WHERE? Trinity Bay State High School, Hoare Street, CAIRNS, Queensland, Australia.

COST: $20 entry (play as many games as you like - max. 5).

Registration of what you want to play must be completed by Saturday 18th October 2008.

ReefCon is the only role-play gaming convention in Australia where the rainforest meets the reef. Since 2001, ReefCon has hosted premiere RPGA role-playing events right here in tropical Cairns. In 2008, the convention will host Living Forgotten Realms (4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons). This is part of a worldwide event: Weekend In The Realms. Don’t worry if you’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons before. We organise everything for you and teach you how to play the game that started the role-playing craze. Why play World of Warcraft when you can play the game that WoW copied? Why play online against faceless strangers, when you can sit face to face and PLAY LIVE?

Every player either chooses a pre-generated character at the convention (most new players do this), or he/she rolls up a “heroic character” before they arrive. Characters must conform to the RPGA (Role Play Gamers’ Association) guidelines – which can be found here:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lfrx/welcome

Each player then sits down with their character (usually a Wizard, a Fighter, a Rogue, or a Cleric) at a table with 4 or 5 other players. Also at the table is a Dungeon Master (or Game Referee).

Each player is given a figurine that represents his/her character. The DM then places down a “battle mat” – a colourful grid with terrain. Players place down their figures. The game begins.

The aim of the game is for each character to work together with other characters (players) to overcome the obstacles set by the DM (who usually plays the monsters).

Also, there is quite a bit of “play-acting” involved, where characters must solve puzzles, mysteries, murders, and other enigma. Players use their character skills in order to solve these problems.

If you win the game by defeating the monsters, then your character gets gold, treasure and experience points. You can take all of these “winnings” into your next game, and next game, and so on. This way, your character becomes powerful.

You can play your character in other Living Forgotten Realms anywhere in Australia (and the rest of the world). You can even play your character in Online LFR games (which are due for release in the next few months).

Coffee, tea, Milo and biscuits will be provided at the convention FREE of charge.

Make sure you bring a cup or mug. There are washing-up facilities at the convention to keep things clean.

There is a garage nearby to the school that sells soft drinks, chips, pies, etc. My advice is to “stock up” before you come to your game.

If you have a car (or can walk really fast), there is a Pizza Hut nearby and a KFC. You will get about 60 minutes in-between games to drive out and get something.

Entry fee into the convention is a flat $20 – no matter how many games you play. Most people play 3 games on Saturday and then 2 games on Sunday (see the schedule detailed later). You can play every game with the same character; or you can play a different character in each game. After the weekend has finished, you can take your character away and play him/her in your own Home Games (advancing in level from 1 to 30). Think of ReefCon as the opportunity to start the D&D character you’ve always wanted to play.

Anybody who DMs three (3) or more games for us gets in for FREE. Please note, however, that sometimes we have more DMs than we need for a session, and that you may need to choose a game to play in that session (as opposed to DMing). Experienced DMs will always be chosen over inexperienced DMs. DMs will (usually) be 18+ years of age or older.

The entry fee is paid at Registration (which is between 8am and 8.30am on Saturday October 25th). Registration takes place in the marshalling area – which is in the School Library. If you can’t make Registration, then you can pay Bruce Paris (the convention organiser) before you play your first game.

The fee goes towards paying for photocopying, printing, and other convention conveniences (such as FREE tea, coffee, Milo and biscuits).

One thing: if you want free tea/coffee/Milo – bring your own mug or cup!

No money is paid until you reach the convention and you pay on site ($20 flat fee, regardless of the number of games you play). If you play every game all weekend, that’s only $4.00 per game. Coffee, tea, Milo and biscuits are FREE. Please note that we accept CASH ONLY. Correct money will also be appreciated. You will be given a receipt once you have paid. DO NOT LOSE THIS RECEIPT. It serves as proof of payment, as well as security clearance.

Registration is ONLINE at www.warhorn.net/reefcon2008/

Once at the site, click on REGISTER TO ATTEND. Simply fill out the form, set a password (don’t forget it), then start organising your games! After you’ve registered, check back regularly for NEWS about the convention (and any last minute changes/additions) via the website.

Registration must be completed by Saturday 18th October 2008. Registration guarantees that you play the sessions and games you want to play. If you walk in without pre-registering, we will TRY to give you a game, but we can’t guarantee it. Sorry.

This procedure allows us to ensure that we have competent and capable DMs for every table and event – thus guaranteeing a quality play experience for everybody.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Please contact convention organiser, Bruce Paris, via email: baparis@aapt.net.au OR call Bruce Paris at Trinity Bay State High School on (07) 40 515788