Stage Ninja

I have been going around defining new depths of nerdery for my self lately and I guess it is time for a full explanation. There is an improv type show called The DungeonMaster that happens every two weeks in a tiny little theater in Hollywood. A friend of mine has invited me to go to the show with her and since she always goes fun places and does fun things, I decided to tag along. The show is two bucks cheaper if you dress up and since she was dressing up too, I dug out my SCA garb and showed up in medieval-ish clothes. When we got there they asked if we wanted to sign up to participate, and I figured that I might as well if I got all dressed up.

I wound up on stage participating in what is a fantasy roleplay type theater show where the adventuring party is chosen from the audience. The basic rundown is that we are searching for the pieces of a magical whatsit to fix the flow of magic throughout the world and we have to go through a series of scenes and solve problems and defeat opponents to get to that end. I was killed by ninjas, resurrected and then dragged to a watery death by a kraken. This character was obviously not good enough.

I went a second time and didn't sigh up to participate. I was able to enjoy a the show and watch as people stumbled around clueless and ineffective. After having a chance to watch the show without the pressure of figuring things out, I had a better picture of how to play the game, and a better idea for a character.

The third and fourth times I played a ninja. I have the whole black getup and went out and bought the toy ninja sword from the G.I. Joe movie, so that I wouldn't be weaponless like I was the first time. I have been very successful and now have a good rapport with the pirate captain who is the party's guide. In addition I have been having fun getting to know some of the cast. Very fun people (even if they are actors) and good times.

Good Weekend

It has been quite a weekend! It started friday after finishing off a complicated bid at work and sending it off to the potential client. After work a bunch of us gathered t0 play Warhammer 40,000. I faced off against my friend Zeb at about 11:00pm (2000pts Tyranids vs Space Marines) and we played until 5:30am. I managed to grab the victory but it was looking dicey for a couple of turns. I didn't make it home until 6:00am and then since the sun was coming up in a half hour, I stayed up and watched it from the roof of the apartment below mine.

I grabbed a few hours sleep and then headed down to Costa Mesa to hang with some friends and watch the new TV show "V". Overall I was underwhelmed. There seemed to be very little innovative or original in the show. Most of the graphics were spotty and some of the scenes were almost comical (not in a good way). All that was made better by the company though. We had some good chill times and rather than drive home at 1:00am as I usually do when I visit the OC I spent the night.

Pancakes for breakfast at noon (thank you Amanda) and then Jeff took me along to his Sunday 'Hackmaster' game. This is a system I hadn't played before. It started more or less as a parody of Dungeons & Dragons based on the comic "Knights of the Dinner Table". The game is designed to be complicated and intricate, and to sometimes be flat out difficult to understand. A few times I felt like what every gamer's girlfriend must feel like when dragged to a D&D game and thrown into a complex roleplaying system that they are not prepared for. All in all I had fun. I had already met most of the players once and they are good people. I have to think about if I am going to play again. Their next session is in two weeks so I have time to make up my mind.

Durring the game I got the opportunity to try Sam's home brewed German-style hefeweizen. It had a light taste with a bit of citrus flavoring imparted by his secret yeast. I complemented him on it and he gave me a couple of bottles to take home. New RPG, new friends, and free beer, what a day! After the game I headed home.

Back in Pasadena, I took a look at Sarah's bicycle to try and fix its brakes. I gave it a look-over and adjusted a few things to get the brakes lined up better and took it for a quick test ride. During the test ride the chain snapped, and so now the brakes work but the bike has no chain! I will have to see if Sarah wants me to help her with the chain. Maybe she doesn't want me to touch her bike again.

Game Session 4

Last night I lead the fourth session of my D&D campaign. Oh man combat galore. I threw a whole bunch on nasties at them and they beat them back. I really did a more combat oriented game then I wanted but Its kind of how they handled it too. Rush onward! Well I plan on more puzzles next time (and I mean it this time). I have three weeks to prepare so I think I will find a couple of hours in that time to sit down and write something up. Four sessions! its the second longest game I've ever run!

Ants, Ants Everywhere!!!

Today was the second session of my campaign which I am calling the "New World" campaign for lack of a better name. It worked out well except for a certain repetition. I once again handed over a plot hook with all the finesse of a 17 year old with a hard-on (wow that was unnecessarily graphic). And so the party was off to kill giant ants. 5 hours and 41 man sized ants later everyone made it to 3rd level. A good time was had by all. Now I have two weeks to plot and scheme about the next session. I am thinking that since we spent all of last session hacking apart mindless giant ants, that the next session will involve more thinking and traps. Bonus hint for any of my players who read this: not all keys are shaped like keys.

"This is your Captian speaking"

I started DMing my own campaign yesterday. It was fairly successful. The characters seem to be a good mix of abilities, and the players are getting along. We started the game without my brother due to a scheduling conflict (he was in Vegas) but I think he will forgive me. The story begins as the group is asked to slay the monster that is tearing up the vineyards of one of the PCs girlfriend's father. The funny thing about this is that the player in question is a woman playing a man. Her character's name is Richard Turgidson. Yeah she went there. They were successful and are starting to develop their personalties and style.

A Long Day Deserves a Long Post

To preface the kind of day I had let me tell you that I got to sleep last night at a little after 3:00am. I think it was the cup of coffee I had in the morning supplemented by the cup of earl grey (black tea) that I had in the afternoon.
I got up at about 7:30am and threw myself together as usual I slept in a bit too much. I rushed out only a zone diet bar as breakfast. I got to work at about 8:40am to do some crazy and somewhat dangerous equipment moves. The stuff had to be relocated out of a room while they do construction, and it is vital gear that they cannot live without, so we come in on the weekend and move it. At least I get paid time and a half for the 5th day. I There I had a couple doughnuts and a cup of earl grey tea to supplement my breakfast, and for lunch: delicious nutritious Taco Bell!
I was at work till 2:00pm at which time I headed out for an hour drive to a D&D game that I was already late to. I started to get drowsy on the freeway where the 55 meets the 405, and I took the 405 north and had to turn around, but i made it there safely. The game was great if a little dominated by a couple of fights (good though they were) that we got into. It ended with a feeling of progress and new goals set, which is important for maintaining player interest. Except for a break for In-N-Out we played straight through to 11:30. I started to drowse at about 10:30pm from all the lack of sleep and bad nutrition but I pulled it together and stayed awake through to the end.
Next was the Rocky Horror Picture Show, so at11:30pm I sped away from the game, hitting the door just as soon as the game was wrapped up. I wish that I had time to stay and chat but come other friends were meeting me at the Nuart in LA for Rocky. Another hour long drive later I arrived late for the show. Luckily (?) for me they take their sweet time getting going, and I didn't miss anything. My friends enjoyed themselves so I consider it a grand success.
Now I am finally home, tired and for some reason blogging. It is after 3:30am again and I had better turn in.


I really think I need to get more sleep.

DND RHPS tired

Today was an eventful day. the only thing I didn't do is run. This is becoming a problem. I need to start getting in my long training runs but I never get to them on the weekend. Sigh.

Oh the other hand I did have a bundle of fun at Craig's D&D game. We had a lot of joking and yet still made good progress. I am looking forward to the next session. I really like how our group has evolved. Its a good breakup of personalities and styles. And the games are made more fun and casual with sandwiches and drinks (both alcoholic and non) Good Times.

After the game I rushed like a madman down to LA to see Sins O' the Flesh perform the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This is my 12th time watching that freaking movie and, well, 'madness takes its toll.' I took my coworker Chris and he seemed to have a decent time. It was definitely something out of his experience.