2019 Road Crew Year in Review: Ask Not For Whom the Gong Gongs . . .
By Brendan LaSalle
Here at Goodman Games we like to do end-of-year articles to talk about everything that happened to us in the previous three-hundred-and-sixty-five. We feel it’s a service to the gaming community. If you don’t know where you have been, you don’t know where you are going. These articles are fun and important.
But in reviewing the past few years, I note that I sadly ignored a class of people that are more than worthy of celebration and remembrance in the shortening days of the end of 2019:
Dead characters.
That’s right. Our amazing Road Crew judges brought every flavor of mayhem to conventions, FLGS gaming spaces, school game days, and even stranger places. And who pays the price? That’s right, those thousands of would-be heroes, who on behalf of their player paid the ultimate price.
So this year, we are going to highlight some of those deaths in order to bring some balance to this, the year of our Dark Master 2019.
Kino and Cheezus, taken from us by Snarkite and fumble, respectively, Judge Sluggo presiding.
Unnamed Halfling, departed this veil of tears assisted by laser harpy, Judge Louis LaLonde overseeing.
Eighteen would-be Sailors of the Starless Sea, gone too soon via sharknado, with the assistance of Judge Tom Fritchman
A whole bunch of guys, gone but not forgotten, lost to an overdose of Bad Vaping Wolves, Judge Roxual Barger present.
A Resourceful Cooper, whose home-made barrel armor failed to save him from the outrages of the Tomb of Horrors, Judge Daniel Vance in attendance.
A tragic sixteen peasants, never to return from the Hole in the Sky, Judge Christian Ovsenik presiding.
The Prisoners of the Gelatinous Dome, den Holzpyjama anziehen, under Judge Jürgen’s gentle care.
Dwarven “black lung” miner, now living on a wonderful farm where he can play all day with other dwarves post-Sailors of the Starless Sea, courtesy Judge Trevor Russ.
La’Reigh the Elf, brought low by Misadventure (AKA his own blaster pistol from Frozen in Time), Judge Samuel Dester providing guidance.
All but 10 of the 32 stalwarts to challenge the Sky ov Crimson Flame, Judge Lance Hatfield master of ceremonies.
A full 2/3rds of those who dared Creep, Skrag, Creep, shuffled off this mortal coil, Judge William Keller’s name on the masthead.
Thank you, oh fallen heroes, for taking that damage. For fighting that fight. For charging that sharknado. Know that you died in the greatest cause, fun at the table with some of the best RPG judges in the world.
Cheers, and here’s to the better luck for all in 2020.
THANK YOU 2019 ROAD CREW JUDGES for all of your efforts. You are our first line of defense against mediocre games and we salute you.
