Recently, I bid on an auction for this Gen Con XIV (1981) program:

I think I saw one once before in auction, but this time the Willingham cover art convinced me to bid. I did a little searching (Acaeum, DF, Google, etc) but didn't turn up much relevant discussion. I found a 1981 program for sale at NobleKnight for $10. So I put a max bid of $10.50 on the auction - and lost to a 2nd bidder for $11. So I bought the one from NK, plus a 1980 Gen Con XIII and a 1982 Gen Con XV program (each $10). They arrived this week, and I was surprised because the 1981 program has a different cover. I was also impressed at the quality and length of these programs.

Here are the covers and a brief description:

1980 Gen Con XIII Program and Schedule of Events

Format: 64 pages; digest-sized (fits inside an OCE box).
Cover Artist: unknown
Interior Font: Similar to Moldvay Basic/Expert rulebooks

1981 Gen Con XIV Program and Schedule of Events

Format: 64 pages; digest sized (fits inside an OCE box)
Cover Artist: Darlene
Interior Font: similar to L1 Secret of Bone Hill

1982 Gen Con XV Program and Schedule of Events

Format: 48 pages; full magazine sized
Cover Artist: Darlene
Interior Font: similar to Dragon magazines of the time period

What amazed me is the amount of information in each program. There's page after page of amazing tournament descriptions.
I'll post some of these as I have time.

Feel free to post any other covers in this thread to create a minor database. I'm especially interested in earlier ones.

Badmike posted the contents of a 1975 program (or at least schedule of events) here

This page has lots of Gen Con historical information and pictures (including the 1980 and 1984 program covers, plus the 1983 logo)

wow!  they look pretty cool.  

if you can, a post of a few inside pages would be great.

Zhowar, FWIW I have 1981 Gencon Program and the cover is the exact same as the one thatr you have.

Could it have been the program that was inside some of the Dragon magazines promoting the convention?

I am always watching for GC programs. I had all of them from 1982 up and then in a haze dumped them years ago. I have managed to obtain most of them again, but I need 1982 and 1983 to finish off my collections. I only want the ones from the conventions I attended (82-02).

I'd love to get those Origins programs, too. They are near impossible to find.

The GC  14 program with the Willingham art is the pre-reg book. I have at least two of them. They are quite common relative to other program/pre-reg books from the same time period.

It is in my storage room. I'll dig it out in the a.m. I think it is 16...maybe 20 tops.

Getting tired, need sleep...

Howdy Allan,

grodog wrote:I've been mining the GenCon programs for my tourney history details for years:  much good stuff in them zhowar.  Alas, I recycled most of mine when I gave up D&D in the mid-90s

Two for you:

"The Lair of the Cloud Giant Feor, 1018  A vast castle on the island of Voleax in the Northern Spindrift Isles. Here a prince of the Cloud Giants makes his home with an assortment of nasty "pets". AD&D 7th to 11th level characters. 4 hours. Judge Len Lakofka." Experience level 6. 10 players.

The Embassy to the Pale, 1020  Adventurers of 3rd to 5th level are recruited by the Baron Ratik, who seeks to attack the Bone March. The Baron must first obtain help of the Theocracy of the Pale, and you and you comrades will carry this message to the Theocrats. 4 hours. Judge: Len Lakofka. Experience level 6. 10 players.

...and for everyone else:

The Venom of Set, 1053  This newly released module will be using the D&D Companion Supplement (15-36th level characters). Be ready ready for some high level excitement and fun! 6 Hours. Judge: Paul Reiche III. Experience level 6. 8 players.

So is this Frank's set or the third installment to the D&D Moldvay Basic/Expert line? Wonder what happened there?


Futures Bright,

Paul

The Collector's Trove wrote:
12 pages

Thanks for that info. I ordered a 12-page Gen Con "1981 Informational Brochure" from NobleKnight. We'll see if it's the same thing. Sort of a gamble (no picture), but it was only $2.70...