deerstalker
https://blacknerdproblems.com/a-midsummers-night-stream-a-bnp-dd-live-stream/
It’s time y’all. Dust off those character sheets and get ready to roll dem bones, as Black Nerd Problems takes its first dive into a live Dungeons & Dragons live stream. We hope you’ll join us on this magical 3-shot adventure held on every other weekend throughout the month of July beginning July 1st. To get you ready for this brand-new event, let’s introduce our world, our players, and our Game Master.
Welcome to Riyoon
In the world of Riyoon, a cataclysmic event known as “the Great Rift” forever changed the fabric of reality. Before the Rift (B.R.), the realms of the material plane, feywild, and shadowfell existed in closer harmony. Mortals and creatures traversed these realms with relative ease, and the balance between them, while tumultuous, was maintained. Hulya, one of the nation-states within Riyoon, flourished as a bastion of magical knowledge and vibrant culture.
In the aftermath of the Great Rift (A.R.), while the connection between the realms of Riyoon was severed, there remain scattered gateways and portals that allow limited passage between them. These portals, hidden in forgotten corners or accessible through powerful magical means, promise opportunity and peril for those seeking to traverse the once-intertwined realms.
Over the centuries, some people of Riyoon have yearned for a way to bridge the gap created by the Great Rift, to restore the interconnectedness of the realms, and bring back the lost wonders. They seek to understand the cause of the rift and find a means to reunite the shattered realms. However, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there are those who see an opportunity to exploit the fractured state of the realms for their own gain. Power-hungry individuals, opportunistic factions, and malevolent forces aiming to exploit the interplanar discord, twist the delicate balance, and unleash chaos for their own purposes. Enter our heroes.
Meet D.A.T.Z.
Dalox, The Lantern Sun Soul Monk Mikkel Snyder, @ChimericNotion
“The boundaries are blurry out in the Fae Wilds. I am merely one beacon back, a steppingstone. The lost must choose to face perdition first.”
Dalox always understood the natural flow of energies in the world, the way power circulated in the body, and how that power could be expelled outside of it. Their parents knew they could not teach their cub the path they were on, so they led them to a monastery and for years, Dalox trained. On the eve of Dalox’s ascension to a fully-fledged monk, they were kidnapped by a roaming band of Fae and taken into the wilds. No one knew exactly what happened, and years passed. One day, the monastery heard a single solitary knock at their door and found a wounded Dalox at the gate.
They didn’t talk much about what had happened. They rested, recouped, and then asked to learn a different path: The Way of the Sun Soul. The monastery pointed them to the sole practitioner in Riyoon, and Dalox once again vanished into the distance.
But these days, there are plenty of rumors of a Bleached Leonin roaming the wild. Plenty of sightings of a roaming nomad carrying a solitary lantern and quarterstaff, surveying the boundary of worlds.
Autumnus Bladesinger Wizard Garrett Green, @blkriku
“Deep within a Fey’s heart, lies the mischievous melody of the Elven spirit.”
A seemingly simple melody on a single sheet of parchment was the only possession with Autumnus when he arrived at the orphanage as a toddler. This orphanage was known for taking in children affected by the continuous aftermath of the Great Rift. As an Eladrin, his long lifespan meant he’d seen many caretakers and orphans come and go. One caretaker he grew exceptionally close to was Mufaska, a kindly Leonin who taught him how to play the violin. With this knowledge, he set his sights on learning the melody. Perfecting this tune unlocked the secrets of the Bladesinger and once he became of age by Elven standards, he set out to become an adventurer.
A true autumn child, Autumnus is a caring and personable individual. Loving to perform and play his violin, he may see himself more charismatic than he actually is. Along with his familiar, The Fantastical Mr. Fox, Phineas Mc-Fennec-Gan, he adventures to earn money to send to the orphanage, and this is what drew him to work with his current party. Those whom he calls his chosen family.
Taldra’Anad Oath of the Ancients Paladin Keith Reid-Cleveland, @Keefabara
Taldra’Anad is a Dragonborn paladin/fighter. He was raised on the core belief that he and his fellow Dragonborn are distant descendants of the first dragons to settle the land and should be treated as such.
In his youth, this arrogance and entitlement led him to make many poor decisions and ultimately be given a choice of enlisting in the royal army or serving time in the gem mines. After finishing a successful military career and developing a more grounded worldview, he now spreads word of the ancient dragons and the good fortune they’ve bestowed upon the world to everyone he can while making a profit.
Zahra Circle of Dreams Druid Victoria Vertein, @HijabiGeek
Zahra grew up in a community that seeks the balance of the world before the Great Rift. They inhabit the various borderlands where the Fey world and Riyoon still overlap. She sees herself of both worlds and is most comfortable when her access is not restricted, feeling out of sorts in situations that are fully Riyoon or fully Fey. Her community is not bound by class or species; anyone with an open mind and good heart is welcome. However, increasingly negative encounters with Ilok (ee-lok), bandits of many stripes looking to make a profit bringing resources from one world to the other, from both sides has led to a more secretive and seclusionary lifestyle for her people.
Zahra herself has ventured out to see what change a generation has made.
The Game Master
Game Master (GM) She’Rohn Draper, @darth_draper
I played my first D&D game in 2018. It was something that I always had an interest in, but never knew anyone that played. I started DMing a few games in 2019 and tried to connect with or create some on-going gaming groups, but they never fit right. When the pandemic hit and BNP opened up their discord, our dear friend Mikkel invited me to join and engage the tabletop space. After playing in a couple one-shots and feeling like I’d found my people, I offered to run an on-going campaign. We’ve been playing every other Saturday since January 2021. My hope is that more Black and brown folks hop into this space and build their own dope worlds. Tabletop can feel very white, very straight, and very male, and that can make it inaccessible or unpalatable. The stories we tell when we are safe and comfortable have so much more flavor, and I wanted to share that.
Come Along on a Journey
And there we have it my friends. I hope you are as excited as all of us to embark on this magic filled campaign. You can catch us on the Black Nerd Problems Twitch channel on July 1, 15, and 29 @3pm/est for this 3-part event. We hope to see you there.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!
The post A Midsummer’s Night Stream: A BNP D&D Live Stream appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
It’s time y’all. Dust off those character sheets and get ready to roll dem bones, as Black Nerd Problems takes its first dive into a live Dungeons & Dragons live stream. We hope you’ll join us on this magical 3-shot adventure held on every other weekend throughout the month of July beginning July 1st. To get you ready for this brand-new event, let’s introduce our world, our players, and our Game Master.
Welcome to Riyoon
In the world of Riyoon, a cataclysmic event known as “the Great Rift” forever changed the fabric of reality. Before the Rift (B.R.), the realms of the material plane, feywild, and shadowfell existed in closer harmony. Mortals and creatures traversed these realms with relative ease, and the balance between them, while tumultuous, was maintained. Hulya, one of the nation-states within Riyoon, flourished as a bastion of magical knowledge and vibrant culture.
In the aftermath of the Great Rift (A.R.), while the connection between the realms of Riyoon was severed, there remain scattered gateways and portals that allow limited passage between them. These portals, hidden in forgotten corners or accessible through powerful magical means, promise opportunity and peril for those seeking to traverse the once-intertwined realms.
Over the centuries, some people of Riyoon have yearned for a way to bridge the gap created by the Great Rift, to restore the interconnectedness of the realms, and bring back the lost wonders. They seek to understand the cause of the rift and find a means to reunite the shattered realms. However, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there are those who see an opportunity to exploit the fractured state of the realms for their own gain. Power-hungry individuals, opportunistic factions, and malevolent forces aiming to exploit the interplanar discord, twist the delicate balance, and unleash chaos for their own purposes. Enter our heroes.
Meet D.A.T.Z.
Dalox, The Lantern Sun Soul Monk Mikkel Snyder, @ChimericNotion
“The boundaries are blurry out in the Fae Wilds. I am merely one beacon back, a steppingstone. The lost must choose to face perdition first.”
Dalox always understood the natural flow of energies in the world, the way power circulated in the body, and how that power could be expelled outside of it. Their parents knew they could not teach their cub the path they were on, so they led them to a monastery and for years, Dalox trained. On the eve of Dalox’s ascension to a fully-fledged monk, they were kidnapped by a roaming band of Fae and taken into the wilds. No one knew exactly what happened, and years passed. One day, the monastery heard a single solitary knock at their door and found a wounded Dalox at the gate.
They didn’t talk much about what had happened. They rested, recouped, and then asked to learn a different path: The Way of the Sun Soul. The monastery pointed them to the sole practitioner in Riyoon, and Dalox once again vanished into the distance.
But these days, there are plenty of rumors of a Bleached Leonin roaming the wild. Plenty of sightings of a roaming nomad carrying a solitary lantern and quarterstaff, surveying the boundary of worlds.
Autumnus Bladesinger Wizard Garrett Green, @blkriku
“Deep within a Fey’s heart, lies the mischievous melody of the Elven spirit.”
A seemingly simple melody on a single sheet of parchment was the only possession with Autumnus when he arrived at the orphanage as a toddler. This orphanage was known for taking in children affected by the continuous aftermath of the Great Rift. As an Eladrin, his long lifespan meant he’d seen many caretakers and orphans come and go. One caretaker he grew exceptionally close to was Mufaska, a kindly Leonin who taught him how to play the violin. With this knowledge, he set his sights on learning the melody. Perfecting this tune unlocked the secrets of the Bladesinger and once he became of age by Elven standards, he set out to become an adventurer.
A true autumn child, Autumnus is a caring and personable individual. Loving to perform and play his violin, he may see himself more charismatic than he actually is. Along with his familiar, The Fantastical Mr. Fox, Phineas Mc-Fennec-Gan, he adventures to earn money to send to the orphanage, and this is what drew him to work with his current party. Those whom he calls his chosen family.
Taldra’Anad Oath of the Ancients Paladin Keith Reid-Cleveland, @Keefabara
Taldra’Anad is a Dragonborn paladin/fighter. He was raised on the core belief that he and his fellow Dragonborn are distant descendants of the first dragons to settle the land and should be treated as such.
In his youth, this arrogance and entitlement led him to make many poor decisions and ultimately be given a choice of enlisting in the royal army or serving time in the gem mines. After finishing a successful military career and developing a more grounded worldview, he now spreads word of the ancient dragons and the good fortune they’ve bestowed upon the world to everyone he can while making a profit.
Zahra Circle of Dreams Druid Victoria Vertein, @HijabiGeek
Zahra grew up in a community that seeks the balance of the world before the Great Rift. They inhabit the various borderlands where the Fey world and Riyoon still overlap. She sees herself of both worlds and is most comfortable when her access is not restricted, feeling out of sorts in situations that are fully Riyoon or fully Fey. Her community is not bound by class or species; anyone with an open mind and good heart is welcome. However, increasingly negative encounters with Ilok (ee-lok), bandits of many stripes looking to make a profit bringing resources from one world to the other, from both sides has led to a more secretive and seclusionary lifestyle for her people.
Zahra herself has ventured out to see what change a generation has made.
The Game Master
Game Master (GM) She’Rohn Draper, @darth_draper
I played my first D&D game in 2018. It was something that I always had an interest in, but never knew anyone that played. I started DMing a few games in 2019 and tried to connect with or create some on-going gaming groups, but they never fit right. When the pandemic hit and BNP opened up their discord, our dear friend Mikkel invited me to join and engage the tabletop space. After playing in a couple one-shots and feeling like I’d found my people, I offered to run an on-going campaign. We’ve been playing every other Saturday since January 2021. My hope is that more Black and brown folks hop into this space and build their own dope worlds. Tabletop can feel very white, very straight, and very male, and that can make it inaccessible or unpalatable. The stories we tell when we are safe and comfortable have so much more flavor, and I wanted to share that.
Come Along on a Journey
And there we have it my friends. I hope you are as excited as all of us to embark on this magic filled campaign. You can catch us on the Black Nerd Problems Twitch channel on July 1, 15, and 29 @3pm/est for this 3-part event. We hope to see you there.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!
The post A Midsummer’s Night Stream: A BNP D&D Live Stream appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Conventions, anime and other nerd conventions, are some of the most fun events I have ever experienced. With more than a decade’s worth of con-going experience under my belt, I can tell you that both of my home conventions, Otakon and Katsucon, have given me some of the biggest joys in my short 30 years of living on this earth. Nerds can be the absolute worst, but more times than not, coming together to celebrate similar interests has made my heart feel fuller than any Tom Hanks movie ever could. Thousands of con-goers venture into whatever venue to cosplay, debate, compete, and spend an offensively large amount of money in the Artist’s Alley. However, the wise man always plans ahead for debauchery. In this case, convention circuits need to be thoughtfully planned out in order to avoid being in the red the next time you receive a credit card statement.
Before we get to the actual, physical convention, you need to plan. A lot of nerds make the mistake of under-preparing which can lead to a boatload of problems including dehydration, getting into debt, having to sleep on the floor of a gross hotel room, and being stranded at a derelict bus stop. We’ve all heard rooming horror stories, from trashed hotel rooms to 20 people to a twin bed, so let’s break down how we can AVOID that.
How do you prepare for a convention weekend? These can vary between three-day weekends, one-day affairs, to occupying your entire work week. What you begin with, however, is to be honest with yourself.
- Does this convention take practical priority in your life?
- Can you financially afford it?
- Will this con weekend cause undue stress that will impact you negatively?
You have to be able to reflect on previous experiences coupled with what is currently going on in your life to determine if even going at all is the mature decision. Because as we all know, nerds have great impulse control and are able to thoughtfully and artfully dissect their thought processes before making any rash decisions. j/k
The Badge
Each convention requires a registration for a weekend or day pass. This badge typically comes with a unique ID code. Most conventions only sell badges for the full weekend. The badge is typically a non-refundable, non-transferable pass to the convention. If you lose the physical copy, you might have to purchase a brand new one. Depending on the convention, you may be able to skate by without buying another badge by the grace and mercy of the convention staff.
Some conventions allow you to buy one-day only passes. Badges can be purchased online before the event, and in some cases, are given “Early Bird” treatment with a percentage off. Depending on your schedule, it might make financial and emotional sense to go for one-day only passes. No need to worry about shelter and long-term dining options when you go this route.
There is also the infamous method of “Lobby Conning” into a convention. What this typically means that if a convention is hosted in a large hotel or convention center, you can hang out in the larger spaces, hallways, atriums, etc without a badge, because you’re not trying to access the more exclusive content. Be aware that this method is controversial, with many thinking this is a way of stealing from the convention. Use your own discernment.
Unofficial schedule of most conventions:
Thursday
Day 0 (typically used to pick-up badges)
Friday
Day 1 (technically the first day)
Saturday
Day 2 (arguably the biggest and busiest day for any weekend convention)
Sunday
Day 3 (typically the closing ceremonies finish off the convention weekend in the mid-afternoon)
Badges allow you access into panels, the Dealer’s Room, the Artist’s Alley, autograph lines, masquerades, fashion shows, raves, etc, so you MUST have it on you at all times. Some conventions may issue you another one in the event you lose it, but other cons may make you purchase a new membership/badge or charge you a fee if you lose your initial one, so be mindful. I also caution folks from sharing badges. This is a sure-fire way to increase your chances of catching a ban from the convention in its entirety.
Otakon
Katsucon
Dragoncon
Comic-Con International: San Diego
Shelter
Whether you’re crashing at a friend’s place, booking an Airbnb, or checking into a hotel, shelter is probably the biggest thing you need to figure out pre-convention. This is your home base: where you’ll sleep, shower, eat, keep your hauls safe, props and costumes, costume changes, etc. You should have a place to stay for the entirety of the convention mapped out and booked at least 3-6 months before the actual convention.
Popular conventions, like Magfest, hold lotteries for hotel rooms because of how quickly these blocks get booked. Don’t be the fool who waited and planned last minute, because you’ll end up budgeting for Ubers in addition to a hotel that’s 15-30 minutes away from the actual convention.
Remember to clean up after yourselves. It’s a HUGE dick move to leave an intentionally gross room behind. We’re not talking about leaving a bar of soap behind; I’m talking about grey body paint in the bathroom (IYKYK), trash on the floor, and unmentionables being left behind. Behave like mature adults. Clean up after yourselves, recycle, and take out huge piles of trash. Don’t forget to tip custodial staff.
Transportation
This one varies heavily. Are you traveling internationally? Is your shelter located off the main convention circuit/hotel place? You need to budget bus tickets, train tickets, plane tickets (round-trip), time on shuttles, gas/Lyft/Uber money, etc. If you’re planning on pulling a clown car move (tight squeeze in a small vehicle), you’ll need to consider dividing up labor and giving the appropriate amount of gas money to your fellow friends. All of this requires constant communication and making sure you don’t screw over your pals. Like with everything else in the article, DO NOT WAIT LAST MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT TRANSPORTATION. It may seem a bit more clear-cut initially, but it can get tricky figuring out costs, especially if you have to use ride-shares while at the actual convention.
If you are traveling overseas, make sure you have an up-to-date passport, copies of said passport, itinerary, and a whole separate budget on spending cash in another country. There are also “travel hacks” to look into, such as global fast pass and airport clubs. These are meant to make the whole traveling experience more tolerable. Remember to rethink choices on cosplay props and overall wardrobe; there are horror stories about props being broken or going missing when being checked in for a flight. For me, it sounds like a huge nightmare figuring out how to travel internationally in general, so math-ing the math on cosplay accessories would do me in. Bon voyage to fellow nerds for those who journey across and beyond for their hobbies!
Miscellaneous Costs
Cosplay Lineups: This means anything to do with creating/buying/putting together cosplays, which any seasoned cosplayer can tell you, can get EXPENSIVE.
Photographer(s)
I wanted to get the perspective of a West Coast convention attendee. My experiences are shaped exclusively by the East Coast. Cosplayer Rhadmus graciously lent me some insight:
Oona: How long have you been attending west coast conventions? Which ones are your staples? What are some of the average costs for one or two of these conventions? Ballpark numbers?
Rhadamus: “I’ve attended cons on the West Coast for about 6 years, starting in 2014 or so–skipping 2 years or so since I haven’t gone to one since the pandemic started. GaymerX and KrakenCon have been two of my regular ones, since they’re very close by. These are usually cheaper for me, since I can usually get by on just the weekend pass cost of $60-$70. Neither have happened in a while though. I’ll also occasionally go to Fanime or Crunchyroll Expo. When I get a hotel, I’ll probably spend around $600-$800 for the Fri-Sun stay, plus the weekend pass cost.”
Concise and Condensed “What to Anticipate” List for Conventions:
- CROWDS. DragonCon has an average of about 80,000+ people and SDCC has about 130,000+ in attendance according to Kantor (2021).
- LOTS OF COSPLAYERS
- ARTIST’S ALLEY & DEALER’S ROOM GOODIES GALORE
- UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE, FAMILIES/PARENTS WITH KIDS
- MORE SHIT TO DO THAN YOU HAVE TIME FOR
- LONG LINES
- DEHYDRATION
- FAMOUS VOICE ACTORS, YOUTUBERS, TWITCH STREAMERS, ETC.
- A BLEEDING WALLET
Conclusion
Don’t be an idiot. Plan ahead. Godspeed, nerds.
References
Kantor, Jonathan H. “The Best Geek Conventions All Nerds MUST Attend.” Ranker, Ranker, 30 Sept. 2021, https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nerd-conventions/jonathan-kantor.
Cover image via The New York Times
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The post How to Prepare for Your Next Convention appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.