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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
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Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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 Posted: 23-Feb-2004 09:41 Post subject: TotalCon report |
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For some reason this year's TotalCon wasn't as cool as past years. Not sure what the issues were but even the awards ceremony wasn't as festive as usual. But it was still great to see people that I see so infrequently.
Not as many board members as previous years either. Just myself, Mordel, Pinhead, Hardware, and Chandra. Plus I had a hand in creating 9 of the 10 CBT events so there was very little surprises in the games so that was kind of a downer too. Although we did all learn some stuff about running only large scenarios at conventions so we'll know better next time. (We also learned that no matter how big you make the table there will still be people that can't seem to keep both dice on the table when they roll.)
Mordel and I also awarded certificates and prizes in addition to the convention ones for most of our events. Hats off to Mordel for creating some pretty cool certificates and to Rick Raisley for his support in that area. Everyone playing really like that so if we do that again next year we'll make sure to add that to the event blurb.
One other thing of note happened this year--the return of a player that started coming to the convention 10 or so years ago as a 12 year old. Nate was always a decent player that never (well, hardly ever  ) made the same mistake twice. Still doesn't.
Nate hadn't attended in a few years because of other commitments but stormed back to the convention right where he left off as a player, but now with the confidence as a leader. His tactics were so good that he turned what was designed to be a Clan tactical victory and won the scenario as the Inner Sphere commander. He also took a scenario where the only goal of the Kurita forces was to "die with honor" (the Kurita forces were outnumbered and out BV'd, their victory conditions were based on how long they held out and what they killed) and was very close to turning it into a total Kurita victory--it took a very lucky hit by the opposition mercs to turn it into just a tactical Kurita win.
Now, for the highlight (at least for me) of the convention.
The TotalCon staff hands out an award called "The puppy masher"...it goes to the person that does something to totally crush the spirit of another person in a game. Now obviously it's very easy for a role-playing GM to do this as s/he's the one totally controlling the NPCs actions--s/he has ample opportunity to simply make things so hard on players that it's no possible for them to achieve their goals.
So how could a person running a miniatures game possibly get it?
Well, I have been running an event called "The Mosh Pit" for 5 years or so at several conventions. The object in the Solaris battle is to move down a 13 level pit to the bottom, stand in the bottom hex for one complete turn (and the turn you arrive doesn't count), and then leave the pit ending up on the opposite hex from where you started. It's Inner Sphere assault mechs only, you can play custom designs if you wish. But you can't jump. And no quads. And you must move down a minimum of one hex per turn (or up, depending on your direction of travel). Players have a choice of being 4g/5p or 5g/4p.
Oh, did I mention that as soon as someone reaches the bottom hex water starts rushing in and the water raises 1 level per turn that a mech is in that hex?
Well, there's so much carnage in this event that players continue playing even after they are killed. They sit out one turn and then start the battle again only this time entering from the opposite side from where they began the game, only this time they are 5/5. Each time they come back they mist increase either of the scores by 1, staggering the choice between pilot and gunner scores.
There are players that have this scenario every time it has been offered. No one has ever succeeded. In fact, until this year only one person (Horhiro) had even made it as far as the hexes up from the bottom.
This year it looked like there was going to be someone breaking that record. Despite being hit by Mordel with a golder BB (an ERSL to the CTposs and a gyro hit) a player named Nick was making his way back to the top and was poised to break the record. He was standing in the record tying hex with only one player with any chance of stopping him. And this player hadn't hit the ocean from the beach all day.
As "luck" would have it, this player was off in the men's room when his turn to fire came up. I reached over the table and grabbed his mech sheet declaring "OK, I'll fire for him". I quickly look down at his sheet--5 gunner and all he's got left is a medium laser. Doing his to-hit in my head I need a 10. 10!
Knowing the Nick doesn't have an XL I'm thinking, 'I need a leg, the rear CT, of the head to have any chance'. But just before I roll the kid walks back into the room. Mordel says "OK, he should roll location". I look at the kid and look over at Nick, who's still smiling and making plans with a couple other players (Nate included) to help protect his back so he can break the record. "No, I'll roll".
7! Center torso rear....well, Nick's got a large amount of armor on his back and takes it easily.
Mordel speaks up again. "Let the kid roll for the breach". Now folks, there was no way on God's green Earth I was going to let that kid roll. Heck, looking over at him I don't think he wanted to. I looked at Nick, and then at Mordel, and said, "No. I got it. 10s or better to breach".
11! DOA.
The look on Nick's face was priceless.
The Puppy Masher was mine! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did talk about it after and Nick was surprised he'd made it as far as he did. The kid (who's name I can't remember) was high-fiving with his buddies afterward saying it was his design that killed Nick.
Everyone that played had a great time, and when it comes right down to it that's the important part.
Well, second most important.
~chihawk, the Puppy Masher
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
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| Posted: 23-Feb-2004 10:11 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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Yes, the Awards seemed to be a big hit. People did appear to like them. Most hung around until the end of the events even after they died to see if they'd get one.
I also gave out one 2004 Mecha Calender at two of my events. I know the winners were happy about that. We hadn't given out prizes or awards as part of the events in years.
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Col. Dwight Chandra
Lewis' Executioners
C.O., Alpha Co.
Joined: 15-Aug-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 25-Feb-2004 11:06 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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okay, I should point out that the ONE CBT event that Puppy Masher chihawk did not design....he elected to sleep through.
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Mordel
Mordel.Net
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| Posted: 25-Feb-2004 11:47 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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Too bad, because it was actually a fun event. I was surprised at how many turns we were actually able to get in. I thought the event would be slower using the miniatures rules, but it was about the same. I would put a limit of 10 players on that next year. Keep the numbers low.
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Feb-2004 15:05 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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Quote:
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On 2004-02-25 11:06, Col. Dwight Chandra wrote:
okay, I should point out that the ONE CBT event that Puppy Masher chihawk did not design....he elected to sleep through.
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And I almost slept thru the entire thing...
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Col. Dwight Chandra
Lewis' Executioners
C.O., Alpha Co.
Joined: 15-Aug-2002 00:00
Posts: 170
Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Feb-2004 07:45 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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Quote:
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On 2004-02-25 11:47, Mordel wrote:
Too bad, because it was actually a fun event. I was surprised at how many turns we were actually able to get in. I thought the event would be slower using the miniatures rules, but it was about the same. I would put a limit of 10 players on that next year. Keep the numbers low.
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Agreed. And I am getting rid of the clan elementals....it just takes way too long to resolve all of those SRM-2 attacks
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 03-Mar-2004 19:39 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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Congrats Chihawk, you've finally got your just rewards. You've been in the running for many many years, good to hear you finally earned it!
Puppy Masher? They need to give you and Hardware a permanent award for "The Mosh Pit". It could be called the "Mission Impossible" award.
Each player should get an inked "LOSER" on there forehead just for showing up, cause there is no way to win that scenerio. Of course that was your plan all along....wasn't it? 
BTW do you get to keep the puppy for the year and cart it around like the Stanley Cup?
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 8072
Location: United States
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| Posted: 03-Mar-2004 19:49 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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The Mosh Pit is winnable...I've thought of 3 different ways to do it.
I have possession of the Puppy Masher until next year, and I am planning on touring with it should the occasion arise.
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 04-Mar-2004 06:13 Post subject: RE: TotalCon report |
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The Masher Tour????
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A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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