My second in a series of three posts on ACUS 2005



I was scheduled for four games, with an open slot. I took the chance to fill that empty slot on the early Sunday Game and have found myself now joined to a campaign that, in addition to Bridgette, I didn't remember that Felicia is in

IF WISHES WERE HORSES
I played Aram in two slots at ACUS, this was the first. Deb and Bridgette had another mind-bender, with the PCs sent to a "ideal" Amber where Caine ruled and was husband to a pregnant Vialle.

Despite the presence of some active and loud players (e.g., Stormy), I managed to assert myself in a way that I rarely do as a player in a game, especially a FTF game. I was a plot driver, since Aram had a clear and defined course of action and goal. It helps that he, unlike the other players, didn't wind up with a "wish fulfillment" like the other PCs did (as established from pre-game questions. Mine simply didn't fit in and so the GMs wisely never incorporated it). So in a sense that became an advantage for Aram, and ever more reason for him to focus on-task.

I had a lot of fun in the game. It was a wonderful way to start the Con. I didn't realize how well I played, until tryslora mentioned talking about me later on.

A COMMON DISASTER-RITES OF PASSAGE

The return of Cadmus, son of someone, Scion of Amber. With a lost NPC to be found, Cadmus thought he had a plot for the game session with Hawke and the NPC Regina. That is, until a damsel (okay, cousin) in distress came across their path, and Cadmus' protective instincts came forward in a big way.

The rest of his con session was involved in an attempt to get at her tormentor and fellow cousin, Taggert. Although they did not succeed, it was excellent roleplaying for Cadmus. I admit though, that in a room of five people, Cadmus' portrayal could not compare to the strength of Keith's portrayal of Hawke, Bridgette's portrayal of the now almost child-like Rhiannon, Brianne's strong portrayal of a tormented and fearful Anna, and who could forget Ginger's depiction of Martin (and we missed half of it in the backroom while Hawke, Cadmus and Anna planned Mayhem, Murder and Magic).

Cadmus gets 5th place in the "Dramatic portrayal" sweepstakes. And I had a great time.

EQUALIZER

My first experience as a player under the Hivemind, and THEIR first experience Gming straight-up Amber. As mentioned before, I brought a version of Aram and had a lot of fun. Gerard was shot (uh oh, working guns) and our group was up to the challenge of finding who did it. The trail eventually lead to a certain son of the Descatrix who got away, but not without some

Was I a plot driver? Not as much as IWWH, but I did contribute (I think.). I was mostly effective (I think). Aram, however, did make a miscalculation, and wound up getting shot for his pains by a certain Count...and then getting abandoned by his partner and left with the gunshot wound! Said wound kept Aram out of the final denouement with Dalt, though.

Still, it was funny that my sorcerer was #3 in Warfare in the group (and during a three person raid on a warehouse, he WAS the warfare leader (although far from being the strength one).

I had a great time.

AND SO IT BEGINS AGAIN

While it was ostensibly for returning players only, Michael was pretty low on those (a grand total of three). I was out of a game on that slot. Michael also needed a room to run.

Such are the small seeds that a game opportunity was born. Bridgette (one of those players) facilitated all this, and I couldn't resist the chance to play in a game with Bridgette's Odette.

I took a tabula rasa PC that never got off the ground and have started to make Basil (Bass-il) mine own. I've started to throw some irons into the fire and we will see what happens at future con slots. I enjoyed the session and trying to get a sense of Michael's world. I only later discovered while talking to Felicia about it that I have inadvertently picked up a younger sibling of her own character in that universe. Maybe she and Scott will return to future cons and so I will have a con slot with both Bridgette and Fe in it. That would make for interesting.

TO LIVE AND DIE IN TEXORAMI

Finally, and not least, came the infamous Sunday Night Texorami game as "managed" by Chris Kindred. More side stuff than actual plot, it still felt good to slip into Doctor Jonas Asherton, interacting with Mongo, the Undertaker, Michael's new gunslinger character, Bridgette's Guen Blackhawk, Anna'sBriAnne's silent bartender, and many many others.

I did not imbibe the freely flowing liquor, but kept in high spirits nevertheless, even if the Doc became my second character this con to manage to get shot (by a shapestealer revealed much later as Dara). I couldn't stay up more than 90 past the con slot ending, but that's part of the price of living in Texorami.


And Texorami ended my gaming con experience. I think I had an "on" con, others think I did. I'm reasonably pleased with the experience.


I am well pleased with my play at the Con.