I opened my 2025 convention season with Zjava 14 in Warszawa. As usually, it was a nice con with friendly atmosphere. Similarly to last year I didn’t play any games despite the con being a gaming event. Yet can I still call it that way?
The Shifting Focus
For years I considered Zjava to be a convention for gamers. It was full of RPG sessions, had a huge games room for board games. The programme was also concentrating on games. Yet over the years more and more different kinds of attractions were appearing. Tabletop gaming is still a crucial part of the con but considering Zjava 14 to be an event purely for gamers is not correct.
The only talk I attended in the East Asian programme stream.
I believe that this year, it was the first time when Zjava had the East Asian programme stream. The talks were mostly concentrating on Japan but it was possible to listen a bit about Korea and China as well. Some of the presentations touched on the gaming topic. A good sample may be a talk about D&D influences on Japanese popculture. Sadly this was the only programme item I managed to attend in this programme stream. There were a few more interesting ones, but one cannot be everywhere. Apart from programme room there was also a booth ran by the members of the “Kappa” Students Society of Japanese Philology.
I was very happy to see that there was a tea room run by The Zaparzaj Herb Club Association. I visited it only at the end of the convention but it was ran very professionally and I spent a good time there. Should I mention that the tea was delicious?
Both the tea and the atmosphere were amazing.
Talks and Presentations
I didn’t play any games but I spent quite a lot of time in the programme rooms. On Friday it was only a single item devoted to the beginnings of the Dungeons and Dragons. I liked it a lot even though I am still mixing what happened when. On Saturday I started with On the animals that could have filled the annals of SF. This one was disappointing. Not only it finished in 20 minutes but it also missed some important points. Presenter just showed a few “strange” animals from the history of Earth (mainly from the Cambrian period). The idea was good – to show that some of the extinct animals are way stranger than the ones we can read about in SF works. What was missing was the explanation as to why given animal looked in a given way. Seeing the connection between the form and the environment would be very valuable.
Room at the presentation on usage of AI in biology was full.
Contrary to the previous one, I immensely enjoyed the talk about applications of AI in biology and designing of medicines. It didn’t contain a vast amount of new information but it was ran very well. People who didn’t learn about the subject (or about molecular modelling etc.) got a lot of information. Both people giving this talk had a good knowledge of the subject. What is also important – they knew others may need some basic explanations. Later on I listened to a few more talks but let’s stop at this point.
Meeting Friends
I am always mentioning how important the social aspect of the con is. Because of that I feel that I am repeating myself, but how can I skip this part of the con? Should I wish to attend only the programme I would probably decide to listen to some podcasts. (Or, at least, I would limit the number of visited cons). Yet month over month, and year after year I keep travelling. Meeting friends – even for a brief moment is what makes conventions so special.
Zjava 14 was not an exception and I used my visit as an opportunity to meet my friends. I started the convention around the noon on Friday when Nelek and Krzyś came to pick me up. Then we spent a few hour sin the car talking. In Warsaw we met with Seji and then we went to the con.
Even issues with light in one of the corridors did not stop the players.
I would love to mention whom I have met on which day. I won’t do so as I am afraid I may forgot about someone. Instead please allow me to say that between the panels I spent a lot of time talking. There were different ways on engaging in this activity. I can recall a few group discussions held in the corridors or in the games room. Strolling between the dealers’ booths was an opportunity to talk with one friend. I also used that opportunity to discuss some topics with dealers themselves. I also managed to have some “one to one” meetings. Lastly some programme items included discussions. One of those was quite heated.
When it comes to evenings I was going back to the hotel rather early so I missed a lot of the evening socializing. On the other hand the hotel was quite full of congoers so I had the opportunity for nice chats over the breakfasts.
Dealers hall and the gaming space were good spots to meet friends.
A Good Opening
When I came back home from Zjava 14 I had a feeling it was a nice con. Yet now – a dozen or so days later, I feel it was not merely “nice” but rather “very good”. It was a calm, but good opening of the 2025 convention season. Now I am looking forward to the upcoming cons – including Bazyliszek Polcon that is organized by the same association as Zjava.
You can find more pictures in my FB gallery.
My next post will appear within 2 weeks and will treat about KON_gres 2025.