DragonCon update

1) I've seen Alduin at DragonCon -- Check my twitter feed -- I'll add pics later.  

2)Parade took almost an hour.  Far fewer Storm Troopers than in past.  Far bigger crowds than before with lots of last minute attendees trying to squeeze into long staked out curb space.   Post parade people and car jams are incredible, and with those crowds the Peachtree Center food court was overwhelmed for hours.  Lunch was impossible.

3) I screwed up my ankle getting to my parade spot -- it had me slowed down even more so than the knee.   And it was hurting half a day later.   I had to make an early day of it Saturday and head home and ice it down.

4)So far I've seen Walter Koenig and Colin Baker, celebrity wise.

5)Got to attend a session involving Missing World Media even though it meant missing the Sword and Laser Session. -- Saw someone else with a Tanker Archetype shirt.   I did like what they had to say -- I asked about Supergroup bases, and it sounds like they will be in the game.   The Unreal engine graphics means they've a lot more control over the costuming, litterally digitally sewing clothes onto a model.   They will have powers coming from body parts or equipment.   Some things are pending, like mastermind powers, and won't be out at launch.    And they are still looking for certain types of volunteers.

Heading out to Sunday Sessions

Anticipation of Dragon*Con 2013

It happens every year.   Nervous about Dragon*Con.  Have I forgotten anything?  Is everything ready?  Which do I give priority to?  And when?   Always wondering if work will intrude on the event, despite having it cleared months in advance.    Its the funnest time of the year for me, always surprising, costs way too much in parking alone.  But I haven't missed one for anything.   I've gone every year since 1998.  Back then it was only in 2 hotels with some gaming in a seperate hall.  Now its in 5 hotels AND they still ended up getting some convention hall as well.   

I get around with a cane these days.  Bad knee and more.   Going handicapped again helps -- but navigating the crowds was problematic before this.  Trying to do it now IS a real problem.   You can't rush from hotel to hotel and even expect to make it.   Some sessions, like live podcasts will seal the room.  Of course if you do get there early you can cut to the head of the line, and that helps.  I still have to plan out my events carefully, and have some alternates if I really can't get from point A to point B.  There is supposed to be handicap shuttles between buildings, but I've never seen them.

Thursday I plan to get my ticket early, and do all my last minute preperations.  And probably go through my schedule one more time.   I want to hit a few things -- Two Doctor Whos will be there this year --  Davison and McCoy.   Sylvester McCoy was there the last two years, and is a riot.   Plus his roll in the Hobbit movies makes him a double draw.     I've seen Davison there before, but it has been a few years.

I also want to see Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner -- They are both due to be there.  The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman shows came out when I was in high school -- I loved them - even if I had to suspend disbelief.  I mean they made it sound like attaching one arm will give you super strength.  Maybe for crushing or throwing -- but lifting also affects the back.   They would have had to Anchor the arm to a reinforced skeleton and spine.    Its almost fun to watch the old shows just to see what was done right and what was done wrong.

The very first MMO session I'm still looking forward to -- a rundown on the year in question.  City of Heroes will MOST likely be the topic of choice.   I hear they're bringing in an economist to make sense of NCSoft's decision.   That corproation sure  hasn't been forthcoming with any details.

I hope to catch some photoshoots this year -- I've stumbled on to a few in the past, but I hope to catch some good ones.  

I can't help but wonder what the cosplay fad will be.  It happens every year -- some theme is the most popular.   One year it was Halo costumes.  Another year 300 style Spartan Warriors.  One year it was Hogwarts Staff & Students.    A few years ago it was Lord of the Rings.  Usually it is something NEW.   Nothing stands out as a BIG theme of choice.  We have a lot of continuing things like Game of Thrones and such, but I really can't put my finger on the one thing that would stand out.    I'm kind of hoping to be surprised.   

I hope to be taking plenty of photos.  Maybe this year I can work up a video... 

Mid Summer Blues

I'm still getting over a chest bug which knocked me out for the better part of a week.   Nasty thing that had quite the kick.   It gave me some time to play , but it was Skyrim mostly since Champions was still blocked by the Subscription bug.  

I had a couple starts, but finally decided to play a Nord battlemage.   I tend to to a lot of Skyrim as a Nord.  It just makes things less complicated.    Female this time.   I went with darker hair -- Anyone else feel compelled to do blond Nords?   Simple white war paint over one eye, and made the eyes light grey.  She ended up being called Fridina Ice-Eyes.    I got to play a little of her last night -- and ended up with a level 34 character.   She's primarily Destruction, Conjuration with some Restoration/Alteration.   Her magics are up in the Adept to Expert range.   She knows some Alchemy, and is Expert in Enchanting.  Currently wears the Archmage robes with lots of Destruction enchanting gear.   Now Destruction magicka costs are completely nulliified.   Dark Brotherhood has been destroyed, the Stormcloaks have won the civil war.   I've been crowned Thane of Whiterun, Falkreath, Morthal, & Windhelm and have a house in Windhelm. I've not gone after the High Elf Embassy, so much of the main quest is not yet active.  Smithing is only up to the sixties, working up the light armor side.  Light armor has been raised mostly by training seeing as she wears robes.  But I hope to end up in Dragonscale.  Eventually.

Champions finally got fixed and I got a few levels in on Flagborn, Bellringer, and Bobcat.   Bobcat finally got into the Young Sentinels.   Flamewing is waiting on contact from Nexus Academy -- but I've yet to see any action on that.   I've got several characters now in the low twenty range, and Bobcat is tied with Psideways for the top billing at present.   Some of the groups seem that some of the older character seem dead -- with no one around, and only a handful of people having been on recently.

Work is getting weird with projects looming.  I'm hoping that it won't interfere with Dragon*Con this year.  I've not gotten pre-registered yet -- and it is too late now for a discount.   I'm thinking about ordering some shirts for Dragon*Con -- I've seen some Atlas Park 33 designs that would be so cool to wear and see if anyone catchs it.   Things like that are big conversation starters.   So if you go to Dragon*Con and see a balding guy with a cane wearing a City of Heroes or AP33 shirt, it will probably be me.

Due to the bug, I've not been to see a Movie since Lone Ranger.   Still want to see Despicable Me 2, Pacific Rim, Turbo, Wolverine, among others.   Anxious also for the Flashpoint video release at the end of the month.

I've been taking pics in Champions of other player characters.  I hope to start some daily toons to intersperse with covers.   Maybe I can keep daily updates going for  a long stint until we hit the convention....

Dragon*Con 2012 - Loki too?

'Nuff is enough...

Dragon*Con 2012 - Triumph of Thanos...

Okay it looks like anyone is willing to jump in and take credit...

Dragon*Con 2012 - Triumph of Dr. Doom?

Hey wait a minute....what's going on here?  The villains aren't supposed to actually win...

Dragon*Con 2012 - Triumph of the Red Skull?

As someone once coined -- 'Nuff said.