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This was my second PaizoCon UK, although quite a different experience from 2011. This was because I came down on the Saturday morning last year, but this time I came down on the Friday afternoon for the full experience. Also, I came on my own last year, while I brought some of the PFS group I'd managed to recruit in the last few months with me this time.
I had an absolutely fantastic time, and I know that the three guys who came down from Chester Games Club with me did too. Many, many thanks to everyone involved in the organisation and GMing for the event, and also to my fellow players for making the experience so memorable.
Particular highlights for me:
- Holding the convention at the same time as the pub next door was taking part in a cider festival. Yum!
- Standing outside the pub, drinking the aforementioned cider, and having Eva Widermann wander over and introduce herself.
- The delicious balti, in particular the Osiriani nose flute (kazoo) orchestra.
- Having Mike Brock as my GM for the first slot (running 'the Cyphermage Dilemma'), and in particular the NPCs we encountered, such as the officious gnome clerk and the hard-bargaining, overly-amorous dwarf boatwoman. My gunslinger had a night he'll never (be able to) forget...
- The 'Oh s***...' moment during the Saturday afternoon scenario (the name of which I won't spoil).
- The Grand Convocation. Wow! Really this deserves a highlights list of its own! All the NPCs in costume. The commitment shown by everyone to stay in character for pretty much the whole event. The truly brutal 'Menagerie' quest (4 level 4-5s playing up at 6-7...). And of course, the finalé!
- Getting to play with several familiar faces from the previous year's convention, and new ones too.
- The ridiculous amount of property damage that our group caused during our slot 5 table of 'God's Market Gamble'. I think we're keeping Absalom's carpenters in business...
There were a small number of lowlights, but they were extremely minor compared to all of the amazing experiences above, so I'll spoiler them:
- I managed to forget to bring with me the particular book I wanted to get autographed by Eva, and I never managed to engineer a situation where Richard Pett, me, and my mint copy of We Be Goblins! were in close proximity, so I didn't get that autographed either.
- There was some confusion around nominating the 'table MVPs' to go into the draw to have a figure painted. On a couple of tables I played on, the players seemed to agree I deserved the nomination, but as far as I know, that never made it on to the sheet. Was I supposed to write it in myself, or the GM, or...? I was going to query it at a suitable opportunity, but by the time I'd grabbed a bite for lunch on Sunday the sheet was taken down and I think the draw already done.
- During the Convocation, I went to play one of the quests in the other room quite early on, so missed some of the announcements of the side-events in the main room. I tended to be a bit lost as to what was going on after that...
- For me personally, the more formal arrangement of the Sunday games in 2011 worked better. I'm aware that the end-of-year scenarios were arranged differently (parallel low and high tier scenarios, rather than a two-parter) but in the afternoon it was hard to tell what was being run where, and I didn't manage to find any tables running 'Storming the Diamond Gate' at tier 3-4. I did have great fun playing 'God's Market Gamble' instead though, so no harm done.
Really though, these were extremely minor things (including some that were entirely my fault) that didn't detract from the overall awesomeness of the event. Roll on PaizoCon UK 2013!
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A couple of other things I meant to mention:
The hilarity of my low-initiative cleric continuing to berate an NPC for every failing of his poor moral character, even as the NPC was slipping a short sword between my cleric's ribs.
Not a lowlight as such, but it was very frustrating rolling an 18 when a 19 or better was needed to get a boon!
I want to GM next year. Yes, really!
Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean
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Many thanks for this Paz.
Really glad you enjoyed it and it was great to see you there.
Hopefully everybody will keep the reports coming or contact me via the paizoconuk@hotmail.com paizocon uk address letting me know the good things and what didn't work. We tried a number of different things this year and it is very helpful for me to get feedback on them.
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Having Mike Brock as my GM for the first slot (running 'the Cyphermage Dilemma'), and in particular the NPCs we encountered, such as the officious gnome clerk and the hard-bargaining, overly-amorous dwarf boatwoman. My gunslinger had a night he'll never (be able to) forget...
I wanted to punch that gnome; not helping a brother out.
Fight the Power!The one in the next scenario (The Empyreal Monastery) was positively 'fruity'. What is it with gnomes? They seem to attract all the crazies.
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Paz, I hope you don't mind me unspoilering this:
There was some confusion around nominating the 'table MVPs' to go into the draw to have a figure painted. On a couple of tables I played on, the players seemed to agree I deserved the nomination, but as far as I know, that never made it on to the sheet. Was I supposed to write it in myself, or the GM, or...? I was going to query it at a suitable opportunity, but by the time I'd grabbed a bite for lunch on Sunday the sheet was taken down and I think the draw already done.
I'll direct Chris to this thread for the official Blackfeather response, but the intent was that the GMs would sign up nominees and then Dave or Rob would draw one per slot. As some folks were leaving early, the decision was taken to just make awards for the first four slots and this freed up a voucher so that two of the goblins from Saturday night could get one each.
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Paz, I hope you don't mind me unspoilering this:
There was some confusion around nominating the 'table MVPs' to go into the draw to have a figure painted. On a couple of tables I played on, the players seemed to agree I deserved the nomination, but as far as I know, that never made it on to the sheet. Was I supposed to write it in myself, or the GM, or...? I was going to query it at a suitable opportunity, but by the time I'd grabbed a bite for lunch on Sunday the sheet was taken down and I think the draw already done.I'll direct Chris to this thread for the official Blackfeather response,
Hi Paz. I agree that the procedure caused confusion - a number of announcements were made but lots of people were still asking questions - we'll work on that for next year, with better posters and a procedure. I offered Dave and Rob the six free figures and their commissions awhile back as my way of giving something back to this great convention but hadn't got around to sorting out how I was going to run it. Sorry about that and can only put it down to my two other jobs as engineer and mum taking my time.
Competition for figures was fierce and it's possible that you were nominated for multiple slots and still didn't get lucky. I am sorry for your disapointment. The draw was made and announced between slots 4 and 5, and everyone who won was in the room at that point and collected their prizes.If you are still eager to get a figure painted, send me a PM via the boards and we can discuss.
Thanks for the feedback and will sort it out for next year.
Chris BB
Blackfeather Designs