Worldwide D&D Game Day is just around the corner, November 5th. It looks like I'll be running a table at A1 Comics in Roseville, California this year.
Is anyone else going to be out at a FLGS? With a little word on the street, maybe some of us in the Paizo community can meet face-to-face. What about the Paizo staff? Anyone going out and about Seattle?
I was in Korea last year, and I ran two sessions through the Eberron adventure they provided. I'm looking forward to participating again this year.
Cool! See, that was fast. Anyone else have WWDDGD plans?
Cool! See, that was fast. Anyone else have WWDDGD plans?
We could have an epic rematch of kobolds vs gnomes?
Unfortunately I'm in Iraq and won't be able to join anyone for WWD&DGD. Though I do hope to gather a few people up here on base and get a little bit of action going on! Wish me luck in rounding up some players!
A bit from my Hoarde
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Wow, that was a lot of fun. Nothing like a little taste of a "Con" atmosphere at the local gaming store. It was a pleasure to meet Big Jake and introduce a couple lads to D&D. I ran the official scenario and must say...zowwie! I haven't had a TPK in years. Overall, a lot of laughs, a lot of smiles, a lot of fun. Thanks to A-1 Comics in Roseville, CA, for hosting and for WotC to put together the scenario packets. Everyone enjoyed the maps and miniatures! Did anyone else get to participate in the World-wide Play Day? Any fun anecdotes?
We drove up to Seattle to participate in the event at the Sci-Fi Museum with all of the WOTC staff members in the local area. We ended up having Dave Noonan DMing our session and I ended up getting my fighter killed by the half-ogre Barbarian when I tried to save another PC from certain death.
We also started a pick-up session of the new Hellspike Prison scenario for a few hours until we had to leave. The whole event was pretty entertaining, but it could have been promoted better. We expected crowds and perhaps only had a hundred or so people walk through or play throughout the day.
I had e-mailed the store that I was going to to find out the time that the D&D game was to start. The store owner and the guy that was running it told me noon. I got there like 10 minites befor noon and waited to play. 5 hours later no one showed. Me and the Store owner ended up playing a skermish then a few of the people that were there playing Magic played duces and Uno. It was fun times all the same but never got to play. He ended up giving me a ton of the free stuff so the day was not a total loss. Oh well next year.
Didn't get to participate, both of the major game stores in the area just didn't seem too interested. I have to agree with a comment up post, maybe a bit more promotion next year? I would have tried to run it myself had I a little more time...
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Yes, promotion would have helped. I believe the local stores were left to their own devices on what to do. I had been approached a couple months ago about running a table and tried to talk up the day with my extended gaming group. The store had planned on having a PvP arena for PCs to duke it out for prizes and a couple of other scenarios prepped to go, but when I had arrived around 5PM, there were only five tables going total. I was a bit disappointed with the turn-out, considering last year's event players had been turned away for lack of DMs/room. Big Jake ran the scenario a couple of times and I ran it just the one time. But it sure was fun. And yes, the free swag was well worth it too. The Seattle event sounded great. I hope players had a chance to get their PH's signed. ::smile:: My original 3E PH looks like a yearbook after a couple Gen Cons.
The half-ogre barbarian had heard the PCs making a helluva lot of noise dealing with the spider swarm and skeletons. So he had waited in the shadows for the PCs to wander into the fountain area. Sure enough, someone set off the trap and he charged the gnome cleric that wasn't caught in the web. The invisible drow moved into positions in the ensuing melee and quickly finished off the rest of the PCs. Well, the kobold sorcerer went invisible and scampered off...
The biggest bonus of the evening was having two first-time players at the table. We lured them over from their "Attack!" WWII boardgame. It was great to see the shimmer of excitement in their eyes as they had their first taste of D&D. They asked lots a good questions. I sent them home with the dice from the scenario. Judging that they've signed on to my gaming group's website, I'd say a couple of new players have been added to the D&D pool.
And it was equally cool to meet Rexx. I got to the store around 10:30, and there were already other DMs there, so I went to each of them and asked "Are you Rexx?" Each of them said that they weren't... and I was actually a little relieved, because none of them really "the kind of guy that I normally hang out with." But when Rexx showed up and I asked "Are you Rexx?" his quick smile and reply of "Are you Big Jake?" made it readily clear that he was very much like "the kind of guy that I normally hang out with."
After our games we talked a bit about our Age of Worms campaigns, compared notes, noticed that we both pronounced "Alustan" differently, speculated on what Tenser (we're both running Greywhak) is really up to, then about Greyhawk in general, then some past campaigns, and then... . Well, it turns out we had quite a bit that we could have gone on and on about.
But my two groups went very well. The first group was just three people, two that haven't played D&D for several years, and never 3.x edition. So while we were waiting to see if anyone esle would show, we discussed the rules updates, and I passed around my core rulebooks. The third player was a young high school student who has only ever played 3.5, so it was fun talking 'bout the "old days" with him. They all had fun, and the first two left saying that they finally felt the "pull" to return to the game.
The second group was a group of five friends , and a sixth person who runs his own weekly group who just happened to stop by the store. The guy who took the gnome cleric asked if he could change it to a human, and I said yes, but he only changed his miniature and the race on the character sheet. Half way through the adventure, he realized he didn't change the racial stats, and after a few "barely missed" attacks, he started to fix the stats saying he was still recoving from a bout of "the gnomes."
It's fun to DM for a group that knows each other, because I get to hear some one-liners that you just know have to have some history. The kobold sorceror, for one, was never allowed to use a ranged weapon, and they made a comment something along the lines of "at least she didn't forget her clothes this time."
I had a really good time, and the players did as well, so I guess I did okay. And it was fun watching the kids join Rexx's game.
They were at first really into what they were doing (they had just bought a new game they wanted to play), then asked a few questions, followed by a few more, then the next time I glanced over, they were at his table listening to Rexx as he described an eloborate tapestry that looked remarkably just like the battlemap on the table (I then stole that idea for my second group!).
We had a ball. I took my sons (10 and 6) and were the first players there. Two teenagers, one who had played a little and never a spellcaster and one who had never played showed up a little later. I haven't REALLY played since the 80's but have the 3.0 books so I was at least little comfortable with the 3.5 rules.
I must say it was a TPK. Using level 4 characters with CR6 encounters are a little tough. If my Fighters Powerful Charge had not failed on the half ogre it might have been a differnet story...but rolling a 3 on the atttack doesn't help <G> The dice were not kind this day.....
I think the coolest thing was when the Cleric blew away the skeletons with a turning while in the midst of a spider swarm! It's too bad the spellcaster's did not really get what they could do until we were all dead. <SBG>
My son loved the event and both of them loved the free figure. He wants to know when we can play again.....
But the one thing the game showed me where we are weak is the spells.....need to brush up on them......
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I had a blast. I haven't had a chance to play since well before 3E came out, so this was a learning experience as well as a lot of fun. Of course, my other reason for attending was accomlished as well, I met some other gamers (finally) and now might have a regular game. Hoorah for me!
As for the game, we barely survived. I played the changeling rogue and got dropped to negative hit points at least twice. But still, we killed all but the lead drow, got the amulet, and looted what we could. And I at least finished the game with my character on his feat. Although that reminds me, was the changeling a chick? The minature sure made me think so, so I just pretended it was a dude whose chanegling powers got out of control and gave him breasts.
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Well, it turns out we had quite a bit that we could have gone on and on about.
Yes, so very true.
I'm at fault for not fascilitating a continuation of our conversation. Drop me a Private Message at Difonix.com or an e-mail (difonix@yahoo.com). Yeah, I'm "Difonix" though the "Rexx" account works too at Difonix.com. I'd love to game with you sometime, Big Jake. I have friends (husband-wife duo) that live in Yuba City that would love to have a regular game again as well.
It's good to hear some folks were able to get the amulet and "win". ::smirk::