It began almost a year ago - news came that the legendary PAX would be heading east, to my home turf. For many months, there had been preparations. Grouping up with friends to secure a hotel, a countdown on a google wave with events and plans, learning of the D&D events and immediately calling the head honcho to secure a GM spot - these are just a few of the things I did.
But when the day came, I was not prepared...
Pax East was truly phenomenal. Despite the Queues of Doom, the real life Pax Pox to go with my stickers, and the Chorus in Stereo of "Oh god my feet", it was an unmitigated success.
It started with me driving a carload of nerds east into Boston, to park at my sister's house in Cambridge.
We then took the T to our hotel, the Copley Westin. We were bumped from our original hotel that we booked months
ago to this one, which is about a half mile from the convention. The additional hike was annoying, but doable.
There was a common theme to our comments on our way into the convention. "Look, I think there's one!" "Oh, that's definitely another one there." "Yep, that has to be one of us." We were hunting PAXers. The red badge, a nerdy shirt, playing on a DS or PSP- these were just some of the things that gave away someone as being one of us. By the time Wil Wheaton gave his keynote, the sense of community and OMG NERDS ARE EVERYWHERE had already hit home.
I cannot even begin to list everything I did at PAX. However, some of the highlights:
- Getting Zerg rushed in Starcraft II so hard that the line of people behind me watching cried out in horror and laughter.
- My Wealthy Sorcerers and Amazon Commandos getting beat by 4 coins!
- Late night Star Munchkin
- Seeing Gabe just wandering around about 5x on Saturday. Stop following me!
- D&D. D&D. D&fuckingD
- What do you mean I can't blackmail the Mercenary- Oh. Shit.
One thing I can't just sum up in just a few words: meeting Wil Wheaton. Now, to preface this, I should let you know what kind of Wheaton fan I am. Sure, I watched TNG growing up, but I was more of a fangirl of Deanna Troy than Wesley Crusher. It wasn't until Wil joined the PA & PvP boys for the D&D podcast that I became a fan. Aeofel Elhromanë is the character I'm in awe of, and I am a fan of his writing and later works.
So on Sunday morning, I waited about 45 minutes in line to meet him. By this time, I had already gone through the DM Challenge of running an Underdark campaign, not knowing that I had lost to the famous and venerated Dave Chalker, and I had in hand one of the spoils for working hard on it: The Dragonomicon. This book I have long coveted, and I am waiting to use its spoils to terrorize my gamers. Because seriously, what is better than Dragons?!
Back to Wil- I waited in line in anticipation. It was fun watching him meet other people- my favorite was the girl who told him to pretend that he was sleeping for the camera (it was early on Sunday and everyone was tired). I was ok with the girl in the wheelchair who cut the line, as well as the couple with a 1 month old baby who cut in to have pictures taken. Finally it was my turn. I got to meet Wil.
I told him the story of how I had almost given up on D&D. How I could never find players who stayed interested, and that I had just about written it off until the S.O. demanded that I listened to the D&D podcast, and I heard the stories of Wil playing with the other boys. After this, I knew I had to run a 4th Ed. game. I thanked him for spreading the gaming, and he seemed mildly appreciative. I then requested that he bless my Dragonomicon with awesomeness.
"May the ancient rage find its mark, and may it punish the intruders."
I then got to take a picture with Evil Wil Wheaton, because I was sure Wil's face was too tired to keep smiling. I bought his new book as well, and then I moved on, the harassment done for the day.
Now I love dressing up in costumes, but I've never really been interested in cosplay. However, I have so much respect for cosplayers, especially those that I saw at the convention. There were too many to mention, between pop culture icons like Sweetums and the Ghostbusters and gaming icons like the Pyramid head girl and the Spy. Also there were catgirls. Catgirls everywhere.
Soon I will post my Underdark adventure. It definitely needs some work, but the players had fun.
But now- now I need to write some rage.
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