Library: Gen Con at UW-Parkside: Gen Con @ UWP

What is Gen Con?

UW-Parkside hosted Gen Con from 1978 to 1984.

WHAT IS GEN CON?

Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America. Gary Gygax, who later co-created Dungeons & Dragons, established the first Gen Con in the basement of his home in Lake Geneva in 1968. Gen Con was vital in providing Gygax and Arneson the time and community to develop their ideas around Dungeons & Dragons before it was published.

Gen Con 2024 attendance was over 71,000 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Gen Con = “Geneva Convention”, due to the conventions origins in Lake Geneva. Also a play on the words “Geneva Conventions” since the original Gen Con focused on war games.

What is Gen Con?

Gen Con in Wisconsin, 1968-2002

WHAT IS D&D?

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game original created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in Lake Geneva, 1974. Gen Con was vital in providing Gygax and Arneson the time and community to develop their ideas around D&D before it was published.

D&D is currently in its 5th edition with the three core rulebooks being The Player’s Handbook, The Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Monster Manual.

D&D settings are based on various fantasy genres and feature different levels and types of magic and technology.

Fantasy literature is set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds.

A Brief History of Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons turns 50 in 2024

Lake Geneva, birthplace of DnD, celebrates 50 years

Birthplace of D&D house