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11/12/2018

Session Report: Tumbling

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This is the first in our new series of Gauntlet session reports, short and standardized reports of some of the hundreds of games that we are playing through Gauntlet Hangouts.

Campaign/Session Title
Tumbling / This Is the Story of Evan and Illina

Date
11/5/2018

System
Tumbling (third playtest)

GM
Sid Icarus

Players
Sid Icarus, Barry Cook

Session Recap
After a bunch of friendly interactions with them on Twitter, Sid invited me to playtest Tumbling - a laundry-based game of meet-cutes. Through character creation we learned that my character, Evan, was still hanging onto his time in college, and tailors his own clothes to fit him perfectly. We learned that whether Sid's character Illina is working in cafes, or possibly getting fired from working in the hospitality business, she uses up every moment in a day without wasting a one (except maybe on laundry). The two had a few awkwardly sweet encounters after a pretty rough start before sharing a kiss that surprised them both.

Highlight
At about 56 minutes into the recording, we enter Tumbling's epilogue scene where our cards let us use specific prompts like "I've moved too fast. Show me if you slow me down." before hitting our ending, which was very fortunately, "I have shown you I want you. Show me if you accept me."

Moment of Insight
The tightly-focused lens through which we saw our characters in this game really helped me see each of them as real people.

Actual Play

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11/9/2018

Gauntlet Video Roundup - November 9, 2018

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Greetings, and welcome to the weekly Gauntlet Hangouts video roundup! Don't miss any of the great sessions in the updated playlists and video links below.

Star Wars Saturday

Hunt the Wicked (Session 1 of 3)
Rich Rogers runs for Joe Zantek, Michael G. Barford, and Steven Watkins

Super Tuesday

Pasión de las Pasiones: Mighty Hearts (Session 1 of 4)
Jim Crocker runs for Greg G., Joe Zantek, Rachelle Dube, and Stentor Danielson
Super Tuesday starts a new series, as the passions of the Mighty Hearts collide! It's superhero romance by way of telenovela in our first session! Warning: completely bonkers plot twist.

TGI Thursday

BLACKOUT (Session 1 of 2)
Lowell Francis runs for Bethany H., Harry, Larry S., and Steven desJardins
During The Blitz brave ladies of the WVS & ARP head into another night which escalates from annoying to tragic at a lightning pace.

Gauntlet Quarterly

Hearts of Wulin: Book Two (Session 4)
Lowell Francis runs for Darren Brockes, Patrick Knowles, Sarah J., and Sherri
The next volume in our trilogy sees old conflicts resurface, a hidden hero appear, and multiple groups hunt for a mysterious book.

The Gaunt Marches

Dungeon World: Archipelago of the Drowned (Session 1 of 4)
Jim Crocker runs for Bethany H., Bryan, Jen Overstreet, and Rachelle Dube
The party investigates the origin of the Veel smugglers and encounters a truly horrifying monster.

Gauntlet Hangouts

Weave: The Beautiful World
Noella H runs for Eike K., Robert, and Tina T.
We went to a city where people can tell the future - where there are multiple unstable futures. Except there is now a cult that believes in only one mysterious future, which can be divined by looking at the sun.

Strange Birds: Birds of the Vasyugan Swamp
Noella H runs for Tomer Gurantz

PbtA Changeling the Lost: Month 1 (Session 3 of 4)
Tyler Lominack runs for Chris Newton, Darren Brockes, Matthew Doughty, and Patrick Knowles

PbtA Changeling the Lost: Month 1 (Session 4 of 4)
Tyler Lominack runs for Chris Newton, Darren Brockes, Matthew Doughty, and Patrick Knowles
Our heroes discover surprising allies as they face off against the villainous HH Holmes. Hard choices are made to free the innocent from Holmes Murder Hotel.

Avatar 1%er: Agents of Balance (Session 4 of 4)
Luiz Ferraz runs for Josh DeGagné, Kyle Hodnett, Rich Rogers, and Taylor W.
In our final episode, the insurgents face the past, present and future as dark spirits and a mysterious fog take hold of the shrine of the bird spirit. A heads-up: tech and real life interfered a lot with this one, so liberally skipping ahead during silent parts is encouraged.

InSpectres: Tuesday InSpectres (Session 1 of 4)
Paul Edson runs for David Morrison, James, Steven desJardins, and Tyler Lominack
Our intrepid investigators face strangeness at a petting zoo, involving the disappearance of a rare (and much-loved) Double-Humped Dromedary. Also, rodents of unusual size.

Bubblegumshoe (Session 1 of 3)
Lowell Francis runs for Agatha, Asher S., Kurt Potts, and Sherri
Welcome to Oak Creek's Henry D Thoreau Collegiate Institute, where our teen sleuths try to save prom and pit themselves against the Vice-Principal.

Our Mundane Supernatural Life: Farewells and New Beginnings
Vee Hendro facilitates for Gerrit Reininghaus
Life partners Ashe and Rolando struggle with their decision to move towns, complete heartfelt farewells and face new beginnings. The couple balance their needs precariously, will they be able to see eye-to-eye?

The Witcher Pen & Paper RPG (Session 1 of 3)
Lowell Francis runs for Eduardo L., Leandro Pondoc, Steven desJardins, and Steven Watkins
In the wake of a battlefield loss, our band heads north to escape Nilfgardian forces, but end up in a town under the shadow of a troll's mysterious kidnappings.

For the Queen
Tomer Gurantz runs for Agatha, Hayley, Leandro Pondoc, and Vee Hendro
Join an oracle farmboy, the assassin siblings, the queen's mother, and a captive ambassador on a perilous journey to a distant power.

Symbaroum: the Copper Crown (Session 2 of 9)
Darren Brockes runs for Agatha, Fraser Simons, and Joshua Gilbreath
Iomagoi, Variol, and Ordelia get caught up in a serial killer investigation in Thistle Hold.

Monsterhearts 2: Kingsport '62 (Session 4 of 4)
Catherine Ramen runs for Agatha, David Morrison, River Williamson, Seraphina Malizia, and Simon Landreville
In the finale, the Hunter women unite against the family curse, K gives his final orders to Mal, Lucca and Wendy find romance, Xanthus puts on a play and makes travel arrangements, and Wendy says goodbye to Connor. And a Puritan ghost helps sew up loose ends.

Demigods PbtA (Session 1 of 3)
Rich Rogers runs for Alejandro, Alexi, Bethany H., and Jesse A.
A group of divinely-born college kids find out about a plot with a blanket, a spider, and crazed security guards on campus!

All Systems Nominal: Mercenaries (Session 1 of 4)
Michael G. Barford runs for Darren Brockes, David L., Luiz Ferraz, and Rich Rogers

Check out all the great videos on The Gauntlet YouTube channel and be sure check out the playlists to catch up on all your favorite games. If you'd like to play in games like these, check out the calendar of events and the Gauntlet Hangouts Google+ Communitywhere new games are announced! To support The Gauntlet, please visit the Gauntlet Patreon at https://patreon.com/gauntlet. All are welcome to play Gauntlet Hangouts games, and Patreon supporters have extra options like priority RSVP for Gauntlet Hangouts games and joining the Gauntlet Slack team where special events are announced like Gauntlet Games Now. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend!

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11/7/2018

Age of Ravens: Concrete Icons

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In my last post I talked about why it's worth stealing 13th Age's Icon mechanics for other games. To make it more concrete, I want to offer an example. When we used Microscope to build our new 13th Age campaign setting, we also built all new icons. Players created seven during session zero; I then drew from the timeline for the other six. The group wanted more mortal, more connectable icons—strong heroes rather than "Istari from the Undying Lands." Alongside those descriptions, I've added some thinking about how each icon fits with or shapes the world.

Note that I cheated and associated each Icon with symbols from 13th Age rather than using my own. Also, this is a lot more work than I'd usually do for a short-run campaign. I think you could easily generate a fertile set of Icons with quick descriptions in an hour or so.

PLAYER CREATED:
ARCHDRUID LORTHAIN
When the previous Archdruid died with the coming of the Abyss, Lorthain obtained the title and instruments of the role. He is the youngest to hold the position. Though he is powerful, there’s some question of his wisdom. He’s temperamental and can be wildly enthusiastic one moment and morose another. Ironically, given his mood swings, he bears the title The Balancer of Souls. Some of this may come from his role’s connection to a land which still shifts and changes.

GM Notes: I don't know how well it will work, but I wanted to have an Icon with some mental health issues—and perhaps a self-awareness about them. In particular, I want to see if I can do that and avoid stigmatization. The Archdruid's one of the Icons with the most representation so far.

THE BANNER
The Icon of the Banner, Gor Tre-Sorborne, was the sole surviving human Icon from before the Abyss. At the gathering of allied Icons, the Standard cast itself into the wind and wrapped itself around his lover, Lena Nasker, choosing her as its new bearer. This has split the followers of the Banner, a dangerous thing for a figure dedicated to rallying and joining people. Nasker has turned from Gor’s support of existing rulers, using the Banner’s magic to back change and new ways of society.

GM Notes: This may be the one I have the least developed sense of. I like the idea that the Banner's an item and it shifts its role depending on the bearer. Sometimes it supports the status quo, sometimes it smashes it. The Banner changed hands just before the Icons created their alliance against Zavos. I think that's half judgement on the previous bearer's approach and anticipating a new order.

BLACKCLOAK DUSK
Known as the Prince of Thieves, the Gatherer of Wishes, and the Finder of Lost Loves. When One Hundredth Gavan, the Red Whisper, died defending Snakehold merchants and kings breathed easy for a time. But soon rumors abounded of Blackcloak, a new thief who’d risen to power. When the Red Whisper could be sinister, Dusk is more enigmatic and ambiguous. He plays tricks, steals from the powerful, and aids the lost. He also deals harshly with murderous robbers, earning him ire in some Thieves Guilds. Some say this is an act, luring people in. They suggest Dusk will change once he gets his hands on Red Whisper’s lost treasure hoard.

GM Notes: I've seen the Prince of Shadows Handled as a gentleman scoundrel and as a sinister assassin. I like that ambiguity, but it hasn't always sat well with players. So I appreciate a version of the Icon which leans into the adventuresome rogue aspect. Ironically, this is the first party I've run without a Rogue in it.

EMPRESS NUALA
Queen of the Elves and other Fae Folk. Spurned lover of Archdruid Lorthain. Dragons once served as the protectors of these folk before the Betrayal of Sundaram. The Empress dwells in the great forest, but now keeps in contact with the many Elven peoples via the Threadweave. She would like to recreate the ancient empire of the Elves by bringing all these folk under her banner. But many of these Elven and Fae kingdoms have resisted or ignored her call. Still she has agents and sympathizers among them.

GM Notes: This and the High Priestess (below) have close analogues in the original 13th Age material. I've heightened the idea suggested in the Microscope session that the Empress wants to bring the disparate Elven cultures and nations under her rule. That suggests some conflicts and contradictions within the Elves. I suspect its a recent maneuver, spurred by the vents of the last two decades.

HIGH PRIESTESS OF LIGHT
The war between the Divine Assemblies and the mage kingdom of Sarthos lasted for decades. In the end, several factions, in the name of the gods, took drastic action against the sorcerers, releasing Zavos. In the aftermath, many turned away from the gods and the temples. The High Priestess, once called Singdha Dawn, came from a corner of the realm and re-knit the broken faiths. She did not avoid battlefields, but stood at the front of forces. Today she commands the Grand Cathedral in Nanversi.

GM Notes: There's an interesting untold story of the battle between the temples and the wizards of Sarthos. In our history, the High Priestess has redeemed organized faith after their role in the summoning of the Abyss. How exactly they messed things up isn't clear. I'm hoping to have some tension between the High Priestess and new rulers who might not want a powerful church.

IDEN OF LOST SOULS
Years ago children in cities closest to the Abyss were born half demon and possessing strange powers. Iden is first born half demon and has demonic wisdom-- he knows things he shouldn't. Though only barely an adult, Iden has gained great power. He often fights against Demons, but just as often uses his allies and network for other, stranger purposes. Iden has the power of Prophecy, acting as an Oracle for powerful people in exchange for favors and services. It is said he can also identify and read the reincarnated souls within a person, for good or ill.

GM Notes: An ambiguous figure. No one in the party chose him as an Icon relationship. I'll probably leave Iden uncertain until directly contacted. Not sure yet what niche this Icon fills.

SPEAKER ARI JASK
This Icon can translate and speak for those who cannot. Jask is said to see the hidden truth as well as the hidden past. Jask is the Icon of wizards and those who seek out lore of the past. His independence and denial of divine authority puts him at odds with the faithful.

GM Notes: The shortest of these because I'm still not sure exactly what the Speakers role will be. Sherri created him as the voice of the voiceless. How that actually fits with someone moving and directing things in the world, I'm uncertain about. I suspect he talks to the power of magic itself, given that we don't have a positive figure of wizardry (except maybe Nuala) but she has a different focus.

GM CREATED:
THE CARTOGRAPHER
Luka Jhevari was a scholar before the coming of the Abyss. When the darkness swallowed her school, she set out on the road. Her first and only task has been to re-map the land. She established the first real travel routes and paths, allowing contact between areas. Since then Luka and her agents have traveled the land, seeking out new lore and uncovering secrets. The Cartographer considers herself neutral, dedicating to simply cataloguing. But some accuse her of shaping the stories and glorifying the old empires and ways.

GM Notes: During Session 0 players mentioned they wanted exploration as a major element. The geography of the land itself has shifted massively in the last two decades, meaning old maps don't work. The Cartographer and her agents offer a solid and neutral set of patrons for adventures. I don't think anyone took her as an Icon relationship, however. So she may serve more as a filler than a prime mover.

INFERNALIST GENERAL VENDAGA
When Zavos fell to the Alliance of Icons, most demonic forces of the Abyss scattered. Potent demons tried to seize the reins, but soon fell to Vendaga. A mortal commander and student of Zavos, Vendaga has bound together a new underground network of demons. She controls Achuta, now called the Demon City. Humans live there but serve at the behest of Vendaga’s demonic forces. Not all infernals obey the Infernalist General, but she has become a potent force. She accepts scholars and sorcerers who wish to learn infernal arts, and claims she protects the world through her command of demons.

GM Notes: I needed some nasty and ostensibly evil Icons, so this is part of my quartet of baddies. I expect the Abyss looks much like a Hellhole from standard 13th Age. But I also like the idea of a crossroads controlled by demons.

THE KEEPER OF NEEDS
The actual owner and creator of the magic shops across the lands keeps himself anonymous. He appeared, armed with a rich supply of magical items and trinkets, willing to sell them everywhere. He claims to be neutral, selling to anyone. It is said he extracts bargains in exchange for the items they desire. Some believe he’s an escapee from Sathros and that would make sense, perhaps even one of the Sorcerer Icons thought lost when the Abyss opened.

GM Notes: One of the players added a network of magic shops which recently appeared in every city. That's cool and suggests such shops had been rare before. I want this Icon to be solidly neutral.

THE RATKING
Centuries ago, the War of the Underworld gave dominion of the lands under the mountains to the Dwarves and elsewhere to the goblinoid peoples (gnolls, goblins, orcs, trolls). Rebels fled the new Ogre Majesty, forming surface tribes. When the Black-Iron Throne fell to the Abyss, the once-linked Underworld empire split. Then the meteorfall destroying cities of the empire. The Ratking is a vermaen who has forged a new empire. His bands of goblinoid adventurers raid the surface to plunder ruins, seize fallen site, and bring powerful treasures into the Underworld to bolster his cause.

GM Notes: I love Skaven so I wanted to introduce some kind of rat folk. I dig the idea of a split between an older goblinoid empire and refugees who settled in the surface world. Both should be dangerous, but that offers a way to leverage one against the other.

THE TYRANT GHOUL
Once called Bloody Nail, this former goblin warlord now bears Cursespewer, one of the 7 Great Weapons. Soon after his resurrection he traveled to where the necromantic Icon, The Lich Speaker, had fallen. Some say the Speaker took him over, some that he consumed the dead Speaker’s power. Whatever the case, the Tyrant Ghoul has been a force of darkness across the land for the last two years, opening crypts, summoning undead to seize abandoned locations and carrying out his agenda. Despite his origin, the Tyrant Ghoul bears no love for his people, preying on goblins equally with all others.

GM Notes: This is one of those golden opportunities. Bloody Nail popped up a couple of times on the timeline, so I had to bring him forward. We didn't have an undead figure so he works well. I like that he's not a sinister necromancer or lich but something else entirely. He's probably the most absolutely evil and destructive of all the Icons.

THE VIZIER OF SPIDERS
For a century, the Vizier has operated behind the scenes, arranging struggles and conflicts. He wears many masks but is believed to be a half-elf. The Vizier took the role of an icon after arranging the death of The Warsinger. The Vizier is the icon of those who seek power, revolution, and treachery. He loves both conspiracies and wars, though he stayed neutral from the alliance. He buys and sells information, an icon for spying and blackmail. He and Blackcloak Dusk have a mutual loathing.

GM Notes: I like sinister manipulators behind the scenes. I especially wanted an Icon who thrived on conflict and could be found working in civilized places throughout the realm.

DEAD ICONS (named so far): The Naga Prince, The Lich Speaker, The Ogre Majesty, The Warsinger, The Red Whisper, The Binder

In recent 13th Age supplements there's been a focus on lost and dead icons as adversaries and plot hooks. In particular, the Book of Ages offers lots of ideas. I'll probably bring these dead icons in as history, but in play I want to focus on the living ones.
For the full backlog of Age of Ravens posts on Blogger see here.

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11/5/2018

Mandatory Fun Club Spotlight: Ryan Windeknecht

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by Michael G. Barford, Keeper of the Eternal Chime

This series of articles will serve as an introduction to the participants of the September 2018 round of Mandatory Fun Club. These Gauntleteers are preparing to start offering fresh events for Gauntlet Hangouts; be on the lookout for their games!

Hello Ryan! Welcome to Mandatory Fun Club! My first question for you is: How did you hear about the Gauntlet community?
I first heard about the Gauntlet community by listening to Discern Realities. It was the summer of 2017, and, in a matter of days, I’d gone through the entire catalog. I was hooked! So, I started listening to +1 Forward, the Gauntlet Podcast, and Fear of a Black Dragon. After that, becoming a member on Patreon was a no-brainer.

What kind of experience do you have facilitating TTRPGs?
I don’t have much experience facilitating TTRPGs – which is one of the reasons that I jumped at Mandatory Fun Club! Back in the 90s, I ran some AD&D, Vampire: The Masquerade, and Shadowrun. Then, for a couple of decades, I didn’t run or play anything. Over the past few years, I’ve started back up again, usually running PbtA stuff (Dungeon World, Urban Shadows, Epyllion).

What kind of experience do you have playing TTRPGs online?
Like facilitating, I don't have much experience playing TTRPGs online. Aside from some play-by-post, all my experience comes from Gauntlet Hangouts. I’ve had some very generous facilitators (David Rothfeder, Mikael Tysvær, Richard Ruane, Maxime Lacoste, Christo Meid), as well as fellow players (too many to list – you know who you are), welcome me to the Gauntlet community. Not to mention Michael G. Barford, who has put together a motley crew for MFC. I’m indebted to you all!

What made you decide to jump in and start facilitating games for Gauntlet Hangouts?
I decided to start facilitating games for Gauntlet Hangouts for a couple of reasons. One, I don’t get many chances to do it, and, when I do, I don’t really know what I’m doing, but running games is fun! Two – this will sound cheesy, but I really do mean it – the Gauntlet community is awesome, and I want to do whatever I can to support it.

Tell us about the game you're planning to facilitate for MFC! Why did you choose it?
I’m embarrassed to write this, but I chose to facilitate Urban Shadows for MFC because I’m lazy. I was already preparing to run it for Magpie Games at Gen Con, and I figured I could run it again for MFC without too much effort. Did I mention I’m also running it for Gauntlet Con? Laziness aside, it’s an awesome game that takes me back to playing Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Mage: The Ascension, and all that WoD goodness!

What other games would you be interested in facilitating for Gauntlet Hangouts in the future?
I’ve got a hard drive full of games that I’ve backed on Kickstarter, and I’d love to facilitate any one of them for Gauntlet Hangouts! I’m always down for running PbtA stuff. AND … I’ve got a kernel of an idea for a signature event (Philosophy Fridays) that I hope will germinate and grow and see the light of day in the not-too-distant future.

Is there anything non-gaming-related that you'd like people to know about you?
Here are three non-gaming-related things about me. One (taking a page from Jim Crocker’s MFC Spotlight), I turned 39 years old last month, and this month marks 17 years as a vegetarian. Two, I live in Knoxville, TN, with my brilliant, beautiful, all-around-awesome wife, and our two dogs. Three, I get paid to teach philosophy using TTRPGs (okay, that one is gaming-related, but I’m proud of it, sorry!).

Where can people go to hear more from you?
If you want to hear more for me, I’ve got the usual social media presence:
https://twitter.com/DR_W_UT
https://www.facebook.com/ryan.windeknecht

I’ve also got a crappy blog, which I haven’t updated in years. But, maybe if I talk about it, I’ll actually start updating it!
https://ryan-windeknecht.squarespace.com/

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11/3/2018

Gauntlet Con 2018: Reflections

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by various GauntletCon 2018 participants

This is a Slack chat in which members of The Gauntlet community reflect on their experience at Gauntlet Con 2018

Marco Barreto (he/him): Oh, it was so much fun. So many great people, great games and emotional moments. Thank you all! @PaulStaxxSpraget and @Pat P impressed me with their performance in "Damn the man, save the music". So much energy, so much fun. They made it very easy for me to play along. And then @gerrit (he, him) with his tuk tuk race. I only played one round, but it was so much fun. And it was fun to follow the ongoing battle for the crown of the Tuk Tuk racers. Even on twitter. Guys, you rock!

Ferrell (he/him): Honestly, the fact that every player in my games were both patient with me getting the setup complete, willing to pitch ideas, and were giving positive feedback made this one of the best experiences I've had running online games.

Chris Newton (he/him): @Pawel Solowczuk (he/him) had one of the most fun character arcs I've seen in a single session from our Dungeon World: The Cartoon. His kid prodigy's giddy embrace of his sudden transformation into a musclebound barbarian and our big finale battle with Venger where he ended up grabbing Venger by his single horn and pummeling him until Venger just ran was great. Kudos to @walter was for GMing and @Tyler L for playing along with us.

noellarh (they/them): The most special moment of GauntletCon for me was actually a pick up game. I played "Our Mundane Supernatural Life" with @Vee Hendro (she/her) . We played a phantom grandmother living with her granddaughter who was dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. We struggled to figure out how to tell my conservative father. I tearfully told my Nana that I would get an abortion as we looking at family photo albums. As the game ended, we visited Nana's grave, where she faded away, grateful to have been there to help me through this time. The game was sad but gentle, working through the process of grief.

GroupSoliloquy (Greg Gelder)(he): @gerrit (he, him) 's Tuk Tuk racing has really been a highlight of the con for me. It's just the right amount of silliness, competition and creativity that keeps you engaged. Every time I play it my mouth hurts from smiling so much!

Marcolo (he/him): I had so many great play experiences this weekend. I have to keep playing with my new friends. The highlights for me was a couple of practices I learned from @Sid Icarus (They/Them) that I am going to incorporate into my play going forward. I thought it was my job, when not in a scene, to be as stoic and still as possible in my little box at the bottom. I was concerned about stealing the spotlight. But Sid got us going in the opposite direction. Now I love being over-expressive and throwing "thumbs-up" or typing encouragement in the sidebar. My character might hate what you're doing, but I love it. My f2f group may think I've gone mad next week. The other thing I got from Sid was asking everyone their dream or the kind of scenes they are most looking forward to in the upcoming game. Not only is that a great tool for the GM to make sure they are giving their characters the scenes they want but it's great as a player too. When you remember another player's hope or wish for the session and see an opportunity to make that happen for them??? Oh man, there is no better feeling in the world. in summary, I can't shine until you do.

Michael G. Barford (he/him): I arrived at Gauntlet Con expecting to participate in four games; ended up being in nine! I thought that I would be completely exhausted, but by Sunday morning I had found my "runner's high."

Shane (he/him): @Marco I think many of us, directly or indirectly, have learned valuable lessons from @Sid Icarus (They/Them) playing with the Gauntlet.

Catherine Ramen (she/her): I had a great time in all my games but I wanna call out especially the marvelous Alas the Awful Sea session on Friday for getting to play with @Vee Hendro (she/her) and @Sid Icarus (They/Them) for the first time. @Sid Icarus (They/Them) you were bloody awesome, mate!

Sid Icarus (They/Them): Y'all! I just woke up! I can't handle so much love. I have two more games before I do my wrap feels but I'm gonna have some for suuuuuure (and @AviatrixCat I can't get enough of you!)

Pat P: Moar love for @Sid Icarus (They/Them)

Catherine Ramen (She/her): srlsy. and it was great to play again with you @Pat P

gerrit (he, him): If you consider bleed a concept which excites your for your roleplaying games, you like thoughtful and careful personal discussions about real life dilemmas and expect from your games practical support on safety the same time, you should definitely check out @Senda (she/her) 's and @Phil Vecchione (He/Him)'s game Turning Point.

Philipp Neitzel: I missed almost the whole con, still only seeing panels and hanging out in the voice chats were highlights of my weekend. The community is what makes the con and the gauntlet special.

Adam Vass (he): I have followed the Gauntlet for a little while on patreon for the Codex zine but I had never played any games or tried to become part of the community in any way. I decided this was as good a time as any to try and was really heartwarmed (not a word maybe?) by everyone I played or interacted with. The games were fun, the players and gms were very welcoming and understanding and I just totally was impressed by all of it and really hope to continue playing and meeting folks this way!

DMK: This was my first Gauntlet Con and it did not disappoint. I got to try new games like The Last Fleet, Kids on Bikes Dads on Lawn Mowers, The Woodlands, and Fall of Magic. I shared NightMirror. The games were fantastic. And I met so many new friendly faces from the community. Thank you all for making me feel welcome and for sharing our love of storytelling and games. I hope to play with you all again!

Oli Jeffery (he/him): My scene of the con goes to @Davechan, who having played a skittish, repressed Victorian academic for nine hours, suddenly became an entirely different character out of nowhere when his character was possessed. Check out the scene in the replays, it is startling.

Barry Cook: I came into the weekend thinking I'd have the time to catch a couple of panels and hang out on Discord here and there. I ended up being invited to participate in a panel by the sheer force of my excitement for it and playing in a game unlike any I've ever played in before, all with a degree of support and care from the people of the Gauntlet that is unmatched on the internet. Awesome work by all of the organizers, volunteers, GMs, players, and folks who could only make the chat. You all rule and make the Gauntlet awesome.

Tomer Gurantz - Tomes (he/him): I thought I'd have to miss almost all of it due to prior plans, but NO. I was able to run a game during Slot Zero (as I'll call it) on Thursday, prior even to the Gauntlet Games Now games, to kick off some game convention loving. And we were Space Bees protecting our Space Bee Queen (except when we weren't). Although I only ran two little ad hoc games at the very start of the weekend, I would occasionally visit the Discord "lobby", and let me tell you: this game convention is for REAL. The buzz and constant amazing gaming was dripping and glowing and emanating, and it was like a second skin that I wore all weekend, even though I was only tangentially there. The "dreams and prizes" channel is my highlight, watching all the love and recognition given around, and just making me happy and proud to be a part of this community.

Shane (He/Him): @Tomer Gurantz - Tomes (he/him) We added a #dreams channel on the Slack. :)

Tomer Gurantz - Tomes (he/him): Sweet!!!

Lu Quade (he/him): Hahah. Nice to hear you @Tomer Gurantz - Tomes (he/him) x o
You too @Maria Rivera (she/her)

Sid Icarus (They/Them): I can't speak highly enough of @Whimsy Machine and how much fun I had merging our games together. I was feeling flat and burned out, and didn't have enough players to continue, but we just pushed the games together, and... Let's face it, @Whimsy Machine made it work so hard! It was very exciting and wonderful and feelings and we had the most fun as a team and I got to meet some wonderful new people (special hollas to @Emily Weiss (she/her)).

We talk a lot about open table, but we really opened our tables to each other. And the result was really heart warming and special. And I'm glad I met Taylor and Em especially. As well as the rest of you punks upon this fine 3 days without good sleep.

David Morrison (he/him): Played six sessions over the con; without exception every one of them has been bloody brilliant. Of all the folk I played with, I’d only played with one before, and (besides the long con of The Between) didn’t play with the same players twice. So that’s upwards of a dozen new players I was just able to get straight into it with, generating some amazing (and often charged) roleplay, in a friendly and encouraging environment.

Special mention to The Between crew, as that accounted for half my con. Some of the tightest, most tonally consistent gaming I’ve done, and I loved having license to exercise my self-indulgent side. It says a lot that despite finishing at 3am 3 days in a row, I left the table feeling energised each time.

Thanks everyone!

Andrew Hauge (he/him): Every one of my experiences was a fresh perspective in the sea of role-playing, and I saw new horizons that I didn't expect, whether it was being enraptured by werewolf magic in The City Afterlife or pushed to go beyond as an Overplayer in Swords Without Master. I stretched my creativity with an incentive First Blood scene in The Final Girl, witnessed player creativity in Golden Sky Stories, and went full-on heely aggro in World Wide Wrestling.

I got to step up my gaming and try so many new things; GauntletCon 2018 was an absolute delight.

Pat P: The energy of this convention is still giving me life. I am immensely grateful to be a part of this wonderful and welcoming community. And then to have it culminate every year with a whirlwind weekend of gaming inspires me to continue my passion for the hobby. Thanks to all the players, GM's, and volunteers that made this a truly memorable weekend. I am honored to have shared this experience with you.

Andrew Hauge (he/him): That great little moment in World Wide Wrestling when Slick Jones, cool like that, gave a cheeky wave goodbye as he hopped over the top to win the Triple Threat cage match.

Rudy Mangual (He/Him): The people were everything. I’ve been a lurker on slack and in hangouts since the last GC, but couldn’t get past a wall of anxiety and actually play in any gauntlet games. Until this weekend. I said “fuck it” and had a beautiful time. First big highlight was where I was the butler in our Clue game and everyone kept voting for me to have a soliloquy scene (which terrified me). I finally had to do it and it went OKAY but everyone was so loving and supportive with their silent applause and visible emoting in the video chat, it made everything better. My second highlight was the extremely giving game of MotW with @Sid Icarus (They/Them) @peripheral @Marco and @Landers (He/Him). We communally made coffee magic (coffeemance) and hugging off-brand Deep Ones totally work and feel right. This was a play culture of love incarnate.

cendrones (he/him): It was the first time I ran one of my games in English, the first time I ran any game in English actually. I’ll remember gauntlet con and the wonderful band of players I’ve met!

Andrew Hauge (he/him): Also, TUK TUK! Tuk Tuk races forever! Tuk Tuk for world president!

Asbjørn Flø (he/him): I was so excited and a little bit nervous to be playing with the Gauntlet for the first time since I started following the Gauntlet on G-plus almost two years ago. What a warm welcome! Since I'm always the GM, never the player, it was really fun and fresh to be able to actually play the game I lead for my face-to-face friends, Dungeon World. But what really stood out for me was the minimal games Into the Odd and World of Dungeons. Perhaps they bring out creativity in players and GMs? @Eamon (he/him) really brought to life the weird and wonderful in the Into the Odd-hack Odd Dungeons, and the setting and the NPCs we met had that China Mieville-flair, like the black-toothed Toxomancer. And @Richard Ruane (He/Him) took his cool OSR-adventure Wreck of the Void Hatred about plundering a wrecked airshop and injected it with plenty of personal and touching moments in what I can only describe as GM-omancy, in a pick-up game no less.

Sabine V: After sleeping a bit I have to say that this was a great convention. Thanks to the organizers for setting it up, and to the help desk people for being there for everyone and making sure that things flowed smoothly despite some hiccups. My personal highlights were Libretè by the fantastic @Vivien Feasson (he/him) and MotW with @Tyler L - they just really scratched my drama itch! The game I facilitated ran smoothly, mostly thanks to my lovely players and the last minute bombshell that @Gene A introduced. Now I have a little post-con blues and am totally looking forward towards the next one!

Ferret (He/Him): Thanks to those in the Gauntlet. I am a biracial, queer man who has never shied away from opening myself up in my characters and have often been hurt. This weekend, even though I added a bit of myself or experiences in every character or game I played in I was unabashedly embraced, cared for, and treated as a human being. This was my first GauntletCon, my first experience with the Gauntlet, and you have a member for life.

River W (she): After closing a session of Final Girl, I asked the players to give me some scenes from the movie's blooper reel. It was a good laugh, and helped us shake out some of the gratuitous gore we'd brought to the screen. An especially inspired blooper was an unedited take of the brawl between Alien and Porkface (with the costumes flapping about).

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11/2/2018

Gauntlet Video Roundup - November 2, 2018

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Greetings, and welcome to the weekly Gauntlet Hangouts video roundup! Don't miss any of the great sessions in the updated playlists and video links below.

Star Wars Saturday

Void Vultures
Rich Rogers runs for Dr. Jason Cox, Jason Mills, Mark Causey, and Rob Ruthven

Super Tuesday

The Ward: EX.T.R.A. (Session 3 of 3)
Jim Crocker runs for Marissa C., Robert, Robert, and Sam Z.
The Hospital comes under attack and shocking secrets are revealed!

Gauntlet Quarterly

Hearts of Wulin: Book One (Session 3)
Lowell Francis runs for Darren Brockes, Patrick Knowles, Rich Rogers, and Sherri
The final chapter, their darkest hour-- Tian bleeding out in the street, Nightsky hunted, Zheng betrayed, and Jade Sabre crushed by his teacher-- can they survive?

Gauntlet Hangouts

Masks of the Mummy Kings (Session 3 of 3)
Jim Crocker runs for Andrew Hauge, Rachelle Dube, and Robbie Boerth
It's the final session, with the Sarcophagus of the Ziggurat Emperor himself as the prize! Three Rogues enter, what treasures will they emerge with?

Avatar 1%er: Agents of Balance (Session 3 of 4)
Luiz Ferraz runs for Josh DeGagné, Kyle Hodnett, Rich Rogers, and Taylor W.
The team deals with the emotional fallout of their achievements and learn a haunting fact about the Fire Nation's war plans.

Zombie World (Session 5 of 5)
Yoshi Creelman runs for Bryan, Chris Thompson, Jim Crocker, and Noella H
Content warning: off screen violence against zombified children. Halloween night in a post Zombie Apocalypse world, we see how the adults are trying to help the children cope with the new reality. A salvage operation on a big box bookstore. A mission to get art supplies from the children's psych ward, with child zombies. The death of one of the protagonists.

The Final Girl: The Convention
Pat P. runs for Jason Mills, Sabine V, and Steven desJardins
It is the biggest gaming convention of the year and many have waited all year for this one. Unfortunately, costumed horrors are lurking among the throngs of gamers.

Micro-Game Night
Larry S. runs for Bethany H. and Robbie Boerth
Small games, BIG fun! In Micro-Game Night, we play a selection of micro-games from the 200-Word RPG Challenge. In this first installment, we played two amazing games: Envoy by Christine Prevas (Finalist 2018) and One Last Night by Tyler Wayne Detrick (Finalist 2018). Enjoy!

Symbaroum: the Copper Crown (Session 1 of 9)
Darren Brockes runs for Agatha, Angel, and Fraser Simons
Variol, Iomigoi, and Yorah take up with the last refugee caravan of the season, out of their dead and dying homeland to greener pastures and brighter futures — but mid-journey they are waylaid by rumors come true and old oaths called upon.

Other Games

[DEUTSCH] Cheat Your Own Adventure
Gerrit Reininghaus ermöglichte eine Session für Eike K. und Sabine V
Wenn du ein blutrünstiger Vampir bist, dessen Machgier stärker ist als sein Selbsterhaltungstrieb ist, lies weiter bei Abschnitt 666. Andernfalls schaue dir noch ein paar Katzenvideos auf Instagram an.

Check out all the great videos on The Gauntlet YouTube channel and be sure check out the playlists to catch up on all your favorite games. If you'd like to play in games like these, check out the calendar of events and the Gauntlet Hangouts Google+ Communitywhere new games are announced! To support The Gauntlet, please visit the Gauntlet Patreon at https://patreon.com/gauntlet. All are welcome to play Gauntlet Hangouts games, and Patreon supporters have extra options like priority RSVP for Gauntlet Hangouts games and joining the Gauntlet Slack team where special events are announced like Gauntlet Games Now. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend!

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The Gauntlet Blog

Session Report: Tumbling

Gauntlet Video Roundup - November 9, 2018

Age of Ravens: Concrete Icons

Mandatory Fun Club Spotlight: Ryan Windeknecht

Gauntlet Con 2018: Reflections

Gauntlet Video Roundup - November 2, 2018

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