Review of ManaFest 99

I don't often get to go to conventions, which is sad because I love gaming and have yet to find a group that will meet regularly. So when I go to a con, I'm going to game. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do much of that at ManaFest this year.

ManaFest started out as a con devoted to trading card games, particularly Magic: the Gathering, as the name suggests. In recent years it has grown to include role playing games, board games, wargames, live action role playing, and more. However, its roots still lie in trading card games, as evidenced by the large number of TCGers in attendance. If I was still into Magic (I'm not, really), I'd probably be thrilled. ManaFest was a Magic player's paradise. Board gamers, too, had a lot of fun. (My father won the Monopoly tournament there, but unfortunately is not a California resident.) But I'm a roleplayer, and so I really got the short end of the stick.

Not for lack of events! Not by any means: there were several available. I ran a couple myself. But the problem was that there weren't enough players. I didn't get a single player in my first session, and I didn't have anywhere near enough in my second. (Which was upsetting, to say the least: I was and still am quite proud of the scenarios I whipped up for the con.) Even the RPGA tournaments I signed up for didn't have enough players to actually run the events.

The saddest manifestation I found of this phenomena was the lack of players in the Cyberworld: Dark Ages of the 21st Century events. C:DA, produced by Dark Age Games is a really cool new LARP. The plot was interesting and the system kicked butt. (I'll get around to reviewing the game in full later.) But there weren't enough players to do any of the scenarios: those who showed up had to make do with brief demos.

Another new LARP, Agent X, did not suffer from the same problem. There were plenty of players in this hot new espionage/mystery game, and we all had a lot of fun. I can't wait for the game to actually make its appearance in my game store this August - it may be just what I need to get my friends hooked on LARPing.

Regrettably, I was unable to participate in the San Francisco Conclave LARP. (Vampire: the Masquerade, of course - what else?) From the reactions of players who did participate, I didn't miss much.

I did get to try some new board games, including the Elfengold expansion for Elfenland, a game produced by a European company. (I did enjoy myself immensely, though I didn't end up winning. I was pretty close, but not quite there.)

Most of all, I think I enjoyed the vendor's hall, or "Bazaar of Baghdad." I had delightful chats with Rick Loomis and Dave Kenzer, both of whom were in attendance. Kenzer & Co was unfortunately without the kissing fish, Hubcap of Shame, or the "C" from the old MECCA center, which once housed GenCon; but I had fun there anyway. They did have copies of Knights of the Dinner Table #33 on hand (it hadn't hit newsstands yet), but unfortunately were without booster packs and starter decks for the "Taunt You A Second Time" expansion to their popular Monty Python & the Holy Grail CCG.

The raffle was also fun, though I didn't manage to win the set of dungeon miniatures I'd had my eye on. (I walked away with a set of the first four "Quest for Glory" computer games, though.) And it was nice to be able to talk to other gamers without generating odd looks from the unenlightened masses.

All in all, I did enjoy myself, and so did everyone else, I think. But ManaFest really needs more roleplayers. Next time I go - if I can ever make it there again - I'd like to actually get some players in my World of Darkness sessions.

ManaFest is held annually at the South San Francisco Conference Center. For more information, visit www.manafest.com.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)