Origins 2011

I am back and I am so intoxicatingly happy I feel like crying.

Not only were my tables full of eager players that I didn’t have to beg, threaten, or cajole into playing a game… but I actually had some seriously world class role players show up and had many kindred spirits at the table as well.  I really didn’t even know these people existed, either.  Most of them had the same tales of struggling to find players and set up sessions back in their home towns, even in the larger cities.  I also heard many horror stories.  These folks played right alongside people that could care less what system I was running– they seemed to mostly be looking for a story they could play a part in, I guess.  And somehow… each completely random set of gamers that showed up… they sorted out their differences, established some sort of espirit de corps… and… unbelievably… appeared to have more fun than anyone I’d ever seen at a gaming table.

I was of course scared to death the entire time.  I had no idea what I was walking into… and I am completely blown away.  I can see why they take the time and deal with the expense of coming to Origins each year.

(I have to say… the capacity of role playing games to seamlessly accommodate seasoned adventurers side by side with casual novices is their most surprising and valuable feature.  I really had no concept of this until now.  That is a really powerful attribute for a game to have….)

Wow.

I am simply stunned.