Thank you! I am getting a lot written, too; the stories are really flowing, these days! I am currently thrashing through Chirine's most recent wedding night; as usual, nothing went according to plan. Everybody did have a good time, though, and we managed not to burn down the place. Kind of. Well, all right, but just a little. And Harchar didn't get all the tableware; we locked most of it up. And he said he was just staying in form. Yep. Right.Originally Posted by Hrugga
Wonderful! I think you'll get some ideas, too...
Thank you! Not dead, yet!
Oh, I did; steak and eggs for breakfast, shrimp for lunch, Crystal Garden goodies for dinner, and large doses of chocolate to ballast it all down. I had a grand day; I feel quite pleased with myself, actually...
And I have my own mithril-plate table spoon too! And a lovely tiffin-box to be carried by the dabba-wallah on our next adventure! We'll travel in style, exploring Tekumel, courtesy of IKEA and World Market - where I get all my adventuring gear!
(Seriously - IKEA has tents, 10' poles, lanterns, a 100' coil of rope, and all the other stuff you need for dungeon crawls in comfort!)
Thank you! And thank you for looking at our photos!
That particular one is from Minicon in 1987, where we surprised Phil by most of us shpwing up as our PCs in costume. (Tony used to ruin my good towels with his skull make-up, but he was such a good Priest of Sarku) We just liked to have fun, and when we built Chirine's armor, we all thought that we were on to A Good Thing. I should note that while I made the mail, my lovely molded breastplate was done by none other then Gronan himself. We made something like twenty or so costumes, and about half of them survive in my collection - I have mannequins to display them with, as you can see on my Photobucket page.
Thank you for the compliment - Tekumel costumes are actually pretty easy to make, once you break them down into their components. My armor is kind of an exception, as it's a pretty ornate thing, but even there it's not hard to build something like that if you have the right tools and the time; my suit got started in 1982, and you can see what we got to by 1987. I still have to make the kilt of plaques to finish the armor - that's a summer project.
For most everybody else, it's T-tunics and kilts for men and skirts and choli-style tops for women. Very easy to make, and we always built 'street-legal' versions of costumes so that there would be no problems at conventions and parties. we did have one Priestess of Thumis who did a 'proper' costume; it was at this convention, and Phil made the mistake of daring her to leave the choli top off and be "a proper Tsolyani lady". She did, for the rest of the night, and Phil was speechless - he nearly swallowed his cigar. Ambereen simply snorted and told him he should have kept his mouth shut: "That'll teach you!" (By the way, that's her and Phil at my 25th birthday party. They came dressed to the nines, and we all stood there in awe. Phil's robes were the ones he'd worn on pilgrimage to Mecca.)
Tekumel costumes are all about accessories. Collars of plaques, belts, weapons, and jewelry are all easy to find, and really make the costumes. I can fill you in on all the details, and I think we still have all the patterns that The Missus did; she was our cutter.
We wore our costumes for parties and conventions - LARPs hadn't been invented yet, formally. We did have parties where we showed up as our PCs; the 'custome of the house' was that you were you while in 'regular' clothes, and as PCs when in costume. It was all great fun - we even tried Tsolyani cooking.
We also did a lot of convention shows, as this was all great fun and good advertising. This is how I managed to trade Dave Arneson for three dancing girls at an Origins convention. (The photo was taken on the Sunday of the convention by Dave Arneson.) Viz, back when I had hair and a dumb look on my face - I was not expecting this:
We didn't wear these costumes for regular gaming - we went for comfort, for that. My armor is 38 punds all up, and while I have worn it for 12 to 16 hours at conevntions, it's a little confining. And, as you point out, we didn't want to get our fancy duds all smelly...
Does this help? Am I even starting to answer your questions?
(Foot note: I am sorry about the huge size of the photo - I had no idea it would be so big. Is there a way to keep photos down to a reasonable size? I am not very web- or computer-literate, so any advice would be welcome!)
Last edited by chirine ba kal; 12-08-2015 at 01:37 PM. Reason: footnote, photo credit
Nice,Thank you! And thank you for looking at our photos!
That particular one is from Minicon in 1987, where we surprised Phil by most of us shpwing up as our PCs in costume. (Tony used to ruin my good towels with his skull make-up, but he was such a good Priest of Sarku) We just liked to have fun, and when we built Chirine's armor, we all thought that we were on to A Good Thing. I should note that while I made the mail, my lovely molded breastplate was done by none other then Gronan himself. We made something like twenty or so costumes, and about half of them survive in my collection - I have mannequins to display them with, as you can see on my Photobucket page.
Thank you for the compliment - Tekumel costumes are actually pretty easy to make, once you break them down into their components. My armor is kind of an exception, as it's a pretty ornate thing, but even there it's not hard to build something like that if you have the right tools and the time; my suit got started in 1982, and you can see what we got to by 1987. I still have to make the kilt of plaques to finish the armor - that's a summer project.
For most everybody else, it's T-tunics and kilts for men and skirts and choli-style tops for women. Very easy to make, and we always built 'street-legal' versions of costumes so that there would be no problems at conventions and parties. we did have one Priestess of Thumis who did a 'proper' costume; it was at this convention, and Phil made the mistake of daring her to leave the choli top off and be "a proper Tsolyani lady". She did, for the rest of the night, and Phil was speechless - he nearly swallowed his cigar. Ambereen simply snorted and told him he should have kept his mouth shut: "That'll teach you!" (By the way, that's her and Phil at my 25th birthday party. They came dressed to the nines, and we all stood there in awe. Phil's robes were the ones he'd worn on pilgrimage to Mecca.)
Tekumel costumes are all about accessories. Collars of plaques, belts, weapons, and jewelry are all easy to find, and really make the costumes. I can fill you in on all the details, and I think we still have all the patterns that The Missus did; she was our cutter.
We wore our costumes for parties and conventions - LARPs hadn't been invented yet, formally. We did have parties where we showed up as our PCs; the 'custome of the house' was that you were you while in 'regular' clothes, and as PCs when in costume. It was all great fun - we even tried Tsolyani cooking.
We also did a lot of convention shows, as this was all great fun and good advertising. This is how I managed to trade Dave Arneson for three dancing girls at an Origins convention. (The photo was taken on the Sunday of the convention by Dave Arneson.) Viz, back when I had hair and a dumb look on my face - I was not expecting this:
We didn't wear these costumes for regular gaming - we went for comfort, for that. My armor is 38 punds all up, and while I have worn it for 12 to 16 hours at conevntions, it's a little confining. And, as you point out, we didn't want to get our fancy duds all smelly...
Does this help? Am I even starting to answer your questions?
(Foot note: I am sorry about the huge size of the photo - I had no idea it would be so big. Is there a way to keep photos down to a reasonable size? I am not very web- or computer-literate, so any advice would be welcome!)
Chirine baKal was ever the Ladies Man...!!!
H ;0)
As far as miniatures.. never underestimate the value of "Close Enough" (tm) (pat pend) (c) (reg us pat off)
Like when WOTC discontinued their Star Wars collectable figures. The "Ordinary Stormtroopers" and "Ordinary Battle Droids" were like $0.35 each. Need a special weapons unit or officer? That's what a triangle of paper glued to a shoulder and a dab of 79 cent craft paint are for.
And the same leftover WOTC monster figure can be orcs, kobolds, goblins, gnolls, bandits, brigands, whatever. Short figure is Dwarf. Shorter figure is Hobbit. Never mind if it doesn't have exactly what the character is supposed to have... PLAY THE DAMN GAME.
I don't care if you respect me, just buy my fucking book.
Formerly known as Old Geezer
I don't need an Ignore List, I need a Tongue My Pee Hole list.
The rules can't cure stupid, and the rules can't cure asshole.
Well, ya know, if one is polite and respectful, one often is very fortunate.
In this case, we set up our booth at Origins in Dallas, and two guys were set up right across from us. They were selling adventure packs and game aids, sort of like Judges Guild, and one of them had persuaded his girlfriend (the one in white) to dress up as the classic 'D&D dancing girl' to try and attract attention to their booth. She wasn't going to do it by herself, so she got her two friends to come along as well.
The three of them shimmied and undulated like the dickens all day Friday and Saturday - both to get gamers to look at the products, and to keep warm; the air conditioning was set to 'Winter Wonderland' and we all froze. I, on my side of the aisle, looked all manly and heroic in my armor and showed off our Tekumel stuff and the Temple of Vimuhla model. I had them packed three deep in front of our booth; they got no business at all. I am dead serious about this - all the gamers just walked right past them.
The problem, you see, was that there was a demo area next to their booth, where somebody was demonstrating a hunk of PVC pipe with some LEDs and buttons - you pushed the right button, and the thing blinked for a bit and then displayed a random number that the electronics had generated. Yes, that's right, these three were being ignored in favor of the "Dragon Bone Dice Simulator".
So, Saturday morning before the doors opened, they marched over to us and asked if they could work for me at my booth, as I was getting all the attention. I put the question to Dave, who went over and took a look at the guys' stuff and liked it. So, they got Dave Arneson to shill for them, and I got three very cute ladies to shill for me. Everybody was happy, and we sold out of everything after word got around that "Hey! That guy in the weird armor traded Dave Arneson for three dancing girls!!!"
Sunday, Dave wants a picture, so he tells us to bunch up nice and tight. Right before he snaps the shutter, the two ladies on either side of me each grabs one of my hands and puts them on their hips. I froze, as I was worried what Dave might think - he simply laughed, and took two photos to make sure he got the sight recorded.
(Honest to God, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.)
The postscript came at Gen Con, later that summer; I'm getting a hot dog (this was at MECC) while in me armor, and somebody gets my attention by rapping on my shoulder plate like it's a door knocker. It's Gary (yes, that Gary) who fixes me with a steely eye, and asks me in a severe tone "Young man, I understand that you traded Dave Arneson for three dancing girls!" I started sweating, and replied "Yes, sir." Gary guffawed, and told me that I'd gotten the better of the deal and that he should have hired me instead of Duke Siegfried.
(My life in gaming has been rather eventful, I guess.)
By the way, Hrugga me lad, you should recognize these three young ladies.
May I introduce Menwe, Sitre, and Ten'er?
You should be able to tell which is which, too...
I love surprises, I do...
Last edited by chirine ba kal; 12-09-2015 at 01:08 AM. Reason: typo
Well, yeah! Corporate mistakes are your friend, like the 'broken figure' box at the old Little Tin Soldier Shoppe.
I've gotten most of my pet store stuff on clearance, too; patience and imagination, those are my watch words!
Thank you! And thank you for looking at our photos!
That particular one is from Minicon in 1987, where we surprised Phil by most of us shpwing up as our PCs in costume. (Tony used to ruin my good towels with his skull make-up, but he was such a good Priest of Sarku) We just liked to have fun, and when we built Chirine's armor, we all thought that we were on to A Good Thing. I should note that while I made the mail, my lovely molded breastplate was done by none other then Gronan himself. We made something like twenty or so costumes, and about half of them survive in my collection - I have mannequins to display them with, as you can see on my Photobucket page.
Thank you for the compliment - Tekumel costumes are actually pretty easy to make, once you break them down into their components. My armor is kind of an exception, as it's a pretty ornate thing, but even there it's not hard to build something like that if you have the right tools and the time; my suit got started in 1982, and you can see what we got to by 1987. I still have to make the kilt of plaques to finish the armor - that's a summer project.
For most everybody else, it's T-tunics and kilts for men and skirts and choli-style tops for women. Very easy to make, and we always built 'street-legal' versions of costumes so that there would be no problems at conventions and parties. we did have one Priestess of Thumis who did a 'proper' costume; it was at this convention, and Phil made the mistake of daring her to leave the choli top off and be "a proper Tsolyani lady". She did, for the rest of the night, and Phil was speechless - he nearly swallowed his cigar. Ambereen simply snorted and told him he should have kept his mouth shut: "That'll teach you!" (By the way, that's her and Phil at my 25th birthday party. They came dressed to the nines, and we all stood there in awe. Phil's robes were the ones he'd worn on pilgrimage to Mecca.)
Tekumel costumes are all about accessories. Collars of plaques, belts, weapons, and jewelry are all easy to find, and really make the costumes. I can fill you in on all the details, and I think we still have all the patterns that The Missus did; she was our cutter.
We wore our costumes for parties and conventions - LARPs hadn't been invented yet, formally. We did have parties where we showed up as our PCs; the 'custome of the house' was that you were you while in 'regular' clothes, and as PCs when in costume. It was all great fun - we even tried Tsolyani cooking.
We also did a lot of convention shows, as this was all great fun and good advertising. This is how I managed to trade Dave Arneson for three dancing girls at an Origins convention. (The photo was taken on the Sunday of the convention by Dave Arneson.) Viz, back when I had hair and a dumb look on my face - I was not expecting this:
We didn't wear these costumes for regular gaming - we went for comfort, for that. My armor is 38 punds all up, and while I have worn it for 12 to 16 hours at conevntions, it's a little confining. And, as you point out, we didn't want to get our fancy duds all smelly...
Does this help? Am I even starting to answer your questions?
(Foot note: I am sorry about the huge size of the photo - I had no idea it would be so big. Is there a way to keep photos down to a reasonable size? I am not very web- or computer-literate, so any advice would be welcome!)I believe you, but I don't get thatWell, ya know, if one is polite and respectful, one often is very fortunate.
In this case, we set up our booth at Origins in Dallas, and two guys were set up right across from us. They were selling adventure packs and game aids, sort of like Judges Guild, and one of them had persuaded his girlfriend (the one in white) to dress up as the classic 'D&D dancing girl' to try and attract attention to their booth. She wasn't going to do it by herself, so she got her two friends to come along as well.
The three of them shimmied and undulated like the dickens all day Friday and Saturday - both to get gamers to look at the products, and to keep warm; the air conditioning was set to 'Winter Wonderland' and we all froze. I, on my side of the aisle, looked all manly and heroic in my armor and showed off our Tekumel stuff and the Temple of Vimuhla model. I had them packed three deep in front of our booth; they got no business at all. I am dead serious about this - all the gamers just walked right past them.
The problem, you see, was that there was a demo area next to their booth, where somebody was demonstrating a hunk of PVC pipe with some LEDs and buttons - you pushed the right button, and the thing blinked for a bit and then displayed a random number that the electronics had generated. Yes, that's right, these three were being ignored in favor of the "Dragon Bone Dice Simulator".
So, Saturday morning before the doors opened, they marched over to us and asked if they could work for me at my booth, as I was getting all the attention. I put the question to Dave, who went over and took a look at the guys' stuff and liked it. So, they got Dave Arneson to shill for them, and I got three very cute ladies to shill for me. Everybody was happy, and we sold out of everything after word got around that "Hey! That guy in the weird armor traded Dave Arneson for three dancing girls!!!"
Sunday, Dave wants a picture, so he tells us to bunch up nice and tight. Right before he snaps the shutter, the two ladies on either side of me each grabs one of my hands and puts them on their hips. I froze, as I was worried what Dave might think - he simply laughed, and took two photos to make sure he got the sight recorded.
(Honest to God, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.)
The postscript came at Gen Con, later that summer; I'm getting a hot dog (this was at MECC) while in me armor, and somebody gets my attention by rapping on my shoulder plate like it's a door knocker. It's Gary (yes, that Gary) who fixes me with a steely eye, and asks me in a severe tone "Young man, I understand that you traded Dave Arneson for three dancing girls!" I started sweating, and replied "Yes, sir." Gary guffawed, and told me that I'd gotten the better of the deal and that he should have hired me instead of Duke Siegfried.
(My life in gaming has been rather eventful, I guess.)
By the way, Hrugga me lad, you should recognize these three young ladies.
May I introduce Menwe, Sitre, and Ten'er?
You should be able to tell which is which, too...
I love surprises, I do...
Who would ignore three dancing girls for some dice?
And who would sell you three dancing girls for Dave Arneson, and not even have him run a session?
You definitely got to meet some weird people during this time, I'm with Gary's assessment on the matter, and Dave might have thought the same...
And do you mean that they picked up playing Tekumel?
I tried that path once, but it turned out my players at the time preferred using coins and counters rather than inexact figures.
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward." - Rocky
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