greg_r

So, I figured I should use this for something other than posting one piece of bad fiction and some pictures of a moth so here is an incomplete collection of thoughts from the BLADES 24hr in the format of hot and not as that's what I know best.

IC hot:

Catching up with old friends and making some new one: it was great to see some of the Blackgate characters again for Smithy and brilliant to talk of the best forms of defence and theology with new faces.
Theology: It was brilliant to be able to RP Smithy's increasing dedication to Order with a real Judge and have a little bit of hero worship for him. Some of the quite moments of joint and individual prayer over the weekend were some of the most intense RP experiences I've had for a while (ok intense is the wrong word, but where you /are/ the character are praying to their gods and feeling a sense of spiritualism through them, which is pretty bizarre to me).
Oaths: Smithy feels like he did pretty well, for the most part (see below), in upholding his various character oaths over the weekend. Acting according to the Paladin oaths in the contests, giving others a fair and where possible as enjoyable an experience as he could. Going for the stronger targets where possible, striking for subdue where possible and so on.
Group RP: Lomax and Elvin were both brilliant to RP with all weekend. Discussing tactics, getting so many buffs and the scavenger hunt with Elvin was brilliant and Lomax was Lomax. A joy to RP with, mostly, and another character for some brilliant spiritual discussions.
The Shrine to anarchy: Being able to be genuinely useful and conduct a rite was an amazing feeling IC. It was even better for it being what Smithy would /do/. I didn't have to meta-game the solution to any extent, just RP to the max. sure Smithy paid for it, but he was also extremely proud for having given his all in defence of those who fought with him.
Huge unexpected reward: for spending a little time whittling dice I received what we wanted for the scavenger hunt but also a bug unexpected smithing reward!

OC hot:
Getting to see old friends: I really miss being in Bath and feel very guilty about having so little time to get to Bath to see them so it was great to see you all!
Shield fighting: I don't suck at it! I was really expecting to be terrible after not larping or exercising as much as I would like to have recently (see: busy). So it was great to be able to stand as a front-line high combat character all weekend with the wooden shield. Yes I was wearing cheats chainmail and whining a bit about the shield by the end (sorry everyone in the front line, especially doug for that), but I still did well and am pleased with me.
Character progression: Heck yeah! Smithy is making the character progressions steps that he was dithering over for so long at last without external pushing in that direction! The rite to order was amazing as an OC victory as it shows just how far I've come as a RPer from when I started playing Smithy not that long ago and it shows (in my mind anyway) just how much the ritual contribution at LT has helped me to be spontaneous and improvise, which I've previously been utterly terrible at. I really look forward to one day be able to lead others in a rite like that rather than it just be myself shutting out the world for it and perhaps be able to have my plan or doing LT rituals one day.
scouting game: monstering the scouting game was great fun and let me blow off some steam from being Mr. Serious Order-Face. It also let me get into the combat style of a skirmisher for practice at that a bit more.
Almost dying: It was really tense for me! I know most people don't want their character to die, but Smithy has been pushing his luck for years and has so far managed to get away with it. I really thought that the rite would be the death of him, and was ready to welcome it. It was super touch and go and really tense when I realised I 1 minute to bleed on time in when the healers were blinded and looking at other people so I got an endurance with 13 seconds to bleed. Awesome tension!
Loads more little moments: But good fun was had!

IC not:

Barel's death: Urgh, that was awful to see and, to combine it with an OC not, my RP around that was awful. Need to do better. Needless to say there is a very sad Smithy because of that and it was a part of him putting so much of himself into the rite to purge the chaos from the area.
Fear Ghost: If there is something Smithy hates it's not being able to be that annoying stubborn git that won't stand down or stand aside in the face of overwhelming pain. Fear 6 is far too much fear and it combines with the OC not of forgetting how various things stack in TL.
Failing in oaths: I relied far too much on the big shield to power my way through the contests and used the throwing hammers in the circle of treachery. I also failed to stop Lomax from his plans and didn't do anything to try to pay for or refuse my unexpected gift.

OC not:
The journey there and back: lateness and not getting post codes right on the way and tired and traffic on the way back.
Missing stuff on Saturday night: Went to bed early so I would be awake for my watch and alive for the journey home, then was told the watch was cancelled due to people being too tired and not enough volunteers to watch. I totally get why the people on watch needed sleep and the monster crew being tired, and I liked the extra sleep, but it was still a bit of a pain.
Time on site: Due to arriving late and wanting to leave ASAP to be home I didn't get to catch up with anyone OC as much as I wanted to.
Shield guilt: Sorry for being really boring to fight in the tournament by being Mr."I-have-a-big-shield-and-survival-buffs,-oh-and-I've-also-been-buffed-to-actually-cause-some-damage-too-now." It must have made the fights much less fun for a lot of people and I only thought of this afterwards.
bad monster times: hearing about a new monster having a bad time.
Poor RP: I had some pretty poor RP moments over the weekend too. I should know better by now. Much to do with getting other characters in my head.

So yes, great game, great time. Huzzah!