OOC: out of character comments and questions).

[GreyWolfVT]

My condolences to you Kris and your wife & family.

[Jernau35]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

[Edeldhur]

My condolences Spearmint, to you and your family.

[gurusql]

My condolences. Take all the time you need.

[Cwreando]

My condolences to you SM and your wife & family.

[Stirling]

With my latest character's demise, I am going to roll up another hero cannonfodder and strike out for gold and glory. Wish me luck ...

[Rex]

Good Luck!

[Kenjosephus]

Damn, good luck, Stirling. Also, late condolences to SM and his family

[tristenc]

There are no words when something like that happens, truly. Our thoughts and prayers (such as they are) are with you

[Spearmint]

Thank you all for the kind words and condolences. This weekend covered the first Ma in-Laws birthday and Mother's Day since her passing.

Brighterdaysahead. Hopefully aptly named too as this week I expect to be busy too, getting my mind in upon the horse syndicates and the premier Cheltenham Festival which starts tomorrow. I am there on Thursday with the syndicate, it is also St Patrick's Day and I trust my Guinness will flow as freely as the family tears did. The above is my top tip for the day though don't lose your shirt! My last advice fell at the first at Kempton.

I will be updating all threads between now and Wednesday afternoon, some belatedly as I had to prioritise a few family events.

[OGRE MAGE]

I will be heading out shortly for the Founders and Legends convention in Lake Geneva this weekend. https://foundersandlegends.com/

I should be back in full force on Tuesday, unless we decide to just stay there through Gary Con next week.

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

[Spearmint]

Hope the convention went well with fun games. Probably much better than the racing festival I was at one day.

I will be going through the threads today to catch up.

[OGRE MAGE]

Thanks! Actually, it was one of the best gaming experiences we have ever had at a convention.

Julie played in 7 games that were all great, and the games I played in were all really fun as well.

Got a few good ideas for future games of my own as well.

[Craigers07]

I'm interested in hearing about the convention OGRE MAGE. I've yet to make it to Garycon, but Founders and Legends seems like it's smaller. Is it easy to get into a game?

[Stirling]

Need a GaryCon UK! We have an expo near me at the end of May (UKGE 2024) but there are few beyond that.

Brighterdaysahead

came second I see. But Better Days Ahead did win the next day. Hope you were on that one Spearmint.

[OGRE MAGE]

I'm interested in hearing about the convention OGRE MAGE. I've yet to make it to Garycon, but Founders and Legends seems like it's smaller. Is it easy to get into a game?

Gary Con was absolutely packed last year and I believe they sold 1000 more badges this year, so I am worried it is going to be much worse than last year. Crowded, loud, and hard to move through the masses.

F&L felt like GC 3 or 4. Only about 400 attendees so the tables were spread out and the quieter rooms made it much easier to hear things.

If they do F&L again, we might go to that and skip the insanity of CG all together next year.

[OGRE MAGE]

I snuck back down to Lake Geneva for Gary Con this weekend.

If we survive, I will be back in full posting force on Monday.

[Craigers07]

That's great to hear about F&L. It seems Garycon has grown so much that I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy being around so many people. I'll let you know if I plan to go to F&L next year.

[sastaz]

Hi guys, as you might have noticed I have been off grid for a month or so. In short, the last "internet type of conflict" I had on this forum made me realize that right now I simply don't have the energy to participate. The campaigns are great but the grinding conflicts with other forum members outweigh the benefits of being here, right now. Nothing is final, but I will extend my break for a while, just FYI.

[OGRE MAGE]

That's great to hear about F&L. It seems Garycon has grown so much that I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy being around so many people. I'll let you know if I plan to go to F&L next year.

As I guessed, it was absolutely packed. It was actually difficult to walk around through the hotel in a few places.

I was in 2 games where the rooms were so tightly packed with tables and people shouting over the top of each other, we couldn't even hear the other players or the DM at times. That was ridiculous, especially when you see the premier games being played in private rooms and suites that we commoners wouldn't have access to.

The entire convention, which used to be about gaming and remembering Gary Gygax, has turned into a commercial spectacle. The biggest concern for the staff now is selling merchandise. There were swag booths set up in every hallway and the Dealer Hall was packed to the gills.

As someone who ONLY goes for the gaming, and could care less about all the other silly "celebrity" distractions, it was a great disappointment to see how little they cared about the games. One DM didn't even show up for one of ours, and the staff we mentioned it to had no idea what to say or do about it.

I hate to say this after attending the last 12 or so, but I think that was officially my last GC.