General Questions:
What is Continuum?
Continuum is a gaming convention held at the University of Leicester’s Halls of Residence. The first convention of this type was held in 1992 under the name “Convulsions”, which became “Continuum” in 2004. The convention has been held every two years, with the 2023 event being the first time the event is held annually.
Continuum prides itself in being a very social residential con, which offers a plethora of RPGs, freeforms and other games, plus seminars, events and ample opportunities to chat with old and new friends.
Where and when is Continuum being held?
The doors open on Friday the 28th July 2023 at 12pm and close on Monday 31st July 2023 at 09:30am (check-out time, although you are welcome to spend the Monday morning at the venue).
The main venue will be:
The Village Hub & The Point
33 Stoughton Drive South
Oadby, Leicester, LE2 2RJ
Accommodation will be at Bowder Court and further gaming spaces will in houses nearby.
A general site map can be found here (map of Oadby)
A con-specific map for 2023 can be found here.
Does Continuum have an Anti-Harassment Policy?
Yes, we do! You can find the full policy in our Terms and Conditions here.
I want to help Continuum, how can I do that?
There are many ways you can help to make Continuum a great con!
One of the most straightforward ways of doing this is to offer to run games and events for us, and get them registered with us as early as possible.
We are also always looking for volunteers (“gophers”) to assist the Committee.
And, of course, by being excellent to each other and any new attendees that might be coming to Continuum for the first time.
If you have any desire to help out Continuum further, send a message to Julia or Alison via the Contact page.
Registration Questions:
How do I register for Continuum?
To register for Continuum, please go to the main page. Go to the Members Only menu and click on Purchase tickets
Please note that a registration is not considered to be valid until full payment has been received by the Committee.
How do I pay for my attendance at Continuum?
Continuum accepts payment via direct bank transfer or via PayPal.
Details of payment methods and costs can be found here.
What does Continuum do with my money?
If you have booked an accommodation ticket, the vast majority of the money goes to the university.
The remaining fees go towards payments for water coolers, free drink tokens for the GMs, website fees, lanyards, equipment hire, printing, attendance for the Committee (who in return organises and runs the event) and contingencies.
Any money left over after making the final payment to the University remains in the Continuum bank account to use for subsequent Continuum conventions.
Can I bring kids to Continuum?
If you wish to bring your underage offspring to the convention, it is very important that you let us know. Please contact Alison via the Contacts page and let her know your name, the name of the child and the age of the child at the time of the convention.
We offer special deals for children staying at Continuum:
- Any kids under the age of 11 can share a bedroom with a supervising adult at no extra charge and without a pass to the convention. You will need to provide your own sleeping arrangements for said child.
- Any kids between the ages of 12 and 17 need to be accompanied by an adult and have their own room in the same flat as said adult. However, we offer half-price accommodation for anybody between 12 and 17. Please contact Alison if you wish to book one of these rooms for your child/teen.
By when do I need to have registered?
If you wish to book accommodation for Continuum, you need to have registered by the end of June, as we need plenty of time to allocate rooms and communicate with the university. Also, you need to be registered in order to be able to sign up for freeforms and offer tabletop games in advance etc.
If you wish to book a day or weekend pass without accommodation, you can also buy a ticket on the day at the venue (Cash only).
Accommodation
What is the accommodation like at Continuum?
The convention venue consists of a Main Building and set of accommodation blocks. These blocks have several floors with multiple flats on each floor. A flat consists of a shared kitchen and 4 or 5 en-suite single bedrooms. Kitchens contain a Fridge/Freezer, microwave, oven (electric), kettle (electric), iron+board, a worktop, a table and a few chairs.
There will be fully equipped kitchens in the flats/apartments for self-catering – you do however need to do your own washing up and shopping.
Each kitchen will be equipped with:
Per person:
1 x Dinner plate (white), 1 x Knife, 1 x Side plate (white), 1 x Fork, 1 x Cereal Bowl (white), 1 x Dessert spoon, 1 x Mug (white), 1 x Teaspoon, 1 x Glass tumbler
Per kitchen:
1 x Tin opener, 1 x Vegetable peeler, 1 x Corkscrew, 1 x Wooden spoon, 1 x Slotted flat turner, 1 x Kitchen scissors, 1 x Slotted spoon.
1 x Large saucepan (non-stick) with lid, 1 x Medium saucepan (non-stick) with lid, 1 x Frying pan (non-stick) no lid, 1 x Chopping board std – white, 1 x kitchen knife, 1 x Utility knife.
Bedrooms are single occupancy. There is a wardrobe in the room and a bed that comes ready-made with two pillows. There is a desk in the bedroom with a lamp, a small kettle and some tea and coffee. There is free WiFi in the bedrooms, but you will need to sign up for it. The en-suite bathroom has a toilet, washbasin and a shower. There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible rooms with larger showers available.
Some towels will be provided. Please note that due to Halls safety regulations, the windows in the rooms will not open fully. This results in the rooms being rather warm in any weather, so be prepared for that.
Are there accessible rooms and if so, how can I get one?
Should you require a ground floor/an accessible bedroom because you have mobility issues or because you require a larger shower cubicle, please email Julia.
Are meals and drinks included?
Breakfast is included. Other meals and drinks are not included.
Can I choose who I want to or absolutely not want to share a flat with?
Yes. When you register, you will be asked for your preferences in this regard. Please bear in mind that due to the nature of the flats, it is not always possible to group everybody who wants to stay together into one flat. Sometimes, it is necessary to allocate individual attendees to a flat already mostly occupied by one specific group.
If you have any other rooming requests or amendments, please email Julia.
If you do not communicate your rooming requests to the Committee in time, you may be allocated to a flat at random.
I really want to stay in a double room, what can I do?
As these are University Halls of Residence, there are unfortunately no double rooms on site whatsoever. Also, we discourage the booking of one regular room for two attendees, as this will lead to trouble with the University.
However, we have reserved a limited number of double rooms at College Court, the University of Leicester’s four-star hotel.
For more information on this and for some suggestions of other places to stay, please also see “Where else can I stay?”
If you make your own accommodation arrangements, please don’t forget to book your day or weekend pass on our website.
Where else can I stay?
There are numerous, albeit mostly distant places to stay off campus:
The University of Leicester themselves has an affiliated hotel named College Court about 1.5 miles away from the main venue. If you decide you wish to stay here, please book the appropriate ticket via our website.
https://collegecourt.co.uk/hotel
The closest Premier Inn is the Leicester City Centre one, which is about 2.5 miles away, with the next closest being the South Oadby location about 3 miles away from the main venue. If you wish to stay here, please make your own booking and buy a Day or Weekend Pass via our website.
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/home.html
There are also numerous B&Bs in the general area, and also a few camping sites as well as Air B&Bs .
Venue Questions
What can I do if I don’t like the university food?
- Take Away: There are several take-aways and restaurants, as well as supermarkets in the area that will deliver via Deliveroo.
- Restaurants: Oadby, which is about a 15 min walk away from the venue, has a number of restaurants such as the ‘The Lord Keeper of The Great Seal’ (a Wetherspoon Pub with a truly Eldritch name).
- Self Catering
What are the self-catering kitchens like?
Every flat in the Hall has a shared kitchen, which should contain a working stove and oven, fridge/freezer, kettle, microwave and toaster. If you decide to cook your own meals during the con, be advised that you are advised to bring your own cooking utensils if they are not on the following list and you think you will need them:
Per person:
1 x Dinner plate (white), 1 x Knife, 1 x Side plate (white), 1 x Fork, 1 x Cereal Bowl (white), 1 x Dessert spoon, 1 x Mug (white), 1 x Teaspoon, 1 x Glass tumbler
Per kitchen:
1 x Tin opener, 1 x Vegetable peeler, 1 x Corkscrew, 1 x Wooden spoon, 1 x Slotted flat turner, 1 x Kitchen scissors, 1 x Slotted spoon.
1 x Large saucepan (non-stick) with lid, 1 x Medium saucepan (non-stick) with lid, 1 x Frying pan (non-stick) no lid, 1 x Chopping board std – white, 1 x kitchen knife, 1 x Utility knife.
Where can I buy things off-site?
The closest supermarket is the ASDA in Oadby about 15 minutes walk (0.8 miles) from the venue, but there is also Waitrose (1.1 miles) and a Sainsburys (1.7 miles) further into town, plus an array of other shops.
Is there a bar?
The Village Hub has its own, spacious bar.
Can I bring my own drinks?
Due to University and licensing policies, you may not bring or consume your own alcohol anywhere in the venue or elsewhere on the premises. You may, however, consume your own alcohol in the rooms of the accommodation blocks.
Tell me about the gym.
If you have booked accommodation at the University with us, you will receive free entry to the gym and pool once a day. The Roger Bettles Sports Centre is located across the road from the main venue, at 40 Manor Road and open from 6.30am – 10pm Monday to Friday, and 8am – 7.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. You will need to get a daily pass from the John Foster Reception.
Please be advised that for health and safety reasons, children may not use the gym and swimming pool.
“At the Con” Questions
How do I get to Continuum?
By Train:
If you are arriving at Leicester Railway Station by train, you have three options of getting to the venue.
- On foot: The venue is about 2.6 miles away, making it a ca. 50 minute walk. Please be advised that parts of this route are uphill.
- By bus: Take the Sapphire 31 towards Oadby from the Rail Station Bus stop, get off at Stoneygate Shirley Road and board the 80A to Oadby, getting off at Oadby Coppice Hall. This stop is only a minute’s walk or so away from The Village Hub, making a total journey time of approximately 30 minutes. A day ticket for the busses costs about £4.20.
Alternatively, you can take the Sapphire 31 Bus straight from the Railway Station to Oadby Glebe Road and take a 15 minute walk from there.
Please be advised that this information, while correct at the time of writing, is subject to change.
- By taxi: The most convenient way of getting to the venue is to hire a taxi from the rank outside the train station, and share it with a few fellow attendees.
Is there free parking at the Venue?
Yes, there is, on a “first come, first served” basis. Please note that the parking closest to the accommodation blocks can be entered via a road access on Manor Road (opposite the old venue at John Foster Hall, near Shirley House), while the parking closest to the main venue can be entered via Stoughton Drive South.
Can I buy a weekend or day ticket at the door?
You certainly can. We will have a front desk where you can purchase your ticket, but please be advised we only accept cash. Should the reception desk be vacant by the time you arrive, please find a Committee member (recognisable by their polo shirts) and pay them. You must have a have a ticket to attend Continuum – “but there was nobody at the reception table when I arrived!” is no excuse!
When can I get into my room?
Keys to the rooms won’t be available before 1pm on Friday. If you are travelling in by train etc and need a space to store your luggage, a luggage room will be provided where you can leave your luggage at your own risk.
Who can help me at Continuum?
If there is an issue with your room or the venue in general, the university staff wear badges and can usually be found at the reception area in the main building. If there is something wrong or broken in your room, they are the people who can probably help you. Please be nice to them; they work very hard!
The Continuum Committee and their volunteers are the people who can help you with all your convention-related questions and problems. You can identify them by their badges and their Committee polo shirts.
You can also find photos and biographies of the Committee members in our Who is Who section.
Is there WiFi and phone coverage?
The venue has free WiFi. Mobile phone coverage can vary greatly, depending on your provider.
When are the time slots?
Slot 1 Friday 14:00 – 18:00
Slot 2 Friday 20:00 – 24:00
Slot 3 Saturday 10:00 – 13:00
Slot 4 Saturday 14:00 – 18:00
Slot 5 Saturday 20:00 – 24:00
Slot 6 Sunday 10:00 – 13:00
Slot 7 Sunday 14:00 – 18:00
Slot 8 Sunday 20:00 – 24:00
Freeform Questions:
What is a freeform?
A freeform is a live action role playing game, where you are given a character by a Game Master and play out that character in a story together with a group of other players – a bit like a play without a clear script. Characters may have quite detailed backstories and motivations, and also goals that they try to reach during the course of the game.
While it is not strictly required by most, it is generally very much appreciated by the GM if the players make an attempt to dress like their character for atmospheric reasons.
How and when can I sign up for a freeform?
Freeform registrations open a couple of months before the event.
Sign-ups will be rolled out in three phases. You will be able to sign up for one freeform in Phase One, a second freeform in Phase Two and as many further freeforms as you like (and still have room) in Phase Three.
I would like to offer to run a freeform, what do I need to do?
If you want to run a Freeform, please contact Mark, who coordinates this kind of thing, and offer your game. When it comes to theme, size, rules etc. please see the Freeform FAQ page.
Freeforms at Continuum are usually run at one of the houses just down the road from the main venue. The houses have large gardens and quite a number of small-ish rooms. Continuum won’t charge you or your players for a Freeform. However, if you do need to cover material costs and such, you are free to charge your players so long as you let them (and us) know in advance. You alone will be responsible for collecting the fees from your players.
Tabletop Game Questions:
What sort of games do you offer at Continuum?
Any system or setting is fine with us. Historically, we used to get quite a big Glorantha or Call of Cthulhu Fanbase at our con, but a huge number of games these days are also Indie games. Generally speaking, if sounds fun, you’ll get players, and availability entirely depends on what people are willing to offer.
How do I sign up for a game at Continuum?
Registration for table top games happens at the con. There will be a pin board downstairs in the Hub where the sheets for the next slots will be put up at regular intervals.
Sign-up sheets will go up about half-way through the previous slot to allow those who were not able to get a spot in a game last time a better chance of getting into a game.
Write your name on the list, (as legibly, as possible). If the game is full, consider signing up for a reserve slot, in case someone drops out. Similarly, if you realise you won’t be able to play in a game you have signed up for, be kind and cross your name off the list.
I want to offer a game, do I just bring it on the day or should I register it in advance?
You are, of course, free to just bring your games on the day, but we recommend that you register your game with Andrew via email in advance.
There are good reasons, too!:
- It allows us to announce the games on the website, so players and other GMs know what’s already on offer.
- It allows Andrew to allocate you a space in advance, so you will in all likelihood wind up in a nice, quiet room.
- There are perks for preregistering GMs! If you register a game with us before the con, you get to pick a player slot in one of the other games that has been registered in advance before the con even starts!
Other Game/Programme Questions:
What other events does Continuum have to offer?
We have had all sorts of panels in the past, including companies presenting their upcoming games, mapmakers showing off their work, advice on running conventions or freeforms and the ever-popular Spirituality and Roleplaying panel on Sunday morning.
Can I offer an event or seminar?
If you think you or you and your friends have something interesting to show or tell the attendees, why not host a panel? If you have an idea for a panel or any other event (we even let people sing at this convention!), let Colin know.
Will there be board games?
Yes! Continuum has a board games library graciously provided by two of our attendees, Alan and Charlie Paull.
Trade Hall Questions:
What is the Trade Hall?
The trade hall is a large room at the main venue that is dedicated to offering various shops, stores and companies a place to sell attendees their wares.
The Trade Hall is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday between gaming slots.
How do I register as a trader?
To register as a trader or enquire about our terms and conditions, please send an email to Colin and tell him what you are selling or what your business is. Please be advised that due to the limited space in the venue, we reserve the right to pick and choose our traders to allow for the greatest possible variety.
What traders will be attending Continuum 2023?
You can find all our currently registered traders in the Traders section of our website.
Will there be a Bring & Buy and if yes, how does it work?
Yes! The Bring and Buy is part of the Trade Hall. You can bring your old games, miniatures etc. you no longer want and we will sell it (with a percentage of the price going to the con). To find out more about the Bring & Buy, check the Bring and Buy section of the website.
Can I pay by card and also, where can I get cash?
Continuum itself does not accept cards, neither for the ticket desk nor for the Bring and Buy. Individual traders MAY offer card payments.
The nearest Cash Machine is at the Asda store in Oadby.