On the subjects of a geek overload and the voices in my head
My mind has been racing for the past 48 hours. I've been thinking of running a pick-up RPG at Arisia. The question I've been mulling is two part; when would I try to do this and what kind of game should I run.
I figure that Sunday afternoon would be a good time, since by then a lot of people will be burnt out and may want a nice sit-down type of game. However, at least one person that I'd like to game with is scheduled for a whole mess of panels during that stretch of time. So... maybe Saturday?
Then there is the problem of what to use for a setting. I suppose I could do a classic high fantasy setting, but that might be a little too mundane. Part of me would like to burst out something really unusual but also resonant with the crowd.
I've arrived at a game based on the world of Buckaroo Bansai. The players would by a mixed collection of scientists, musicians, and mercenaries working for the Bansai Institute. They might even be some of the original characters like maybe Rawhide or....
...No No. This has to stop now.
Oh, hello Norman
Don't "hello Norman" me. I'm here to drag you back from the brink.
What do you mean? Back from the brink of what?
The brink of this gibbering, slobbering-though-your-braces, adjusting-your-pocket-protector, good-GOD-have-you-ever-even-kissed-a-girl cliff of nerd-dom which you seem far too eager to jump off of.
I'm not jumping of a nerd cliff, I'm planning a game.
You're planning a role-playing game to play at a science fiction convention. If you have not already jumped of that nerd cliff then you are dancing dangerously close to its edge while trying to affix yourself to a parachute of flimsy self-delusion that this might be in some way cool. As your friend, I must try to reel you in a little.
Really? You think of me as a friend?
No, not really. I just wanted to silence your chess club babbling for a while.
Ah.
I mean someone has to do it. Otherwise your dorkishness will drive your friends mad.
I'll have you know my friends like the games I create. They think they're really cool.
Yes I suppose that's true, I've seen your friends.
HEY!
Seriously, can you summarize this Buckaroo Bansai thing? Spell it our for me and for yourself.
Well, it was a movie from the 80s with Peter Weller and Jeff Goldblum..
Great thespians, of course.
Peter Weller was the title character, a scientist, doctor, adventurer, and..uh.. rock.. musician.
mmm Hmm
And he and his team are trying to save the world from a group of aliens who are trying to prevent another group of aliens from escaping their prison in the....eighth dimension.
really
That second group of aliens steals the Oscillation Overthruster from Buckaroo's...jet-powered..pick-up truck...
Stop stop, that's enough. So this thing sounds like a good idea to you, does it?
It could be. I think people at the con would find it really cool.
Oh, THAT's a measure of quality! You can be the coolest nerd at the nerd gathering. Maybe they will make you their queen. Yes, that would be glorious. I can just picture you there, a little tiara on your head, holding one of those double ended swords the klingons use, and lifted up by the other nerds. That is until they drop you en masse in their mad rush to grab their inhalers when the exertion of said lifting brings on a collective asthma attack among the lot of them.
Bat'leth
What?
The double-ended klingon sword. Its called a bat'leth.
You realize that you're just proving my point for me, don't you?
Listen, Norman. I'm going to go to Arisia and I would like to play a game or two while I'm there. I really don't care if you approve or not.
Well I suppose I can get some quiet around here while you and your nerd-brethren are off joining the nerd collective for a full weekend.
See! There you go! Be happy. Have some quiet time.
All right, fine. See if I care. But I'll have you know, if you go around that hotel dressed in some sort of Sailor Moon/Darth Vader/Borg outfit, I heartily recommend you do not allow any photographic evidence thereof to get around your office.
No worries there.
I don't want to see it either, oh Nerd-Queen.
I figure that Sunday afternoon would be a good time, since by then a lot of people will be burnt out and may want a nice sit-down type of game. However, at least one person that I'd like to game with is scheduled for a whole mess of panels during that stretch of time. So... maybe Saturday?
Then there is the problem of what to use for a setting. I suppose I could do a classic high fantasy setting, but that might be a little too mundane. Part of me would like to burst out something really unusual but also resonant with the crowd.
I've arrived at a game based on the world of Buckaroo Bansai. The players would by a mixed collection of scientists, musicians, and mercenaries working for the Bansai Institute. They might even be some of the original characters like maybe Rawhide or....
...No No. This has to stop now.
Oh, hello Norman
Don't "hello Norman" me. I'm here to drag you back from the brink.
What do you mean? Back from the brink of what?
The brink of this gibbering, slobbering-though-your-braces, adjusting-your-pocket-protector, good-GOD-have-you-ever-even-kissed-a-girl cliff of nerd-dom which you seem far too eager to jump off of.
I'm not jumping of a nerd cliff, I'm planning a game.
You're planning a role-playing game to play at a science fiction convention. If you have not already jumped of that nerd cliff then you are dancing dangerously close to its edge while trying to affix yourself to a parachute of flimsy self-delusion that this might be in some way cool. As your friend, I must try to reel you in a little.
Really? You think of me as a friend?
No, not really. I just wanted to silence your chess club babbling for a while.
Ah.
I mean someone has to do it. Otherwise your dorkishness will drive your friends mad.
I'll have you know my friends like the games I create. They think they're really cool.
Yes I suppose that's true, I've seen your friends.
HEY!
Seriously, can you summarize this Buckaroo Bansai thing? Spell it our for me and for yourself.
Well, it was a movie from the 80s with Peter Weller and Jeff Goldblum..
Great thespians, of course.
Peter Weller was the title character, a scientist, doctor, adventurer, and..uh.. rock.. musician.
mmm Hmm
And he and his team are trying to save the world from a group of aliens who are trying to prevent another group of aliens from escaping their prison in the....eighth dimension.
really
That second group of aliens steals the Oscillation Overthruster from Buckaroo's...jet-powered..pick-up truck...
Stop stop, that's enough. So this thing sounds like a good idea to you, does it?
It could be. I think people at the con would find it really cool.
Oh, THAT's a measure of quality! You can be the coolest nerd at the nerd gathering. Maybe they will make you their queen. Yes, that would be glorious. I can just picture you there, a little tiara on your head, holding one of those double ended swords the klingons use, and lifted up by the other nerds. That is until they drop you en masse in their mad rush to grab their inhalers when the exertion of said lifting brings on a collective asthma attack among the lot of them.
Bat'leth
What?
The double-ended klingon sword. Its called a bat'leth.
You realize that you're just proving my point for me, don't you?
Listen, Norman. I'm going to go to Arisia and I would like to play a game or two while I'm there. I really don't care if you approve or not.
Well I suppose I can get some quiet around here while you and your nerd-brethren are off joining the nerd collective for a full weekend.
See! There you go! Be happy. Have some quiet time.
All right, fine. See if I care. But I'll have you know, if you go around that hotel dressed in some sort of Sailor Moon/Darth Vader/Borg outfit, I heartily recommend you do not allow any photographic evidence thereof to get around your office.
No worries there.
I don't want to see it either, oh Nerd-Queen.