Origins 2008- the Return

Once upon a time I was offered to attend the Origins Game Fair in Columbus Ohio with a game company. I had an okay time (considering I worked the whole weekend) but it most definitely pales in comparison to this years trip.

I arrived early Wednesday and quickly met up with Scott M and his buddy Al, from Erie, PA. I've met Scott M. several times at BGG.con and in Syracuse, and his company helped convince me to attend this year's event.
TIP- if you ever go to Origins, definitely add the "boardroom" badge. Upon arrival I was given my choice of two free games (I took Masons and Knights). I also lucked out in the drawing Saturday night for a copy of Rat Hot, along with a Dr. Who Card game and some free bits provided by Rio Grande games- more than worth the price of the badge. I quickly got into a game with them of a card game prototype, that is quick and fun. We also managed to get in a game of Age Of Empires III, before heading off to Barley's, across the street. Joining us was Chris from St. Louis and his lovely wife, Melissa. We all swapped stories and enjoyed the awesome Raspberry beer and I got have some fine Pierogis ( a dish you don't find in Texas).

After dinner we got in a game of Battue and Cuba. I did not really care for Battue. It seemed almost too simple and a couple of bad die rolls (as Chris illustrated) could ruin your whole game.

Thursday
I had called it an early night Wednesday, because I had scheduled an Advanced Civilization. I don't consider myself a slouch at the game, but this time I got stuck playing Crete. Ugggh! It was horrible, but at least we played fast and I was relieved of my misery by 3:30.

So I found myself wandering around the CCG Hall, the Mini Hall and eventually the Dealer's room. Now by this point I was getting backpack envy. Everyone I saw was carrying around a bag of some sort, so I felt out of place. Scott M must have sensed this when he found me drooling in the Dealer's room because he quickly showed his spanking new bag- complete with "gamer" emblazoned on the back.

Let me say, when I started this journey I intentionally packed the smallest bag I could find, so that I would not have room in my luggage to buy more stuff. *sigh* (the best laid plans, etc.) Scott M. informed me that the bag came free when you bought a set of dice (don't ask how expensive the dice were- mine are pretty brass ones), and once the wallet came out the madness was upon me. Soon I had a mouse pad and other knickknacks stuffed into my bag.

Scott M. eventually dragged me out of the Dealer's room and we found Al to head out for Bar Louie. Scott M. had been raving about "loaded tots" all day. It turns out he had never had them. We all decided to try them for appetizers and admire the waitstaff/scenery.

Loaded Tots are a cardiologists' nightmare. Take a ton and a half of tater tots, fry them to extra crispy. Load them with queso, bacon bits, onions and giardiniera (spicy pickled veggies). Awesome stuff! (Scott M was in love and I think that's all he ate the rest of the weekend). Afterwards, we headed to another Scott M and Al tradition of Carnival of the Damned (put on by Twilight Creations).

When you walk into the Carnival you are presented with a bag of 50 plastic zombies and 3 tickets and wander among the various casino games. The person at the end of the night wins prizes. As I said this is an Al and Scott M tradition and we were soon seated at the table closest to the bar (bar good- tip your bartender and bar even better), which was blackjack. Some poor soul sitting with us had promised his girlfriend he wouldn't drink. He probably didn't have as much fun as we did. Later we were joined by Chris O'Neil, who turned out to be a great hoot in his own right and fit right in. Several hours, gallons of alcohol and flying zombies later, Scott M was armed with a Duckapult, and let me tell you those little plastic zombies can be flung a good ways. None of had enough zombies to win serious prizes, but we had a blast. Chris talked us into heading over to the Big Bar on 2, but it was crowded and stuffy. Scott M and Al called it an early night and I wandered off to the Boardroom to find some other night owls.

Kevin M was there. Another gamer from Dallas, he had been caught up in the prior night's storms and routed to Chicago. A two hour flight turned into a 15 hour adventure (a 3 hour tour...) Anywhoo, Kevin had hooked up with Torben and Rik of Valley Games whom he had met in Essen. Along with them was *gasp*- Jason Mcallister the creator of Titan! OMFG, it was so cool to meet him and one of the highlights of my weekend. We settled in for a game of Red Planet, with Kevin M. teaching. Not a bad little game. Torben somehow got the chicken dance stuck in his head and felt he had to share it. Especially whenever I made a move that vexed him. I wish I could have gotten to game with them more during the weekend, but such is life at a con.

Friday
By this time the days were starting to blur. Remember how I said I wasn't going to buy anything? My downfall was at hand. I found a UPS booth in the Dealer's room. After buying too much Cthulhu stuff for Robely and shipping it home with some other knickknacks (Boy am I lucky that Monsterpocalypse isn't out yet- I would have had a case or two on its way home just from looking at the figures Privateer Press had set up), I taught Goa and Ursuppe before we headed back to Bar Louie with Mexican Rob. Remember those thunderstorms that took Kevin to OZ via Chicago Wednesday? Apparently Rob, his posse and Scott M were kept in a bar when the tornado sirens went off. I somehow missed the tornado sirens- ahem.

After another fine dinner of loaded tots. we set down to play Ticket to Ride: the Card Game. There was more to this game than I initially thought and look forward to trying it again. Then I taught Rob and Scott M one of my favorite, Industria. We were interrupted in our game when Rob's posse found him and having discovered that Happy Hour lasts three hours in Columbus, proceeded to fill us in on the details. Scott M and I left Rob to his fate and headed for Chris O'Neill's Kobolds Ate My Baby event. But not before stopping by the Rio Grande Games 10 year birthday bash- Congrats to Jay!
The Kobolds Ate My Baby (in space no less) was filled with some of the oddest people. We soon bailed out when one of the players came back with a sharpie tattoo across his forehead. I wouldn't be surprised if he had it all weekend.

Back in the Boardroom we met up with Erin O and her crew from Ohio. More people I know from Syracuse- sweet! We finished off the night with a game of Ra and then Race for The Galaxy. Mexican Rob escaped from his drunken posse caught up with me and asked if he could crash in my room for the night. He still had Richard in tow. Richard was none too steady on his feet. Rob and Richard are hardcore gamers. And I say that because I know of no one else who has game piece tattoos, but they are a lot of fun. And after pointing Richard in the right direction of the rest of the posse, Rob and I headed off to bed. Sleep didn't come quickly as Rob and I chatted, though eventually I think I drifted off to the sound of his voice.....

Saturday
Saturday came bright and early. With a cheerful and gracious Rob I made us some coffee in the hotel room and we chatted for about an hour. Everything and anything is fair game when talking to Rob. He is the consummate conversationalist and a good roommate. I let him buy me breakfast in the hotel and he headed off to find a Starbucks while I grabbed smoke and wander aimlessly- more Dealer's room, the art gallery and the auction. When I finally found Rob again, he was sucked well into a game of Wealth of Nations with the Tablestar guys. I watched awhile and noticed a crowd developing on the streets below. Origins this year coincided with Gay Pride weekend and they were preparing for a parade outside of the convention center on High Street.

Scott M showed up with Sean B in tow and off we went for lunch at North Market. On our way we passed by the Evangelicals who had set up a megaphone and were proselytizing about the evils of homosexuals (not gamers for once), but someone needed to check the guys material.
"We aren't here just to persecute homosexuals, if there was a masturbation pride celebration we would be there. Masturbation in Columbus is getting out of hand" At which point I thought we were going to have to pick up Scott M as he was laughing so hard.

By the time we finished lunch the parade had started and it was in between us and the relative sanity of the con. When the float full of guys in jockstraps dancing went by, we were tempted to go up and see what the preacher would say, but gaming called.

I caught up with Kevin M. and got into a game of Vinci with him and two other experienced players. We played a four player game and it was a better game than I remembered. Somehow I managed to come in second. It was a long one though, so soon it was time for dinner. Where? You guessed it Bar Louie. Scott M, Sean B and myself. Joining us were also Al and Erin and her crew.
Sean recounted us of the treasures he found at the auction and got my auction fever simmering. After dinner he and I sat in at the auction, but I was able to resist the call. Prices seemed extremely low for the items and the crowd mainly seemed to be dealers. It was a shame really, part of the auction was for Make a Wish Foundation in the name of Gary Gygax (RIP) and there was also the collection of Charles Cain (the founder of Ral Partha- also RIP).
The only thing I bought was a first edition original Battletech (the Japanese version, still unpunched) for 5$, and it included a note of providence from Mr. Cain's widow. Finally, as the auction was nearing its end I headed back to the Boardroom to see if I had won anything in the raffle (Rat Hot- whoo hoo) and fell into a game of Brass. I'm not usually one for Martin Wallace's games, but this one intrigues me. I don't remember what time we started, but it was 3AM when we finished. AAACH! It's Saturday! What time is my checkout Sunday?! (whew! it wasn't until noon, but I was up way before then because I had one of Scott M's games in my possession.

Sunday
After checking out and leaving my luggage with the concierge, I came full circle and met up with Scott M and Al in the Dealer's room. Looking for those last day deals. I somehow managed to win a painting in the art room and checked out while they finished their shopping, then off to lunch at North Market and a tearful farewell (ok, not real tearful).

After seeing them off I managed to hook up with Kevin M and bought a bunch of shirts from Rik and Torben and got a quick demo of Municipium (it piqued my interest enough that I pre-ordered it last night). I bought more t-shirts for Robely and my sister. And then Kevin M and I got in a demo of Nefertiti. Nefertiti is an auction game with some bite. Kevin M. picked it up, so I am sure I'll see it again, but at 50$ I decided it wouldn't fit in my luggage. Finally the time came to bid farewell to the con. Kevin M and I grabbed a cab for the airport and lucked out when we checked in. First class Upgrades were available, the perfect ending to any vacation (though Kevin M was too exhausted to enjoy most of it). I look forward to doing it again next year.