Supporters
Convention Guide
What not to forget to pack:
- Toilet roll
- Kitchen roll
- Black bin bags
- Dishwasher tablets
- Food, inc. fruit.
- Slow cooker – best way to get a decent meal during the 1 hour breaks.
- Large mug
- Tea Towel
- Bath Towel
- Toiletries
- Phone charger
- Laptop – wifi is not free or cheap
- Coat
- Drugs – Paracetamol etc
- Money – there is a cash point on site but it charges for withdrawals and doesn’t accept foreign cards
- Dice
When programming your sat nav, use this postcode: BH25 7QT
On arrival, walk through the main foyer through the double doors in front of you and immediately on your right is the con-desk where you can book in and pick up your keys.
The guys on the desk here will answer any questions and endeavour to sort any problems for you throughout the con.
There is no charge to attend the event, you only pay to play; £3 per slot, tickets available from the con-desk.
The day is split into 3 slots per day.
0900-13001400-18001900-2300
(although games often run to 2345, clubhouse is closed at 2400hrs)
Sunday, all slots run an hour later.
Games are advertised on 3 signup boards in the foyer. Games only go up 24 hours in advance and refreshed after each game is mustered. Sign your name to book a place.
If you can’t find a space, turn up for muster anyway, as often people don’t turn up leaving spaces which need filling.
Living games have there own signup boards. A ‘Living Game’ is where a player will take a character and grow him through different GM’s and players. The character is registered centrally and GM’s sign off equipment, treasure and experience. Specific adventures are available and players generally know exactly which adventures they want to take their characters through.
Muster is a noisy, busy, mass congregation of all the players gaming in this slot. You must turn up on time! The GM will be called, followed by the Game Name and the listed players. The GM will then take you to his allocated table and ask you for your ticket (write your name on the reverse of your tickets, at the Sunday Raffle all tickets are placed into a draw as random prize winners).
Muster for Living games takes place 15 minutes before slot start in the lower bar.
Muster for non-Living games takes place 5 minutes before the slot start in the main foyer.
DON’T BE LATE, YOUR SPACE WILL BE OFFERED TO SOMEONE ELSE.
Your game will last approximately four hours although comfort/drinks breaks will be given. (Note if you are signed up to play a game in the following slot you have less than an hour between this game ending and muster for your next one.)
Running your own game; ask for a sign up sheet from the con-desk, and book a table.
Fill out the name of the game and a short description. State the maximum number of players your game can take, then tack it up on the board under the slot you wish to run it in.
If that slot is not yet up on the boards, give the sheet in at the con desk, where staff will put it up for you at the correct time.
Once your sign up sheet is full it may be removed by the Conception staff.
Muster as normal for your slot. Once your name and those of your players have been called take them to your designated table and collect in their tickets.
On completion of your game take the collected tickets back to the main desk with your sign up sheet and hand them in to the staff. In return they will give you a Discount ticket, this ticket is your reward for running the game and can be used for one of three things.
- In lieu of a game ticket for another game you wish to play.
- Discount for next years Conception accommodation. Write ticket numbers in the discount section of the Early Bird accommodation form, for each card you will receive a £5 discount. You will need to physically hand over these tickets at that event. DO NOT SEND THEM IN THE POST.
- Put your ticket in the GM’s grand prize draw on the Sunday, for your chance to win one of the prizes in the special GM’s only draw.
Unless CharGen is quick and fun, pre-generated player character sheets are a must.
Don’t allow players to bring their own character to the game, unless you are running a Living game or an experienced GM.
The convention game should be a self contained one-shot with a good beginning, an interesting middle which builds to a memorable climax. It needs to run in 3.5 hours (a slot is 4 hours and players need to read character sheets and time for comfort breaks.)
If you didn’t manage to sign up to a game, go to muster, you may pick up a space or, there may be enough people left to fill a completely new game.
However, if you still didn’t get a game, or arrive half way through a slot, then use the time to chill out with a beer, talk to other attendees, browse the trade hall or pick up one of the demo games (normally also in the trade hall). Maybe a trip back to your room for some well deserved sleep and food would even be in order!
Any questions at this point ASK FOR HELP at the con desk. Duncan and the guys on the desk are always there to help you. They have heard and dealt with all manner of silly questions and will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Food: No food purchased off-site in the main hall please. Eat between games. It can be a long day so keep sustained.
There is a fast food servery next to the bar, it’s open all day, does coffee, cooked breakfast, burgers, chips, jacket potatoes and baguettes. You will be given a cloakroom ticket when you order, which will be displayed on a screen when ready. This food will be served in fast food packaging with plastic cutlery and will need to be collected, although this can be taken to your table.
The bottom bar or ‘Smuggler’s Retreat’ has a larger menu, which includes vegetables, crockery and cutlery. This food is usually delivered to you. Sunday lunchtime, there is also a carvery.
Go back to your lodge and cook, but don’t forget the time!
Drink: No drink purchased off-site in the main hall please. It can be a long day so keep sustained.
Drinks can be purchased from the two Bars and taken to your table (don’t forget to buy one for your GM).
There are also vending machines, although the Bars are cheaper.
Respect: Sometimes LARPS (Live Action Role Playing) take place in the top bar. When you go in to buy a drink, remember others are playing a game so keep noise and disruption to a minimum.
Flash Photography: Taking pictures of the convention is an excellent way to remember certain things, but before snapping away be aware that others may have photo sensitive epilepsy. Therefore a good 10 to 15 seconds before taking your picture shout the word Flash giving any sufferers a chance to take cover.
Supplies: The onsite shop is rarely open! However, if you need to get supplies in, tea bags, milk, and shower gel ask the friendly people at the desk and they will give you directions to the local Tescos (a twenty minute walk from the site).
Sunday Raffle: Sunday afternoon is when the organisers of Conception hold the grand raffle, award any prizes and tell us how much has been raised for the charity. This is their moment of glory after the days of solid work they put in to ensure we have a good convention experience. During this raffle (30-40 minutes) the con desk will not be manned. Therefore, if you need to check keys in on the Sunday, it would need to be before or after the raffle.