200 Words

I heard from a few friends on my G+ feed about this 200 word RPG challenge. Looks like it was started last year in 2015, and in fact a local LA con-goer / friend won! (Stephanie of Mortaine fame.)

Having played many more small form RPGs this last year, I thought why not give it a go. I have submitted my game, which I originally called We Are Character (since the players all take turns playing the same character), but which I've renamed We Are Cadavre Exquis (due to playtesters observations that there is similarity to the Exquisite Character game of surrealistic artists). This makes it sound extra artsy-fartsy.

I first play-tested it with my daughter, who loved it. I think that's due to its very simple nature and the control she has during play (so far she hasn't gone too much for GM-run games). I think the simple story cues are just enough for her to handle.

I also play-tested it with 3 adult friends on a game night, and got some cool feedback that way, including a few of the modifications that I added at the bottom, including the ones I called "Poem" and "Synchronicity".

After reviewing many of the other submissions, up on the G+ community feed for the contest, I have to say I'm both impressed, and intimidated, by some of the awesomely cool ideas spewing forth. Impressed by the creativity and the way some of the concepts and ideas have been so concisely summarized and distilled; intimidated because my idea seems so simple and basic and almost lackluster. But don't get me wrong, I still like its simplicity... for no other reason than my daughter keeps asking me if we can play!

Here's my submission (at 195 words) for the 200 Word RPG Challenge, 2016:

“WE ARE CADAVRE EXQUIS
GM-less story game where we take turns playing the same character.

RULES
1. Separate card deck into Diamonds (RESULT) and Clubs (ACTION).
2. Shuffle decks separately. Place face down in two stacks.
3. Choose an adventure start:
“Opens the door into the depths…”
“Heads into enemy headquarters…”
“Enters the desolate space station…”
4. Go clockwise while cards remain:
a. Reveal Diamond card.
b. Look up RESULT cue.
c. Use cue to describe result of last action, in ONE sentence.
d. Reveal Club card.
e. Look up ACTION cue.
f. Use cue to describe next action, in ONE sentence.
5. When cards run out: next player describes the ending.

CARD CUES
# - RESULT - ACTION
A - Key - Fall
2 - Blue - Discover
3 - Cloud - Fear
4 - Rough - Break
5 - Portal - Hurt
6 - Root - Test
7 - Energy - Hear
8 - Pain - Fly
9 - Arms - Pound
10 - Dark - Fire
J - Light - Cut
Q - Hook - Run
K - Ground - Face

MODIFICATIONS
SYNCHRONICITY: Reveal both cards before describing results.
POEM: Rhyme as a couplet, sestina, or in style of haiku.
CUSTOMIZE: Create your own adventure start or cues.
WORLD-BUILDING: Change character to: city, culture, planet...
EPIC: Do not limit player sentences. ”

Girl Gamer Gathering 2016

About 6 months ago (or more?) I started hearing about another new con that was attempting to spring up here in the LA area: Girl Gamer Gathering.

Being the father of a 7 year old gamer, as well as someone who is a fan of inclusiveness, and wanting a more diverse hobby, I was drawn in. I knew that I would be bringing the kid for the full convention, so would be on "babysitting" duty pretty much the entire time. That's why I ended up volunteering to run at least my Fallout Shelter RPG... I knew she could play in it during that 4 hour slot. Other than that, we'd just be there for the ride, and scope out the scene.

Friday

Well, months later, it arrives. Unfortunately right after we return from a trip overseas, with the accompanying jet lag. And also unfortunately right at the end of a week where I was feeling like I had been either sick with a soar throat, or suffering from some severe hay fever. But onwards we go...

The con was held in Ontario (California, not Canada), which is about an hour East for us; although ended up about 1.5 hours on Friday afternoon.

Friday we just scoped out the scene. The kid wanted to hit the pool. First we hit the registration desk and got our badges. Then discovered the pool was frigid and the hot tub was out of order, but went in anyways.

We made it!

The con had a Con Suite, which was open over 12 hours a day (anywhere from about 10 or 11am in the morning, until 11pm to midnight, depending on the day). The Con Suite was a standard room configured for use as a hangout area. It had both generic snack food like chips, hummus, sandwich making gear (PB&J mainly), veggies, and candy, as well as appliances such as toasters, coffee maker, and electric tea kettle. It was such a refreshing thing to have. Although you could get better food in other places outside the con, everything was provided for free, and the space was excellent for relaxing and meeting people. We visited it constantly and consistently throughout the con.

Everything was on one floor, which was terribly convenient. They had an open gaming room, which is where most folks would swing by to play board games. There was a little library of sorts, and many folks brought a variety of games to play.

Saturday

We woke up before 8am to get breakfast. The hotel claimed that everyone, including kids, would have to pay the $13 all-you-could-eat buffet, or order off the menu, but when I went downstairs the nice staff let me feed the kid with my personal $13 buffet order. The kid and I played a little Towers of Conspiracy.

Breakfast

We were supposed to start around 9am, but being the first con, timings were a bit disorganized.

Ready to run!

Caoimhe was the RPG coordinator, and she told me that folks would probably be waking up a bit late and a 10am start time was more reasonable. All good... we wandered around, and even got a new kid, Liz, to join us for the game. All up, it was Noah, Alana, the kid, and Liz.

Character creation!

Four vault dwellers

From there the kid joined Alana's Short Order Heroes that she ran, in the same room. I was extremely impressed that this 10 year old managed the table the way she did, especially because it was laden with a kooky bunch of older teenagers that sometimes didn't let her or the kid get much of a word in edgewise. Kudos!

After lunch at the Con Suite, we spent various times going into Open Gaming.

Open gaming room

Looney Labs were special guests that were in town, which is to say Andy and Kristen Looney. They're probably best known for Fluxx, and I've played with them and in some of their games at Strategicon. We ended up playing a bit of Loonacy, which is a great alternative to Spot It, including classic Loonacy, retro Loonacy, and even Ugly Doll Lunacy!

Playing classic Loonacy.P

Playing Ugly Dolls Lunacy!

Looney Labs also showcased many of their pyramid-based games, partly due to the fact that they planned to kick off a Kickstarter on their Pyramid Arcade set in the next days (which, writing this now a few days later, they've already funded).

There was a room especially for console gaming, which looked interesting, but I have to admit the kid and I didn't spend any time in here the entire weekend.

This was the one tempting game, as it was something that supported up to, like, 8 players. Didn't really find out much more than that though. I feel like a Ludite.

 A little later in the day, Noah ran a game of Short Order Heroes, which this time was attended by the slightly younger youth, including all of my prior players. It gave me some time to wander around and chat with Aaron Vanek and Kirsten who were running the LARP room. At one moment I came back in the room to hear all the kids cackling like crazy. It was awesome to see a little of the next generation of gamers.

Love the Strategicon advertisement here.

Late night came about, and then it was games such as Werewolf. The circle is a lot smaller than the Strategicon circles of 30-50 or more... much more manageable here. It also allowed me to get out and about while the kid played with Alana and others.

And finally a little One Night Ultimate Werewolf, which I had brought a long. After that the older girls were talking about playing Cards Against Humanity, but made some joke about Apples to Apples. The kid and Alana heard it, and were very excited, and kudos again to the older girls for taking them under their wings, and playing a few rounds in the open gaming room.

I didn't play, but instead filled the role of the kid’s dictionary for any particular big words or weird concepts.

Sunday

Unfortunately Sunday started with the kid feeling a bit sick to her stomach, but after having a very light breakfast, she begged to stay longer. We ended up playing a game of Little Wizards with Alana and the GM (I forgot her name!) was pretty great for a kids table, although the kids ended up getting a bit distracted for this long-form game. I think Short Order Heroes was more up their alley.

A few more rounds of this or that in the open gaming room, and a round of goodbyes to all our new and old friends, and it was time to head out. The kid passed out in the car on the way home, and unfortunately ended up sick the next day, but we didn't regret this awesome adventure.

Very happy to hear that GGG was a success, and they plan to run it again next year... so until then!

Code of Conduct

Another thing that I think GGG does very well is their Code of Conduct. Their section "Privilege Awareness" is one of the best, most concise versions of that I've seen. I also love that they have an "Encouraged Behavior" section as a set of guidelines on how to participate given the code of conduct.

The whole environment was encouraging and calm and wonderful. I can't wait for the next one. There was some concern that the naming of the con might be seen as very youth focused, however most of the con felt like the standard adult fair, so I wouldn't judge it that way.

Can't wait to see how it grows and changes for next year, and hope to be a part of it.