Monthly Archives: February 2020

A decision!

Brain is up and down, as always. Possible developments that I’m not ready to talk about have happened, and while they’re good, I’m not getting my hopes up yet. No D&D this week, owing to player illness. There’s talk of a pirate themed interlude to give our GM a break, which I’m down for as I dig pirates. Shocking, I know. In other news, there’s new Clone Wars and it looks stunning. The voice actors haven’t missed a step in the 6 years since the show originally ended, and the new animation is flat out gorgeous. No spoilers, but I got all manner of choked up at the end of Episode 2. Yeah, I’m easily emotionally manipulated.

Nodwick #318

So, I’ve chosen a Blackpowder character. I’m going for the big game hunter, from Padrice (psuedo France). I’m keeping the Noble family background I’d previously discussed, as well as the family trouble. Looking at the setting, there’s a mountainous region there, which has produced many of Padrice’s greatest generals. That seems to fit with what I was working on, and my head canon is that they’re seen as hicks by some in the capital, let alone the forest of backstabbing and intrigue that is the Emperor’s Court. I’ll email the admins about it when I have it in a more presentable format, mostly to check that nothing clashes with what they have, or are planning.

This leads to costume. I’m looking at something that will blend into to the forest. A dash of Aragorn, some Bard the Bowman for flavour and a pinch of D&D Ranger to taste. I was thinking a hood over a tunic, but with my giant and odd shaped head, I’d rather try before I buy. Or at least double check the returns policy. Tunic wise, the closest I’ve seen is this and while it’s not historical, it’s both pretty close to what I was thinking, and looks battered. (I also want one in purple, but that’s not for game,  outside of game), but a hooded surcoat is tempting, not just for the profile, but the chance to un-belt it and run, hopefully looking all windswept and interesting, is damn tempting. I do love the chance for some windswept and interesting.

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The other option I’ve been kicking around is a long 18th century style waistcoat. That’d give a hint at the noble origins, but one more battered and hard wearing than your typical noble garb. A hidden pocket on the inside wouldn’t hurt either. I’ve a cheap costume vest that can be taken apart for a pattern that should work for either, which means some fabric shopping may be in my future.

Colour wise I’m thinking shades of dark green, but maybe a dark grey for the tunic underneath. I also still want some national colour, that being blue, so I’ll likely wear the sash under the tunic. I’m not planning to carry my rapier through the woods, sticking to the bow and knife but  a tomahawk is tempting. What can I say, I like axes. I’ve a hunting horn, though I’ll need to tie that to something, and the pouches I have should do the trick storage wise. Snacks are essential in a LARP, almost as essential as being excellent to each other and wearing comfortable shoes.

Time to sleep. Be seeing you.

*snores* What?

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and my head is a mess. I’m over tired, and kinda fried. I took the first sleeping pill I got from one of my doctors Friday night and I’m glad I waited till then, as it wiped me out most of Saturday. I’d been looking forward to Saturday night, in which I was going with Godson, Age 10 and his mother to see Alice Cooper, the boy’s first rock show. Well, unless you count the Wiggles gigs he saw as a nipper. Things did not start well, as owing to a spectacular 3-way stuff up between myself, Sydney Buses and Google Maps, things got so cocked up travel wise so we missed the first support act, the MC50, who I’d dearly wanted to see and I raced in to catch Airborne’s final song.

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Fortunately, Alice helped make up for that, with he and his band putting on a cracker of a show. Things kicked off with Feed my Frankenstein, and it was on for young and old. (Also, the makeup of the audience). Alice prowled the stage, as his guitarists hurled themselves around and the drummer had a fine knack for twirling and hurling his sticks around. A hapless young teen was butchered by Jason Voorhees during He’s Back and I’m Eighteen is still one of the most perfect pieces of teen angst ever put to tape, one that hits me as hard at 39 as it did at 18.

The solos, while more than technically proficient, left me a bit cold, as with every twirl or throw of a drumstick I couldn’t help but think ‘Will this be the time he drops one?’ A confetti cannon blasted cash in the air during Billion Dollar Babies, and it wouldn’t be an Alice set with him being murdered somehow, this time by Madame Guillotine. it winds up with a short encore of Department of Youth and School’s Out, with a large section of the audience racing for the gents seconds afterwards, if the queue where I was was any indication. As one fellow in the queue noted “It’s an ageing rock crowd and a prostate issue.”

We made our way outside just as Queen were working through Bohemian Rhapsody next door, and it’s a testament to both the power of that song and Wayne’s World based nostalgia that it immediately summoned an impromptu singalong and air guitar from the crowd. Mercifully, the train ride home was far speedier than getting there, so all ended well. Both Godson and his mother enjoyed the show, which was pleasing. You’ll have to survive without photos, as being up in the nosebleeds meant mine are blurry as hell.

Friday night was spent at the theater with my wife, watching the Complete Works of Shakespeare. It was a Valentine surprise, that I’d worked to keep. I was told a few weeks ago that she had plans, and that I would like them, and despite a couple of offers to let me know, I elected to keep the surprise. I adore that show, for the sheer lunacy and jokes like “Titus Andronicus, the cooking show!” I continue to be glad I managed to avoid being dragged on stage. A glorious night, and well worth catching if you can.

Krustyaudience

Outside that, the LARP angst has continued. Well, less angst and more indecision. The torment of so many options and a deadline creeping up on me. Every-time I think I’ve made a decision, the brain reminds me of other options, in it’s usual distracting fashion. Also, having started to learn rapier has me wanting to carry one, and I hadn’t initially planned on that. Fortunately, I own a LARP one, along with a suitable baldric, so that’s one problem sorted. One the bright side, I’ve submitted to Pheno, so *fingers crossed* Now I just have to endure the wait will late April/early May when I find out if I’m successful.

Be seeing you…

Can’t sleep, so writing.

It’s another night of ‘Oh Gods, I can’t sleep’, or in the words of Lemmy, ‘I should be tired, but all I am is wired’ so here goes.

The brain is a bit wonky. The heat has subsided somewhat, mercifully. Having a tooth pulled on Saturday wasn’t fun, though the dentist staff were bloody lovely, both when I charged in looking like a drowned rat and apologizing profusely for accidentally pulling at my beard. The recovery hasn’t been too bad, thankfully, though the mouth ulcer on the same side of my mouth as the removed tooth was remarkably ill-timed. Also, my wife has let me nap a lot, which is lovely. She’s the best.

Phenomenon submissions have opened, and I hope to have mine done this week, for my Babylon 5 freeform. It’s more than a bit nerve wracking, because I think it’s a solid idea for a game, and I really don’t want to screw it up. I love the B5 universe and while I’m wary of what players could do to it, I really want to see what happens. It’s a problem I have when running games for settings I love, in that I have a vision of that setting and don’t like it when it’s fucked with, so we’ll see what happens there. The game’s set in a time of the show basically untouched by canon, which should help. I’m quietly confident, but it’s pretty different from the last two games I’ve submitted, so I’m not treating it as a lock.

Council
In Valen’s Name…

Alas, and with much sadness, Good Society was cancelled owing to low ticket sales. I’m more than a bit sad about that one, as I was really looking forward to getting my Firth on. Or, as my wife put it, “It’s a romance game based around manners, that’s exactly your jam.” Politeness is one of my things, to say the least. I joke when queried that ‘You’ve not met my mother, you don’t know the level of polite to which I was raised’, and it’s frequently hilarious when friends meet her and discover just how intensely I mean that. She’s a saint.

 

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If only there had been a pool at the venue…

The prep for Blackpowder and Bloodlines continues, and it’s mostly been flailing. The old standbys of ‘Hey, here’s other character ideas’ and ‘Look at all those beautiful costumes, can you possibly match that standard?’ crawled into my head late last night and refused to leave. It’s not that I haven’t found kit that fits the character idea, it’s just been a spate of overthinking whether it matches the costume brief and of it either being horribly expensive or cheap as shit. (Wish, I’m looking in your direction… And while we’re talking, could you please stop recommending me sex toys?)

There was a few minutes early this morning I was tempted to go ‘Oh hang it all, I’ll just play a musketeer and be young and stupid’, or any of the myriad other ideas I’ve had for the game. I at least know what nation I’m from, so that helps narrow things down a bit. It’s much the same problem I have when game writing, especially a month or two out from the convention, when I get enough ideas for the next 3 conventions. I’m pretty sure that’s where the Ewok game came from though, so sometimes good comes from it.

Sure, I’ve a pile of leather scraps I’ve been tempted to try and turn into a half cape (They were originally purchased for an Orcish war skirt) and that’s an option. My wife’s holding a craft day this weekend, so I could certainly look into it. I should be able to drape it over the back quiver I have and not have it affect my shooting, I hope. In other options, the signet ring I was after is now out of stock in my size and while I’ve found either a vest or jerkin that I think will work, my over thinking and budget concerns has me doubting things. Or do I go for a short sleeve gambeson instead? Stupid brain. Also, said brain continues to insist that the my character idea is dumb and mostly pinched from Aragorn. Stupid anxiety. And I still can’t find a shirt or tunic I like that doesn’t have giant billowy sleeves. Harrumph.

For those who came in late, the character idea is thus: A noble scion who’s next in line for the family fortune, but who’s siblings are getting somewhat aggressive about getting the cash. To the point of sending assassins. Therefore, he’s journeyed to the New World, under the pretext of trophy hunting, slightly incognito (Hence the fancy signet ring that’ll easily identify him to any would-be assassins – what’s the use of a secret if it doesn’t leak?) till things cool down. I’ve a reason to be there, something to do, and something that’ll cause complications. I think that’s a good start.

I should probably start putting all the possible kit for the game in one place (I know I still own the pants I was going to wear, having previously worn them at my wedding), but I should check they still fit properly. Quitting sugar has taken a surprising amount of weight from my waistline, and according to my wife I’m still shrinking.

I’m gonna sign off and try and sleep again. Before you think it’s all angst and horror, there’s some genuinely good news to report: I’m seeing Alice Cooper Saturday night, Faith No More are touring soon and there’s a new Testament album incoming, though I still need to get a ticket to Download. But looming above all things, is an event I’m looking forward to almost as much as my anniversary – it’s under 3 months till Iron Maiden! *air guitar solo*

More to come. Be seeing you.

Plots, plans and play.

So, there’s been a burst of creativity, or attempting to document things more. So, here goes. For those seeking an update, the brain hasn’t been so great, but seems to be on an upward tick. Whether that’s due to the slightly lower temperature, or that I’ve started learning at another sword class (Italian rapier at Drummoyne, for those curious). My Saturday’s are jam packed with stuff, so Tuesday was the only option, and rapier means I can swash my buckle, if you know what I mean…

I also scored a copy of S2 of Britannia from work, which means come payday I’ll be grabbing S1. it looks an interesting show, but I’m a sucker for Roman era Britain, in particular north of the wall. (You can blame Robert E Howard for that) There was a brief thought of trying to write an event in that time period, even before watching the show (My enthusiasm can get the better of me from time to time), but let’s be honest, it’d be little more than an excuse to mention a certain as yet unconquered village in Gaul. *

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The Blackpowder and Bloodlines prep has continued, mostly in my head. The over thinking about props and costume hasn’t stopped, with such important questions as ‘Does that fit the costume brief?’ and ‘Do I want a tomahawk?’ rattling round the head. I’m firming up on my characters back story and why I’ve come to the New World. Also, I had an excuse to re-watch Brotherhood of the Wolf, both for inspiration and cause it’s a beautiful (and utterly bonkers) film. On the other side, if you’re curious about playing the Good Society LARP, then you have till the 8th to buy a ticket – that’s the cut off date to decide if the GM’s will run the event, or even just the NSW session, which my wife is planning to attend (She’s on stage the night of the Brisbane session, so I’ll be flying solo if it runs). So, hurry up and GET YOUR AUSTEN ON PEOPLE**.

We had session 1 of the new Star Wars game last week, and things are starting to come together. I’ve still not quite got my characters personality down pat yet, but it normally takes me a few sessions to properly gel. Our GM has asked us for some background info to work with the module he’s running, so that’ll give me a chance to come up with more links. And it was fun, which is the important thing. Looking forward to the next session.

More to follow. Be seeing you…

*I made a gourd of Getafix’s magic potion the McGuffin in a game a few years ago, and while disturbingly few people got the reference, one person nearly falling off a chair with laughter made it all worthwhile. Thanks Massive Q!
** I have been informed by my wife that I must now actually know something about Jane Austen, in book or movie form. I have also been told that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies doesn’t count.