Note that much of the followinghistory is based on the personal recollection of the author. If any reader has any concrete knowledge of the earlier KapCon's, especially any textual information such as registration forms and handouts, or even if they just want to write down what they remember about those events, the current KapCon organizers would be grateful for any submissions to help them fill out these pages. Similarly, should any reader feel like "putting us right" about things they reckon we've got wrong, feel free to contact us.
Originally, KapCon was run in Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast, and was primarily a wargaming convention. It was begun by a group known as the Kapiti Military Miniatures Society (KMMS) . The name derived from 'Kapiti Convention', to distinguish it from the conventions being run in Wellington by the Wellington Warlords.
Some of the original organizers of KapCon ended up moving to Wellington, (probably to go to university!) and due to the diminishing support for roleplaying at the national wargaming conventions (NatCons), decided to organize their convention focused on roleplaying, collectable cardgames, and boardgames.
These days KapCon does not have organized CCG or boardgame tournaments, focusing almost exclusively on various forms of roleplaying, though games do get played between sessions.
Although KapCon's are currently numbered, the numbering wasn't begun until quite late, (KapCon IX, in 2000) so while the next KapCon is KapCon XIV (when this text was written) there have actually been far more than thirteen previous KapCons, with the first being run in the mid-seventies, rather than 1991 as implied by the numbering.
Unfortunately, as can be seen below, the anarchic way in which KapCon's have been run over the years means we have no confirmed details of KapCons prior to 1995 at present. One day I may get time to dig through mu [paper archive and dig out some details of the KapCon's I remeber attending in the seventies. In the meantime, we'll be grateful if anyone can provide additional informaton for any earlier KapCon to put here
Frankie
This section contains brief notes about earlier KapCons that the current team know something about. The data for most of these entries has been compiled by Idiot Savant, and has been reproduced here (with pernmission) from his 'unofficial' site. Thanks Idiot!
KapCon the Thirteenth was again held at Wellington College and yet again represented a record level in KapCon attendance. Click on the heading above for more information, pictures from the convention and the associated live game, scenarios and other resources from the games played, and the results of the various competitions.
KapCon XII : Twelfth Night, was held at Wellington High School in Wellington, NZ over Wellington Anniversary weekend (January 18th - 19th) 2003. Attendence increased again, to just shy of a hundred. Click on the heading above for more information, pictures from the convention and the associated live game, scenarios and other resources from the games played, and the results of the various competitions.
52 scenarios were run in 67 sessions across the whole weekend, D&D3 being the most popular system, with Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu a close second. Other systems run included LOTR, Nobilis, Millenium's End, Godlike, Little Fears, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, Engel, Mechanical Dream, plus the usual assortment of systemless and homebrewed games.
KapCon XI : The Eleventh Hour, was held in the Northland Community Hall in Wellington, NZ over Wellington anniversary weekend (January 19th & 20th) 2002. The turnout was even larger than the previous years', with 82 people attending over the course of the weekend. Click here for some pictures from the convention and the associated live game, scenarios and other resources from the games played, and the results of the various competitions KapCon XI was held in the Northland Community Hall
In 2002 we returned to the traditional format of three 3-hour sessions per day, giving six main gaming sessions, with a LARP on the saturday night. About 40 scenarios were run in 57 sessions across the whole weekend, with D20 being the most popular system. Other systems run included White Wolf's Adventure!, Whispering Vault, Godlike, Alternity, Call of Cthulhu, F-Space, Tribe-8 and Jovian Chronicles, plus the usual assortment of systemless and homebrewed games.
KapCon X was held in the Northland Community Hall in Wellington, NZ over Wellington anniversary weekend (January 20th & 21st) 2001. The turnout was the highest ever, with 55 people attending over the course of the weekend.
The format was slightly different from previous years, with a mix of three and four-hour slots and only four main gaming sessions, with a LARP and final impromptu session taking up the extra time.
Despite this, more games were run than in 2000 - 29 games, and about 24 scenarios, not including the impromptus. Call of Cthulhu was once again the preferred system, but the visiting RPGA delegation made D&D 3rd edition a strong contender; other systems included Blue Planet, WHFRP, Shadowrun and Traveller, plus the usual assortment of systemless and homebrewed games.
KapCon IX was held at Turnbull House in Wellington, NZ on Easter Sunday and Monday (April 23rd & 24th) 2000. The turnout was fairly typical - 47 people according to the scoring sheets.
At least 26 games were run, as well as several more in the mystery freeform final session. The quality of the games was generally high, and there was a wide variety of systems used - Call of Cthulhu was the most popular, but other systems included D&D3, Storyteller, Traveller: the New Era and Dragon Warriors. Roughly a quarter of the games were systemless or homebrewed.
KapCon '99 was held at the Wellington Netball Clubrooms, Haitaiti, Wellington, on Wellington anniversary weekend (January 23rd & 24th) 1999.
49 people attended. 35 games were run, not counting those run in the late-night bonus session. A large proportion of the games were systemless or homebrewed, but among the others were Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, Vampire: the Masquerade, George Sadlier's Voyager, AD&D, Paranoia, and Tales of the Floating Vagabond.
KapCon '98 was held in the Ballroom in the VUWSA building, VUW on Wellington Anniversary weekend (January 22nd & 23rd) 1998.
Games run included Puppetland, Dragon Warriors, Paranoia, Runequest, George Sadlier's Voyager, Castle Falkenstein, Vampire: the Masquerade, and Call of Cthulhu.
KapCon '97 was held in the convention room of the Just On Willis Motel on Willis St, Wellington, on Wellington anniversary weekend (January 21st & 22nd) 1997.
Games run included AD&D, Shadowrun:2250, HoL, George Sadlier's Voyager, Call of Cthulhu, Feng Shui, Castle Falkenstein, Star Wars, and Vampire: the Masquerade.
KapCon '96 was held at the Museum Hotel, Wakefield St, Wellington, on Wellington Anniversary weekend (January 20th - 21st) 1996.
KapCon '95 was held at the Museum Hotel, Wakefield St, Wellington, on Wellington anniversary weekend (January 21st - 22nd) 1995. Games offered included AD&D, Rolemaster, TMNT, MERP, BattleTech and Magic: the Gathering.
Regular KapCon Supporters:
