Gencon: The update
I am back from GenCon and I had a great time.

Travel
I got up at ass o'clock on Wednesday so I sit in the Atlanta airport for about 4 hours. But I spent so much time trying to get on standby for an earlier flight that I hardly noticed. Note to self: next time bring a pair of weight lifting gloves so my hands don't get all roughed up. Or just pack less :)

On the way home, Mike and I were on the same flight. We barely made the flight to Atlanta (my fault). And then I had to run for my connection...which is cool because I got there on time and was all set for a timely departure. But about a half dozen other people showed up after me and they apparently had checked bags that delayed us so I didn't get to Boston until 12:30am, too late for the T. But before all that...

True Dungeon
First of all, I had a great time. TD is always fun, but there's always things to pick at. So last year was really hard, and I think they corrected too strongly in the other direction. The first couple rooms were super easy. There was one big fight and the GM warned us that most groups have a really hard time finishing in the alloted time. So we didn't mince words and got down to it. We killed it in 3 rounds...with only 3 people attacking. Afterwards we searched the room, which was basically a bunch of blank walls with one hidden safe which we found immediately. The GM told us we'd found everything and we talked to him for a bit while we waited for the next room to be ready. It was nice, but I would much rather have been in a room like the wizard's study from last year that had so *much* stuff in it that even figuring out the puzzle was difficult. That was a fun room. Then there was the Bard puzzle that we didn't quite figure out. But the only thing that happened was that our Bard died and we saved him with an elixir of life. If it had been our Fighter or Barbarian who'd done the thing (which they could have) no one would have died. So...lame. And also, we were trying to figure out the puzzle and were searching the room for things to help. The GMs kept telling us to ignore one part of the room, but we couldn't figure out anything. Then we hit the room that dragonladyflame worked in. The "clues" and premise of this room were totally lame, but we still solved the puzzle. If we'd messed up a bit, the angel/demoness wouldn't have healed us, but then we didn't fight anything after that. So the last room....started with a great idea. For those who don't know, TD is run in two dungeons simultaneously. Sometimes it's a different dungeon entirely, but this year and last one side was puzzle-based and the other combat-based. So we were "teamed up" with the combat side for the last room. But we couldn't talk to each other. We had no info to convey to each other, we just went into the final room and to our separate tasks, again not talking to each other. They fought the minions while we solved the puzzle. We didn't manage it and so technically we all lost. I basically felt that they were trying to save space by only having one final room. The idea had potential, but was totally wasted. The two teams were basically in separate rooms but were held responsible for each others success.

Exalted

This is a Dragon-Blooded Exalted game we've been playing this arc since 2006. Cynis Sieria became engaged to a mortal (highly insulting). To celebrate, house Cynis threw a lavish masked ball at which a mysterious being circulated among the crowd dressed and with the voice and mask of some of guests. Cynis Katel, a superstar athlete, participated in a footrace with his sister, Cynis Izunami, which he allowed her win in an effort to capture an enchantment that made the bearer irresistible. By the end of the evening, a young man called simply "Wren" had control of the enchantment. Wren is apparently mortal, but is in fact a "lost egg" (a Dragon-Blooded from outside the realm). Wern was adopted and trained as a spy by a member of House Cynis, Dartangion (sp?). He fell in love with Mnemon Liana, who was running security for the event, and uses the enchantment on her. Liana assured Wren that she would love him regardless, but he doesn't want to compel her. His allegiance switches from house Cynis to house Mnemon and he continues his spying.

At GenCon 2007, the scene is Sieria's wedding. Mnemon herself is expected to be in attendance. In fact, she insists that the proceedings include a ritual involving representations of the five elements. This "passion play" has far reaching implications, especially for the imperial succession. Mnemon wants to be there with as many witnesses to see her receive the blessings of the elemental dragons. Meanwhile, House Cynis is trying to arrange a marriage between Cynis Izunami and Cathak Canis, Mnemon's chief rival. Cynis Katel plays the fire aspect and Mnemon Liana the earth aspect. Mnemon Adisa, a famous air-aspected Immaculate monk is also present and handles security for Mnemon, but she is acting oddly, taking repeated sips from a flask. [It is not common knowleged, but the flask contains a potion that allows Adisa to control her rampaging emotions.] At the climax of the play, Katel and Liana fight. The contest is a close one, but Katel is triumphant and goes to kiss Mnemon, a symbol of her right to ascend the scarlet throne. At the moment he bends over her, a spirit of fire emurges from Katel's body and explodes. Fire erupts, dozens are burned alive, even some Dragon-Blooded...and no trace of Mnemon remains.

This year, the battle for the throne continues, but with only one clear successor, things are moving faster, civil war seems immanent. House Mnemon is trying to salvage its position, the weight has fallen on Liana's father Mnemon Bashki, a former Immaculate and the House's premier banker. Cynis Katel is being put on trial to determine if he was part of a plot to killed Mnemon. The trial is being officiated by Adisa with Bashki as prosecutor and Cynis Dartangion for the defense. Liana, Sieria, Izunami, and Wren are also present as witnesses. At the same time, Cathak has gained the support of the senate and is traveling to the capital city to be proclaimed emperor. But House Sesus, a strongly military family that has not supported Cathak, moves to intercept him and therefore halt his ascension. Katel is found criminally negligent of Mnemon's death and forced to enter the Immaculate order, and take a vow of celibacy. Adisia renders this judgment, but then goes to speak privately with Katel. When they come back, Adisia is clearly flustered and reduces the sentence and the vow to a single year, to begin at the next calibration. Sesus and Cathak fight but Cathak still makes it to the city. Mnemon and Sesus team up to stop Cathak while Cathak and Cynis reaffirm their alliance and plan for the marriage of Izunami and Canis. A power struggle ensues with Sesus, Mnemon, and several other minor houses resting control of the west and south of the Blessed Isle and the Cathal-Cynis alliance holding the Imperial city. The senate rules that an independent state can exist. Battle lines are drawn and the other houses join sides, what will happen next?


This year's game was super fun, but I'm not sure where the plot will go next. In any case, it doesn't look like Dustin will do another official game with tons of new players again. The guy who played Wren this year was much less shy than last year's kid. He totally looked like Frodo; the hair, the eyes, he even dressed like a hobbit. Frank played Izunami and was hilarious. worldnamer was Adisia and did a fabulous job. almightlyanus, who showed up unexpectedly after TD, played the leader of House Sesus. He was totally over the top and imperious...just as he should have. All in all, very cool. I didn't participate in the group combat, but apparently it was really long and hard. The social combat rules are really dumb. There might be a way to make it work, especially if Dustin had hovered over us the whole time, but as it was, it was just lame. It would have been better to just roleplay it.

Board Games
I meant to play Justinian, Junta, and Carcassonne with expansions. Justinian didn't happen, so worldnamer and I played Tribune, a great Fantasy Flight game. The mechanic is lot like Pillars of the Earth and and it was really fun. $50 though, and I didn't want to carry it home so I didn't get it a the con, though I may ask jadasc to order me a copy. Junta was recommended to me by nicgeo last year, but I founding it overly contentious. worldnamer and I did manage to do the Fantasy Flight Silver Line buffet where we played the new Mag-Blast, Great Wall of China, and Cave Troll. Mag-Blast is sort of meh, but Great Wall and Cave Troll were awesome. Unfortunately, Great Wall is out of print. I played Carcassonne with the river expansions, the Tower, Inns & Cathedral, Traders & Builders, and a small expansion from a magazine. Apparently, the Princess & the Dragon expansion sucks, and the Count and the King expansions are kinda lame too. We didn't play with the Abbey & Mayor set, but it looked neat, lets you move things. I think the big box might be worth it if I can find it. Or perhaps I should wait and see if they'll release something this Christmas.

LARPs
So I did some more LARPing this year. dragonladyflame, worldnamer, and I played in a Deadlands game run by a group called Sick & Twisted. They're prepping for a big game next year by running a series of small scenarios. We were in a group of six with one really ST and one NPC sort of guy. Generally fun, I enjoyed it, but i don't think I suited my character very well. Then we got in an *awesome* LARP run by a group I think is called Infinite Loop. The game was called Super-Villain Academy. Think Sky High for bad guys but with some other stuff thrown in. I want to say more, but they're hoping to run this game at Intercon next year. Suffice to say, it was excellent and they put tons of work into it. Every player got a multi-page booklet detailing their characters history, motivations, goals, etc. We had tiny envelops with items or information to read after meeting with certain characters. Soooo much fun. I think I might enjoy this LARPing thing, even to the point of considering Intercon.

Exhibit Hall
There was no GenCon mistake 2008. In fact, I didn't buy anything. I feel like the hall was less exciting than last year, but it was still cool. I didn't even get into the hall until Saturday. I think next year I should try and get in there early just to scope it out, and maybe check out the GenCon gift pack, if they do it again.

WhiteWolf Party
Sooo much better this year than last. First of all, much better location within walking distance of the convention center. It seemed like there were fewer people there, but that might have been a function of the set up. There were 3 levels, I think the party was only on the 2nd and 3rd floors, both of which had a bar and a dance floor. The third floor had these little bed-like alcoves all along the wall and in the front part of the club. Very cool all around. Went to the after-party as well, after some difficulty finding it. Still fun, but I pooped out early and went to bed around 4:30.

Plans
Nest year, I need to have a better plan for food. I did alright, but by Sunday some of my food had gone bad. I should see about renting a small fridge or going to a grocery store. Also, in a year where jadasc isn't at GenCon and worldnamer isn't sharing with his buddy Jason, there is no reason for me to be in the group room. It has even been suggested that we get two rooms, one for the group one for a couple and people can switch out if they have an SO present or just want to go to bed early or something.

Overall, really good. Plus the major fun of hanging out with people. I need to see people more often. I failed to meet up with my friends from Boston, mostly because I didn't have anyones phone number. Can't wait for next year.