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Air City Expedition Review

This review is for Air City Expedition 2013.

We, the Secret Swan Society, had an AMAZING time at Air City. The people were nice, the panels were small and laid back, the events didn't seem too rough. There was an awesome Game Room where such amazing-ness like a huge Apple to Apples game took place as well as the biggest Muchkin Cthulhu Game I have ever seen took place. The Movie Room had a ton of movies and showed a lot on screen.

Following is a Scorp-Review on the event we stole from Lt Flint!


Con Review:
Hotel/Entertainment/Vendors/Staff/Biased

The Hotel was GREAT. Fan-tastic! 9/10 (and it really should be a 10).

The Panels were awesome. From stuff we did (Steampunk in the Community) and our Members (Any of Lt Flint's Stuff) there was also panels from the MISFITS and the Citizens of Antiford as well as musical guests. It was awesome! Entertainment/Panels? 10/10. There may not have been any "Heavy Hitters" however I felt the newer, smaller groups really made a more comfortable and down-to-earth environment.  Although I would love to see the more defined groups and bigger groups next year... I would never want to replace the groups or performers who got to share the limelight that weekend.

The Vendor room seemed really small, and even though I did not recognize many of the Shops, they still had Triple A con prices. I felt they really missed their audience with this one. However, getting to talk with many of the vendors and hearing about many of these vendors, they were some of the nicest people ever at a convention. I would really love to see these vendors again and hopefully have money for some of their wares. Again, even though we missed out on some "Heavy Hitters" in this category  I do not feel it destroyed the feel of the convention, and I would by NO MEANS trade out any of the vendors who went for one who didn't go. 8/10

And with that come the Staff. The staff were few and far between. The line between who were volunteers and who were staff was blurred. They often said they considered anyone vending/paneling/performing staff but refused to give out info needed BY Staff. Alot of people were told they were staff, but admitted to not having the power or information to really be helpful. In the end any true staff decisions NEEDED to be filtered to one of three people, with any crisis or true decisions being made by only one. Now, we would LOVE to bash them for this... HOWEVER!!! Please remember that they had FIVE WEEKS to do this and, for the most part, 4-6 real "Staff" members (being generous). The fact that any and all who were even slightly considered staff were incredibly nice and helpful. Staff made sure panelists and vendors alike had what they needed when they needed it quickly and orderly. They had many things IN-PLACE like code of conduct. It is for that reason that I give them a stunning 8/10 for their staffing. However, they will not get similar lee-ways next year. So... heads up guys ;)

____
And now it is time I get to step back and be as biased as I can be. I was weary at first. The staff was tense, information was little, and many groups took a leap of faith backing this event because we KNEW those behind it. Knew? Well... let us use that word lightly. Amy was fresh into Steampunk and we "Knew" very little.

HOWEVER!! My Gosh, if half way through Friday if all those worries and fears just went RIGHT OUT the door. Friendly Staff, great events, good friends. Everyone was just so.... freakin' NICE! I mean... I don't know how to describe it. And it wasn't just me!!! I'm hearing similar things from close friends and some of them (You KNOW who you are) are VERY critical, specially when it comes to con quality.

I... I don't know... I can rego through the review all biased... but.... why should I? They deserve every bit of my Bias ism. And they gave me a good break! I had a good many Panels to run and attend to and they took a leap of faith on alot of vendors, performers, and panelists to do their jobs, be entertaining, and not give them a bad name. So... YEAH! I think it's no surprise they get a stunning 11/11 from ME!!!
____
FINAL TOTAL
46
51
In the end, Air City Expedition 2013 was a hit. At an astounding 90.5%, it hit every major thing it needed to hit to be up there with the big boys of Conventions. Sure, we gave them some major leeway and my bias was positive, but you need to understand that what they did in only Five weeks time was not a five week con that was pretty good. No, it was a REAL Convention, a year convention, that did very well. That says alot for this convention and those running it and all who helped make it happen.

If you invested time, money, raffle items, promises, or even a like or a share on this convention, your investment was not ill-spent. And if you are one of the underdogs who got their chance in the light because of this convention, do not forget it. This was a great con and a great bunch of people who attended it.

---- SECOND THOUGHTS----
You know the rules. Second thoughts is the Devil's advocate of all of this.

The Hotel was fantastically nice and clean, but rumor has it the maids may have been a little too curious in certain rooms and stuff may have been damaged. Still, rumors aside... it was great. 9/10.

The Panels were few and far between in addition to sum cons, many didn't look like they were ready for the one hour time slot (others looking like they needed more). Many of the names on the schedule (HAHAHAHA.... Schedule...) were no-names. And even with some diamonds in the rough they are missing some "uh....duh" guests on their roster. Veterans of other Steampunk Cons may have felt bored or felt like their money would've been better spent hanging out in the rooms rather then at the cons. However, that doesn't mean those panelists without fame were all too bad. The Panels were well rounded and there was something for everyone to be found.   8/10

Vendors was sad. A Tiny vendor room and some familiar faces didn't cover up that some vendors seemed slightly upset. Sometimes the room was empty, and the vendors looked like they would've had a better time in the pool! Expensive doesn't cut it, we all know how bad con prices are. As well as the performers alot of "uh-duh" Vendors were missing from the equation. Better luck next year... unless you spent the time to "get to know them" the vendors were of no interest to you.  3/10

Staff was few and far between. Three people were considered staff, and only one of them had any power. If you barely saw them, you probably assumed they were the damned wizard of OZ! It seemed a few people took it upon themselves to be the go-to people between guests and Staff. 4/10

Biased is the same as above. I cannot bias a devil's advocate approach. To keep it fair, biases are the same. 11/11

35
51 Again, many people of second thoughts would've nit-picked this con down... but in the end the scores would've still been right up there. Even going against the big boys this cons darker sides were few and far between and the score is still something to be proud of. Your personal biased can change this, but I don't think many attendees have much to complain about.

---End Second Thoughts---

All in all, this con gets an average low of 40.1. I think the entire community can be proud of it, and it really shown bright as a star in its very first year. We can expect the SKY out of this con, though. With an entire year to prepare, Air City part TWO will take such cons as Teslacon as well as Dragon con, Comic-Con, and Anime cons to the baker. I can only imagine how awesome it will be. If you missed out on this amazing con then you probably missed out on, BAR NONE, the best first-year con that has ever happened.

And as I keep suggesting for Air City to adopt officially, I suggest you take the Air City Challenge. Think you can do better? We'll be kind. We shall give you Six or Seven Weeks... make a con, right out of your butt!! Do Better. Do better then Air City. Make a friendly environment. Keep face under extreme stress, and try to plan around all the other events that have had a year to more then a year to prepare. ;) And I shall review your event under the same scrutiny.

~Lieutenant Nathaniel Flint of the Landship Scorpios

In Case you missed it:
46 out of 51 Points. SUPER POSITIVE. Air City is a Con not to miss.

Lt.Flint- Story- Origins_1_The Platinum Chest

            The lamp swung from side to side. Light was thrown around the dimly lit room. It must have been knocked in the commotion. Billy Elliard took a few steps back. He breathed heavily. Blood was flung from his wrist.

            Nathaniel Flint was gasping as he leaned back in the wooden chair. His nose bled only slightly, but he had bitten his lip with the last punch. He cracked open his eyes to view the thugs that surrounded him.

            “So… the code,” spat Elliard.

            Flint’s eyes passed to a large chest sitting not too far away. The Platinum alloy of the chest made it priceless on its own, but what lied within put its casing to shame. Two tumbler knobs were positioned on the front of the chest. The correct two-digit combination the twin tumblers created would release the compressed-air seals.

            Flint’s eyes moved to the two other thugs. One bald, large man with a quirky smile. The other was a lean, long-haired, ex-ranger with a large brimmed hat. The ex-ranger held Flint’s own fedora in his hand, fiddling with it playfully.

            “I already told you, I only know one side,” said Flint, “What’s inside, they do not want getting out.”

            “Damnit, Flint,” Elliard smilled again, “You are a tough nut… they teach you this in the stripes?”

            Flint glared at the ex-ranger, “You… that is my hat.”

            The ranger smiled, showing a brass tooth.

            “Now, I do admit, I am getting tired,” said Elliard, taking out a switchblade knife, “Now, I need that stone.”

            Elliard ran his bloodied fingers through his thinning hair. Someone at the door made a noise, and Elliard turned half-heartedly to look. Flint rolled his eyes, knowing that odds are it was Elliard’s own posy just getting antsy.

            Elliard returned to his spot real close to Flint’s face, brandishing the knife as a warning that past head-butts were to be met with a stab. He smiled, his eyes digging into Flint’s.

            “Thirty-Three,” said Flint, very calmly.

            Elliard froze, his eyes widening. His pupils brushed over Flint’s face. His ears even appeared to twitch.

            “Forty-Nine, Twenty-Three,” said Flint.

            Elliard’s eyes raised to that of his bald companion, then to the ranger before smiling.

            “There we go,” he yelled, leaping away from Flint and to the chest, quickly turning the tumblers.

            The ex-ranger wasted no time turning and watching the tumblers spin, seeing as we was the closest to the chest. The bald thug wandered close, his gaze shifting from Flint.

            Flint’s eyes slowly closed. He had already loosened his rope restraints and had been biding his time for a plan. Now, he was presented with one. His left hand twisted against the rope, and broke free with a soft snap.

            “Seventy-Two,” he said, raising from the chair and discarding the now useless rope to the side on the floor.

            In the same motion, he raised the wooden chair he had been in above his head and rushed forward. He had enough time to say out another number before the bald one turned and saw him.

            The look of horror didn’t have time to register on his face. Flint brought the chair down hard on his bald head. Wood splintered and shattered. Flint was left grasping the back end of the chair as the seat and legs rained down on the floor and the bald one fell to the hard ground.

            Flint grasped the back end as a throwing knife and chucked it towards the ex-ranger.

            “My hat!” yelled Flint as the back end slammed into his cheek as he turned, and the shock caused him to leap backward, over the small table, and fall behind it.

            Elliard spun around, the knife poised to be used. His eyes glared and his teeth barred like an animal as he searched the gloom for Flint. Flint ran at Elliard, and threw up his foot in a punt as Elliard advanced on him as well. The kick landed on Elliard’s already tired hand, which could not grip the knife. The knife soard up and away into the gloom.

            Elliard threw his full force into Flint. Flint, standing on one leg, fell to the ground with Elliard on top of him. Elliard rose and threw a punch, and reeled back for another punch. Flint threw a punch of his own, catching him underneath the jaw. The unexpected hit allowed Flint to gain the leverage he needed to push off his attacker and roll slightly farther away.

            When Flint stood, Elliard was already rushing him, his hands finding their way around Flint’s throat. Flint used this to throw two quick gut-punches, causing Elliard to kneel over. Flint grabbed his head, and brought his knee up into the man’s face.

            Elliard stood straight, now, backing away from Flint. His nose had burst open, and blood cascaded down over his mouth. Flint took a few quick steps forward, putting all his weight behind a closed, fisted punch on Elliard’s left cheek.

            Elliard’s knees buckled, and he fell back. His eyes closed as he hit the ground, knocked out.

            Flint shook his hand, trying to ignore the seering pain he felt from that punch. The bald thug was still moaning on the floor a little ways away. The ex-ranger stood from behind the table, a pistol swinging the room.

            Flint took a look around him, and dived behind some old crates as the ranger keyed in and begun unloading his revolver into the crate. Flint sat up, back against the crate. His bloodied hand ran across something metal on the floor, and his eyes darted to it.

            It was Elliard’s pocket, knife.

            Five…six… click. The ranger was out of bullets. The room smelled more like gunsmoke and looked slightly foggy. Flint rose from behind the crate and charged towards him. He secretly prayed the ranger didn’t have a second pistol, as most usually carried more fire arms then pirates.

            The Ex-Ranger had been caught off-guard. He had come around the table and started walking to the crate, so he was caught in the opening trying to jam bullets into the chambers. At the sight of Flint, he cast his revolver aside and reached for a secondary pistol strapped to his waist in a cross-holster.

            Flint threw the knife, aiming for the Ranger’s hand. It missed its marked, but managed to dig into his gut, causing his to fumble his pistol as it left his holster.

            Flint tackled him, the pistol flying off. Flint threw a punch or two before getting up, and rushing to his supplies on the table where Elliard had rummaged through them. Behind him, the ex-ranger stood up and cursed, pulling the knife from his gut and tossing it half-heartedly to the side.

            Flint reached his supplies and rummaged through it for his gunbelt. Stealing a glance behind him, he saw the Ranger looked around and spotted his little pistol on the ground not far away. The ranger lunged for it, just as Flint blind-grabbed into his bag and felt cold steel.

            Flint pulled his LeMat and cocked it in one fluid motion, aiming it as the ranger reached his pistol. Flint pulled the trigger. POW. A loud gunshot rang, and Flint’s bullet sunk into the ranger’s back before he could even fully grasp his pistol. POW.

            At the second shot, the ranger went limp, and the breath left his body. Flint let out the breath he had been keeping in, and breathed. The rousing of the bald thug on the floor grabbed Flint’s attention. He had awoken to the sound of gunshots, and lazily attempted to peer across the room.

            Flint turned his pistol on him. One bullet right into his skull silenced him. Flint’s eyes were starting to tear up slightly at the smoke. He heard commotion outside, but since no-one attempted to open the door he let them be for now. Stepping over to the table, he gave the tumblers a free spin and walked behind the table, placing his hat atop his head.

            Flint knelt over the ex-ranger, searching his pockets, grabbing bullets and cash he could find.

            “My… hat,” he mumbled to him, “Bastard.”

            He did the same to the bald one, then he approached Ellaird. Elliard was in bad shape. He lay bleeding on the floor. Flint rand his finger through his pants and pockets, then through his waist coat. A large roll of bills were in one of the pockets. Flint smiled, fingering through it.

            “This, my boy,” said Flint, “Is payback. For the delay… and for severely messing up my clothes.”

            Elliard made a gurgling sound of a sigh, but no audible words.

            “When the ol’ girl’s fixed, rest assured I’ll come back this way and level your little outfit,” said Flint, using this time to grab his thigh-holster and gunbelt and strap it on, “Until that day, I find myself in a strange predicament… your men still outside and all.”

            Flint checked the platinum chest, and smiled when he saw it was untouched. Good, he thought, if all went well they wouldn’t even know he had been kept up.

            “I need this payment, old friend,” said Flint, returning to Elliard, “I can smell it… the exhaust… the gunpowder… they diesel… I can smell my… freedom… my chance. It’s so close, mate.”

            Elliard sputtered, “You will die a nothing, Lieutenant.”

            “Nobody will remember you, Billy,” said Flint, smiling, “They don’t remember us. No matter what. Be we thug.”

            Flint slapped Elliard’s chest.

            “Be we treasure hunter,” Flint touched his own chest, and then motioned the two of them connecting, “Or even old war heroes.”

            “You… are no hero.”

            Flint jumped as a crash was heard from the door. Elliard’s men had begun trying to get in. Flint looked over his shoulder, rolling his eyes. The door wasn’t even locked and they were trying to break it down. Flint returned to Elliard, taking out his revolver and pressing it to his chest.

            “Neither are you,” said Flint, smiling, “Don’t you read? They recognized you after all, Billy. Your medals were revoked. Uncle Sam says you owe them for those banks… and that orphanage. Strange how that works.”

            Elliard’s eyes flashed anger, before he began coughing, and one eye closed for the last time. The other lingered on Flint. Flint smiled, cocking back the hammer.

            “I’m still a wild card, boyo,” said Flint, “and all I want… is my ship.”

            Flint fired his gun. The last of Elliard’s breathes escaped him, and his eyes were squeezed shut. Flint rose and walked to the table, quickly throwing on his pack and dealing with the rest of his gear.

            Elliard’s men continued to slam into the door. The door creaked and cracked with every hit. Flint opened his LeMat, throwing away the useless shells and fully loading new shells into the new design. He put his hand on the chest, and quickly wondered what he’d do with the object.

            Crash, the door came off the hinges and one man fell to the ground ontop of it. Two other quickly ran through the door, pistols raised. Flint cocked his pistol and aimed, wasting enough time to insure he’d shoot the bigger’s head and pulling the trigger.

Lt.Flint- What is Post-Apocalyptic Steampunk?

What is post apocalyptic Steampunk?

            “Well, I assume it is just like any other post apocalyptic anything, except with steam power”. Well, that’s where you’d be wrong. The Post-Apocalyptic genre and aesthetic have really caught on in the turn of the century society. Nuclear War hasn’t been so popular since the fifties. Zombies, Vampires, sickness, disease; we absolutely love the thought about… well… dyeing. We at least like everyone else dying, and us surviving on… somehow.

            Well, Steampunk post apoc is… well… a little different. How so? Well, we need to start by looking at what Steampunk is… and what makes… anything “steampunk”.

            Steampunk is a sub-genre taking after the writings of early science fiction. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells were the titans of early Science fiction, and they wrote a large quantity of stories that have set the stage for much of the new century’s Steampunk world.  They wrote of everything. Space travel, Submarines, time travel, airships, great machines, and underground empires. Adventure and mystery inspired many to wonder what the future could hold, even a future as close as tomorrow. It were these stories that set forth not only Science Fiction for all of eternity, but the imaginations and ideas of old and young for decades. Inventors, dreamers, and good-wishers were borne from the question ‘what-if’.

            Looking back, we see that these men wrote of great things. The horrors of science and technologies. The unknown our oceans, our lands, and our universe had to offer. However, in every one of these stories is… a hope. The same question: “What-If”. A hope that the future would yield grand machines and scientific breakthroughs that could be used for good. A thirst of knowledge that could bring about prosperity.

            Steampunk takes this question, but always in a positive light. Look at the culture, the characters, the stories. Steampunk is trying to find the positive in the world. Even our super-villains are lovable. Steampunk is always finding that positive.

            Now, let us discuss Post Apocalyptic Steampunk. In Post Apoc Steampunk, the stories and themes concentrate not on the disaster or survival, but on the rebuilding of society. Machines and steam power work on rebuilding societies, breaking away with what really happened and building a better future. Countries, governments, big corporations, all down the tube and remade a new tomorrow. A re-working and repurposing of technology left behind. A world where the creative and the good-willed are not held down by the rich or the laws of the rich or the government or kings or queens. A positive tomorrow.

            Steampunk honors the creative, and the genre claims the best in all arts: crafting, fashion, writers, cosplayers, painters, cartoonists, actors, etc etc. It makes sense that a steampunk world that has survived an apocalypse they would honor the creative. So instead of concentrating on the disaster, or the death, or the hopelessness of apocalypse, Steampunk Post-Apocalyptic concentrates on the rebuilding of ourselves, and our societies.

            So, there you have it. Hope that settles it.

~Lieutenant Nathaniel Flint of the Landship Scorpios