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There and back again - Reflections on a Grogmeet

 There and back again - Reflections on a Grogmeet

Disclaimer – I am terrible with names, and with discord resulting in everyone having two names, one of which is made up, i just get confused even more.  So, I have pretty much omitted names or pseudonyms from this review.  If you were there you know who you are! Feel free to add detail and comment on the games if you were involved. Or, if I talked to you during the event or in the bar on the Friday night and I owe you a drink remember to remind me next year! (I was having to do family duties on the Saturday night, so next year I’ll arrange things better so I can get fully ‘immersed’ in the bar room discussions).  Anyway, onto the review of Grogmee(a)t 2021…………

Well that was fun.  My first Grogmeat is over and I am already looking forward to the next one.  Lockdown was a right pain but for me it did result in two key changes to my TTRPG life, Discovery of the Grognard files and joining the very welcoming community on RPG Nook.  Since lockdown I have been thoroughly ‘out of the freezer’ as the saying goes on the Grognard files.

I got my ticket for the meeting back in August, and anticipation built from that point on.  Of course, the most stressful part was the day the game sign ups were released.  Fair play to Dirk and Blythy, all were informed of the time and date and then you got on with it (FYI Dirk – this is the fairest way!). I was lucky enough to not have to walk the dog, go shopping or any other unimportant stuff, so come 9am on Saturday 6th November I was ready logged in and waiting – I managed to sign up to The Cthulhu Hack game on the Friday night and then Bushido RPG on Saturday morning, ending with a Star Wars game on Saturday afternoon.  The bonus round was attending a recorded discussion for Frankenstein’s RPG with the Grogpod along with special guests on the Sunday.

It was actually a pretty hectic week before Grogmeat started….Sunday 7th I ran ‘The Blue’ Cthulhu scenario from Blasphemous Tomes for players on RPG Nook, then on the 8th had a game of Delta Green, then on the 9th helped to play test another Chtulhu scenario with BudsRPGreview (newsflash - he is not just a pair of hands!) which he was running at Grogmeat, then Wednesday it was Ultramodern 4 (4th ed DnD clone), Thursday night it was Badminton (actually playing not rolling dice to see who got the shuttle over the net) and then its Friday – and we head up to a not to rainy Manchester.

I highly recommend the Indian Tiffin restaurant in Manchester, I just wish I had had more time to relax and enjoy the place as it was close to 5pm when I got there and then had to get going at 5.30pm to get to the venue where the games were being held - Fan Boy 3 (FB3) for the game of Cthulhu Hack at 6pm.  I had my trusty umbrella with me just in case it started raining (you can never be too prepared when visiting ‘The North’) and took the 15 min or so walk to FB3.  It was a fantastic surprise to arrive at FB3 entrance and see huddled outside wating for the door to be opened none other than Dirk and Blythy!  After brief ‘hellos’ it became clear that Dirk was trying to get the attention of someone inside to open the door.  Dirk must have failed his spot hidden roll as the staff member inside just indicated that it could be pulled open.  I hope they hadn’t been waiting outside to long!  Then in we go, down into the basement gaming area and Grogmeet begins…………

Scenario: Creepshow 2: Demonic Boogaloo

System: The Cthulhu Hack

Ref: Daily Dwarf

So here we go, the first game face to face I have played since lockdown in 2020! I had never played Cthulhu Hack previously and didn’t know the source material (Cabbalistics Inc), but there was no need to worry – the ref gave us a brief overview and the system really is very intuitive and easy to follow. The scenario was great fun and was set in a film studios in Manchester.  The tone was set when we approached and an NPC ran out of the abandoned studios screaming ‘I’m free’ just before his head exploded.  More disturbing was the 80s shiny style suit that the corpse was wearing.  What done this? And why wear a dodgy 80s shiny suit? This wasn’t Liverpool you know.

Here Daily Dwarf then introduced us to the comic strip concept – at key points we were presented with comic strip pictures that reflected the current state of play.  These were then displayed on the wall behind us, and the story board ‘grew’ as we played.  A very nice way to present the scenario with the players.

Our PCs then progressed into an abandoned film studio to be transported to a post-apocalyptic setting and came across man / rabbit hybrids, James Mason (yes that one), then going to the London Underground and running into Richard Chamberlain (yes that one) and Kim Newman (critic and writer – although later he is killed by a Shoggoth), we managed to blow the shoggoth apart by exploding a fire extinguisher inside it (lucky 20 points of damage on d20 otherwise we were probably toast). Then going to what appeared to be a used car dealer in Albert Square London for a fight with ghouls in an underground dungeon, rescuing NPCs from a cage who were being readied to be dinner for the ghouls and finally ending the whole film by furiously hammering on the keys of a type writer in the library describing that the King Ghoul we were facing was actually shrunk so we could then kill it.  Amazingly this worked.  Now I know reading the above just sounds confusing but believe me if you get a chance to play the scenario with Daily Dwarf do so – it was really, really very good.  Daily Dwarf even got to ‘Stick a shoggoth in it’.

Later in the pub I also found out that there were lots of references to RPGs in the scenario that went above my head but it was really interesting to hear them.

The pub….it was a nice packed bar and it was a real pleasure to sit and talk with a group of grog heads about gaming for a few hours – no other subject was even mentioned, so refreshing.  It was cathartic to actually talk about gaming in person in a pub all together, I strongly advise it on a regular basis!   I think it was about 11pm and we were three rounds in, I am sure mine was next when it was announced they were closing, this was reinforced by the bouncer literally standing at our table and watching us drink. I like to think we contested the intimidate check and our wise heads decided to call it a night as we had a busy day on the Saturday.  To the gang at the table -  next year the first round is on me!

Saturday (am)

Scenario: Kwaidan - a Tale of Unquiet Spirits from the pages of White Dwarf

System: Bushido

Ref: Matthew B

In the words of a NFL commentator – this was my first draft pick.  I hadn’t played this game since the 80s and although I have a copy of the rules they are written in that particular way of the early days of gaming which make them pretty impenetrable and slightly confusing.  Also, there are tables, not too many but just enough to ensure that those of us who like a bit of crunch were very happy.  The excitement when it was announced there was not one, but two critical tables was palpable around the table.  That was the kind of crowd we were – and we loved it!

Before the game I had tried to find any reference to playing Bushido – what the rules were and how they worked in play, as I could not remember them at all from all those years ago.  Anything to make the rule books I had comprehensible.  There was one You Tube video which done a pretty good summary of the rules so armed with this knowledge I sat at the table, and trying to rectify the mistake of the previous night, actually introduced myself and asked others their names.  Then it was swiftly onto PC choice – Matthew had based the characters on those in Seven Samurai, i chose Gorobie – an archer with an axe and a sense of humour who poked fun at the groups leader.  He was also a dab hand at the tea ceremony. 

The scenario is from an old edition of White Dwarf and Matthew done a great job of bringing the scenes and the world of Nippon to life.  Our lord was worried about a village where it appeared villagers were being terrorised by a spirit.  So, he sent in the crack samurai squad to escort a Buddhist monk to the area and find out what was going on and cleanse it appropriately.  In we went and the first NPC we came across was the old samurai who was meant to be looking after the village – he had gone raving mad and was screaming about the faceless woman.  So obviously with him in disarray and looking like he hadn’t been looking after himself and maybe he was a bit deranged, we helped him to regain his senses and self of worth and then promptly ensured he committed ritual seppuku so he could die with honour.  There then followed some encounters with flying heads which we defeated. 

Matthew then had a most excellent surprise – Japanese plum wine was revealed – two bottles.  We all had a few small cups of this beautiful liquor – if you get the chance try it!  After three (or maybe it was four) of these drinks I was ready for the next encounter……..One of the players also produced some veggie sushi, although I couldn’t have it as even though no fish was involved, I had been so ill on sushi in San Francisco in the 90s that even hearing the word ‘sushi’ still makes my stomach tremble.  



   

I don’t know if it was the wine, but my trusty metal D20 managed to keep rolling low and making hits on the various baddies or skill checks we had to make.  To put this in perspective we were quite often having to roll 6 or less on a D20, sometimes even a 4 or 3.  Old school rules indeed…..

Anyway…..eventually we figured out that the old samurai lord was restless as his grave was threatened by the erosion of the cliffs by the sea and he hadn’t been buried with his armour.  So, all resolved? Not quite – there was the small matter of the Faceless woman who we had incorrectly assumed was the Lords wife and wanted us to help her to move his grave to a safer location.  As she approached it became clear that maybe she was here to cause trouble rather than thank us.  This was confirmed when a fear type spell caused three of the five of us to run away.  In the ensuing combat my character managed to get a critical hit (the joy of the crit table!) and eventually we were victorious.

I think I am correct in saying that we all really, really, really enjoyed this game.  Matthew done a marvellous job in summarising the rules and making it easy to understand.  The story flowed, along with the plum wine and the play and the end was satisfying in every way.  Matthew – if you run a Bushido game again – count me in.

Throughout the game something was niggling me though, I thought I recognised one of the players voices but couldn’t for the life of me figure it out…..more on that later.

Saturday (pm)

Scenario: These might be the droids you are looking for!

System: Star Wars D6

Ref: Kris M.

After grabbing some of the pizza provided and a brief sojourn to the pub next door with Andrew (good to make your acquaintance sir), I returned to play the final game, a scenario in the Star Wars universe.

I had played Star Wars D6 system once before, I believe at Burritocon (Dr. Mitch was the ref) and it was a blast so was looking forward to more swashbuckling adventures.  We chose PCs and I got the young jedi – and with a quick check on the online jedi name generator I was called Numa Elysar.  The group were a motely crue and our general informed us of the mission to retrieve or destroy two droids, a protocol droid and a astromech from the clutches of the Empire.  Yes those evil Empire types had started rounding up droids on the planet Taanak (I am sure the spelling I am using is incorrect, but I couldn’t read my hastily written notes easily!) like they were going out of fashion.  We had a YT 1300 freighter (classic!) ship with modifications and advanced proton torpedoes and a Z95 strapped to the bottom which meant a bit of rearrangement resulting in the cockpit being in the middle rather than on the side.  Result was no escape pod.

So fast forward and we are on our way to the planet while trying to figure out how to get onto the planet without attracting too much attention, with some masterful flying skills we manage to land and before we know it the port authority have clamped our vehicle as we weren’t sure about paying the landing fees, a quite ridiculous 500 credits (I have no idea if this was a fair price or not but it sounds a lot).  The obvious thing to do whenever you land on a planet you don’t know is go straight to the seediest cantina you can find.  Off we go and I end up rather annoying a couple of bounty hunters on ‘Guild business’, we take our leave but manage to find out that a load of droids were taken from the Grax farm a few days previously.  We effectively bought a land speeder for a price of a bottle of grog and then hot tailed it to the Grax farm.  Sure enough all the droids had been taken by the Empire.  While on the farm we came across a NPC called Lyra who also was trying to track down two droids that the Empire had stolen from her.  After a bit of toing and froing it was agreed Lyra would join us to find and retrieve the droids.  We also found out that the farm was infiltrated by members of Crimson Dawn who were running a protection racket.  So quickly we got out of dodge and headed to the Imperial base a few hours ride away.  After hoodwinking two entry guards we got in and started the search of the base.  With some classic fire fights and a bit of luck we manage to find the droids and then realise that Crimson Dawn are attacking the base, leaving our get a way clear.  Lyra and her droids go their way and we go ours, back to our base.  Our commander is genuinely surprised we succeeded, and we were left with his thanks and gratitude for serving the rebellion so well.

A nice contained scenario that helped to end the day on a high.  The only let down was myself for leaving my umbrella behind – but fear not I managed to retrieve it the next day…………..

Sunday

The GROGNARD files meets Frankenstein's RPG Monster

Due to family duties I couldn’t go to The Fitzgerald after the games finished on Saturday, oh well there is always next year.  So I am bright eyed and bushy tailed on Sunday morning, however a number of my fellow grognards seem a bit jaded, dare I say a little hungover?  It is then I realise I played with Dave Paterson of Frankenstein’s RPG podcast in the Bushido game. That was why during that game I had a feeling I knew Dave from somewhere but didn’t know why.  lol.  Well, I am new to all this so that’s my excuse!  Also on the panel were Dirk, Blythy, Paul Fricker and Ian Cooper. 

I won’t spoilt it, you’ll have to listen to the podcast when it comes out to know the result of the fan vote for the supplement to add to the Frankenstein’s RPG,  but it was a fun hour with some ‘oos’ and ‘ahhs’ and lots of banter and laughs.  I am just pleased the supplement I voted for went on to win.  Sometimes its nice to be on the right side of history……………

That’s it, my reflections on Grogmeet.  Just to end with a massive thanks to Dirk and Blythy, the refs whose games I played in and lastly a huge grogardian thanks to all the fellow grognards who I met.  I hope to meet more of you online in games, the book club and hopefully at Grogmeet 2022.  Remember, parrying is for wimps.

Stef1885

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Fantastic write up, bringing back the GrogMeat nostalgia, if you can get nostalgia in 96 hours. Thanks again! Jim (jwmuk)

    ReplyDelete

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