting a record for the largest game convention on the central coast.
We are now inviting Vendors and Artists to submit their applications to participate with us at our second annual Tabletop Game Convention.
I know a lot of people were disappointed that MimicCon 2023 sold out of tickets. We had to turn away a lot of people at the door, and it showed up in our satisfaction survey. For 2024 we’re extending the convention through the weekend, and moving to a larger venue (To Be Announced) more than doubling our capacity. For more information check out our FAQ.
If you’d like to guarantee your spot however, you can take advantage of our early bird offer now.
If you’d like to join the MimicCon Planning Committee, email me directly at chay.comas@centralcoastgames.com
From the Discord
We held a writing contest on the discord through the summer. The prompt, of course, being “Best RPG inspired homebrew race.” Congratulations to @thedoctorcat who came in first place with a curiously chilling race of powerful beings that gave us some serious “Backrooms” vibes.
The Brokers
When a person of great importance dies (though the meaning of those words isn’t exactly clear to us mortals), it is likely for them to be taken to a place where beings trade in souls, blessings, boons, secrets, and all manner of powers. There are creatures known as the Brokers there, and they are willing to make a deal, for a price.
Not many people know of their existence, most pass from this life into the next peacefully, and without any interruption. Not so for others, who are brought before the Brokers at the Broker’s behest, and are offered a deal. Most have no choice but to accept, to cling to their life at any cost. They’re damned, then, for most Broker’s deals aren’t favored towards the one being offered the contract.
It’s a common misconception that Brokers are Devils. Whilst Devils deal with the living in acts of power for their soul, Brokers deal with the soon to be dead, and offer new life. The existence of the Brokers has even caused many Devils to give up contract making, as it’s possible for a Broker to break a Devil’s contract for their client as part of their own deal. No Devil wants to take that chance.
From what little we know about them, we can discern that there are many different Brokers that each make bids to make a deal with particular mortals. There is a hierarchy to their dealings. The lowest level of them wear darkly colored suits and have no faces. Their deals are often worse than the deals that their betters offer, only giving a second chance at life in return for eternal servitude. Above them are the more eccentric Brokers, who take different forms according to their wants and take up names to differentiate themselves from the rest. Often, they ask for things specific to themselves, and grant much more than the lowers could ever provide. Below are a few examples of Brokers known to exist and have names.
Zalza: Known for his quick wit, Zalza often offers deals relating to fame, fortune, and what he calls, “hot babes”. He often asks that, when his client’s time is done, that they bring some other mortals with them to add to Zalza’s collection. He values a good time over anything else.
Sigurnd: Appearing as a shadowy warrior, Sigurnd has been the one behind most great warriors of each age. On the battlefield, he offers them a new chance at life and strength over all else. His clients are turned into machines of war, ending lives by the thousands before finally sputtering out as their heart cannot take any more.
Lorfalx: He offers a solution to a problem, in addition to the second chance at life. He looks like a wizened old man, dressed in cloths and surrounded in books. All he asks for is for the client to return with a good story to add to his collection. Those that come back empty handed will be turned into one of the books he keeps with him.
Truth: The most enigmatic of the known named Brokers, Truth has only ever taken up a single deal with a mortal. Instead of asking for something of material value, or for a client’s servitude, it asks only for an eye and an ear. If given, it lets one keep the eye and ear on loan, but appears in their vision and speaks to them. Truth seems to want only to exist in our world. They take the form of a completely white space, with no definition other than a humanoid shape.
Thank You Local Game Stores
Our local game stores have been the backbone of our hobbies, providing us with spaces to host events and to network. We owe a huge thank you to all the game stores on the Central Coast for being such amazing partners and hosts, and for weathering the COVID lockdowns. We know it was hard, in-person gaming dried up for a couple years, and was slow to return.
But, much of what we’ve accomplished this year is in thanks to you, and your skills as small business owners. I think I speak for all of us when I say that the importance of supporting our main street businesses has never been clearer to us.
As we move forward, we want to continue supporting our local game stores and encourage everyone in our hobby to do the same. These stores are not just places to buy games; they are hubs of our collected communities. They’re owned and operated by people who are passionate about gaming, and see the value in sharing them with their neighbors. So, let's show them our appreciation and keep the gaming spirit alive and thriving. Here are some upcoming events from our local game stores, stop by and give them a warm-hearted thank you.
Paso Robles Prism CCG August 12th 1:00pm Yu-Gi-Oh! 25th Anniversary GOAT Draft Modified Tournament
Paso Robles Prism CCG August 21st 1:00pm Magic The Gathering Commander Tournament
Atascadero Gordon’s Good Games August 26th All Day 40k Tournament
Atascadero Gordon’s Good Games September 2nd All Day Age of Sigmar Tournament
Santa Maria Leisure Time Games August 8th & 15th 12:30pm Savage Worlds Rifts Tutorial and One Shot
Santa Maria On The Play Gaming Every Thursday 5:30pm Battletech tutorial & play
Lompoc Central Coast Collectibles August 4th 6:00pm Commander Masters launch party
Goleta BAM Cards August 5th Free Standard MTG every Saturday
Thousand Oaks Zander’s Game House Saturdays & Wednesdays 5:00pm new Yu-Gi-Oh game days
Westlake Village Game Ogre August 5th D&D Adventurers League every Saturday, learn to play with the best AL on the coast
Teen D&D Club in Santa Maria
The Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, every Saturday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm runs an Adventurer’s League Dungeons & Dragons game, organized by yours truly.
We now have two teen Dungeon Masters in training, a youth discord server to organize in, and are participating in Adventure’s League organized play.
If your 11 to 17 year old would like to join us, check in with staff at the facility beforehand. No need to bring a character sheet, we always have extras. If your 11 to 17 year old would like to join the discord and meet other Santa Maria tabletop gamers their own age, the invites are only given out at games, to teens or parents, it is not a public server. (Ask the DM)
And, if you would like to start a youth D&D club in your town or school, and would like assistance or advice on where to start, email chay.comas@centralcoastgames.com I’m more than happy to help you along the way.
Dungeons & Dragons Adventurer’s League for the Central Coast
Nerdvana Community is organizing an Adventurer’s League in Paso Robles, and Santa Maria in the coming months. We are still in the mid stages of organizing these events, and waiting hopefully to hear back about a potential venue that could host us Saturdays, but we currently have the following dates and times at the Santa Maria Public Library:
Sunday September 24th 1:00p - 5:00p
Sunday October 22nd 1:00p - 5:00p
Sunday November 26th 1:00p - 5:00p
And, bi-monthly games coming to Prism CCG in Paso Robles CA
DMs Wanted
We are currently looking for Dungeon Masters in Santa Maria Valley or SLO County who would like to partner with us to run Adventurer’s League games. We’ll support you with modules, prep help, venues, and an exclusive club of local DMs to share tips and tricks for the table, and help you get oriented with Adventurer’s Leagues if you’re new.
And, if you’re looking to participate in Adventurer’s League in Ventura County consider the Conejo Valley Adventurer’s League.
Board Game Meetup Group
Here’s a last minute addition to the newsletter, saw this posted in a discord as I was finishing up.
My name is Paul and I am the organizer of the Atascadero part of the San Luis Obispo Board games Meetup group. We meet every Monday from 5:30-8:30 at Round Table Pizza in Atascadero. We tend to play light to mid-weight board games and new people are always welcome.
Embracing a Philosophy of Community and Inclusivity in Gaming
At Nerdvana Community, we believe that the heart of our organization lies not in the events we host or the games we play, but in the community we serve. Our philosophy revolves around building a vibrant and inclusive gaming community that fosters connections, embraces diversity, and uplifts other gaming organizations in the region.
In the gaming world, camaraderie and sportsmanship are as essential as strategy and skill. We understand that the true magic of gaming lies in the friendships and connections formed along the way.
One of the aspects that sets us apart is our advocacy for other organizations. We firmly believe that the success of one community strengthens the entire gaming culture. Rather than viewing other organizations as competitors, we see them as valuable allies in our shared mission to bring the joy of gaming to as many people as possible.
It's disheartening to see a hyper-competitive approach prevailing in some of our neighboring communities, particularly in the realm of event organizing. We firmly believe that gaming should be a space where everyone can come together, have fun, and celebrate their shared passions. That's why we consider ourselves fortunate to share this region with PolyCon, an event that mirrors our values of community-building and inclusivity. Here are some of our favorite Discord communities on the central coast.
If you live in San Luis Obispo County there are a lot of very successful gaming communities, here are just a few of our favorites: SLO Gaming is one of the most engaging communities for miniature wargaming. And, Prism CCG a new server, and one of the fastest growing collectible card gaming communities on the entire central coast, centered around a game store local to Paso Robles. And, Seven Sleeping Dragons is one of the only locally active LARPing discords we’ve discovered.
Santa Barbara County is served by Leisure Times Games a great all around community centered on a game store in Santa Maria, Gaucho Gaming a UCSB community that serves the Esports community by holding events both on campus and off campus.
In Ventura County Zander’s Game House and Game Ogre both offer thriving communities for every game from D&D to 40k to Pokemon, as well as the Ventura County Star Wars Group, a community of x-wing players and Dream Catcher Gaming a fighting game community. The Conejo Valley Adventurer’s League however, is hands down the best RPG community in the area; it’s engaging, helpful, and centered around my personal favorite game, Dungeons & Dragons.
Monterey County is home to Heart of Arcana, an organization that supports a monthly RPG event where they seem to always sell out of tickets, and Monterey Area Gamers, a board game community in Monterey.
By openly supporting and promoting these communities, we hope to foster collaboration and unity along the Central Coast. Here are a couple dozen honorable mentions:
Other Communities
California Clocktower Discord (Blood on the Clocktower)
Cal Poly Chess Club Discord
Cal Poly Magic Players Discord
Cal Poly PolyCon Gaming FB Group
Central Coast Smash Ultimate Discord
Lompoc Central Coast Collectibles Discord
Monterey County D&D Discord
SBC Duelists of Santa Maria FB Group (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
SBC Modern MtG Santa Barbara FB Group
SBC Lompoc Gaming FB Group
SBC Metro Entertainment FB Group
SBC Leisure Time Games ESports FB Group
SBC Leisure Time Games Miniature Wargaming FB Group
SBC Leisure Time Games MtG FB Group
SLOC SLO Steam FB Group
SLOC Tabletop Gaming Discord
SLOC SLO Gaming Discord
SLOC Anime Five Cities FB Group (Cosplay)
SLOC SLO Gaming FB Group
UCSB ESports Discord
UCSB Tabletop Gaming Discord
UCSB Smash Bros Discord
UCSB Magic the Gathering Discord
UCSB Anime Club Discord
Ventura County Conejo Valley Adventurer’s League FB Group
Ventura County D&D and RPG Gamers of Ventura County FB Group
As we continue on this journey, we are committed to staying true to our philosophy of community and community building. We will keep advocating for other gaming organizations, fostering connections among gamers, and spreading the spirit of friendship and collaboration in every event we host and assist with.
We want to extend our gratitude to all of you who have been a part of Nerdvana Community and have embraced our philosophy. Your support and enthusiasm drive us to create a gaming community that is truly special. Let's continue to build bridges, uplift one another, and make the coast a better place for everyone.
Help Wanted
If you read this far, there’s no doubt you enjoyed some of what you found here, and see the value it adds to our hobbies, or maybe you see the potential.
& are looking for volunteers to join our marketing team. Our marketing team is a friendly group of gamers who are working relentlessly towards the goal of creating a healthy and vibrant gaming community on the central coast of California.We do this by writing this newsletter, highlighting local events, interviewing notable locals, artists, cosplayers, and gaming organizers. We're also creating content for social media that doesn't only promote events we organize, but other vetted organizations as well including local game stores, convention organizers, and non profit organizations. Upcoming projects will include Vlogs, and Podcasts.
Somebody who wishes to join our team should have the goal of giving back to the gaming/hobby community, as well as the ability to collaborate with the team remotely.
If you are interested in joining our team but don't have experience, that's ok, neither did we when we started. The only requirement here is being a good communicator, whether that is communication through art/design, voice over, or written language.
If you can write, you can help with the newsletter, if you can design you can assist with content creation, and if you're a talented speaker you can help with our vlogs.
The benefits of joining our team is the networking that we do that brings us close to the influential nerds among us, and the value we add to the community.
Contact me directly if you are interested at Nerdvana.Community@gmail.com.com
Sending you congratulations from LA County! I wish you much success in year 2 and beyond!