A small band of dedicated Dubbo gamers ventures to Canberra today to cast dice and spells against some of the country's top players in the most intricate of fantasy worlds.
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Their leader: Adam Wonderley, a bearded veteran of the Warhammer board game who has represented Australia at tournaments in Serbia and Switzerland.
"The atmosphere is brilliant - I've been going to tournaments for twenty years," said Mr Wonderley, owner of The Gamers Guild store.
Thousands of players, some from as far away as Perth, will converge for the annual "Cancon" fair this weekend to do battle in card and table-top games.
Five players from Dubbo will wage table-top campaigns with their painted Warhammer fantasy figurines, armies of wood elves, dark elves and dwarfs.
Three others are set to compete in a magic card game tournament, a "grand prix trial" in which the winners gain favourable starting positions for an upcoming US contest.
Ian Thompson, 25, will submit his 60 card deck for official inspection and play under the scrutiny of judges.
"If I did win, it would be a very big surprise," Mr Thomson said.
"I'm more than happy to just travel, meet new people and have a few games for fun."
Mr Wonderley said unlucky dice rolls or card combinations could ruin a player's chances but that Dubbo gamers showed considerable talent.
"I like to think we do have the players that can compete at the higher levels."
Mr Wonderley said a strong community had grown up around "the central west's first dedicated gaming store" since he and his wife Nicole opened The Gamers Guild 18 months ago.
"There was nothing this side of the mountain," he said.
"I've had mothers come in and thank me because their sons are off the computer for the first time in two years."
