TravCon

Travcon 14 - limited places available - BOOK NOW!

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BITS is proud to announce their annual Traveller convention TRAVCON is running again over the weekend of 21-23 March 2014 at Redwings Lodge near Sawtry in Cambridgeshire (near the junction of the A1M and A14).

Once again we’ll be running Traveller games solidly from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon. TravCon is a friendly convention with between 30 and 40 attendees, with 5 games slots across the weekend and 5 different games running in each slot, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to play different adventures with novel characters and make new friends. There will be the usual BITS sales stand, bring-and-buy, charity auction and awards (the Starburst for Extreme Heroism and the PFI – the latter for less fortunate adventure outcomes).

I’m looking forward to welcoming many of our regular attendees and we still have a couple of rooms free so, if YOU are interested in a weekend of Traveller gaming, please contact us at bits@bits.org.uk for details.

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Travcon 13 is full

With regret, I have to confirm that Travcon 13 is now full before it was publicly announced.

Places are always offered first to past attendees, and all spaces have been taken up.

If you want to follow what’s happening, the games planned etc. please visit the forum on the Tavern BBS: http://is.gd/travcon13tavern

Thanks to Tom Zunder for maintaining the Tavern.
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New Forum for BITS & Travcon

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We’re very pleased to announce that Tom Zunder (aka Guvnor) has kindly created BITS and Travcon a forum on his excellent BBS, The Tavern. Why not pop in and share your thoughts and love of Traveller?

The Tavern may be found at http://gamingtavern.eu/ and is a friendly place for discussion and sharing on games and more. It also houses the official forum for Furnace, and forums for Continuum and others such as the Wordplay RPG.

Thanks Tom!

Dom (BITS Webmaster)
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LAST MINUTE PLACES available for TravCon12

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Due to last minute cancellations by attendees, we are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of places at TravCon12 at the Early Bird Rate.

Priority will be given to those willing to run a game in one or more slots, as one of the attendees was a referee and we have gaps in the schedule that need to be filled. If you want a place, a quick response is essential.

TravCon is BITS’ dedicated Traveller Convention, held in Sawtry near Peterborough. You can see details of past years on the Travelling pages.

TravCon12 is being held 2nd to 4th March 2012.

Booking forms and information can be found here:

We hope to see you there!

The BITS Team

PS In case you wondered...
Q: So why haven’t I seen previous adverts for TravCon12?
A: Because the previous year’s TravCon attendees get offered places in advance and this year all spaces were taken nearly immediately, so we didn’t advertise. Until now!


Travcon12
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TravCon 11 - Con Report

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TravCon 2011 (4th-6th March) at Redwings Lodge, Cambridgeshire

For the fourth year in a row, British Isles Traveller Support (BITS) laid on an exciting weekend of twenty Traveller games across five slots. Attendees arrived throughout Friday afternoon and evening, to be presented by organiser Andy with impressive glass tankards carrying the BITS logo – a much appreciated free gift to assist in their enjoyment of the Scout brew prepared specially for the convention by beer maestro Derrick. An extensive buffet of Indian fare just a few steps away from the Lodge provided the opportunity to socialise and refresh players after their travel, refuelling them for the games running that evening: investigating a corrupt government; recovering a lost Scout ship; fighting off a monster at a research base; and guiding an Azhanti High Lightning through hostile Zhodani space!

Gaming

Post-game analysis was held in the 24-hour bar, where players and referees could exchange anecdotes and humorous stories (old and new) well into Saturday morning... until even the hardy few admitted defeat and headed for bed.

Saturday morning the Traveller kicked off after a lazy breakfast with another four games: visiting (yet another) suspicious remote research base; pulling apart a military base for scrap; escaping a prison moon; and investigating an Ancient site. A skirmish using cool miniatures was just one of the highlights of the morning games. On-tap coffee and plentiful Danish pastries, bagels, and fruit (provided by BITS) kept everyone alert and in fine form until lunch.
With everyone limbered up for the afternoon slot, the referees dived in with the Living Traveller helping Aslan traders recover stolen cargo; finding a missing Scout team; a sequel to the famous Skyraiders trilogy; and... yet another mystery research base!

Saturday evening and supper was either a visit to the Spice Land Indian restaurant, or a delivery of pizzas and Chinese takeaway from nearby Sawtry. Stomachs replete, the gamers returned to the fray: another Living Traveller scenario; freedom fighters planning a starship hijack; another Scout ship recovery mission; and a noble dinner party!

After a triumphant denouement to the games, many again took the opportunity to relax in the bar, relishing the chance to relate their adventures. Several games of Fluxx games challenged everyone’s ability to switch thinking modes, with the game’s goals and rules changing with every card!
Finally, Sunday morning dawned – though not too early, which was a relief for those who’d spent two late nights of chatting and playing card games in the bar. A longer six-hour slot saw a second run of the corrupt government investigation “Thorny Problem”; a follow-up to the previous day’s Scout expedition; the heroic Terran navy taking on the Vilani; and surviving a crash on a remote planet.

All too soon, TravCon was drawing to a close: attendees took the opportunity for a final look around the sales tables – books, miniatures and more from all the Traveller eras were available, as well as “bring-and-buy” gaming stuff which attendees could sell with a percentage going to charity.

Andy began the closing session by auctioning the last of the specially brewed Traveller beer that Derrick had so kindly donated. Andy continued with the awards: the Starburst for Extreme Heroism for the most heroic act by a character during the con; and the Ping... F*** It award for the most awful foul-up from poor dice rolls, bad decisions or extraordinary circumstances!

SEH Award
SEH Award Winner Derrick Jones accepting his award from Andy Lilly

This year the SEH (a beautiful acrylic trophy) was won by Derrick Jones for role-playing ‘The Mother’ – one of the survivors of a lifeboat crash who, while suffering amnesia fiercely defended herself against pirates with an assault rifle while carrying her baby in her other hand. The PFI award went to Tom Zunder, who was part of a team trying to rescue hostages from a “beanstalk” capsule. Jumping from one capsule to another was the first challenge which he barely achieved. Jumping back while carrying one of the hostages was another challenge but he survived... however, what won him the award was that the valuable hostage wasn’t so fortunate, slipped from Tom’s grasp, and was last heard screaming profanities as he fell the very considerable distance to terra firma.

PFI Award
PFI award winner Tom Zunder accepting his award from Andy Lilly.

The PFI award always has multiple strong contenders: runners up included the delightful moment when a low social standing character at a garden party – thrown by Duke Norris – managed a double-one on his Carouse throw as he tried to chat up three charming young female nobles. He was unceremoniously ejected from the function, the referee decreed, for inappropriately pinching one of the ladies! Another contender demonstrated that hovering only one storey above a bunch of live grenades just after dropping them (in a failed attempt to throw them through a window) was not the best of ideas...

Andy rounded off the convention with the proud announcement that £125 had been raised for the charity Help For Heroes. He emphasised that TravCon’s appeal was a combination of the great attendees and the heroic referees who ran games throughout the weekend. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who had contributed to the convention, and encouraged potential new referees to come next year with their own games. Andy concluded by conveying everyone’s thanks to the Redwings staff who are so welcoming and patient with the TravCon gamers descending on them for the weekend.

“I really appreciated the opportunity to continue the long-running game arc of BITS’ In Search of Angels.”

“My best memory was planning to stick a cobbled-together lightning attractor to a rooftop prior to a break-in in the middle of a raging storm, massively outnumbered and somewhat outgunned, with only a mad scientist armed with a poisoned pizza as a backup plan.”

“I really felt I'd visited a bit of Mora and experienced its dockyard culture.”


For all of you who fed back that you wanted to book ahead for TravCon12, we are glad to be able to announce it will be held at the same venue on the weekend of 2nd-4th March 2012. Please make sure you book early as places are sure to go quickly. We look forward to seeing you again in 2012!

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TravCon 11 Fully Booked

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TravCon11 is now fully booked. If you’re planning to go and haven’t book then there’s always next year.

If anyone is planning to run a game and hasn’t told Andy, please let him know via the contact forms here or by direct email to bits@bits.org.uk. Volunteers greatly appreciated.

We’re using #travcon11 when mentioning it on Twitter. Our Twitter Account is @BITS_Traveller.
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TravCon 11 - Limited Places Left

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LIMITED PLACES LEFT!

BITS
would like to invite you to TravCon 11 – our next Traveller roleplaying convention.

TravCon 11 is running over the weekend of 4-6 March 2011 (in the same location as previous years, just off the A1M near Peterborough in the southern end of the UK).

TravCon is a small, friendly event specifically for Traveller – all gamers are welcome, whether newcomers or experienced players.

We only have space for about 30 attendees and were over-booked in 2010 – the remaining few spaces are being filled on a strict first-come, first-served basis.

Click here for a PDF giving more details of the convention. If you would like to attend, please fill in the booking form as soon as possible (a Word version of the form can be found here) or you can print the PDF, fill it in and either post it to BITS (PO Box 4222, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 0DA, England) or email us a scan of the filled in form.

Please do NOT send any money with your application – wait for us to confirm that you have a place at the convention.

We are always looking for new referees to run games, so if you are interested in running a game at TravCon (Traveller only, obviously!) please make a note on your form or email.

BOOK SOON!

Pictures from the last TravCon here
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Tweeting about TravCon



Do you use Twitter? If you do, check out the BITS Twitter feed (@BITS_Traveller) for news of BITS, Traveller, SF and Space Science!

http://twitter.com/bits_traveller

We’re using #travcon to talk about TravCon 11...
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TravCon 11 Booking Now Open



BITS would like to invite you to TravCon 11 – our next Traveller roleplaying convention.

TravCon 11 is running over the weekend of 4-6 March 2011 (in the same location as previous years, just off the A1M near Peterborough in the ‘middle’ of the UK).

TravCon is a small, friendly event specifically for Traveller – all gamers are welcome, whether newcomers or experienced players.

We only have space for about 30 attendees and were over-booked in 2010 – current BITS members (as of 1 Sep 2010) get priority but we have a number of new (non-member) attendees each year – spaces are filled on a strict first-come, first-served basis.

Click here for a PDF giving more details of the convention. If you would like to attend, please fill in the booking form as soon as possible (a Word version of the form can be found here) or you can print the PDF, fill it in and either post it to BITS (PO Box 4222, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 0DA, England) or email us a scan of the filled in form.

Please do NOT send any money with your application – wait for us to confirm that you have a place at the convention.

We are always looking for new referees to run games, so if you are interested in running a game at TravCon (Traveller only, obviously!) please make a note on your form or email.

Pictures from the last TravCon here
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TravCon 2010

Travcon 2010 went well and we’ll post reports soon. Suffice it to say that great fun was had by all in a little corner of Sawtry.

If you went to the con, why not share your photos with our Flickr Group? http://www.flickr.com/groups/1420819@N22/

Travcon - Dream Beer
A Convention so good it had its own beer brewed by BITS very own Derrick Jones and his local brewery!

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TravCon 10 Booking Open!



The booking forms for the UK's best Traveller RPG convention are now available here. There are discounts to the price if you book before 11th December 2009.


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Travcon 09 and Concrete Cow



Should be pretty much over as I post this, and it sounds like it has gone well. I’ll be uploading the reports and pictures once the team get them through to me.

Meanwhile, over in Milton Keynes, Concrete Cow was running as well. Graham Spearing ran “Cold Dark Grave” at the con, and got some good feedback from one of the more demanding players and refs over there. You can find out more here, on the report on UK Roleplayers.

More soon, hopefully.

Dom
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TravCon UK 09 - Limited Space left



TravCon09 is a UK Traveller roleplaying convention being organised by BITS. It will be held near Sawtry (between Peterborough and Huntingdon just off the A1M), on the weekend of 13 to 15 March 2009. There is space for about 30 attendees for a great weekend of Traveller roleplaying.

Residential spaces for the con are becoming scarce with only approx 8 left. With the credit crunch hitting us all Early Bird prices BITS have been extended to January 10th.

Docking fees are free. No Imperial Entanglements, please.

Attendee Prices
• “Lead Character” (Friday night to Sunday afternoon, ensuite room, B&B, with entry to all games) – £99.
• “Secondary Character” (as “Lead Character”, but sharing a room with a “Lead Character” ) – £25.
• “Non-Player Character” (non-gamer, aged 18 or more, sharing a room with a “Lead Character” ) – Free
• “Non-Player Youngster” (non-gamer, aged under 18, sharing a room with a “Lead Character” ) – Free
• “Saturday Stand-In” (gamer, day ticket, for Saturday only) – £15.
• “Sunday Stand-In” (gamer, day ticket, for Sunday only) – £10.

More info and booking
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TravCon 09 - Now Open for Bookings



We're really pleased to announce the return of TravCon in 2009. TravCon09 will, once again, be held in Sawtry at Redwing Lodge on the weekend of the 13-15th March 2009. You can download details of the con and information on how to book here on the website.

This is the UK's only Traveller focused convention. You can see pictures of TravCon08 here.

Important information: if you book before 6th December 2008 you can save money! Prices rise after that date; you can find full details on the booking form.
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TravCon 08 is coming...

TravCon 08 is a Traveller roleplaying game convention held near Sawtry (between Peterborough and Huntingdon on the A1M), currently planned to take place on the weekend of 14-16 March 2008. We have accommodation and playing space for 25-30 attendees for a great weekend of Traveller roleplaying (all are welcome, but initially BITS members will be given booking preference).

The hotel is comfortable, with en-suite facilities in all rooms, has ground floor rooms for a limited number of disabled attendees and a couple of conference rooms for gaming. The hotel provides breakfast; lunch and dinner venues include an adjacent Indian restaurant, small snack shop, or take-away from nearby Sawtry.

To help people plan their days and to give everyone a chance to play in several games, we will be organizing the weekend into a morning, afternoon and evening gaming sessions, with the opportunity to play BITS scenarios or to bring your own adventures to run (preferably having notified us so that we can advertise games to the attendees well in advance of the con). We also intend to run fun competitions of both Power Projection starship battles, and At Close Quarters miniatures skirmishes, there will be the BITS trade stand and a Bring & Buy (for any roleplaying stuff you want to try to sell to other attendees) and more fun stuff as we get it organised.

We’ve organised a deal with the hotel which gets attendees an ensuite room, Friday night to Sunday afternoon, B&B, including full con entry, for just £99 for BITS members.

Watch out for further details as they appear here on the web site.
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