robin_d_laws was GoH) to such good effect that they've invited me back this year as a Guest of Honor. (I also semi-crashed it as a gaming Guest of Regular in 2005, when Tim Powers was GoH.) Also Guesting of Honor are Larry Niven and Steven Barnes, should you be interested, and indeed you should.But anyway, the schedule as it applies to Me:
Friday, April 20
2:30pm: Werewolves! Embrace your inner Beast (G. Schnobrich (M), K. Hite, J. Leinweber, M. Olson) Lycanthropy was always messy, painful and un-cool, but in recent novels and movies we are seeing its powerful, sexy, and even humorous side. Who is the first named werewolf character in literature? Is there a "metaphor" disease connected with it, like TB and AIDS have been for vampires? What about Glen Duncan's novel, The Last Werewolf? (Odana A)
What about it indeed? (A: Lycaon, unless they mean something else by "literature." Or "werewolf." A: Rabies, but that's probably not what they mean. Maybe clinical depression. See what a good panel this will be?)
4:00pm: Future of Table Top Gaming (B. Curley (M), K. Hite, B. Bodden) Where table top might be headed between d20, 4e, FUDGE, GUMSHOE, and other various indie games. (Oakbrook III)
Where indeed? (And we'll slot in "5e" instead of "4e," I suspect. And maybe FATE for FUDGE.)
Saturday, April 21
1:00 pm: Signing: K. Hite, M. Forbeck, J. Kovalic (Dealer's Room)
2:30 pm: Star Wars vs. Star Trek (E. Larson, K. Hite, M. Nelson, M. Forbeck) I can't find a panel description, but I expect it will be a lot like
mforbeck's book. Only in panel form. (Oakbrook I and II)(A: Star Trek. Duh.)
4:00 pm: Games Based on Books, Movies, and TV (G. Rihn (M), K. Hite, M. Forbeck, B. Bodden) Since the early days of 'generic' role-playing games, game systems based on popular media properties have come and gone. What makes a film or novel good for adaptation to a game? Which game adaptations have been particularly successful and which have failed notably, and why? (Odana A)
8:00 pm: Guest of Honor Speeches (Oakbrook I and II)
After: Gaming the Mythos (B. Curley (M), K. Hite, M. Valentinelli, B. Bodden) There are now several board and role-playing games featuring HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. What is essential to getting the mythos right? What are some common pitfalls when attempting to emulate Lovecraft's eldritch horror?
Sunday, April 22
1:00 pm: Ken Hite reading (Odana A)
What, exactly, I'll be reading, I don't know yet. Maybe one of my short stories for Stone Skin Press. Almost certainly "The Chicago Working" from the World of Darkness adventure Chicago Workings. Maybe something else, or not.
So come one, come all! See you in Madison in three weeks!