Game Day!

 Holy shit, I had people over, strangers over, for a ttrpg one shot, and it was great!

 I'm in a Discord that's connected to the book clubs associated with Parallel Worlds, and yes that's an awkward chain, but no matter. Parallel Worlds is a speculative fiction book store, small but mighty, and so as perhaps expected there's a good number of tabletop gamers in the Discord. Since we moved to a better place in Irvington in Portland, I have been thinking about hosting, well, something, anything. And I have about 40-50 smaller games that could work for one shots which I've never run or played, so it seemed perfect.

I should mention that the group formed around that Discord is so wonderful--there are activities planned every week, official to the group like the Book Clubs and a few other events, but also just ad hoc. Bike Rides, writing sessions, craft groups, meet ups at shows or readings, it's just such a great community. So I was not really concerned that I didn't know the people who would be coming, and I felt like maybe it would be great. 

And you know what? It really was. 4 people showed up for this first one (and it will be a first of many) and we got a little acquainted and talked about our gaming history and what kinds of games we liked. And then we played a game of The Witch is Dead with me running it and the players were all so great, so game, so fun; and I think I did pretty good running it. Off and on since we've come to Portland I've run games, but never at home for a variety of reasons, and I think I'm just better in a home place. I feel more comfortable, and when I feel comfortable I can do my best (as is obvious, yes, but I hadn't thought about it.) The four familiars of the poor dead witch rolled pretty well and more importantly were cunning and cooperative, and they brought the witch back from the dead, hurray! And maybe a couple not-good people got killed in the process, but that's the breaks. Of a skull, specifically, for the first poor bastard.

We also decided what to run next month when we meet again, and hopefully some other folks will make it then, too, and we'll maybe have two games running on opposite sides of the room, or I'll head upstairs with a group and disturb the cats while other folks play at the table on the main floor, I'm not sure, but what I am sure of is that however many people appear, and whatever we decide to do, it'll be amazing fun.