Wyrd Con: Full Schedule

9:00am PDT

Branching Storytelling in Game Writing

Limited Capacity seats available

"Branching storytelling" describes a more complex form of game writing that allows players to shape their character's personality and relationships with NPCs. This difficult but exciting design style leads to highly reactive and rewarding gameplay. Our brief course will give attendees insight into the world of branching game development, and cover the following: *Fundamentals of game writing (the "Useful-Short-Interesting" triangle).
*How branching game writing differs from the above.
*Case study (either based on an existing game, or one made up from scratch. TBD.)
*Class practice/exercises/games to play with the class content.
*Q&A as time allows.

Designers

Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie

Lead Writer, inXile Entertainment

My experience includes game writing, worldbuilding, and character development for Blizzard Entertainment, inXile Entertainment, Guerrilla Games, and more. I've written licensed fiction for Blizzard, articles for Cracked.com, and trained writing and localization teams in the States... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2017 9:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Newport Beach Room 1 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Video Games

11:00am PDT

Costume Creation: Bracers

Limited Capacity filling up

Want to make your own costume but don't know how? In this workshop even a true beginner can create custom bracers tailored to fit your arms.
Want more? Take the full Costume Creation series to make more pieces and keep improving your costume.

The Take-away: Bracers.
Cost: $18.75. You must pre-pay in the registration system online to be guranteed a spot in this event.
Click here to access registration/badge system: https://goo.gl/0xOSZG

Designers

Amanda Mielke

Friday May 12, 2017 11:00am - 1:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Materials Fee Required

1:00pm PDT

The Puzzle of Life: A tabletop aid for telling stories about science, nature, and life

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn about crafting! Learn about nature! Learn about learning! Learn how to craft engaging true stories about nature and use them to build a better world! Then craft some stories yourself!

Science and nature are part of everyday life, yet they often feel distant from our everyday experiences. The Puzzle of Life is a playful tool for bridging that gap. It is a toy, a puzzle, and a model. It is a beautiful and flexible storytelling aid that allows you to explore the structure and function of interdependent systems - systems such as forests, deserts, oceans, cities, social networks, and more. In this workshop, we’ll introduce you to the Puzzle, tell you some true stories using the Puzzle, then help you make your own version of the Puzzle, and help you learn to use your Puzzle to tell your own stories.

You’ll come away with information, inspiration, a custom edition of the Puzzle on wooden pieces (made by you), and lots of great stories to share with your friends.

Designers

Tim Handley

Chief Everything Officer, Mindful Mammoth

Scientist, educator, gamer, and dreamer. Tim has degrees in both physics and ecology. He has worked as a member of technical staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and as an ecologist at the National Park Service. He now works as a combination educator and designer, developing... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2017 1:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop

3:00pm PDT

Player Autonomy vs Storyline Cohesion in LARP: The Aggregate/Authorial Spectrum

Limited Capacity seats available

This event will cover different modes of LARP, with authorial play on one end of the spectrum and aggregate play on the other.

Authorial LARP allows for a more cohesive storyline, while Aggregate LARP increases player autonomy. In this event, these concepts will be demonstrated, with everyone getting a chance to try out these rule structures so they can make more informed decisions about using them in play.

Designers

Samara Hayley Steele

Friday May 12, 2017 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Newport Beach Room 1 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Good for Rulebook Designers

4:00pm PDT

Feeling Crochet-y? Hook 'em with your awesomness!

Limited Capacity seats available

Want to be an expert hooker? Excellent. We will learn the art of crochet, and walk away with a super cute amigurumi-style (3D) pumpkin! We'll also discuss other crochet stitches, figure out how to read (!?!) crochet patterns, and determine some excellent resources and how-to help online. Take this class if you're tired of being accused of being a hooker without the skills!

The Take-away: PUMPKIN OF CUTENESS. (Or just a granny square if you're not feeling squash-y).
Cost: $12.50. You must pre-pay in the registration system online to be guranteed a spot in this event.
Click here to access registration/badge system: https://goo.gl/0xOSZG

Designers

Elaine Long

When it comes to costume design and creation, I'm liable to get involved, from childrens musicals, larps, and halloween party craziness!! Challenging my creative soul is the best way to have a great time...or you could just have a nerf shootout with me! I love to learn and play, and... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2017 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Materials Fee Required

4:00pm PDT

Finding Your Voice: Personal Branding for Storytellers

Limited Capacity seats available

A workshop to help storytellers of all mediums discover, create and refine their unique voice to help them share their stories with more people. We'll workshop our way through all the steps of creating a storytelling brand including finding an audience, cultivating your voice, using social media and the internet, and reaching out to other creatives.

Designers

Rachel Beck and Karyn Keene of StoryForge Productions

Friday May 12, 2017 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Newport Beach Room 1 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, None

7:00pm PDT

Tilted kilting: The Pillaging Edition!

Limited Capacity seats available

Last time, we learned what's worn under a kilt...this time, we're going to build our own! Lads and Lassies will learn how and make their own CANVAS kilt (sporran and dirk not included) in this hands-on class. We will also discuss decorating, painting and attaching pockets to your kilt, as well as methods of keeping yer kilt closed and wardrobe malfunction-less. Afterwards, show 'em all what you've got and ROCK YER KILTS!!

YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THE DESIGNER 3 weeks PRIOR TO CON...so you get the fabric color that you want...

Tools: PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN RULER.
The Take-away: Yer Own Flippin' Kilt!

Cost: $87.50, You must pre-pay in the registration system online to be guranteed a spot in this event.

Designers

Elaine Long

Friday May 12, 2017 7:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Materials Fee Required

9:00am PDT

Costume Creation: Hooded Cloak

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Want to make your own costume but don't know how? In this workshop even a true beginner can make a warm hooded cloak. Many colors and materials available.
Want more? Take the full Costume Creation series to make more pieces and keep improving your costume.

The Take-away: One hooded Cloak.
Cost: $18.75. You must pre-pay in the registration system online to be guranteed a spot in this event.
Click here to access registration/badge system: https://goo.gl/0xOSZG

Designers

Amanda Mielke

Saturday May 13, 2017 9:00am - 11:00am PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Materials Fee Required

11:00am PDT

Lightsaber Dueling & Training

Limited Capacity seats available

A safe place to set aside for combat and training.
San Diego Sabers, a full-contact combat lightsaber training group, will be providing demonstration & instruction to those interested.

Designers

Steve Kirk

Co-Founder, San Diego Sabers

Saturday May 13, 2017 11:00am - 1:00pm PDT
Fighters Circle, Outside Pacific Ballroom 1

Workshop

12:00pm PDT

How to Build your Audience from Scratch

Limited Capacity seats available

Whether you are an author, and artist, a game designer, or a baker, you need an audience to buy your product. An audience is the critical factor that grows your business. Without it, your business can't become sustainable. Join Russell Nohelty, publisher of Wannabe Press and host of The Business of Art podcast, as he breaks down audience building and makes it attainable for everybody.

Designers

Russell Nohelty

Co-creator, The Author Ecosystems

Russell Nohelty (www.russellnohelty.com) is a USA Today bestselling fantasy author who has written dozens of novels and graphic novels including The Godsverse Chronicles, The Obsidian Spindle Saga, and Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter. He is the publisher of Wannabe Press, co-host of the Kickstart Your Book Sales podcast... Read More →

Saturday May 13, 2017 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Newport Beach Room 1 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop

1:00pm PDT

Crafting Foam Armor for Beginners

Limited Capacity filling up

Initial lecture time will be spent going over basic fabrication of EVA foam into different costuming types. From selecting foam to pre-work, patterning, cutting, etching, decorating, applying finishes, and top-coating. Some time will also be spent addressing the different kinds and use of thermoplastics. Includes how to make foam look like leather, metal, and plastic.

Second half would require the materials fee and make a small take-home piece such as bracers.

Materials fee ($18.75). You must pre-pay in the registration system online to be guranteed a spot in this event.

Click here to access registration/badge system: https://goo.gl/0xOSZG

Designers

Ley Howell

NERO BANE

Saturday May 13, 2017 1:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Good for New Players, Materials Fee Required

4:00pm PDT

Belt up and grab your sacks!

Limited Capacity seats available

Pockets are passe...but we all need to carry our snacks, keys, phones (and dignity) with panache. Not only will we grab some new design ideas, but we'll all walk away with a belt pouch! We will explore styles, discuss materials, compare design utility...and leave secure in the knowledge that our sacks, satchels, cinches and sashes can serve MORE than a simple purpose.

The Take-away: One belt pouch.
Cost: $18.75. You must pre-pay in the registration system online to be guranteed a spot in this event.
Click here to access registration/badge system: https://goo.gl/0xOSZG

Designers

Elaine Long

Saturday May 13, 2017 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Materials Fee Required

6:00pm PDT

Helmets, Armor , ABS, Styrene

Limited Capacity seats available

Wanna see a Vacuforming machine in action? Come see this Armor making demonstration! Also: Building your own vacuform machine on a budget! Finally... there are very few to make a proper helmet for a rather noteworthy scifi character to near movie spec. Anyone can attend but you must pay the materials fee to get the helmet.

Designers

Robert Carpenter

Gabe Flores

Owner/Lead Fabricator, Max's Sci-Fi Creation Shop

I have been model building for over 30 years and along the way have learned to create whatever i wanted using the various skills and techniques I have learned. The past 5 years I have been immersed in my childhood love of Star Wars!!!! I have had the opportunity to build many costumes... Read More →

Saturday May 13, 2017 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Laguna Beach 1 & 2 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Workshop, Materials Fee OPTIONAL