Als Tegel Manor was something I had been looking forward to for years.
Ever since the Giant Shrew vs BadMike stories from a few years ago (from a GenCon session he DMed...)
I was NOT dissapointed, except that I would NOT have minded playing all night long (It wa a morning session actually).
Al is a great DM and fun too.

And yes, for those who do not yet know:
Here is the qoute, or very close to it:
"Guys, I am starting to think that Tegel Manor might just be haunted..."

Father Brian is indeed a very good role player.
In one of the Mythmere Sessions I was in, He played a Fighter by the name of Sir Guy (Pronounced Gee with a hard G).
Sir Guy was a frenchman, who was loyal and always ready to fight the bad guys, but he was always calm as well.
At one point we were fighhting frogmen... which caused a somewhat funny remark...
When he stated: the frog is attacking the frogs...

Jason Braun was awesome again this year (Just like at last years NTCon).
He spent some time with my grandson (Colton) showing him a bit on how to draw pencil and ink sketches.
Jason helped him sketch an Orc face on a card.
I have the sketch, which I plan to put into a frame and give back to him to hang in his room at home.
It aint anything like a professional sketch of course, but it was his first and to me that is good enough.
The young lady (do not recall her name) who was with Jason is also a fine artist.
I really enjoyed going through her sketches and drawings.
I entended to buy a few from her, but she left early and I missed my chance.
I did purchase about 10 of Jason's Prints/Sketches though.
Including a sketch of a kitchen Sink Warrior and a print of the Eye Tyrant as well.

Jill is the name of the waitress Doug hired, and she played a couple of games as well.
She is a friend of David (Doug's son) and they met (I think) through a live action fantasy role playing game they both play.
A very nice young lady.
She dressed in fantasy based clothing during the convention.
One such outfit included a leather top that had a string to tie it on in front, and was not covering much....
It was a bit distracting at times, though not to the point of being vulgar.

Speaking of David, Colton once again played in David's 3rd edition game Friday Evening, and once again Colton dragged himself into our room early Saturday monring (About 3:30 AM).
I knew that was coming though and had not even bothered to sign him up to anything that morning.
Talked with him about it and he enjoyed that game even more than last years.
I think that has some to do with the fact that his PC lived this year.

As stated above by Prufrock... we played Circus Maximus Sunday evening.
Killjoy took some big chances early on and flipped on the second curve of the first lap.
A young man who was there as one of the venders used fast horses and light car and by the end was so far ahead that no one had a chance for the entire last lap...
Although I agree that if he had been left alone, that Prufrock would likely have won it.
Even with the abuse that was placed on his driver, his horses, and car, he would have easily placed second by a long distance and if he could have gone first on the final round, he would have won.
I had fun and think I might be able to challenge next time I play... which is a certainty if given the chance to do so.

Another thing I want to mention is that the Mythmere games were fun as hell.
I enjoyed the fact that it was somewhat similar to a home campaign, where we could play the same characters in the same dungeon in multiple sessions, instead of the game being a one and done deal.
I was only pre-signed for two sessions, but since I was not signed on for anything on Saturday, I spent the entire day playing in that game so I ended up playing in four of the six sessions and I know that at least two guys played in Five of the six sessions.

(I had planned to run a session or two of Castles and Crusades on Saturday, but that did not happen.)

My most memorable moments though came when talking with some of the special guests at various times during the weekend.
A few of those were when either picking them up or dropping them off at the airport.
Many times I was able to listen to one or more of them as they spoke of times past during game breaks, or in the wee hours of the morning after all the game sessions were over.

I truly enjoyed the convention just as I did last year and I think the guys (Doug and Mike) did a fantastic job again this year.
I am already looking forward to next year.

Gnat the Beggar wrote:Als Tegel Manor was something I had been looking forward to for years.
Ever since the Giant Shrew vs BadMike stories from a few years ago (from a GenCon session he DMed...)
I was NOT dissapointed, except that I would NOT have minded playing all night long (It wa a morning session actually).
Al is a great DM and fun too.

And yes, for those who do not yet know:
Here is the qoute, or very close to it:
"Guys, I am starting to think that Tegel Manor might just be haunted..."

John, you are too kind dude....seriously.

i just wanted you all to have fun and enjoy the game. it was a real buzz for me that when our session was over, you guys wanted to carry on for another 4 hours....i was quite honoured with that and it was a real blast....your comment was about the funniest thing i have heard for years and wont be forgetting THAT one anytime soon

thanks for gaming man - and as donkey says in shrek "lets do it again!!"

Al

Martin and John, you guys are way too kind. It was totally my pleasure. Martin, I'll take a look for that cover piece and will send it on over. It's pressed between two books somewhere John, Colton's a great kid, so it was fun hanging out and slinging some ink with him.

My friend, Amanda, sold out of her prints on the very first night (not bad for her first time selling at a con), so she used the rest of the weekend to play in Kyrinn Eis' URUTSK: World of Mystery game. They carried the Friday session on through a marathon session on Saturday (it was something like 13 hours!) and then picked up again on Sunday morning. Yowza! She had a great time, though, and told me she intends to come back again next year.

Personally, I had a blast. As has been noted, the character of the attendees is above reproach, so I didn't feel like I was tied to my booth all weekend for fear of something growing legs and walking off. I took my change box with me if I was leaving for an extended period, but otherwise my entire kit stayed up all weekend. Doug and Mike sure treated me right, and I thought that the comely waitress was a really great idea. More cons should do that! However, I felt too guilty to send her on an errand for me when I was being comped for drinks & snacks, so I never employed her. She did buy one of my sketches, though!

All in all, it was an amazing, boisterous and friendly time. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat or to buy art, and to the folks who weathered my art demo. I didn't really have a plan of attack, but the group was small and engaging, with Mythmere and Prufrock chiming in on the publisher counterpoint side of things. It went way more smoothly than I'd anticipated! Thanks for making it a success!

Cons like these really jump start my creativity. As I explained to a few folks at the convention, my main focus of late has been on "fine" art commissions as opposed to RPG illustrations. But hanging out with fellow gamers to talk about art and games and life has got me back in the groove. Brian Lee bought the original art for my Labyrinth Lord cover, and has posted on his blog that he's proud to own an original piece which had helped to "hook" him into the OSR in the first place. How can I not be inspired with feedback like that? I hope to have some new stuff out soon

So, thanks again to Doug, Mike, and everyone else who made the Con a reality. I'm looking forward to next year! Hopefully I'll get to hop into another game or two.

Jaybird216 wrote:Martin and John, you guys are way too kind. It was totally my pleasure. Martin, I'll take a look for that cover piece and will send it on over. It's pressed between two books somewhere John, Colton's a great kid, so it was fun hanging out and slinging some ink with him.

My friend, Amanda, sold out of her prints on the very first night (not bad for her first time selling at a con), so she used the rest of the weekend to play in Kyrinn Eis' URUTSK: World of Mystery game. They carried the Friday session on through a marathon session on Saturday (it was something like 13 hours!) and then picked up again on Sunday morning. Yowza! She had a great time, though, and told me she intends to come back again next year.

Personally, I had a blast. As has been noted, the character of the attendees is above reproach, so I didn't feel like I was tied to my booth all weekend for fear of something growing legs and walking off. I took my change box with me if I was leaving for an extended period, but otherwise my entire kit stayed up all weekend. Doug and Mike sure treated me right, and I thought that the comely waitress was a really great idea. More cons should do that! However, I felt too guilty to send her on an errand for me when I was being comped for drinks & snacks, so I never employed her. She did buy one of my sketches, though!

All in all, it was an amazing, boisterous and friendly time. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat or to buy art, and to the folks who weathered my art demo. I didn't really have a plan of attack, but the group was small and engaging, with Mythmere and Prufrock chiming in on the publisher counterpoint side of things. It went way more smoothly than I'd anticipated! Thanks for making it a success!

Cons like these really jump start my creativity. As I explained to a few folks at the convention, my main focus of late has been on "fine" art commissions as opposed to RPG illustrations. But hanging out with fellow gamers to talk about art and games and life has got me back in the groove. Brian Lee bought the original art for my Labyrinth Lord cover, and has posted on his blog that he's proud to own an original piece which had helped to "hook" him into the OSR in the first place. How can I not be inspired with feedback like that? I hope to have some new stuff out soon

So, thanks again to Doug, Mike, and everyone else who made the Con a reality. I'm looking forward to next year! Hopefully I'll get to hop into another game or two.

As far as I'm concerned (and Doug also) Jason has a lifetime pass to the con. He is a great ambassador to the game, to fantasy fans, and art fans.  He treated my grandson right and gave him a cool beholder sketch (he's never given me anythinb but cooties in the time I've known him!!!) and seems to have a great way with kids and youngsters (as well as bosomy, sweet, attractive women....).  Speaking of which Amanda was very nice and glad to see she did so good selling her art.

While I was absolutely swamped Saturday afternoon he basically ran his own art seminar and I only had time to sneak a quick peek in during the middle and saw everyone having a great time. Jason had some great suggestions about art seminars next year, especially cool if we get Erol Otus and maybe a Jim Holloway...

Anyway if you haven't met Jaybird in person you are really missing out, he's a great guy. If all he had done for us was create the NTRPG Con logo (which I still think is absolutely kick ass) his legacy would be complete, but he's more than that, hes a great person too. Thanks Jason!

Mike B.

It should also be pointed out that Gnat executed a sweet sacrifice bunt with his magic user character, to help defeat a toad-dragon in Mythrus Tower. And it was definitely a SACRIFICE bunt, although he already had a raise dead scroll lined up for the aftermath.

The dragon didn't have enough time to chew and swallow, because Colton's dwarf managed to slay it in the next round. I guess the family that slays together stays together.  

Hey, it's a living dungeon -- feel free to share maps and info with anyone. You guys are effectively in a campaign that meets yearly.  

I bet toad-dragons spawn, too.  

I have posted many of the Free & Paid Raffle winners on the NTRPGCon site.

Please keep up to date on that info there.

I need to find the rest of the winners list and then I might need some help from those that won that I missed.

The drawing ran pretty fast and John J. was trying to keep up, and some things I just can't read what he wrote

Kingofpain89 wrote:
Funny story.  I go to sit down at the table in the Jupiter room to prepare for Rob's game and there is this little blond girl sitting there.  I said "hi" to her and she says "hello" back.  As I opened my Player's Handbook she says to me, "My name is Rachel Marsh.  Do you know who my daddy is?"  I said, "Is your daddy Steve Marsh?"  She replies, "Yes he is.  He invented D&D.  Did you know that?"  Before I could reply, she deftly swiped the Player's Handbook out of my grasp and started to flip through it all the while making comments about some of the pictures.  

Rachel was a hoot. I started to run a second game for her, 1 on 1 to combat the candy-driven attention span, but Mr. Marsh came along and picked her up, as it was passed her bedtime. It was definitely a case of "Who is the Dungeon Master?" when you play with Rachel. We promised her that she'd have the chance to play again next year.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: thank you all for hosting an excellent con. I had a great time and am counting down the days to 2011.

//H

Okay, here are a few pics I snapped during the raffle/auction...