The saga of UK Games Expo 2025 actually begins last year, when The Miskatonic Playhouse was invited to run demo games for Syrinscape. We showcased immersive soundscapes to accompany our Call of Cthulhu adventures — and had such a blast that the Cosmic Outpost agreed to return and do it all again.

This year, things were a bit different. With Chaosium Con scheduled the weekend before, hard choices had to be made. In the end, only the Cosmic Outpost could make it to Birmingham to represent on the Syrinscape stand — but that didn’t make the show any less spectacular.

Arrival, Setup, and Spoons

Arriving into Birmingham International, kit in tow (not quite as much as for Chaosium Con, but still a haul), I headed straight to Spoons to meet the Syrinscape crew: AJ, Al, Linz, and Steve, who kindly invited me to join the stand this year.

With hi-vis jackets donned (to avoid becoming forklift fodder), we got the stand up and running in record time. Yes, a couple of cables mysteriously didn’t make it from the packing list, but nothing critical — Bluetooth speakers paired with an iPad did the trick. After that, we headed to the digs, grabbed some surprisingly decent food at a nearby pub, and turned in for the night.

Friday: In the Door Just in Time

Friday started with traffic chaos. We arrived right as the doors opened — cutting it fine — but managed to get the stand running just in time.

The day was spent talking to people: familiar faces, fans of Syrinscape, curious newcomers. Many already knew the app, while others left eager to explore it further. It was easy work, really — demoing Syrinscape almost sells itself.

Horrors and Sound-Soaked Games

Some brave souls sat down for a quick game of Call of Cthulhu with me. Here’s what we played:

• The Tattooed Boxer: A gritty tale involving mysticism and, yes, a very tattooed fighter.
• Echoes of Life: Existential space horror — lone survivor on a drifting ship near a dead moon.
• The Sealed Hex: A knight stumbles through the forest with a scroll that must reach Lady Thorne. Surprise — it’s the Dreamlands.
• Delta Extraction: A high-stakes escape to the chopper, Trail of Cthulhu-style.

Syrinscape brought these to life — from skittering parasites in space to cheering crowds in a boxing ring. The helicopter didn’t get to lift off this time, but there’s always next year.

Catch-Ups, Chaosium, and Creator Encounters

One of the big highlights? Running a game for the Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition team — a surreal fan moment. Mike Mason and Paul Fricker are the are folks who wrote the game book from which we play! That was a special experience. Lynn Hardy stopped by for a game – an absolute delight, as always.

Caught up with Kat from Pelgrane Press, who seemed to be running the entire stand solo (legend!), and chatted with Jordan Sorcery, whose content throws me back to every GW game I played in my formative years. Turns out he’s playing Orient Express! Small world.

And then, a personal moment – I spotted Mark Meer. Yes, Commander Shepard, The Joker, the Keeper of all things Cthulhu.  An actual legend. I didn’t want to disturb him on his day off so nervously said hi, thanked him for his work, and got the worst selfie ever — rescued only by Photoshop!

Tech Trials & Thoughts for the Future

This year’s sound setup was Bluetooth speakers close to the players. It worked, mostly — but headphones would be more immersive. The challenge: if players wear headphones, you have to mic them, mix their voices, and route everything properly. Simple is better,  but better is tempting. We’ll see.

Hoping the Cosmic Outpost won’t be flying solo next year. Support would be lovely – if only to give the voice a rest and maybe catch a few panels.

A Quick Note on Con Crud

Sadly, Kerrie MacDonald picked up COVID post-convention — and we’d played a game together. So, a reminder: wear masks in busy areas, wash hands, and maybe take an immune booster for the month leading up to the show. Nobody wants to bring home a Shoggoth or Covid!

The Bigger Picture: Why Conventions Matter

I don’t know yet if I’ll make Dragonmeet, so this might be it for the year. And you know what? Conventions are what you make of them. Go in with a purpose – to run games, meet creators, play something new – and you’ll come away fulfilled. If you just drift, it’s easy to feel a bit lost in the sheer scale of it.

UK Games Expo is massive. You could spend all weekend just browsing stands. There are live shows (like the Dark Room — always a laugh), and panels with small creators finally getting face time with their fans.

Maddy from A Game of One’s Own ran an event. Jason and Becky from Lightless Beacons were there. It’s moments like these that make the Expo special. The opportunity to get together and enjoy something we all share.

Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

Now comes the unpacking. The sorting. The storing. Summer stretches ahead, with new interviews to record for Fast Talk, and maybe a few character videos to film.

If you were at UK Games Expo 2025, I hope you had an amazing time. Next time, come find the Syrinscape stand — say hi to The Cosmic Outpost. Huge thanks to Steve and the Syrinscape team for having me, and to everyone who stopped by and played a game. I know how many great things there are at a show like this – so it really means something when people choose to spend time at your table.

Thanks for reading and we’ll Roll4sanity again soon!