Meet our special guests that will be attending the convention. Our VIP attendees will be able to attend a private reception with our special guests on Saturday evening. Keep an eye on this page as we will continue to update it as we get closer to the event!
Mikey Mason
Today his profession is creating art and music with geeky themes. His performances are fueled by his passions and sharpened by long years of experience as a stand-up comedian. He’s performed at theaters, bars, comedy clubs, casinos, colleges, festivals, and conventions across the US, hosted podcasts, exhibited at art shows, created a coloring book, and more, continually expanding his horizons as to what his next project will be.
Mikey Mason spent more than a decade as a full-time standup comedian. He headlined on all four coasts, performed multiple times each on NBC, at the legendary House of Blues, and the Hard Rock Casino. He even headlined the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas. But it wasn’t enough. In 2011, he released a song expressing his geekier side (She Don’t Like Firefly) that went viral on YouTube and got him featured on Nerdist.com, SyFy, MTV Geek News, The Funny Music Project, DrDemento.com, and even Time magazine. Eight albums and three EPs later, his lifelong love for fantasy, science fiction, cats, video and role-playing games continues to inspire his music and help him evolve, not only personally, but musically and professionally.
Shawn Merwin
Shawn Merwin is an RPG writer and editor. He began his career as an administrator and contributor to countless organized play programs (Living Greyhawk, Living Forgotten Realms, D&D Adventurers League, Xen’drik Expeditions, Ashes of Athas, etc.). He has worked as a freelancer for Wizards of the Coast on numerous books, magazine articles, and adventures. His early published credits include Designer in the WotC book Dungeon Delve and the co-designer (with Bruce Cordell) of P3: Assault on Nightwyrm Fortress. He also co-designed Halls of Undermountain with Matt Sernett. For 5e, he was recently credited in the D&D Acquisitions Incorporated hardcover, as well as Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus. Shawn has worked on several seasons of D&D Encounters, and he has written many convention adventures for Wizards’ in both 4e and 5e rules. He is currently the Resource Manager for the Eberron: Oracle of War Adventurers League campaign.
Shawn has worked on several seasons of D&D Encounters, and he has written many convention adventures for Wizards’ in both 4e and 5e rules. He is currently the Resource Manager for the Eberron: Oracle of War Adventurers League campaign.
Shawn also designs and edits projects for Encoded Designs, which include the Dungeon World adventure Dangerous Space Jail and the Fate Core system Part-Time Gods of Fate. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has taught creative writing at the college and post-graduate level.
Michael R. Underwood
Speculative Fictionero
From sci-fi to fantasy, Michael R. Underwood has turned his talents and passions into over a dozen books. Since publishing Geekomancy in 2012 he has gone on to write sci-fi novellas, supernatural thrillers, and more than a few fantasy novels. His Genrenauts novellas were an r/fantasy “Stabby” Award finalist for Best Serialized Fiction. Having grown up with a love for stories he went on to earn a B.A. in Creative Mythology and East Asian Studies from Indiana University, and holds an M.A. in Folklore Studies from the University of Oregon.
Now living in Baltimore with his wife and their dog Oreo, he continues to write, read, and play games! From time to time he is a guest host on the Hugo-nominated Skiffy and Fanty Show, and you can catch him co-hosting on Speculate!. Michael also writes fascinating articles for his Patreon following where you can also see pictures of the adorable Oreo. His presentation on better worldbuilding at BFG last year was fantastic, and we’re excited to have him back as a special guest for BFG 2020!
Night Watch Paradox
Night Watch Paradox is musically, lyrically and visually evocative and brings the sights and sounds of a world where steam-powered airships roam the skies and time travel is a recreational activity. A place where both men and women are equally capable, strong, intelligent and frequently mysterious. Imagine a talented collective of musicians, composers, and artists who bring these visions to life in a unique steampunk-inspired performance.
Night Watch Paradox lyrics pay homage to 19th Century Baltimore history, all while offering their own twists or alternative versions. Such examples are “The Admiral Fell” a song about a steam-powered airship that helps defeat the British Navy in the War of 1812, “Mobtown Riot” which tells the story of the Pratt Street Riots of 1861, and “Henry Clemm” which speculates about the mysterious death of Edgar Allen Poe’s young cousin.
The music itself draws from a wide variety of styles including rock, jazz, Americana, Appalachian, and Klezmer. With a lineup of electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, ukulele, flute, accordion, cello, and both female and male vocalists, Night Watch Paradox can easily evoke the proper mood from somber to frenzied exuberance. Tap your toes, clap and sing along!
Whether you are fully initiated in the steampunk genre or are a complete novice to the concept, Night Watch Paradox is guaranteed to provide an evening of memorable entertainment and fun. If you play your cards right, you may have experienced a “more cowbell” moment.