The Book of the Dun Dracon, Not By Walter Wangerin
After a decade or two it gets a little tricky to do these post titles. Anyway, the alert and the cognoscent will have noticed that it's once more February and therefore once more time for me to escape Chicago just a little tiny bit, for the semi-sunny confines of Santa Clara, California, for the dice-driven delights of DunDraCon! And as always, if I am at DunDraCon I must be empaneled therein, this year ALL DAY SATURDAY. If you also shall be at DunDraCon on Saturday, February 14 (just the day, of course, the night is for you and your loved one and Eros) then perhaps you would like to drop by and have a panel or two, as a treat. And finally, as always, I work very hard to know very little, indeed nothing whatsoever, about any plan to stream, record, or spell out these panels in that alphabet macaroni and cheese the kids like.

SATURDAY, FEB 14

10 AM - 11 AM: City Building
Presenter(s): Michael Blum, Doc Cross & Ken Hite

The long-running seminar about the nuts and bolts of creating and using cities in RPGs. This year our foci will be: Center Point Theory, the basic concept of how a city forms; Animals in Cities, what is allowed, how are they fed and housed; Transit in Ancient Cities, how people and goods are moved around in a city. [Sequoia]

Noon - 1 PM: What's New in Role-Playing Games
Presenter(s): Ken Hite & Merwin S.

Panelists will talk about what they are playing and especially what is new and worthy of your consideration. [N.B. We have never ever talked about what we're playing on this panel, and likely won't start this year.] [Sequoia]

1 PM - 2 PM: What Makes a One-Shot Different
Presenter(s): Randy Angle, Lucas Kotowski, Ken Hite & Merwin S.

A One-Shot RPG adventure is fundamentally different than campaign play. The panelists share their techniques and answer your questions. [Sequoia]

4 PM - 5 PM: Secrets of the Game Masters
Presenter(s): Randy Angle, Arthur Prospero, Ken Hite & Merwin S.

Veteran RPG Game Masters share their tips, tricks & secrets while answering your urgent questions. [Sequoia]

5 PM - 6 PM: War College: Alternate Histories
Presenter(s): Ken Hite & Dana Lombardy

We look at possible changes to history, from battles to assassinations to inventions, and riff on the what-if. What if Hitler went South, not East? What if George Washington died of his smallpox? Bring your favorite change points and try to stump Ken and Dana! FREE HAND OUT: get our handy guide to sources for alternate histories. [Sequoia]

(Comment on this)

Down the Game Hole With Me
For the third year I return to Madison, Wisconsin, as a guest of GameHole Con, the best con with the worst name in the Midwest. But this year is different because rather than swan about like an indolent remittance-man, I shall be metaphorically singing for my badge and room and usufructs, in the form of panels and yes indeed an actual Game Session Run By Me the heavens have truly fallen. (Also I ran this game session at the Kraken and it was great fun so here we are.) As always, I can provide less than zero guidance on the recording, streaming, or carving into the facets of an emerald stolen from the eye of an angry god of any of these events, except to advise strongly against that last one.

Herewith, my GameHole Con 2025 Schedule:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16

10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Alternate Histories in RPGs: From Nazi colonies on Mars to Roman galleys pushing up the Mississippi, alternate histories can combine the familiarity and fun of real-world elements while freeing GMs' and players' creativity to mash them up and play with them. This seminar discusses best practices for gameable alternate histories, and offers attendees a chance to ask "What would have happened if" in their own favored alternates. Kenneth Hite, Chris Spivey, Charles Gannon [Location: Kegonsa - 221]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Investigation and Mystery in RPGs: Investigation occurs in almost all games, but the pure-investigation or mystery genre can be difficult to run successfully. How can designers and GMs structure game systems and stories to meaningfully involve players, guide them to clues and help them put them together to solve a crime without spoonfeeding them? How can GMs control pacing to duplicate the feel of classic whodunits? Kenneth Hite, Elisa Teague, Rick Meints, Crystal Mazur [Location: Kegonsa - 221]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
How to Game the Weird -- Injecting Weirdness and Horror into RPGs: Lovecraft's creations featured in early iterations of role-playing games, and since the emergence of Call of Cthulhu and its spinoffs, RPGs have increasingly explored -- or exploited -- cosmic horror in a Lovecraftian universe. Our experts discuss the ins and outs of designing and running a weird horror scenario. How does one create and maintain suspense when players know the Mythos and the tropes? How do different game systems either lend themselves to, or undermine, an atmosphere of horror? Kenneth Hite, Chris Spivey, Rick Meints, Crystal Mazur [Location: Kegonsa - 221]

2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Weekend at Byron's (Night's Black Agents): Good news! Your boss Oleg Khabarovsky, the Russian oligarch and gun-runner has finally shut up about his obsession with buying the building Byron lived in in Istanbul. Better news! You get to come with him to Istanbul and get out of Moscow in March, when he moves into the building Byron lived in in Istanbul! Superb news! Your boss is in a great mood, because the building has crates in the basement dating back to Byron's time there! This will be the easiest weekend ever in your history of bodyguarding Khabarovsky, unless one of his rivals or the Chechens or the Ukrainians or someone decides to hit the place. But that's why they pay you the big bucks. SOLD OUT [Location: Hall A - 126]

7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
The Sleep of Reason -- Monster Design: What goes into creating original monsters for roleplaying games? How do you take a concept and make it memorable, make it thrilling to overcome, and make it run well mechanically? Where do designers get their ideas? Keith Ammann, Bryan C.P. Steele, Alan Patrick, Charles Gannon, Kenneth Hite [Location: Kegonsa - 221]

(1 Comment |Comment on this)

How to Train Your DragonCon
How is it possible that August of all months should be going by too fast, but here we are a week and change from DragonCon already. The 80,000 Batgirls are already damp-proofing their capes and cowls, so the least I can do for them is post my own schedule for the weekend to let them plan around it. And also for any of you wonderful people planning to be in Atlanta, Georgia on Labor Day weekend, of course, cowl or no cowl. For those not attending, please accept my personal assurance that the recording, streaming, or flash-burning of these panels into the retinas of the murdered man remains a process and a decision made entirely by other people. Possibly people with their own capes to damp-proof.

FRIDAY AUG 29

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Sage Advice: Help! My Game Is on Fire
Get curmudgeonly advice to your wild and wacky campaign questions! Learn from two of Gaming's most experienced and grizzled veterans.
Panelists: Skip Williams, Kenneth Hite, Rush Lilavivat(M)
Location: Augusta 3 Westin

4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Man of a Thousand Faces: The Legacy of Lon Chaney
With characters such as Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera, Lon Chaney was one of the preeminent actors in silent cinema. This panel will explore his work that laid the foundation for Universal's Gothic Horror films.
Panelists: Mark Muncy, Jessica Nettles(M), Kenneth Hite, Matthew M Foster, Brent Abell
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin

5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: The Haunted House - The Darkest Dungeon
The haunted house is one of the greatest Horror tropes of all. And yet, how do we use this at the table top when player characters have complete freedom? Find out about scary haunted houses and how these can be great spaces for the table top.
Panelists: Jamie Chambers, Ashley May King(M), Kenneth Hite, Andrew E.C. Gaska, Sarah Madsen, Beth the Bard
Location: Augusta 1-2 Westin

8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Dark Cosmos: The Science Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft
While H.P.Lovecraft is popularly known as a Horror writer, many of his entities are extraterrestrial in origin. Lovecraft scholar Kenneth Hite takes us on a journey to discover what terrors lie beyond the stars.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite(M)
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin

SATURDAY AUG 30

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.: The Reverse Dungeon
You've been the players -- but, what about the monsters in the dungeon? How do we fight against the heroes to keep them out of our house?
Panelists: Carl J Varnado, Skip Williams, Kenneth Hite, Abby Plemmons(M)
Location: Augusta 3 Westin

5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Historical Dungeons
Did you know that mysterious dungeons are a real thing? From the Catacombs in France to the Edinburgh Vaults to Angkor Wat, these historical places are rich cultural points in our history. Take a tour of historical places on our very own Earth for inspiration for your games or stories!
Panelists: Kenneth Hite, Rush Lilavivat(M)
Location: Augusta 1-2 Westin

7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.: Eldritch Visions: The Best Lovecraftian Cinema
This panel will discuss the cinematic progeny of H.P. Lovecraft -- from adaptations to films his literature influenced. Which movies capture cosmic dread the best?
Panelists: Kenneth Hite, Bill Mulligan(M), Andy Teal, Crystal Cleveland, Blake Smith
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin

SUNDAY AUG 31

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.: The Gashlycrumb Centennial: Edward Gorey at 100
With ink, he conjured worlds of macabre whimsy and playful dread. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Edward Gorey's birth, our panelists will discuss the shadow he's cast over pop culture.
Panelists: Bill Bridges, Mark Muncy, Mark Braught, Charming Disaster, Kenneth Hite(M)
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin

4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Offerings to the Old Gods: The Enduring Power of Folk Horror
Description: Folk Horror has weaved a web through storytelling, becoming one of modern Horror's most prominent subgenres. Join us as artists from different mediums tackle its chilling allure. The old gods are whispering -- do you dare heed their call?
Panelists: Kenneth Hite(M), Bill Mulligan, Becky Cloonan, Ai Jiang, Richard Kadrey, Ally Hurt
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin

(Comment on this)

Genuinely Confounded Schedule 2025
Once more, this year's GenCon schedule remains free of jitters and zigzags -- on the SURFACE. Beneath, it's a roiling sea of confusion, as I will be manning the Pelgrane booth (#623) without the overseas contingent that actually does things so that I can flit about like a gorgeous parakeet or preen like an orange cat. Even more than usual, then, seek me after show hours in a bar. Which bar?? The good one, meaning the one I am in.

WEDNESDAY JUL 30
9:00pm - ???: Diana Jones Awards Party
In which gaming luminaries seem, by some witchery, very much like ordinary drunks! [Undisclosed location]

THURSDAY JUL 31
8:00pm - 10:00pm: Delta Green & Arc Dream Publishing Panel
Caleb Stokes (God's Teeth), Ross Payton (RPPR), and Kenneth Hite (Delta Green RPG, The Fall of Delta Green) answer questions from the crowd. The panel covers running Delta Green, the game’s history, and a variety of upcoming Arc Dream Publishing and Pelgrane Press publications. We go where the questions take us! Join us if you’re a fan of Delta Green, cosmic horror, or pontificating TTRPG writers. [ICC: 244]

FRIDAY AUG 1
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Ken and Robin Darcy Talk About Stuff Live!!!
Writer and game designer Kenneth Hite joins surprise co-host Darcy Ross, with a teleconferenced assist from usual host Robin D. Laws, for a live recording of their erudite podcast. Robin will be providing assistance with the legendary nerdtrope deck. Prepare your questions on gaming, history, weirdness, and of course food. [ICC: 144-145]

6:00pm - 8:00pm: ENie Awards Cocktail Reception
In which gaming luminaries seem, by some witchery, very much like ordinary drunks! (I'll likely get there later than 6, but go ahead and start without me. I'll catch up.) [Union Station : Grand Hall]

8:00pm - 11:00?pm: ENnie Awards!
I think maybe I'm presenting an award this time out. Not co-hosting this year, as we pretty clearly established last time that I have a more David Letterman sort of appeal as an awards host. [Union Station : Grand Hall]

(Comment on this)

Delirium Tremendicon
This weekend I get to be the Gaming Guest of Honor at Tremendicon in scenic Springfield, Missouri, and with that august responsibility comes some form of schedule, here vouchsafed unto you. As always that august responsibility includes no knowledge whatsoever of plans to stream, cast, fly, or samba such events to the wider etheric world.

Note: I've been told that I'm also a guest on the Writers and Multimedia tracks, which means there may be Extra Ken at the show not on this schedule, but I can only go by what the website says Right Now. Which is...

FRIDAY MAY 30

5:00-6:00: Game Design Roundtable Discussion AMA
With all of Tremendicon's Game Design Track guests on hand, this is an excellent opportunity to bring your questions and get solid answers from the collected knowledge of our amazing guests.

Room: Maui
Track: Game Design

7:30-??: Whiskey & Words AND Pints & Pawns [both listed for the same space so overlapping?]
Enjoy good drinks and the company of other writers as you are challenged with some of the craziest writing prompts you've ever encountered. What fictional masterpieces will you create? We can't wait to find out! Not a writer? Who cares! You can still join in the fun, either as a participant or as a spectator. A cash bar will be available at this event.

AND

Everyone will get their chance to put together a game of their own and consult with the room on their ideas. This is an amazing opportunity to brainstorm with a group of like-minded people and get a new game design started. There will be a cash bar available at this event.

NOTE: I'm not officially on the schedule either place, but come on people.

Room: Coco / Maui
Track: Writers AND Game Design

SATURDAY MAY 31

9:00-10:00: Investigative Scenario Design
Mystery writing isn’t for everyone… Or is it? Learn the ins and outs of designing gripping investigations for your favorite role-playing games, whether your sleuths are hard-boiled private eyes, cagey paranormal investigators, or a bunch of meddling kids. With Kenneth Hite & Michales Joy

Room: Coco
Track: Game Design

12:00-1:00: Adapting Existing Mechanics to New Designs
Very rare are the times when a game comes out that has completely new mechanics. Game design means taking the mechanics from other games and making them your own in infinite combinations to your theme of your game. But, how do you do that and how do you really make it something that is interesting to play with your design? This is the panel you cannot miss. With Kenneth Hite, Jamie Chambers, & Phil Wamser

Room: Bora Bora
Track: Game Design

3:00-4:00: Kenneth Hite & Jamie Chambers AMA
A chat with two RPG rock stars! Between the two, Kenneth and Jamie have nearly 70 years of game design experience across multiple systems, settings, and intellectual properties, so they have plenty to share with aspiring game designers and fans of their work!

Room: Coco
Track: Game Design

SUNDAY JUNE 1

1:00-2:00: Designing for an Established Intellectual Property
Congratulations! You’ve been selected to make a game based on your favorite fandom! Now what? Jamie Chambers, designer of the Serenity Roleplaying Game and the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, and Kenneth Hite, designer of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition and Trail of Cthulhu present the unique opportunities and challenges of designing a game for an established intellectual property.

Room: Kalahari
Track: Game Design

(Comment on this)

In Memoriam
Robert Munroe (Ensign, Lexington militia, KIA 19 April 1775, Lexington Green)
Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (SGT, 718th Engr Co, 926th Engr Bn, 926th Engr Bde, US Army Reserve, KIA 28 Jan 2024, Rukban, Jordan)

And all 559,330 in between.

I've been doing this post every year since 2009 and this is the second year that I haven't had to change the terminus or the total. Pax vobiscum.

(Comment on this)

Dundraconnaissance
By which I mean "Dundracon Renaissance," by which I mean "Dundracon renewal," by which I mean "I'm returning to Dundracon!" Because it's the oldest RPG convention, and one of my favorites, and not just because it gets me out of Chicago in February and into semi-sunny Santa Clara, California. If you're around the Bay Area around February 16-19, you should come see me! As always, if I'm decorating Dundracon, I'm specifically decorating panels at Dundracon, to wit:

Saturday February 17th

11:00 AM-12:30 PM: Alternate Histories with Ken Hite
Presenter(s): Dana Lombardy & Ken Hite
A very popular War College panel discussion restarts!
Authors and game designers Dana Lombardy and Ken Hite examine possible alternate histories and what their impact might have been. Audience participation is encouraged. FREE HAND OUT: a guide to sources for alternate histories will be provided to attendees.
[Monterey]

3:00 PM-4:00 PM: How To Run Mysteries in RPGs
Presenter(s): Ken Hite & Merwin S.
Some RPGs can focus on Combat or Exploration, but Mysteries can be a unique way for player characters to explore and use their skills. The panel has expertise in Mystery RPGs like Gumshoe, but also tips & tricks that can be used in other RPGs.
[Sequoia]

4:00 PM-5:00 PM: What's New & Cool in RPGs
Presenter(s): Ken Hite & Randy Angle
Game Industry veterans talk about what is new and worth your attention in RPGs recently or in the near future.
[Sequoia]

Sunday February 18th

12:00 PM-1:30 PM: City Building
Presenter(s): Michael Blum, Doc Cross & Ken Hite
The long-running seminar about the nuts and bolts of creating and using cities in RPGs. This year our foci will be: Cities Without Streets, instead having wide open gaps or canals; Public Infrastructure, such as are the streets paved? are there water fountains? latrines? street lighting? gutters? shrines to minor gods ensuring safe pedestrian traffic? statuary? Basically, stuff that isn't connected to or part of a specific building. Cities Under Siege: not the mechanics of wall height, trebuchets, etc., but rather what happens to civil life for the inhabitants.
[Sequoia]

(Comment on this)

[RECIPE] Bigos, By Gosh!
Bigos is just the "hunter's stew" but from Poland, so it's basically the same architecture as cassoulet, cacciatore, or similar: available mixed meat plus available allium plus herbs plus an extender of some sort (beans in cassoulet, pasta in Italy, cabbage in Poland), braised in stock with wine or beer, for however long you can stand it. "From Poland," of course now means "from Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Belarus" given the predatory behavior of Poland's neighbors. Even now, there seems to be a split between the "northern" (core Poland/Lithuania) version, which uses a sachet of allspice berries, juniper berries, caraway, and bay leaf, and the "southern" (Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia) version, which uses paprika, basil, and marjoram as the main spice input.

Since I didn't have allspice berries on hand when I made this on Christmas Eve, I went with the southern version. Also, I had a lovely garlicky Ukrainian kielbasa to use up, which matched my southern inclination. The result was, dare I say, superb, and as promised it did get better every day that it sat in the fridge. As they say, "if you want to eat bigos on Sunday, cook it on Wednesday." This version didn't last five days, so we'll never know.

(SOUTHERN-ISH) BIGOS

Fills a 4.5-QT Dutch oven literally to the rim, so probably 8 servings?

1/2 or 1 OZ dried mushrooms (I used one of those "wild forest blends" from Whole Foods)
4 thick slices of bacon, diced or lardon'd (I used "bacon ends" from Zingerman's)
1 LB pork butt or shoulder, cut into one-inch cubes
1 LB chuck steak, cut into one-inch cubes
1 LB Ukrainian sausage, sliced
25 OZ sauerkraut (I used a jar of Bubbie's)
2 CUPS ham stock (Better than Bouillon makes a ham base that works well)
1 HEAD green cabbage, sliced
2 TBSP vegetable oil, separated
1/4 CUP flour
12 OZ amber beer or ale
2 medium yellow onions, sliced
2 carrots, diced
1 LB cremini mushrooms, diced
2 TB tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 CUP beef or chicken stock (or as needed)
1 CUP pitted prunes, quartered
1 TB sweet paprika
1 TSP dried basil
1 TSP dried marjoram
1 dash Worcestershire
salt and pepper throughout

Heat oven to 325°F with rack in lower middle.
Rehydrate dried mushrooms in 1 CUP hot water. Salt and pepper the beef and pork cubes.
Drain sauerkraut, put into medium saucepan with ham stock. Bring to boil, then simmer covered over medium heat for 20 minutes.
Fry bacon in Dutch oven over medium-high heat, reserve in a large bowl. Fry cabbage in bacon fat until reduced in size by half, remove to bowl with bacon. (When I made this I had some cabbage left over that wouldn't fit into the Dutch oven. This is fine.)
Renew fat in Dutch oven with 1 TB vegetable oil, cook sausage in oil, remove to bowl. Dredge beef and pork cubes in flour, add to Dutch oven in single layers and sear 2-3 MINS per side, removing to bowl after. Make sure that nothing burns, but do let some fond build up. Repeat until all meat is seared, then deglaze with 6 OZ of the beer; pour deglazing liquid into bowl.
Lower heat to medium. Film Dutch oven with 1 TB oil. Add onions, salt and cook to soft (10 MINS). Add carrots and mushrooms, salt and cook until liquid evaporates. Add tomato paste, cook 1-2 MINS. Add garlic, stir until fragrant, 30 SEC.
Deglaze again with remaining beer, return bowl contents (bacon, cabbage, sausage, meat cubes, first deglaze) to Dutch oven along with the sauerkraut and ham stock. Add beef or chicken stock to bring liquid 2/3 of way up the side of the Dutch oven. Add prunes, paprika and herbs, Worcestershire.
Cook in oven uncovered for the run time of DIE HARD (2 HRS 11 MINS).

(Comment on this)

You Just Keep Me DragonCon
Once more I somehow have been selected to add value to 80,000 damp Batgirls in the moist heart of Atlanta, Georgia -- that's right, it's DragonCon time again! This year the Gaming Track is full up with people celebrating Dungeons & Dragons' 50th Anniversary without me (much one imagines to the consternation of at least some of the more dice-besotted Batgirls) but no matter, the Horror Track is happy to shloop me up along with my free seminar slots, infra. (As always, asking me whether these will be recorded or streamed or tattooed onto the pectorals of a series of exhibitionist giants is bootless and you should be working on your Batgirl cosplay instead.)

FRIDAY AUGUST 30

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Scary Faeries
Authors and experts delve into the dark folklore and mythology of the faerie realm, exploring how these malevolent beings have evolved to terrify audiences in modern media, from films to fiction.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite, Erika Lance, Bill Bridges, Alexander G. R. Gideon(M), Sarah J. Sover
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: Creature From the Black Lagoon: 70th Anniversary
Dive into the depths of cinematic history and celebrate the 70th anniversary of Universal's iconic monster movie. Our panelists discuss the film's influential special effects, its place in the horror pantheon, and the enduring appeal of the Gill-Man.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite, James Palmer, Mark Muncy(M), Hansi Oppenheimer, Jessica Nettles, Erika Lance
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

SATURDAY AUGUST 31

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Tour de Lovecraft
Join renowned Cthulhu Mythos scholar Kenneth Hite on a virtual journey through the eerie landscapes of H.P. Lovecraft's fiction. Get ready to uncover the dark secrets and sanity-blasting horrors that lurk in the shadows of Lovecraft's iconic locales.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite(M)
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: The Blair Witch Legacy
Get ready to venture into the haunted woods and uncover the legend of the Blair Witch. Join us for a panel discussion exploring the found-footage horror classic, its innovative marketing, and its lasting impact on the genre.
Panelists: Mark Muncy, Erika Lance, Kenneth Hite, Daniel Griffith(M), Crystal Cleveland, Christopher G Moore
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

(Comment on this)

My Swan-Like NecronomiCon Schedule (Hissing, Will Break Your Arm)
Once more I ascend to the Parnassian heights of Providence in the natal month of my problematic muse, H.P. Lovecraft, to celebrate him and the weird tradition he embodied, defended, perfected, and yelled at. To wit, I am once more manifesting at NecronomiCon Providence, over the weekend of August 15-18. I will specifically be adorning the Atomic Overmind Press booth in the Grand Emporium of Weird [Narragansett Ballroom, Omni Hotel], signing autographs and repping not just my Tour de Lovecraft and associated material, but suitable game books from Arc Dream, Pelgrane, and Green Ronin, and yes even my Mini Mythos childrens' books from Atlas Games.

And even more specifically, I shall manifest at the panels and seminars limned below. Less specifically, I don't know whether any of them will be streamed, recorded, or reduced to a series of complex-algebraic buzzes by the metalloid forms of L'gy'hx.

FRIDAY AUGUST 16

3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Crafting Horror: Designing Call of Cthulhu Scenarios
Our seasoned game designers discuss how to design successful scenarios for Call of Cthulhu. What elements should be present and how do they fit together to create a frightening and satisfying payoff? What pitfalls can the author avoid with advance planning? Panelists: Sean Branney (M), Paul Fricker, Kenneth Hite, Mike Mason, Badger McInnes [Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 17th floor]

5:00 pm - 6:15 pm: Six-Shooters and Spell Books: The Weird West on the Tabletop
A review of the history and influence of Weird Western RPGs and boardgames, with reference to their connection to film and literature. Panelists: David Boop, Jon Davis, Fiona Geist (M), Kenneth Hite, Allen Ruch [Providence Ballroom, Omni Hotel, 2nd floor]

SATURDAY AUGUST 17

3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Against Nature and Reason: Origins of the Decadent Weird
Our panelists discuss the Decadent Movement in literature, which valued fantasy, hedonistic excess, transgression, and extravagant language, and authors of that period who wrote within the weird such as Vernon Lee (Violet Paget), M. P. Shiel, Count Eric Stenbock, and R. Murray Gilchrist. In addition, the relationship to later decadent writers, such as Clark Ashton Smith, Robert W. Chambers, H. P. Lovecraft, and contemporary examples, will be explored. Panelists: Jon Black (M), Jack Haringa, Kenneth Hite, Sean Moreland, LC von Hessen [Providence Ballroom, Omni Hotel, 2nd floor]

5:00 pm - 6:15 pm: Ladies and Gentlemen, Tonight’s Top Ten List: Top Ten Greatest Stories by HPL
Chaos reigns as our panel of fractious and opinionated experts count down and defend their selections for the best of his work. Guests in the front row are advised to bring plastic sheeting in case it comes to blows… Panelists: Mike Allen, Matthew Bartlett, Matthew Carpenter, Despina Durand (M), Cody Goodfellow, Kenneth Hite, Max Martelli [Capital Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 2nd floor]

SUNDAY AUGUST 18

9:30 am - 10:45 am: Super Weird
Superhero narrative in film, comics, and literature ranges from the very conventional to the deeply strange. Doom Patrol, The Swamp Thing, Sandman and many other mainstream titles are clearly part of the world of weird fiction. Panelists discuss the relationship of superheroes to weird fiction, with examples of those that fall most clearly into the canon of the strange, from mainstream and indie sources. Panelists: Gillian Daniels, Kenneth Hite, Errick Nunnally (M), David Quiroz [South County Room, Omni Hotel, 3rd floor]

(Comment on this)

Generally Conventional Schedule 2024
Unlike some years, this year's GenCon schedule remains free of bumps, jogs, and other oddities -- it's practically a cut-and-paste of my default GenCon schedule for the last decade. This, I maintain, is a good thing. You can also find me during show hours at the Pelgrane Press booth (#529) or in a bar. Which bar?? The good one, meaning the one I am in.

WEDNESDAY JUL 31
9:00pm - ???: Diana Jones Awards Party
In which gaming luminaries seem, by some witchery, very much like ordinary drunks! [Undisclosed location]

THURSDAY AUG 1
8:00pm - 10:00pm: Delta Green & Arc Dream Publishing Panel
Join us to discuss all things Delta Green and Arc Dream. Caleb Stokes (God’s Teeth), Ross Payton (RPPR, Bestow) and the legendary Kenneth Hite (Trail of Cthulhu) will answer questions from the crowd. The panel covers running Delta Green, the game’s history, and a variety of upcoming Arc Dream and Pelgrane Press publications. But we go where the questions take us! Join us if you’re a fan of Delta Green, cosmic horror, or pontificating TTRPG podcast hosts. Kenneth Hite is a coauthor of Delta Green: The Role Playing Game. [ICC: 245]

FRIDAY AUG 2
6:00pm - 8:00pm: ENie Awards Cocktail Reception
In which gaming luminaries seem, by some witchery, very much like ordinary drunks! (I'll likely get there later than 6, but go ahead and start without me. I'll catch up.) [Union Station : Grand Hall]

8:00pm - 11:00?pm: ENnie Awards!
"You know, Monte really deserved it this year. What a product. What a guy." [Union Station : Grand Hall]

SATURDAY AUG 3
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff Live!!!
Robin D. Laws & Kenneth Hite talk roleplaying, history, conspiracy, occultism, writing, food, movies, & whatever you ask them about in this live edition of their award-winning podcast. [Marriott: Tennessee]

4:00pm - 5:00pm: Swords, Spies, and Shoggoths: The Pelgrane Press Panel
Join Cat Tobin & others from the Pelgrane team for a behind-the-scenes look at what the award-winning UK publisher's been up to this year, & what they've planned for the coming year. [Marriott: Tennessee]

(Comment on this)

In Memoriam
Robert Munroe (Ensign, Lexington militia, KIA 19 April 1775, Lexington Green)
Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (SGT, 718th Engr Co, 926th Engr Bn, 926th Engr Bde, US Army Reserve, KIA 28 Jan 2024, Rukban, Jordan)

And all 559,330 in between.

(Comment on this)

DragonCon 2023 Schedule
The good people of DragonCon having forgiven me for my dalliance with WorldCon last year, I once more return to the Harley-Quinn-choked streets and hotel lobbies of Atlanta for the show that asks "what if we literally had something for anyone who has ever known who Harley Quinn is" and delivers me as part of that complete breakfast. As always, the good people at DragonCon tell me nothing about streaming, casting, or son-et-lumiere-ing any of these events, presumably counting on my attentive audience to carry the word of my wisdom far and wide.

Wisdom on the following topics, on the following schedule:

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1

The Shadows of Folklore: Crafting Folk Horror Stories
Time: Fri 02:30 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

From ancient traditions to contemporary legends, folk horror draws on the darker elements of human experience to create tales of terror and unease. Discover the key elements of folk horror, including the use of landscape and setting, as well as the incorporation of pagan and occult themes.
Panelists: Violette L Meier, Valerie Dawn Hampton, Darrell Z. Grizzle(M), Leanna Renee Hieber, Kenneth Hite

Game Mastering 101 Discussion and Q&A
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: International North Hyatt (Length:1 Hour)

As the tabletop scene has exploded, the need for game masters is greater than ever! This panel really goes over the nuts and bolts of game mastery in a foundational way that is not often seen. Award-winning designers and game masters weigh in. For experienced and new gamers alike! Audience Q&A
Panelists: Kenneth Hite, Devon M Chulick, Jason Azevedo

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2

Dragons!
Time: Sat 11:30 am Location: Augusta 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

We discuss the origins of dragons, how they fit into our past folklore, and what they mean to us today. We talk about how dragons have influenced the gaming community and beyond!
Panelists: Emily Zarka, Kenneth Hite

The Battle of Starcourt: Representation of D&D in Stranger Things
Time: Sat 01:00 pm Location: Athens Courtland Grand (Length:1 Hour)

D&D is an integral part of Stranger Things, even moreso than the average viewer may realize. Bring your dice and get ready to roll for perception as we discuss how D&D influences, enhances, and maybe even makes the story.
Panelists: Erika Lance(M), Andrew Bennett-Connor, Kenneth Hite, Rucht Lilavivat

Awakening the Great Old Ones: Writing Modern Cthulhu Mythos Stories
Time: Sat 02:30 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Our panel of experienced writers explore the enduring appeal of the Cthulhu Mythos. Discover how to craft unique creatures, intricate plots, and characters that feel at home in the Mythos while still pushing its boundaries. *A signing with all of these authors will take place following the panel.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite(M), Richard Lee Byers, Chris Jackson, James Palmer, Alex Shvartsman, Esther Friesner

Signing Showcase - Horror track
Time: Sat 04:00 pm Location: Overlook Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Following the Awakening the Great Old Ones: Writing Modern Cthulhu Mythos Stories, the panelists will be featured in the Author Signings area.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite, Richard Lee Byers, Chris Jackson, James Palmer, Alex Shvartsman, Esther Friesner

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3

Monsters and Nightmares
Time: Sun 01:00 pm Location: Augusta 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Some of the top-level designers in the industry talk about monsters! How can monsters be presented in your game? How they can make us scared without revealing too much? What makes them truly nightmarish? How do we present them when it's time to roll dice?
Panelists: Amanda Hamon, Kenneth Hite

Tour de Lovecraft
Time: Sun 04:00 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Kenneth Hite presents a tour of Lovecraftian locations.
Panelists: Kenneth Hite(M)

(Comment on this)

In Memoriam
Robert Munroe (Ensign, Lexington militia, KIA 19 April 1775, Lexington Green)
Kareem M. Nikoui (Lance Cpl, 2nd Bn, 1st Marine Regt, 1st Marine Div, I Marine Exp Force, USMC, KIA 26 August 2021, Kabul Airport, Afghanistan)

And all 559,328 in between.

I've been doing this post every year since 2009 and this is the first year that I haven't had to change the terminus or the total. Pax vobiscum.

(2 Comments |Comment on this)

CIFF On The Hand May Be Quite Continental
The Chicago International Film Festival returns to mostly in-person screenings, though with a weaker lineup than normal. I might have seen three more movies if I didn't have a quick trip to GameHoleCon in Madison blotting out the Thursday and Friday screenings, and I'm putting off Corsage (Marie Kreutzer), Banshees of Inisherin (Martin McDonagh), The Whale (Darren Aronofsky), White Noise (Noah Baumbach), and Decision to Leave (Park Chan-wook) until they open wide (and Glass Onion (Rian Johnson) when it drops on Netflix), but even as it is I have one more ticket unused in my pass. But with such cavils and caveats aside, here's my CIFF plan as it stands:

SATURDAY OCT 15
5:00 Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (Sacha Jenkins, US) Documentary featuring new footage and recordings. [Playing at the Siskel Center]

8:00 The Beasts (Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Spain/France) Looks like Straw Dogs in rural Spain, so promises much grip.

SUNDAY OCT 16
12:30 The Year Between (Alex Heller, US) Chicago-set coming-of-age comedy by a first-time director-writer-actor, worth a gamble.

8:00 How to Blow Up A Pipeline (Daniel Goldhaber, US) I will be very interested to see which thriller tropes this eco-thriller unthinkingly adopts.

(Sheila and I are seeing Amsterdam (David O. Russell) in between these two screenings.)

MONDAY OCT 17
1:00 A Wounded Faun (Travis Stevens, US) An art-world murder-myth of the Furies, now with giallo!

WEDNESDAY OCT 19
6:00 King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones (Harriet Marin Jones, France/US) Documentary about the South Side's numbers racket king in the 1930s. [Showing at the Chicago Historical Society]

SATURDAY OCT 22
8:00 Pacifiction (Albert Serra, France/Spain/Germany/Portugal) "De Roller, France’s top man in post-colonial Tahiti, grows paranoid as rumors of military tests begin circulating throughout the island in this mesmerizing, elliptical vision of declining colonial enterprise and imperialist corruption."

10:30 Leonor Will Never Die (Martika Ramirez Escobar, Philippines) "When an aging action screenwriter is knocked into a coma by a falling television, she becomes trapped in one of her unfinished scripts and must find a way to complete the story while still unconscious."

SUNDAY OCT 23
4:45 The Passengers of the Night (Mikhaël Hers, France) Charlotte Gainsbourg plays a call-in radio producer in 80s Paris and that seems like a great way to end a CIFF.

For the insatiably curious, I also have virtual tickets for Vicenta B, Rounding, and the Horror Shorts. Come out to see (the rest of) them with us!

(Comment on this)

A Whole New Worldcon
As is my ineffable habit whenever the World Science Fiction Convention immanentizes in the World's Greatest City, I am once more attending Chicago Worldcon this year. And as so often transpires, I'm on a slight dusting of panels and events therein, and as always transpires I know nothing about any plans to 'stream or 'cast or otherwise emblazon such things hypertronically, so come out and see me this weekend, won't you? Specifically, come out and see me here:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1

1:00-2:00 pm: The Origin and Evolution of Conspiracy Theories
Carl Fink (M), Alec Nevala-Lee, Kania Greer, Kenneth Hite, R.W.W. Greene
How do conspiracy theories spring up and evolve? How do cultural assumptions influence what we assign alien influence to? What lies beneath the assumptions we make and do those factors influence our ability to discern the truth? We'll tackle these and other questions in an effort to discover if the truth really is out there.
[Randolph 3]

5:30-6:30 pm: Strange Holk
F. Brett Cox (M), Bitter Karella, Kenneth Hite, Samuel Poots, Sheree Renée Thomas
Folk horror, which uses folklore and rural themes to construct a different flavor of terror, has had some wonderful entries in recent years. Consider Midsommar, Victor LaValle's The Changeling, The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, or Wyldling Hall by Elizabeth Hand. This is a panel that explores the history of the folk horror genre and our changing relationship to the land and its spirits.
[Crystal Ballroom C]

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2

1:00-2:00 pm: The Care and Feeding of Your Tabletop Game Group
Auston Habershaw (M), Kenneth Hite, Nick Miller, Rebecca Matte
Successful and enduring game groups don't happen by accident, they require careful thought and regular maintenance. In this panel we draw on our decades of experience to give you advice on setting the tone, picking games, cultivating good sportsmanship, picking the ideal location, and establishing ground rules—to ensure that fun is had by all!
[McCormick]

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3

4:00-5:00pm: Readings: Brendan Detzner, Naomi Kritzer, Kenneth Hite
[Roosevelt 1]

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4

1:00-2:00pm: Game Mastering on the Fly
Scott H. Andrews (M), Amanda Green, Brandon O'Brien, Elliot Craggs, Kenneth Hite
Deep wells of research, reams of notes, and mountains of game statistics—these are all good game mastering tools, but there's one skill that can't be prepared: improvisation. The best GMs can create memorable experiences for players out of nearly any challenge, whether the players' decisions have entirely derailed their plans or the players just aren't picking up the hints they're dropping. In short, being a good GM is about being a creative liar. Join the best in the business for tips, tricks, and philosophies, plus answers to your questions about how to handle the most challenging scenarios players might throw your way.
[Randolph 3]

4:00-5:00pm: Autographing - Kenneth Hite
[Autographing Area]

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5

1:00-2:00 pm: Table Talk - Kenneth Hite
To sign up for this Table Talk, visit https://chicon.org/tabletalks All sign-ups are available starting Wednesday August 31st at Noon central, and you will be notified at least 12 hours before the Table Talk time if you were chosen for a spot. More details available at https://chicon.org/tabletalks
[Crystal Foyer]

(Comment on this)

Neck and NecronomiCon
Once more the gates open and the stars come right for the one and only NecronomiCon PVD in Lovecraft's city on Lovecraft's birthday! Once more I have no conception of the dark questions of streaming or podding or any other Tillinghastliness! And once more I have digg'd and pored myself into the festivities, to wit:

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17

6:00pm to 11:00pm: NecronomiCon Welcome PRE-PARTY
Black Box / AS220, 95 Empire Street, Providence 02903
OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC

FRIDAY AUGUST 19

11am – 12:15pm: Grimdark Fantasy RPGs as Cosmic Horror
Any system can be played dark, but some have brutality, hopelessness, and dystopia baked into their core. What are the challenges and pitfalls of running a grimdark campaign? What systems and mechanics work to reinforce those themes? Our experts discuss systems, rules, tips and methods for keeping the brutal, nihilistic darkness fun at the tabletop, and the relationship between grimdark gaming and the larger philosophy and concerns of weird fiction.
Panelists: Lynn Hardy (M), Kenneth Hite, Mike Mason, Badger McInnes, Luke Stratton
[Capital Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 2nd floor]

3:30 – 4:45pm: But Stranger Still is Lost Carcosa
On the shores of Lake Hali, in the star cluster Hyades stands the doomed city of Carcosa. Created by Bierce, developed by Chambers, and embraced by many others in fiction, games, and television, Carcosa is a mysterious and dread location. Our panelists discuss representations of the city and its inhabitants in different works, and how the mythology of Carcosa developed and expanded over time.
Panelists: James Chambers, Kenneth Hite (M), Curtis Lawson, Peter Rawlik, Oscar Rios
[Capital Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 2nd floor]

SATURDAY AUGUST 20

3:30-4:45pm: Everyone Dies or Goes Insane: Survival and Consequences in Horror Gaming
Horror RPGs such as Call of Cthulhu are characterized as “everyone dies or goes insane” in every game, but in reality, all games should not require tearing up character sheets. This panel explores the options and reasons for character survival. How does the Keeper employ game mechanics and meaningful consequences that are true to theme while encouraging creative problem-solving and decision-making from players?
Panelists: Lynne Hardy, Kenneth Hite, Mike Mason (M), Cameron Mosbarger, Oscar Rios
[Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 17th floor]

SUNDAY AUGUST 21

11am-12:15pm: Cultes des Goules: The Ghoul or Gul in History and as Interpreted in Weird Fiction, Art, and Gaming
First appearing as a Mesopotamian demon, and entering Western consciousness from Bedouin folklore via One Thousand and One Nights, the Ghoul has been presented as devil, shapeshifter, changeling, cannibal, corpse-eater and seductress. A cunning and dangerous adversary in gaming, and a staple in weird fiction from "Pickman’s Model" and the stories that followed it through the work of Caitlin R. Kiernan and more. Come and meet your favorite dweller underground.
Panelists: Cody Goodfellow, Daniel Harms, Kenneth Hite (M), Will Murray, Oscar Rios
[Waterplace Ballroom, Omni Hotel, 2nd floor]

3:30-4:45pm: AUTHOR READINGS – Kenneth Hite, Rory Raven, Douglas Wynne, Philip Fracassi
[Narragansett Bayview Room, Graduate Hotel, 17th floor]

(Comment on this)

Is This GenCon? Or Are We Dancer?
Once more GenCon returns to its rightful time slot and its rightful "actually in physical space" quantum state, so once more I return to GenCon! My schedule remains somewhat fluid at this juncture, as I suppose do many folks', but here's what I know as of (checks notes) three days before I leave for Indianapolis. "Fluid" may be an understatement.

WEDNESDAY AUG 3

9:00pm - ???: Diana Jones Awards Party
In which gaming luminaries seem, by some witchery, very much like ordinary drunks! [Undisclosed location]

THURSDAY AUG 4

7:00pm - 9:00pm: Renegade Game Studios RPG Team Meet & Greet
Meet the team behind some of your favorite roleplaying games, including The Power Rangers Roleplaying Game, G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game, Transformers Roleplaying Game, My Little Pony Roleplaying Game, Vampire: The Masquerade, Hunter: The Reckoning, and more! The RPG staff will be on hand to hang out, sign books, answer questions, and more! [Convention Center : Rm 138]

FRIDAY AUG 5

12:00 Noon-1:00pm: Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff Live!
Robin being hors du panel due to a family emergency, we have recruited special guest talkers Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan and Rob Heinsoo to talk roleplaying, history, conspiracy, occultism, writing, food, movies, & whatever you ask them about in this live edition of our award-winning podcast. [Hyatt : Studio 1]

6:00pm-8:00pm: ENie Awards Cocktail Reception
In which gaming luminaries seem, by some witchery, very much like ordinary drunks! (I'll likely get there later than 6, but go ahead and start without me. I'll catch up.) [Union Station : Grand Hall]
8:00pm-11:00?pm: ENnie Awards!
"You know, Monte really deserved it this year. What a product. What a guy." [Union Station : Grand Hall]

SATURDAY AUG 6

4:00pm-5:30pm: Swords, Spies & Shoggoths: The Pelgrane Press Panel
You tried to keep (the mostly international team of) us away, but we are BACK, Gen Con, with MORE swords, MORE spies, and even MORE shoggoths than you can shake a stick at! Join us for our triumphant return to your shores, hear our latest printer woes, and learn about the exciting new projects we're currently working on. [The Stadium : Meeting Room 8]

(Comment on this)

In Memoriam
Robert Munroe (Ensign, Lexington militia, KIA 19 April 1775, Lexington Green)
Kareem M. Nikoui (Lance Cpl, 2nd Bn, 1st Marine Regt, 1st Marine Div, I Marine Exp Force, USMC, KIA 26 August 2021, Kabul Airport, Afghanistan)

And all 559,328 in between.

(Comment on this)

Back at Chu, ChupacabraCon!
I'm so out of practice with these that I've left it to almost the last minute but ... come see ME at ChupacabraCon in soon-to-be-far-too-sunny Austin Texas this coming weekend!! My events such as I know them (and I may be rusty at this but not so rusty as to fail to shrug eloquently when asked about streaming or Discording or etherizing or whatever the thing is) consist of:

FRIDAY MAY 6
4:00-4:50PM
Superheroes In Other Times, Other Places

Our expert panelists discuss why you don't need to limit your superhero stories to taking place in the modern-day USA! Join Darren Watts, Kenneth Hite, and Jess Nevins for this fascinating conversation!! [Guadalupe Room]

SATURDAY MAY 7
9:00-9:50 A.M.
Saturday Morning Coffee and Cthulhu

Come join frightmasters Kenneth Hite and Mark Carroll for their discussion of the latest and greatest in Mythos media and gaming! [Guadalupe Room]

BE THERRRRRRRrrrrre!!!

(Comment on this)