About Arcanacon

Arcanacon (usually pronouced AR-CARN-A-CON, but sometimes AR-CAN-AR-CAN) as an idea sprang into being towards the end of 1982 in the minds of members of MUDDA (Melbourne University Dungeons & Dragons Association). Arcanacon I, run in September 1983, featured the major D&D, Silverwraithe Quest, a Traveller tournament as well as the second freeform to be ever run in Australia - Trouble in Fandonia.

In the following 24 years, Arcanacon moved time from September to July to January, and location from Melbourne University to numerous homes and finally to Collingwood College. However, in each year, the organisers have always made it their goal to present the best con experience they can to the players, GMs, writers and special guests that have attended.

So... what is Arcanacon?

Arcanacon is a Role Playing Games (RPG) Convention.

The "Convention" bit is easy - its a big gathering of people with a similar interest. Over the 4 days that Arcanacon (or Arc for short) runs, people come along and attend or run events, hang out and basically have fun. Its a social thing rather than a competition, and a chance to revel in their hobby.

Role Playing Games are a bit harder to explain. Fundamentally they are games where you play a role, or act out a character, rather than move counters around a board. The game itself is a story, and you 'win' by having the story finish in the way your character would like it to.

A roleplaying game has a lot in common with games like "How to Host a Murder" or Theatre Sports types of games, but they are both more structured and more improvised. There are almost as many types of roleplaying games as there are genres of books and movies - comedy, adventure, drama, scifi, horror and lots more.

The only way to really understand is to come along and join in. We love new people to come to Arcanacon, and the organisers are happy to answer questions, and help you find games that are easiest to pick up from scratch.

Who are these mysterious organisers?

Over the years, easily more than 100 people have had a hand in helping organise Arcanacon - and that doesn't even cover the game writers and gms, and the people who just dropped in and ended up helping out.

In any given year there is a small group of shadowy conspirators who get together in the months leading up to the convention, and plan out the venue and the food, who hound the game organisers who said they'd run something, and who announce far and wide that Arcanacon will be running to those who will come and play.

For Arcanacon XXV, these strange people are (in no particular order):

Martin Dick

- he has always been here

Alex Loke

- based on a true story

Hilary Callander

- The cats are stealing her dice.

Rob Shankly

- roll SAN.

Renee

- that's 'Captain' to you

Damien Moore

- the precise nature of the catastrophe

Nigel Cunningham

- fed his first born to Syd as a jesture of piety

Peter Strong

- definately not a yakuza clan member

Carl Hansen (AON)

- has a badger fetish

Nick Argall

Laura Birch