What We Do

A resource for publishers and gamemasters at gaming conventions across the United States

Lurking Fears is dedicated to bridging the gap between publishers, game masters, and players. We maintain a roster of professional gamemasters who enjoy running games at conventions. We regularly gather player feedback to evaluate and continue to improve the table experience.

If you’re a gamemaster who is interested in running games at conventions, but isn’t sure where to start. We can help with scheduling,teaching you how to prepare and manage a convention-style game. We provide materials and coaching so you can focus on running a great game. Our group is fun, welcoming, and committed to fair play, inclusion, and creating an enjoyable experience for everyone at the table.

If you’re a publisher wanting to get your game(s) in front of players, we are here to support you. We offer organized and professional support. We take on the administrative task of organizing and managing events at conventions for you. We work closely with publishers to ensure that your game presentation at conventions aligns with your vision. In addition, we offer POS (point of sale) services. If these are something you would like to learn more about, please contact us.

What games do we play?

We embrace all genres of TTRPG’s. While our roots were born in grimdark and horror games, we now run all genres. Whether your game(s) is considered sci-fi, fantasy, horror, modern or somewhere between, we want to hear from you. We maintain relationships with publishers of all sizes and fully support bringing games to our gametables at conventions..

Lurking Fears represents a wide range of ages, genders, ethnicities, and experience levels. Whether you want to run one game or one hundred, we can support it. Our tables consistently fill quickly at conventions, so you never have to worry about player interest.

Many convention players come in with a “try before you buy” mindset. We help make sure that “try” turns into genuine excitement and long-term interest. The market is crowded, and good games deserve to be showcased well. That’s what we do.

Our Team

The Horsemen

Matt McCloud

Chief Event Organizer (CEO)

Hail and well met! I’m the creator and a creative mind (such as it is) behind Lurking Fears. I’ve been into RPGs since the ’80s, and the first games I ran include Marvel Super Heroes and Star Wars (WEG). I’ve been involved with nearly every job in comic book and gaming conventions for over twenty years. Come say hi and chat me up, I love to talk about games and help GMs and publishers almost as much as I love to name drop.

Betty Tatum

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

As the Lurking Fears COO, I oversee the day-to-day operations. I have been playing TTRPG’s for over 30 years. My love of gaming and the community inspires me daily to continue working to support a community that will continue to thrive. I work with convention organizers to ensure Lurking Fears designated spaces are equipped to handle our motley crew. I work closely with our publisher partners to ensure their vision of their games becomes a reality on our gametables. I work with our gamemaster’s to ensure they have their schedules well in hand prior to convection time. If you have a special request, let me know. And when the convention ends, I go back to watching murder shows in comfy clothes.

Jonathon Myhre

Chief Gamemaster (CGM)

My name is Jonathon Myhre although most people know me as Mr. Dragonbane at the table, behind the screen. I’m the Chief Gamemaster for Lurking Fears, where I handle vetting / mentoring gamemasters, both new and experienced. My focus is making sure the people we put behind the screen actually know the system they’re running and feel supported. Whether that’s building characters, playtesting scenarios, or just getting more comfortable running games.

I’ve been in the tabletop space for over a decade, and I stay involved in the tabletop world by running games, playing in games, talking games, and spending long convention weekends behind the screen… often thirty-plus hours at a time. Every table teaches me something, and every session is a chance to bring someone deeper into this hobby.

Chris Tatum

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

I’ve been playing TTRPGs for a few decades and consider myself a system “polyglot.” I’ve run and/or played most versions of D&D, Pathfinder, Starfinder, Call of Cthulhu, WEG Star Wars (d6), Marvel Super Heroes (FASERIP), Mayfair DC Heroes, other Star Wars games (including Saga), Toon, GURPS, Champions, Alien, Dragonbane, Vaesen, some of the Fantasy Flight Warhammer 40k games, Warhammer Fantasy, DCC, Shadowdark, Dune (the current Modiphius version AND I own a copy of the Last Unicorn book), and I’m probably missing some. Gaming is woven into every part of my life.

I’m also the healthiest nerd you’ll ever meet. When I’m not running or playing games, I run. I’m an accomplished ultra-runner with a few extreme events under my belt.

Tom Frisby

Chief Supply Officer (CSO)

Greetings all! Occasionally known as The Viking GM, I’ve been playing and/or running RPG’s for nearly 40 years now, anything from D&D, Star Wars, Vampire, Forbidden Lands, Traveller, Call of Cthulhu… too many others to mention. I rarely meet a game I don’t like. I love going to conventions and basking in the warm, welcoming magic of so many people having a great time playing games together!

I have several creative interests anywhere from writing to 3d printing to photography. As such, I make most of the maps and props for Lurking Fears. I also help our GM’s at conventions when needed and, of course, run games! If you see me at a con, stop and say hello! Hope to see you there!