Galavant Strikes Back

I survived Gen Con and avoided the con crud, so now it's back to our regularly scheduled programming . . .  Spoilers ahead!

I loved the first season of Galavant and think it is one of the best and most subtly subversive shows of 2015.  Wait . . . wait . . . there is no way you can call Galavant subtle (This is what I hear you saying. Well, at least the eight other people that have watched it. High fives and a round of my favorite rock band song: Irish Blood, English Heart for us all.). 

Just go with me on this. Galavant's main cast is remarkable. They are a healthy mix of races and gender, and at the same time, the show doesn't make a big deal about it. That is the subtly subversive part; there is not stereotypical background for any of the characters. They are written as people--fallible, funny, and each with their own purpose.  The characters are just written as characters. That was so refreshing it hit me like I was standing in front of the Juggernaut, while he was charging at Chuck.  

Beside my love of the character development, I will admit that my natural inclination was to like Galavant. I'm a musical-loving fiend. For my 40th birthday, my wife got us tickets to Something Rotten on Broadway and my favorite musical is a toss up between Company and Man of La Mancha.  So, the show basically had to not suck and I would have watched it. 

When I finally saw that this show was getting a second season, I was elated! Long story, shortish . . . you should rush out and watch the first season in preparation for the second season. For all of my Pathfinder, D&D and fantasy gamers, it is just like watching a party assemble and stumble through a slew of misadventures until they hit the campaign. 

Be warned we have reached spoil territory. Turn back now if you haven't seen it. (Go watch it and come back. Then tell me what you thought of it, ok?)

The show was full of small gems, that are somewhat familiar but invigorating at the same time.  One the bits that comes to mind instantly, is the training montage Isabella has given Galavant which highlights the lengths he must go to get back in shape after his long drunken stupor in order to prepare for the joust tournament. He trains so hard that he can barely move the day of the tournament and Isabella most use her cunning to win the day. 

Watching the three heroes travel around this fictional land reminds me of my time in IZ (Iraq, for those civvies out there). When deployed with the Army, you grow closer to the people in your squad, you become friends, and they are constantly with you. And even though your friends ride you harder than you'd ever experienced before, when push comes to shove, you're a team with a common mission. However, deployment did not involve musical numbers to keep the plot moving. 

Season 2 should premiere in early 2016. Set your DVRs!

RPG Fridays: GenCon Spirit Lives On

What a great GenCon.  This was the best one yet. This was probably the first year I really felt like I was a part of something bigger than just me, and the first year where I felt like I made an impact. I wrote, ran multiple games, co-GMed games with my crew and avoided the ConCrud (but still took about three days to get back to normal).  I think total players for me was at more than 65, counting all the games. I may have even found a new gaming group to play with and and possibly co-GM Shadowrun. 

The Travel

The flight out to Indy was great this year and only cost me 25 bucks, mind you. This is the benefit of having a clusterf*ck of flight issues last year which resulted in driving back to DC with my buddy, John. If not for my amazing wife, spamming a certain airline last year on Twitter for their dubious service, the $25 miracle would not have happened.  

I had loaded up my iPhone with a number of new podcasts for the flight and the inevitable waiting in the airport. The best one of the crop was Dave's Daredevil podcast. That is a guy who loves Old Hornhead and makes you rethink the character. Give him a listen shout out and say you heard about him from your friends at Darker Hue Studios. Same for my usually standbys: Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time, Now Playing, Dusted and Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men. Of course I am also always armed with an arsenal of music (like Sam Cooke and Leon Bridge).

Let the Gaming Begin!

Almost as soon as I touched down it was gaming time. I spent about an hour in the airport reviewing Godlike rules for my game Panthers on the Prowl (that will be a Kickstarter project in a couple of months), and then it was planning meetings with the YTCC gang.  During the POTP game, the Panthers slayed, quite literally, as the players died in blaze of flaming glory. It was amazing. They managed to place a Panzer in a Time Fugue for three rounds; if only it had been five!

Over the following days I ran Shadows Descent on the Hurston six times and everyone loved it. The last session was incredible, cinematic and horrific as everything spiraled out of control. One of the most impressive things was watching the scientist create a nitroglycerin grenade and destroy a Mythos horror!

Shadows ran great, but it is time to add my GenCon addendum to the scenario (and Panthers) then put it away. Next year is a new year, so it is time for a new game. Never too early to start planning! Even typing this is making me nearly giddy.

The Good, The Bad, and What's Next

The downside to all of this awesome GMing? I failed my own GM GenCon Rule #3. I missed meeting up with people like Robin, Shane and more. I am currently kicking myself for missing the Arc Dreams and Pelgrane Press conference!

Looks like AcadeCon is right around the corner and their Kickstarter opened the other day. YTCC will be there running amazing games, geek talking and raising the bar. Darker Hue Studios will possibly join (alas, I do have a kid and may not be able to get away again). We are debating which games to run right now. If you have a favorite or something you played and want to play again, just post our on Facebook page: YTCC.  

On a more personal note, I felt like I made an impression on a number of people. A number of players said they would buy any product I put out and talked about how they want to see more diversity in gaming.  Someone even told me that he did not think black people knew how to game and realized just how wrong he was. While having to prove a PoC can game is depressing, it is also inspiring to hear someone change his mind.

Keep following, reading and striving for change. We can do it together, even if it is one game at a time!

RPG Fridays: Top 5 GM GenCon Tips

I've written a follow up to my previous post about GenCon tips that is aimed at my fellow GMs, based on my three years of GMing at GenCon. Hope to see some of you next week!

1. Don't Be That GM 

You know what I am talking about. The GM that judges your players based on race, gender, level of geek prowess, etc. At my second GenCon, I was psyched to play in the Laundry due to my love of Delta Green and Call of Cthulhu. The stink eye and insulting tone from the GM ended that excitement pretty quickly. I stuck around for two hours (the other players asked me to stay since the game needed three people to run), but we then reached a point when the GM asked if I was smart enough to come up with the scenario-winning idea I just presented to the team. Not my character, but if I was smart enough. This is when I stood up, wished the other players a great con and told that GM that he'd be a great story for the bar later. Remember everyone is there to have fun and that these people paid to be in your game. 

2. Preparation

This goes for all GMing (that laughing you hear is from my tendency to improv while GMing). Being at the con is awesome but make sure you have everything planned for your game(s). That custom tank shell you made for your Godlike game is useless if it is 3,000 miles away and you are running your game in 10 minutes. True, you can buy a lot of things you left at home but that takes up space and funds that could go to something else like that new RPG you never heard of but now absolutely love based on the cover art. 

3. Make Time

This is a tough one and one that I need to work on, as I am running at least five games this con. Make sure you set aside time to hangout with con friends, see all those people you want to see (hello Peter Davison), play in a game or two, and recharge your creative batteries. 

4. GenCon Responsibilities

This one is vital unless someone else is handling all of the leg work for you or you don't want to have an official game. 

5. After Game Antics

Enjoy the weekend, and the fact that family and responsibility are miles away. Accept that offer to grab a beer with the random player who just played in your game, or go offer to buy a scotch for that Game Designer that makes your favorite game and talk game theory.  I have found the best stuff is the unplanned stuff.

Bonus

The most important thing is to be early. If your game runs at 8:00, show up around 7:50 if possible, talk to the players, and use that pregame time to establish the setting, field any questions and get to know each other. 

Interested in joining one of our games at GenCon? Check out our upcoming events and look for our games on the GenCon website.

RPG Fridays: My Number One Rule for GMs

GM RULE #1: Always say, "Yes, but . . ."

It may have been said before, but GMing is an artform that is ever-evolving. My formative years of gaming had GMs with the mindset of GM vs. Players. I have seen a lot of players that bring that attitude with them to my table. To me this is a crazy, incongruous concept, as the GM dictates the world around the players. My style has always been that gaming is a cooperative experience with the GM being more of a program manager, or director on a movie set, or even a facilitator. The universe revolves around the players' actions, no matter how small or large the scope of the game. This could be used for an adventure as mundane as a group of Shadowrunners (Shadowrun is one of the greatest games ever created -- both the tabletop and PC versions.) going to the local grocery store for beer, or something as epic as Elric determining the fate of the world with his choice of Law or Chaos. 

When asked a question from my players, the answer is "yes" 98% of the time or "yes, but . . ." All actions are open to my players, and I explain to them that while they have all of this amazing freedom, all actions have consequences, some of which may not be visible right away (particularly for campaigns). This type of approach usually leads to some of the greatest RPG moments and requires a lot of thinking by the players to manage.  Most players nod quickly and take advantage of the freedom given to them, but that enthusiasm for freedom quickly subsides when the consequences rear their usually-ugly head(s) to thwart them. My poor Scion game was the worst case of always-saying-"yes" going horribly wrong because the players did not grasp the concept of consequences (a more detailed post for another Friday).

Saying "yes" creates story, which is the core of any RPG. It also creates a safe space for players to express their ideas and helps bring out shy players that primarily sit in the back and surf along.

An example...

A few years ago, a group of players were playing through Dawn of Defiance using the SAGA edition. (Possible spoilers ahead for Star Wars SAGA Edition campaign.) This campaign takes place during my favorite time for Star Wars: The Dark Times. It is just after the Jedi Purge, The Rise of The Empire, and you have nearly everything still in play. Beautiful. It is a time when choosing to be a hero means going up against impossible odds and each minor victory is in and of itself a miracle to be celebrated. 

The Heroes

Toleph-Sur Turai (Human Scoundrel): Street orphan-turned-actor who masqueraded his way into becoming a Pirate Captain until ousted by the crew. At the start of game, he is looking for a new ship and crew.

Cad Vookto (Duro Scoundrel): Ace pilot without a ship that loves his home world and hates what the Neimoidians and the Empire have done to it. 

Jento Fett (Clone Trooper): Jento doesn't know why his switch did not activate and is still loyal to the Jedi. He will topple the empire and give his brothers back their free will.  

McKenna Castle (Human Jedi): She escaped the great purge and has re-assumed her roll as a diplomat while aiding the Rebellion. She knows it is only a matter of time before she is discovered. 

Lothrakka (Wookiee Scout): A recently escaped slave who wants to destroy the empire. He can't do it alone and is looking for allies. He plans to free every slave he can. 

The Story

The party had fared well for their first few sessions but had reached the imperial base on Felucia and tripped the alarm. The group found themselves overwhelmed by wave-after-wave of stormtroopers, and eventually Toleph, his blaster having run out of shots,  gave his team an impassioned speech about freedom, that if they die it is for the right cause and the pirate life. He scored an amazingly high roll (coupled with some impressive roleplaying) that left the junior Imperial  officers stunned for a round. The unfazed stormtroopers continued firing and flooding the room. Seeing the stunned officers, Toleph's fellow players asked if he could spend a Destiny Point to have one of the officers close the blast doors. Following my golden rule, the answer was yes but you need to roleplay it out. 

Toleph dodged through an array of blaster fire, rolled up to a young Lt. Kraine (three weeks out of the academy), gave her a few moving words about the Rebellion, and kissed the officer.  What the player did not expect to happen was for the officer to permanently change sides and become his sidekick/lover for a number of sessions until she was killed saving his life.

That simple "yes" brought a RPG goldmine of complications and rewards all at once. It created tension, having a "former" imperial running around with the party and also gave the party low level Imperial Intel (if it was truthful). Lastly, it changed the way Toleph experienced the game and established an ongoing tragic romance element to his character. That was not the last lover he found and lost. 

That's the power of always saying:  "Yes, but . . ."

Frell You, Witcher 3!

I have been sick the past couple of days after a great trip to the beach with my extended family. My sick downtime has given me a chance to take a deep dive into The Witcher 3 game that has gotten a lot of glowing reviews, as well as a few reviews that discuss the diversity issues of the game.

The game is excellent. Let’s start with the truth of the matter. It is well written; it is nice how so many of the side-quests dovetail with the main quest, and the voice acting is top notch. It will not change the face of RPG gaming but I think it will make people take a serious look at how they play. For instance Dragon Age: Inquisition, which was a blast to play and fun to micromanage my equipment, but now having played The Witcher 3, my interest in replaying DA:O is minimal. Can we all just have to take a moment to mourn my DA:O personalized hero? (For those keeping track, he was a black elven rogue specializing in daggers with a paladin-like approach. He will be missed.)

At the same time, once I am done with The Witcher 3; I will not play it again. Every great second of playing the game is countered by the fact there are zero PoC in the game. In addition, the antagonists everyone hate in the game are called the Black Ones. (I can't make this stuff up.) This situation is a constant struggle for me. On one hand, I don’t want to reinforce these type of status-quo standards and the only way to change it is with dollars (either investing in, or divesting from games). We need to channel our voices about the change we want to see, and encourage more PoC to create material of the same or better quality. On the other hand, I am a geek, and don’t want to miss the experience. (Plus I have played the other two. I have fond memories of playing the first Witcher on my laptop in the sandbox, and how it helped me waste . . . umm, I mean spend . . . countless hours.)

How do we change the standard of the white hetero male protagonist? I'm reminded of a Kickstarter from a few months back (that I will not name) that was creating this sweet-looking medieval game with magic, dragons and a dark grittiness. One of their goals involved creating a character in the game that looked like you. I sent them a private message asking about PoC, since all of their pictures were of white people. The message I got back was: No, there were no black people back then!

Of course, I did not back that Kickstarter and think it failed in the end (Huzzah!). But lack of diversity in games and movies is all over the place. Have you seen the very, very white cast of the new Superman vs. Batman picture? (It won't receive my hard-earned money.)  And The Witcher 3, while it doesn’t identify PoC as the main bad guys (Tolkien, I'm looking at you.),  it does label them as "black." So, alas, this is also the last Witcher game I will ever buy.

The fight for diversity is ongoing, and one day I hope that the gaming industry will be different, creating so many video games with a characters that look like me that I don't have enough time to play them all. Every game should have creation options that allow you to tailor your character how you fit; and having PoCs and female characters do not lessen the narrative, they make it stronger and more compelling. 

Maybe it is time to restart Skyrim (or watch some on youtube) or break out Pillars of Eternity to tide me over until Fallout 4, all of which will allow me to play my character.