KoL Con: Difference between revisions

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{{rewrite|comment=Con guide/Con item sections need lots of polish. Every Con before 8 need descriptions from attendees.}}
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[[File:small bbqlogo.gif|center|KoL Con]]
[[File:small bbqlogo.gif|center|KoL Con]]


'''KoL Con''' (short for KoL Convention) is an annual real-world gathering of [[Kingdom of Loathing|KoL]] players in [[Wikipedia:Mesa, Arizona|Mesa, Arizona]], where the global headquarters of [[Wikipedia:Asymmetric Publications|Asymmetric Publications]] are located. To date, there have been ten conventions. Players from all over the world have attended the conventions, including players from as far away as [[Wikipedia:Australia|Australia]] and [[Wikipedia:Europe|Europe]].
'''KoL Con''' (short for KoL Convention) was an annual real-world gathering of [[Kingdom of Loathing|KoL]] players in [[Wikipedia:Mesa, Arizona|Mesa, Arizona]], where the global headquarters of [[Wikipedia:Asymmetric Publications|Asymmetric Publications]] are located. To date, there have been eleven conventions. Players from all over the world have attended the conventions, including players from as far away as [[Wikipedia:Australia|Australia]] and [[Wikipedia:Europe|Europe]].


KoL Con is far from the only KoL gathering, but it is the only official one, and the one at which you're most likely to bump into the game developers.
KoL Con was far from the only KoL gathering, but it was the only official one, and the one at which you were most likely to bump into the game developers.


==What Happens At Con==
The last KoL Con was held in 2015, though there was a digital event in 2016. No official KoL Con was held between 2017 and 2022, and the event is unlikely to return.
The official events at KoL Con take place across two days, a Friday and Saturday sometime in September. The exact dates are announced anytime from the end of the previous Con to the month before, but February is usually about average. Tickets go on sale in the [http://store.asymmetric.net Asymmetric Store] in August, along with orders for the exclusive Con T-shirt, and tickets for semi-official events organised by Asymmetric (in past years, this has included Drunken Skating on Thursday evening, and the KoL LARP on Sunday).


KoL Con has been hosted at several different venues, and in past years several different parts of the Greater Phoenix area. At time of writing, the venue of choice is [http://www.12-westmain.com/ 12 West Main St, Mesa], which has enough space to fill several hundred adventurers, tables, and a stage. Typically, attendees need to fly into [[Wikipedia:PHX|Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)]], although Arizona locals (or people from neighbouring states) may prefer to drive in.
==What Happened At Con==
The official events at KoL Con took place across two days, a Friday and Saturday sometime in September. The exact dates were announced anytime from the end of the previous Con to the month before, but February was usually about average. Tickets would go on sale in the [http://store.asymmetric.net Asymmetric Store] in August, along with orders for the exclusive Con T-shirt, and tickets for semi-official events organised by Asymmetric (in past years, this has included Drunken Skating on Thursday evening, and the KoL LARP on Sunday).


The official events kick off on Friday evening, and in previous years have included trips to Gameworks, and fancy dress Casino nights. Typically, extra entertainments such as Assassain games, Con bingo, and player-hosted poker tournaments have gone on in the background.
KoL Con has been hosted at several different venues, and in past years several different parts of the Greater Phoenix area. Later on, the venue of choice was [http://www.12-westmain.com/ 12 West Main St, Mesa], which has enough space to fill several hundred adventurers, tables, and a stage. Typically, attendees needed to fly into [[Wikipedia:PHX|Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)]], although Arizona locals (or people from neighbouring states) might've preferred to drive in.


Saturday is traditionally the Barbecue Day, which started out as a literal barbecue in the park, became catered barbecue inside with air-conditioning, and is now instead catered by the [http://www.cornishpastyco.com/ Cornish Pasty Company]. Traditionally, Saturday afternoon has played host to the trivia quiz hosted by DanBob, with prizes of meat, items and merch for the winners. Jick and Skully will also spend a few minutes signing real-life Certificates of Participation and saying hello to everyone. Jick's mom can be found manning the merch table, selling goodies from the Asymmetric store without the postage markup, and also the Con-exclusive in-game items (see below). In the evening, after a break for sound-checking, the official festivities wind to a close with a concert. Usually, this is headlined by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]], and features an eclectic mix of supporting acts.
The official events kicked off on Friday evening, and in previous years have included trips to Gameworks, and fancy dress Casino nights. Typically, extra entertainments such as Assassain games, Con bingo, and player-hosted poker tournaments would go on in the background.


However, the official events are by no means the only entertainment available. Attendees will show up days, and in some intercontinental cases weeks, before the kickoff to hang out and enjoy the weather (or not, since temperatures in Phoenix in September can hit 110°F/45°C). There are also many, many things to do, which have been known to include:
Saturday was traditionally the Barbecue Day, which started out as a literal barbecue in the park, became catered barbecue inside with air-conditioning, and was eventually catered by the [http://www.cornishpastyco.com/ Cornish Pasty Company]. Traditionally, Saturday afternoon has played host to the trivia quiz hosted by DanBob, with prizes of meat, items and merch for the winners. Jick and Skully would also spend a few minutes signing real-life Certificates of Participation and saying hello to everyone. Jick's mom could be found manning the merch table, selling goodies from the Asymmetric store without the postage markup, and also the Con-exclusive in-game items (see below). In the evening, after a break for sound-checking, the official festivities wound to a close with a concert. Usually, this was headlined by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]], and featured an eclectic mix of supporting acts.
 
However, the official events were by no means the only entertainment available. Attendees would show up days, and in some intercontinental cases weeks, before the kickoff to hang out and enjoy the weather (or not, since temperatures in Phoenix in September can hit 110°F/45°C). There were also many, many things to do, which have been known to include:
* Drunken Skating on Thursday evening: Asymmetric hire out a roller skating rink, where attendees can drink, skate, eat bad pizza, and trade in skeeball tickets for banarnas.
* Drunken Skating on Thursday evening: Asymmetric hire out a roller skating rink, where attendees can drink, skate, eat bad pizza, and trade in skeeball tickets for banarnas.
* Visiting the Monastery Bar on Thursday evening: The more recent alternative to Drunken Skating, trading out the skating and the skeeball for better food, more beer, and a huge drive to the middle of nowhere in Mesa.
* Sushi on Friday afternoon: Traditionally organised by Fusilliban, the fine folks at [https://plus.google.com/116450538201169741418 Ninja Sushi] put on all-you-can-eat sushi for hungry Con-goers. Usually announced in the forums in August.
* Sushi on Friday afternoon: Traditionally organised by Fusilliban, the fine folks at [https://plus.google.com/116450538201169741418 Ninja Sushi] put on all-you-can-eat sushi for hungry Con-goers. Usually announced in the forums in August.
* KoL LARP on Sunday: It's KoL... as a LARP. Hungover Asymmetric staff members letting in teams of adventurers to explore the world of the Kingdom in foamboard-drawing goodness. The amount of work it takes to organise and host, however, means it hasn't happened for several years.
* KoL LARP on Sunday: It's KoL... as a LARP. Hungover Asymmetric staff members letting in teams of adventurers to explore the world of the Kingdom in foamboard-drawing goodness. The amount of work it takes to organise and host, however, means it hasn't happened for several years.
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* Houseparties all weekend: Since many clans and friends will book houses to stay at Con, there's plenty of houses for afterparties.  
* Houseparties all weekend: Since many clans and friends will book houses to stay at Con, there's plenty of houses for afterparties.  


After Con (usually the TPTMBG "two weeks" later), Con attendees will recieve a non-tradeable "souvenir" item to put in their display cases. In addition, first-time visitors to KoL Con will find their [[Resting#Miscellaneous Furnishings|Certificates of Participation]] are a lot shinier than they were before.
After Con (usually the TPTMBG "two weeks" later), Con attendees received a non-tradeable "souvenir" item to put in their display cases. In addition, first-time visitors to KoL Con found their [[Resting#Miscellaneous Furnishings|Certificates of Participation]] are a lot shinier than they were before.


==Guide For Con Attendees==
==Guide For Con Attendees==
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==Con Items==
==Con Items==


Every year since 2010, a Con-exclusive item has been available for the attendees to buy, to help defray the costs of running KoL Con. Each item costs $20 from the merchandise table the year it is created, and each previous year's item is available for $10 more than the previous year. Or to present this as a table:
Every year from 2010-2015, a Con-exclusive item has been available for the attendees to buy, to help defray the costs of running KoL Con. Each item costs $20 from the merchandise table the year it is created, and each previous year's item is available for $10 more than the previous year (an exception to this occurring in 2023, where only the price of the KoL Con 13 snowglobe was increased). As of 2016 at the virtual con that was converted into Mr. Accessories with the new item costing only a single Mr. Accessory. Or to present this as a table:


{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|- style="background-color:#EFEFEF;"
|- style="background-color:#EFEFEF;"
! Item
! Item
! 2023
! 2022
! 2016
! 2015
! 2014
! 2014
! 2013
! 2013
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! 2010
! 2010
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Unknown || $20 || -  || -  || -  || -
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Crated wardrobe-o-matic]] || 1 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || -  || -  || -  || -  || - || - || - || -
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog|Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog]] || $30 || $20 || - || - || -
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[KoL Con 13 snowglobe]] || 3 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 2 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 1 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || -  || -  || -  || - || - || -
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Tome of Rad Libs]] || $40 ||| $30 || $20 || - || -
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[potted tea tree]] || 4 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 4 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 3 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || $20 || - || -  || -  || -  || -
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Gygaxian Libram]] || $50 || $40 ||| $30 || $20 || -
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Xi Receiver Unit]] || 5 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 5 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 4 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || $30 || $20 || -  || -  || -  || -
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[hippo tutu]] || $60 || $50 || $40 ||| $30 || $20
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog]] || 6 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 6 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 5 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || $40 || $30 || $20 || - || - || -
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Tome of Rad Libs]] || 7 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 7 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 6 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || $50 || $40 ||| $30 || $20 || - || -
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[Gygaxian Libram]] || 8 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 8 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 7 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || $60 || $50 || $40 ||| $30 || $20 || -
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | [[hippo tutu]] || 9 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 9 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || 8 {{InlineItem|Mr. Accessory| }} || $70 || $60 || $50 || $40 ||| $30 || $20
|}
|}
Players who do not attend KoL Con can acquire these items in two ways: by buying them from other players in the [[Mall]] or /trade, or giving Con attendees money to buy them an item.
Note that in 2016, KoL Con 13 was held in-game and Con items were available for purchase at the virtual [[KoL Con 13 Merch Table]]. As such, items were sold in exchange for Mr. Accessories instead of dollars. Further, the [[KoL Con 13 snowglobe]] was introduced at the price of only one Mr. Accessory.


Players who do not attend KoL Con can acquire these items in two ways: by buying them from other players in the [[Mall]] or /trade, or giving Con attendees money to buy them an item.
==Past KoL Cons==
 
===KoL Con 13 (2016)===
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: || 30 September 2016 - 2 October 2016  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=226299 Forums]
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || colspan="3" | {{InlineItem|KoL Con 13 snowglobe}}
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Events: || colspan="3" |
In lieu of a physical convention, a virtual KoL Con appeared atop [[The Time-Twitching Tower]]. Adventuring venues included a [[KoL Con Clan Party House]] and [[12 West Main]], while the [[KoL Con 13 Merch Table]] offered new and past Con Items. On Saturday, Jick and HotStuff hosted a [https://www.twitch.tv/asym/v/92451372 livestream on Twitch.tv] in which they answered player questions and implemented the [[Twitching Television Tattoo]].
|}
 
===KoL Con XII (2015)===
 
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  25 - 26 September 2015  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=209060 Forums]
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Potted tea tree}} || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con 12-gauge}}
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" |
Informal Gathering at Monastery Pub in Mesa
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" |
Traditional Fusilliban's Stuff Yourself With Sushi! at Ninja Japanese Restaurant


==KoL Con XI (2014)==
Casino and Game Night
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" |
BBQ and Games and Wizards
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" |
Karaoke Night
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | Not taken yet
|}


Currently, all information listed is provisional, speculatory, and hopefully not wrong.
===KoL Con XI (2014)===


{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
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| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  5 - 6 September 2014  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=202498 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  5 - 6 September 2014  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=202498 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || Unknown  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || Unknown
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Xi Receiver Unit}} || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|Size XI Wizard's Robe}}
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | Another Thursday evening trip to the Monastery Bar seems likely, and a Fusilliban-organised sushi lunch on Friday afternoon is an almost-certain bet
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | A few super-early attendees came out and took part in [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=207679 a spot of mini golf] in 108 degree weather, before making their way to [http://www.realfunbar.com the Monastary Bar] for an evening's drinking, grilling and being confused by misting sprays.
 
[http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=208478 Fusilliban's traditional sushi lunch] went off without a hitch, unlike his self-imploding PayPal account.
 
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | 12 West Main has been confirmed as the venue for both nights for the fourth year running. It's a fairly safe bet that another Casino night is on the cards for Friday night. Con bingo should make a reappearence (with less "bringing [[Riff]] to after-party" shenanigans required to win), and there may well be another Assassain game organised.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Con-goers swarmed into 12 West Main on Friday evening for the now-traditional Fancy Dress Casino night, now featuring record amounts of fancy dress. Assassain games and Con bingo didn't make a reappearence, but there was plenty enough blackjack, craps, poker, roulette and Fluxx to keep everyone happy.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Traditional Saturday afternoon activities such as trivia, Con items, certificate signing and pasties are presumed to still be happening. Word from Jick, however, suggests that the traditional Saturday evening concert is going to be replaced with "science wizards", which could be anything from Bill Nye to a man in wizard robes setting off a baking-soda volcano.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday featured the traditional Saturday afternoon activities of trivia, Con items, certificate signing and [http://www.cornishpastyco.com/ the Cornish Pasty Company]. There was also a visit from [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=207804 the Travelling Trader], the rarely seen Draw A Piglet poster, and even a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieYyRYpYrtM wedding] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DREjbPPE9Hg proposal]!
 
Evening entertainment featured a science wizard that set balloons on fire, stacked colored liquids, and filled containers of misleading sizes.  A magician wizard dazzled attendees with playing cards and stories.  The night wrapped up with a drawing for prizes including a quilt created by [[Jick]]'s mother, admission and lodgings at [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=202185 KoLumbus 10], [[Chat Guide: Channels#lounge|/lounge]] chat channel access, and in-game prizes of varying economic and entertainment value contributed by players.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | Karaoke on Sunday evening is a fairly safe bet if Mr Skullhead has anything to do with it. There should be plenty of Sunday houseparties on-hand - one is being organised by this wiki page's author, for a start!
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | After the totally mysterious engagement party, Sunday evening was closed out by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]] performing in Mesa (with free entry for Con attendees), supported by Dr. Awkward, Corn Mo, and Maros.
 
On early Monday morning, [[Heavy Rains]] was implemented in the Greater Phoenix area, which made it challenging to get home.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | To be taken
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=208621 Forums]
|}
|}
==Past KoL Cons==


===KoL Con X (2013)===
===KoL Con X (2013)===
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| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con X Treasure Map}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con X Treasure Map}}
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | As ever, many people enjoyed tasty sushi organised by Fusilliban on Friday afternoon. Thursday evening, however, saw a move from the traditional Drunken Skating, and instead played host to Drinks At [http://www.realfunbar.com The Monastary Bar].
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | As ever, many people enjoyed tasty sushi organised by Fusilliban on Friday afternoon. Thursday evening, however, saw a move from the traditional Drunken Skating, and instead played host to Drinks At The Monastary Bar.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Casino night kicked off the weekend at 12 West Main St, with $500 in meat chips given to each con attendee. Drinks flowed and gambling ensued. Games included blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, Mr. Card Game, and other games brought by patrons. Fancy dress was requested but not mandatory. [[HotStuff]] and [[Jick]] also included an impressive spy/assassin LARP game that was played throughout the con.  
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Casino night kicked off the weekend at 12 West Main St, with $500 in meat chips given to each con attendee. Drinks flowed and gambling ensued. Games included blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, Mr. Card Game, and other games brought by patrons. Fancy dress was requested but not mandatory. [[HotStuff]] and [[Jick]] also included an impressive spy/assassin LARP game that was played throughout the con.  
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday started with food provided by the [http://www.cornishpastyco.com/ Cornish Pasty Company], the signing of the [http://kol.coldfront.net/thekolwiki/index.php/Kingdom_of_Loathing_Certificate_of_Participation Certificate of Participation] by [[Jick]] and [[Mr Skullhead]], and trivia. Kingdom of Loathing merchandise was for sale along with the purchase of  [[Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog]].
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday started with food provided by the Cornish Pasty Company, the signing of the [http://kol.coldfront.net/thekolwiki/index.php/Kingdom_of_Loathing_Certificate_of_Participation Certificate of Participation] by [[Jick]] and [[Mr Skullhead]], and trivia. Kingdom of Loathing merchandise was for sale along with the purchase of  [[Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog]].
Saturday nights concert was kicked off by [http://www.myspace.com/treasuremammal Treasure Mammal], followed by [http://dryriveryachtclub.com/ Dry River Yacht Club], and closed out by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]] with guest [[Mr Skullhead]].
Saturday nights concert was kicked off by [http://www.myspace.com/treasuremammal Treasure Mammal], followed by [http://dryriveryachtclub.com/ Dry River Yacht Club], and closed out by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]] with guest [[Mr Skullhead]].
|-
|-
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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  21 - 22 September 2012  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=189107 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  21 - 22 September 2012  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=189107 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Tome of Rad Libs}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|Hat O' Nine Tails}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Tome of Rad Libs}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|Hat O' Nine Tails}}
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| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday night was Casino night, where  attendees once again threw on their fancy dress to play blackjack, craps, and roulette to win merch and in-game items.   
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday night was Casino night, where  attendees once again threw on their fancy dress to play blackjack, craps, and roulette to win merch and in-game items.   
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday afternoon featured the traditional barbecue (this year featuring 100% less actual barbecue, and 100% more food from the [http://www.cornishpastyco.com/ Cornish Pasty Company]), as well as trivia, certificate signing by [[Jick]] and [[Mr Skullhead]], and a gigantic meat-shaped cake.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday afternoon featured the traditional barbecue (this year featuring 100% less actual barbecue, and 100% more food from the Cornish Pasty Company), as well as trivia, certificate signing by [[Jick]] and [[Mr Skullhead]], and a gigantic meat-shaped cake.


Saturday evening featured a performance by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]] (and a cameo on Nerdcore Rising by Skully), with opening acts by [[Wikipedia:Mega_ran|Mega Ran]] and [http://www.myspace.com/treasuremammal Treasure Mammal].
Saturday evening featured a performance by MC Frontalot (and a cameo on Nerdcore Rising by Skully), with opening acts by [[Wikipedia:Mega_ran|Mega Ran]] and [http://www.myspace.com/treasuremammal Treasure Mammal].
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | As per usual, there was a karaoke outing on Sunday evening, preceeded by various house parties. Several of these parties played host to demo games of [http://evertidegames.com/sd_mrcg/index.php/Mr._Card_Game Mr. Card Game], whose Kickstarted had launched at the start of Con.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | As per usual, there was a karaoke outing on Sunday evening, preceeded by various house parties. Several of these parties played host to demo games of [http://evertidegames.com/sd_mrcg/index.php/Mr._Card_Game Mr. Card Game], whose Kickstarted had launched at the start of Con.
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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  9 - 10 September 2011  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=186027 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  9 - 10 September 2011  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=186027 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Gygaxian Libram}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con 8-Bit power bracelet}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Gygaxian Libram}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con 8-Bit power bracelet}}
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| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday night was Casino night, where attendees could play blackjack, craps or roulette to win chips for KoL merchendise, all while looking rather dapper in fancy dress.   
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday night was Casino night, where attendees could play blackjack, craps or roulette to win chips for KoL merchendise, all while looking rather dapper in fancy dress.   
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday afternoon featured the usual barbecue, trivia, and certificate signing by [[Jick]] and [[Mr Skullhead]]. Saturday evening featured a performance by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]], with opening acts by the [[Wikipedia:Minibosses|Minibosses]] and [http://www.blackcarl.com/ Black Carl].
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday afternoon featured the usual barbecue, trivia, and certificate signing by [[Jick]] and [[Mr Skullhead]]. Saturday evening featured a performance by MC Frontalot, with opening acts by the [[Wikipedia:Minibosses|Minibosses]] and [http://www.blackcarl.com/ Black Carl].
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | As well as the offical events, there was the (at time of writing) final KoL LARP on Sunday afternoon, and [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=188835 karaoke on Sunday evening].
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | As well as the offical events, there was the (at time of writing) final KoL LARP on Sunday afternoon, and [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=188835 karaoke on Sunday evening].
Line 149: Line 205:
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  17 - 18 September 2010  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=183215 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  17 - 18 September 2010  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=183215 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Hippo tutu}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|Seven Loco}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || {{InlineItem|Hippo tutu}}  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|Seven Loco}}
Line 161: Line 217:
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | The KoL Larp did its thing again.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | The KoL Larp did its thing again.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=183969 Forum thread]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=183969 Forum thread]
|}
|}


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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  18 - 19 September 2009  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=172142 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  18 - 19 September 2009  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=172142 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con Six Pack}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con Six Pack}}
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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  26 - 27 September 2008  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=146742 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  26 - 27 September 2008  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=146742 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con Cinco Piñata Bat}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con Cinco Piñata Bat}}
Line 199: Line 255:
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday started off at the Tempe Center for the Arts for the traditional barbecue, before moving to The Clubhouse for the concert, which this year featured MCs Frontalot and Lars, and Totally Radd!
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday started off at the Tempe Center for the Arts for the traditional barbecue, before moving to The Clubhouse for the concert, which this year featured MCs Frontalot and Lars, and Totally Radd!
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | Xenophobe organised [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?p=2858909#post2858909 another trip to Organ Stop Pizza] on Sunday
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | Xenophobe organised [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2858909#post2858909 another trip to Organ Stop Pizza] on Sunday
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" |  
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=158915 Forum thread]
 
|}
|}


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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  14 - 15 September 2007  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=133971 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  14 - 15 September 2007  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=133971 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con IV Pole}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem|KoL Con IV Pole}}
Line 213: Line 270:
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | Drunken skating, sushi, the whole nine yards.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | Drunken skating, sushi, the whole nine yards.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday evening was spent at [[Wikipedia:GameWorks|GameWorks]]. A KoL version of [[Wikipedia:Assassin (game)|Assassin]] was [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=140620 started then, and played] throughout the weekend.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday evening was spent at GameWorks. A KoL version of [[Wikipedia:Assassin (game)|Assassin]] was [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=140620 started then, and played] throughout the weekend.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday's barbecue was held [http://www.tempe.gov/kiwanis/ in the park], with the same [[Wikipedia:Famous Dave's|caterers]] as previous years. At the barbecue, there was a [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=141596 trivia contest], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=139194 poker tournament], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=140749 Guitar Hero tournament], [http://www.the-blues.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1178 haiku contest], and Decorate-Your-Own-Shortbread-Bugbear competition.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday's barbecue was held [http://www.tempe.gov/kiwanis/ in the park], with Famous Dave's doing the catering again. At the barbecue, there was a [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=141596 trivia contest], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=139194 poker tournament], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=140749 Guitar Hero tournament], [http://www.the-blues.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1178 haiku contest], and Decorate-Your-Own-Shortbread-Bugbear competition.


Saturday evening featured a performance by [[Wikipedia:MC Frontalot|MC Frontalot]], with opening acts by the [[Wikipedia:Minibosses|Minibosses]] and [http://www.myspace.com/nekrogoblikon Nekrogoblikon].  
Saturday evening featured a performance by MC Frontalot, with opening acts by the [[Wikipedia:Minibosses|Minibosses]] and [http://www.myspace.com/nekrogoblikon Nekrogoblikon].  
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | On Sunday afternoon, [[Xenophobe]] led an outing to [[Wikipedia:Organ Stop Pizza|Organ Stop Pizza]], which MC Frontalot also attended.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | On Sunday afternoon, [[Xenophobe]] led an outing to [[Wikipedia:Organ Stop Pizza|Organ Stop Pizza]], which MC Frontalot also attended.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=141787 Forum thread]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=141787 Forum thread]
|}
|}


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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  15 - 16 September 2006  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://www.myspace.com/kolconiii MySpace], [http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/static.php?id=kolcon3 In-Game], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=118423 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  15 - 16 September 2006  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://www.myspace.com/kolconiii MySpace], [http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/static.php?id=kolcon3 In-Game], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=118423 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem| KoL Con 3-D Glasses}}
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || {{InlineItem| KoL Con 3-D Glasses}}
Line 234: Line 291:
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" |  
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" |  
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday night was spent schmoozing at [[Wikipedia:GameWorks|GameWorks]].
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday night was spent schmoozing at GameWorks.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday's events centered around an outdoor [[Wikipedia:Barbecue|barbecue]] in [http://www.tempe.gov/kiwanis/ Tempe Kiwanis Park]. Food, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages were enjoyed by all (but no underage drinking was permitted).
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday's events centered around an outdoor barbecue in [http://www.tempe.gov/kiwanis/ Tempe Kiwanis Park]. Food, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages were enjoyed by all (but no underage drinking was permitted).
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" |  
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" |  
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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  23 - 24 September 2005  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/static.php?id=kolcon2 In-Game], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=100231 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  23 - 24 September 2005  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/static.php?id=kolcon2 In-Game], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=100231 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || n/a
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || n/a
Line 262: Line 319:
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" |  
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" |  
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | Going to "<code>/test.php</code>" yielded a list of Con attendees, which was probably used to give them their [[Resting#Miscellaneous Furnishings|shiny certificates]]. Once this was discovered on the forums, [[Xenophobe]] blanked the test page.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Sunday and beyond: || colspan="3" | Going to "<code>/test.php</code>" yielded a list of Con attendees, which was probably used to give them their shiny certificates. Once this was discovered on the forums, [[Xenophobe]] blanked the test page.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c314/Dhampire73/KoLCon/ Dhampire73's pictures]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Photos: || colspan="3" | [https://archive.md/M8231 Dhampire73's pictures]
|}
|}


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{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
{| border="1px" cellpadding="4px" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em; text-align:center"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  19 - 20 March 2004  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/static.php?id=kolcon2 In-Game], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com:8080/vb/showthread.php?t=72130 Forums]
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Dates: ||  19 - 20 March 2004  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" width="100px" | Announcement: ||  [http://kolcon.asymmetric.net/ In-Game], [http://forums.kingdomofloathing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=72130 Forums]
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || n/a
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Con Item: || n/a  || style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" | Souvenir: || n/a
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| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | Apparently, there was karaoke on Thursday evening.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Pre-Friday: || colspan="3" | Apparently, there was karaoke on Thursday evening.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday involved dinner at a Japanese restaurant and eventually ended up at [[Jick]]'s house for random socializing.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Friday: || colspan="3" | Friday involved dinner at a Japanese restaurant and eventually ended up at Jick's house for random socializing.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday is somewhat sporadically documented, but appears to have taken place largely at Jick's.
| style="background-color:#EFEFEF;" |Saturday: || colspan="3" | Saturday is somewhat sporadically documented, but appears to have taken place largely at Jick's.

Latest revision as of 09:06, 3 February 2024

This page is in need of content.

Every Con before 8 needs descriptions from attendees.
KoL Con
KoL Con

KoL Con (short for KoL Convention) was an annual real-world gathering of KoL players in Mesa, Arizona, where the global headquarters of Asymmetric Publications are located. To date, there have been eleven conventions. Players from all over the world have attended the conventions, including players from as far away as Australia and Europe.

KoL Con was far from the only KoL gathering, but it was the only official one, and the one at which you were most likely to bump into the game developers.

The last KoL Con was held in 2015, though there was a digital event in 2016. No official KoL Con was held between 2017 and 2022, and the event is unlikely to return.

What Happened At Con

The official events at KoL Con took place across two days, a Friday and Saturday sometime in September. The exact dates were announced anytime from the end of the previous Con to the month before, but February was usually about average. Tickets would go on sale in the Asymmetric Store in August, along with orders for the exclusive Con T-shirt, and tickets for semi-official events organised by Asymmetric (in past years, this has included Drunken Skating on Thursday evening, and the KoL LARP on Sunday).

KoL Con has been hosted at several different venues, and in past years several different parts of the Greater Phoenix area. Later on, the venue of choice was 12 West Main St, Mesa, which has enough space to fill several hundred adventurers, tables, and a stage. Typically, attendees needed to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), although Arizona locals (or people from neighbouring states) might've preferred to drive in.

The official events kicked off on Friday evening, and in previous years have included trips to Gameworks, and fancy dress Casino nights. Typically, extra entertainments such as Assassain games, Con bingo, and player-hosted poker tournaments would go on in the background.

Saturday was traditionally the Barbecue Day, which started out as a literal barbecue in the park, became catered barbecue inside with air-conditioning, and was eventually catered by the Cornish Pasty Company. Traditionally, Saturday afternoon has played host to the trivia quiz hosted by DanBob, with prizes of meat, items and merch for the winners. Jick and Skully would also spend a few minutes signing real-life Certificates of Participation and saying hello to everyone. Jick's mom could be found manning the merch table, selling goodies from the Asymmetric store without the postage markup, and also the Con-exclusive in-game items (see below). In the evening, after a break for sound-checking, the official festivities wound to a close with a concert. Usually, this was headlined by MC Frontalot, and featured an eclectic mix of supporting acts.

However, the official events were by no means the only entertainment available. Attendees would show up days, and in some intercontinental cases weeks, before the kickoff to hang out and enjoy the weather (or not, since temperatures in Phoenix in September can hit 110°F/45°C). There were also many, many things to do, which have been known to include:

  • Drunken Skating on Thursday evening: Asymmetric hire out a roller skating rink, where attendees can drink, skate, eat bad pizza, and trade in skeeball tickets for banarnas.
  • Visiting the Monastery Bar on Thursday evening: The more recent alternative to Drunken Skating, trading out the skating and the skeeball for better food, more beer, and a huge drive to the middle of nowhere in Mesa.
  • Sushi on Friday afternoon: Traditionally organised by Fusilliban, the fine folks at Ninja Sushi put on all-you-can-eat sushi for hungry Con-goers. Usually announced in the forums in August.
  • KoL LARP on Sunday: It's KoL... as a LARP. Hungover Asymmetric staff members letting in teams of adventurers to explore the world of the Kingdom in foamboard-drawing goodness. The amount of work it takes to organise and host, however, means it hasn't happened for several years.
  • Karaoke on Sunday evening: For many people, the actual finale to KoL Con involves going to a karaoke bar, getting drunk, and hearing Mr Skullhead work his vocals.
  • Houseparties all weekend: Since many clans and friends will book houses to stay at Con, there's plenty of houses for afterparties.

After Con (usually the TPTMBG "two weeks" later), Con attendees received a non-tradeable "souvenir" item to put in their display cases. In addition, first-time visitors to KoL Con found their Certificates of Participation are a lot shinier than they were before.

Guide For Con Attendees

  • Most importantly of all, don't be afraid of being awkward and not fitting in. It may seem intimidating if you don't know anyone there, when everyone else is hanging out with their friends and swapping nametags for whatever reason. But everyone else is a player of the game, has had the same experience of Their First Con, and will be very eager to deal you into the next game of Fluxx. Many people have made friends, had Con flings, and even found love at Con - it even happened to Jick himself!
  • Keep an eye on the Community forum and an ear on the radio show for when they announce dates. The sooner you know that Con is happening, the sooner you can sort out time off work, plane tickets, hotel reservations or house rentals, etc.
  • While a hotel room is a perfectly fine place to stay at Con, a holiday rental house is usually cheaper per person to stay at, and definitely more fun to hang out in. Big clans will usually organise houses for members if enough people are going, so talk to your clannies. You'll probably be able to find people with a spare room or sofa if you don't have any friends or clannies going. Failing that, the Con announcement thread in the forum will usually have discussions on which hotels other adventurers are staying in - enough people in one hotel is almost as good as a Con house!
  • As previously mentioned, Arizona can get seriously hot, which is unpleasant and even dangerous if you're not prepared for it. If you're going to be outside, dress light (shorts and your favourite geeky T-shirt works for everyone), slap on the sunscreen, and bring plenty of water.
  • Be prepared to splash a bit of cash. Con tickets are $25 each, the Con shirt is about $10, other semi-official events are usually $25 each. Sushi is usually $34 per person. Then there's merch, food and drink during your trip, accommodation, plane tickets, car rentals, gas... the list goes ever onward.
  • Make sure you've got a way of getting around - Con events happen all over the Greater Phoenix area, and usually a way away from the airport. If you ask nicely, people with cars will usually be willing to give you a ride. Car rentals are a thing, but are usually quite expensive. Public transport is available (there is a new light rail from the airport to downtown Mesa), but may not get you everywhere you need to go. DON'T TRY WALKING IT (see previous point on the heat), unless you're in a hotel five minutes from the venue - and if you are, you'll probably need a ride to sushi.
  • You probably won't be spending a lot of time hanging round with the Asymmetric staff - they're usually busy making sure the event is running smoothly. Having said that, they will be around and willing to say hello.
  • Be prepared to have fun - it's very, very difficult to go to Con without having an awesome time.

Con Items

Every year from 2010-2015, a Con-exclusive item has been available for the attendees to buy, to help defray the costs of running KoL Con. Each item costs $20 from the merchandise table the year it is created, and each previous year's item is available for $10 more than the previous year (an exception to this occurring in 2023, where only the price of the KoL Con 13 snowglobe was increased). As of 2016 at the virtual con that was converted into Mr. Accessories with the new item costing only a single Mr. Accessory. Or to present this as a table:

Item 2023 2022 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Crated wardrobe-o-matic 1 - - - - - - - -
KoL Con 13 snowglobe 3 2 1 - - - - - -
potted tea tree 4 4 3 $20 - - - - -
Xi Receiver Unit 5 5 4 $30 $20 - - - -
Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog 6 6 5 $40 $30 $20 - - -
Tome of Rad Libs 7 7 6 $50 $40 $30 $20 - -
Gygaxian Libram 8 8 7 $60 $50 $40 $30 $20 -
hippo tutu 9 9 8 $70 $60 $50 $40 $30 $20

Players who do not attend KoL Con can acquire these items in two ways: by buying them from other players in the Mall or /trade, or giving Con attendees money to buy them an item.

Note that in 2016, KoL Con 13 was held in-game and Con items were available for purchase at the virtual KoL Con 13 Merch Table. As such, items were sold in exchange for Mr. Accessories instead of dollars. Further, the KoL Con 13 snowglobe was introduced at the price of only one Mr. Accessory.

Past KoL Cons

KoL Con 13 (2016)

Dates: 30 September 2016 - 2 October 2016 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: KoL Con 13 snowglobe
Events:

In lieu of a physical convention, a virtual KoL Con appeared atop The Time-Twitching Tower. Adventuring venues included a KoL Con Clan Party House and 12 West Main, while the KoL Con 13 Merch Table offered new and past Con Items. On Saturday, Jick and HotStuff hosted a livestream on Twitch.tv in which they answered player questions and implemented the Twitching Television Tattoo.

KoL Con XII (2015)

Dates: 25 - 26 September 2015 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: potted tea tree Souvenir: KoL Con 12-gauge
Pre-Friday:

Informal Gathering at Monastery Pub in Mesa

Friday:

Traditional Fusilliban's Stuff Yourself With Sushi! at Ninja Japanese Restaurant

Casino and Game Night

Saturday:

BBQ and Games and Wizards

Sunday and beyond:

Karaoke Night

Photos: Not taken yet

KoL Con XI (2014)

Dates: 5 - 6 September 2014 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: Xi Receiver Unit Souvenir: Size XI Wizard's Robe
Pre-Friday: A few super-early attendees came out and took part in a spot of mini golf in 108 degree weather, before making their way to the Monastary Bar for an evening's drinking, grilling and being confused by misting sprays.

Fusilliban's traditional sushi lunch went off without a hitch, unlike his self-imploding PayPal account.

Friday: Con-goers swarmed into 12 West Main on Friday evening for the now-traditional Fancy Dress Casino night, now featuring record amounts of fancy dress. Assassain games and Con bingo didn't make a reappearence, but there was plenty enough blackjack, craps, poker, roulette and Fluxx to keep everyone happy.
Saturday: Saturday featured the traditional Saturday afternoon activities of trivia, Con items, certificate signing and the Cornish Pasty Company. There was also a visit from the Travelling Trader, the rarely seen Draw A Piglet poster, and even a wedding proposal!

Evening entertainment featured a science wizard that set balloons on fire, stacked colored liquids, and filled containers of misleading sizes. A magician wizard dazzled attendees with playing cards and stories. The night wrapped up with a drawing for prizes including a quilt created by Jick's mother, admission and lodgings at KoLumbus 10, /lounge chat channel access, and in-game prizes of varying economic and entertainment value contributed by players.

Sunday and beyond: After the totally mysterious engagement party, Sunday evening was closed out by MC Frontalot performing in Mesa (with free entry for Con attendees), supported by Dr. Awkward, Corn Mo, and Maros.

On early Monday morning, Heavy Rains was implemented in the Greater Phoenix area, which made it challenging to get home.

Photos: Forums

KoL Con X (2013)

Dates: 20 - 21 September 2013 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog Souvenir: KoL Con X Treasure Map
Pre-Friday: As ever, many people enjoyed tasty sushi organised by Fusilliban on Friday afternoon. Thursday evening, however, saw a move from the traditional Drunken Skating, and instead played host to Drinks At The Monastary Bar.
Friday: Casino night kicked off the weekend at 12 West Main St, with $500 in meat chips given to each con attendee. Drinks flowed and gambling ensued. Games included blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, Mr. Card Game, and other games brought by patrons. Fancy dress was requested but not mandatory. HotStuff and Jick also included an impressive spy/assassin LARP game that was played throughout the con.
Saturday: Saturday started with food provided by the Cornish Pasty Company, the signing of the Certificate of Participation by Jick and Mr Skullhead, and trivia. Kingdom of Loathing merchandise was for sale along with the purchase of Gordon Beer's Beer Garden Catalog.

Saturday nights concert was kicked off by Treasure Mammal, followed by Dry River Yacht Club, and closed out by MC Frontalot with guest Mr Skullhead.

Sunday and beyond: Unofficial events were plentiful and many house parties followed the official events.

Those who won the bingo challenge won a KoL Con X Bingo Card.

Photos: Forum thread

KoL Con IX (2012)

Dates: 21 - 22 September 2012 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: Tome of Rad Libs Souvenir: Hat O' Nine Tails
Pre-Friday: As ever, pre-Con festivities included Drunken Skating on Thursday, sushi on Friday morning, and the odd pre-kickoff house party.
Friday: Friday night was Casino night, where attendees once again threw on their fancy dress to play blackjack, craps, and roulette to win merch and in-game items.
Saturday: Saturday afternoon featured the traditional barbecue (this year featuring 100% less actual barbecue, and 100% more food from the Cornish Pasty Company), as well as trivia, certificate signing by Jick and Mr Skullhead, and a gigantic meat-shaped cake.

Saturday evening featured a performance by MC Frontalot (and a cameo on Nerdcore Rising by Skully), with opening acts by Mega Ran and Treasure Mammal.

Sunday and beyond: As per usual, there was a karaoke outing on Sunday evening, preceeded by various house parties. Several of these parties played host to demo games of Mr. Card Game, whose Kickstarted had launched at the start of Con.
Photos: Forum thread

KoL Con VIII (2011)

Dates: 9 - 10 September 2011 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: Gygaxian Libram Souvenir: KoL Con 8-Bit power bracelet
Pre-Friday: There was Drunken Skating on Thursday, sushi on Friday morning
Friday: Friday night was Casino night, where attendees could play blackjack, craps or roulette to win chips for KoL merchendise, all while looking rather dapper in fancy dress.
Saturday: Saturday afternoon featured the usual barbecue, trivia, and certificate signing by Jick and Mr Skullhead. Saturday evening featured a performance by MC Frontalot, with opening acts by the Minibosses and Black Carl.
Sunday and beyond: As well as the offical events, there was the (at time of writing) final KoL LARP on Sunday afternoon, and karaoke on Sunday evening.
Photos: Forum thread

KoL Con VII (2010)

Dates: 17 - 18 September 2010 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: hippo tutu Souvenir: Seven Loco
Pre-Friday: Drunken skating, sushi, the whole nine yards.
Friday: Friday was held at Dave & Buster's in Tempe.
Saturday: Saturday's events were held at 12 West Main Street in Mesa. The usual barbecue festivites happened at the barbecue in the afternoon. After kicking everyone out for sound check, the house was rocked by MC Frontalot, Freezepop, The Minibosses and Black Carl.
Sunday and beyond: The KoL Larp did its thing again.
Photos: Forum thread

KoL Con VI (2009)

Dates: 18 - 19 September 2009 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: n/a Souvenir: KoL Con Six Pack
Pre-Friday: Drunken skating, sushi, the whole nine yards.
Friday: Friday evening was spent at Dave and Buster's.
Saturday: Saturday was spent at the Royal Garden Reception Hall in Mesa. Allegedly, the afternoon featured barbecue, poker, Magic the Gathering, trivia, and the usual chicanery.

Saturday evening featured the usual concert, featuring MC Frontalot, The OneUps and Yellow Minute.

Sunday and beyond: The KoL LARP made its reappearence after a couple of years off. Traditional Sunday evening karaoke apparently featured 100% more barfights than previous years!
Photos:

KoL Con V (2008)

Dates: 26 - 27 September 2008 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: n/a Souvenir: KoL Con Cinco Piñata Bat
Pre-Friday: Drunken skating, sushi, the whole nine yards.
Friday: Friday festivities moved from Gameworks to Dave and Buster's this year.
Saturday: Saturday started off at the Tempe Center for the Arts for the traditional barbecue, before moving to The Clubhouse for the concert, which this year featured MCs Frontalot and Lars, and Totally Radd!
Sunday and beyond: Xenophobe organised another trip to Organ Stop Pizza on Sunday
Photos: Forum thread

KoL Con IV (2007)

Dates: 14 - 15 September 2007 Announcement: Forums
Con Item: n/a Souvenir: KoL Con IV Pole
Pre-Friday: Drunken skating, sushi, the whole nine yards.
Friday: Friday evening was spent at GameWorks. A KoL version of Assassin was started then, and played throughout the weekend.
Saturday: Saturday's barbecue was held in the park, with Famous Dave's doing the catering again. At the barbecue, there was a trivia contest, poker tournament, Guitar Hero tournament, haiku contest, and Decorate-Your-Own-Shortbread-Bugbear competition.

Saturday evening featured a performance by MC Frontalot, with opening acts by the Minibosses and Nekrogoblikon.

Sunday and beyond: On Sunday afternoon, Xenophobe led an outing to Organ Stop Pizza, which MC Frontalot also attended.
Photos: Forum thread

KoL Con 3-D (2006)

Dates: 15 - 16 September 2006 Announcement: MySpace, In-Game, Forums
Con Item: n/a Souvenir: KoL Con 3-D Glasses
Pre-Friday:
Friday: Friday night was spent schmoozing at GameWorks.
Saturday: Saturday's events centered around an outdoor barbecue in Tempe Kiwanis Park. Food, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages were enjoyed by all (but no underage drinking was permitted).
Sunday and beyond:
Photos:

LunaWolvesMan's pictures, Killer Zomie Monkey's pictures, Nekosoft's pictures, Varjak's pictures, Ashallond's pictures, BoozerBear's pictures Glebs's pictures, Aeralis's pictures, Doc Trauma's pictures, Lynore's pictures, KolMohDee's pictures, AlBassoon's pictures Thraeryn's pictures, Lillith's pictures, xxArmageddonxx's pictures, SpazzZero's pictures, Pinklady's pictures, Jill_bob's pictures, Garrotte's pictures

KoL Con II (2005)

Dates: 23 - 24 September 2005 Announcement: In-Game, Forums
Con Item: n/a Souvenir: n/a
Pre-Friday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday and beyond: Going to "/test.php" yielded a list of Con attendees, which was probably used to give them their shiny certificates. Once this was discovered on the forums, Xenophobe blanked the test page.
Photos: Dhampire73's pictures

KoL Con I (2004)

Dates: 19 - 20 March 2004 Announcement: In-Game, Forums
Con Item: n/a Souvenir: n/a
Pre-Friday: Apparently, there was karaoke on Thursday evening.
Friday: Friday involved dinner at a Japanese restaurant and eventually ended up at Jick's house for random socializing.
Saturday: Saturday is somewhat sporadically documented, but appears to have taken place largely at Jick's.
Sunday and beyond:
Photos: In-Game
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