Windycon 50

Online fan groups...good or bad?

Ever wonder what The Royal Manticoran Navy (TRMN) is all about? Come on in and sit a spell, and ask those who are in the know.

 What are your hobbies besides science fiction?

Is there a set of best practices or rules to follow?

Are our dreams here yet? Where is my robot maid? My flying car is late!

How would their work have been affected if they were allowed to show who they were?

Join us at Windycon's monumental 50th anniversary opening ceremonies, where we celebrate "infinite diversity in infinite combinations" in homage to Star Trek's timeless message. Amidst the excitement, we proudly unveil our distinguished guests of honor, each a luminary in their own right. From trailblazing authors to visionary artists, our lineup embodies the essence of imagination and innovation that has defined Windycon throughout its illustrious history. Prepare to be captivated as we honor our past, embrace our present, and explore the boundless horizons of the future, all while embracing the mantra of "infinite diversity in infinite combinations" alongside our esteemed guests.
It's a great place to meet the Chairs, meet our great guests, and hear a bit about our plans for the weekend!

The party is on an information-stealing mission when they learn hunters are after them. Who are these hunters? Who is hunted? Why are they after the party?

Written by: David Stairs

Available for Replay.

Where one begins and the other one ends

Welcome to our enchanting mask-making soirée! Prepare to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and fun as you embark on a magical journey to design your very own stunning masquerade mask. Explore a collection of luxurious materials, including elegant feathers and sparkling beads, and let your imagination run wild as you craft a mask that truly captures your one-of-a-kind style and spirit. Our masks are thoughtfully designed to fit comfortably over glasses, ensuring everyone can participate and look fabulous without compromise. Whether you’re dreaming of a Venetian carnival look or aiming for a whimsical touch, this delightful event promises an unforgettable experience where your creation will shine like a masterpiece at any grand masquerade ball.

Join us in Mike Brotherton and Christian Ready's slide show with the latest from the James Webb Space Telescope, which we expect to be amazing, because the data that's coming in is something to be seen! 

How are everyday animal companions depicted in our science fiction and fantasy literature? Are they included often enough?

In the 1920s, Mr. MacDowell, a gifted astrologer, immediately detected a supernatural being upon entering his new house in Scotland. He gathered eminent mediums of his time for an extraordinary séance, and they have seven hours to make contact with the ghost and investigate any clues that it can provide to unlock an old mystery.

Unable to talk, the amnesiac ghost communicates with the mediums through visions, which are represented in the game by illustrated cards. The mediums must decipher the images to help the ghost remember how he was murdered: Who did the crime? Where did it take place? Which weapon caused the death? The more the mediums cooperate and guess well, the easier it is to catch the right culprit.

In Mysterium, a reworking of the game system present in Tajemnicze Domostwo, one player takes the role of ghost while everyone else represents a medium. To solve the crime, the ghost must first recall (with the aid of the mediums) all of the suspects present on the night of the murder. A number of suspect, location and murder weapon cards are placed on the table, and the ghost randomly assigns one of each of these in secret to a medium.

Each hour (i.e., game turn), the ghost hands one or more vision cards face up to each medium, refilling their hand to seven each time they share vision cards. These vision cards present dreamlike images to the mediums, with each medium first needing to deduce which suspect corresponds to the vision cards received. Once the ghost has handed cards to the final medium, they start a two-minute sandtimer. Once a medium has placed their token on a suspect, they may also place clairvoyancy tokens on the guesses made by other mediums to show whether they agree or disagree with those guesses.

After time runs out, the ghost reveals to each medium whether the guesses were correct or not. Mediums who guessed correctly move on to guess the location of the crime (and then the murder weapon), while those who didn't keep their vision cards and receive new ones next hour corresponding to the same suspect. Once a medium has correctly guessed the suspect, location and weapon, they move their token to the epilogue board and receive one clairvoyancy point for each hour remaining on the clock. They can still use their remaining clairvoyancy tokens to score additional points.
If one or more mediums fail to identify their proper suspect, location and weapon before the end of the seventh hour, then the ghost has failed and dissipates, leaving the mystery unsolved. If, however, they have all succeeded, then the ghost has recovered enough of its memory to identify the culprit.

Mediums then group their suspect, location and weapon cards on the table and place a number by each group. The ghost then selects one group, places the matching culprit number face down on the epilogue board, picks three vision cards — one for the suspect, one for the location, and one for the weapon — then shuffles these cards. Players who have achieved few clairvoyancy points flip over one vision card at random, then secretly vote on which suspect they think is guilty; players with more points then flip over a second vision card and vote; then those with the most points see the final card and vote.

If a majority of the mediums have identified the proper suspect, with ties being broken by the vote of the most clairvoyant medium, then the killer has been identified and the ghost can now rest peacefully. If not, well, perhaps you can try again...

Join us to help toast the Elvin gods and goddesses. We meet to drink and toast, going around the room so everyone can participate. Please bring your own drink for toasting.

Welcome to the exciting world of anime, right within your school’s halls! This panel is dedicated to guiding students in creating a school-based anime club. It’s a place where the stories, art, and culture of anime aren’t just watched, but experienced and shared. Whether you’re a seasoned anime aficionado or new to the scene, we’re here to help you build a club that becomes a cornerstone of school spirit and community.

Join Us! Take the first step in making your school a place where anime fans can thrive. Our panel will provide you with the knowledge and inspiration to start a club that’s all about celebrating anime and fostering friendships. Don’t miss out on the chance to create an anime haven at your school!

Why does it seem like so many people into science fiction and fantasy are into similar crafts and hobbies? Why are there so many crocheters, knitters, chain mailers, & soap makers among us?

Eric Distad, better known as one half of the nerdy comedic duo, The Faithful Sidekicks, has been a performing songwriter for over 20 years. He recently released a brand new CD - The Other Side - full of his more serious solo musical work. Drawing inspirations from The Lord of the Rings, Terry Pratchett, mythology, and more, he presents songs about hope, disconnection, and kindness with a unique flair. He will be joined by the amazing talents of Lauren Oxford, Summer Russell, Jen Midkiff, and Sunnie Larsen to present songs full of rich harmonies and lush sounds.

Join the Westmarch Rifles for a Nerftastic time in our family friendly battle simulation.

Sponsored By: The Royal Manticoran Navy

Moebius Theatre returns to the Windycon stage with the world premier of a new play by Charles W. Ott III, Nowheresville.
It's a romantic comedy set... somewhere. This is the first new play from Moebius in some time and we're looking forward to it!

Come hang out s with author Donna J. W. Munro and Matt Munro. From spooky to speculative, we have all the books! Hang out, have lemonade, and play a couple games!

For 21+ Drinks available with ID

ON THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT...
During a hellish thunderstorm, a scream echoes through the sleepy town of Ravenswood Bluff. The townsfolk rush to investigate and find the beloved local storyteller has been murdered, their body hanging limp from the clocktower. As blood drips onto the cobblestones below, a realization slowly dawns… a demon has been unleashed, killing by night and taking on human form by day.

Can good find the demon in time? Or will evil overrun this once peaceful town?

Blood on the Clocktower is a game of murder and mystery, lies and logic, deduction and deception for five-to-twenty courageous players and one devious storyteller.

A social game played in person, seated in a circle, each player receives either a ‘good’ or ‘evil’ token with their unique character on it. Good players share information to solve the mystery whilst evil players lie about who they are and what they know. The good team wins if they can piece together their knowledge, trust each other, and execute the demon. The evil team wins if the demon can sow distrust, evade detection, and wipe out the village.

Game sessions are Dynamic, and Players may come and go as they please, as the length of each game is highly variable.

If arriving late, speak to the storyteller about getting into the game or waiting for the next one.

If you must leave early, please let your storyteller know ahead of time so they give you a special character.

Join Barfleet for an out-of-this-world party.

We will be Carding at the door

TRMN will be rolling pods again at Windycon 50!
trmn.org

Join us for a discussion and slide show focused on the early evolution and development of playing cards and tarot, and how they became the gaming systems known today.