Here are my photos from the game:
s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd12 … 20Camelot/
And here are Judit’s photos:
picasaweb.google.com/chimeracon/ … tOfCamelot
I’d love to hear feedback on how your characters went and ideas for improving the scenario, to ryanpaddy2@gmail.com
[color=#FF0000]WARNING: If you’re thinking of playing this game when it gets run again, best not to read this thread because it gives some secrets away.[/color]
Hi Ryan,
Firstly, I really enjoyed the game.
I found playing a fair and just King Arthur to be not so much as a challenge but rather very demanding.
There was certainly a lot to consider in every conversation. I approached the setting as one who had been warned of an impending disaster and this reflected on my every decision. Even advice from my most trusted advisor, Merlin, was never viewed in black and white.
My character goals I feel were upheld and the game ended with a united England, so I guess from that aspect, it was a win situation for me.
That being said, time ran out and much more could have come to pass had we the time. The final events of the game never fully resolved themselves and that situation was a very curly one indeed. Thanks to Sir Galahad however, for his advice quite possibly averted a disaster.
Thanks to my team, the court of Cameliard, Lucy (Guinivere), Vanya (Sir Lancelot), and Merlin (Malcom). You guys were particularly awesome and I felt well supported by you 3, my only regret was that we did not stay as a tighter group for the whole event.
Lastly, Lady Nimue and her daughter Argante. You were my biggest challenge and because of that, my favourite interaction.
As for improvements, I think the players hold huge sway over how this game runs. A less capable group or maybe a more blood thirsty group would have more than likely altered the balance.
I feel that just a couple of bad decisions by Arthur would have possibly made the game a whole different playing field.
Thanks Ryan, I gave the game 9/10
Thanks Ryan, I really enjoyed the game. The moment I first read my character sheet some weeks back, I made the plan I ran with. It seems I’m better with characters where I can solve problems by direct action than trying to talk information out of people 
Lots of fun and a great character write up.
Cheers Ryan, really enjoyed the game as well. My original plots and plans were quickly in ruins (Damn you King Arthur), but by the end I felt I had a nice power structure coming together all ready to make a much more ambitious move to Unite Britain under a “strong” leader. And I never had to draw my sword.
And hey even did my bit for Love, Chivalry and Honour all out of the goodness of my heart 
.
Really want to say thank you to some of the other players who really made my game so much fun.
Cheers
Scott (King Mark)
It was absolutely fantastic! I only wish I’d been able to get more involved in some of the awesome plot that was happening, but I was too busy being angsty and tortured 
Scott/King Mark - you were great! I could feel the waves of anger coming off you when I hesitated at the altar. Thanks to Stephanie (Morgan?) and Lucy (Guinivere) for stepping in and laying on the guilt and chivalry so I didn’t have to get married - sister solidarity!
I’ve said this elsewhere, but I just can’t say it enough times: Ed, you were amazing. Even though we didn’t actually talk to each other much, the exchange of burning gazes across the clearing spoke volumes. I actually felt my heart beat faster when you were near! The emotional intensity was palpable - easily one of the best roleplaying experiences I’ve ever had.
Prema (Brangaine), I’m sorry for being so angsty and talking about Tristan for the entire game! You were very forbearing
Thanks, I wasn’t sure how people would take that, but it was what I was trying to get across. I had set up asking Arthur to do the wedding Ceremony really hoping someone would step in and ruin it and I think it came off really well, from Tristan and the Queen trying to politely trying to object without saying as much, and the other Lords and Ladies talking and whispering in shock behind King Mark’s back
Sorry Ryan if I played Mark slightly different that you envisioned, or how some of the books portray him (he doesn’t actually kill them both in every version but it does usually turn out badly for the young lovers), I ended up playing him (as he developed) as vengeful and consumed with cold rage. He was planning to destroy or ruin the lives of all who crossed him and so built his power. All he cared about in the end was revenge and the lands of Cornwall and his Legacy. So even when he gave up the finger bone at the end it was given up what was to him a useful relic (who cares about preserving bread) to take the forces of Avalon out of Contention and tie the power of the daughter to his.
I apologise to my daughters for controlling their lives so much 
And I loved the interaction and looks between Tristan and Isolde and then how they suddenly looked to Mark. Ed you really did a fantastic job in this role. And also the conversations I had with King Leodegrance and the subtle sniping and insults between them while keeping up Courtly appearances were a lot of fun.
No worries, I didn’t have any problems with your interpretation - I think playing Mark is a balance between ambition and fury and your take was totally valid. You’re right about his depictions, in some of the stories the lovers kill themselves (in a fashion that probably inspired Shakespeare, I’m guessing) rather than him killing them, although I think Mark usually wants them dead.
What was interesting was that your Mark had the anger and ambition on the inside, so people could sense it but not call you on it. It suited the quiet diplomacy that this run of the game had. I can imagine the game also being played with more open conflict, and I like that it could turn out lots of different ways.
During the whole “are there any objections?” part of the wedding, Isolde looking away from Mark and at Tristan spoke volumes. Tristan said "I feel ill.
I said to Tristan, “If they don’t marry now, they’ll never marry, because no man would return to the alter after being treated like that”.
Lots of fun
Out of interest, how many love triangles were there in the game? Were there any “unencumbered” relationships?
Every existing love had some complication, even if it wasn’t in the form of a third wheel (one was a “two houses alike in dignity” type complication). But there were also some characters who were looking for a partner and could have found an uncomplicated and useful marriage.
Thanks again Derek for bringing and setting up the pavilion, chairs and list field, without those it would have been a bunch of people in cool costumes in a field.
[quote=“Derek”]Out of interest, how many love triangles were there in the game? Were there any “unencumbered” relationships? [/quote]I was entirely unencumbered. My goal was to seduce Merlin and get a child of power, but he hated my guts. Go figure.
So I was sending people who owed me a favour to find out if there was some other girl there that he fancied, to no avail (I had an illusion potion); and right at the end got talking to Nimue and worked out that she hated him, too, wanted to hold him prisoner, if only she could find a demon and get Merlin between two trees. So I offered to help in return for a night with the guy. We were just about to walk Merlin away for our Dastardly Plot when the game ended. Sigh.
Pity the game ended, that plan could have turned out a lot of different ways.
And if you told Nimue about the potion then she knew an easier way for you to do it… but she’d much prefer it her way, I suppose.
I am amazed that I acheived my game goals - they seemed so daunting and I so seldom do. My thanks go to Leodegrance who said at the start he would back Guineth’s love for Arthur, saying both his daughters deserved a chance of happiness, and agreeing that Guinevere had had her chance. The clumsy way I acheived the impersonation (bit of time pressure) was so elegantly helped out by Joel at the end. And of course, thanks Lucy and Vanya for going along with the plan, and hope any side effects won’t hamper their future life
You’re welcome, sorry I opted out after offering to help you with writing the game. If you decide to run the game again, I’m very happy to asssit with all the gear. It’s no work to throw a pavilion and list field into a car and take it home afterwards.
The pavilion etc were awesome. It made the whole setting perfect!
Cheers Ryan, this game rocked. Derek mentioned to me after the game how he enjoyed the fact that there was little combat; there was plenty of plot happening all at once through dialogue that too much hack and slash would have destroyed.
I played Tristan, and wow was I caught up in it. Scott as Mark and Daphne as Isolde were absolutely incredible to roleplay with, a highlight being every time I looked up from gazing lovingly into Isolde’s eyes I met the suspicious gaze of her fiancee, my king.
I also found to my delight that characters I wasn’t directly tied up with forged bonds with Tristan. Morgana le Fay joined me in my pitiful attempt to halt Mark and Isolde’s wedding, but for a completely different reason. Steph you were great
Lucy as Guinivere took me aside and offered advice with my dilemma, telling me she understood what it was like to be torn between love and loyalty. I told her she couldn’t possibly understand how I felt, to which she replied she had a close friend in a similar situation…
Lady Nimue and her daughter Argante brought Tristan a shock telling me of the atrocities committed by the soldiers in Cornwall’s army invading their lands, so I offered to travel there myself to supervise things as heir of Cornwall. A bigger shock came when Mark approached me, telling me accusingly that he had heard both Isolde and I had plans to travel without him to Glouchedon for a while…
I would have liked to have faced off against Palamedes though… 
I didn’t notice any cameras, which was great!
Out of curiosity, how much plot direction was given in game from Kay the Seneshal, Ryan? Everything seemed very player-initiated
I didn’t give any plot direction, it was all written into the character sheets. I just facilitated the characters, especially as Arthur’s master of ceremonies and by providing prophesies to Merlin based on player actions. Also, Brangaine’s announcement came from me, but again it was a direct result of the character sheets and player actions.
Excellent job Ryan.
I think Camelot was my first political game and politics are not my strong suit, so I found Nimue extremely challenging to play and spent most of yesterday doing the whole “awww, why didn’t I do THIS, and THAT” etc. I was certainly not expecting to be told by Jared (Arthur) that talking to me was like playing with razor bladed matches in a shed of explosives! (what a nice thing to say! ) I was kicking myself for not playing her in a more ballsy way… apparently I didn’t need to. Fortunately Arthur didn’t push it any further with the whole fealty thing. In this and his other judgements he proved himself a just and thoughtful king.
The confrontations were nerve wracking. I was sure King Mark, Leodegranz and Arthur were ALL out to take Glouchedon. It was nice to be able to laugh at their assertions that my kingdom was vulnerable from the sea (Dominion of Water, no enemies getting in that way) In spite of his ulterior motive, I was grateful to Gawaine for bringing my son Lancelot home to organise the defence of Glouchedon so that none of them had any excuse to have soldiers there. I had a couple of powers which I did not use, although I was tempted on occasion. Since there’s a chance it may run again, perhaps I shouldn’t reveal them here, though we’re all giving away secrets just talking about it, I guess.
Yes, Morgan Le Fay and I had sorted Merlin out between us, thanks Ryan. It’s a huge shame we ran out of time before we could implement the plan. I got so caught up with the political plot, I failed to talk to the right people about my other goal and was stymied until in desperation I approached Morgan since she looked remarkably happy about something or other…
I am curious to know what would have happened had we succeeded.
It appears I missed my daughter going off and swearing fealty to a mortal king though, foolish child. Now I shall have to beget another successor to Avalon. How tedious.
Oh no, I had no further plans to invade Glouchedon. Now that your Daughter had sworn Fealty to me and promised that she was allied to me and would protect me and support me in my actions, I had no need to invade. In fact having Lancelot and the armies there gave me a buffer and ally along that front 
I totally loved Camelot, it was the first time I really got political intrigue in a LARP.
When you’re an immortal elf queen (to be) a few years of pretending to pander to a mortal man really doesn’t matter in the long term.
I had great fun trying to pry the finger bone out of Mark and convincing Nimue to swear fealty to … I keep getting this bit wrong … having Avalon as Arthur’s final resting place? With no time to spare, I finally got everything achieved though!
Still kicking myself that I didn’t tell Arthur I was going to be his queen, or Merlin that he was my dearest daddy
I thought I saw him mouthing the word “daughter” thoughtfully when Nimue introduced you that way.