Gaelcon Gaelcon, so good they named it Gaelcon!

Yes, it’s over a week since Gaelcon, and yes, it’s over a month since my last post. Both of these faults can be attributed to Gaelcon itself. I was so busy preparing for it that there was no chance of blogging. There was barely time to eat and sleep.

Gaelcon was amazing, nerve wracking, but amazing. I opened Gaelcon with a little magic show for the people queuing. I say little because we toned down what we had originally planned as the queue was quite short. The tricks all worked…… eventually…. And I hope it went quite well. Certainly some people were quite impressed.

No sooner was the magic done than I was running around to get a ticket for an RPG… Ditches and Delph…. Best. Fun. Ever. I know the Author, she’s Mental(in a good way), and it shows. We ended up travelling along on a severely A-Teamed tractor spraying zombies with tea infused Poitín. *shakes head*

Barely had I recovered from my mornings experiences when it was time for the afternoon slot… and my game. Now I had poured a lot of effort into this game. I’d typed and retyped and re worked the plot and come up with new ideas and tweaked the document until it looked seriously cool (in my humble never written a game before opinion). I almost didn’t want to subject my poor little game to a group of salivating caffeine ridden gamers. As it turned out it went quite well. My eternal thanks go to Hec for GM’ing a table and providing input and support, and also to ‘Kitten’ for plot input and the outright insistence on the inclusion of a device, which since it was used by all three tables, was obviously a good idea. Also I should probably thank MY kitten (confusing isn’t it) for putting up with a game getting more attention than her.

Suffice to say, the game was splendid, fun was had… I was at points laughing so hard I couldn’t describe scenarios. Brilliant all round.

Everything was quiet until the Jumptech Larp the next Day, I spent the afternoon as a Doctor, which is always fun, and Jumptech always ends up as a hectic fast paced scenario. So much was going on, and so much fun was being had, that I almost missed my stage debut as Captain Hammer!!! Our Director was none too impressed… but with delays in clearing the Hall, it all turned out alright.

Our stage Production of Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog went down a storm. We knew people would probably be enthusiastic, but we didn’t expect applause BETWEEN scenes. We ended to a standing ovation. It was amazing, it was wonderful, it was some of the best fun I have ever had… I am NEVER doing it again! Con Directors and Stage Directors take note! (For all the good it will do me :op)

We ended with the closing ceremony the next night. Oblivia, Grandpa Hatey and Whedonite were reunited at last, though their heckling was somewhat subdued. And, to my great shock and surprise (ask Heck, he was sitting next to me) I won best written game for con!! Considering it was the first game I’ve ever written, I am humbled and amazed.

In summary, thank you to everyone who made Gaelcon one of the best Weekends ever!

Now to get my life back

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Misadventures in Gaming

All my friends seem to be recounting their humourous tales of gaming shenagins. So, ever eager to jump on the bandwagon, I decided I'd throw a few out there.

Now I don't have quite as many gaming stories as most of the guys I know, as I'm a bit of a prodigal son when it comes to gaming. I pretty much stopped gaming when I left *cough*droppedout*cough* of College. I only resumed my exploits as an imagineer last year. But my group are great guys and have provided a ton of fun and hilarity.

The best times, as far as I'm concerned where when I ran my first ever game, a GURPS Discworld scenario. I intended this game to last 6 - 8 weeks at a stretch. It ran from September to the end of January.... They would not let me end it!!!

to set the tone of this adventure, the party comprised of a kleptomaniac thief, a dull witted troll watchman, Vetenaris chief spy/hitman... who was a gnome, an Igor, and a bimorphic werecat pirate.

What was I thinking?

I should have known there was going to be trouble from the very first game (which I intended to be a simple get to know everyone and go on a simple stealth reconnaissance mission). The werecat beat up the palace Guards... while packing for the trip. When they did go on the mission to retrieve a map, they broke into the grounds of the house, disabled the external guards. (one was left up a tree... the other two were covered in brandy and arranged spooning with their trousers down. They were all unconcious at this point, the players just thought it would be fun *shakes head*)

They gained entry to the building and were sneaking ineffectively around when discovered by an internal guard.... whom they killed. it was at this point (yep... not the brandy... but here) that I thought things might be starting to get out of hand.... I was so right it was wrong.

the two highlights of the ensuing chaos as far as I'm concerned were:

The thief critting a stealth roll... walking right up to a guard to steal his shiny dagger... then killing him with it.

The troll watchman questioning the head guard:

Troll: we is investigating a breakin in dis house

Guard: But I checked all the doors and they're locked

Troll: Yep.. Dey is very stealthy criminals

*door opens slightly and in tumbles the dead body of a guard that the rest of the party decided to dispose of through that very door*

*guard turns around and notices dead body*

Guard: Omg SMithy!! you're dead!! how did this happen!! where did he come from!?!

Troll: Told u dey was stealthy


*shakes head*

This was in the first game. I may recount more of the groups exploits should they prove to be interesting enough

Life changing decisions much?

So, I'm engaged. My girlf... sorry.. my fiancé turned around to me yesterday and asked if I felt any different. I said not really (I was considering saying "Yeah, I seem to have developed a sense of gut wrenching terror and an overwhelming urge to run" ... but I didn't think she'd appreciate the joke). Should I feel any different? I mean it's not like last week I wasn't going to marry her and this week I am, it's just that the time had finally arrived when I felt it was time to ask. And yet there is a change, people expect us to have plans. About half the people we tell ask have we set a date (the other half say we better start saving... is a fiancé more expensive than a girlfriend? I really should have read the warranty). We haven't set a date by the way, and don't intend to anytime soon. We don't intend on marrying for over a year at least and we both have more important things to be doing than picking out cake. mmmmm... cake. It's like because we've actually reached this point in our lives we've suddenly inherited responsibilities to plan and arrange and provide information. I don't get or agree with this nonsense. We will have a (small) wedding when we have the time and energy to arrange it. There will not be pomp and circumstance or shouting to the heavens (there may be cake). We took our time to get where we are, and where we are is happy, I see no reason in rushing now.

Good old Irish Weather

Well, that's a relief, for a while there I thought I was going to have to go an entire month without having a day completely ruined by dreary drizzle. Good old Irish weather is back, as evidenced by me getting soaked on the way to work.

Irish weather is, I believe, a defence mechanism of the world. If the irish weren't constantly complaining about the weather... who knows WHAT we'd get up to (alcohol was also invented for this very purpose)

My gaming group is taking a break (abrupt change of subject I know but I'm too tired for subtlety), so for the first time in over a year, I face the prospect of Monday nights not spent imagining a world more exciting. I'm unsure if it is a curse or a blessing. Probably a curse, though it will give me the opportunity to complete the game I'm writing for Gaelcon, something which has stalled in the past few weeks. Who knows, with all the extra time, I might actually be able to make it good.

Does Everyone Apprehend The Horizon

Sitting unwittingly, growing from within me,
Chaos it stills me.

Fear not a part of me, no longer heart in me
when will the world see.

Pain has succumbed to empty places that sear my eyes.
Deaf to the world, I turn from those who wont realise,

My tired life is slipping,
Feel myself slipping,
Away

The weekend that was

Well... that was quite a weekend, it began on Friday night, which is unusual for me, with a work outing to Harolds cross dogs. I got home, changed, and out there in record time, only to find my self with only 5 euro and not an ATM in sight. Resigning myself to a boring night I started betting. The first five bets I made all came in, leaving me with 45 euro. Of course, the universe being as balanced as it is, my next five bets all lost, leaving me with no money. But I had a great time and enjoyed myself, so overall it was a scoreless win.

Saturday was spent driving at great speeds, screeching around corners and spinning out of control. No, I didn't go back home to Ballyfermot, I was Go Karting. It was a friend of mine's Stag and one HELL of a day. My back is still a little sore from the pounding. We were driving those things so hard that one guy lost a wheel, A WHEEL!! And whats more is he still managed to take another two corners on three wheels before crashing. No one was injured, though I'll have to check if the Stag caught a cold from the copious amounts of water poured over him as he left the final race :op

After that it was back into town for food and as much Drink as the Stag could handle... or not, as it turned out, but that's a quark of a different flavour. Suffice to say that much fun was had, much drink was consumed, and a great night had. Highlights include the massive attack of the group hug, giving the stag the bumps... for... some reason that escapes me, and the always interesting and intriguing conversations that can only be had when drinking in someones apartment at 3am.

Sunday was a blazing glorious sunny day that I spent inside studying for an insurance exam.... not happy bout that, but hopefully it will pay off... only time will tell.

Attack of the R Monster

Well, that's it then, mini budget given, and it wasn't that bad. Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly jumping for joy about handing over another 1% of my salary, but it could have been a lot worse. In Fairness, I don't drink smoke or drive, so I wasn't really worried about excise duties in the first place. I'm happy enough to plod on, wait for my rent to drop, and then huddle down for the long winters night (Lidl roasted marshmallows anyone?).

Evil Demons of Larpy Fun

This weekend was pretty packed. Spent Saturday night out for Warpspeeds birthday. My arrival only slightly delayed by the Gardai cordoning off half of smith field square for no apparent reason. I checked the news and there's nothing about it anywhere. Secret Government conspiracy I hear you cry???

Anyway, once everyone got sorted it turned out to be a really fun night, I don't know about the birthday boy, but I had amazing fun. The point where the mistress of the dark pink fluffy things produced a pack of cards and prodded me into an impromptu magic show was quite memorable, as was the anal retentive carlsberg beer mat jigsaw endeavour (Try saying that three times fast with a mouth full of mushy peas).

That was followed the next day by a trip to vaticon. Originally I wasn't going to go to vaticon, it's quite a small con and my life is so busy, but then I read that a girl I know had written an RPG, and then I read the Blurb, and I laughed, so I thought... what the Hell!!!

Best. Decision. Ever.

Noodles RPG was the funniest game I have ever played. From the exaggerated country accents, to rolling dice to establish the effects of the poitín our characters were drinking, to equipping a tractor with a spud cannon and a Sheep-apault. I brought my faithful con Puppet Oblivia along to the RPG... Noodle gave her her own character. Something I think she regretted quite soon. I don't know about everyone else, but the highlight of the game for me, was when we broke it... so badly... that Noodle tore up the plot sheet.. and left the room. We broke her good. In fairness she was an amazing sport about it, even anticipating our behaviour, so at the end she had point totals for how many times we each broke the game. the winner was Ben... with 20!

*sigh*

Speaking of happy times breaking things, since Oblivia had to stay for the closing ceremony, I signed up for a LARP for the afternoon. I didn't realise it was a Rubber sword LARP, I spent the first 10 minutes severely intimidated. there were a crapload of things to remember, from power point pools to health levels to spell calls. But once we got into it it was just all kinds of brilliant. I got to break Noodle... again... this time by killing the Monster she was playing... over.. and over again. I'm particularly happy about using a command spell to make enemy monsters throw me their Weapon... that went quite well :o)

The down side of all the runny shouty hitty excitement is that I am INCREDIBLY sore and stiff today. I have trouble walking.

So in summery, an amazing weekend, totally worth all the effort and even the pain, but I think I'll need a few weeks of recovery before I try anything like that again.

April Fools!

And so they begin. I wake on the first day, of the fourth month... and before my bleary eyes have time to clear I find out that Gaelcon is cancelled and wikipedia are reporting that Brian Cowen is running through the streets naked.

*Shakes My Head*

Happy fooling everyone

If you seek Amy

My gorgeous adorable little kitten (occasionaly refered to as my girlfriend) is obsessed with Britney Spears. It's an inherent design fault, I tried to bring her back to the shop for repair but they said her warranty had expired the previous day... always happens.
Anyway, the upshot of this is that I have been exposed to the sounds of Britney Spears new album for over a month now, probably longer, time seems to lose all meaning. And one of the songs was confusing the hell out of me. It goes "Love me, Hate me, think what you want about me, cause all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy"
Who is Amy, why are they seeking her, and why must it be put in such grammatically confusing sentances? The penny finally dropped when I heard that people were calling for the song to be banned. They said it was too explicit. I must have heard the song 50 times and it never hit me, it's all in the phonetics....

If you seek Amy= F U C K me

Bravo Britney... bravo.