Whether you are new to conventions or a pro, remember these few suggestions to make your visit to any convention enjoyable and safe. A convention like CoreCon has activities and events galore. Don’t get so busy you forget to take care of you! Here is a helpful guide to enjoy everything to the fullest extent. Continue Reading
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The CoreCon Costume Contest is the time when convention attendees get to highlight all the hard work that goes into costuming. The fun begins on Saturday afternoon with a masquerade for children. The children’s masquerade is a fun event where anyone under the age of 12 can show off their awesome costumes. There’s no formal judging, just judges who can give you tips and information on how to get into costuming. This is the place where CoreCon Kids can get their feet wet without having to walk through the main competition in front of a large audience.
There are debates among nerds over all sorts of things. Is Star Trek better than Star Wars? Did Han shoot first? What was up with the ending of Inception? Even though some things can be settled with facts, these fights will still continue because of how passionate we are about our fandoms. And that’s fine. We don’t mind healthy arguments and debates. It’s when you cross into the area of straight up bullying someone that we get really angry. And you wouldn’t like us when we’re angry.
Character Name: Gary “House” Williams
Class: Orc
Race: Half-Giant
Height: 6’6”
Strength: 24 (used to haul items for CoreCon)
Constitution: 24
Sarcasm: 38
Intelligence: 12 (arguably higher but we docked points for his jokes)
Charisma: 30
Wisdom: 26
Volunteerism: 152
CoreCon began ten years ago with the idea of “By The Fans, For The Fans.” One fan in particular deserves special notice. This gentle orc would give you the chainmail off his back if you needed it, and CoreCon would not be the same without House.
Spark Station Master Erin here! We all have wishes and dreams, and mine are to have a fully stocked and functional craft room at CoreCon this year!
Don’t lose sight of this post! [We’re starting with an eye-related pun so that everyone knows Doug Beierle had a hand in making this one possible.]
“The words that come out of Doug’s mouth do not necessarily represent CoreCon, DCon, Anime Fargo, Digital Grail, his family or friends. Use caution if listening.” This is the quote written on Doug Beierle’s shirt. He is a walking hazard and requires a disclaimer from our CoreCon staff. However, we are giving you express permission to listen to him today. In fact, we are urging you to heed his advice.
Doug is a Bad Joke Generator, but more importantly, he’s an optician. He’s seen people sacrifice their eyesight and put themselves at risk of future problems for the sake of a good costume. Costume contacts, or circle lenses, can be a really cool addition to a cosplay character, but it’s important to do proper research before getting yourself a pair.
Everyone has a weakness, even superheroes. Superman’s is kryptonite. Daredevil’s is loud noises. Green Lantern’s is… the color yellow?
We want to make sure that whatever your weakness is, it won’t ruin your fun at CoreCon X. That’s where the accessibility department comes in.
Our volunteers take many things into account when arranging events for the convention, and the biggest one is safety. We don’t want anyone getting hurt, so we do everything we can to prepare for the worst. While our medical team focuses on any potential medical emergencies, the security team works on arranging emergency safety plans.
CoreCon is considered a vacation for some. Even if you live within walking distance of the convention, being able to hole up in the hotel with nothing but your fellow gamers, cosplayers, furries, or whoever else can be the best thing. But just like any other vacation, your entire weekend can be ruined by losing something. When you’re not at home, misplacing an item can feel like an emergency. And if the thing you’ve lost is your medicine, it might actually be one. There’s where Operations (or Ops) comes in. Continue Reading
The Inner Core team wants to share what they love about Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, and Anime with like-minded fans. That’s why CoreCon was started ten years ago. We want to let everyone have a space where they can really let their nerd flag fly and have an unlimited amount of fun. [Disclaimer: Fun supplies may be limited. Get yours now while supplies last.] You can’t have fun without safety (supposedly), so we have several teams who work hard to do all the serious stuff behind-the-scenes and keep you out of harm’s way! This blog will cover the first department: Medical. Continue Reading
CoreCon is getting crafty! Beginning in 2018, for the first time ever, we will have our very own craft room! Spark Station will be a place to spark your creativity, learn some new skills, and take home a fun and unique souvenir from the convention! There will be a full schedule of crafting sessions available in the program guide, but if you want to help make this room extra awesome, we’ll tell you how! Continue Reading
Emily says, “Join the Rebel Legion. Stop the Empire!”
With all of the heroic or villainous tasks you have to do on a day-to-day basis, maybe you hadn’t heard, but CoreCon is changing their dates to Memorial Day Weekend. That’s right! Not just a hotel change but dates, too! The Holiday Inn of Fargo May 24-27th is the place to be!
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CoreCon began with roughly 100 supporters. After almost ten years, we have more than 1,000 regular attendees! With this growth in fan base, we outgrew our old hotel and needed a new place to continue to provide everything the congoers love and expect. The Holiday Inn of Fargo will be the new location for CoreCon X as it has almost double the convention space. Continue Reading
Access Panel Blog
It’s Okay To Be You
By Richard Early
I was very excited when I learned that CoreCon had chosen Freedom Resource as its charity this year and even moreso when I found out CoreCon was dedicated to improving accessibility for the convention and at the Baymont. I can’t thank the leadership enough for taking this step and for making this a priority. I am leading a panel on this aspect of the con on Friday, June 9th at noon. I encourage you to attend, and here is a story about why this is such an important aspect of the convention.
Several years ago, I was at a local convention and I was approached by a man I didn’t really know. He sought me out specifically to thank me. He said I had helped change his life.
While this was heartwarming, I really wasn’t sure what I had done. He said he had attended a Paradox comics monthly tabletop night and we were promoting the convention. He signed up for a drawing to win tickets for the con, and he won them. He told me he was not planning to go because he was shy and afraid. Yet something called to him about the convention.
I wish I knew his name and I wish I could tell you more about him. Maybe he will read this and reach out. I know that he has struggled with some personal issue of mental and physical health. The idea of attending an event with so many people was scary and he almost stayed home. But something moved him to take a chance and go. The reason he thanked me was because that convention changed his life. The community and acceptance and sense of belonging he found by becoming a part of it had a meaningful impact.
When I met him, he was so happy and at peace and looked so comfortable, like he belonged. Like he got it.
This was profound for me and in no way because of the credit he was giving me. It was profound for me because I had spent years and years attending the same convention circuit and had still felt separate from it, afraid, despite the friends I had and the warmth around me.
As many of you know, I am severely visually impaired. Going to a hotel full of strangers was a daunting challenge even after so many years of running my own business. I was out of my element and didn’t even have the benefit of the program guide everyone else did. I didn’t know where things were, who was around me, or how to navigate all that. And most of all, I didn’t know where or how to ask for help. Basically, I felt alone and isolated even in the crowd and even after years of running my own business. During those years, no convention was focused on helping someone like me enjoy the events in the same way everyone else could.
But what is important to understand also is that no matter what is or isn’t offered, the first barrier to sharing that experience is yourself. The first thing that holds you back from access to the world and all the wonderful things in it is always you.
But this man who shook my hand and said I changed his life had broken through that and found a community he yearned for. A community that accepted him for who he was. So I just want him to know that while I appreciate his thanks, he has my admiration for doing something that took me so many years to do. He took a chance. He challenged himself. He broke through that barrier. I hope I meet him again so I can thank him for being such a great example for me and the others in his life.
As I close this blog, I am thinking about the fact that you don’t in any way need to be disabled to feel this apprehension, anxiety, and fear about attending something new. In fact, I think one of the most common and shared things about being part of the nerd world is that we are all people struggling to find our identity. We have these great refuges where we can dress up, celebrate what we love, and find friends and family. But to get there we have to overcome our phobias. Whether sighted or blind, anxious or calm, depressed or happy, disabled or healthy, wheelchair bound or not, the first step is break down that barrier in our own heads and go somewhere where it is okay to be us. That’s CoreCon and they are reaching out to us.
I’ve adopted several new beliefs and attitudes recently and one of them is a quote from the Mother of Dragons herself. She says, “If I turn back, I’m lost.” So we move forward into the future and we build on what we’ve started to become stronger and healthier and see what happens next. I hope anyone who has doubt about joining us at CoreCon can overcome that and come see what it’s all about and find the same community I have and this stranger who came to thank me did. It can be your first step to a better life and the folks who run it are there to help you cross that barrier.
Note from CoreCon:
Thanks, Rich. We are glad people can find a family at our convention. Although there are still many hurdles, we are doing what we can to make CoreCon a safe and friendly space with wheelchair accessible stages, a quiet room, gender neutral bathrooms, no bullying tolerance, and food and allergy information in all fansuites. If you or a friend have concerns or needs not being met, please email accessibility@fargocorecon.org
For the Zelda: Breath of the Wild cosplayers, we regret to inform you the photo shoot has been cancelled as our Forest Dweller Camera has broken and our Guardian Camera is badly damaged. Please also note the Batman family photos are cancelled indefinitely… Continue Reading
Take control of a ship to help kill the monsters roaming in Fargo and save the city at CoreCon: Monsters Vs. Mechs.
New races and ships are available this year! Even if you’ve played Artemis in the past, this can be a new experience with a ship like the Juggernaut.
The crew includes:
- The navigator who hopefully knows left from right and takes the crew on adventure. Steer towards the danger and become a hero or steer away from it and run like a scared cat. We won’t judge. Promise.
- The weapons officer gets to blast the bad guys out of the water with laser cannons, missiles and nukes.
- The science officer is your person in the crows nest. They scan other ships for weaknesses and keep tabs on your allies.
- The communication officer signals friendly ships to get out of danger and can taunt the bad guys with insults or terms of surrender.
- The engineer directs energy to the stations needing power the most. They can help tip the scale between victory and defeat in a battle.
- The fighter is a new crew member. They can man their own small ship to help defend your captain’s ship and kill the enemies.
A team of six is best but Artemis can be played by as little as three. If you have never played, come to the training sessions Friday and/or Saturday from noon to 1 pm. If you can’t make it then, you are welcome to watch other crews to learn. Sign your team up on the convenient sign in sheet.
The ships will be flying:
- Thursday: 9 pm to 2 am
- Friday: noon to 2 am
- Saturday: noon to 2 am
There will be an Artemis tournament beginning on Saturday at 1 pm and continuing until 10 pm. With multiple rooms running Artemis, you will still be able to play impromptu runs while the tournaments are going on.
WELCOME TO THE BRIDGE!
Making free time is hard. Luckily, this author who is working on her fourth fantasy book will be doing just that to join us at CoreCon IX. Continue Reading
Overcoming stage fright to follow your dreams of acting is tough for anyone. One of our guests did just that to become one of the miraculous role models she cosplays as. Continue Reading
CoreCon is excited to announce we have multiple cosplay photographers on board this year for CoreCon IX: Monsters and Mechs held at the Baymont Inn & Suites June 8-11. Are you interested in being part of a group photoshoot with other cosplayers? Click the link for more details! Continue Reading
Movies bring people together. With all of the different genres, it’s hard to find something not to have a favorite. Now meet a man who takes it a step further. Continue Reading
What does CoreCon look for in a special guest?
A guest can be a writer, artist, musician, actor, comedian, or a combination. Continue Reading
If you plan on doing a panel at CoreCon IX: Monsters and Mechs, you need to register soon! The battle takes place at the Baymont Inn and Suites June 8-11,2017! Continue Reading
The Showdown is about to start! The Monsters and Mechs will be battling at the Baymont Inn of Fargo June 8-11, 2017. While the battle rages on, you need to stop gawking and get your butt in the Gaming Central Hazard Shelter!
The Gaming Central Hazard Shelter is your safety from the hazards and pitfalls of the Monsters and Mechs battling just outside. We have ourselves a premium amount of dedicated tabletop space for games! Secure your spot not just for table space but your very survival. Many wayward gamers will take refuge with us, and there might not be room for everyone, but if you sign up to run a game, you will have your safety in the Gaming Central Hazard Shelter reserved.
What you need to do is simple.
At the bottom of this blog post is a signup form to run games at CoreCon IX, Monster vs Mechs. Pick your favorite game and let us know you want to run it for your fellow con-goers seeking shelter in the Gaming Central Hazard Shelter. Remember, this is not just for role-playing games. You can sign up to run anything: board games, card games, miniatures, role-playing games, and everything in-between.
When you sign up to run a game, you get some great benefits along with the fun that you bring fellow gamers. First off, everyone that runs at least one game will earn themselves a special Limited Edition CoreCon IX dice. Second, you guarantee yourself a table for your game. With attendance growing each year, pickup games can sometimes be hard to secure space for, so reserving a spot by signing up makes sure you will not be short a table when it comes time to trounce your friends.
We do not have forever, though; the deadline to make it in the program guide is March 31st.
Ensure your safety! Sign Up to Run a Game!
Hello there, fellow nerds!
Are YOU or someone you know interested in hosting a Fansuite or “Party Room”? Well, lucky for you, there are a few spots open! Fansuites are hotel rooms reserved in the “party area” of CoreCon, right around the pool. By hosting a fansuite, you will get two CoreCon badges and have the option to decorate it how you want. (This is within reason, of course. Don’t put holes in the wall or trash the room!)
Hosts will be able to get into the room early on Wednesday night to decorate and be ready for the con, but you won’t be able to sleep in the room unless you pay for the extra time.
More information can be found at https://www.fargocorecon.org/fansuites/ or you can message the Leader and Assistant at fansuites@fargocorecon.org.
Are YOU or someone you know interested in hosting a Fansuite or “Party Room”? Well, lucky for you, there are a few spots open! Fansuites are hotel rooms reserved in the “party area” of CoreCon, right around the pool. By hosting a fansuite, you will get two CoreCon badges and have the option to decorate it how you want. (This is within reason, of course. Don’t put holes in the wall or trash the room!)
Hosts will be able to get into the room early on Wednesday night to decorate and be ready for the con, but you won’t be able to sleep in the room unless you pay for the extra time.
More information can be found at https://www.fargocorecon.org/fansuites/ or you can message the Leader and Assistant at fansuites@fargocorecon.org.
Thank you,
Assistant, Katie
