From: john.hughes@anu.edu.au (John Patrick Hughes)
Subject: Necronomicon Entry Form Part 2.
Organization: Australian National University
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 05:19:15 GMT

Necronomicon IV: The Entry Form (Part 2)

All Module descriptions are contained in a separate posting (Part 1).

If youd like a paper entry form (lots of pretty but irrelevent graphics)
post me your snail mail address.

John.
john.hughes@anu.edu.au

In the Thrilling Tradition of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and
Kung Fu CB Motorcycle Mamas versus the Aztec Wrestling Nuns
The Romantic Penguins Proudly Present...

NECRONOMICON IV: THE PENGUIN THAT ATE NEWTOWN

A Roleplaying Convention 2nd - 5th October 1992
Sydney Australia
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, King & Newman Street, Newtown.
(two minutes from rail & bus).

Convention Guest of Honour: Greg  Stafford, Designer of Runequest,
Pendragon, etc. and president of Chaosium Inc.

THE BORING BITS

Welcome to the electronic entry form. Everyone attending Necronomicon
must fill out an entry form (this means you!). You can enter as an
individual or as part of a team. As far as possible, team entries
should be submitted together.

CONVENTION COSTS

There is no convention fee. You pay on a session by session basis.

For the first five sessions you pay $4.00 per session played.

For the remaining sessions you pay $3.00 per session played.

You may enter up to 12 sessions during the convention. There is a
maximum cost of $40.00 (plus late fees, if applicable).

Referees are entitled to a discount of $1.00 per session played, to a
maximum of $5.00.

Entries received after 10 September  pay a late fee of $1.00 per session.
As numbers for competitions are strictly limited, its in your interest
to enter early.

Gamesmasters who referee five sessions or more are entitled to a
specially crafted Necronomicon coffee mug. 

All entries to Necronomicon IV will be prescheduled by the organisers.
If you are unavailable at certain times over the weekend, please attach
a note to your entry form clearly stating the times or sessions you
cannot play. If you have other special entry requirements, please note
them on your entry  well do our very best to make appropriate arrangements.

Players can pick up their playing schedules at Registration, which
begins at 8:00 am on Friday 2 October.

Please make cheques or money orders payable to Necronomicon IV.
Entries processed before 10 September will receive a confirmation
phone call. Address entries to:

Necronomicon IV, 12 Mason  Street,
Parramatta, NSW 2150.

ELECTRONIC ENTRY FORM
If you wish to enter Necronomicon, cut and print the following section.
Post it to the above address with a cheque for the correct amount.
........................................................................


Name:____________________________________________________________________

Phone (AH):________________________________


Address:___________________________________


___________________________________________

State:_______________ Postcode: ___________


Age: ____________________

Registration Fees

Sessions 1-5  ($4.00 per session)        __________

Sessions 6-12 ($3.00 per session)        __________
Late fee of $1.00 per session
(after 10 September)                     __________
- GM Discount of $1.00 per session
(Maximum $5.00)                          __________

TOTAL REGISTRATION (Maximum
$40.00 excluding late fees).             __________

Attach a sheet of paper listing each game you wish to enter, its number of
sessions, and whether you are entering as an individual or a member of a team
(give the team name).

You can enter up to 12 sessions. All entries will be prescheduled.
If you are unavailable for some sessions, please tell us when.
Cheques should be made out to Necronomicon IV. Do not send cash through
the mail.

I enclose as my payment for entry to Necronomicon IV the sum of $ ______.
I hereby pay the applicable fee and agree to abide by all the rules and
conditions set by the organisers, and by the decisions as to the
interpretation of those rules and conditions made by the organisers or
their representatives or delegates. I also agree that I have no claim
against any of the organisers for any loss, damage or injury incurred
by me as a result of attending Necronomicon IV.


Signed: ______________________ (Parent or Guardian if under 18).

Address entries to: Necronomicon IV, 12 Mason  Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150.
..........................................................................
CUT HERE

ENQUIRIES

If you have any general enquiries about Necronomicon, please call either
Megan and Michael Hitchens (Sydney) on (02) 683 2229 or
John and Philippa Hughes (Canberra) on (06) 247 7598. Prescheduling
for Necronomicon is in the hands of Michael and Megan   enquiries relating
to scheduling should be directed to them.
Direct electronic mail enquiries to John at
john.hughes@anu.edu.au

SESSION TIMES

Necronomicon runs over 12 sessions on four days.
The four possible sessions per day are designated morning,
afternoon, evening & night.

Morning Sessions run 9.00 am to 11.30 am. Lunch runs from 11.30 am
to 1.00 pm, with the scheduled lunch-time events (seminars, trollball)
starting at 12.00 pm. Afternoon sessions start at 1.00 pm and finish at
3.30 pm. Evening sessions start at 4.00 pm and finish at 6.30 pm.
Night Sessions start at 7.30 pm and finish at 10.00 pm.

Friday runs all four sessions.
Saturday and Sunday have morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
Monday has a morning & afternoon session, followed by the prizegiving.
The Monday night session is scheduled for getting the organisers drunk.

GREG STAFFORD OUR GUEST OF HONOUR

Yep, its true. American game designer Greg Stafford is coming to Australia
for Necronomicon IV. Greg, the President of Chaosium and designer of such
roleplaying classics as Runequest and Pendragon, will appear as convention
Guest of Honour. 

Greg, as President of Chaosium Inc., has always stood at the cutting edge
of commercial gaming. Runequest was the first roleplaying game to use a
skill-based system, and to take the workings of mythology and society
seriously. Gregs fantasy world of Glorantha continues to exert a
fascination for roleplayers across the globe  including a loyal Australian
contingent. (Avalon Hills latest Runequest Glorantha supplement 'Sun  
County'   which will demo at Necro  has been designed by Melbourne gamer
Michael OBrien). Chaosiums Call of Cthulhu turned the tables on the
heroic fantasy style of gaming, and indirectly led to the multiform styles
of the Australian convention circuit. Pendragon continued Gregs fascination
with making mythology live. More recently, his Prince Valiant has abandoned
elaborate rule systems to produce a gaming style based on pure storytelling.

Greg is extremely interested in the Australian convention circuit and is
looking forward to experiencing our unique roleplaying style.

Bringing Greg to Australia has been a real community effort.
The costs associated with his visit will not come out of Necronomicon
convention fees. A series of Roleplaying Auctions at Sydcon and Arcanacon
helped us to raise the bulk of the airfare. Roleplayers and organisations
donated items for the auction, and Greg himself provided some rare and
unpublished material. To all concerned  Thanks for your help and support.

As Guest of Honour, Greg will be presenting a series of lunchtime seminars.
He will speak on Pendragon and on the yet unpublished Epic System.
As an extra bonus, we hope to organise a demonstration of the Epic System
for a large number of people. Most of all, Greg is here to socialise and
to roleplay. His visit represents an unprecedented opportunity for us
to meet one of the movers and shakers of the gaming industry. It should be a
fascinating and fun experience for all concerned. 

A NEW VENUE

For Necronomicon IV weve changed venues. The convention will be held at
the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, which is just a few metres
from Newtown Railway Station, close to major bus routes and to a multitude
of cheap eateries on Newtowns main street. We hope that the new venue will
allow easier access to the convention for gamers who dont have access to
private transport.

CONVENTION ACTIVITIES

We are proud of the range and quality of games on offer at Necronomicon IV.
The designers and gamesmasters supporting the convention have provided
twenty one high-quality tournaments. These games represent a diverse
cross-section of our hobby. Whatever your taste in gaming, Necronomicon IV
has something for you. And if youve never played a systemless game, a
freeform, or a dungeon adventure, Necronomicon is the place to try! 

There will also be a variety of support activities  Greg Staffords
seminars, The Epic System, Trollball!, a roleplaying trivia quiz and a
demo session from Sun County, Australias newest Runequest supplement.
We are always open to suggestions for additional events, so if you have
a game, demo, or activity youd like to run at Necronomicon,
contact one of the organisers.

ARE YOU NEW TO CONVENTIONS?

Roleplaying Conventions offer us all a chance to try different styles of
games and different systems, to swap ideas and meet other people who share
our interests. If youre new to roleplaying or to the convention scene,
and youre not sure what an event such as Necronomicon involves,
please ring one of the organisers. Wed be happy to answer any questions
you might have about the convention or the hobby.
 
GAMESMASTERS REQUIRED

There are always vacancies for potential gamesmasters. Gamesmasters who
referee get to play sessions at a discount, have lots of fun, meet new
friends, and survive encounters with caffeine-addicted organisers. Those
who referee five sessions or more receive an exclusive Necronomicon coffee
mug with real tentacles (we kid you not). However, it is convention policy
that all gamesmasters playtest the modules before they run them, so it will
be too late if you  announce yourself at registration. Contact us now and
make the world a happier place.

RULES AND STUFF

Strictly no weapons at the convention. All elephant foot umbrella stands
must be accompanied by a cardboard umbrella, except when involved in 
freeforms. Absolutely No Exceptions. Following complaints last year about
penguins disrupting games, we ask that all flightless waterfowl be left
at the registration desk.

THE CREDITS

Necronomicon IV is organised by the Romantic Penguins: Megan Hitchens,
Michael Hitchens, John Hughes, Philippa Hughes, Robert MacLean,
H. Pembroke Fishcraft and Moranda Stewart. The convention is non-profit.
All time, effort, blood sweat and tears are donated voluntarily. 

On behalf of the Australian roleplaying community, wed like to offer our
congratulations to Moranda Stewart and Robert MacLean on the occasion of
their wedding, wishing them all the best for the years ahead, and hoping 
they get back from their honeymoon in time for Necronomicon.

See you at Necronomicon!

THE NECRONOM-ICON RATING SYSTEM

[Obviously, no icons in this text document. Ive substituted text
descriptions instead. J.H.]

The Necronomicon module rating system gives you a straightforward and
standardised method of checking out games before you play. You will find
one or more of these [DESCRIPTIONS] with every module blurb.
They indicate the broad feel and focus of the module.

The absence of a [DESCRIPTION] does not mean that a module has none of that
particular element. As you will see as you read the individual descriptions,
the icons represent a particular emphasis within the module. For example,
all modules have some degree of characterisation, even though they may not
have a characterisation icon. Some modules may have elements of combat,
but they will not have a combat icon unless the combat is central
to the module or represents a significant element of play.

LOTS OF CHARACTERISATION: a module in which three-dimensional character
development, exploration and possible change are absolutely central.

SOME CHARACTERISATION: a module where a certain depth of character
exploration is important but where it is in balance with other elements
such as problem solving.

LOTS OF PROBLEM SOLVING: a module in which the solving of a mystery through
the active search for clues is central to the module.

SOME PROBLEM SOLVING: a module with a significant degree of problem solving,
but where this is in balance with other elements such as characterisation
or humour.

LOTS OF COMBAT: a module where combat and related tactics and decision
making are central. These modules usually have a requirement of system
rules knowledge. There may be a fair chance that your character will
die during the module.

SOME COMBAT: a module where there are significant elements of combat
and tactical planning, but where these are in balance with other elements
such as characterisation or problem solving.

LOTS OF HUMOUR: a module involving constant gratuitous gagging and rib
tickling escapism. Giggle giggle, haw haw. Think 'Toon'. You get the picture.

SOME HUMOUR: a module involving significant amounts of in-character rib
tickling, but balanced by other elements such as characterisation or
problem solving.


The GENRE, ADULT and SOPHISTICATION descriptions represent slightly
different concepts rather than differing emphases on the same idea. 

GENRE: a module where you have a very good idea of what your
character will be like before you pick up the character sheet.
If you know you are playing a swashbuckling romance genre, for example,
you know that your character;

will know how to buckle her swash, and 

will fall into a well known stereotype such as The Bandit Prince or The
Scheming Courtier.
 
'Genre' modules employ elements of stereotyping that we all recognise because
weve seen at least a dozen B Grade movies using the same characters
and plots. They sacrifice depth of characterisation for ease of play.


Modules with SOPHISTICATION or ADULT descriptions are not recommended
for players aged sixteen or under. These modules will usually hold player
briefings before play begins. They are not sensationalist, but invoke adult
sensibilities and responses.

A SOPHISTICATION description indicates a module involving concepts that
younger players might not fully appreciate. It may explore philosophical
or emotional ideas that require a degree of player maturity: for example,
fidelity between partners, human mortality or issues of religion, sex or
politics. These ideas will be presented in an implicit and non-graphic manner.

An 'Adult' description indicates a module that explores controversial
issues or which may invoke a strong emotional reaction. There are two
descriptions used in this group.

A GRAPHIC description indicates that the module employs explicit concepts.
It might involve sex, graphic violence or the sustained use of obscenity
invoked for purposes of plot or characterisation. 

A CATHARSIS description indicates that the module invites you to deal with
your characters inner life in a sustained and often emotional way.
Such strong emotional identification may occasionally intrude on subjects
that you as a player find sensitive or disturbing. All modules featuring a
'Catharsis' description will involve both a briefing and a debriefing.

 _________________________________________________


NECRONOMICON REGISTRATION

8:00 am on Friday 2 October at Newtown High School for the Performing Arts,
King & Newman Streets, Newtown. (Gregorys Map 13, F4).

The Fine Print: Scheduling Enquiries should be directed to Megan & Michael
Hitchens on (02) 683 2229. For General Enquiries, contact Megan or Michael
in Sydney, or John and Philippa Hughes in Canberra on (06) 247 7598.
As all of the organisers are fairly advanced in years, we appreciate calls
well before midnight. 7:30-10:30 pm finds us civil, helpful and reasonably
coherent.

NET ENQUIRIES: john.hughes@anu.edu.au

Thanks to Wes Nicholson, Mark Morrison, and the organisers of Sydcon and
Arcanacon for their assistance in organising the fundraising activities
that enabled us to bring Greg Stafford to Australia. Thanks also to the
designers and gms who make it all possible.
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay