Furnace Convention has returned to the Garrison Hotel for a weekend of games, my goodness it was great to be back! We decided to hold the convention fully in the physical as a starter to our return to what we had known before. Our Covid precautions were all in place and, thanks to the national digital infrastructure put in place (hoorah for NHS Digital!), it was super easy for people to confirm their vaccination status, and recent test. We had only a couple of tests required on the day, and that was just through some easy errors.
On discussion with Newt, some online gaming was also made available at the same time, as Furnace Online, and it was so nice to see the reports of the games that took place over the weekend. Although we don't plan to offer a hybrid style experience over our convention weekends next year, I am a big advocate for pop-up online conventions, and plan to create and attend many, both this and next year.
We are now hopeful that we can move forwards with Revelation and North Star at the Garrison Hotel next year. It was really good to support them, just as they support us. The venue were deighted to see us, with a range of new faces, some different lighting, a new posh menu for their new restaurant, but most everything familar otherwise.
After some setup I got to catch up with Andy Sangar in the bar, it had been too long. A sizeable group circled round a table and we chatted away on games and good thngs with me enjoying the nice hand pull pale ale that the Garrison had put on for us. It felt like we were fully back.
Patriot Games were there to support us, and great to catch up with Jim. Safe to say that Covid and the enforced move to a dfficult part of town centre has made it quite tough for his business. Out of nowhere (Liverpool), Michael of Emmanuel's Collective also came along with dice and dce bags and t-shirts. Thanks!
Never have the Garrison's vegetarian sausage! Rarely have I eaten anything more horrible. That was the only false step on a really enjoyable first day. I played in a great game of Agon, The Isle of Nimos, run by Pete Atkinson with a great crew of Greek heroes. My first time out with this version of the game, and a really tightly designed game, with a lot going on just when you need it. Fantastic start to face toface gaming and the buzz of it was great.
A football match, brought in the Wednesday fans, but I hardly saw them as I did the Morrisons meal deal thing as usual and settled into The Dungeon with some convivial chat with Jag on gaming conventions for next year.
In the afternoon I got to run a game of Degenesis for the first time and there is a lot about it I like. I won't underestimate the amount of time I took during the week getting myself ready for this game. Dipping into the lore, ensuring I was conversant with the new system and getting the supportive bling together. The more I prepared the more I liked the game. It has deep and difficult campaign written all over it. A convention slot for something so deep and crunchy? Well, I accept a little bit daft, but I really wanted to get it to the table and hoped that prep and enthusiasm would carry me through. I appear to gravitate to slightly more crunchy systems, encased in a big complex setting. The game went well and enjoyed very much by 3 out of 5 as an enticing taster, of the players, but I think too overwhelming for the other two players.
My evening was playing in Dom's Through Sunken Land, a fun Black Hack / OSR hybrid with a Playbook style PC build that created backstory, other protagonists, connections and setting as we played out an investigation in the Great City. This was a slightly riotous and comedic game that hit lots of high notes. Nice to game shoulder to shoulder with some old friends, new people, and before then faceless but lovely twitterati. The game bounced between infectious jokes, ribald play and driven to a conclusion with verve and gusto. I like the game, but would probably prefer just the Black Hack mechanics, without the OSR D&D spliced on.
A wedding on the Saturday night ensured some noisy partying, which I found delightful to hear. People, enjoying themselves. The young lady in the room next to mine was certainly enjoying whatever she was doing a great deal. I hope they were all safe, in all meanings of the word.
On the Sunday morning I had some space to just sit in the main room and do some light Cepheus worldbuilding, listening to the burble of games happening all around me. It was marvellous.
The afternoon saw a shake-up due to GM drop outs, so I ended up running TRIPOD in the city of Dramaguhl for six, but the game handled it in its stride. I had a bit too much fun with all the characters and the roleplay, and I keep forgetting how much I like my own game system! A good game to finish, and I made sure that it concluded in good time to allow people to get off to their homes.
I've taken today off as an extra treat to come down a little and reflect on the weekend. It was a return to convivial and personable gaming. I thin our precautions were everything we could provide and I hope it proves to have been safe for everyone. Our attendees had a great time over the weekend, with many fine games and much hobby chat. More please!
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