ICON First Timer’s Guide

A helpful Tips Guide to attending

🎲 ICON Convention Tips

Whether it's your first ICON or your tenth, these tips will help you get the most out of your convention weekend.

🎟 Checking In

When you arrive, head to the Registration Desk to pick up your convention badge.

  • Provide your last name.
  • Let our volunteers know whether you purchased a single-day or full convention badge.
  • Pick up your badge and you're ready to start gaming!

Be sure to visit the event information table next to Registration for the latest schedules, tournament information, and daily activities.

👋 Coming by Yourself?

Don't worry—you won't stay solo for long!

  • Visit the Game Library.
  • Use a "Looking for Players" sign.
  • Join scheduled events.
  • Meet new gamers throughout the weekend.

Many lifelong gaming groups have started with complete strangers at ICON.

⭐ What Should I Do First?

  1. Check the event schedule.
  2. Visit the Exhibitor Hall.
  3. Browse the Game Library.
  4. Find the Play to Win games.
  5. Sign up for tournaments or RPG sessions.

📚 Game Library Tips

Explore over 1,000 games available to check out and enjoy throughout the convention.

  • Borrow games for your group.
  • Look for the special Play to Win titles.
  • Need players? Grab a Looking for Players sign.
  • Need help learning? Ask for a Game Teacher.

🐉 RPG Area Tips

Our Role-Playing Game area hosts adventures throughout the weekend featuring Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and many other systems.

  • Reserve your seat before the convention through Tabletop.Events.
  • Some games have walk-up openings available during the convention.
  • Check the signup board near Registration for same-day opportunities.
  • New to RPGs? Ask a Game Master for help creating a character or borrow a pre-generated character.

🏆 Tournament Tips

ICON hosts tournaments throughout the weekend for a variety of games.

  • Reserve your seat early through Tabletop.Events whenever possible.
  • Many tournaments also accept same-day registrations if seats remain.
  • Check the event board near Registration for current openings and start times.

💙 Our Best Advice

Try a game you've never played.

Meet someone new.

Visit the exhibitors.

Join an RPG.

Most importantly…

Have fun and make memories!