Laughing Moon Con Recap

I received the article from one of our convention attendees. After reading it, I was very excited to share it with our readers! --T

Through the eyes of an Amateur Nerd!by Robynn Lee

Arriving at Laughing Moon Con 2010 was a bit of a shock. I knew there would be costumes and games but I had no inclination of what exactly a "con" was all about. Looking through my Coach sunglasses, I saw what could only be the Ghostbusters car. Okay, I thought, I at least recognized one thing from my childhood. Low and behold, I was wrong. It was actually K.I.T.T from Knight Rider. I later learned this was a “big deal” in the Con world; as mostly everyone from the Con took a time out of their games to watch them burn out as they left.

Once inside I was greeted by an atmosphere that I can only relate to a cross-town rivalry sporting event. People all around me were buzzing about the hometown author, Todd VanHooser and how Laughing Moon Con was the “coolest Con ever.” People were lined up to get t-shirts with the Laughing Moon logos, to sit in on the gaming adventures Under the Laughing Moon, and even to get pictures with the author himself and other characters.

As an outsider, I had the ability to watch all the events unfold before my eyes. One of the highlights of my first con adventure had to be watching the Laughing Moon Girls convince the Arizona 501st Storm Troopers to belly dance with them. Not only did this provide some comedic moments, it made the atmosphere of the Con more relaxing and relatable to me and many of the borderline “nerds.” I was now fully immersed in the adventures that were unfolding before my eyes.

Working the sign up booth, I learned that if you wanted to get a seat at one of the Laughing Moon tables, you had to sign up early. Within minutes of a new sign in sheet being posted, the table was already filled. Many people also took the liberty of checking back to see if anyone had taken their name off the list!

So what was the big deal with this Laughing Moon game? I had to find out for myself. Sitting in on the game was like watching a scary movie with all its thrills. It had all the intensity, with as many twists and turns as the best box office hits. The only difference is that you actually had to find it within yourself to use your own imagination--something for me that was dormant for way too long.

And if imagination and role-playing isn’t your thing, there were plenty of other activities to entice all ranges of personalities. Basic board games like Apples to Apples and dice games like Phase 10 were actively being played. Something that I never anticipated being at a Con.

I can say without a doubt, that Laughing Moon Con makes me, what I like to refer to myself as, an "amateur nerd." So where will you be, the next time the adventures of the Laughing Moon is on the rise?