|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 16, 2021 10:38:53 GMT -5
Good call out on the Mornard game. I've added it of my list of games to attempt to register in tomorrow. I've listed a few duplicates as these things tend to fill up fast. I wonder if there is opportunity for pick up games on Discord or other platforms? If so, Scott you could still run your scenario (as 1st edition) and Gene you could still run something as well like your Temple tribute.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 16, 2021 11:22:03 GMT -5
I'm not sure if I could manage a game because the closing was pushed to APR 2nd instead of this Friday. So everything is going to be packed up and an enclosed space (I'm currently in a "sun room" for an office which is a glorified hallway.) is not available. Its still up in the air. Sounds like an asylum here half the time over absolutely nothing.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 16, 2021 12:16:22 GMT -5
It would be nice to have a scenario that I've DMed several times that lasts 4-5 hours to break out for conventions. Something like a search for a particular treasure with clues that are not too obvious but can be figured out by players brainstorming together... And a deadly fight at the end that results in a TPK if they are not careful and resourceful... Essentially to test the players moreso than their characters. That seems like the essence of D&D to me, for such a compressed time frame.
One of my pet peeves is the way players hoard potions, scrolls and charged magic items. I've even noticed this tendency in myself when playing games like BALDUR'S GATE. I try to rely on spells, abilities and permanent magic items as much as possible. I wonder if in a convention game players will be more likely to use up their non-renewable resources...
Often they have a something quite helpful or a solution to a situation which they've forgot about.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Mar 16, 2021 12:31:39 GMT -5
I just talked about slotting the GaryCon weekend and started World War II. Heh. I got to figure out the Twitch and Discord for what exactly I can do.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 16, 2021 12:50:45 GMT -5
It would be nice to have a scenario that I've DMed several times that lasts 4-5 hours to break out for conventions. Something like a search for a particular treasure with clues that are not too obvious but can be figured out by players brainstorming together... And a deadly fight at the end that results in a TPK if they are not careful and resourceful... Essentially to test the players moreso than their characters. That seems like the essence of D&D to me, for such a compressed time frame. One of my pet peeves is the way players hoard potions, scrolls and charged magic items. I've even noticed this tendency in myself when playing games like BALDUR'S GATE. I try to rely on spells, abilities and permanent magic items as much as possible. I wonder if in a convention game players will be more likely to use up their non-renewable resources... The party I’ve been DMing is very guilty of this. I’m wondering if after several encounters with the drow and having all their potions ruined by dispel magic they’ll be more likely to use them going forward.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 16, 2021 15:25:47 GMT -5
Years ago I DMed a kid that never used his charged items. He wanted to save them for emergencies. He always played magic-users and would get killed when he could have saved himself by using his items. Then he'd roll up a new magic-user and the party would give him all the old PCs stuff. He eventually got to the point where he was staring new with a quiver of wands, etc. And he still wouldn't use them. It would drive me crazy. What's a bigger emergency than getting killed over and over again?
Maybe being stricter with item saving throws would help too?
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 17, 2021 6:53:13 GMT -5
I don't know what the solution is. There is obviously an element of intelligence in wanting to preserve non-renewable resources, but it is like with certain people it goes to an extreme. The hoarder mentality?
Definitely DMs should be strict with item saving throws for delicate or perishable items. Maybe that will wake certain players up if they realize they've been carrying some magic item around for twenty+ game sessions without ever using it and now it just got burned up or destroyed.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 17, 2021 7:22:24 GMT -5
I'm not going to say anything. I'll just let them know the next time they do try to drink one or look in their pack that all of the potions now look like swamp water.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 17, 2021 8:23:40 GMT -5
I like the swamp water visual. Who knows, your players may not even notice for several game sessions, and then may wonder when it happened!
Just a reminder everyone: registration starts today for Ethereal Badges: 8 PM CDT (9 PM EST). I tried registering this morning but could not, so I think that is the correct time -- it was all I could find online.
|
|
|
Post by Zenopus on Mar 17, 2021 8:26:33 GMT -5
I'm not running anything (still haven't figured that out), but I'm signed up to play in a number of games. After they canceled the physical convention I converted my badge to Astral, and signup for that was last weekend.
I used my premium to grab a seat in Jim Ward's Metamorphosis Alpha game. I'm sure I will die horribly in the first 10 minutes.
I'm in grodog's Sunday session running Into the City of Brass for the Legends of Roleplaying tournament.
Two other D&D games: "Secret of the Githyanki" (AD&D), where the whole party is Githyankis (!), and "Temple of Diklah" (OD&D), run at Gen Con in the 70s and then published as part of JG module. FYI, these last two have each have a seat left.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 17, 2021 8:47:23 GMT -5
I like the swamp water visual. Who knows, your players may not even notice for several game sessions, and then may wonder when it happened! Just a reminder everyone: registration starts today for Ethereal Badges: 8 PM CDT (9 PM EST). I tried registering this morning but could not, so I think that is the correct time -- it was all I could find online. The party elf fighter/magic-user buffs with a strength spell before every foray, so they’ should figure it out pretty fast.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 17, 2021 8:49:16 GMT -5
I should have went for the Astral badge. I’ve already seen several events I was interested in fill up.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 17, 2021 11:08:11 GMT -5
I should have went for the Astral badge. I’ve already seen several events I was interested in fill up. Agreed. This is a valuable lesson learned for the next "live" GaryCon. I don't mind missing out so much for the virtual con, but there are some people I'd really like to meet in person. P. S. I got into some events, but by 9:10 PM EST many that I wanted were already filled up! Still, I'm looking forward to next weekend. Maybe there will be some pick up games and we can all have a good time experimenting with more online gaming! May you all find magic items, gems and jewelry, and make your saving throws! May the blessings of Saint Cuthbert be with you!
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 17, 2021 22:30:54 GMT -5
I screwed up and forgot about registration time. I was like 30 minutes late, and everything was booked. I’m on the backup list if there are cancellations, but I didn’t get any of the games I was looking for.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 18, 2021 6:34:48 GMT -5
The Ethereal/Silver Badge level is kind of stressful. You have to prioritize what you want and check out quickly. A lot of the best events fill up immediately: 9:00 PM registration opens, 9:01 PM the event is full.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 18, 2021 7:29:08 GMT -5
I saw you got the Bodenburg game. What else did you get?
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 18, 2021 7:42:59 GMT -5
Here is my schedule so far:
10 AM Thursday, Orcus on the 34th Level, Jon Hook 7 PM Thursday, The Wheel of Blame, Tim Kask 1 PM Friday, Siege of Bodenburg, Paul Stormberg 5 PM Friday, Into the City of Brass, Adam Hawkins Noon Saturday, Exploring the Marmoreal Tomb, Ernie Gygax 10 AM Sunday, Moose Quest, Tom Wham Noon Sunday, Talking Gaxmoor, Luke & Ernie Gygax
It looks like there are currently still slots open each in "The Wheel of Blame" and "Moose Quest." I think there is still a slot open for a Skip Williams D&D game, but it is 3e and I don't know how to play that so I didn't register for it. Allan's Greyhawk Dungeon events filled up before I could get into any of them.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 19, 2021 9:51:32 GMT -5
One of my watch list events became available. I'll be in the same Siege of Bodenburg game as you.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 19, 2021 11:43:40 GMT -5
One of my watch list events became available. I'll be in the same Siege of Bodenburg game as you. That's great news! I know this a game we've both wanted to play in for a long time. "Siege of Bodenburg" is difficult to acquire and it is important to the early development of D&D, or the fertile ground that D&D grew out of. EGG played it at GEN CON I and it got him interested in medieval warfare and inspired him to create the Castles & Crusades Society and to write CHAINMAIL. EGG used the Bodenburg castle model to represent the upper works of Castle Greyhawk and had it in the basement of his house at 330 Center Street in Lake Geneva where D&D was born. On top of that, the physical similarity of the Bodenburg castle to the moat house in T1 is undeniable, and I think this also applies to the KEEP from B2 with the upper, inner bailey and rocky outcropping base. So, I don't think the emphasis of EGG playing this game in 1968 can be overstated. It had a huge impact and was an ongoing inspiration to EGG and D&D. I'm so excited to finally get to play it. It is required to complete one's PhD in OD&D!
|
|
|
Post by grodog on Mar 22, 2021 16:30:15 GMT -5
So, here are some ideas for events I found interesting... Please chime in with suggestions, anyone. - Thursday at Noon, 5 hours, Grodog's Castle Greyhawk, Allan Grohe Gary: if you're still interested in playing in the Castle, I can slot you into the Thursday session, no problem. The Friday session is also possible-ish, but it's fuller, and you're further down on the wait list for that one. Also: you'll have a great time in Bodenburg, it's a fun game to play! =) Allan.
|
|