May the Force...
Well we've completed our Star Wars Saga campaign. After 20 sessions spanning 24 months we rode the journey from 1st level nuubs to 20th level legends in the epic that is WotC's Dawn of Defiance (DoD). The ending was nicely apocalyptic (although no one died - a fact which I think disappointed a few). Still, lots of things have occurred during this time, both personally and in game, and while I enjoyed experience immensely, to be honest, I don't know if I could do it again.
Campaign wise, I can reasonably say that DoD is the longest game I've played in actual time taken (although probably not in hours spent actually playing - some of my Call of Cthulhu games and definitely a few of the early GURPs and Aftermath games I played way back in my late teens will beat this - oh to be young again!). It was a struggle at times (especially with the large number of players we had at the beginning), and I'm never going to be a big fan of the game system (which to my mind does its best to feel like anything but taking place in the Star Wars Universe), but just the feeling of completion alone made it worthwhile.
I have to say also that the crew was great - from Jon's boundless energy, through to Nick's desire to ensure that everyone got their just deserts. Luke also did fantastic work at balancing out a storyline, that from what I've seen and read, was pretty weak. I have to make mention though, that in some ways, I feel sorry for poor Sam, being stuck with a bunch of loud, rude and likely smelly blokes for hours on end (especially as Murphy's luck would have it it was always a gorgeous and hot day outside when the monthly session of SW was due!).
On a personal note, this period of my life has seen us buy a house, have our second son, and now usher Emma back into the workforce. I know that I can likely never play a weekend game again (it is just way too time consuming), but I'll never forget this one.
P.S. I have a short video clip as well, but I'll probably make that available only to those who were present on the day.
Campaign wise, I can reasonably say that DoD is the longest game I've played in actual time taken (although probably not in hours spent actually playing - some of my Call of Cthulhu games and definitely a few of the early GURPs and Aftermath games I played way back in my late teens will beat this - oh to be young again!). It was a struggle at times (especially with the large number of players we had at the beginning), and I'm never going to be a big fan of the game system (which to my mind does its best to feel like anything but taking place in the Star Wars Universe), but just the feeling of completion alone made it worthwhile.
I have to say also that the crew was great - from Jon's boundless energy, through to Nick's desire to ensure that everyone got their just deserts. Luke also did fantastic work at balancing out a storyline, that from what I've seen and read, was pretty weak. I have to make mention though, that in some ways, I feel sorry for poor Sam, being stuck with a bunch of loud, rude and likely smelly blokes for hours on end (especially as Murphy's luck would have it it was always a gorgeous and hot day outside when the monthly session of SW was due!).
On a personal note, this period of my life has seen us buy a house, have our second son, and now usher Emma back into the workforce. I know that I can likely never play a weekend game again (it is just way too time consuming), but I'll never forget this one.
P.S. I have a short video clip as well, but I'll probably make that available only to those who were present on the day.