In 2009, we decided to go just a little bit on the late side. As in, all the hotel rooms are already booked kind of late. We also made plans with a friend of mine from my army days and her boyfriend to meet us there. We would share the cost of a room which made the burden easier. I had also stayed outside of the city in previous years and decided that we definitely wanted to stay in the Con hotel blocks, so looking at the VIG package was very tempting. In the end, we decided to do it, and upgrade the other 3 in the group to VIG companions, and share the overall cost among the group. With that done, we got a room in the Hyatt, which was quite nice, if a little cramped with 4 people sharing it. We must have beaten the hot water heaters to death with the volume of showering done. (I shudder to think about rooms with more than 4 people in them). Child's play though compared to the years that some friends of mine packed 6 or more into a room. I wasn't THAT desperate. I got my own room along with a reasonable amount of people (2).
So on to the events that I can remember
True Dungeon
This may have been the last TD run that I actually enjoyed. This was the year that the rogue had a chance to screw over the party in exchange for a free T-shirt. I wasn't the rogue, but its safe to say that the party's rogue did not disappoint: of course he took the shirt. I remember the puzzles being fairly difficult, but not impossible. We solved all but one, and had a pretty good time as all four of us were together for the run.
(Correction. I did in fact enjoy another run a couple years later with a good friend. I think that he'd never done Gencon, so he brought SO much crazy enthusiasm that helped, but also, the puzzles that year were particularly awesome, and the rest of the people in the run were great and no one had run the event before, and so no spoilers happened)
Grade: A-
TerrorWerks
We ended up with tickets to this courtesy of Rachel Araucto of GenCon customer service. My credit card was accidentally charged for a VIG badge every time I bought an event ticket...which added up to a lot of flipping money. Rachel took care of things very quickly and very professionally, and offered me a pair of tickets to this as a way of saying sorry. If you have only been to GenCon in the past 2 years you've missed out on this. Its basically like TD, but sci-fi themed and with AirSoft guns. We spent 30 minutes or so shooting at aliens and trying to recover some secrets from an underwater research facility. It was great fun, running around and screaming and yelling. Just like when we used to play GI Joe as kids. My army buddy and I did this one and their spouse and mine did a LARP during this slot. I don't recall the details of the LARP from their 'debrief' to us on it - Always fun to share stories of your events with people you might actually want to HEAR about their games, lol - but I guess for them it was an A-. From their report, I think event I might have enjoyed it. Definitely not a LARP person, but I'm always open to new things, and that one sounded good. Maybe someday I'll do a LARP.
Grade: A
D&D (Not RPGA - I have some issues in previous years with doing RPGA D&D)
Um...the DM didn't show up, no cancellation notice.
Grade: WTF-- (Emphasis on the F--)
Star Wars Saga Edition
In this event, we were imperials, on board the Executor, during the Hoth invasion. Needless to say, Lord Vader did NOT want to be disturbed. Good GM rose to the occasion, as we investigated a murder on board, assisted by a team of storm troopers who were chronically late every time we needed them to go somewhere. The other players at the table were fantastic, especially my friend's spouse, who I'd never gamed with made for a memorable event. We all dove deep into the roles and maybe took a different approach that the GM expected, or maybe even wanted, and took the Storm Trooper "ineptitude" angle to new heights. As I said before the GM was fantastic and not only adapted to the direction we went, but seemed to even embrace it whole heartedly and has just as much fun as we did. Gaming with friends is awesome.
Grade: B+
Werewolf: The SomethingorOther
I can't remember the actual tag line for the newer version of Werewolf, but that's the one we played. Great game, great GM. I was very suspect when we started and had 8 players, but this GM was one of the rare ones that can keep that many people engaged. We plotted, schemed, brawled, and savaged our enemies, and had a rip roaring good time. I'm actually trying to get another session with him this year (2024) since my friend is coming back again - her second time - so why not go nostalgia and hit it up again!
Grade: A
Oz: Dark & Terrible
Sarah (my wife) and I played in this, which was officially a play test. In my opinion you never would have noticed it. The GM, one of the authors, presented the game in such a polished way, and the game flowed so nicely, I would have thought it a finished product. Basically, a traditional RPG with its own rule system, set in a very Dark reimagining of the land of Oz. A land in which the Lion is not called a coward because he is afraid, but because he chooses not to eat people. The scenario we played was an investigation into children disappearing, and was quite filled with horror and suspense. I liked it so much that in 2011, the book finally came out and I bought it. GREAT session, 5 stars, recommend playing if you even have the chance. Game's dead I think, but maybe I should ressurect it for Games on Demand some year.
Emerald City Expeditions Facebook Page
Grade: A+
Alpha Omega
I had already bought the rule book to this the year before, but had not had a chance to play. We played through a scenario in which we were sent to retrieve a something from a somewhere. That part isn't memorable, but what was, is the fun we had learning the system (its fairly unique, and although fiddly, I liked it. Enough that I've run Alpha Omega at 3 conventions since then) and fighting off the things that go bump when you aren't looking. Evil spirits and mutated monsters make for a rough day of work. GM Chris Rothwell did a great job as well. Great enough to get me excited enough to decide to RUN it at future events, as I mentioned earlier. Another dead game now. I think that seems to be my specialty lately.
www.alphaomegathegame.com
Grade: A-
GenCon Dance
This was the first and only time I have ever been to the dance. Mostly because this year both my wife and and some other friends were there and the ladies wanted to dance. They even managed to get me on the dance floor to shake my booty. It was really crowded and loud, but OK overall. Lesson I learned - it is MUCH more fun to dance with friends than dancing by yourself. The song is wrong.
. I did really enjoy myself. I guess who you're dancing with is the key. So if you go, BRING YOUR FRIENDS! And if you're at the con solo, like I usually am, try to make some con friends....those single serving friends talked about in Fight Club. I think single serving friends are kind of awesome and a great slice of life.
Grade: B / Maybe an A because of friends
Grade: A-
TerrorWerks
We ended up with tickets to this courtesy of Rachel Araucto of GenCon customer service. My credit card was accidentally charged for a VIG badge every time I bought an event ticket...which added up to a lot of flipping money. Rachel took care of things very quickly and very professionally, and offered me a pair of tickets to this as a way of saying sorry. If you have only been to GenCon in the past 2 years you've missed out on this. Its basically like TD, but sci-fi themed and with AirSoft guns. We spent 30 minutes or so shooting at aliens and trying to recover some secrets from an underwater research facility. It was great fun, running around and screaming and yelling. Just like when we used to play GI Joe as kids. My army buddy and I did this one and their spouse and mine did a LARP during this slot. I don't recall the details of the LARP from their 'debrief' to us on it - Always fun to share stories of your events with people you might actually want to HEAR about their games, lol - but I guess for them it was an A-. From their report, I think event I might have enjoyed it. Definitely not a LARP person, but I'm always open to new things, and that one sounded good. Maybe someday I'll do a LARP.
Grade: A
D&D (Not RPGA - I have some issues in previous years with doing RPGA D&D)
Um...the DM didn't show up, no cancellation notice.
Grade: WTF-- (Emphasis on the F--)
Star Wars Saga Edition
In this event, we were imperials, on board the Executor, during the Hoth invasion. Needless to say, Lord Vader did NOT want to be disturbed. Good GM rose to the occasion, as we investigated a murder on board, assisted by a team of storm troopers who were chronically late every time we needed them to go somewhere. The other players at the table were fantastic, especially my friend's spouse, who I'd never gamed with made for a memorable event. We all dove deep into the roles and maybe took a different approach that the GM expected, or maybe even wanted, and took the Storm Trooper "ineptitude" angle to new heights. As I said before the GM was fantastic and not only adapted to the direction we went, but seemed to even embrace it whole heartedly and has just as much fun as we did. Gaming with friends is awesome.
Grade: B+
Werewolf: The SomethingorOther
I can't remember the actual tag line for the newer version of Werewolf, but that's the one we played. Great game, great GM. I was very suspect when we started and had 8 players, but this GM was one of the rare ones that can keep that many people engaged. We plotted, schemed, brawled, and savaged our enemies, and had a rip roaring good time. I'm actually trying to get another session with him this year (2024) since my friend is coming back again - her second time - so why not go nostalgia and hit it up again!
Grade: A
Oz: Dark & Terrible
Sarah (my wife) and I played in this, which was officially a play test. In my opinion you never would have noticed it. The GM, one of the authors, presented the game in such a polished way, and the game flowed so nicely, I would have thought it a finished product. Basically, a traditional RPG with its own rule system, set in a very Dark reimagining of the land of Oz. A land in which the Lion is not called a coward because he is afraid, but because he chooses not to eat people. The scenario we played was an investigation into children disappearing, and was quite filled with horror and suspense. I liked it so much that in 2011, the book finally came out and I bought it. GREAT session, 5 stars, recommend playing if you even have the chance. Game's dead I think, but maybe I should ressurect it for Games on Demand some year.
Emerald City Expeditions Facebook Page
Grade: A+
Alpha Omega
I had already bought the rule book to this the year before, but had not had a chance to play. We played through a scenario in which we were sent to retrieve a something from a somewhere. That part isn't memorable, but what was, is the fun we had learning the system (its fairly unique, and although fiddly, I liked it. Enough that I've run Alpha Omega at 3 conventions since then) and fighting off the things that go bump when you aren't looking. Evil spirits and mutated monsters make for a rough day of work. GM Chris Rothwell did a great job as well. Great enough to get me excited enough to decide to RUN it at future events, as I mentioned earlier. Another dead game now. I think that seems to be my specialty lately.
www.alphaomegathegame.com
Grade: A-
GenCon Dance
This was the first and only time I have ever been to the dance. Mostly because this year both my wife and and some other friends were there and the ladies wanted to dance. They even managed to get me on the dance floor to shake my booty. It was really crowded and loud, but OK overall. Lesson I learned - it is MUCH more fun to dance with friends than dancing by yourself. The song is wrong.
. I did really enjoy myself. I guess who you're dancing with is the key. So if you go, BRING YOUR FRIENDS! And if you're at the con solo, like I usually am, try to make some con friends....those single serving friends talked about in Fight Club. I think single serving friends are kind of awesome and a great slice of life.
Grade: B / Maybe an A because of friends
Party Time!!
After the dance we continued the social night out with our friends. Hadn't seen them in years, so to me, losing some game time was totally worth it to hang out and have fun with old friends. Especially an Army friend. If you aren't a vet, it might be tough to understand how your military friends become as close, if not even closer than family in an unbelievably short period of time. And even years of distance, time, and even loss of contact doesn't really do a thing to affect that special bond. These are people who from out of nowhere might ask if you've got room for them to stay at your house when they're passing through town for whatever reason, or fallen on hard times or whatever, that your answer is instantly and absolutely always YES. I got your back.
Grade: A+++++++++++
VIG Status
Having the VIG was pretty cool. Got a nice stroll around the dealer hall early, no crowds. Big ass bag of swag including the Monster Manual 2 for D&D, a messenger bag, water bottle, T Shirt, poster, etc. The lounge was nice, with free wifi. I didn't realize they were doing a bag check, so I missed out on that, but would have been great if I knew. The drinks kept running out which was a bummer. The VIG only will call and event reg table was a really nice add on as well. Overall value I don't really know, and not sure how much I'd be willing to pay, but for that year, it hit the spot.
Update - the cost of VIG has grown a LOT since then, and the slots are very limited. Like the hotel lottery, its a lottery to get tickets, but I do kind of like the fact that a VIG from the previous year can automatically get one for the next year if they want to. But once you skip a year, it's back to the huddled masses and lottery for you. I'm ok with that. Maybe someday in my imaginary future where I've got F-U money, I'll give it a go again. Having a bag drop would sure be nice!
Grade: B+
Things that I Bought:
Card Games: Crunch: The Card Game for Utter Bankers, En Gard
Board Games: War on Terror, Car Wars car packs, EVE: Conquests
RPGs: Werewolf: The Forsaken, Alpha Omega (Dead game now)
Other: dice of course.
Grade: B+
Things that I Bought:
Card Games: Crunch: The Card Game for Utter Bankers, En Gard
Board Games: War on Terror, Car Wars car packs, EVE: Conquests
RPGs: Werewolf: The Forsaken, Alpha Omega (Dead game now)
Other: dice of course.
Pre Ordered: Eoris Essence (Dead game now)
I pieced all of this info together thanks to email receipts from event registration. Who'd have thought that would be handy to save someday....
No comments:
Post a Comment