Wizballs Belated Super Bang Indiecon Report

[Wizball]

The plan was to get my indie on hardcore. Last Indiecon had been great but I felt I had wasted the opportunity to delve deep into the indie/hippy scene. The other plan was to run demo games for Eos of the upcoming game Legends of the Wulin and spread my delirious fanboy feelings for it to all and sundry. I also determined to only play games I had never played before.

Thursday
The now familiar 6 hour journey to Christchurch went by pleasantly enough. Arrived at the Con just in time to have missed Munchausen (again). One of these days I’ll make it. Got keys and left for food. Returned as bar closed. Rubbish.

Checked signup board. Signed up to a thing or two and retired to the lodge.

Friday

No game in the morning so could take it easy.

Afternoon: Burning Wheel (Warhammer Fantasy)
Hadn’t realised it was the Warhammer setting before the game. Wouldn’t have made a difference had I known so no problem there. I had heard of Burning Wheel and wanted to try it. Game was a lot of fun. Several of the other player’s were buddies and there was a great atmosphere at the table. System seemed ok although it was a Lite version suitable for Con play. Bears further examination I think because it had soime cool elements. First game rust was shaken off a little. To my shame I can’t remember anybodies name, a persistent problem I have with new people in general. I blame my teenage years.

Evening: Legends of the Wulin run by ME
Probably the worst game of the con for me. Apologies to the players. I have very little experience running at cons but I could have done a much better job here. Mission to spread love for one of the best games I have ever come across in 20 years in the hobby = Fail. Possible there exists some GM Performance Anxiety, but still I know I didn’t rock it.

Saturday
All Shiny optimism

Morning: Montsegur 1244 facilitated by Oreoso (I want to say Rich? From Pompey Crew. Again rubbish with names)
This game was my first GMless Diceless Story game and it blew my mind. I have been gravitating to looser, lighter games for years but this was something else entirely. I would say it was a profound experience if I was a pretentious tosser. It was a profound experience.

Really enjoyed it and can see the vast potential for replay. Great bunch at the table, if somewhat uncertain at times and prone to narrative description as opposed to IC interaction.

It was suggested to me that I was perhaps being too subtle in my interactions (as Corba and Arsende) at times and could do with being more certain with what I was trying to do in a scene. Have to agree, I can see that with games like this you have to be clear to draw out all the drama. Not everyone’s a mind reader. I think most of us were totally new to this style of game but everybody was awesome and it felt really wonderful to build the drama and slowly expose more and more of the characters hiden secrets and desires. Game of the con for me. Wonderful. The only book I purchased this year was Montsegur 1244 (but only because Witch was sold out). Really well introduced by Oreoso, he encouraged us and kept the tone relaxed and cooperative. Used a brilliant opening line which I would steal for any game with an historic setting.

“Anyone know anything about this period of history?” (not verbatim)
“Yeah, I do” (not me)
“Great! You can keep that to yourself then!”

Afternoon: Hollowpoint by Rich Stokes (Remembered all the names!)
A game that had been on my radar for a little while I was really keen to have a go. From what I knew of it before hand it was a game to emulate fast paced action movie shenanigans. Apparently it was designed to emulate serious shooty films like Ronin. Don’t see it myself; it works really well for schlocky action movies.

I had a really fun time with Brenda and Jez Grey as we sought to rescue the President of Panama (or at least the latest of his look- alike replacements). Fast paced descriptive action and a nice conflict system that supports different approaches. Really had a blast. Rich was great GM, keeping the action and humour flowing. Loved his South American accent and mimicry of Delta Force bad guys.

Evening: Pride and Extreme Prejudice (Macho Women with Guns) by Dave Elrick
I broke my rule about playing all new games for this. Played another of these fine games by Dave and it was the most fun I’d had in roleplay for years. It is really a systemless game since I don’t think a dice was thrown.

Last time out I had been several paces behind my colleagues on the tipsy scale when we started. I may have overcompensated. Great laugh was had by all in a drunky smut fest. Jane Austen would be very proud no doubt.

Party: 6d6 Hosting
Continued the drunkenness post game with the very accommodating folks from 6d6. Thanks guys!

Sunday
Not as hung over as I deserved. Yay!

Got up for 9 for the morning slot. Probably a good thing as it allowed for a greater period of wakefulness before the game.

Morning: Witch introduced by Jez Grey
Really enjoyed this game. Lovely premise and similar to Montsegur in execution which I really dug. I am definitely a convert to this type of game. Really like the role of the Witch can play in trying to persuade and influence the other players, a very nice touch which I am sure yields some great RP.

Jez did a great job introducing the game and was great to scene with. The group didn’t gel as well as the Montsegur group did and we were slow to get of the ground. But I had a really good time and we did have some great moments. Our Sir Thorne revealing himself to be a convert to Islam was a stand out moment for me. Overall an excellent game (good job Toad) and I am looking forward to playing it with my home group.

Indiecon Overall
Great con for me. I played lots of new games (almost made my goal), got into some of these deadtree hugging games I’ve been so curious about. And they ROCK! I’m a convert for sure.
Met a bunch of new people and got to play and chat with a lot of guys and girls that I hadn’t had a chance to game with at other cons.

Looking forward to next year! Officially my favourite con event.
Thanks again to Chris and Karen and all the crew who made it happen.

[Wizball]

I must say a huge thank you to Lynn who has selflessly driven us all to and from all these cons for years. And she cooks most of the good food we have there. And runs great games.

Without her awesome game of Legends of the Wulin I would feel even worse about my poor game. At least some people got to experience a really awesome game of Legends of the Wulin. I wish I'd played in it, it sounded so good.

[PaulBaldowski]

Great report.

I wish I'd played in a game of Legends of the Wulin run by Lynn as well...

[silver.waterlily]

Awwww Paul, don't be mean, John's just finding his con gm feet

And I'm sure you'll be in my legends test sometime at the beginning of January

[Wizball]

Great report.

I wish I'd played in a game of Legends of the Wulin run by Lynn as well...

I hear you brother, me too. If only I could convince myself that your emoticon meant that you didn't mean what you said.
It wasn't good was it. On the plus side the playtest (and feedback) did point out the need to simplify which worked out very well for my game at Indiecon. It could have been so much worse

I think the only way to improve is to run as many games as possible at STURP. You'll play in them all right?

[oreso]

One of us! One of us! [/hippy chanting]



Re: historical games. Yeah, I love people bringing the feel to the game and little details, etc but it's all just inspiration, not so much prescription or restriction. Next up, Montsegur 1247: Corba's Revenge! Now with dinosaurs!

Cheers!

[Pete]

Next up, Montsegur 1247: Corba's Revenge! Now with dinosaurs!

Mechaton 1244 is teh best+zors.

I quite like Oreoso: makes me associate Rich with a delicious milky confection, best savoured on the tongue, mmm

[silver.waterlily]

Next up, Montsegur 1247: Corba's Revenge! Now with dinosaurs!

Mechaton 1244 is teh best+zors.

I quite like Oreoso: makes me associate Rich with a delicious milky confection, best savoured on the tongue, mmm

Now you've kicked off my oreo craving....which means John has to go and locate oreos

[mr toad]

Now you've kicked off my oreo craving....which means John has to go and locate oreos

Are you sure? I heard John and food don't mix well.

Toad

[6d6fireball]

Party: 6d6 Hosting
Continued the drunkenness post game with the very accommodating folks from 6d6. Thanks guys!

Our pleasure.

[Wizball]

I quite like Oreoso: makes me associate Rich with a delicious milky confection, best savoured on the tongue, mmm

The association must have been in my mind. The spelling part that it. I'll take your word about the tongue part.

Are you sure? I heard John and food don't mix well. Toad

Not cool. Anyone ever tell you that you have a really savage sense of humour?