GaryCon - Saturday... Fun Games, but some things just did not go right

Saturday was a Mix of really good games and lots of frustration, outside of games

For many reasons, I just wanted to leave the con and go home. Some of it was my expectations and some of it was just scheduling issues

Needless to say, I spent a lot less money at the con than I anticipated and will be getting my GM refund in full

This was my day I had pretty much a light schedule, only running 2 games... Daytoona Beach and Quest for the Gate between Worlds..  I wanted to attend some things and unfortunately, one of them was moved to a time I was running games

And that is all I will say about that.
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I got to walk around and take pictures that day before my TOON game

TOON - Daytoona Beach Party Bingo Blast

I had 3 players out of 7 show up, but that was fine because it was one player from my previous toon game and Father with his 7 year old daughter...

So I had

Mr FuzzyPants -Cat
a Dog
and the Platypus

Wish I got a pic of the players... anyway both of them loved toon and had their own books with them and the daughter was so cute.... The game is a beach olympics and I list a race at the beginning that I have never gotten to, so I never wrote it up... I ran the race off the top of my head and it was great

During the race the girl, playing Mr. Fuzzypants, the cat, After her father stretched his legs, she pulled out Scissors and tried to cut his legs off.... she tried to cut the dogs head off but he dodged

She reminded me of my Daughter when playing.

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Additional Pics from Saturday

Firefly Game

Firefly Game

Luke Gygax

James Ward

Frank and Debbie Mentzer

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AD&D - The Quest for the Gate Between Worlds

So, this was a mixed bag, this was a Great game that I ran many times. One of the players was familiar with the source material and gave it a great review... 2 of the players were not thrilled with the game... I think the style of gaming was just not what they anticipated. 

I did have to force 2 actions to make the game work, but everything was pretty good

I am actually in a Picture !!!! thanks to the great waiter Daniel

The youngster at the table was sharp.. he held his own

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Jolly Blackburn's Party (Safe pics only, I did not take any non safe pics)

So there was 2 parts to Jolly's party, I found the need to leave for an hour (for personal reasons that had nothing to do with the party)

Lester Smith and I after Riazul añejo tequila...

OK, So I feel like an idiot, I knew Lester was one of the greats in Gaming, even though he played it down.... I completely forgot he was the Editor for Dangerous Journeys and I had my book in the car.... uuggg

THE SKULL... They dared you to take a drink....

If anyone has any issues with these Photos, let me know and I will remove them....

GaryCon - Friday... More awesomeness - Donuts and Legends

Friday... 

Started the day looking for Bittners Bakery as this was recommended on the GaryCon Facebook page... I made sure to tell them we were in town for GaryCon

We got there, ordered a dozen donuts, and they were very friendly and helpful, Luke (Heller) also got some other pastries... then we got all turned around and it took us 15 minutes to get back (I later found it was only 2 minutes away)

The game I was running that morning was Pizza TOON / TOON, a Love Story. (One of the requirements I stick to when naming my TOON games is that TOON has to be in the title

Pizza TOON was originally written for a Con in New Jersey and featured all the People who were at that Con as well of as other Conventions such as the Star Trac Con with Newkirk and Oldkirk

A few of the players signed away their life to sell Amwait

I had planned on Honoring a longtime Friend who introduced us to the fine art of Donut Dancing when we would gather... this because such a ritual when at cons and anytime we got together... 

Before GaryCon, I contacted Steve Karstensen (the TOON Game Animator within the TOON Game) and he told me what the Donut Dance Music was

He tended to alternate between "Lady is a tramp" by They Might Be Giants and "Java" by Al Hirt.

I feel so honored that when Steve came to NJ from California that I was able to go have dinner with Steve and Shaun several years ago

So at the end of Pizza TOON, In the GAME, in comes Shaun Nelson to Lead Everyone on a Conga Line with Donuts... Put the Donuts on the table, Cue the music (JAVA) and off we were dancing around the table.... All of the players were great in taking the opportunity to honor my Friend and I could not see a better tribute... although if I go next year, I will get more donuts and lead the conga line... It was EPICALLY SILLY

I will have to say, the donuts were AMAZING... My hats off to the OP who posted about Bittners

Dances With Donuts video

Shaun Nelson Facebook Tribute

the Second game was TOON, a Love Story.... Since there was a wedding on the site this year, I made this all about GaryCon and the Notables in attendance...
Luke Gygax was Lugy, the Noble Knight and Defender of the realm

Ernie was Ernie the Spider

Heath Uisge Farnden was HUF, the Koala bear with with Incredible speed... So when I told Heath, he said "Koala Bears are not very fast" that is why he had incredible speed and would show up from time to time take pictures

The Minister was Minister D, the dog

"And this one time I was in the game with Tim the cat and it was a Total TPK"

Eventually after running all over the Con and creating mayhem, they were able to get the Wedding done.... 

Do you?

Do you?

Good, your married, go away !!!

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So after the exhilarating conclusion of the TOON game, I was off to play in the Hobby Shop Dungeon with Ernie Gygax Jr... 

I enjoyed being in Ernie's company even if we, as a group messed up (not my fault, I was the druid) I spent most of my time being the thrower of Ducks and Owlbears for Kaecie, Ernie's Dog

Ernie told some great stories and we had a lot of fun... we did not get far in the game and a lot of our rolls were horrible

Side Note: Do not use burning hands on the Fire Giant... 

Kaecie

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4:00 PM - 8:00 PM          AD&D - AAAAHHHH

This game went excellent and this group provided probably the best feedback I have ever had on this game.  There are some fairly tough puzzles and they got what the game was meant to be. 

8:00 PM - 12:00 AM      AD&D - By The Light of the Slippery Moon

I have to say, going into this game, I was not confident in the material. I tried to do something ambitious and was hoping it would go one way... either people have a tendency not to read the notes or just ignored them completely...  This is the only game I ran that ended badly. 

I was generally disappointed in the game that I did not take a picture of the players

However Heath found me that day and gave me my Honourary Aussie card for providing some meager funds to make this trip

GaryCon - Thursday - Pathfinder and Firefly and 3 games

So I woke up Thursday having my AD&D game Entrance To Classari

The game went very well and I think everyone was pleased with it

Then I ran to My next game... I was playing in Minion with Jason Bulmahn, lead designer at Paizo
Pathfinder game

I played the Orc and my role was to wear the wizards costume and convince powerful but not too smart and powerful adventurers to come get some gold and magic items in out lair

I had Jason and everyone at the table cracking up and unfortunately needed to leave as I was scheduled to play an NPC in the game I really wanted to play in

So off to the Firefly game I went...I was the bad guy, but honorable to a degree that wanted the Laser prototype that the Malcolm had...  Inarra was intent on wearing me out, but I rolled and 8-4-8... the highest possible roll and wore her out instead... needless to say, my bad guy got messed over in the end and it was a blast... oh, and Margaret Weis was in the game playing Jayne...

As an NPC, I think Daniel had no way to know that I would play this pretty straight up, I gave him a good personality and always prepared for my next move....

Amazingly, they escaped my alliance cruiser with Wash making a super roll to avoid the ship... stating "I am a leaf on the wind !!!"

Daniel (in Grey), his Wife next to him...

Margaret Weis

Margaret Weis and Luke Heller

Margaret told me if I bought the Firefly RPG, she would com by tomorrow and sign it for me because she had to leave 3/4 of the way through the game.... I told her where I was going to be and the next day toward the end of my game, she came by and signed it...



Then it was time for my TOON game, I knew my players were few so it would be quicker than usual...

Toon is usually timed at 20 Minutes per player and I have 2 players... More players, more mayhem, longer game... The game lasted about an hour and a half as they tried to put the FOO-FUU bird in a cage. It was a great warm up for the Toon game the next day

TOON table cover

Finally, the game of the day was "So you think you have an ATTITUDE" my drunken Dwarves bar hopping game

Every time I run this game it is interesting... I think the Dwarves drank less that any other group I have run, The shock was the earthquake on the Final bar where they needed to wait and follow the delivery person so I had to work around that.. All in all, it was a good showing for the players

So, after wrapping up, wandering around, we went back to the hotel to Prepare for the next day

Wednesday In Wisconsin.... OK, Can it possibly get any better ?

I have arrived in Wisconsin, Lake Geneva to be exact... So like any disciple of Gary Gygax.. I sought the plaque at Lake Geneva... Very easy to find

Right in front of the fountain that is right next to THE RIVIERA

Next,I registered for the con and Ran into Heath from Australia

not too bad for a guy who drove here from Philly and was up since the 6 AM the day before

Talking To many people, including Luke Gygax... no pic yet

Edwin asked for a ride to FRANKENPARTY... The person I was supposed to pick up was not feeling well, but I hate showing up alone... So after meeting Franks wife, Debbie and giving the hostess an of Blue Mountain Wineries  White Merlot (My Personal Favorite) I settled into some Serious socializing

Franks wife in her Kitchen, she owned a bakery and does all the cooking,  Everything was incredible and they really made you feel welcome in their home

I really enjoyed talking to everyone, Andy, Simon and Bernie from England were great.

I managed to finagle my way into the Firefly game... with Margaret Weis... Spent some time talking to Daniel who is running the game...After much begging and pleading, he asked mye to run the NPC bad Guy....



I really hate to be intrusive when it comes to Pictures so don't be upset if all my pics are not put up.

Dice Envy... where do I get this set ?

This was Gary Gygax Desk until it was given to Frank

Frank 

FINAL prep for the travel

Here is where I will be keeping somewhat of a live journal up to when the con starts


A Place To Stay: 2/28/16

OK, got my head a place to rest for a few hours on Wednesday Night... All I gotta do is Get to Wisconsin, check in at the con (since I plan on driving all night) Pick up a Friend of Ernest Gary Gygax Jr., Take him To Frank Mentzer's open house and home later in the evening, then take him to the Con in the morning... Very grateful to Scott for a roof and warmth... and saving me from having to Show up to the gathering on my own

Who is Frank: He is one that was in charge of these:

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03/01

Waiting on loading up, then a nap.... Then it is off tonight. It has been a long time since I was on an adventure by myself. Kinda scared and excited.... My last true adventure by myself was going to North Carolina to see a friend a long time ago, but when you are married 21 years, you don't do much

We did drive to Florida overnight 11years ago and that was pretty good adventure....ended with another Disney baby.... I am going to miss my girls something terrible.... I love my wife and appreciate her support for me doing this.....

Stories from the Kinniggetts of the the Tabletop

OK, here are some true incidents that as a DM / GM / Animator / Storyteller/ Player that are worth retelling:

Now the list of infamous lines from our games has long been lost and we relied on pen and paper... so I will do my best to create the list over


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As we were approaching a den of creatures and hear them but not see them, our fearless fighter goes and says
        Player  "I shoot them with an arrow"

                   DM "How are you going to shoot them?"

        Player:  "Shortbow"

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The Party, having a folding boat, prepares to head down the river... player takes out the boat, says the activation word "Float".... Whereas another player says "GO, GO, Gadget Boat!"

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At a convention Running "So you think you have an attitude" the Female dwarf passes out and one of the other dwarfs says,

              "I jump the passed out female"

and a second dwarf says "I jump on him!"

The first dwarf rolls a dice and then says "I like it!!"

                     I lost it and it took me 15 minutes to recover

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A little background is needed for this one. We attended many cons, and usually it was my gaming group and another gaming group we all played in... They usually ended up with 10 people in their room and their tub was filled with alcohol... when you walked into their room, usually you got cheezits thrown at you like throwing stars... literally they had boxes and boxes and all out cheesit war

We were checking out and passing the room as the Maids were entering, and we heard them say: "Ain't no way I am cleaning this Fucking mess"

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We Were starting a new campaign and we were in a town.. I was playing a Kender, Steve was a Militant Black Zulu Warrior, Dave was a Fighter and the Other Greg was a Fighter...
In the middle of the night the town gets attacked so we wake up and start heading down to fight...

The Zulu yells out the window "Shut the Fuck up, I am trying to sleep!!"