Peter Nguyen, with hat, works with other Bates College students to create player characters Saturday morning before the start of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign at Bates College in Lewiston. The game was part of a daylong BatesCon 2024 event around the campus. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Piper Pulju, left, Tucker Stegeman and his sister, Cooper, strike a pose Saturday morning at Bates College in Lewiston during the first BatesCon. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Jeremy Coons, from Melted Vinyls works on original artwork at one of a dozen booths set up Saturday in the Gray Cage at Bates College in Lewiston. It was part of a daylong BatesCon 2024 event around the campus featuring numerous competitions with board games, video games and more. It was the first year for the free, public event that featured interactive activities throughout the day, speakers, panels and advice from professionals in the gaming industry. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

James Usher, back right, Peter Nguyen, second from right, Lauren Cockrill, bottom left and other Bates College students work together Saturday to create player characters before the start of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign at Bates College in Lewiston. The game was part of a daylong BatesCon 2024 event around the campus. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal