Good RPers ROCK! (original) (raw)

Years ago -- about 19 or so, when I was still in high school -- I picked up Ars Magica, with the idea that I would someday want to run a campaign in the setting. Ars Magica, for those unfamiliar, is a historical fiction RPG, set in the late 12th and early 13th century, focusing on mages. The mages gather in Covenants, which are like mini-feudal systems -- the mages protect mortals, while the mortals serve the mages as guards, servants, farmers, cooks, etc. Covenants have seasons, however, aging from Spring, when they are young and fresh; to Summer when they are a little more experienced; to Autumn, at the height of their magical and political power; to Winter, when they are past their prime and have lost a great deal. If they are lucky, they might survive to renew into a new Spring.

I wanted to do a campaign focusing on a single Covenant through the shifting seasons.

In October, 2009, I started running this campaign with some amazing players. Most players remained throughout. Some came and went as real life opened up and intruded. Some came later and remained throughout.

Tonight, the Covenant of Lakehaven, deep in winter, renewed into Spring. The last of the old characters fell away, making room for a new generation.

I could go on for pages and pages, telling amazing stories about the characters, the themes, the amazing work the players did. Instead, I will say this: in the 22 years that I have been GMing, this is one of my top two campaigns I've ever run, and I have the absolutely amazing players to thank for it. They gave this campaign life -- this campaign I've wanted to run for over half my life.

They deserve praise and thanks for helping me tell a truly amazing story.

You are all great players. Thank you so much. If you were there for three session, or for every single one, you all helped make this amazing. And this amazing story will forever live in our minds.

You rock.