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The Gary Gygax Memorial - UPDATE ON PAGE 3
Haikufrenzy
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Just in case you just RIGHT NOW woke up from under your rock, Gary Gygax, one of the original creators of DnD. Passed away today at the age of 69 years old. With this in mind I think it's only fair that for PAX, we try and create a special event based on the game in honor of it's fallen creator.
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Nitpicking: he was 69.
(Yeah, I remembered that the moment I posted this, and just now got around to editing it...... tehe... 69...)
The more I think of it, the more it's clear that a one DM solution just isn't possible. I mean, I guess depending on your definition of DM it could: I've been in LARPs with one Storyteller and the a bunch of "narrators" who served to adjucate combat and what not. But LARP is more free form and that model really wouldn't fit what we want. I'm guessing we want to fit as much into a small block of time as we can manage (that's the only way you'll get a large number to commit to it, or have any hope of attracting a crowd), figure 3 or 4 hours MAX. We'll also want to accomodate the desires of all types of players, so we'll need Hack&Slash groups, RP groups, arcanist groups, sneaky ranger groups, ninja monk groups, um, frilly bard groups, etc. The way D&D combat goes, that's like 4 encounters tops. We'd assign each encounter one or more "win" conditions, and have those values contirbute to the overall success of the adventure. (That last bit is stolen shamelessly from Warhammer 40k large scale events). A given groups success at each stage might affect the following stages for other groups, and towrds the end we could combine or reorganize groups.
Other than the possiblity of Guiness oversight, what else do we need from an operations standpoint to organize this? Would the tabletop area hold the scale we want? Even so isn't that a bit much? How do we get a room dedicated to this?
Character creation would probably be best handled by pregenerated characters, but if we have enough people interested in organizing this, we could probably do some sort of advance registration thing. I'd think we'd want everyone at the same level, 6 or 9 is probably low enough that things don't get super complicated, but high enough for an epic feel to the thing.
By that time we'll be in the realm of *shudder* 4th ed. I suppose we should run it as such, being the "current" edition and all. That will simplify things quite a bit as well, as there won't be any rediculous splat books yet. But it means no gnomes.
I'm getting really psyched about this now, great idea Haiku.
The idea did cross my mind: Hackmaster is essntially first ed rules with a bit of general gaming parody thrown in. I also saw a first ed book at my local game store last week, this would give me a reason to pick it up. But no, I support advances in the system, i think we need 3.5 at least. Besides, if it's 4th, we'd have a chance to get product support from Wizards ;-)
Yeah there should be about four or so DMs, each one will NEED to know exactly what their doing. Also the way I see it, this topic should double as the sign ups for the event itself, so that way we can gauge how many want in, and what they want character wise. Which I can only imagine would be very important for the storyline aspect of things.
Also, if I recall the game room was pretty much a section of the hallway next to where the LARP room was. So if nothing else we can just combine both together or something like that. Also if someone has a full on copy of the world record book for 2008, could you please look up that the world record is, or if it even exists. Because the website doesn't have anything on it. So as far as I know, there's no official world record for the largest game of Dungeons and Dragons.
If first ed is the concensus, I'll go pick up that old PHB for 12 bucks. I really don't think that's the way to go though, we'd get more people interested in a more up to date version. Perhaps people signing up could indicate their preference? I am willing to bow to the will of the people.
(EDIT) Since I have only played 3.5 and 3rd, I would go with 3.5.
Bordering On The Semi-Tasteful
People playing D&D would wear some kind of identifying badge in advance, so we'd all know who was playing in the game... ooh, and maybe different areas of the PAX convention floorspace itself could be different pre-determined areas in the scenario's realm, and each of those areas could have a DM (perhaps one that communicates with the other DMs through a walkie-talkie system or something as needed).
Or even, if we made the scenario in the right way, we could make it open-ended enough that we wouldn't need technical DMs. For instance, if we all chose sides in a fictional "turf war" between multiple factions, and relied on the roleplaying between those factions to determine the course of the plotline (who ends up fighting who, what ends up happening), a DM might not be needed so much as rule enforcers (or even not those if we just went with the rule of common courtesy... after all, there's nothing to "win" by pretending, for example, that your character is still alive).
That'd be sick. Or would that be impossible to manage/pull off in practice? I have absolutely no idea, just throwing suggestions out there of things that might be neat.
But I'm down for playing whatever ends up being made.
Which reminds me... I'm probably going to need to get started on the FAQ on this.
Jesus Christ... what the Hell have I gotten myself into?
What you're describing is similar (functionally identical, really) to a large scale LARP. While it's a good way to handle the volume, it's not got the same "feel" as D&D. Also: dice rolling is a pain in walk around and interact scenarios like that; it's why LARPs use Rock Paper Scissors systems.
The factions angle is a good one though, perhaps better if used in a everyone on the same side, but each sub group has its own agenda. Something like Humans Elves and Dwarves VS DM controlled "Baddies" (Orcs, goblins, dragons, etc.) Basically, I want to avoid PvP. It's not really in the spirit of the game, and causes the biggest headaches in these style of games.
Nitpicking again: Gygax is spelled incorrectly in the post title now.
Ah, I didn't realize that! Neat!
Now that you mention it, I agree that everyone should be on the same side... and indeed, it would be a pain to roll dice while walking around.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editions_of_Dungeons_%26_Dragons
edit: I just realized I forgot to set an end date for the poll, so it's going to run indefinitely, although I'm sure it won't take to figure out which one is the favored one.
I took a look at the claims for setting a record, and it's actually pretty complex stuff. You have to basically have all of the details for it before you can really have it be considered. Also to bring in an official from Guinness would require a fee, which obviously I'm not about to put on Robert Khoo's tab without an okay.
Besides, I know these may sound like famous last words but, right now we have six and a half months to work on this. So we can relax and make sure every detail is settled before we start getting crazy with the notion of world record breaking. Especially considering it's not even really official yet with the main people running PAX. Remember kids, slow and steady wins the race.
Also, I think since I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to DnD. That I'll go ahead and get a small group together (myself included) who will be in charge with handling the event. Also smushed into that group would be the main DMs of this.
edit: I have noted that a few people have already voted for original D&D, as opposed to AD&D 1st edition (commonly known as just "first edition").
Word to that noise.... However the way I see it thus far from what I read. Since this is technically a new record as far as I know. It's more having to set up those crazy restrictions for anyone who wants to come along and try to break the record. So thankfully it might be as hair pulling as it may feel.
By the way since you've been waist deep in this since the thread was started, did you want in on the panel to set this up Moe? Doing do requires one entrance pass for me into the Sealab party if you do so. (J/K, but it would be sweet...)
Also, did anybody who went to the site see that they're coming out with a special "Games" version of Guinness? It would make sense to me that they would jump on an event like this to put an extra page or two into the new book so to speak. Considering gamers are the target audience, this would be great publicity for them. Heck I'd straight up ask for a free adjudicator all things considered.
Ryan
Twitter - @papapwnsPAX
On the poll: I'm torn. I seem to be the only one campaigning for "Modern" D&D. My heart is in 3.5, but 4th's got its advantages. I'll wait till there's some some votes and jump on which ever side has a chance.
Doesn't mean we can't break the record, though. We can do it!
Oh hey I was poking around and saw that Wizards O' Teh Coast (sorta) sponsers a worldwide D&D play day to encourage new uptake of the game. I bet somebody there would be into helping set up a record-making memorial game.
Twitter - @papapwnsPAX
They did eventually reprint D&D as the "Rules Cyclopedia." This included the original classes (plus mystic!), rules for leveling up to 36, more monsters, maps for Hollow World, and basically everything you needed to play. I used this book to fight dragons during math class in 6th grade.
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Twitter - @papapwnsPAX
*Stands in front of American flag, Patton style*
Men... and women. From henceforth on, I shall be your leader... INTO THE FORBIDDEN ZONE! Myself and the personal panel of my choosing will make sure this event gives Gary Gygax his proper respects, all while making history. I shall make sure this event kicks all those other sissy events suffer! ...not really of course... I like the Omagathon....
ONWARD, TO PWN'AGE!
Oh and in other news, Robert really dug the idea, so me, him, and those in charge of the tabletop area are beginning work on it over email. So yeah, this is crazy awesome!
EDIT: I just had a thought upon reading the Wikipedia article about D&D that was linked here. It says the original D&D assumed that you owned pieces from some (I assume long dead) tabletop war game.
Given that information, should we switch over to AD&D by default if D&D 1st edition wins the vote?
Yeah, I accidentally voted for D&D over AD&D not realizing the wealth of differences. I got started with 3rd edition... so yeah Moe if you are reading this, if you could get rid of the first option plzkthx.
If my logic's accurate (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on my assumption), then no one who voted in the D&D 1st edition category would mind if they got included with those who voted for AD&D 1st edition I'd think.
(at least, I know I wouldn't mind... being one of the people who voted for D&D 1st edition just because it was the oldest, without actually knowing about the limitations that are imposed by the original D&D beforehand).
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Also SlickShuges and VThornheart, since the both of you are in the panel for this, I'm hoping the both of you have or will get AOL Instant Messenger. This way I can go ahead, and get some chats together. Secretly begin the story brainstorming for this. So that way we'll have something super special awesome for this when the time comes.
I don't think I'll have much time to contribute as far as planning goes sadly, and I don't think you'd want me on the panel anyways (since I've never DM'd a game before of any substance, and when I did DM a non-D&D game one time I sucked at it pretty badly).