Senlis Role-playing Festival: 50 years old

Rendez-vous at Senlis
from 20 to 22 September 2024
50 years of role-playing games already?

In 1974, a new concept was born that was to revolutionise the world of games by bringing it closer to the world of fiction: the role-playing game. In 50 years, thousands of games and millions of scenarios and adventures have been created, giving rise to variations and derivatives in real life, board games and video games.

We're going to be celebrating this anniversary, which many role-players dream of, in a city steeped in history during the European Heritage Days, to show that role-playing is more than just a game - it's a form of culture that has accelerated creativity and innovation.

The festival is open to everyone, with experts and pioneers able to meet up with current players and anyone curious enough to discover this still mysterious but simpler-than-it-seems pastime.

The festival will feature a trade fair section with authors, scriptwriters, publishers, illustrators, associations and gaming media...

A retrospective exhibition on the development of role-playing games over the last 50 years, with everything you need to understand what role-playing games are and what they are not. Accompanied by conferences and discussions led by experts, researchers and leading figures in the world of role-playing games, the exhibition will provide an opportunity to deepen our knowledge of the genre and ask questions about its future.

And, of course, there will be hands-on practice, both on the table and in real life, on historical games, new games and future projects. It's an opportunity for game leaders who are lucky enough to own a few collectors to bring them out again and play out period scenarios. New authors will also be able to have their creations tested!

The 2024 festival will have 3 main strands, spread across various emblematic venues in Senlis:

- A fair featuring publishers, authors, illustrators, associations and accessory sellers;
- A focus on the 50th anniversary with an exhibition presenting the world of role-playing games and its history, as well as meetings, conferences and debates open to all;
and, of course, a practical section with tabletop game scenarios from all eras, collaborative games derived from role-playing, life-size games and escape games in the city, with registration required.

It opens on Friday 20 September and runs throughout the weekend of 21 and 22 September, the European Heritage Days: an ideal time for those who also want to discover the city.

The show, exhibition and conferences start on Friday, and the play areas open on Saturday and Sunday.