Playlist Design
I’ve thought for a while now that developing game concepts based on a random music playlist could lead to a useful creative exercise and a fun article. So I’ve grabbed five songs at random (but taken from my 4- and 5-star songs so I definitely know the content), ran with the first ideas they gave me, determined which type of tabletop game best suited the idea, and wrote a brief description. I’ll quote the songs when necessary to show what inspired me in them.
“Bargain” by The Who
This is a live version, and the spoken intro inspired the game idea more than the song itself.
“This is a song about what you get for being here, if you’re alive [...] you’re gettin’ a bargain.”
This made me think of the classic “selling your soul” scenario. You’ve made a “bargain” in order to preserve your own life, but you know that some day your debt will need to be repaid. The being you’ve bargained with could be supernatural (like a demon who magically sustains your life) or terrestrial (such as an unethical doctor who uses cutting-edge tech to revive you).
This takes the form of an RPG, with each player taking on the role of person who’s made such a bargain and calling the shots for other player’s savior. The players can expect all their favors to be called in over the course of the game, for different reasons and at different times. Maybe each scene leads to one favor being called in, so the game gets set in motion by the first and gets a last-minute betrayal or change of heart with the last. [Read the rest of this article]
Of Dice And Men
A couple weeks ago, I got an email from a guy named Cameron McNary. At first glance, I thought it was spam. It was an advertisement of some sort and one line of text at the top that said, “I thought you might find this of interest.” I’m glad I didn’t delete his email, because as it turned out, Cameron McNary has an amazing gift when it comes to understatement.
This email was about a play he had written called “Of Dice and Men”, a story about a group of D&D players and what happens to them when one of them gets deployed to Iraq. It sounded interesting, but then I hit one quote from Cameron that stopped me dead in my tracks: “I always thought I played games for the games themselves but when he enlisted I realized I actually play them for the people – for the connections you make and the friendships that are formed when you play.” I thought of all the good times I’ve had with my friends over the years around the gaming table, how much I miss the ones I don’t play with anymore, and how at home I feel when it’s finally game night – and I knew deep in my soul he was right.
I’ve got to see this thing.
Sadly (for me, anyway), it’s being premiered at PAX PRIME. In Seattle, WA. Where I am NOT. It’s apparently the first time a “serious” play has ever been performed at a gaming convention (no, the costume contest doesn’t count), much less premiered. That’s pretty rad.
For those of you who ARE in Seattle, WA on September 3, get thee to the “Unicorn Room” of the Washington State Convention Center at 7:30 pm. You will do what I cannot, and support these fine people. Or I will SMASH.
Of course, as effective a sales tactic as physical violence is, I can’t sell this thing nearly as well as Cameron himself:
Cameron was kind enough to answer a few questions for us:
CH: What is “Of Dice and Men”, and why is it important to gamers?
CM: “Of Dice and Men” is a full-length play, written by Cameron McNary, that will be receiving its world premiere at PAX Prime, Friday, September 3rd 2010. It’s about a group of 30-something D&D players, and what happens when one of them enlists to go to Iraq. It has been called “The most brilliant piece of non-Wizards of the Coast Dungeons and Dragons related material since the Dead Alewives.”
It’s important to gamers because it portrays gamers as the kind of people you want to be around, and the kind you want to be. It’s a hip, very funny, deeply touching play that challenges the stereotypes about gamers and gaming. It is geek art without the self-loathing. If you’ve ever wanted to take your mom or your girlfriend or your grandad to something and say, “Look: THIS is why I play,” and have them *get* it, now you can.
Also, unlike the images of what “a play about D&D” might normally conjure up, it is very, very good.
CH: Are there any plans to make this experience available for those of us who can’t see the event live, like DVD or downloadable video?
CM: Eventually, yes, in some form.
CH: Any other plans in the works from Critical Threat Theatre?
CM: We plan to take the exposure and fundraising that comes from this premiere and bring this play to regional theatres across the country, and eventually, to Off-Broadway. We are also taking open submissions for scripts that match our mission of “Great Plays. About Geeks.”
CH: How can our readers get involved in this project?
CM: They can donate money. We’re currently running a capital campaign on www.indiegogo.com (http://www.indiegogo.com/ODaM) where you can become a Critical Threat Rot Grub for just $5. In addition to the various perks you can get (you should see what we’re offering our Frost Giant Jarls), when this show comes to your town, you can point to it and say you were part of making it happen.
If you know of a script we should produce, please send it to us. If you or someone you know is in a position to produce this play professionally in your town, we’ll be happy to forward you the script. You can contact us at info@criticalthreattheare.com.
CH: You guys are clearly gamers. Tell us about how you got started gaming, and how it’s affected your lives over the years.
CM: Many of the people involved in this project are gamers, but a lot of them are just theatre professionals who have become fans of the play. My wife — our Managing Director — won’t touch twelve-siders with a ten-foot pole. Many of our Seattle actors have no gaming experience whatsoever. Our commitment to making quality theatre is just as strong as our commitment to making theatre about geeks.
As for myself, I’ve been playing D&D since my cousin Seamus ran me through Against the Giants and the Lost Tomb of Martek when I was eight. Since then, my tastes have expanded to include just about anything you can play — every tabletop RPG ever, CCGs, videogames, boardgames. Like a lot of gamers, gaming has been the source of some of the best friendships I’ve ever had, and sometimes the only friendships I’ve had. Whatever town I was in, whatever shape my life was in, I knew if I could find a gaming store, I had a home. There have been times in my life when that was incredibly important.
Thanks to Cameron for tipping us off about this event. I’m incredibly jealous of those of you who can make it.
Once again, here’s where to be:
PAX PRIME
7:30 pm
September 3rd 2010
“Unicorn Room” of the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington.
Please, please, please go and support them. Or donate, which you can do here. Or both. Yes, that one. Just help them out. They rock.
Photo credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carleeaross/2060369281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rym/2067782076/
Not Without My Beholder: A Mother’s Tale
Before today’s featured presentation, allow me to present the trailer for this year’s Roleplaying For The Severely Disturbed with StupidRanger.com event from Gen Con. It is an hour and a half long. We realize this is a little long for a trailer, but we wanted to give our readers a faithful representation of the actual event, if they were so inclined to watch it.
Roleplaying For The Severely Disturbed with StupidRanger.com
And now, for the main course:
The unaired sequel to "Invisible Child", set in Eberron.
I’ve spent the majority of my blogging career trying to figure out how to make it easier for people to roleplay better. To get them emotionally invested in their characters. To make them feel and act as their character might. To dance into the danger zone where the dancer becomes the dance. I believe I have finally discovered the secret to doing so:
The Lifetime Movie Network.
Who better understands the human condition than the people who prepare us for the worst life could ever throw at us with their delightful training films? I now have deep insight into how to cope with discovering that I have a secret baby while a serial killer stalks me trying to steal my face. If, in my work as a traveling nanny, one of my clients has an invisible child, I am prepared.
Therefore, I propose a series of similar films be created for gamers. Imagine the unbridled freedom. Nobody is invested in their characters now because there’s no real sense of peril with the mere threat of simple death, dismemberment, undeath, conversion into ettin feces, demonic possession, and banishment to other planes.
These are nothing compared to the sanity-destroying terror of discovering that the mind flayer you shared one night of passion with had your half-Illithid love child and that now grown child is now a fireman, your home is on fire and your wife is sure to recognize your eyes above his tentacle-nubs. THAT is true terror.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine having to plan the double shotgun wedding for long lost hobgoblin sisters. Imagine being a wight with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. What if your character’s son had a crippling addiction to drawing cards from the Deck Of Many Things to feed his drug habit? What if you woke up from a coma and discovered all your body parts had been replaced with body parts of Vecna – and your husband, intimidated by your newfound power, doesn’t find you attractive anymore?
If you are not weeping uncontrollably by this point, you should get yourself checked out. You are probably malfunctioning, ROBOT.
Other possible titles:
- Warforged and Pregnant
- Tasha’s Uncontrollable Hideous Addiction To Methamphetamines
- Prom Night Mummy Rot
- His Mistress’s Daily Power
- In Love With A Police Gnoll
- Holy Avenger: The Source Of My Paladinhood Is The Idiot Little League Umpire
- Divine Teen, Arcane Father
- Mindflayer, Homeflayer (with Delta Burke)
- Circle of Lycanthropy: The Wererat’s Mistress’s Wereboar Lover’s Weresnake Mistress’s Friend with Were-Benefits
All we need now is Bigby’s Press-On Nails, Otiluke’s Everlasting Quart of Chubby Hubby, and Leomund’s Negative Gender Stereotypes.
My work here is done. Enjoy the revolution.
Friday Chat, Early Edition: The Geeky Road Trip
In about 24 hours, I’ll be leaving for the Toronto Fan Expo with my friend PM. The Expo is Canada’s largest event for Sci-Fi, Horror, Anime and Gaming fans where they get to meet some of their favorite industry personalities and stock up on merch.
So soon after Gen Con and after having been at Ground Zero for Pax East, I’m not sure how to set my expectations for the Fan Expo. I have no ideas what the show will be like nor what I’ll be doing except game for most of the day on Saturday.
Regardless of what awaits us over there, I still have a 5 hour car trip to plan so I thought I’d reach out and share/ask how the travelling part of the trip should be prepared! [Read the rest of this article]
Chatty’s Toronto Adventure: Fan Expo 2010
With Nico’s ear surgery out of the way, it so happens that I shall be at the Toronto Fan Expo from August 27 to 29. I’ve been invited as a gaming guest, alongside Toronto gaming luminaries like Robin Laws and Ed Greenwood… Oh yeah, and that gorgeous red-headed gamer Felicia Day…
…
Where was I? Ah yes, the Expo.
I only have 3 scheduled activities for the whole con, all on Saturday:
DM Master Class, Saturday 12 PM room #103A. Join me and fellow GMs Robin Laws and Ed Greenwood.
From the Schedule:
A panel of expert Dungeon Masters with credentials that no one questions.
A group with combined strength, charisma, dexterity and wisdom of one million!
A cast who can defeat a Tarrasque with a wave of one hand… okay, I think
you get the idea. These guys are good.
(I didn’t write that! I swear!)
D&D 4e, Font of Sorrows, Saturday 3h3o-7h00 PM, room #202D
Adventure Synopsis:
A shard of the Chained One’s Obelisk of Madness is rumored to lie entombed with
the remains of a priest?druid of Elemental Evil deep in the Underdark. Rumors from previous adventures have brought PCs to the legendary underground
City Within at the very edge of the Deeps, where it is believed that a cabal of
elementalists are seeking to find the Temple?tomb where the shard may lie. A Level
6 D&D 4e adventure with fully pre?generated PCs from the Players Handbook 3.
Mouse Guard, Deliver the Mail, Saturday 7h30-Midnight, #Room 202D
Game Synopsis
As mouse guards, you are tasked to patrol the Mouse Territories, protect the
innocent, fight predators and, occasionally, deliver the mail that accumulates from
town to town over the harsh Winter season. In this fully developed sample missions
taken from the Mouse Guard rulesbook, players will get to play in the universe of
David Petersen’s Mouse Guard comic books based on Luke Crane’s award winning
Burning Wheel game engine.
For the rest of the weekend, I’m free. I plan to walk the con floor, meet with local fans, get some of that awesome Toronto food (heck, I’ll even try the local poutine if I really must, he he he), and hopefully play lots of off con games around the convention (Like at my hotel bar, I’ll be at the Mariott).
Hell, we should organize some sort of Friday Night noard games like we did at Pax East. Anyone wants to help? PM and I will load the car with board games and RPGs.
I’ll also have a few copies of the Deluxe One Page Dungeon Codex if you want to get your hands on one of the last copies.
The best way to catch me is to email me at chattydm@critical-hits.com or send me a public tweet @chattydm on Twitter. See you soon!
Kids and Games: Getting it Wrong is Doing it Right
Shortly before Gen Con, my 8 year old son Nico had a buddy come over for the afternoon. I was busy working from home so when Nico asked me if they could play Talisman, I got the box out from my gaming cabinet and told them “Sure, but I can’t set it up nor play with you”.
Nico: That’s okay dad, we’ll figure it out.
An hour later, I came upstairs and had a look at the ongoing game. While they had grasped the core concepts (Nico, the buddy and I had played previously), they were making a lot of stuff up, inventing what some cards did and fudging how combat worked.
They were having lots of fun.
As I looked at them, I was flooded with powerful memories and a striking realization. One of the reasons why I love D&D so much is because I learned most of it by making stuff up while trying to learn it. I got most of it wrong, but I didn’t know then and I still had more fun than any other games I’d played so far!
I cherish these memories dearly. Back when I had a partial grasp of English, Gary’s AD&D Player’s Handbook was like a stack of encrypted secrets I got to decipher with a broken decoder ring. For instance, I thought that a two-handed sword was a 2 bladed-sword, so I made a three-handed one made of three 6′-long blades! You could even shoot the middle one, like that Sword & Sorcery movie I had seen on my uncle’s Betamax machine. So badass…
While watching my son play Talisman his own way, it dawned on me that as a gamer parent, I had a dual responsibility. I had to guide my children into this awesome hobby, if they were so inclined, introducing them to different games, teaching them about their rules and the social etiquette that come with them (wait for your turn, don’t cheat, be a good sport, etc).
But perhaps more importantly, I must also give my children the appropriate space and liberties to let them take full ownership of that hobby and infuse it with their own personalities, unbound ideas and, yes, technical flaws.
I must learn to silence my inner Brainy Smurf and allow my son to get things wrong about the games he plays, so he can discover his own paths and create memories similar to mine.
I must strive to be a model to emulate, not a tyrant that smothers.
That’s why, when I’ll get around to showing the new D&D Red Box to Nico and his friends, I will step away and let them play with it as they see fit. Maybe, if they really dig it, they’ll start creating new powers, character classes and monsters with absolutely no regards to balance or playability.
They’ll get rules wrong, ignore many, misread others and that may very well be completely fantastic. There’ll be plenty of time later to correct that, if they ever do. House ruling is an important skill too.
Go ahead and show your kids how to be gamers. Just don’t forget to set them free so they can take ownership of their gaming experience. Getting a game right should never get in the way to having fun with it.
I say lets go and help build a child’s future nostalgia today.
In Defense of Funny
Three years ago, I was in the best D&D group I’d ever been part of. We were an odd bunch. Not all of us even got along particularly well, and we swapped out a couple of members over the years but we had a particular chemistry that I haven’t experienced elsewhere.
It was in this group that I discovered the way that I personally prefer to play Dungeons & Dragons. I’m the class clown. I like coming up with a strange (but well-fleshed-out) character concept, and pushing the limits of this character’s environment. Unfortunately, this has also meant testing the sanity of our DMs on a few occasions, and has taken it’s share of adventures off the rails. I’m not the only guilty party here, either. That was the beauty of it, for me anyway. Our group managed to keep a (mostly) serious tone to the adventure, and managed to save the world several times over it’s lifetime. Those of us who were inclined to do so were given a lot of room to play and be weird and funny and outrageous on the journey, and the more down-to-business types got theirs as well.
The end result was that everybody had a great time, no matter what it was they were after. I have to administer mad props to our DMs for balancing everything so well. I really do. But I think one other major factor to this working was that we took responsibility as players and didn’t let the funny stuff get in the way. I’ve heard so many people talk about how they don’t care for humor in their campaigns. It wrecks the suspense of disbelief. It spoils the sense of high adventure. I get it. I also see no reason one cannot have one’s iron rations and eat them too. (Fact: iron rations = adventure cake. look it up if you don’t believe me.)
I think the first rule of Funny Club is that you don’t talk about Funny Club. If you’re a player with a strange character, don’t remind everybody every ten seconds about your character’s neuroses. That’s annoying. Duh. This also means you should keep an eye on whether you’ve painted yourself into an Annoying Corner with your concept. Don’t forget you still have to fight, either. I played a necromancy specialist wizard once with both problems. He wanted to use necromancy to help others, but the setting dictated that magic in general (much less raising Grandma from the dead to help with the chores) was feared and reviled. That coupled with the fact that I had chosen nothing but noncombat spells “for role-play purposes” meant I had some choices to make at 2nd level if I wanted him to live.
Over the years, I’ve found I have the best fun roleplaying strange characters when I see an opportunity to let that character’s freak flag fly WHILE staying in character and still trying to achieve the party’s goals. I think in these cases it’s OK to metagame a bit and perhaps not play that berserker barbarian with irritable bowel syndrome or compulsive kleptomaniac you made COMPLETELY to the hilt. Sure, it’s not always Exactly What Your Character would do, but it follows the advice on page 149 of Vanir’s Guide To Surviving Social Contact with Other Humans, which clearly states that there are other people at the table who want to have fun too. It’s common sense when you think about it — don’t hog the spotlight! Better yet, if you’re going to go do something odd, include the other party members. This requires a DM that can think on their feet, but everybody has a lot of fun.
Part of whether a humorously-constructed character comes off as funny or annoying simply has to do with your sense of comic timing. It’s a skill just like anything else, and it takes practice. I have no illusions that I am a comedian, especially with a live audience, but if you can keep your eyes and ears open, you’ll be able to tell if what you’re doing is working. Your end goal is not to be awesome or the funniest dude in the room. Your goal is to have fun yourself and to make the experience more fun for everybody else. It’s a very difficult line to walk. I find myself tripping over it frequently, to be honest.
This incredibly scientific analysis wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of input from a man I’ve inflicted many aneurisms upon, my best friend and frequent DM — otherwise known as Dante from Stupid Ranger. He’s got plans to write about this more in-depth (which I will link to IN DUE TIME), but here’s what he had to say in the meantime:
I enjoy the thrill of having to come up with reactions to your crazy actions in the moment. It’s the same part of my brain that handles impromptu speaking and enjoys it. Plus, poop jokes are funny. Every single time.
I understand some groups really dig a high fantasy or a serious, somber mood. I am just not one of those people, most of the time. Plus, I think it provides a great contrast when you do want to have serious moments in your campaign.
I can really relate personally to that last bit – one of the most memorable moments in any D&D game I’ve ever played was the day my normally goofy, bumbling, brash battle-cleric’s best friend died in battle. All of a sudden, his world is shattered and he rages out and kills the monster that ended his friend’s life. Afterward, he sadly carries her body back to town. I still get a little weepy thinking about it. There were a lot of moments like that during that campaign.
As for how to DM a funny campaign? I’m afraid I’m not going to be of much help. Unless you’re running a campaign in Xanth, basing your encounters and setting on jokes and puns is going to get a little old, at least in my opinion. I’ve played plenty of one-off games that worked well with this format (NASCRAG, anyone?), and I know there are a few commercially produced modules out there, so it can work. I’m more of a fan of making a particular situation amusing than I am basically declaring Martial Humor Law.
I have no idea if any of this will be of use to anyone. If nothing else, it has served to remind me of some good times around the D&D table. But given how much fun I’ve had turning the serious dial down a couple notches, I can’t help but want to share. Have any of you had any experiences running a less-than-serious campaign? I’d love to hear them in the comments.
Dave’s Gen Con 2010 Wrap-up
So you may have seen all the Gen Con schedules posted last week that told you where various Critical Hits staff members were going to be, I am going to buck the trend and tell you where I WAS at Gen Con… or at least the highlights.
Wednesday
Arrived in the morning, was able to check in relatively early (the Hyatt rocks, by the way, except for the completely awful slow and expensive internet connection.) We then managed to get into a game of Castle Ravenloft, the new cooperative board game, for which E summarized the game play and we later did an unboxing video. We also helped Asmadi Games haul in product to their booth, giving us an early look at the exhibit hall before it was fully set up. From Asmadi, I later got a copy of Innovation and the Win, Lose, or Banana promo card Cake.
Thanks to Sarah Darkmagic‘s husband Fred, we found a good liquor store with a very helpful owner and I dropped over $200 on booze. (Thanks again, Fred!) We then returned to the Hyatt to secure tables, and at 8, ran DD&D. I’m still delighted and amazed that the event worked out, and have even more ideas for next year. Primary on my list is expanding to another table, since the worst part was having to turn away friends. I also want to organize a simultaneous teetotaler D&D game for our non-drinking friends. [Read the rest of this article]
Gen Con 2010: Castle Ravenloft Board Game Unboxing Video
On Wednesday, Day 0 of Gen Con, Trevor Kidd (community manager for Wizards of the Coast) gave us an opportunity to play in the Castle Ravenloft cooperative board game being released in the next few weeks. E of Geek’s Dream Girl, who was also in the game, already gave her impressions of it.
Later, Trevor asked Bartoneus and I to help him do an unboxing video of all the components, so we’re posting the video (in two parts) below. Enjoy and let us know if you have any questions about it. [Read the rest of this article]
Official Guide to Stalking Vanir at Gen Con, 2010 Edition
Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness Hardiness
It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again. No, not Christmas. The Four Days of Gaming, aka RPG Chanukah, aka Nerd Kwanzaa, but known to most muggles simply as Gen Con. I’m particularly excited to make my yearly trek to Indianapolis this year, as I’ve made lots of new friends (and am ecstatic to see my fellow CH and Stupid Ranger teammates in the flesh once again). This is the time of year when games get played, mad plans hatch, continuous fun is paid for in units of lost sleep, hygiene gets neglected, hair gets let all the way down, and the freak flags fly high and proud. I personally intend to eat myself into a coma and play D&D and WoW TCG during my brief periods of lucidity.
SCHEDULE OF VANIR’S PLANNED LUCID MOMENTS BETWEEN EPISODES OF FOOD COMA
Wednesday
Arrival:
TBD but probably noonish. Hopefully gathering for lunch with CH crewmates and then retiring to the hotel to refine my WoW TCG deck.
8pm: Drunken D&D with Phil and Dave.
Location: We’re not sure yet, but Phil should have it on his Twitter feed when we know.
An unofficial opening ceremony of sorts, except replace the Olympic flame with beer, and the athletes with inebriated gamers apt to use phrases like “wight supremacist”.
Thursday
1pm: Welcome to Dark Sun, Bitches!
Location: I have no idea. I’m going to turn right every time my gamer sense buzzes and eventually I will find it, I’m sure.
My first experience with the Dark Sun setting in any edition, except for staring at that one chick on the cover of the 2E Dark Sun books with the wings and the brass D-cups when I was 16. You know the one I’m talking about. Gritty, post-apocalyptic battle-lingerie. That’s what Dark Sun is really about. I’m sure our own Chris Sims, who is running this game, agrees completely. I’m told he made 4e’s battle-bras even less comfortable, for that extra-savage feeling.
7pm: Roleplaying Therapy for the Severely Disturbed
Location: Westin Caucus
Join me, Dave, Bartoneus, Chris Sims, Phil, e from Geek’s Dream Girl, Dante and Stupid Ranger from Stupidranger.com, Graham from Critical Ankle Bites, and Micah from Obsidian Portal as we explore the darkest depths of our psyches. You’ve never seen anything like this event. Unless, of course, you’ve seen a shapeshifted druid mating with a displacer beast. How does that even work?
Please note, we do not mean to make fun of any real mental illnesses, and similarity to any ailments any of you have out there is purely coincidental. However, if by some chance you have been diagnosed with Explosive Kleptomania, I am driving to your house and we’re going to a mall. With a video camera. We’re gonna get rich.
After That: Bachelor Party for Graham
Graham doesn’t know it yet, but we managed to find kobold strippers. 20 of them. The dog kind. Yeah, I thought they were illegal, too. Kudos to Phil for smuggling them in from Canada in his luggage.
The Rest Of The Day And Most Of My “Downtime”: Playing WoW TCG Until My Hands Fall Off
Location: Various places in the ICC
It’s the WoW TCG World Championships this year, and I am totally not entering! However, I am entering several smaller tournaments and taking part in the League play that goes on throughout the con. If you want a piece of me and my Spirit Wolves, come find me. My boys are hungry.
Friday
10am-11am: WIL MOTHER F$*KING WHEATON
Location: Westin : Grand Blrm IV
For real. If I went back in time to talk to 13 year old me, and he asked me what I was doing in the year 2010, the last damn thing teenage me would be expecting is for future me to say “oh, nothing much. Just writing a humor column WIL WHEATON READS*.” I never got why anybody ever hated Wesley Crusher, and I fell in love with Wil’s blog from the moment I read it, so to say I’m excited to be here is an understatement. Definitely will be bringing a fresh pair of pants. Just in case.
*I have no idea if Wil actually reads Dire Flailings. But that is what I tell myself every morning to keep my self esteem from imploding. LOVE ME WIL. LOVE MEEEEE
5pm-7pm: WoW TCG Gadgetzan Classic Constructed Qualifiers
Location: ICC Wabash
Me and my spirit wolves eat as many people as we can, WoW TCG style. This technically lasts until 9. However, I am expecting to get utterly murdered by some annoying little ice mage early in the competition, which sets me up nicely to leave before 7 for…..
7pm: The Ennies!
Location: Westin Grand Ballroom
Critical Hits has been nominated for an Ennie again this year, and I can only assume that my coming on staff this year will push us over the top. They may further split the categories next year into “Websites with Vanir” and “Websites without Vanir” just to make things fair. Sorry, everybody else. I am both the immovable object and the unstoppable force. I figure I should show up as a formality, or to correct the situation in case a technical glitch tabulates the votes incorrectly.
Saturday
10am: Hickman’s Killer Breakfast
Location: Westin Grand Ballroom
Tracy Hickman kills an entire room full of people for any reason he chooses, and you have to do something useful, brave, or entertaining to stay alive. It’s a beautiful thing. I got to sit at the same table as Gary Gygax two years ago, and my ego has been hideously swollen ever since. Unsurprisingly, I died and Gary lived. He was a gaming legend and I was making hybrid Transformers/Ravenloft jokes. I’m fortunate to have survived the first four nanoseconds. I guess it’s true what they say: all you need is a little Energon and a lot of luck.
12:30pm – 3pm: Lloyd Kaufman’s Make Your Own Damn Movie Class
Location: Westin
15 year old me would VIBRATE APART at the chance to meet Lloyd Kaufman, co-founder of Troma Entertainment. My weekends in high school consisted of watching Troma movies every Friday and Saturday night on USA Up All Night. I supported the Monster Hero. I loved Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD. I may not be making any movies in the near future, but I intend to fill my muse so full of high quality WTF from one of my teenage heroes that some may slosh out of its container and get on you. I am sorry.
7pm – 10pm: Video Games Live!
Location: Westin Grand Ballroom
Tracy Hickman kills an entire room full of people for any reason he chooses, and you have to do something useful, brave, or entertaining to stay alive. It’s a beautiful thing. I got to sit at the same table as Gary Gygax two years ago, and my ego has been hideously swollen ever since. Unsurprisingly, I died and Gary lived. He was a gaming legend and I was making hybrid Transformers/Ravenloft jokes. I’m fortunate to have survived the first four nanoseconds. I guess it’s true what they say: all you need is a little Energon and a lot of luck.
After That: Evensbrook Reunion D&D
Location: Dantooine
My old DM and good buddy Dante brings back the first campaign we ever played in together for a reunion adventure. I can’t wait to play my old battle-cleric Lumbar again! I hope we stay awake long enough to play awhile.
Sunday
NOTHING PLANNED
(EXCEPT A SENSE OF IMPENDING SADNESS)
Hope everybody has a safe trip out and a wonderful time. See you there!
