What's the right age to introduce your kid to more mature media, such as Watchmen? How do kids decide what they're ready for? Participants: Katarina R Larsen, Atlas (mod), Annie Fleschner, Mackenzie Fleschner
Prof has worked in the games industry for 17 years and released some big titles, but has also made a multitude of small, weird, experimental games. Join us as we go through Prof's game jam archive and talk about game design learnings from each. Participants: Prof Brown
Otherwise successful people tell tales about their worst efforts and what was learned and/or earned from them. Participants: Chris Kluwe, Kelly Murphy, T. Aaron Cisco (mod), Stephanie Mariy Dreis
Let's talk about random things we've had to explain to our non-geeky friends, family, and co-workers. Participants: KitKat (mod), Heather Bufkin, Daren Johnson, AJ Pete, Ben Ellis
We often go back to older works of fiction, mythology, and folklore to inspire current work. Why do these stories still appeal to us and teach us things? Participants: John Shea, Randee Dawn (mod), Kenneth Joel Justiniano, Lisa Hario, Crystal Lynn Kelleher
Come celebrate one of the first great midnight movies on its 50th anniversary! What was your first RHPS experience? What did it awaken in you? **mature content** Participants: KitKat, Nathan Michael Anderson, Sean Eber, Cetius d'Raven (mod), Katherine Jo Pysick
Thursday July 3, 2025 11:30pm - Friday July 4, 2025 12:30am CDT Hyatt 1 Lakeshore A
Get your questions answered about participating in the Masquerade by the Masquerade director and staff. Participants: Donald Kaiser (mod), Patrick Cool, Ben Livingston
Historybounding, historically-inspired fantasy settings, "[character design] but make it [time period]", sheer flights of fancy--let's talk about the joys of purposefully playing around with historical authenticity in the service of art and storytelling. Participants: skazka 9000, Alex V Bender (mod), Elizabeth Merritt, Dana Baird, Kendrick Edmund Cronin
Practice makes perfect, but why is perfection the goal? Art is about self-expression and you don't need perfection to be able to speak your truth. Learn how to appreciate where you are in your artistic journey with those who've already walked that road. Participants: Sonni de Soto, Erin Wilaby, Sarah Pierce, Viga (mod), Kerry Peterson
Why do books get banned? Why should you read the stuff people are trying to ban? Participants: Renee Petersen, Elizabeth Ess, Danith McPherson, nick A jaworski, Crystal Lynn Kelleher (mod)
Music and theater for the spec fiction geeks! How does one write and collaborate on such a thing? Find out from writers and musicians who have done just that. Participants: C.S.E. Cooney, Mary Crowell, Tina Connolly, Jeremy Cooney, Carlos Hernandez
Dream of weaving tales and guiding adventurers through perilous quests? Join our panel of seasoned game masters as they share invaluable tips and tricks for running engaging and memorable campaigns. This panel is your gateway to the art of game mastering. Participants: Bob Alberti (mod), Alex V Bender, Kenneth Joel Justiniano, Eric Zawadzki, Margaret Eastman
A lot of costumers have had the experience of something not working out as planned. Costumers discuss the things that just did not go as planned and what they learned from it. Participants: Molly Elizabeth Cornelius, Sonni de Soto, Elizabeth Merritt, Dana Baird (mod), Kendrick Edmund Cronin
Discussing the ins and outs of writing fanfiction. **mature content** Participants: Erica Fair, Allison Dean (mod), Jaymie Delia Wagner, Dirk Thomas Ykema, Tanya DePass
The documentary "Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched" hit streaming and ignited renewed interest in folk horror. These stories focus on how outsiders collide with folk religion, paganism, and the dark side of nature. Let's talk about some of our favorites. Participants: skazka 9000, Ann Laabs, Bryon D Stump, Andrea Stephanie Herman, Lathan Murrell (mod)
Some movies and TV series are not cult classics or so bad they're good. Instead, they're a little cheesy and a lot of fun. Streaming services are responsible for creating or resurrecting properties that qualify. Let's talk about our favorites. Participants: Ren Nonnweiler, Nathan Michael Anderson, Randee Dawn, Katherine Jo Pysick, Kay Ericson (mod)
Friday July 4, 2025 11:30pm - Saturday July 5, 2025 12:30am CDT Hyatt 1 Lakeshore A
While school can teach a wide variety of subjects and skills, it can't cover everything needed for general adulting. How can we use geekdom to either teach those skills or offer support in finding a teacher or mentor? Participants: Katarina R Larsen, Dani Mayville, Raederle Sterling (mod), Janelle Kloth, Ashley M Mages
Whether you've been writing for a few months or for decades, the burnout's real. Permission to play and taking pleasure in the process can reinvigorate your joy in the work of writing. Participants: C.S.E. Cooney, Kyle B Dekker (mod)
Reimagining classic stories/novels in different settings. What draws us back to these stories? Participants: Randee Dawn, Craig Smith, Noel Thingvall (mod), David Lenander, John Heimbuch
Some games that come in small boxes are a lot of fun to play over and over again. What are some of your favorites? Participants: Ren Nonnweiler, Elizabeth Merritt (mod), Renate Fiora, nick A jaworski, Don Kaiser
