The All Aboard Tabletop & Board Game Convention, held for the first time ever earlier this June at Jaya Shopping Center was a resounding success, drawing in thousands of enthusiasts to indulge in a weekend of tabletop fun.
With a strong showing of seasoned gamers and newcomers, All Aboard has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the tabletop community, offering a rich blend of competitive play, exciting marketplaces, community engagement, and a showcase of board games and card games made by Malaysian tabletop designers.
One of the key highlights of All Aboard was the series of competitive tournaments that ran throughout the event. From Grand Archive TCG to One Piece TCG to Cascadia Leaderboard Challenge, players of all ages and skill levels participated in the various tournaments that were available throughout the weekend. There were draft, pauper and Commander pods firing off every hour for Magic The Gathering that catered to the more casual players who just wanted to sling spells with their friends.
For fans of One Piece TCG, our key partner Hoopi also launched their new app, a gamified trading card games platform where users can discover, buy, sell, and trade cards and collectibles with ease — among other features! The lucky attendees of All Aboard enjoyed free packs and live breaking sessions for everyone who signed up for the app that weekend. The breaking sessions were livestreamed directly on the Hoopi app, featuring appearances from local cosplayers Amelia Khor and Rikka Blurhound.
In addition to the tournaments, All Aboard featured an impressive lineup of workshops and panel discussions. A standout session was the “Women in Gaming” panel, where female leaders in the industry discussed their experiences and the importance of diversity in gaming. This session featured social media influencer Pudds, casual gamer and cosplayer Fumiko Kriss, dungeon master Kirthana, and Business Director of Engkodok Games, Stephanie Lisa Ong.
Another fun and lively session was the Dungeons and Dragons live event organised in collaboration with KakiTabletop. The session was hosted by local comedians and Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts Keren Bala Devan, Riezman Radzlan, Elyana Arnold, hosted by Dungeon Mother Kir, featuring a surprise guest appearance from our emcee Raj Mahal! The live session followed the group on a short adventure in-game with the goal of introducing newbies to the exciting world of Dungeons and Dragons.
The ground floor area of Jaya Shopping Center was a vibrant hub of activity, with booths from existing publishers and indie creators. Attendees had the opportunity to try out new games, purchase exclusive merchandise, and meet the minds behind their favorite indie tabletop games.
The marketplace featured a small pop up store by local board game cafe Meeples, stocking over 30 titles with a 25% flat discount! However, the highlight of the marketplace was the Pasar Malam Used Board Game section that was a treasure trove for collectors, featuring rare and out-of-print games that delighted avid board gamers and some too good to be true bargains!
Perhaps the most hyped up moment was the Lelong LIVE session hosted by Abami of Pasar Malam Board Game and our emcee Raj Mahal, where various board games were auctioned off for as low as RM1 and this got the crowd into a frenzy.
As a testament to its silent motto of being truly an event for everyone, there were areas at All Aboard where families could sit down and play board games for free as well as watch their children paint free figurines provided by Plastics & Tactics.
There were also paid painting workshops for beginners and veterans alike that was sold out on both days hosted by Will to Paint and ChibiCoffeeMao.
One of the most remarkable aspects of All Aboard was the sense of community it fostered. Gamers from diverse backgrounds came together to share their passion for board games, forging new friendships and connections. The ground floor of Jaya Shopping Center was filled with laughter, spirited discussions, and the clatter of dice and decks being shuffled, embodying the welcoming spirit of the tabletop gaming world.
All Aboard 2024 has set a high bar for future conventions, proving once again that the world of tabletop gaming is alive, vibrant, and ever-evolving. For those who missed this year’s event, make sure to mark your calendars for next year, as All Aboard promises to deliver another unforgettable experience for gamers everywhere.
