MAGE Con Returns to Mahomet June 26-27
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On Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, the Mahomet Area Gaming Enthusiasts (MAGE) will host its 8th-annual MAGE Con in downtown Mahomet. Meeting at the American Legion (412 E. Main Street) and the Masonic Lodge (414 E. Main Street), the group will host two days of in-person community gaming.
MAGE started nearly a decade ago as a group of friends and family playing Dungeons and Dragons. After attending gaming conventions a few hours away, Dan Webb thought it would be fun to organize a local, summertime con-style event in Mahomet, complementary to the Champaign-Urbana-based convention “Winter War,” which typically takes place in January. The first MAGE Con, organized by Dan Webb along with Mark Webb, Keith Pogue, Greg Ziegler, and Erik Hawley, took place in 2018 with 21 games and 59 players. It has continued to grow ever since, expanding beyond Dungeons and Dragons to include over a dozen different games with multiple play styles, including board games. Last year’s convention, supported by about 30 “Game Masters” overseeing each game slot, welcomed 87 participants. While the group is largely local, some players even traveled from Indiana, Chicago, and St. Louis to attend.
No convention is complete without take-home swag, and MAGE Con is no different. For 8 years, MAGE organizers have designed and created embroidered patches that Webb says are inspired by his 80’s childhood nostalgia. The annual patch always features a mage (a term for any magic-user in Dungeons and Dragons, and the inspiration for the acronym “MAGE”), with each iteration featuring different elements, colors, and monsters. This year’s patch will feature a purple worm. Over the years, participants also began to share handmade wares with fellow attendees, including forged pewter figurines, leatherbound books, and 3D printed figurines.
Interested players can register for MAGE Con at their website, which outlines the available games, descriptions and play times (between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day). While registration will not close prior to the event, and walk-ins are welcome, it is recommended that players pre-register in order to plan their schedule. Registrations also help the Game Masters prepare their games and resources, and organizers prepare badges and supplies.
