The North Texas RPG Convention (NTRPG Con) was founded in 2009 by Doug Rhea and Mike Badolato. Dedicated to old-school tabletop gaming, it celebrates classic role-playing games like Original Dungeons & Dragons and other pre-2000 RPGs. Held annually in early June, the convention has become a cornerstone event for enthusiasts of vintage role-playing games, drawing attendees from across the country. After Doug Rhea’s passing in 2021, the convention’s legacy continues under the stewardship of Mike Badolato, Gary Oliver, David Rhea, and the dedicated con staff.
Dallas, Texas, the host city for NTRPG Con, boasts a rich history. Founded in 1841 by John Neely Bryan as a trading post along the Trinity River, Dallas evolved into a major economic and cultural center. Its growth was propelled by the arrival of railroads in the late 19th century and the oil boom in the early 20th century.
For me, this year’s pilgrimage to NTRPG Con revolves around two things: 1) running Ash and Iron, a gritty, narrative-heavy four-part series designed to test the mettle of any adventuring party, and 2) Playing Call of Cthulhu.
Ash and Iron is a broader campaign that I am currently running with my home group. The portion of Ash and Iron that will be featured at NTRPG Con will be the dwarves escape from the City of Brass. I anticipate that I will be running the next spell jamming portion of Ash and Iron at Gary Con in 2026. Call of Cthulhu is a horror role-playing game based on H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos, where players investigate cosmic mysteries and confront sanity-shattering horrors. Unlike combat-heavy RPGs, it emphasizes atmosphere, investigation, and psychological tension. Survival often depends more on wit and caution than weapons or magic. I’ve located a well-built Call of Cthulhu conversion for 5e, which I’ve used with great success in several home games. Its mechanics mesh beautifully with themes of dread and madness, allowing me to inject moments of psychological horror that go beyond the typical dungeon-crawl experience.
For my upcoming Ash and Iron sessions at North Texas RPG Con, I’ve gone the extra mile to enhance the experience with immersive props and memorable rewards. Each player will receive a hand-painted miniature to use as their representative character (not forever, but during the game).
But the centerpiece is a custom-made, iron-toned dice roller mug: a rugged tankard that doubles as a functional dice tower. During the in-game drinking contest, the player portraying the dwarf who wins the drinking competition will be awarded the mug as a real-life trophy to take home. It’s more than just a game prop—it’s a physical memento of their performance and courage at the table. This small but meaningful gesture is designed to elevate the session into something truly unforgettable, blending narrative, mechanics, and player reward into a moment that will be talked about long after the con ends.
