Michigan's U-Con Starts One Week From Today!

We're now one week away from U-Con Gaming Convention to be held November 20 - 22 in frosty Ypsilanti, Michigan. I enjoyed myself so much last year, that I decided to return to run (and play) in several games. Although I won't be manning a Goblinoid Games / Pacesetter LTD booth in the dealer's hall, Roy Snyder has graciously offered to carry the entire game line in his booth at the convention! So be sure to stop by the Goodman Games/Troll Lord Games/Out Of Print Games and Books booth and toss some gold pieces in Roy's direction!

This year, I'm planning on running several games, as well as participating in the OSR Track as a special guest. I'm all about the "old-school" gaming this year, so be sure to sign up for any one of these amazing events referred by (or attended by) yours truly!

Friday, 9 a.m.
Stuper Powers!: “Apocalypse...NOW?!”
Doctor Dredd and his evil team of villains have taken over Washington DC! They plan to start World War III unless your team of "D-list" heroes are able to stop them. Will your ability to "Induce Slight Headaches" and "Turn Things Plaid" be enough to thwart Armageddon? (Nah...probably not...)

Friday, 1 p.m.
Ghostbusters: “Ragnarok-A-Bye Baby”
Judgment Day may be at hand!  In the center of all the chaos and destruction, one place seems untouched – The Wee Tots Nursery School. Could this be the Antichrist’s day care center? The Ghostbusters are mobilized to save the world (and perhaps change a diaper or two)!

Friday, 6 p.m.
OSR Discussion Panel: Old School City Scapes Roundtable Panel
Come gather round and take part in a round table style panel with the OSR Track's Guest of Honor Bill Webb (Frog God Games), Industry Insider Jim Wampler (Goodman Games), our track's sponsor John Reyst (PFSRD.com), along with Tim Snider (Goblinoid Games) and Michigan's own Bill Barsh (Pacesetter Games). We will discuss cities and their importance in old school gaming from the earliest days to the OSR as it is today. Time permitting, discussion and Q&A will be allowed with the audience. Hosted by Gamers & Grognards' Ryan Thompson and RPG Podcaster Adam Muszkiewicz (Drink Spin Run). Free! 

Saturday, 9 a.m.
Mutant Future: “Thundarr the Barbarian: Warlord of the Sacred Library”
Lords of Light! Drakexx the Unstoppable has established a stronghold in the forbidden Congers Library where thousands of Ancient texts are stored. What use does a warlord have with these tomes, and what secrets does he hope to unlock? The tribal shaman of the village of Linkon has tasked Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel with stopping and driving out the mindless brute!

Saturday, 2 p.m.
Cryptworld: “Wasted”
It's a raucous Saturday night at "Sweet Oblivion," the roadhouse on the outskirts of town. But this night of revelry will turn to horror when Death stops in for a nightcap. Can you survive The Night of The Living Dead (Drunk)?

And, as always, I'll be live-blogging from the convention, so stay tuned next week for observations, news, and you-are-there coverage from Michigan's U-Con!

What Am I Running At Con On The Cob / U-Con This Year?

The fall con season is upon us, and two of my favorite conventions are just around the corner. Ohio's Con on the Cob will be held October 15-18 at its new digs in Brecksville. And Michigan's U-Con Gaming Convention will be held November 20-22 in Ypsilanti. If you're in the area for either of these great gatherings, make plans NOW to attend.

At Con on the Cob, the Goblinoid Games/Pacesetter LTD vendor's booth will once again be present, offering up the complete line of games and supplements for Labyrinth Lord, Mutant Future, Starships & Spacemen, as well as Timemaster, Majus, Rotworld, and Cryptworld. (And there's a good chance the new Cryptworld supplement Monsters Macabre will be available for purchase too!)

As for the games I'll be running at the convention, lots of horror is on the docket!

Cryptworld: “Condition Critical”
Dr. Howard Eastman has called a press conference at his remote research facility to announce a medical breakthrough that will “eradicate human illness and suffering forever.” But what if the cure proves to be worse than the disease?

Cryptworld: “Unquenchable”
Three days ago, a group of hunters failed to return from their annual deer hunt near Akron, Ohio. Your team of expert trackers and investigators have been brought in to assist in the search. But there seems to be an undercurrent of unease amongst the police who whisper of a disturbing discovery they’ve made. Is there something sinister lurking in the forest?
 
Chill-Black Morn Manor boardgame
Something is loose in Black Morn Manor. Your team of envoys has been dispatched to investigate and (if possible) drive off the unseen evil. Will you succeed, or will you be converted into yet another minion for the creature? Come play this classic Pacesetter boardgame from 1985!

And a month later, I'll be running a bunch of games for U-Con's OSR track, including the following:

Mutant Future: “Thundarr the Barbarian: Warlord of the Sacred Library”
Lords of Light! Drakexx the Unstoppable has established a stronghold in the forbidden Congers Library where thousands of Ancient texts are stored. What use does a warlord have with these tomes, and what secrets does he hope to unlock? The tribal shaman of the village of Linkon has tasked Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel with stopping and driving out the mindless brute!

Stuper Powers!: “Apocalypse...NOW?!”
Doctor Dredd and his evil team of villains have taken over Washington DC! They plan to start World War III unless your team of "D-list" heroes are able to stop them. Will your ability to "Induce Slight Headaches" and "Turn Things Plaid" be enough to thwart Armageddon? (Nah...probably not...)

Ghostbusters: “Ragnarok-A-Bye Baby”
Judgment Day may be at hand!  In the center of all the chaos and destruction, one place seems untouched – The Wee Tots Nursery School. Could this be the Antichrist’s day care center? The Ghostbusters are mobilized to save the world (and perhaps change a diaper or two)!

Cryptworld: “Wasted”
It's a raucous Saturday night at "Sweet Oblivion," the roadhouse on the outskirts of town. But this night of revelry will turn to horror when Death stops in for a nightcap. Can you survive The Night of The Living Dead (Drunk)?

Stop by and say "Hey" if you're at either of these events!

RPG-A-DAY 2015 Day 9: My RPG Wish...Thundarr The Barbarian

9. FAVORITE MEDIA YOU WISH WAS AN RPG...
This is one of the easier questions in this month-long event. I love the post-apocalyptic genre. I love the 80s. I love classic Saturday morning cartoons. I love settings that are well-thought out and fully realized. Ergo, there can be only one franchise that I'd love to see fleshed out as its own RPG...Thundarr the Barbarian!

It's absolutely no secret that I adore this show. In fact, I cobbled together a fan-created World of Thundarr the Barbarian Sourcebook for Mutant Future that apparently gets a lot of use in other post-apocalyptic games. But it would be grand if someone were to secure the license for this amazing show and setting and create a "proper" RPG for the world of savagery, super-science, and sorcery!

[Cartoon Action Hour] "Thundarr-esque" Wasteland 2010 Sourcebook Now Available!

One of my favorite RPGs is Spectrum Games' Cartoon Action Hour -- the 1980s action cartoon RPG. And, of course, my favorite 1980s action cartoon is Thundarr the Barbarian. So I was thrilled when one of CAH's Kickstarter stretch goals was released this weekend -- the sourcebook for CAH's "ode to Thundarr" Wasteland 2010!

"A group of bold adventurers travels across a dangerous post-apocalyptic landscape, carrying out missions for the Utopian League, an organization of scientists, civic leaders, and scholars who seeks to rebuild society. Can the heroes make a difference in a world filled with sorcery, strange civilizations, mutated creatures, and other hazards?"

I'm getting a big kick out of this series book (as well as all of the other series for CAH) because I now have a setting to introduce Snydorr, The Wasteland Warrior!

The World Of Thundarr The Barbarian Sourcebook "Master Edition" Released!

In March 2012, I released what I referred to as the "final" version of The World of Thundarr the Barbarian Sourcebook for Mutant Future. I promised no more updates or entries to my RPG guidebook to The Best Gonzo Post-Apocalyptic Cartoon Ever Made.

However, since releasing the final version of the sourcebook, I've run several Thundarr adventures at conventions throughout the U.S.  None of these games were based on any of the classic episodes and are new adventures written specifically for the events. In fact, some players have called these "missing episodes" of the shows (which is a nice tribute). Whenever I've run one of these new Thundarr adventures, I've posted them here at The Savage AfterWorld for download. There have been three released: Across the Dimensional Divide; Warlord of the Sacred Library; and The Wizard's Graveyard.

To make it easier on folks who want The Whole Thundarr Enchilada, I have taken these three adventure scripts and tucked them into the sourcebook, creating a "Master Edition". There are even pre-gens of Thundarr, Ookla, Princess Ariel, and three other PCs in the back of the book that you can print out for use at your own table! Everything I've ever created for running Mutant Future-based Thundarr games is now in one big master volume.


So, without further ado, I present you with The World of Thundarr The Barbarian Sourcebook - Master Edition! Click here (or click the cover below or the link in the right-hand column) to download!

Con On The Cob Day 2: Meet B.A. Felton And "Fumbles The Mok"

Howdy gang, and welcome to Day 2 of my live reports from Ohio's Con on the Cob. I hope you enjoy reading these gaming missives as much as I enjoy bringing them to you. So let's see what what Friday had in store for Your Friendly Neighborhood Sniderman!

• Wow. When you game until midnight, go to bed at 1 a.m., then get up at 6 a.m., you can reeeeeally feel it. As long as my throat holds out for this morning's Thundarr the Barbarian game, I should be OK.
• Was at the buffet at 6 a.m. Hostess from yesterday seated me. "Looks like I won't have to chase you out this time!" she jokes. "Looks like I won't have to leave a tip this time!" I joke. The jokes kinda stopped there. (I left a tip.)
• Four Saturday morning adventurers made it for this morning's Thundarr the Barbarian game at 8 a.m. Everyone was tired, but LOUD cartoon action was had. Three players played the trio from the series, and my pal Jim Yoder played Oosoo, a young Mok who was accompanying the team to train as a new post-apocalyptic hero. And Oosoo had some the worst luck I've seen in a game -- which actually worked in the context of a new hero learning the ropes. Some of the highlights: Thundarr and Oosoo each grabbed a giant snake by the tail, swung them over their respective heads, and CRASHED the heads together which downed the evil serpents; while in an Ancient flying machine, Oosoo threw a sandbag ballast at an enemy -- and hit Thundarr by accident; after ripping off the leg from an animated statue, Oosoo tried to strike the automaton with it -- and hit Thundarr by accident; Ookla, who's afraid of both fire and water, decided to "watch the horses" while the rest of the team entered the swamp to retrieve the "Forever Fires"; Princess Ariel cast Control Animal on a giant snake and caused it to attack its brethren; and Thundarr dove a flying bat into the chest of an animated statue, rolled a 28 on the d30, and CRUSHED the bat into the statue. The statue fell while Thundarr rode it down to the ground. And in spite of Oosoo's fumbles, he dealt the final blow to the evil wizard, redeeming himself at the end. Demon Dogs, what an adventure!
• The Goodman Games booth had three DCC modules I don't have. So that was a nice unexpected score. I grabbed them while they were still available. I'll give 'em a readthrough later tonight.
• And I just sold my last copy of Cryptworld. The demand for it has been astounding, and the folks who already have it have been very excited to talk about it. (Wait 'til you see what's in the pipeline. Mwah-ha-haaaaa...) 
• Speaking of Cryptworld, as I sat here in the booth, inspiration struck. I hammered out and posted The Curator, an evil artist for Cryptworld. Enjoy!
• Knowing that Knights of the Dinner Table's Jolly Blackburn was going to be here, I brought my cherished copy of KODT Issue 48. In this issue, I had my Tales From the Table story printed. Jolly was kind enough to autograph the cover for me. And tomorrow, he'll have a custom sketch of beleaguered gamemaster B.A. Felton for me!
  
• I was supposed to play in a game of Are You A Werewolf, but only 4 people showed up. Not really possible with so few, so we decided to cancel the game. Now I'm in my room and, honestly, looking forward to a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is gonna be quite a stretch as I'm in the booth from 10 am to 8 pm.

And, as I like to do, here are a few random shots of this and that from the convention floor. See you tomorrow as we enter Day 3 of the Cosmic Circus!

 Andy Hopp's style can be found all over the banners for the Con, lending quite an unusual and distinctive "flair"

 One of several game rooms in full-fledged gaming action!

 Sweet, sweet loot has been grabbed and purchased!

 My even-more-cherished Issue 48 of KODT with Jolly's autograph on the cover!

 And for the old school arcade lovers, when was the last time you saw a WORKING Simpsons Arcade Game? The hotel's game room has one! Might have to toss in a few quarters for old times' sake.

Lords Of Light! Check Out Interloper Miniatures' Prize Donation For Con On The Cob!

Legion McRae of Interloper Miniatures has very graciously and generously donated some prizes for my Thundarr the Barbarian game at next week's Con on the Cob! I now have three unfinished and ready-to-paint minis to give away of a certain familiar "wasteland wanderer":

Not sure yet how I plan to choose who amongst the six players gets one of these beauties. (It may come down to a random die roll.)

Be sure to check out Interloper's webstore, as their post-apocalyptic mini goodness is astounding. There are several other minis similarly inspired by media you may recognize. And this "wasteland warrior" will soon be joined by his two companions! Thanks again, Legion!

Lords Of Light! Thundarr The Barbarian At Con On The Cob!

Okay, okay, I've had more than one person email me, begging me to run a Thundarr the Barbarian session at Con on the Cob next month. I had not planned on doing so, but I've decided to run a game on Friday morning. However, to do so, I'll need to cancel the Cartoon Action Hour game I had planned to run at that time. (I'll plan to run CAH at a future event in 2015.)

Anyway, here at the details for the game if you're interested in playing:

Friday 8 AM – Noon 

Mutant Future

Thundarr the Barbarian: “The Wizard’s Graveyard”

Demon dogs! The evil wizard Thraxx has discovered an Ancient weapon that will allow him to conquer Wash Dee-See! Legends tell of a powerful artifact long-ago buried in “The Wizard’s Graveyard” that could be the key to his downfall! Join Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel as they try to save the world of 3994 AD! Lords of Light!

NTRPG Con Day 3: Cthulhu Takes Over The World, And Thundarr Meets President Lincoln

 

Hi folks, and welcome to Sniderman's World Tour to the North Texas RPG Con, Day 3. I'm a hurting cowpoke today, as the days of screaming and shouting and running games and playing games are starting to catch up to me. So I'll stop by my room every so often to update today's post until I drop from exhaustion:  

* Hung out in the bar with some fellow bloggers last night, and it was like every bar-based BS bullpen, wherein the subject matter ecclectically changes every 5 minutes. We discussed Pathfinder Society, gothabilly music, and why Killer Klowns From Outer Space is mankind's crowning cinematic acheivement. Oh, and why everyone should have his or her own Blackrazor.

* Got back to the room at 1:30 a.m. and was up at 6 a.m. to run my traditional Saturday morning Thundarr game. When I woke, I felt like someone had spent the night beating me with a sack of washers. Every joint aches. Fortunately it's not a hangover ache. Sadly, it's "old guy" ache. (...sigh...) Plus my voice is nearly at an end, but I screwed up the fortitude for...

* My Saturday morning Thundarr game seemed to be yet another Animated action achievement. (And you can download the adventure I ran in the previous post from earlier this morning.) And some of the highlights in the lands of "Dee-See:"

---- Ookla the Mok threw a car at the ghostly form of the wizard, and the vehicle passes through him. There was some cringing that the pen of captured humans on the other side would be crushed. (He missed 'em.)

---- Shara the Barbarian, a new character, stood on the back of her charging horse, activated her Skull Mace, launched herself off her mount, and took out TWO Carrocs in one fell swoop!

---- To banish the evil wizard Thraxx, the team needed to get flames from the "Fire of Forever" -- imbued with the heroism and nobility of the Ancient warriors entombed there. The looks on their faces when they saw the sign read "ARLING" was priceless.

---- While on the hallowed grounds, Ookla wrestled one python-like Serfent into submission while Ariel pinned it with magic. During all of the excitement, no one saw Shara dragged into the swamps by the Serfent's twin. Thundarr lept into action, pulling the teen barbarian to safety.

---- With no time to waste, the village tinkerer "Wilbur" arrived with his "helioplane" to airlift the team back to the village of Smithson before Thraxx could return. Ookla missed a DEX check and tumbled off the plane, dangling from a rope around his ankle. Using telekinesis, Ariel LAUNCHES Ookla into an high arc, and he landed on the bat-riding minions who were coming to stop the team. One headbutt and a yank of the reins and Ookla and two surprised Carrocs took to the stratosphere.

---- An arial fight ensued with Thundarr throwing his Sun Sword at the enemy; Oosoo (another Mok) batting a large rock with his club, knocking another rider off his mount; and Ookla (again) finding himself in danger of falling. But when the pilot was knocked unconscious, Thundarr heroically took the wheel. (They ended up crashing into The Mall.)

---- The final fight was joined as Thraxx animated Lincoln's statue from the Memorial. As the team fought the marble juggernaut, Oosoo grabbed the giant around the ankle and, with a powerful shove, toppled the behemoth. Ookla grabbed a nearby stone slab and proceeded to pound the statue. Once Thundarr exposed Thraxx to the cleansing flames, the wizard was banished and Dee-See was safe again! Demon Dogs, it was epic!

* After Thundarr wrapped up, I had a chance to try out Sandy Peterson's "Cthulhu Wars" boardgame. It was kinda hard for me to grok the nuances, so I came in dead last. Sorry World, but you won't be bowing to The Black Goat. Cthuhlu himself now owns your souls. Great game and incredible production values! (But I do suck at strategy games, so my failure was inevitable...)

* After lunch and killing an hour eating Halls lozenges, I whipped by the infamous NTRPG Con raffle and auction. Many items of incredibly rarity were auctioned off, as well as trophies given to the con's Gladiator and Circus Maximus winners. Speaking of awards...

* This year's Three Castles Award was presented to Richard LeBlanc of New Big Dragon games for the module "Valley of the Five Fires" Richard and I had earlier spent some time discussing gaming and the glory of the d30. I was very pleased to see him and his company win the award. Congrats!

* There was also talk of a special "midnight auction" tonight for items and collectibles of a lesser monitary value. It was tempting to power through the night to attend, but with my flight in the wee hours of the morning and me already feeling like Orc-crap, I'll have to miss out.  

* By this time, my voice was at a hoarse whisper as three days of non-stop shouting, talking, and blathering (not to mention a lack of sleep and general body malaise) had taken its toll. The last event I had scheduled was a game of Mike Curtis' Shiverwhen -- a game I've been looking forward to playing for 2 years since Mike and I discussed the concept and setting at Gary Con IV. I tracked Mike down and gave him my disappointed regardsas I relinquished my seat. Next year...next year...

The time is now 11:35 pm, and I fly out at 8 tomorrow morning. I haven't packed yet, and a good night's sleep is necessary before I start my travelsback to Ohio, so this post will wrap up my trip. I want to thank the hosts and organizers for a fine, fun old-school time. I'm glad I finally got to get to NTRPG Con and it was great seeing my con gaming pals yet again. So, signing off from Texas, this is Sniderman saying, "So long, and thanks for all the dice!"

And, here are my last few photographic offerings from the event: 

"Thundarr the Barbarian: The Wizard's Graveyard" Now Available For Download!

(I'm actually posting this on Monday to go live while I'm at North Texas RPG Con. The mobile Blogger platform I'm using on site with my Tablet is awful when it comes to links, so I thought I'd get this ready before I left.)

As you read this, my Thundarr game here at North Texas RPG Con has just ended, and it's safe for me to post the adventure my players just ran through. Click the cover below to download "Thundarr the Barbarian: The Wizard's Graveyard" for you own home games!

A few notes:

• I used pre-gens for Thundarr, Ookla, and Ariel, as well as new ones for Shara, Merlik, and Oosoo. Shara and Merlik were actually introduced in the episode 'Den of the Sleeping Demon." The pre-gens are included with this download. Encourage the players to play the characters straight as it really helps make the game a success.
• No maps are provided. Just sketch something quickly on your battlemap the way I do as needed.
• I removed the "Amazing Feat of Fill-in-the-Blank" as an ability for the primary characters. I've found they're strong enough without this cartoon "gimmee". Plus, the players hardly used it!
• The adventure is hardly a polished effort, as it's my rough notes for use during a con game. So please excuse spelling errors, formatting issues, and general unattractiveness. Originally, it was just for my eyes only.
• The script should be easy enough to follow, but it is a 3-4 hour "railroad" convention one-shot. There's not much "depth" to it. Point A to Point B to Point C to Big Bad Boss Fight at the end.
• I played the opening credits on a tablet for the players as we started. And when we were done, I played the end credits. (Not to mention the 80s commercials for cereal and toys!) This really helped the atmosphere and set the mood.
• Be sure to play it like the cartoon. Play up the voices and the exaggerated action sequences. If your players want to do it, let it happen! Cartoon action, my friends!
• If you'd like to run your home PCs through the adventure, it should be easy enough to have them play through. However, this game takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where magic exists. If magic doesn't exist in your campaign, have Thraxx's "magic" be the result of a non-corporealness mutation and "Ancient holographic technology in the wrong hands."
• If you want more Thundarr excitement for your Mutant Future games, don't forget to download the always-free Thundarr sourcebook over there in the right-hand column!

Sneak Peek At Sniderman's 2014 Convention Game Offerings

I'm getting my events lined up for the 2014 convention season. Here's what's on the docket this year:

The Scourge From Beyond Infinity
Dungeon Crawl Classics
The natural flow of time is running amok across the lands, causing every living thing to spontaneously deteriorate, wither, and die of old age. Even the PCs can feel the icy grip of time sapping their youth and vitality. Immune from the ravages of aging, Hyzelsia the Eternal approaches the group for assistance in dealing with this threat. Is the danger magical or natural…or both?

Three Hours ‘Til Armageddon
Villains & Vigilantes
Twenty-four hours ago, a madman promised to detonate a hidden anti-matter device in Washington D.C. unless his demands were met. The city has been evacuated, and the Guardians superteam has been summoned. In three hours, the nation’s capitol will be reduced to rubble. Can your team locate and neutralize the threat in time? (Note to players: This game will be played in REAL TIME.)

Tangled Threads
Cryptworld
In 1901, the gold-mining boomtown of Weaver, Arizona, was suddenly abandoned by its citizens after a series of unexplained disappearances, and the town was left to crumble in the desert sands. Recently, however, tourists are flocking to the former ghost town, which has been revitalized as a historical attraction. Is history about to repeat itself?

Seen Through Dead Man’s Eyes
All For Me Grog
Avast, ye scurvy hounds! You’ve been summoned before the cap’n of The Midnight Vulture who has need of your particular “talents.” He knows the whereabouts of a vast treasure that he’s willin’ to share with ye, but it’ll take The Dead Man’s Eyes to reveal its final restin’ place. The cap’n’s waitin’ in his quarters to parlay about this task. And bring a shovel, mates!

Ragnarok-a-bye Baby
Ghostbusters
Judgment Day may be at hand! Violent earthquakes have been shaking the area, and an eclipse of the sun has lasted far longer than normal. In the center of all of this chaos and destruction, one place seems untouched – The Wee Tots Nursery School. Could this be the Antichrist’s day care center? The Ghostbusters are mobilized to save the world (and perhaps change a diaper or two)!

Thundarr the Barbarian: “The Wizards’ Graveyard”
Mutant Future
Demon dogs! The evil wizard Thraxx has discovered an Ancient weapon that will allow him to destroy The Cleaved Lands! Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel must journey to the legendary “Wizard’s Graveyard” where the key to his downfall is said to lie! Lords of Light!

For Inspiration: The Random Fantasy Adventure Module Title Generator

After posting yesterday's B Movie Title Generator, I wasn't sure if I had shared this other gem with you folks. It's the Adventure Title Generator from the apparently defunct blog Sundering Wrath, and I use it quite a bit for inspiration. The titles it generates are similar in feel and tone to the titles of the classic D&D modules you may have seen on the shelves of your FLGS (though the generator is apparently based on the 4e D&D world).

Stuck for ideas some time ago, I used this generator to create a batch of titles for potential adventure ideas. One that popped up, "Warlord of the Sacred Library," became a Thundarr adventure I ran at Gary Con earlier this year. Another title, "The Scourge From Beyond Infinity," is earmarked for a future DCC RPG funnel. (If I can find time to write it!) Here's a taste of what a few clicks brings up:

Bargain of the Ghouls

The Book of the Cruel Underdark

Queen of the Marksman's Guild

The Plague Widow

Through the Spider Tomb

Below the Bloody Catacombs

The Bard's Last Will

The Inn of the Cursed Knight

Quest of the Living Dead

Vecna's Tribe 

(C'mon, you long-time D&D players can't tell me you wouldn't LOVE to run  through "Vecna's Tribe"!)

Con on the Cob Day 3: Lords Of Light, Sweetest Day, And A Future Without Mutants

'Morning folks,

It's 6 a.m. and I'm heading down for breakfast already. It's Saturday morning, so you know what that means...Sniderman's running his popular Saturday morning "Thundarr the Barbarian" Mutant Future game at 8 a.m. Although the players are bleary-eyed and usually hungover from Friday night room parties, I never have a problem getting a full table of Saturday morning cartoon enthusiasts. Also, just discovered that Thundarr premiered this week back in 1980 -- 33 years ago! So, as I head down for a plate of bacon and sausage (fat gives you energy!), let's get this day's convention-logue started...

• Discovered that I've been shaving with a dull razor for the last two days. This morning, my face said "Nope" when I tried to drag the dull implement across it a third time. So I'm goin' with the grizzled look from here on out.
• When I sat down to get my Thundarr game set up, I was the only one in the game room. In fact, I think I may have been the only one at the con! Eerily quiet. I had four enthusiastic players show up to play in Across the Dimensional Divide. They tore through the scenario in nearly half the time, trouncing Yin-Yan the Wizard by lunchtime. Some of the highlights included: Ookla hanging onto a deployed firetruck ladder while the engine raced down the street; same Ookla getting tired of being dragged around, planting his feet, and STOPPING the firetruck dead in its tracks; another Ookla from another dimension grabbed a giant man-eating dimensional worm by its mouth and swung it around like a 75 foot long baseball bat (accidentally flattening the other Ookla who was still trying to recover after that whole firetruck ride); Thundarr jumped from the firetruck, landed on the hood of a car, and cut its engine block off with his SunSword; and the other Thundarr was unsure of his own identity, and began incorporating new catchphrases ("Gods of Luminescence! Demonic Cats!").
• My Mutant Future game was next and I had one person show up to play. He and I agreed that it just wasn't going to work with one player, so we decided to cancel. So that was two games that ended not happening due to no shows. Timemaster I can understand as it's a niche genre and not enough folks may know about it, but Mutant Future? I has a sad.
• Swung by the room to drop some stuff off, as I switch hats to gamer/partyer. Stopped by Registration to sign up for Menagerie of the Ice Lord run by Digital Orc's Dylan Hartwell. All full, dammit. OK, they have a game of Cartoon Action Hour based on He-Man. That could be a hoot! All full again? Double dammit. A board game called Thunder Alley? Cool, I love that post-apocalyptic racing game. No, wait, I'm thinking of Thunder Road. Thunder Alley is a NASCAR card game sim. Triple dammit. So I stop by the bar to drink a beer and get my head on straight. A look at my watch shows me it's only 2 p.m.
• I stopped by the dealer's hall to see if anything materialized since the other 12 times I stopped by. (Kind of like rechecking the fridge when you've already looked in it and found nothing you wanted.) Lo-and-behold, I found Dungeon Roll, a game I missed the Kickstarter on. I had no idea the commercial version was already out. Yoinked, and played a few games in the demo area with one or two passers-by. Fun game!
• Came back to my room after a bit of poking around in the Artitorium and saying hey to some new friends and acquaintances. Was so beat, that I decided to just sit in the comfy chair and kick my feet up for a few minutes. Woke two hours later when my own mouth-open snoring woke me up. I'm very sad to discover I'm not a young man anymore. I then decide to show my body who the boss is and left to go to the Con Suite Room Party in progress.
• "Yeah, my wife is watching the kids this weekend so I can come to the convention," I overhear someone say. "It's her Sweetest Day gift to me." "TODAY IS SWEETEST DAY?!" I shout, as I race back to my room to call my wife lest I be mistaken as a loutish husband. "TODAY IS SWEETEST DAY?!" she shouts when I call.
• Jogged back to the Chill and Grill Con Suite Gathering for beer and hot dogs. This will be my last entry as I'm gettin' my "brew on."

No photos today as I stupidly left the camera in the room. But with the fun and thrills of Thundarr that were had, I think this classic opening best summarizes today's Cob-Con:

Con On The Cob Starts In Five Days!

Calling all mutants from Ohio and surrounding states! Con on the Cob starts next Thursday, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Sniderman will be in attendance! This convention takes place in my own backyard, but I have been unable to get there for the past few years. This time, I reserved my room earlier in the year and made arrangements to be there the entire length of the con. As it's my first time at this specific convention, I'm unsure what to expect, but I'm expecting a great time. And, as always, I'll be live blogging from the event each day, so be sure to stay tuned for news and updates from Ohio's "Four Days of GamesArtFreaksFun"!

• The big news for me is that I shall be running the first public-run convention game of Goblinoid Games' / Pacesetter's newly released horror RPG Cryptworld! The adventure is one I've custom written specifically for Con on the Cob, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the players handle "Condition Critical." Let's just say **I** was creeped out when I was writing it. I can only imagine what it'll be like for the players on the other side of the table! Plus, I'll be running a game of Timemaster as well, so anyone who thinks they have what it takes to police the timestream should hop on their chronoscooter and stop by!
• Lest you think I'm ignoring all things Mutant Future, think again! Post-apocalyptic adventures await as I bring my ever-popular scenario "Dead in the Water" to Con on the Cob. And will there be Thundarr the Barbarian? Demon Dogs, YES, there will be Thundarr the Barbarian! (Run on Saturday morning, no less!)
• There are a whole host of folks from the blogs and interwebs that I plan on meeting for the first time and/or gaming with. You know who you are. Anyone want to get together for some unscheduled afterhours games should track me down. And, yes, I'll be happy to GM a "demand performance" for your group!
• Do I have swag for my players? Damn skippy I have swag for my players. Folks who play in my games always get some great goodies, and I've been stockpiling some awesome giveaways to folks who show up to play. Plus Dan Proctor was kind enough to send me some Pacesetter Action Table Cards for folks who play in Cryptworld or Timemaster! Grab a seat at my table, have some fun, and get keen stuff! (If you can't make it to the con, grab some cards for your own games. They're crazy useful and very cool!)
  
• And, as mentioned, I'll be posting each day I'm there. So be sure to stay tuned next week for news, updates, photos, coverage, and tales of adventure!

Monsters, Mutants, Time Travelers, And Thundarr Coming To Ohio's Con On The Cob, October 17-20

 

Okay, Ohio-and-surrounding-states readers, who here is gettin' their shiny wazoo to Hudson in October for Con on the Cob? Yours truly has pulled the trigger and will be in attendance all four days, running the following games for all who wanna sign up! Most of these are classics I've run at other cons, but there's one new adventure I'm premiering:

Mutant Future: Thundarr the Barbarian: Across the Dimensional Divide
Demon Dogs! A dimensional time-rip has appeared near "Indeenapliss." It must be the work of an evil wizard, but who? Join Thundarr, Ookla, and Princess Ariel as they try to save the world of 3994 AD!

Mutant Future: Dead In The Water
Mindless, water-logged abominations have been coming ashore, attacking fishing villages along the coast of The Rainbow Sea and dragging their victims off to a watery doom. Can a ragtag party of post-apocalyptic miscreants discover the answers on the Island of Fire?

Timemaster: The Day The Sky Fell
It’s 1979 and Topeka, Kansas, has been burned off the face of the Earth. Surviving victims claim they saw the Sun itself cut a path of destruction through the city, killing tens of thousands. Tensions between the U.S. and USSR have never been higher, and World War III is imminent unless Time Corps agents can determine what happened and stop it before it ever occurred.

Cryptworld: Condition Critical
Dr. Howard Eastman has called a press conference at his remote research facility to announce a medical breakthrough that will “eradicate human illness and suffering forever.” But what if the cure proves to be worse than the disease?

And Dylan Hartwell of Digital Orc fame will be running two of his Labyrinth Lord adventures as well: The Blasphemous Brewery of Pilz and Menagerie of the Ice Lord! (It appears Goblinoid Games / Pacesetter will be well-supported that weekend!) So far, I've signed up to play a quick game of Dungeon! as well as trying my hand at a game of Fiasco. Also, I'll have Hot Rod Freaks with me (which may be scheduled as an official game, time willing) as well as The Resistance and Are You A Werewolf for some potential after-hours casual paranoia-fests

So "folks who live in Ohio and surrounding states," who else is planning to be there this year?