I Survived ConQuest
CQ 2008 is over.
Overall, I have mixed feelings, and rather than do a day by day breakdown, I’m going to do my thoughts:
THE GOOD:
- My game went well, as did all the Good Omens games, from what I’ve heard.
- Picked up three books - an early released book for Hunter, the originally planned to be but now isn’t last book for Changeling, and a $10 copy of Unhallowed Metropolis. (If I run it, having two copies is helpful.)
- The hotel is nice. I got to park so close to my room that all I needed to do to pack up the car was step out the back door and walk maybe 20 feet.
- There were nice restaurants all around - well, not nice, but familiar and within two blocks. (IHOP, Togos, Round Table).
- Saw Kara and her husband and their spawn.
- Got to play Sons of Liberty - a fun game, but the standard rules seems to encourage the game to be played more like the card game Speed than an RPG or Story-Game.
THE BAD:
- There was some shenanigans with group names being removed from titles of games. My two big problems with it were: a) my particular group, Good Omens, has worked hard to get a generally good reputation. and b) none of us were contacted in advance (and in fact we found out by happenstance), and normally people do things secretly like that when they know they are doing something somewhat unethical or shady. (Shady is a better word.) (For reference, I point to the secrecy enacted by the Bush Administration in regards to torture, surveillance, and the like.)
- Room numbers for games weren’t listed in the program, and when I couldn’t find where my game was, I was pretty much treated like an idiot by the staff.
- The program was a piece.
- I realized I’m getting sick of “Story Games” that have decided that no rules lead to better stories. (I realize part of the issue is that I do read every game I can to look for good rules to steal for other games, but that’s beside the point.)
- I’m also getting sick of Prima-Donna GMs, and I don’t care what group they are with. Or not with. Some of them are Good Omens GMs, and that’s depressing.
THE AMUSING:
- At the end of my Mage game, I discovered that my main villain had no offensive ability. He had everything he needed to set his plot in motion, but in actual combat? Not so good.
- Ever since meeting him casually, I’ve been baffled by the couple that is deirdremoon and tronpublic. However, after a conversation he was in on Sunday night, it now makes perfect sense.
- I mentioned a game idea to Cil, and now I think she’s hooked, and that she’s got at least one other player hooked.
Overall, I’m concerned about the bad. Last year, CQ made some great strides ‘forward,’ but this year it’s like they took a step backwards. I was less than impressed.
Rich
September 2nd, 2008
For all those who attended Good Omens con and contributed we want to forward the thanks sent by the Alemeda County Community Food Bank. Good Omens Con 2 generated 128 pounds of canned food, up 32 from last year. Here is the thank you letter from ACCFB. As I know that we had close to 60 attendees this means that on average each person brought just over 2lbs of food. It is awesome that everyone showed up and supported the convetion as well as the charity. Thanks everyone for your contributions. I Hope to see many of you soon at Con Quest.
August 14th, 2008
We’ve got 6 games scheduled for Conquest SF, now in Santa Clara. Here’s the line up.
American Superhero!
Friday 7:00 PM for 6 hours
GM: Chad Lynch
Type: RPG
System: Mutants & Masterminds
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
With the retirement of America’s premier superhero, America looks for the next superhero to take on the mantle of Captain Freedom! From the producers of ‘The Sidekick!’, join us as a small group of superheroes compete in this new reality show for a chance to become the United States government’s premier sanctioned superhero!
Go Ask Alice
Friday 7 PM for 6 hours
GM: Mike Bogan
Type: RPG
System: Wushu
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Variations: “Fables” comic book setting
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Fresh from their triumphant reclamation of Oz, our intrepid heroes expected to be transported back to their home base in Fable Town in the mundie world. Unfortunately, someone thought it was a good idea to give Alice the responsibility of using the Ruby Slippers. With three clicks of her heels, and whispering the magic words, “There’s no place like home,” our heroes find themselves whisked away to the surreal realm of Wonderland. Take on the roles of well known Fables outcast from their homelands and plunged into war with the mysterious Adversary. (Based on the “Fables” comic book series by Bill Willingham.)
What Lies Beneath
Saturday 11 AM for 8 hours
GM: Gregory Mathieson
Type: RPG
System: Mutants & Masterminds
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
The city of Gotham is once again stable and the reconstruction has begun and the citizens may walk no longer in fear. Saved by both is heroes and villains, things are almost normal again, almost. But, when a demolition crew goes missing, investigations are called for and those who went have not returned. Now, the Bat Symbol illuminates the sky! But just who answers the call for help is quite interesting. Join the Gotham Knights and their Rouges Gallery as they explore the dangerous underbelly of the city of darkness and crime.
The Dwarven Princess
Sunday 9 AM for 6 hours
GM: Paul Strack
Type: RPG
System: D&D 4th Edition
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
The city of Tanza desperately needs to fill its coffers to fund its war against the undead of the Shadowfell. The council of nobles is close to a trade deal with the nearby dwarven kingdom, which is is sending its only princess to Tanza to complete the negotiations. Not everyone watching the dwarves enter the city welcomes their presence, however. It is up to a band of unlikely heroes to save the princess and aid their city in its time of need. Pre-generated 3rd level characters. Beginners welcome
. . . Like a Setting Sun
Sunday 11 AM for 8 hours
GM: Richard Taylor
Type: RPG
System: Mage: The Awakening
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
A new drug has hit the streets of San Francisco, one that threatens both the Fallen and Supernal worlds. A young, street level cabal must find the source and shut it down before . . . well, they aren’t sure. But with what’s going on, it can’t be good.
My Life with Joker
Sunday 3 PM for 6 hours
GM: Sean Nittner
Type: RPG
System: My Life with Master
Provided: Characters and (Villain!) Created during Game
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
The life of a minion is a hard one. The horrific things you do make it difficult to feel good about yourself. If only someone loved you. My Life with Joker is a Gotham adaptation of Paul Czege’s award winning game My Life with Master. Prepare to serve the most violent sociopath we all love to hate, and eventually be his undoing.
August 11th, 2008
We fast approch Good Omens Con 2.
The Sign Up are in. GM’s have there games. Player get there dice ready to roll, and cars ready to drive.
Are you ready for the Electric Boogaloo?
–GO Con Staff
July 11th, 2008
As part of Good Omens Con, Fred Hicks, creator of Spirit of the Century and Don’t Rest Your Head is making available instant content for the upcoming Don’t Lose Your Mind: A headtrip for Don’t Rest Your Head, from the brain of Benjamin Baugh. Preorder the game at Endgame and you will get a CD with the PDF immediately, and then receive the print copy after the release in August.
Look at Fred’s blog for more information: Instant Content Preorder
Here’s the skinny Fred sent me directly. This looks awesome…
A pair of government agents stalk a runaway girl armed only with a teddy bear. They are never heard from again. A psychopathic hero wields every blade that ever murdered, carving off pieces of his personality in an effort to beat back the Nightmares. A temptress lures the cruel and vile to assault her—only to trap them in a prison built from her own ribcage. Trailing ash and burning footprints with every step, a man cursed with Orpheus’ gift delves deeper into Hell each day on a quest to find the last missing puzzle-piece needed to rebuild his late girlfriend from the wreck she has become…
This is the story of the Awake. From the depths of their terrible and deliberate Madness, they face Nightmares both strange and dire, always knowing they are only a few moments away from becoming what they fight.
From author Benjamin Baugh (Monsters & Other Childish Things) comes Don’t Lose Your Mind, a Don’t Rest Your Head supplement that explores the darkest depths of Madness for your game. Inside you’ll find twenty-six unique Madness Talents that push the boundaries of imagination. Each gives way to its own unique Nightmare, ready to darken every player’s door. And at the rich, nougaty center of this tome you’ll find a toolbox of new techniques and perspectives for supercharging insanity at your table, and making the most of Madness in the Mad City.
Contains mature subject matter. Not recommended for the abnormally sane.
July 4th, 2008
My Kubla this year was fun, but not over the top.
It started when we got to the hotel. My group of friends (the people sharing my hotel room) spent most of the afternoon working out what they were going to sign up for. (more…)
May 28th, 2008
Kubla this year was my redemption for DDC. During all of DundraCon I was regretting not running a game… so what did I do for Kubla? Yep, run two. More on that later.
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May 27th, 2008
As if Kubla was not fun enough just playing games, the lovely Shaun and Kristin from thismoderndeath.com dragged all of their gear to the Hotel and recorded a podcast with us.
Thank you guys very much. It was a blast recording with you.
For the rest of you… check out Shaun, Kristin and five guys from Good Omens (plus Lesley) here: Special Episode 3 - Interview With Good Omens
May 27th, 2008
My story for KublaCon begins the night before, as I’m calmly printing out the character sheets for my Saturday AM game. (Unhallowed Metropolis - Steampunk Survival Horror.) As I printed the last character sheet, around 2 AM (because I’m a night owl), my brain reminded me:
“YOU FORGETFUL JERK!! YOU HAVE A SECOND GAME THIS CON!! YOU’VE DONE NO PREP WORK FOR IT!!”
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May 27th, 2008
Were coming up on KublaCon fast! Luckily Good Omens Con is still a few months away; so, you still have a load of time to figure out what games you might want to try. Already on the GO Con page we have an excellent start to our schedule.
(more…)
May 15th, 2008
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