The Ramblings of Rev. Karl

First a LJ-related comment. My work has done something to make LJ somewhat dysfunctional, I don't know what it could be as other sites work fine, and LJ still works fine from my home computer - but at work LJ pages take a good 10 minutes or so to load or refresh. So, I haven't been posting or commenting as much as I used to, but I am still reading what you fine people are writing (except for the twitters - I skip those).

So anyway, currently our lives are being consumed by adventures in flooring. We're ripping up the carpet and replacing it with wood. When the estimator came out we got the pleasant surprise that parts of the house already have hardwood, so we're getting that refinished and the parts that don't will get new (why a house that only had one previous owner has 3 different types of floors, and then covered them up with carpet, remains a puzzle). I picked up the wood the weekend before last and the installers are due to arrive on Thursday. Meanwhile we've been busy trying to clear our crap so that they'll actually be able to get to the floor. The poor kitty is already traumatized, probably convinced that we're moving. Once they're done we'll have the fun task of putting it all back which will probably takes us the rest of the month.

This past weekend I had a fun diversion with Games Club of Maryland's Games Days, games played will get their own post following.

Plans for next month include Free Spirit - I hope to see many of you there. I don't have any official duties this year so plan on spending most of my time relaxing (though if any FSG staff reading this are still short-handing in their dept. I could probably be talked into helping).

I'm also hoping to make to Celtic Fling due to their drool worthy musical lineup. Any one else I know going?

This is your reminder to save the date. Brunswick Games Day is only a month away. January 3rd join is for a full day of open gaming, absolutely free. This will be the 5th year of the "I Wish I was at Evecon" event. This year we'll have the bonus of having some of the new Essen releases present plus Mystic Station is threatening to have their new card game available hot off the press. I do have some limited crash space available for the nights before and/or after for anyone coming from far away. More details at http://www.fantasymaps.com/gaming/brunswick.html.

zammis and I are once again hosting Thanksgiving dinner - joins us for food, drink, and games! If you're planning on coming for dinner please RSVP here and do bring food, notes on what you're bringing can be done here as well so we don't end up with 15 green bean casseroles. Rides from within the metro area can probably be arranged and we do have crash space available if needed.

I'm back from Mythical Journeys which was awesome. Many thanks to divalion and my fellow track mates. I have a lot to think and write about from the weekend, but I'm not sure I'll get a chance to before I'm off to Germany, so the report may be delayed.

For next weekend I am hosting games on Saturday, do ping me if you're planning on attending as I'll cancel if I don't have any takers.

Sunday I'll be at faire assuming I get all of my packing done before then.

Monday I'm off to Essen - if anyone wants me to do game shopping on their behalf let me know, I already have an order from ambug666. Also I'm hoping to do a day trip over to Amsterdam while I'm so close - any recommendations for sightseeing in the area (either in Amsterdam, or anything within about 2 hours of Essen might be possible)? I'll be back home 10/27.

Also coming up is Euroquest, a great local gaming con, Nov. 6-9.

P.S. Anyone here in Philadelphia and not mind having a visitor the night of the 19th? I'm flying out of PHL and being able to drive there directly after faire would save a lot on the driving.

While on the topic of gaming cons - my next gaming con will be Essen - allow me to squee for a moment (SQUEE!) The next local one I'm planning on attending is Euroquest, which is lots of fun and everyone should go. I will be missing Congress of Gamers because it conflicts with the Lullaby of Broadway LARP which I'm going to be helping out with. Lullaby does still have openings, and it is highly recommend for anyone looking for an incredible LARP experience - go sign up now. After that the next con I'm considering is Darkover about which I'm still undecided, also vaguely on the radar is Philcon.

Also - The date of the next Brunswick Games Day is set for January 3rd, 2009 - save the date now. Our regular GCOM-Brunswick sessions will resume in October (I know I told a bunch of you Novemeber, but I checked the calendar and I will have one in October if anyone is interested).

As a P.S.

I am planning on being at the Great Big Sea show tomorrow and at faire on Saturday. Will see many of you there.

I'll be at FSG tomorrow through Sunday, if you want to reach me during that time you have to come to FSG (where I'll most likely be at the fabulous Celestial Stag mentioned previously).

4/26 GCOM-Middletown
5/1-5/4 GCOM Game Days
5/10 Frederick Celtic Festival - featuring Enter the Haggis!
5/17 GCOM-Brunswick
5/18 Idol Hands LARP
5/23-26 Balticon - anyone else going that's interested in splitting a hotel room?
5/31 GCOM-Middletown
6/10-15 Free Spirit Gathering
6/21 GCOM-Brunswick
6/25-29 Origins - still fence sitting on this one, currently leaning towards not.
6/28 GCOM-Middletown
7/12-13 my next free weekend!
7/19 GCOM-Brunswick
7/20 Idol Hands LARP
7/26 GCOM-Middletown

Friday: Go see the Mediaeval Baebes in Rockville. There are still tickets left!

Saturday: Gaming in Brunswick.

Sunday: Some crazy people are getting married.

That other day of the weekend that doesn't exist: work on LARP.

Last Saturday was my last day at faire for the season. Sadly it was too hot to really enjoy, spent most of the day hiding in the shade, guzzling as much water as possible. Sunday decided I did not want to repeat that, so the rest of the weekend was given over to Civilization IV, so I'll talk about that instead.

Friday I got the new expansion, Beyond the Sword, which I highly recommend for Civ players (make sure to get the rather hefty patch for it as well). The expansion adds lots of stuff, including an espionage system, corporations for the late game, allowing you to split off sections of your civ into vassal states, beefed up diplomacy, and random events. Probably the biggest change though is largely invisible and that is a seriously more intelligent AI, the AI is now better at utilizing almost every aspect of the game, including actually trying to win in different ways. Means I'm currently getting spanked, but such is life, it's good to have a challenging game.

Tonight I help the fabulous wylddelirium celebrate her birthday, and then it'll be off to Pagan Camp for the weekend to get my Vodou on.

So I did make a Triadcon appearance on Saturday - is was a bigger con than I was expecting, more wargamers and minatures players than most of the cons I go to. There were plenty of Eurogames as well and I played Taj Mahal and Puerto Rico, plus ran a Red Dragon Inn demo. The space was a little awkward, but supposedly they're looking for a new space for next year anyway, I'd definitely go back and might stay for longer. Friday was most excellent concert of rennies in Brunswick, including getting to see meapet and thatliardiego. I like having faire come to me. Sunday was slacking and much needed zammis time.

Next weekend: Gaming in Brunswick and Faire!

I had much fun at TCEP, many (pirate) games were played, was good to see people, especially blackpaladin and angel_vixen who came all the way from Pittsburgh. Also got to spend much time with the lovely auror which was nice. My apologies to stevemb and starmalachite who I didn't get to play any games with - I blame OOTS.

So, games played, Friday: Red Dragon Inn which you should all have on pre-order already, and The End of the Triumvirate a three player wargame that we were playing with only 2, I want to play again with 3 before passing judgement on it.
Saturday: India Rails (which took too long), Kahuna, Louis XIV, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Winds of Plunder (twice)
Sunday: a very long game of Order of the Stick (yes we actually finished, and I won even!), Plunder (which I still haven't decided if I like), and Skallywaggs (which took way too long for what it is).
Monday: Plague & Pestilence and pack out.

Since things were breaking up early on Monday I decided to head out to faire for a few hours. Still a little warm for me, but was very nice to see people and I especially enjoyed the Pyrates "Your Mom" Royale.

Next weekend either faire or TriaDCon, leaning towards con on Saturday and faire on Sunday, but will see what the weather is like.

Also extra-special reason to come to Brunswick this Friday as John DuRant (who some of you may know better as Jonathon Strum) will be hosting a bunch of renny musicians, including some of the Pyrates and meapet's band, Letter of Marque, at Beans in the Belfry starting at 7.

Any group outings to see Stardust planned for Friday? If not I'll see it in Frederick and folks are welcome to join me.

December 22-25 I'll be in Fredericksburg with zammis' family.
December 27-31 I'll be in Chicago with my family.
December 31 I also get to party with wylddelirium and ninjaslug.
January 1 I recuperate with queenmaggie and friends.
January 6 is Brunswick Games Day! - any of you in MD, VA, WV, or PA that like games should join us!

Just to let folks know I am still hosting gaming in Brunswick this Saturday.

Then it's off to Chicago for a week. I should still have Internet access while I'm gone but it may be spotty.

I'm hosting another Brunswick GCOM this Saturday from 1-7 at Beans in the Belfry.

Afterwards we're thinking of doing a haunted river float down the Potomac - also in Brunswick - anyone want to join us?

Sunday we'll be at faire.

Next weekend I'm hosting another Brunswick - GCOM on Saturday and I should be at faire on Sunday.

Thank you all that came to our party, had much fun. Gaming goodness with Caylus and Apples to Apples. Then we discovered we had Rocky Horror virgins in the house, so we remedied that.

In other gaming news GCOM-Brunswick will be returning later this month, August 19th.

Also today is the last day to register for In The Dark Times.

Looking ahead to next weekend, is anyone else planning on attend Celtic Fling?

I'm back from the '48 game - was wetter and more tiring than I would have liked, but still a great game. Congrats to the GMs. Also learned the tech stuff I need to know for In The Dark Times, which was the main reason for going. Now we just need to finish writing it :-)

Meanwhile I have a little over a week until Free Spirit. I plan on being there Wednesday through Sunday and will be repeating some of the events from last year, namely the Freeze and Paganism and Gaming. If you're there do come and say hi, I'll most likely be found at cabin 2.

Meanwhile, I hope I can spend most of this week sleeping. Urrrrrr.

P.S. I've not been keeping up with LJ, if you need to reach me ping me via AIM.