diff --git a/content/posts/too-many-games-2024/index.md b/content/posts/too-many-games-2024/index.md index 2e3558b..9a83c15 100644 --- a/content/posts/too-many-games-2024/index.md +++ b/content/posts/too-many-games-2024/index.md @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ series: [] author: "Nick Dumas" cover: "" tags: ["tabletop", "travel"] -summary: "In which I drive to Philadelphia and play a bunch of games." +summary: "In which I drive to Philadelphia and try to play a bunch of games." --- ## Driving there @@ -26,54 +26,39 @@ The convention center didn't open until mid-afternoon so I took the time to do s My schedule for the first day is pretty light, mostly because the convention opens at 2PM on a Friday. My priorities were board game play/testing, filling in gaps spectating on tournaments. #### Friday -The tabletop offerings didn't really line up with my schedule, I wanted to spend th evening mostly with my friends while we had the time - -##### Character Study, Writing, and Creation - Rachel and Guinevere -- What Drives a character? - - goals - - allies, who qualifies? - - background/upbringing - - who is in their life? friend? family? lovers? - - personality -- What is their motivation? - -- Character analysis - - Astarion - - Trilla something from Jedi stuff - -- Character creation - - who are they? - - what kind of world do they inhabit? - - who is in their life? friend? family? lovers? - - personality? - -- How does analysis help with creating a character? - - character goals? - - how did they get here? - - why do they want what they want? - - How do their interactions with other characters affect the story - - Why do they act the way they do? - -- Ways to get in tune with your character - - pinterest board - - playlist - - collage - - find an aesthetic that suits them - - list of inspiration sources - - pick out a birthday - - likes and dislikes - - draw, make a paper doll, visualize the character +The tabletop offerings didn't really line up with my schedule, I wanted to spend the evening mostly with my friends while we had the time. We rocked around the merch hall, I grabbed a few gifts, and we killed a little time before the one Friday panel that caught my eye. +##### Character Study, Writing, and Creation +This panel was hosted by panelists who introduced themselves as Rachel and Guinevere. I wasn't fast enough to catch all of their social media details but you can find Guinevere [here](https://www.instagram.com/nightsongcosplay/). + + +The panel was really solid. Rachel and Guinevere were enthusiastic and knowledgeable and made a point of treating writing and narrative-building as an exercise in fun that anyone can engage in, which I found refreshing. A full reproduction of their presentation would probably not be in good taste, but here's the short version. + +The core thesis ended up being very straightforward: learn your character. The most important detail is motivation: what do they what, why, what are they willing to do to get it? Only marginally less important, and now in no particular order: +- Who are their allies? What (dis)qualifies someone for this status? +- Background/upbringing. +- Who is in their life? Friends? Family? Lovers? +- What kind of world do they inhabit? + +Guinevere led a practical demonstration by analyzing two characters to identify these attributes in Astarion of Baldur's Gate 3 and Trilla Suduri from some Star Wars games I never bothered paying any attention to. Quick breakdowns of their motivations and important relationships and a contrast between the two: Astarion's need for freedom remains steady throughout his arc while Trilla eventually sets aside her vengeance and reaches some sort of peace. + +They closed out the panel with a short discussion on ways to get in tune with your character, including but not limited to: +- pinterest board +- playlist +- collage +- find an aesthetic that suits them +- list of inspiration sources +- pick out a birthday +- likes and dislikes +- draw, make a paper doll, visualize the character + +The Q&A was funny, two of the three questions I heard were just monologues about personal experiences with bad roleplay which does legitimately suck but also isn't really a question. All in all, excellent panel. #### Saturday +woke up at 7am. saw a white tail buck grazing near the stream. + + I only signed up for a Saturday game of Ten Candles. -- [ ] 1100: Convention Opens -- [ ] 1100: THPS2 High Score Competition -- [ ] 1100: Board game freeplay -- [ ] 1100: Board game playtesting -- [ ] 1130: MtG Draft Pods -- [ ] 1200: Burnout 3: Takedown tournament - hall C -- [ ] 1200: Twilight Imperium ( game ) - [ ] 1300: Gaming through Generations - Emerald stage - [ ] 1300: Warhammer 40k - [ ] 1400: Wandering Towers Demo ( game )