#RPGaDay2021 - Day 31 - Thanks All Around

The final day of #RPGaDay2021 is upon us, and it's not a stretch to believe that the last word would be "THANK."

So let's thank my current gaming group.  

To Steve, my old college roommate. He's the guy in the group who intentionally plays "fun" disruptive characters.  Echellon, the priest of the "Oriental" god of the sea (and pigeon fancier) and Fonzie Schlepprock (a chronic liar Gnome Titan in Hackmaster that successfully kept the ruse that he was a famous general... at least to the human communities) were my favorites.  With online gaming, his characters started serious (a dragonborn priest or paladin whose only schtick was throat singing for his prayers), but as much as I think his initial concept of his Star Wars character was frivolous, things have gotten dark over the weeks of #RPGaDay2021.   Not Dark Side Point worthy, just cutthroat business dark that I don't usually see from him.  His one legendary character away from my table was  Benverho, an "asshole wizard" in a different college group.  Thanks for making  Ne'vets Aharo in Star Wars  the "bad" version of Benverho, and making my scheduled turns in the campaign direction even more delectable. 

To Jim, the "Gnome King" himself.  Thanks for heeding the call when I reached out for new players for Monday night, even though you had never actually role-played before!  Tarrie Prolek is the perfect starter character, always referring to the boss cause he's "under contract", even if he isn't.   Your musical numbers are far superior to anything else in Star Wars since Max Reebo in 1983. 

To Sean, the brother of Steve's best friend.  You got lured into playing by your brother, and even with most of the original group gone, thankfully you've stuck it out.  We give both you and your Wookie, Frokazza, a hard time because you're part of the group, and thankfully, you know that.  Congrats on the new job!

To Hoyce, another college buddy. Prior to online gaming we've rarely had the chance to game together over the 15 years.  Thanks for actually missing the online Day of Sloth IOU game, but expressing enough interest and availability to join the Star Wars game full-time.  I don't know how the partied survived before your character arrived.  Seriously, statistically-speaking they should have all been dead weeks before.  I'm far too lenient as a GM.

To Maja, my daughter.  Thanks for bailing us out when we needed an extra player to push through the "Bo'Non'as and Oopsa" side campaign.  With such crazy schedules that we barely get time to game at home, it was nice to play something, even if you were still in your bedroom down the hall. 

To Chris, one of the original guys well before me in the Monday night session.  I barely knew you dude, but thanks for the memories.

To Jeff, the Godfather of the Monday night game, and original DM of the 5e game.  Thanks for getting this thing going, and thanks for all the hours you poured into the game.  Andaras was quirky enough to keep us permanently on our toes, and we left so many storylines wide open.  We're going to have to return, whenever you get your stuff screwing up Monday nights squared away.   It's your group.  I'll keep them coming until your ready, even if you have a few new players by that point. 

 

To Balls, another college buddy that, like Steve, I've been able to play with pretty consistently over the years.   Thanks for letting it slide that this little online shin-ding was occurring, thus securing that I"m never productive at home on a Monday night.   Like Jeff, your spot at the table, real and virtual, is always guaranteed.

(IOU) Count Von'Count

Count Von’Count

One day, Jerry Nelson the puppeteer, literally brought the Count to life as it were. Count awoke in a startle to find himself sentient, and hungry for stuffed animal plush. The Count is a math and physics major on campus. He does mostly night classes. He is not harmed by sunlight, but does not enjoy it. He looks and sounds just as he has for decades on TV. He does sleep in a small coffin, can turn himself into a bat (though it looks like a cheap flying Halloween decoration), and can hypnotize/mesmerize others with his stare.

(4) – 4, 4 D6 – The count is a math wiz. Ask him anything mathematical. He makes Rainman look almost normal. Physics, geometry, theoretical mathematics; he’s your guy.

(3) – Dance with me – The count enjoys dancing in his spare time. He enjoys going to late night dance clubs and has been known to “serve” people. His favorite dance is the two... two step, ah ah ah!

(2)– The Final Count Down – The count can unleash a devastating attack on a foe when he counts down from 5 to 0. At the end, he lets out a trade mark laugh which is followed by lightning and a clap of thunder. The lightning comes from nowhere, but strikes the targeted foe and deafens all nearby except the count.

(1) – Count with me – The count gazes at a targeted foe and has a chance to hypnotize or mesmerize them to do his will. They will obey him so long as it does not cause self-harm enough to knock them out or kill them.

(IOU) Loathar of the Dairy People

Loathar of the Dairy People 

Loathar is a Neanderthal man from 50K years ago. He belonged to the Hill tribe, but fell into a crevasse while hunting with his tribesman into an underground riverbed. There he passed out and was frozen in a block of ice. Flash forward to present day, Loathar was found in that block of ice as it was brought to a dairy factory for refrigerant purposes. He was thawed out, took a liking to the factory workers and now works as a milk delivery man. He drives around campus in a 1956 Divco delivery van. His only real goal is to make sure that milk is delivered on time and doesn’t spoil. He is dressed like Milk Man Dan from Red Meat comics, but looks like a Geico Caveman/Neanderthal.

(4)-Direction Sense – Loathar knows where he is all the time in relation to his milk truck and his milk route. He might not know how to leave a building gracefully or open a door easily, but he knows where that truck and his next stop are.

(3) – Koko loves kitten – Loathar is not very well spoken to say the least. Speaking mostly in 1st person, he struggles with concepts and proper words to use. He has learned the art of sign language and hand gestures though. He can easily communicate with others using these and reading the body language of others.

(2) – On the Hunt – Loathar struggles with modern concepts such as daily living skills. Though his milk man suit is immaculate, his personal hygiene is horrible. He also hunts for his food, like squirrels on campus or more likely road kill, and is always willing to share. He can easily approach wild creatures and/or identify various meats by sight and smell.

(1) – What is this magic? – Loathar has a lot of trouble with anything not primitive in technology. He can drive his van, but if it is anything else he must make a roll to see if he can figure it out and use it if it’s not stone tools or a bow and arrow.

(IOU) The Ghost of Dirty Ben Franklin

The Ghost of Dirty Ben Franklin
Ben Franklin probably went to IOU as a youth, or at least he partied there enough that it felt like he was a student there. His death has somehow trapped him on campus an incarnation of his 1790's visage. His coat, waistcoat, breeches, this wire frames, and buckle shoes (if he wishes to walk no legs or shoes but a stereotype wispy tail for a ghost if he wishes to float) He floats around hitting on the college ladies, going to parties and looking for a good time. He is non corporeal most of the time, but can become solid when he tries. He does this to get with the ladies or go drinking. When he drinks he can get drunk and then has troubles with staying either corporal or non. He then has troubles passing through objects or picking up things. His started auditing classes in the political science department, but often doesn’t bother going to class.

Guess Who? (4)
Ben attempts to take over and possess another person. It takes a lot of effort for him. He can do so and make someone do his bidding, each action getting a 4D6 roll, but Ben cannot make a person harm themselves.

I Got This (3)
Ben attempts to pass through an object or pick something up. This is especially required when he has used it several times to get his drink on effecting his concentration.

I Invented Electricity, Bitches! (2)
Ben can invent items on the spot, just nothing very modern. Most things need to be pre-computer age items. He can attempt modern items, but the chances aren’t looking good unless you want a stove or water/web flippers.

Halloweenie (1)
Being a ghost Ben, but not a very frightening ghost, Ben has a chance to scare, terrify and stun a person or animal if he tries. Most times people just laugh at him though if he tries.

(IOU) Owen Humprie

Owen Humphrie
Owen is a theater major and inspiring actor. He has had some walk-on one lines in some cheap movies being made locally, and has been an extra in several as well. Owen is willing to do what it takes to get that big acting job. He’s very handsome and athletic though his resume lacks. He has a drug problem. He often likes to use the “don’t you know who I am” line and drops names of famous people he has met in passing, embellishing the story to make it sound as if they are good friends.

Struggling Actor with an Eidetic Memory (4)
Able to remember anything he has seen or read, this helps Owen memorize his lines and pass his classes.

I Do My Own Stunts (3)
Owen tries to get the parts by selling himself as an all around actor” being able to not only act, but is willing to do his own stunts for the authenticity of the film, and help save the director a bit of money as well.

Drug Addled Thespian (2)
Owen doesn’t feel pain from the drugs he is taking and his tolerance for anything unnatural in his body is high requiring him to take more than the normal person. Downside is he needs his fix. Each day he goes without his fix he loses a D6 from any cliche.  Once any cliche reaches zero, his sole focus is getting a fix any way he can.  If a second cliche reaches zero, he passes out.

Master of Disguise  (1)

Being an actor he can quickly change roles and costumes to become who he needs to be. Failure means he resembles a cross dressing Bugs Bunny that only a nitwit could fall for.   If this cliche drops to zero as a result of his drug addiction, he actually gets +2d6 to the base role for seeking drugs only. 

This Was Madness, This... Was... SATLOF!

I'm sure we've had worse months that this November, but it's flipped us for a doozy.

With everything else happening, the normal holiday bum rush of activity has us going into a tizzy.  To top things off, my 25th high school reunion was scheduled to take place this past Saturday, and having missed my 20th, I felt some obligation to attend.

But there is always SATLOF.

Back in college, my roommate Steve (known for Professor O'Hara, Fonzie, and Echelon) introduced our extended group to FATLOF, the Friday After Thanksgiving Left-Over Feast.  He and his high school friends would get together on Black Friday, bring some leftovers from the previous day's festivities, and eat too much, imbibe a little trash can punch, and play some games.  Our social group, The Society of Neffs, ultimately adopted the same concept on Saturdays, hence the SATLOF.

For nearly two decades, we have kept that date open, as the one time our college friends, as well as extended friends and family, may have a chance to meet up and reconnect.  The festivities have moved south over the years, now occurring in Nate's home in South Allentown.

We got to the shin-dig just in time for food to served, and despite a few cancellations due to picking up the Post-Thanksgiving crud, I was happy to see my friend from high school, Scott, decide to eschew the reunion for SATLOF.

The trash can punch has gone away to give actual children fewer reason for Children & Youth to show up, but there was a fine collection of micro-brews from Old Forge Brewing in Danville, PA that offset the desire to fill a container full of fruit punch and any cheap liquor available in a plastic container.

By the time we got food in our bellies, caught up on everyone's situations, and redirected the kid's pirate game (which was really a LARP) away from the basement bar, it was time to breakout a game.

Steve made the choice easier by breaking out yet another Kickstarter find:  Family Plot, a puntastic card game.

We caught up on some LARPs some of the guys were writing/running, discussed our current group's online game debacle, and then realizing that our incompetent segment of the group at large is far more advanced than we think.

We also learned of the Narwhal Song.... and that companies make Christmas decorations with these elusive Arctic sea mammals.

I've already been informed that the 30th Reunion will take place on SATLOF 2022, so I have four years to get the other missing members of the group to SATLOF, before I may have to take a year off.  

(IOU) "Chet"

“Chet”

Chet is Cthulhu’s half brother. Chet is a stereotype of a slacker hippie. He has his tentacles pulled back and like dreadlocks, is barefoot, large pot belly, smelly, dirty shirt (which is a midriff) and always looking to score some reefer. He is a philosophy major with little ambition. He is often seen on the quad playing ultimate Frisbee with his friends. He has followers from the religious studies who claim he is “the one”, not his brother, but he often just tells them to relax and uses them to do his bidding like getting him “grind-edge” or more pot to smoke.

Gaze of Contentment (4) While Cthulhu brings fear and insanity, Chets gaze and long term presence to a group brings a feeling of extreme relaxation and desire to stop all actions.

You Put Your Weed in There Man (3)You put your weed in there man – Chet is an expert with spatial abilities, hiding things well and packing things extremely well. On a perfect roll of 6’s on 3 D6 he unwillingly opens a dimensional door to an unknown location where anything seems to fit at the moment.

I Know You Man! (2) Chet knows most people on campus and people often feel at ease around him. If he asks them questions they often just divulge the information he wants without hesitation trusting him at the moment.

Bring the Pain (1) Chet tries not to be like his relatives (the elder gods) and wants to be more passive. However, when watch out when someone steals the Bee man. Though he is not in touch with his more aggressive self, sometimes when he gets mad a pillar of fire rains down from the heavens upon his target of anger.

Seriously, there's not a hippie Cthulhu picture on the internet? Then we'll refer back to the last known picture of the Elder Dude, from his fresh-thing year, with a little extra Pauly Shore for good measure:

(IOU) Melvin Marcawitz,

As the sessions of Illuminati University have been used as filler for some of our 5e online game cancellations, I miraculously have run through the the "available" characters for PCs, including some slated to be characters.  

Nate to the rescue!  

The player known for Norm Dingleberry, Doc Millheim, and Professor Pittleman came to the rescue and made up a number new characters for use in the campaign, and for not actually owning a copy of Risus, he did a fine job...

Melvin Marcawitz
Did I Eat That? (4)
Being poor, and a divorcee living on his own Melvin has learned to eat a variety of things that would easily turn most peoples stomachs or even injure them, but not Melvin

!!!NERDS!!!  Rage (3) 

Easily pumped to show off what little physical prowess he has, Melvin pumps himself up to possibly perform amazing feats of strength. 

Sports Statistic Rotisserie (2) 

Melvin has a vast knowledge of useless sports knowledge he believes to be true, whether it is or not. About the way sports are played and about history and games and players of the past.

Imperfect Substitute (1) 

Melvin is used to being taken advantage of. His marriage, teaching in school, even in sports, he was always the substitute or being replaced. Due to this, Melvin can easily be told to “step in and cover” someone or something in a bad situation taken the brunt on the punishment and allowing the other person to walk away unharmed and happy.

A high school gym teacher who failed to keep up with needed credits and credentials, he needs to go back to college and get a degree in PE again. He is a 43 year old divorced, single man living in the dorms. He looks a lot like Ron Jeremy, 70’s porn mustache, mullet. He wears very tight short shorts, knee high tube socks with color bands, tight polo shirt with over sized collar with few buttons done to show off lots of thick curry chest hair, large silver whistle and stop watch around his neck. He stretches and does lunges frequently. 

As a GM and player, I really picture Melvin as a cross between Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds and Cousin Rico from Napoleon Dynamite.