Origins report: Lonisisaga

From: Michael Schwartz <mschwartz_at_...>
Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2002 15:46:12 -0400

My events were a limited success. "Will Of The Gods" and "For King And Country" each had but a single player, insufficient to run either, but both were interested in learning the rules and I taught them the resolution mechanics, all three forms of character creation, and a bit about magic and heroquesting. "A Feathered Queen Arises)" and "The Sun Stands Betrayed" each had two players, although "Feathered Queen" requires a minimum of three. I ran "Will Of The Gods" for the "Feathered Queen" players instead, preferring that to canceling another event due to lack of warm bodies. "Bad Rain Over Taral" had three players, one of whom joined the game after the event for which he had registered was canceled
(the Origins hall captains did a fabulous job trying to find games for
players who were left hanging due to cancellations). Although he was a Glorantha and HeroQuest neophyte, he seemed to enjoy himself and played a Hu the Sword devotee to very good effect.

"A Brideprice From Hell" turned out to be the big success of the weekend. It completely sold out, though we lost one player to sleep deprivation about an hour into the event. We actually ran three hours over our alloted end time but no one seemed to care, we were having too much fun
(ask me about the ysabbau who quietly sang "Fish Heads" in the darkness
while munching on the scraps left behind by our heroes on the shores of the Styx Grotto amidst their wanderings in the Underworld sometime... but be prepared to hear Hans van Halteren scream). "Brideprice" was successful in another way as well: I ran it (including character creation) entirely from memory, as they closed the Exhibit Hall ten minutes early and my adventure materials (which Charlie Krank of Chaosium had graciously allowed me to stow at his booth while I took in the sights) got locked inside. When I popped open /Thunder Rebels/ the next morning to check how badly I misremembered keyword abilities, it turned out that I had been about 90% accurate. I am uncertain whether I shuld be pleased, frightened, or both. :)

Thanks to Mark Galeotti for his donation of six copies of Wesley's marvelous Map of the Lunar Empire to use as prizes, and to David Millians for carrying them to Columbus all the way from Georgia. Thanks also to Stephen Martin for sending me a draft of HeroQuest to review prior to Origins, even though I did not have time to do so. Lastly, thanks to Andy Dawson and Hans van Halteren for drumming up those few extra, crucial players without whom my events might never have run.

--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz_at_... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly