Many writers and game designers have only an academic knowledge of modern weapons, much of it drawn from movies and TV, which is either wrong or impractical. Come listen to our panel of experts dispel some of the myths that continue in fiction. This is not intended to be a political panel so please check those agendas at the door.

being able to find cosplays from items you have in your closet.

Find your style or styles of writing to get your story written. Do you you write by the seat of your pants or do you outline your story before you write. There is no wrong or right way to write, but trying different methods could help you get the story out.

Many works of fantasy are set in alternate versions of our own world, often where the medieval and the magical meet. What additional challenges do authors face in the creation of historical fantasy??

Dr. Mark Rounds has dived back into music with retirement and did his first post retirement concert at Rustycon this year. He would be up for another one.

Having the right foundation can vastly improve the look of a cosplay. This panel covers the often overlooked realm of what is worn underneath the costume. We will discuss both masculine and feminine undergarments for varying body types and across gender presentations (crossplay). Learn how the right foundation can help your cosplays lay smoother on your body, create an idealized ‘anime’ figure, keep your privates private, and overall enhance your cosplay!

Discussing experimental archaeology, historical reenactment, recreating the past for recreation, and what we learn from them all.

Ted will read from his newest SF book.

Not quite finished with your Masquerade costume or latest project? Do you need to make some last-minute alterations? Bring your supplies and commiserate with fellow procrastinators!

Learning to use an ink and brush to write in Japanese characters.

Have you ever wanted to cosplay someone, but had no idea how to begin? Join cosplayer Darkmoon to learn about how to take that first step! Topics covered will include costume choice, breaking down the parts of a costume, buying vs. making, researching materials and methods, and budgeting time and money.

Informational meeting for Masquerade participants.

Come talk with the Aegis crew. Learn about Vendrial, the Aegis and the upcoming projects within the Aegis of the Elements IP. Including the Board Game and our first Anthology. AotE takes place on the living world of Vendrial. The inhabitants are integral to her survival and consist of 6 great humanoid species. And we will be talking about them all.

Inexpensive ways to make cosplays.

Do you like games? Have you ever wanted to make them? Come and listen while Devin Kaas (designer on games such as Middle Earth: Shadow of War, Halo Infinite, and the upcoming Wonder Woman game) takes you through the first steps you can take if you want to become a game designer.

If you are a writer, I’m sure you have had writer's block. But you don't want to simply get unstuck. To put forth your best effort and end with the finest version of your creation, you will need to build upon and maintain your momentum.

Meet and visit with SageFenCon about the Tri-Cities  first maker/creator convention.  Discuss what makes a maker/creator con different and what to expect at the event.

The technology of the 1880’s and the steam age is fascinating far more capable that we realize. This panel will discuss the realities of steam punk technology, Charles Babbage’s difference engine and other inventions of the golden age.

It may seem simple to deal with voicing a book or story. Read it. It's not always that simple. We will talk about things that can be done to make the conversion from written word to audio run a little smoother.This is a hybrid virtual/live panel. Virtual attendees may join here:Join Zoom Meetinghttps://zoom.us/j/93625070880?pwd=MzMxeC93bkxuU25acjZrUTl3WGtKdz09Meeting ID: 936 2507 0880Passcode: 220820

Be it a game, a literary world, short stories or a comic, your stories need to take place somewhere. Let’s talk about building those worlds, be them simple settings, to full on solar systems.

Trainers, assemble! Come and make friends, make trades, and show off your Shiniest catches!

A workshop on making steampunk guns.

What are tropes, how are they used, and how can we use them effectively as story-telling tools without falling back on the same old cliches?

There are a lot of things that are different about us that some may think would make it impossible to do a craft, but it turns out that if you want to create bad enough, nothing can get in your way. Our panelists will talk about how their disabilities have altered how they do their craft, and sometimes even enhanced the outcomes.

Join Clan Volos, a branch of the E.M.P as its members engage in  medieval armored combat.Ask questions and learn about this fun hobby. Hosted by: Warrick Of Clan Volos

This is a hybrid virtual/live panel. Virtual attendees may join here:https://zoom.us/j/92446783061?pwd=cmJrNFhoblp2dFZGN1lJSUIxcllwQT09Meeting ID: 924 4678 3061Passcode: 313718 

How do writers choose the right point of view to tell a story. How do you know if you need more than one point of view character? What special tricks can writers play, using point of view?

Learn about affordable ways for the artists to get their work out there, including printing and crowdfunding options.

Meet our Artist Guest of Honor.

Update on dealing with the many thousands of junk objects orbiting Earth and efforts to deal with this severe problem.

What are the skills required to get an entry level positions in film, video and TV production, related media fields.

From science to history to magic, the world is full of source material for writers if you only know where to look. Our panel of writers, game designers and fellow travelers will discuss how they develop their background to make their creative endeavor more realistic.

The history as well as a demonstration on Redwork. I will be teaching you the stitches used in this art form. If you have been outlining figures with a backstitch thinking that is old-fashioned, you NEED to take this class. The Kensington Outline Stitch seems to be lost if the photos on transfer books are any indication. I was taught embroidery a half-century ago by my grandmother who was taught by a Victorian woman. This will be a make and take.

Technical walk-through and sound check for Masquerade participants only.

 Armor and Weapons mythbusting. A look into physics, engineering, and biomechanics of medieval and fantasy weaponry.

A Guide to hands-off storytelling and the reasons to not be a helicopter parent to your characters. Hear from “writers” who choose to witness their stories and how their characters come to form their own adventures.This is a hybrid virtual/live panel. Virtual attendees may join here:https://zoom.us/j/95863243868?pwd=bytYNTVnUmdFN0xnVHkrNnVTNC80dz09Meeting ID: 958 6324 3868Passcode: 278020

Unless you have an agent, or are just really lucky, you need to put yourself out there if you want to get noticed. Be you an artist, a writer or any other kind of creator the initial impetus is on you. That said, other people have learned some of the hard lessons, so why not start with learning their lessons from them and save yourself the energy. Our panelists will share some of their successes and failures when it comes to getting their works to see the light of day.

This is a hybrid virtual/live panel. Virtual attendees may join here:https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73372397082?pwd=JjZPNEpf2g5tsuyLYqAX-zhR0Tc2Jh.1 Meeting ID: 733 7239 7082Passcode: 2xHXj0

So many competing ideas and claims fly around these days. How can an ordinary person know what to take seriously?The virtual link for this panel is:https://zoom.us/j/92947922945?pwd=WjNWV1dVa1FsNkpqaldrZjNNMjZBZz09Meeting ID: 929 4792 2945Passcode: 333392

A workshop to learn the basics of making chain mail for use as armor or jewelry.  Tools and supplies will be supplied.

Bring your sketchbook (or just a pencil), chat (or not) and draw anything, no stress, no judgement, just good clean fun.

Ancient computers The most agreed upon definition of computing is that of a device which completes mathematical calculations and is programmable is some form or another and these devices have been around far longer than most people realize.  Come listen to Dr. Mark Rounds, computer scientist with expertise in GIS and Computer Security talk about the history of computing and early computing devices stretching back to 205 BC.

In all of our fictional worlds, there is some way that the world came into being. And then, there is the way the denizens of that world believe that they came into being. From the creation of gods to the way people explain their world without them we will examine how to create truths and fallacies that make your world more compelling and relatable.This is a hybrid virtual/live panel. Virtual attendees may join here:Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/74047523935?pw...

I'll bring armor and weapons, let's discuss the past, present, and future.  You can handle antique weapons and armor, modern recreations, and discuss what the future may hold.

Those beings that often drive your stories and games, the characters. How does one write/build a character so that it is believable and enjoyable. From the hero to the villain, the most beloved characters are those we can relate to. But what makes a character relatable?

Do you know the difference between Deku and a Deku Scrub? Do you know that Ho-oh is not a snack cake? If so, come on down and try to win fabulous prizes.

Before we contact extraterrestrial civilizations, we can practice communicating with alien intelligences right here. Researchers are trying to create a lexicon of dolphin vocalizations in the Caribbean, elephants communicate in frequencies that humans are just learning to “see” with spectrograms and, as programmers inch their way toward a general AI, the question is if it will “think” in a way we can fathom.The link for this hybrid panel is:https://zoom.us/j/97046046082?pwd=N...

How to implement the rules of consent into your language and every day life. It’s not just about sex and dealing with partners.

Archaeology holds many mysteries. We'll discuss the role of re-enactments in understanding how ancient people lived their daily lives.

How to encourage readers to dive right into your world—without getting hung up on the details.

Isaac Asimov wrote provocative fiction about the about the role of robots in a futuristic society. His three Laws of Robotics made for fascinating reading. Time has marched on and we are on the cusp of modern automation. Are these laws still relevant? Come find out!The link for this hybrid panel is:https://zoom.us/j/94900645006?pwd=bytxY2xtd2FRQzdyMCtOTnNQU0g4dz09Meeting ID: 949 0064 5006Passcode: 667604

We will share the latest gadgets, apps, books, etc. we have run across that can make life easier for dyslexics. That "we" includes not just the panel but the audience.