tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on Sept 8, 2016 9:22:54 GMT -8
How'd everyone's con go? I dropped in and said some quick hellos pre-podcast recordings, but ran off to play. At 8pm one of my favorite game designers, down from Seattle, was running a game. In retrospect, I wish I had stayed at the podcast, as the game was a bit of a mess (no fault of the GM). Lessons learned... In summary: - Ran Fallout Shelter RPG
- Played in a Delta Green scenario
- Ran The Quiet Year with Lego with radzap ad hoc at midnight
- Ran Games on Demand (GoD) for 3 sessions that included another Quiet Year with Lego, Microscope, and The Space Skeletons.
- Jumped in for 10 minutes in mouser's Pacific Rim for the final boss fight (including fray !!)
- Missed the podcast yet again
- Played in Jim Pinto's King of Storms (Praxis system) game
- Midnight Agricola game
- Did a paint-and-take with wife and daughter
- Played in Animalia (a Red Wall / Mouseguard type game, but with more than mice)
- Missed Stu Venable's Hero Kids session, which I regret (it ran at the same time as the prior kid game RPG that the wife and daughter had already signed up for)
- Played One Night Ultimate Werewolf and King of Tokyo with the family and various random run-ins
- Ran an ad hoc 1-player LARP for my daughter called "The Quest for the Leftover Shit" where we went to various empty con rooms and looked for trash. She found a die, among the rubble. (Stu Venable: take note. this was probably one of her favorite activites... a good pro-tip for future kid-coming-to-con adventures; I guess it works best around Monday, if you are there that late)
Here's my more detailed writeups:
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mysticfedora
Supporter
The truth lies somewhere in between.
Posts: 281
Preferred Game Systems: 5E, PbtA, OSR
Currently Playing: LotFP, 5E
Currently Running: 5E, PbtA, Stars Without Number, CoC 7e
Favorite Species of Monkey: Kong
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Post by mysticfedora on Sept 8, 2016 17:08:39 GMT -8
Alrighty, here it goes...
Friday: Played in Dave77's kick-ass Downton Abby/Adams Family mash-up game. It was my first time playing powered by the Apocalypse and my first time playing with Dave77. AND my first time playing with beard Dave. I can't express how hilarious the entire experience was. I really can't wait for the game. My non RPer wife is thrilled about it too, I may even be able to use this to get into the cult... herd. Herd. Tribe. Whatever.
Played an AL game to get a taste of the new season and decided my suspicions were true--I'm not that into the whole giant thing. It's okay, I've still got Strahd going in my local game store and my Sunday games in my made-up world. I think I'll be skipping this book though.
Saturday Ran my Siege of Sundered Hold adventure (coming soon to a DM's Guild near you!) 5e session deploying my new mass combat mechanics. It was a blast and the mechanics were intuitive--worked very well. We were very loud and got a complaint from a neighboring table. What can I say? War is hell.
Also ran a redux dungeon crawl I made from my regular 5e group. It's a massive tree that has a fey crossing run by a coven of night hags. That was another standing and shouting session. Really great, I'm going to put that one on DM's Guild one day too. My favorite part was the fact the players had to work around a massive portal in the floor to fight the coven and demon giant and in the end, it was actually a Well of Many Worlds (or in other words, a blanket you could just pick up).
Then I hung out, drank, talked with a bunch of people including a dude that wants to make a persistent non AL con world--right?? Sound familiar?
The podcast. I witnessed debauchery and then went home.
Sunday I ran my weekly game on Roll20. Great group, great campaign. We've been going about a year now. I have a Russian, an Italian, a Brit (who lives in Germany) and an Iowan. I love the Interwebs.
I brought my eight-year-old and tried to get him Stu's kid game, but he really, really, really wanted to play DND, so I had to scratch his name off. Sorry, I tried. So, we did the Total Party Kill session. I know those guys well and they produce awesome and crunchy encounters that allow for really interesting tactics. It's not an "RP" set-up per se, but it was perfect for the kid who likes battles and playing dragonborns. Best part of that session was that kid was playing a bard and spent most of the time hurling insults at giants with his vicious mockery spell.
Monday I skipped the AL adventure I signed up for and slept.
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Post by Stu Venable on Sept 9, 2016 13:05:20 GMT -8
FridayRan a brief session of Vast Dominions a mostly inebriated and distracted party. We adjourned after about an hour and went to the bar instead. SaturdayRan a 9am session of Vast Dominions. Great fun. The party successfully looted a primitive culture of their culturally significant icons, as one would expect any good colonial power to do. Zach (my son) and I then went through the dealer room. Grabbed some d6s, because I don't have enough, of course. We then went down to the pool for about an hour (I stayed in the Jacuzzi). After dinner with Fray, Kimi, her husband and Zach, set up for the podcast. Drinky show. I lost control of the 'cast about the time I started plugging in mics and never got it back. SundayBack to the dealer room with the boy. We picked up Wolf and Sheep, and played a couple games. At 2pm I ran Hero Kids. VERY fun game. I had four players: Zach, two other kids a little younger than Zach, and the mother of one of the other kids. They did great and asked for more when the adventure ended (it ran about two hours, which I figured as the upper limit for younger kids' attention spans. Sunday evening, I got to play Svengali in Monkeyfun Dave 's Spirit of the Century FATE hack. Fantastic fun. My first time playing FATE. It's difficult not to LOVE any game Dave GMs. He could probably make a F.A.T.A.L. session fantastic. I do have a few thoughts on FATE that I'll share tonight. And Zach and I drove home Monday morning. He had a fantastic time and wants to go in February. Also, after telling his sister about the game and the con, she wants to go now too. If I have them both, I'll probably run all games for kids and parents. A) I can keep an eye on them; and B) it was VERY fun running for kids. plusx2a -- is there a family-friendly or kid-friendly flag when posting games (other than the minimum age field) -- a way for parents seeking out activities to do with their kids? The facilities for the kids area was fine, but I felt exiled...
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on Sept 9, 2016 14:34:36 GMT -8
Sunday evening, I got to play Svengali in Monkeyfun Dave 's Spirit of the Century FATE hack. Fantastic fun. My first time playing FATE. It's difficult not to LOVE any game Dave GMs. He could probably make a F.A.T.A.L. session fantastic. I do have a few thoughts on FATE that I'll share tonight. It's easy to run games when you got a murderer's row of players playing actual murderers. I know I was hesitant to share the actual play because it was my first time running FATE and realized post-game my errors in running the system (nothing earth-shattering, I think), but I realize in hindsight that the audio HAS to be available for folks to hear. You all were just so...damn...good... as your characters. Seriously, I would give you guys Oscars. Still might. The way Bill just changed character voices and mannerisms... I think we all need to fear Bill a little more now. And acting that good needs to be heard. I think one of my favorite moments of the game was watching you as Svengali actually waving in game as the ship set sailed. It's a little moment, didn't mean anything to the plot but meant everything to me to watch. (I should've shot video of it.) I am jonesing to do the follow up - "The King in Azure". I am also very intrigued to hear your thoughts on Fate. After this adventure campaign, Magnificent Bastards will have a second season and I already know who I want CaDave and even Timmy to play. I got... plans.
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tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on Sept 9, 2016 20:36:04 GMT -8
He had a fantastic time and wants to go in February. Also, after telling his sister about the game and the con, she wants to go now too. If I have them both, I'll probably run all games for kids and parents. A) I can keep an eye on them; and B) it was VERY fun running for kids. plusx2a -- is there a family-friendly or kid-friendly flag when posting games (other than the minimum age field) -- a way for parents seeking out activities to do with their kids? The facilities for the kids area was fine, but I felt exiled... YES! Nova's birthday is around Orccon, and now wants to go for longer than the usual Sunday-Monday (maybe as a birthday present). Hoping for more of that kid-game shit; praying that Stu can then babysit her for a game or two. Hey plusx2a, if you need a minimum set of games for a dedicated space, I'm willing to get in on GM-ing some of this action. When I ran at Girl Gamer Gathering last year, I ran that Fallout Shelter for a table of four 7-11 year olds. I've got a few games that'll fit the kid market (Legend of the Elements, a few others).
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plusx2a
Strategicon/RPG Section Staff
Join me at Gamex 2014 Memorial Day Weekend May 23 - May 26
Posts: 238
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, Modiphius 2d20, FATE, PbTA
Currently Playing: Legend of the Five Rings, Cortex
Currently Running: Savage World of Solomon Cane, Modiphius Conan
Favorite Species of Monkey: Spider
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Post by plusx2a on Sept 12, 2016 13:03:00 GMT -8
plusx2a -- is there a family-friendly or kid-friendly flag when posting games (other than the minimum age field) -- a way for parents seeking out activities to do with their kids? The facilities for the kids area was fine, but I felt exiled... Honestly, I wish there was. A while back I proposed the "Kid's Track" idea. In a nutshell the idea was to have someone monitor the games set for "Kids" or "Family" and then create a list of kid friendly games that can be posted separately in the con book and web site. This person would monitor these games and try to created a track where there are kid friendly games and 101's running continuously during the con, allowing parents to plan their day with the kiddies. I thought it a great idea which was well received and had a wonderful person who was willing to take on the responsibility. I even had an event planned where kids would get "badges" for playing games in different departments. Once all these badges were collected, they would be put in a drawing for a free adult and kid badge for next con and the title "King/Queen of Strategikids" which would be printed on their badge for the next convention. Unfortunately, that idea was then taken by another staff member and morphed into the small "kids" area where you held your game. So instead of a conveniently listed series of events that would have young players experience all of our various game departments, it got turned into a kid dump area with a small library of kids games available to families. This of course was not my vision, but it's what we got. I have no small amount of angst about this, but that is neither here nor there.
I will bring this up again and stress how important it is for young people who attend to fall in love with the breath and width of this convention in order to guarantee that the future of the convention and gaming in general are ensured. To me this is a legacy issue as well as a convenience issue. Of course this will cause changes in the website and in the convention book and making changes in those fronts can be challenging.
I cannot tell you how happy I am that you and your son had a great time at Gateway this year and I am committed to ensuring that your experience is a far more common one.
Thanks, Jim
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mysticfedora
Supporter
The truth lies somewhere in between.
Posts: 281
Preferred Game Systems: 5E, PbtA, OSR
Currently Playing: LotFP, 5E
Currently Running: 5E, PbtA, Stars Without Number, CoC 7e
Favorite Species of Monkey: Kong
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Post by mysticfedora on Sept 12, 2016 14:28:04 GMT -8
plusx2a -- is there a family-friendly or kid-friendly flag when posting games (other than the minimum age field) -- a way for parents seeking out activities to do with their kids? The facilities for the kids area was fine, but I felt exiled... Honestly, I wish there was. A while back I proposed the "Kid's Track" idea. In a nutshell the idea was to have someone monitor the games set for "Kids" or "Family" and then create a list of kid friendly games that can be posted separately in the con book and web site. This person would monitor these games and try to created a track where there are kid friendly games and 101's running continuously during the con, allowing parents to plan their day with the kiddies. I thought it a great idea which was well received and had a wonderful person who was willing to take on the responsibility. I even had an event planned where kids would get "badges" for playing games in different departments. Once all these badges were collected, they would be put in a drawing for a free adult and kid badge for next con and the title "King/Queen of Strategikids" which would be printed on their badge for the next convention. Unfortunately, that idea was then taken by another staff member and morphed into the small "kids" area where you held your game. So instead of a conveniently listed series of events that would have young players experience all of our various game departments, it got turned into a kid dump area with a small library of kids games available to families. This of course was not my vision, but it's what we got. I have no small amount of angst about this, but that is neither here nor there.
I will bring this up again and stress how important it is for young people who attend to fall in love with the breath and width of this convention in order to guarantee that the future of the convention and gaming in general are ensured. To me this is a legacy issue as well as a convenience issue. Of course this will cause changes in the website and in the convention book and making changes in those fronts can be challenging.
I cannot tell you how happy I am that you and your son had a great time at Gateway this year and I am committed to ensuring that your experience is a far more common one.
Thanks, Jim
I'd love to see something like this. Even if it was a badge/icon or something like that. I brought my 8-year-old to a D&D session Sunday with the TPK guys--I've played their games before and they tend to be neutral, tactical, and they have great props and visuals. I have to say I was a little nervous. Even though I play with him at home all the time, I've had enough AL experiences that made me second-guess my judgment. The table was full and very enthusiastic that a kid was there. They joked with him, treated him like part of the gang and answered his questions. He had an absolute blast. His favorite thing to do was use Vicious Mockery and come up with insults. One player even gave him a collectable D&D coin as a congratulations for playing his first big game. Strategicon is such a welcoming, diverse, open, and supportive community.
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Post by ayslyn on Sept 12, 2016 15:22:33 GMT -8
Do you have pics of the coin?
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mysticfedora
Supporter
The truth lies somewhere in between.
Posts: 281
Preferred Game Systems: 5E, PbtA, OSR
Currently Playing: LotFP, 5E
Currently Running: 5E, PbtA, Stars Without Number, CoC 7e
Favorite Species of Monkey: Kong
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Post by mysticfedora on Sept 12, 2016 15:32:23 GMT -8
Do you have pics of the coin? I'll get one tonight and post it
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Post by Probie Tim on Sept 13, 2016 9:04:23 GMT -8
After this adventure campaign, Magnificent Bastards will have a second season and I already know who I want CaDave and even Timmy to play. I got... plans. ...why does this simultaneously fill me with both dread and excitement?
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on Sept 13, 2016 10:01:24 GMT -8
After this adventure campaign, Magnificent Bastards will have a second season and I already know who I want CaDave and even Timmy to play. I got... plans. ...why does this simultaneously fill me with both dread and excitement? Because my love hurts.
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