[Prime] 2011 Aquisitions Incorporated: The Last Will and Testament of James Darkmagic I

NotoriusBEN

So I was one of the first people to get in line at around 1130am on Saturday. The weather was warm and sunny. So sunny that it bordered on the obnoxious to a resident washingtonian, but the people in line made the time go by decently.

IMO, This was by far the most awesome panel at PAX. Chris Perkins did a standup job as a DM, and the Aquisitions crew was hilarious through the whole thing. Jim DarkMagic's family was so odd and dysfunctional that it makes most of us glad of our own. I dont know how they are going to top this one, but they will.

Now we just have to wait for wizard of the coast to put the video on youtube.

Thanks to everyone involved in this production, by far a laugh a minute!

Reparadocs

Agreed, this was one of the best moments at PAX this year. However, I felt that Tycho was really not interacting that much. He didn't really talk at all until the end, when they got into combat. Nevertheless, it was hilarious!

Fenrisknight

Reparadocs wrote:

Agreed, this was one of the best moments at PAX this year. However, I felt that Tycho was really not interacting that much. He didn't really talk at all until the end, when they got into combat. Nevertheless, it was hilarious!

I totally know what you mean, but then when he did stand up to rock face on those minotaurs, he did it in style!

Occam

I couldn't believe the sheer theatrics. Those were some amazing entrances.

teopeht

Liked: the theatrics
Disliked: where was the magma hand? where was the sheer epicness of pushing a dwarf off her floating disc, into a pool of acid?

Then again, if I had badass minstrels for my campaign I probably would just RP a dinner party as well.

Artereis

Last Prime I asked Mike if he had given any thought to drawing a Darkmagic family portrait. This year we got the family. Coincidence?

emimonster

I was in the back of the theater for this event and I couldn't really hear Jerry most of the time. I could tell that his voice was making sound, but that was it. Also, while I loved P&S, the music was the same volume as the speaking, so when they played I couldn't hear the speaking well. The mic volumes needed to be turned way up. I'm 28 with good hearing and don't like loud music or loud noises, so me asking for it to be turned up is evidence that it really WAS too quiet for the back of the theater.
I offer this comment as it was a first time for Paramount theater, so I hope it will be useful to gather results from the process.

I also felt like there was less of their typical banter that makes this panel so much fun usually. 2 reasons: less combat and more story, so it felt like it was mostly just the GM talking at them, and bc minstrels were there to make some sound at the usual comedic insertion points.

LabRat

Reparadocs wrote:

Agreed, this was one of the best moments at PAX this year.

THIS. Also having Paul and Storm there was a very solid add. Storyline maybe wasn't as epic as last year but the interaction elements were priceless.

More time next year guys! Noticed that the epic meat-monsters strangely became minions as the end-time loomed. Two hours is tight for a DnD session especially with these guys.

The_Reflection

LabRat wrote:

Reparadocs wrote:

Agreed, this was one of the best moments at PAX this year.

THIS. Also having Paul and Storm there was a very solid add. Storyline maybe wasn't as epic as last year but the interaction elements were priceless.

More time next year guys! Noticed that the epic meat-monsters strangely became minions as the end-time loomed. Two hours is tight for a DnD session especially with these guys.

Yeah, the actual game of D&D kinda got pushed to the side in that there was only one encounter and no real big boss monsters, but the theatrics and banter and P&S was a million time better than any actual D&D thing they could have done. This wasn't a panel, this was a Stage play show and it was fantastic!

slamonella

NotoriusBEN wrote:

IMO, This was by far the most awesome panel at PAX. Scott Perkins did a standup job as a DM, and the Aquisitions crew was hilarious through the whole thing. Jim DarkMagic's family was so odd and dysfunctional that it makes most of us glad of our own. I dont know how they are going to top this one, but they will.

I was unable to make it to PAX but I was watching the stream of the session. It was certainly entertaining. I hope that Wil doesn't have schedule conflicts and is able to make PAX East 2012 so they can continue the adventure there.

BTW, It's Chris Perkins, not Scott

NotoriusBEN

your right, I thought there was one too many scotts up there :P

editing for correctness.

Srenaeb

teopeht wrote:

Disliked: where was the magma hand? where was the sheer epicness of pushing a dwarf off her floating disc, into a pool of acid?

LabRat wrote:

Noticed that the epic meat-monsters strangely became minions as the end-time loomed.

The minionm move was perfect DM-ing, IMO.

The combat could've been every bit as awesome as last year's--IF we only had all the time in the world. We never even saw Grandma or Gorgon/snake-boy/mask-lady/Jim DarkMagic the First come in and kick ass. Every one of those weird family members could've made an appearance in combat. And how exactly do you stop the many piles of hamburger from infinite respawn while your house is hurtling through space, if your DM wants it that way?

2 hours is really short for an encounter, esp one that contained this much theatrics (not a complaint!), with a group this rowdy and this attention-loving. It's a really hard game to DM, and Chris Perkins nailed the balance between "everyone at my table needs to have fun" and "I need to put my foot down and clear the theatre on time".

Wingedillidan

The video of the whole thing actually IS up via live stream archive >.> If you were busy and missed the Jim Darkmagic Magic (like me), then you should watch here: http://www.justin.tv/giggleloop/b/293652125

ricksebring

I Was the lucky person to actually catch the volleyball after the show ended.. Man that was a fun Pax

Hardtarget

Wingedillidan wrote:

The video of the whole thing actually IS up via live stream archive >.> If you were busy and missed the Jim Darkmagic Magic (like me), then you should watch here: http://www.justin.tv/giggleloop/b/293652125

oh excellent
sadly the screen is super small

nianiania

This was one of my favorite things at PAX. Infact, it's inspired me to try out DnD again for the first time in 10 years.
Just played my first game of 4th edition this past Wednesday at Card Kingdom in Ballard(Seattle), the DnD Encounters quick 2 hour session, and I loved it!!!
Almost made my character's surname Darkmagic as a tribute, but I chickened out at the last second. :P :P :P

Zoelef

Wingedillidan wrote:

The video of the whole thing actually IS up via live stream archive >.> If you were busy and missed the Jim Darkmagic Magic (like me), then you should watch here: http://www.justin.tv/giggleloop/b/293652125

1:22:30: Amazing

Srenaeb

ricksebring wrote:

I Was the lucky person to actually catch the volleyball after the show ended.. Man that was a fun Pax

Haha you got the bushy ball! Awesome!

AltDelete

I'm DMing tomorrow, and I don't know how I'm going to get by without my own minstrels.

Super great panel. Hope this becomes a regular thing!

MrZeebub

It's my hope that Acquisitions inc will usher in an age of D&D as a spectator sport. They will be the first pro D&D team.

Moe Fwacky

I think spectator D&D is more of a stage production than a sport. Still, the sentiment remains.

Ricin

I was wondering if this was only live streamed or if there is an archived copy. I was unable to attend the panel and I was at PAX Prime so I was unable to stream it.

Xalara

I highly suggest reading the thread roughly 8 posts up Ricin

Razorwired

MrZeebub wrote:

It's my hope that Acquisitions inc will usher in an age of D&D as a spectator sport. They will be the first pro D&D team.

It's been tried at Gencon with a bunch of fantasy writers and I think Robot Chicken did a celeb game with Perkins DMing it up. For some reason it's never quite as fun as Acquisitions Inc. The guys just fit well enough together that it works really well but it's hard to replicate.

Despite it being a more roleplayie campaign this year there were some great moments. I cracked up when Kurtz Hulked his way through the wall during the intro and "...you roll dice like Jerry." during the critical failure song had me in stitches.

I want to know who walked away with Jerry's hammer.

Ricin

Xalara wrote:

I highly suggest reading the thread roughly 8 posts up Ricin

i tried that link and id did not work. I was hoping for an official link from either Wizards or PAX.

All I see when I click on the link is a PAX11 logo with random music behind it.

dyaballikl

Ricin wrote:

Xalara wrote:

I highly suggest reading the thread roughly 8 posts up Ricin

i tried that link and id did not work. I was hoping for an official link from either Wizards or PAX.

All I see when I click on the link is a PAX11 logo with random music behind it.

In the biz, we call that an "intro"
keep watching.

NotoriusBEN

it actually starts about 3 or 4 minutes in

Lokiale

Razorwired wrote:

It's been tried at Gencon with a bunch of fantasy writers and I think Robot Chicken did a celeb game with Perkins DMing it up. For some reason it's never quite as fun as Acquisitions Inc. The guys just fit well enough together that it works really well but it's hard to replicate.

It's like any DND game, most of the success depends on the chemistry between the people playing the game.

MagnifiedX

NotoriusBEN wrote:

it actually starts about 3 or 4 minutes in

3:30 is a good time to seek to...

gigabrain

And of course at 1:32:20 a gratuitous Da Vinci's Notebook flashback from the Bards.

Nullzone

Where are people seeing a stream that actually works? The giggleloop one above says "This is no longer available" and links to the pax_wotc channel, which is password protected. Halp?

dyaballikl

Nullzone wrote:

Where are people seeing a stream that actually works? The giggleloop one above says "This is no longer available" and links to the pax_wotc channel, which is password protected. Halp?

It is working for me now. Are you viewing it from outside the US?

Nullzone

Nope, east coast USA. Will try from a different internet source later.

MrZeebub

FYI, it's up on Youtube now. Slightly better video quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmTINEnGwnc