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Me, Good Omens Con and the Shuffler – Sean Nittner
Jul 11th
I’ve been thinking about the con a lot as of late. Honestly, I probably been over thinking it, but that is just my OCD nature kicking in. Because of the shuffler this year has been different from the last two. To talk meaningfully about it I need to start with a little history.
About eight months ago a gaggle of Good Omens GMs got together to play games, eat food, and talk shop about Good Omens Con 3. Overall, we had been really happy with the last two conventions, but some of us received complaints that the games (which at that time were first come, first serve) filled up instantly and players couldn’t get in. Part of this we realized was our own fault. Good Omens GMs (including yours truly) had signed up for our own games. It makes sense, we like each other, we want to play with each other… but it meant less space for everyone else. So that was our first change. Unless there is a no show and someone needs to fill a seat, you won’t see any members of Good Omens playing in any of our games. Which means, again, more room for you.
New Forums! Again!
Jun 23rd
If I add enough exclamation marks will that make it more exciting?
I have a confession. I hate our forums over at pro boards. They are hideously ugly and hard to navigate. Also, I’m a control freak and I like to host my own sites whenever possible. The pro board forums (which we have used for the last year or so) were picked because some time ago my server kept getting hacked… over … and over … and over again. I realized it was the message board I was using at the time (phpbb) and tried to lock it down but had no long term success. So… not having the time for a better fix I opted to use a free service. A band aid I thought would last a month or two until I figured out a solution. A year and a half later, I’ve got that solution. Vanilla! (see, there I go again abusing punctuation)
I would probably apologize for the inconvenience of shifting to a new forum, but given the traffic that we usually have, that would be like apologizing for putting up a stop sign in Antarctica. So, please, hop over to the new forums at http://goodomensgames.com/forum and let me know what you think.
-Sean
A Penny for My Thoughts
Jun 1st
A Penny for My Thoughts, by Paul Tevis, will have a signing on July 18th at EndGame during Good Omens Con 3. It is available for pre-order now at IPR.
Have you lost your memory? The Orphic Institute for Advanced Studies can help, with its revolutionary Mnemosyne™ treatment process. By ordering this useful treatment guide, you can learn how to get your memory—and your life—back. Order today.
The Orphic Institute for Advanced Studies: Bringing the Truth out of Darkness™.
For a limited time, you can preorder this instructional book together with the PDF for only one penny more than the book’s cover price. Take back your memory today with A Penny For My Thoughts.
Good Omens Con 3 – Coming soon!
May 15th
We loved Good Omens Con 2! It was great. We played a ton of fun games, Carl Rigney showed up to run some games, Don’t Loose Your Mind (a supplement for DRYH) was pre-released, Sean got his butt kicked by Kristin at a feat of strength, and random (and delicious) catering appeared out of nowhere.
So, how are we going to one up that this year?
- First, check out the roster here: Good Omens Con 3
- In addition, we’ve got Carl Rigney as a guest GM again.
- And, Paul Tevis, from Have Games Will Travel is signing his new book A Penny for my Thoughts at the con.
More to come soon. Good Omens Con is Saturday, July 18th at EndGame in Oakland. Go register now at: http://www.goodomensgames.com/gocon
Kubla 2009 Schedule
Apr 27th
Here’s the line up of Good Omens Games for KublaCon this year.
Where the tumbleweeds blow
Friday 2PM in Room 2063-A for 6 Hours
GM: Matt Espinoza
System: Deadlands
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Some Experience
Nestled in a small valley the small town of Echo Valley strange murders have been happening in the night. You are the mayor’s last hope. If you and your posse can solve this and restore order before the town is nothing but tumbleweeds he will be deeply in your debt. Do you have what it takes to face death? Look it right in the eye and spit?
This is a mature game with bad language and descriptive situations that may make people uncomfortable. Recommend experienced role-players some idea of westerns and or Deadlands is preferred.
Firefly: Lap of Luxury
Friday 6:00 PM in Room 2071-A for 6 Hours
GM: Justin Evans
System: Fate
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
The Pride of Sihnon, the luxury liner where the rich dine on milk and honey, and the King of Londinum wears his shiny hat. Exclusive, gentile…better than. But somehow you got in. You have connections. Your crew’s got a job to do and you’re fresh out of shiny hats. Come join the crew of the Caprice as they aim to misbehave in the lap of luxury.
The Gift
Friday 8:00 PM in Room 2036-A for 4 Hours
GM: Sean Nittner
System: Burning Wheel
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Elven nobility have come to congratulate the recently crowned dwarven prince and to reopen long dormant relations. Can peace prevail or will old prejudices stain these dwarven halls with blood?
Buring Wheel Author Luke Crane’s favorite adventure, “The Gift” is a player driven story that confronts the prejudices and traditions of two fantasy genre stereotypes—about Dwarves and Elves and their petty rivalries.
In this scenario, the players take on the roles of high-ranking and powerful Dwarves and Elves. The two factions meet under diplomatic pretenses and are forced to confront each other’s prejudices. It is up to the players to determine a solution to The Gift, there is no predetermined outcome.
O Brother, What Art That?
Saturday 9:00 AM in Room 2044-A for 6 Hours
GM: Richard Taylor
System: Trail of Cthulhu
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Three escaped convicts, a blues player, a journalist, and an heiress wind up traveling up the Mississippi River in the 1930s, hoping to find the solution for banishing whatever is on their trail.
This game is based on the GUMSHOE system, and is heavily investigative in its design.
All in a Day’s Work, Right?
Saturday 3:30 PM in room 2044-A for 6 Hours
GM: Gregory Mathieson
System: D&D 4E
Provided: All characters provided by GM (11th Level)
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Your intrepid group is hired to get the final piece of Mirabar’s festival. The tail of a fell beast that lies in the lands surrounding the town. Face down a horde of goblins, take gruesome trophies of many a beast, face down a dread creature, rescue a fair maiden and enjoy the party. Nothing that you cannot handle, right?
Red, White and Blues
Sunday 9:00 AM in Room 2044-A for 6 Hours
GM: Kevan Forbes
System: Mutant City Blues
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
It’s been 10 years since the Ghost Flu swept the world changing everything in its wake. The presence of Heightened individuals is no longer a novelty and the societies and governments of the world have begun to incorporate their existence and talents into their fabric.
Step into the shoes of the newly appointed NHCU (Naval Heightened Crimes Unit). A division of NCIS, your job is to investigate and solve crimes related to the heightened within the US Navy and Marine Corp. The pursuit of NCIS’s three strategic priorities: Prevent Terrorism, Protect Secrets, and Reduce Crime, was difficult enough. Now the abilities of gene-expressives have totally altered the game.
This game is based on the GUMSHOE system and is heavily investigative by design
Assault on the Shattered Tower
Sunday 9:00 AM in Room 2080-A for 6 Hours
GM: Chad Lynch
System: D&D 4E
Provided: All characters provided by GM (2nd Level)
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
In ages nearly forgotten, the tower stood as a bastion against the onslaught of marauders and banditry. But civilization has long since retreated from this area, and a band of goblin raiders has taken up residence in the ruined tower. Nearby local inhabitants beg the party of adventurers to rid the place of the bandits before they are victimized once again by the goblins of the Shattered Tower.
Coming this Fall
Sunday 9:00 AM in Room 2062-A for 6 Hours
GM: Mike Parker
System: Prime Time Adventures
Provided: Created in Game
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Create the best TV show that never was. Primetime Adventures brings the drama and tension from television to life in this role playing game.
This game will cover the full process of PTA, from Pitch to Pilot, and maybe the first episode. This game focuses on Scene framing and immersive play.
Regal Zone
Sunday 9:00 AM in Brdrm-2 for 6 Hours
GM: Erica Schmitt
System: Legend of the Five Rings
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
In Rokugan, the Empire may be defended by the Bushi warriors or Shugenja priests, but the true power lies with the courtiers and bureaucrats. One of the Imperial Otomo family, Otomo Saito, is holding court and invited you, representatives of minor clans, to his Court for the spring celebration, Oshogatsu. This may be your best opportunity to get an advantage for your family and Clan amongst the revelries of the new year.
Ribbons
Sunday 6:00 PM in Room 2044-A for 6 Hours
GM: Justin Evans
System: Fate
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
You’re good at your job. You can tell there are patterns to the way the blood sprayed. Where there’s a pattern there’s usually a meaning. You’ve seen the victim, you’re not sure you want to know what this means. But, if you don’t dig deeper and figure it out there will almost certainly be more patterns to study. Mature Themes.
The Fortress of the Pearl
Monday 9:00 AM in Room 2062-A for 8 Hours
GM: Meghan Miller
System:Stormbringer
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
The great Lord Gho Faazi has a proposition for six brave travelers. Find the fortress of the pearl, steal the pearl, and bring it back to him. If you do so, he promises riches beyond imagining. He assures you that the mission is straightforward and poses minimal risk, but of course there is something he is holding back, and most probably even he doesn’t know what to expect. Beginners welcome.
Everyone loves a Ball
Monday 9:00 AM in Room 2079-A for 6 Hours
GM: Josiah Knight
System: D&D 4E
Provided: All characters provided by GM (5th Level)
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Everything had been going according to plan. You acquired a invitation to Prince Jurian ir’Wynarn’s ball in Wroat (the capitol of Breland), an appropriate Aundairian masquerade costume, and managed to infiltrate the secure vault in order to gain the marble griffon statuette you came for.. all without alerting Lord Ruken ir’Clarn’s household guards.
Unfortunately, once you reach the vault, you discover the statue is missing. Someone in the ball must have already stolen it.
Can you find out who before the ball ends?
DDC Tomorrow!
Feb 12th
Hmm… this may be a bit lot late, but better late than never?
Here is the Good Omens Schedule for DundraCon 2009
P02 The Gift (A Good Omens Production)
Friday 4 PM in Room 377 for 4 hours
GM: Sean Nittner
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: Burning Wheel
Edition: Revised
Players: 8
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Power Level: Dwarven & Elven Nobles!
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mainstream
Elven nobility have come to congratulate the recently crowned dwarven prince and to reopen long dormant relations. Can peace prevail or will old prejudices stain these dwarven halls with blood?
222 Firefly: Lap of Luxury (A Good Omens Production)
Saturday 10 AM in Room 377 for 6 hours
GM: Justin Evans
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: FATE
Players: 6
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mainstream
The Pride of Sihnon, the luxury liner where the rich dine on milk and honey, and the King of Londinum wears his shiny hat. Exclusive, gentile…better than. But somehow you got in. You have connections. Your crew’s got a job to do and you’re fresh out of shiny hats. Come join the crew of the Caprice as they aim to misbehave in the lap of luxury. A Good Omens Production.
223 The Hand You’re Dealt (A Good Omens Production)
Saturday 10 AM in Room 378 for 8 hours
GM: Richard “UnkyRich” Taylor
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: Werewolf: The Forsaken
Players: 6
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Power Level: slightly experienced
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mainstream
Patrolling your territory is always both simple and difficult. When something is making the spirits angry, you just go and deal with it, right?
Of course, things are never just that easy.
This is a Werewolf game that is equal parts thought, combat, and world interaction.
407 Bite The Hand That Feeds (A Good Omens Production)
Saturday 6 PM in Room 377 for 6 hours
GM: Mike Bogan
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: Hunter: The Vigil
Players: 6
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Power Level: medium
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mature Themes
This is your city. It is your job to protect the blissfully ignorant masses. The police have blamed arecent rash of killings on gang violence, but you know better.
Things are never quite what they seem to be.
This is a Hunter game that is equal parts investigation, combat and interaction.
524 Totem Quest (A Good Omens Production)
Sunday 10 AM in Room 377 for 8 hours
GM: Matthew Gaston
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: Storyboard
Players: 6
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Power Level: beginning
Variations: Dragon Shards
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mainstream
Each year youths leave their tribes to make vision quests, find their totems, and become adults. No one warned you that it would be like this.
525 Knight Life (A Good Omens Production)
Sunday 10 AM in Room 378 for 8 hours
GM: Tony Vargas
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: Gamma World
Edition: 1st
Players: 8
Provided: Characters may be provided by GM
Power Level: 1st, with some artifacts
Variations: PSH Characters rolled up at game
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mainstream
You are a young Pure Strain Human of the Ranjers, a semi-nomadic tribe that raises rakkoxen and other animals in the vale of Sannermoan. While you completed your right of passage recently, and survived, you still have a certain yearning for adventure and excitement.
707 3:10 to Yomi
Sunday 6 PM in Room 377 for 6 hours
GM: Mike Bogan
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: Scion Hero
Players: 6
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Power Level: Legend 4
Variations: Old West setting
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mainstream
The Titanspawn, Ben Wade, must be delivered to a train that embarks from our world to the Amatsukami underworld. Your quest is to deliver him there on time, so that he may be returned to his eternal prison.
Myth and Legend have existed in all ages of mankind. Far Eastern myth meet the Old West, where heroes are truly born.
708 Ribbons (A Good Omens Production)
Sunday 6 PM in Room 378 for 6 hours
GM: Justin Evans
Group: GO
Type: RPG
System: FATE
Players: 6
Provided: All characters provided by GM
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mature Themes
You’re good at your job. You can tell there are patterns to the way the blood sprayed. Where there’s a pattern there’s usually a meaning. You’ve seen the victim, you’re not sure you want to know what this means. But, if you don’t dig deeper and figure it out there will almost certainly be more patterns to study. Mature Themes.
Spammers be gone
Dec 3rd
In a never ending quest to be done with spammers, I’ve finally had it with anonymous comments and bogus users. Today I checked the log: “Akismet has caught 8,319 spam for you since you installed it.” On top of that, I’ve caught hundreds of my own. Clearly, Viagra sales are more exiting to the world as a whole than gaming. I guess, in a strange way… that does make sense.
Regardless, I’m tired of the server going down because of all the spammers hammering it. I’ve disabled anonymous comments and user registration, which means anyone who wants to comment needs to contact me and I will set up an account for you. I know this borders on ridiculous but it is the surest way for me to combat spammers without constantly having to compete in a loosing arms race.
Please email me: sean@sadric.com
Thanks for your understanding and patience.
I Survived ConQuest – Rich Taylor
Sep 2nd
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
Thanks from the ACCFB
Aug 14th
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.
Conquest SF 2008 Schedule
Aug 11th
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.