Funny Pictures

In this series, we're posting some unique pictures of us as we play in the Realms. The challenge we present to you is to provide us with funny captions for the pictures in the comments section. Try to keep 'em relatively clean and fun. (Photo by Casey Lemay)

Meet the Merchants- Grimloch Gear

This is the start of a short series highlighting the merchants of the Realms.  We ask a few questions of those members in the Realms that sell goods at events. This series will be running over the next few weeks on Wednesdays, so be sure to check out what great products these people put out for the Realms. If we have not already contacted you about your own shop let us know and we'll add your shop into the schedule. We would also like to thank Katie "Effa" Smith for helping us with the questions.

What is your shop called, and who runs it?
Grimloch Gear! It’s a joint effort on the part of Shandar, Kiira, Guilliam and I. Shandar and Kiira run the weaponsmaking side of things, and Guilliam and I take care of leatherworking and other sundries. Members of the country of Grimloch also pitch in from time-to-time, either by helping man the shop, or by providing
materials and skilled labor.

What do you sell?
Our shop focuses mainly on martial supplies, such as armor, weapons, and combative or supportive casting equipment. Grimloch Gear also offers lightly-used pre-owned garb.

What are your preferred currencies?
We accept both green and all currently backed golds, though we take Grimloch Gold at a 2 gold to 1 green rate, instead of the usual 4 gold to 1 green (realms standard exchange rate). The worth of certain varieties of currently backed golds (such as Coin of the Realms, or the Vanguard) is up to the discretion of the shopkeeper.

Where can an adventurer find your wares?
Grimloch Gear vends at a few feasting & tourney events every year, and we are always reachable through either email, or by speaking to us via FaceBook, where we run a “Grimloch Gear” group. The next two events we are certain to be at are Leviathan and Tournaments of Creathorne.

What makes your wares super awesome?
Our weaponsmakers, Shandar and Kiira, are both fantastically skilled foamsmiths. Shandar makes some of the lightest swords I have ever touched, and Kiira’s marns,shields, and decorative foamsmithing abilities make her creations useful and practical works of art. Of our leathworkers; Guilliam has won many armoring tournaments, and his leatherworking abilities are something to be admired. I’m fun at parties. Grimloch Gear offers an accessible way for newer and older adventurers to keep up with the constantly evolving weaponry and arms at a reasonable price, as well as offering specially tailored caster gear that is designed with realms combat and spell-system in mind.

Anything else?
Grimloch Gear offers new-player discounts for some merchandise, as well as lessons on armor making (just contact Sir Guilliam!)

Cheers!
-Effa Mactyr & The Staff of Grimloch Gear

View From Valehaven Awards 2012

Here are the results for the 2012 View From Valehaven Awards. One change from the Awards Ceremony is to be found in the Best New Monster Concept category: the Blackwood Wraiths had their votes spread over three monster names instead of being consolidated into one vote count for the one monster; the total has been adjusted and the Blackwood Wraiths are now tied for second within the category. 

Congratulations to all those that placed and won!

Biggest Adrenaline Rush:
1) SOS (A Very Merry Yule at uncle "Crazy" Cecil's Tavern)
2) Folkestone Questing 2012

3) N/S War 2012 + Order of the List Invitational 2

Best New Tournament:
1) Bardic Pit (Mightier Than the Sword)
2) Mage/Fighter Only (N/S War 2012)
3) Team Duncan's Challenge (Rohodey Presents: Nobles and Commoners)

Best New Monster Concept:
1) Bedlam Dragon (Rhiassa Presents: Feast of the Leviathan XIV)

2) Krampus (A Very Merry Yule at Uncle "Crazy" Cecil's Tavern + Blackwood Wraiths

3) Shades

Question of the Week - 77

We are one of the few LARPs that allow head shots; what do you think about head shots?

On the Emerald Path- SPECIAL EDITION WPI IQPs

You may have noticed that several of the current WPI students have been or are away in some fairly exotic locales.   Each student at WPI has to do two projects, an IQP (Interactive Qualifying Project) and a MQP (Major Qualifying Project). IQPs are interdisciplinary and based on social science and solving problems in people's lives. Each project counts as three credits and can be done intensively as the only course for a semester or spread out across three terms.  While the projects can be done in Worcester, students can also take the opportunity to travel.

Pat "Saka" Bobell did his IQP in Venice, Italy from October 17, 2012 to December 15, 2012. He was creating a Wiki to make all the other projects WPI students do in Venice accessible to the public.  He also drafted a management/development plan on how other organizations could be integrated.

Angela "Monique" Wood is currently in New Zealand. She left on January 6th and will be back on March 2nd. She is doing her IQP in collaboration with the National Museum of New Zealan, Te Papa Tongarewa. She is exploring ways to measure the depth and meaning of engagement that people have with digital technology such as social media and mobile apps, particularly in relation to museums.  To learn more about her adventures visit her blog.

Funny Pictures

In this series, we're posting some unique pictures of us as we play in the Realms. The challenge we present to you is to provide us with funny captions for the pictures in the comments section. Try to keep 'em relatively clean and fun. (Photo by Casey Lemay)

What You Missed - Feast Of the Leviathan XV - Special Edition