Conquest, Melbourne

The organiser describes a games convention as an organised gathering where people of all ages write, run and play games. Conquest usually runs for two to four days in a public venue, such as a hall, a school or a university, and it lines up with the Easter long weekend so people can use the public holidays.

It's a general games convention. Roleplaying games are a big part of the programme, alongside freeform LARP, board and card games, and miniatures, which the organiser lists as both gaming and painting. If your hobby covers armies on a Saturday and a character sheet on a Sunday, it's a weekend that fits.

Who runs it

Conquest is run by Conquest Games Inc., a registered not-for-profit. Everyone involved is an unpaid volunteer, from the committee down to the people running games. The organiser says it takes no government funding and no sponsorship from large companies. The convention runs at cost, paid for by ticket sales and sponsorship from small gaming businesses, and the canteen's proceeds go back into the convention too.

A long history

The organiser's site says Conquest has been "run by gamers, for gamers" since 1989, and an organiser post looking back at its history says the first convention was held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Since then it has moved around Melbourne, with past homes at Melbourne High School and Swinburne University. The convention even has its own mascot, Emily, and the organiser's site shows Emily posters by volunteer artists going back to the late 1990s.

Next convention: Easter 2027, dates to be confirmed. The status reads Usually held at Easter, which means the organiser hadn't published exact dates when we last checked. Because the convention is tied to the Easter long weekend, you can plan around Easter itself. Easter 2027 runs from Good Friday 26 March to Easter Monday 29 March.

Easter can fall anywhere from late March to late April, so the convention date jumps around more than most. If you're travelling to Melbourne, it's worth pencilling in the Easter weekend early and confirming the exact days once the organiser announces them. The organiser posts ticket news on its social media channels and in its email newsletter, which you can sign up for on the official site.

How the day is split

Conquest runs its games in blocks. According to the organiser's FAQ, each day has three or four blocks, and sessions start at 9:00am, 12:30pm, 4:00pm and 7:30pm. Each session runs for three hours, with a half-hour break before the next one. That rhythm is worth knowing before you book, because a three-hour wargame or roleplaying session takes up a whole block.

Not everything is timetabled. Some games are walk-up games that you can join at any time, which is handy if a booked session finishes early or you just want a quick board game between blocks.

Outside Easter

Conquest also ran its Cornucopia of Games at PAX Aus, 9 to 11 October 2026, with sample-sized roleplaying games. That's a separate event from the Easter convention, and the organiser's page for it lists roleplaying games only, so don't pack your army for it.

Conquest's entry works a little differently from many shows. The organiser's FAQ says entry to the venue and browsing the trader stalls is free. To play anything, whether that's a timetabled game, a walk-up game or another registered event, you need a pass: a day pass or a weekend pass. The fees cover venue hire, insurance, website hosting and equipment.

Prices: Not published yet for the next convention. We'll only list prices here once the organiser publishes them, so check the official site for the current figures.

Registering

Everyone who attends registers, including players, game masters, traders and volunteers. Registration and game sign-ups are online through the links on the official site. Pre-registering gives you a better chance of getting into the games and time slots you want, though the organiser is clear that it doesn't guarantee a place. If you're booked into a timetabled game, check in with that game's organiser before it starts, or your seat may go to someone else.

Paying, early bird and concessions

Book online in advance, or pay at the door by cash or card. The organiser's terms say bank transfers aren't accepted. Early bird pricing: early bird prices for bookings paid in full before a cut-off date. Bookings paid later, or left unpaid, are charged at the standard door price, so it pays to book and pay early.

Concessions are available. Discount with a current student card or Australian government benefits card. You'll need to show the card in person when you pay. Game masters and volunteers may get free or discounted entry, decided case by case.

Refunds

The organiser's terms say that if Conquest cancels convention days, paid bookings for those days are refunded, and if the whole convention is cancelled the refund is in full. Other no-shows are refunded at the organiser's discretion, so let them know early if your plans change.

Venue: Melbourne, venue to be announced by the organiser. Conquest doesn't have a permanent home. The most recent venue named on the organiser's site is Coburg Town Hall on Bell Street, Coburg (2023), and the organiser's FAQ says the team has been looking for a school-style venue with good accessibility and plenty of space. Treat any past venue as history until the organiser confirms the next one.

Car and public transport: the organiser says it picks venues that can be reached by car and by public transport, but it doesn't publish parking or transport details for the next convention yet. Once the venue is announced, the official site and the venue's own website are the places to check for parking, trains, trams and buses.

Travelling from further away: Easter is a public holiday weekend in Australia, so flights and rooms can book up. If you're coming from overseas or interstate, it's worth sorting travel and somewhere to stay as soon as the dates are confirmed.

Accessibility: the organiser says its 2023 venue was wheelchair accessible and that it aims to provide accessibility at every venue. If you have particular needs, contact the team before the convention.

Miniatures gaming and painting

The organiser lists miniatures, both gaming and painting, as part of the programme, and its committee includes people with tabletop miniatures experience. What it doesn't publish is a list of which wargames or formats will run, and there's no tournament pack or painting competition named on the site. Games are written and run by volunteer game masters, so the mix changes from year to year. Check the programme when sign-ups open before you start painting an army for it.

Tabletop roleplaying games

Roleplaying games are the biggest part of Conquest. The organiser mentions Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and Call of Cthulhu, plus games from the organisers' own systems, and it has a growing Dungeons & Dragons community, with one-shots and organised play. You don't need to bring a character: pre-generated characters are provided for all the tabletop roleplaying games. If you play organised play such as Adventurers League or Pathfinder Society, you can bring your own. If you've painted a miniature for your character, this is a good chance to put it on the table. Our miniatures for D&D guide covers what to pick up for a new campaign.

Freeforms and LARP

Freeforms are parlour LARP: live action roleplay in a room, with characters, secrets and plenty of talking. Costumes aren't required but they are encouraged. Replica weapons aren't allowed on site without written permission from the organisers, so leave the foam sword at home unless you've asked first.

Board games, card games and more

Board games and card games round out the programme, along with multiplayer video games, demo games and special events such as trivia and costume contests. They're a good way to fill a gap between blocks or meet new people.

Traders and the canteen

Artists and vendors sell roleplaying, gaming, geek and miniatures products, and browsing the stalls is free. There's also a canteen with hot and cold food and drinks, and the proceeds help fund the convention.

All-round gamers. If you play wargames one week and run a campaign the next, Conquest covers both in one long weekend.

Wargamers. Miniatures have a place on the programme, but they're one strand among several. For a weekend that's all about the tabletop, the other Australian events in this series, MOAB in Sydney and Cancon in Canberra, put wargames front and centre.

Groups with mixed tastes. Roleplaying, freeforms and board games make it easy to bring friends who aren't wargamers, and free entry to the venue means a friend can come along and browse the traders without buying a pass.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. The organiser has a first-timer guide on its site, pre-generated characters for every roleplaying game, and Dungeons & Dragons sessions for everyone from beginners to experienced players. If you're new to miniatures games, a small force is the easiest way in. Our skirmish warband guide covers how to build one.

Can children go?

Older children and teenagers can, with conditions. The organiser says Conquest is generally not suitable for young children, because players need a reasonable level of independence and maturity, and there's no child minding. Children under 13 must be supervised at all times, and a parent or guardian signs the registration form on arrival for anyone under 18. Check each game's description when you book, as some suit older players better than others.

A word on prizes: the organiser's rules say only registered, paid-up players can win trophies, certificates or prizes. If you fancy your chances in a game with something on the line, make sure your pass is sorted first.

Like many conventions, Conquest photographs events for promotion. If you'd rather not appear, tell the photographer or contact the organiser.

Details checked against the organiser's website in October 2026. Always check the official site before you travel. Planning more than one event? Our miniature events around the world page lists the big shows by region, including the other Australian events below.