Adventures at Katsucon!

Katsucon was a blast.  It’s always a blast.  We spoke on some very well-attended panels (thank you!), met some great people, reunited with some old friends, and generally had the awesome time we’ve come to expect from a Katsucon weekend.  But aside from all that, there were a couple of stand-out adventures I got to have this year that made the weekend especially enjoyable.

I got to join a pirate crew.  It’s not a real ship (duh) nor do I have any regular obligations to terrorize the seven seas, but I got to pick a pirate name and a job on the “ship.”  As someone who’s been playing roleplaying games since before he was a teenager, I jump at every chance to take on a new character.  Of the available positions, “Musician” was the most attractive to me because I also jump at every chance to play a bard.  But something still wasn’t fitting correctly.  A pirate bard was an unattractive idea to me.  Then I asked if I could be a skald, and everything clicked for everyone.  So I became Moki Svenson.  (I know skalds have little to do historically with pirates, but we’re playing pretend so shush.)

I got to take photographs again.  This is nothing new for Katsucon, as I’ve been taking photos of attendees in public and of my model friend, Saber Tompson, for many years there.  What made this year different was the chance to photograph another friend of mine who was dressed in a stunning Elvira costume (rawr), and to take pictures of Saber in shibari-style rope bondage, a first for me.  Working with a new subject is always a learning experience, and working with someone you’re very comfortable with in a new environment is equally educational.  I was happy for the chance to expand my horizons, and to revisit a hobby that I enjoy.  And on top of that, I got to reconnect with an old friend who stumbled upon our impromptu photoshoot, which made for a pleasantly memorable evening for everyone involved.

Katsucon is a great show with a lot of heart and great personality.  The attendees are wonderful, the staff is professional (and treat us far better than we deserve!), and every year is somehow better than the last.  If you can ever make your way to Katsucon, you won’t regret it.