Please allow me to introduce myself...

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

... how many of them did you end up figuring out by the end?

There are a total of twelve of them, and seven of them are cryptically-written spoilers for game plotlines. The other five ... aren't.

Rules:

Leave me a comment saying "Resistance is Futile."

• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity
• Update your journal with the answers to the questions
• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

1. What is your favorite LARP that you've played in?

Masks. I had almost given up on the weekend-long format after some bad experiences, but this one convinced me. I got to play a Captain Ersatz of the Flash, probably my #3 favorite superhero (after the Question and Sailormars). The character's backstory was rich and detailed and I felt like I knew where I was at all times. Possibly most importantly, there wasn't that Cloud of Suspicion that usually covers LARPs ... everyone started out perfectly willing to talk to one another casually, making it easy to maintain suspension of disbelief.

2. Why do you like Bester so much?

DEAR GOD THAT MAN IS SEXY. I know I don't normally go for guys, but ... he has that whole soft-dominant thing down to such a fucking science. I mean, wow. Just, wow. (Hey, YOU ASKED!)

3. If you had a million dollars of PURELY discretionary money, how would you spend it?

Debts. House. Electrolysis. Better computer system. Huge freaking party. Savings. In that order. Quite frankly I think a million dollars might well be enough to support me for the rest of my life.

4. Where would you most like to live, if you couldn't live here?

No question in my mind -- Salem. If I was able to drive safely and housing prices were more reasonable I might seriously consider moving there anyway ... but never anywhere farther than that. Barring occasional short vacations I seriously plan never to get more than a hundred miles from Boston again in my entire life.

5. What's one book you've always meant to read and felt bad about not reading?

The Qu'ran. I even own a rather nice translation, but I just can't force myself to sit down and do it.

That's it. That's the living bloody end.

My job and my desire is to entertain. To help people deal with their emotions, to help people experience different worlds, and to help people understand the lives of people other than themselves.

At this point I find myself having only minimal involvement with "the LARP community."

Sure, I have friends in that community, as well as (apparently) fans. I would invite all of them to come to one of my workshops or to one of the ergodic theatre events that I will probably be running in 2010.

But I think that's where I belong. Not here.

I'll be completing the events I'm already scheduled for in November, and then bowing out.

Does anyone else feel that "dead dog" is a singularly unappetizing way of referring to a dinner held after a LARP?

I could really use a signal boost on this! ^.^

Host:	Cynthia Wakefield
Type:	Education - Workshop
Network:	Global
Price:	Free!

Date:	Friday, October 16, 2009
Time:	6:30pm - 9:30pm
Location:	Spontaneous Celebrations
Street:	45 Danforth St
City/Town:	Jamaica Plain, MA

Following Light offers a free monthly workshop in dramatic improv and live-action roleplaying for the GLBT community and allies. Our focus is on the use of theatre as a means of emotional expression, healing, and consciousness-raising, as well as on building all of the skills in the actor's toolbox.

Workshops consist of an opening discussion, followed by improv games and full-length scenes from our extensive bank. We're also happy to work with you on developing and polishing your own scenes.

Actors of all skill levels are welcome; 18 and older only (16 and older with parental permission). Registration is recommended but not required; contact cynthiarose@gmail.com until such time as our website is complete.

Come join us on the third Friday of each month from 6:30-9:30 pm starting October 16th, and spread the word!

Host:	Cynthia Wakefield
Type:	Education - Workshop
Network:	Global
Price:	Free!

Date:	Friday, October 16, 2009
Time:	6:30pm - 9:30pm
Location:	Spontaneous Celebrations
Street:	45 Danforth St
City/Town:	Jamaica Plain, MA

Following Light offers a free monthly workshop in dramatic improv and live-action roleplaying for the GLBT community and allies. Our focus is on the use of theatre as a means of emotional expression, healing, and consciousness-raising, as well as on building all of the skills in the actor's toolbox.

Workshops consist of an opening discussion, followed by improv games and full-length scenes from our extensive bank. We're also happy to work with you on developing and polishing your own scenes.

Actors of all skill levels are welcome; 18 and older only (16 and older with parental permission). Registration is recommended but not required; contact cynthiarose@gmail.com until such time as our website is complete.

Come join us on the third Friday of each month from 6:30-9:30 pm starting October 16th, and spread the word!

I am looking for someone to take some candid photographs of me that I can use as profile pictures on Facebook, Twitter, OKCupid etc.

I've tried doing it myself ... it doesn't work. If I use a timer my expression "freezes" and becomes unnatural. It's also been confirmed to me several times that the pictures I'm using make me look about 30 pounds heavier than I actually am because they're always from unflattering angles -- I'm just rubbish at POSING.

I just need someone to spend some time with me doing something fun outdoors, taking pictures as we go that will actually be flattering.

Any takers?

24 hours worth of posts from me, wavering slightly but generally on the half hour. The little clock in the corner says 9:03 and I started a couple of minutes early, so it's all good.

I want to thank everyone who sponsored me and anyone who read any part of this (even if it was just to pop in at the end and grab a copy of the final result).

For those of you who missed it, here's the link to the finished product: Arcology 0.99

I didn't raise very much money, though -- maybe just enough to save one cormorant. Next year maybe I should go back to the ludicrous sexual pandering ...

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
Donations still accepted, but the project is over so words can no longer be bought.

Okay. There's only one most post to make after this, and then I take a good long NAP. Not even pretending to still be posting content now -- I've written enough content for 24 hours.

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
Donations still accepted, but the project is over so words can no longer be bought.

I'm exhausted. But at the same time I'm not having any trouble staying awake; it's weird. I just really really WANT to go to sleep, no compulsion.

I've finished my project, so at this point I'm just running out the clock. Two more posts to go.

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
Donations still accepted, but the project is over so words can no longer be bought.

Okay, everyone, here it is: a free Cynthia Wakefield game written in under 24 hours.

Good luck with it. At some point I'll probably polish it a little, get it perfect, but for now -- it works.

I think this link should work: Arcology 0.99

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
Donations still accepted, but the project is over so words can no longer be bought.

For some ungodly reason I want a chicken club sandwich. And I'm mostly a vegetarian.

This now includes the title page and all of the player info. The blackmail list needs to be done to taste, I think. Which means I just need to write about what happens when Sugiwhatever arrives. The one named after the hot chick. Sugimoto. Yeah.

Who stole "up"?

I just wrote 58 pages in one night. Maybe 50 of 'em are actually fulla text.

I think this link should work: Arcology 0.22

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

Yeah. Okay, most of the actual game stuff is done now. Here's the list of what I still have to do:

* The players' version of the title page and Dramatis Personae
* GM guidelines for what happens when Sugimoto shows up
* Watanabe's half-completed blackmail list and the Robot Computer Core's fully completed one

That's it. That's all that's left. I'm sooo tired ...

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

The Item Cards are now complete. The Scenery Cards are pretty much done as well, although the game could probably be improved by adding more scenery (and more things to fix) following the model provided.

Even if not I'm really still ludic now, I hope that people can at least learn something by looking at the string of consecutive versions of the same game.

I can haz cheeseburger now?

I think this link should work: Arcology 0.21

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

Only another three and a half hours, and honestly I'm not tired at all. Out of energy, out of creative juices, sure, but not particularly tired. Which isn't to say that I won't fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow.

I'm on the finishing stretch on the scenery. If I didn't need to take so many breaks this would go much faster, but I just can't get myself to FOCUS for very long.

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

And, with four hours left to go, all I have left to complete to have a LARP that works are the rest of the scenery cards, the item cards, the skill cards and the cover page for the player packet. Boo ya.

It's only a 15-18 player game, but y'know, maybe that's enough.

-- sorry, I thought the Major was a lady suffragette.

I think this link should work: Arcology 0.19

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

Okay. I'm getting punchy. Some headache medicine and then a short break, I think. That should help me get my head together. Been writing for about a solid hour at typing speed, though my typing speed seems to have dropped from 80 wpm to about 40.

I'm still working on the scenery items. It's long, slow, tedious work -- all the really creative stuff is already done or still to come. This is just supplying the game mechanics to go with what's already been written.

Oh, and I am no longer capable of counting hours.

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

Wow ... I did NOT get much done in that half hour ... and five more hours to go ...

The skeletons are there for the Setting the Scene and Scenery sections. You can see why I wanted to wait until the character roster is finished, although it's now looking like I'm only going to be able to get as far as 18 players.

We'll see.

I think this link should work: Arcology 0.18

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.

I am bereft of ideas. It looks like it's time to move on to Phase 4.

Phase 4 is when you take care of the little things -- putting together item cards, skill cards, and scenery cards, as well as "setting the scene" with a list for the GMs. In this case we're probably looking at a six-room game: one main deck, one general-purpose lower-decks area, a commissary, a communications room, a laboratory/workshop, and a command room.

We need to determine what will be placed in each area, including the skill levels that are going to be required to do various things. Based on the skill levels we've set so far, it looks like an average task is going to take 3 skill, a difficult one 7 skill, and a very, very difficult one 10 skill.

Time to start thinking about this, I guess. My head's starting to hurt -- I'll drink some more tea, and if that doesn't help I'll take some painkillers. I really am starting to feel fatigued.

Here's the sponsorship link: http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=111.
Word list so far: ocean, chicken, bacon, leverage
$5 to add a trivial word, $10 to add a significant word, $25 to add a major plotline. More details here.