If you haven't looked at LEGO bricks in the past twenty years, or you've only looked at the sets in the toy aisle, you're missing a lot. The internet has permitted adult fans to discover kindred spirits, gather into groups, and encourage new and exciting ways of building. Others have created photo-sharing sites, CAD software, and rules for sim gaming. In short, it's suddenly cool again to play with plastic bricks, and to proclaim yourself an AFOL — an Adult Fan Of LEGO. And if you're not just a kid at heart, but actually a kid — well, that's okay too.
The LEGO-related events are closely affiliated with the Philcon Children's Program, but are open to all ages and skill levels. If you'd like to exhibit a model, make a presentation, or lead a workshop; or if you have questions, please contact Phillip Thorne at: < >.
Activities and Attractions
The schedule for 2006 is still under development, but LEGO-related events and activities over the previous three years have included:
Exhibit
See models of spacecraft, robots, and characters from across the gamut of SF — original designs, interpretations from books, and replicas of notables from the screen. Got a model you're particularly proud of and want to show off? Contact Philcon to reserve display space.
Open and Themed Builds
Stop by our building area and borrow a few pieces (or a few hundred) to construct your own moon-buggy, battle-bot, or star-blazing space-burg. Bet you didn't know that shape existed, did you? Or that color?
Gaming
LEGO bricks are perfect for miniatures gaming -- they're infinitely customizable, you don't have to paint them, and inflicting battle-damage is a guiltless pleasure. Before the con, check out some fan-created rules we might use: Mike Rayhawk's BrikWars and QuikWars, Trevor Attridge's simplified Blocwars, Peter Guenther's BrickQuest and BrickMech, Vincent Baker's simple MechaTon, and more.
Topical Slide Shows
There are lots of talented builders out there, but not everybody can transport to Philcon, and others are too big to fit, and some (of course) have been recycled. Instead, view high-res pics of the most impressive starships, mechs and castles produced by LEGO fandom, with commentary from AFOLs who've seen them in person.
Film Fest
Lights! Camera! Action! Very... very... slow... action. See what happens when SF-minded LEGO fans get carried away with the stop motion. If you can't wait, check out Brickfilms.
Links
- LUGNET, the major general-purpose forum site
- Brickshelf, a photo gallery
- Bricklink, for aftermarket person-to-person sales of brick
- BrickFest, an annual gathering of AFOLs
- DelVaLUG, the Delaware Valley LEGO Users Group
- BZPower, A Bionicle fan site
- Classic Space, devoted to spacecraft, starships, and moonbases
- FBTB: From Bricks To Bothans, for Star Wars-themed LEGO efforts
- Mechahub, a site for bulky bipedal battle bots