Pennsic XXXII

I suppose it was inevitable, but I'm working on a filk that started buzzing through my head as I was leaving the parking lot. This was the best (and third) Pennsic for me, and for that I have my friends, old and new, to thank. This is in spite of being sick enough to drag my ass home Sunday evening to sweat out the heebie-jeebies. Thus, I missed Monday morning's Æthelmearc melee and had to sit out the Atlantian 5-man melee (of which Anias kindly told me that playing in “sucked.” I tried to believe him, too.). House Avarim had a strong show at War though. Parion and Illadore, also of notre maison, even won Drachenwald's mixed doubles tourney.

Camp Valdes with whom we camped is an interesting and oddly benign (i.e. mostly harmless) crew. Thanks to Logan and Jenny for inviting us. I haven't really hung out with that many gamers recently. It is becoming more common, which is leading me to recall that I have GM'd many campaigns. Munchkin, which I played for the first time at camp, is exactly the opposite of the adventures I used to run, which makes it such fun. And behind door number three — why it's a spike through the forehead! Thank you for playing! Do not pass Go…

The fireworks (more pics) were amazing. It was the best display I have ever seen, and if HRM Queen Elizabeth saw anything approaching it, her baldness is quite understandable (yes, I know it was due to smallpox — thank you inner pedant for trying to ruin my joke!). As Quinn joked, we thought there would be yellow sparklers and green sparklers with a finale of the two together. Those low expectations were shattered with the barrage of bombs exploding over the battlefield. Maewyn, Katherine, Anias and I were jerked up out of our seats, jaws to the ground with rousing exclamations of “Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Honestly, I think I only got “Jesus!” out, I was so stunned. The fort/castle/snowwall looked as if it had been assaulted and was in flames. The sizzlers, my favorite effect, were done to incredible excess. I kept checking my medications to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. It was that good. Many thanks and much genuflection to Cartwright Fireworks.

And my mind is now working around the art of defense constantly. Vicki said I was checking calibration in my sleep — on her back. It was good. I now have license to play with the heavy blades, which is a much more faithful tool in recreating 16th century combat. Thanks to Fergus for giving me a good deal on his blade, which is happy in my hands.

I'm also glad Drew could join us for his first Pennsic.

En fin — Gobi is good. My sincere thanks go to the Bog Family for their magnanimity.

Posted by Mike at August 19, 2003 07:10 PM | TrackBack