A Living Legend

Hi gang,

My name is Mondo. And I've been a Dungeons and Dragons player for 29 years. Since then, it has always been my favorite game to play.

My favorite game was taught to me by my best friend Peter Dorman who taught me how to roll up my first character (Hobbit Thief - Armando) in the dorms at UC Berkeley way back when. Our first gaming convention experiences were at Pacificon in the Bay Area at the old Dunfee hotel.

I have spent countless hours playing my favorite game by creating stories and playing characters throughout the years. Like many others, I have my own homegrown campaign (The Eurekan Campaign) with its own group of heroes (The Knights of Eureka) which has seen dozens and dozens of players over the years. The friends I have made over the years through the game have been legion in number, and a true blessing.

The love of my favorite game led me to winning a seat on a secret playtest for a 'new' version of Dungeons and Dragons being run by none other than Peter Adkison, the founder of Wizards of the Coast. That playtest was held at Manafest, which I attended with long time DnD pal Michael Z (Marco Dragonwind of the Knights of Eureka), and is where I met and became friends with Japji K, Anthony G, Kevin O, Jodi S, Peter Adkison, Rhonda H, Jay Tummelson, and many others. This would be the 'seed' that would eventually grow into the ownership of the ConQuest conventions.

My favorite game includes playing in multi-player "Monster Mashes" with dozens of players playing on the huge models built by Bob Ferguson in the LA area. I even got to run some of the sessions, which required teams of DM to orchestrate. (I'll never forget the poor idiot who was trying to get to the castle by swimming through the moat. At some point he decided to attempt to summon his god, and fortune favoring the foolish, Thor appeared. Thor took one look at himself, then looked at the summoner before crying out in self-righteous anger, "I'm wet!" and obliterating the unfortunate follower with one swipe of his hammer.)

Dragon magazine published an article about my favorite game about a group of stalwart lads who had set the DnD play record at 100 hours. I set out to put a group together to break that record. And break it we did, playing 101 hours and 15 minutes straight through. Six of us started the game, and dozens of others jumped in and out of the game through the four days plus of my favorite game. We took a five minute break every hour. By the end, only two of us were left. Me and the aforementioned Michael Z. The local papers followed us everyday as we played in a long-gone local comic and game shop in Simi Valley, CA. "Dynamic Duo Breaks Gaming Record" pronounced the headlines the day following our triumphic shattering of the record.

My favorite game led to the creation of dozens of characters in other role playing games too. Dynamite Pete from Boothill. Champions would see me create my favorite Archvillian of all time, Nytron, as well as silly ones like The Baker, Gumdrop, and Mr. V ('Ah pity the fool who mess with me!') Traveller gave birth to Captain Armando Equis Blake. One hero has endured all these years, and that would be Fredrick, would who be retired and placed in my DnD campaign as Lord Fredrick of Eureka.

So, why has Mondo gone nostalgic about role playing? Well, I'll tell you.

It's because one of the co-creators of Dungeons and Dragons, the father of roleplaying and creator of Blackmoor, a true living legend has agreed to be our Legendary Guest at ConQuest SF this year.

Dave Arenson. Dave Arneson!

After almost 30 years, I will get to meet this man face to face, shake his hand, and thank him for wonderful memories the game he co-created have given me. I will get to sit with him at dinner, and watch as hundreds of our attendees also get to meet this man. Gamers born after he created D&D, and who play 3.5 or 3E will see the guy who started it all.

So, go and find your original white box sets. Bring 'em to the show this Labor Day weekend. Or better yet, bring something he's published recently, and maybe you'll get a chance to meet him and ask him to sign it. (We also want to thank Black Diamond Games, the RPG sponsor of ConQuest SF, who are helping to bring Dave Arneson to us.)

I feel like I found the Golden Ticket today in my Wonka Bar. Today is a very good day.

Take care all,
Mondo


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New Digs in Sacramento

Hi gang,

Well, after searching hill and dale for the right spot for Sacramento, it appears that we are close to landing at the Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova, which could house us for quite a few years.

The big Rancho Cordova room will have the registration area just to the south of the opening, so it is what will welcome gamers into the convention. Its over half the size of the big room at the Red Lion, so it should meet our miniature and open gaming needs quite well!

The California Ballroom will house the dealers area, boardgaming, and some RPGs. The Jr. Ballroom will house the RPGA events. If we are awarded the Kotei again, we would look to the Newport room, across the swimming pool, to house them. There are smaller meetings rooms within the hotel to house more RPG play.

We'd use one room for both seminars and movie room, with the movies running throughout the late night, and seminars during the day on Saturday and Sunday. This would also be the first year for an auction at the show. No big guests planned as of yet. If you all have suggestions, send in your requests.

If you want to join the discussion list for ConQuest SAC, go to http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/conquestsac/ and join up! It's a great way to make arrangements to share rooms, or participate in the polls we will hold about the show.

Take care, and see you there,
Mondo

Hooray! PolyCon was Dead!

Hi gang,

For a Dead Convention, (Polycon XXIV was subtitled "Con of the Dead",) PolyCon was alive and doing very well! Kudos to the organizers for all the hard work and effort that goes into making a gaming convention a gas for those who attend.

The new venue (Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo) was a perfect layout for a gaming convention. Lots of spacious meeting rooms for events, "The Pit" (Open Gaming) conveniently located next to the cash food sales snack bar area thing the hotel setup. The PolyCon barbecue was fabulous, and held on the second floor balcony which was huge! Plenty of room for folks to eat and mingle. Hotel suites were converted into RPG rooms overlooking the balcony, which had the added effect of allowing a nice breeze through the RPG rooms from hallway to balcony!

There was plenty to play, and some amazing tabletop layouts as well. Jason's Starship Troopers was spectacular to behold. And Captain Bob (Hi Bob!) who always has something special for his players to play on, did not disappoint. And how cool were the special PolyCon dice? Putting mine in my special treasure box!

The fun thing about Polycon is that you feel like you are a family reunion with a whole bunch of friends. The hospitality, work ethic, and espirit de corp is unique in its flavor.

And my bard "Armando the Great" got to save Sir Rupert from certain death! At least that is how he will tell the tale in the taverns he traverses on his tour of gaming conventions in the future.

So, PolyCon good. Will make certain to go again next year. Thanks to everyone there who made my stay at this picturesque spot on the California Coast and throughly enjoyable one! For more information about PolyCon go to http://www.polycon.org as they have events all year round!

Take care,
Mondo