On Sunday, the long-running campaign, Endgame, came to its conclusion. There are many things that could be said about this game-- and many discussions about how games end, and how, in my opinion, this did LARP endings proud. But, instead, I will be brief.
For me personally, Endgame has meant a lot. It's the first game I really NPC'd. It's the first game I staffed. It's also the game that taught me-- to borrow from a fellow player-- that LARPing isn't just a hobby, it's an art form. It taught me that modules and encounters can be difficult, challenging, and deeply personal. It taught me that PCs will usually surprise you. It taught me how to write characters that are as dynamic and unpredictable as those PCs. It taught me that narrative is fluid, and I should never have expectations of where "my" story will go. It taught me how to collaborate with like-minded people. It taught me, in short, how to LARP.
To my fellow players-- I raise my glass (of water-- I'm still mildly dehydrated). Thank you, Mac, for leading us into places unknown. Thank you, staff, for trusting me with parts of your gameworld. Thank you, NPCs, for helping me make stories come alive (and for being really patient when climatic modules required, essentially, a hike through the camp grounds). And thank you, PCs, for teaching me what it means to really, deeply care about a player-base.
(And thanks to all of you for dealing with a few of my bouts of extreme profanity, which were just a little loud. It was never planned, but it always seemed appropriate.)
Cheers, Endgamers. I think we've made something just a little bit magic.
(I open the floor to all of you-- share your favorite moments, your reflections, your appreciations... whatever you want.)
For me personally, Endgame has meant a lot. It's the first game I really NPC'd. It's the first game I staffed. It's also the game that taught me-- to borrow from a fellow player-- that LARPing isn't just a hobby, it's an art form. It taught me that modules and encounters can be difficult, challenging, and deeply personal. It taught me that PCs will usually surprise you. It taught me how to write characters that are as dynamic and unpredictable as those PCs. It taught me that narrative is fluid, and I should never have expectations of where "my" story will go. It taught me how to collaborate with like-minded people. It taught me, in short, how to LARP.
To my fellow players-- I raise my glass (of water-- I'm still mildly dehydrated). Thank you, Mac, for leading us into places unknown. Thank you, staff, for trusting me with parts of your gameworld. Thank you, NPCs, for helping me make stories come alive (and for being really patient when climatic modules required, essentially, a hike through the camp grounds). And thank you, PCs, for teaching me what it means to really, deeply care about a player-base.
(And thanks to all of you for dealing with a few of my bouts of extreme profanity, which were just a little loud. It was never planned, but it always seemed appropriate.)
Cheers, Endgamers. I think we've made something just a little bit magic.
(I open the floor to all of you-- share your favorite moments, your reflections, your appreciations... whatever you want.)
I started Endgame with Fox as an experiment. I decided to get away from my comfortable super ego (Fox being my second long term LARP character), I ended up learning a lot about myself: As Fox was put through the mental rigors of various plots and character interactions, which were all beautifully and lovingly crafted by staff and characters alike - a shade of my larger persona (the RL person) also learned and grew.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange to sunset a part of me I've been developing for the last 8 years...
It certainly did end in an amazing way. I'm really happy to have been a part of this game .
As a new staffer, I was lucky to have you as a player. Thanks for going with stuff that I wasn't sure you would dig.
DeleteEndgame was the first Accelerant event that I NPC'd, and I'm pretty sure it is still the one I've NPC'd the most so far (not counting Numina). Sadly we never crossed paths there since the last event I was able to make was the 2010 closer. I always hoped to make it back at least one last time but I never could manage to make the schedule work.
ReplyDeleteNPC'ing the game, watching the players and watching the staff did teach me a lot of things. I regret that I wasn't able to make better use of the opportunities I had there. One day I'll buttonhole you and get you to tell me how it all finally ended.
George
If you ask, I may not shut up. But gladly. :)
DeleteI was really impressed by your range as various NPCs. The Mind Dives in particular showcased your abilities, and willingness to do really intense RP, but I'm also thinking of Moira, Shade, Leung Chen, and Dr. Grey.
ReplyDeleteBe well.