TOPIC: Paying It Forward for Gary Aswegan

Since 2010 we have been playing TD every year with each year we always pick up at least one newbie on every run we do a full TD run! My sons and I talk about this guy named Gary Aswegan EVERY year at event grabbing day!

Just a little history on why we pay it forward every year at GENCON for True Dungeon. In 2010, my two sons and I had TD tickets for two different runs, our first run ever was enough for me to go look for Jeff Martin and say how horrible TD was, the DMs were horrible (one just sat on his phone texting!), the veterans in the group were the worst ever (actually told us to be quiet and stand over in the corner of the room - that was it for me). While talking with Jeff, if you do not know him, he took our complaint seriously. We did have a bunch of valid complaints and some whiny ones!

Standing near Jeff was this guy, Gary Aswegan. I was trying to figure out how to dump our tickets (which were after shift change), but Gary asked us the times we had our runs. He says he has tickets for the same time slot - amazing! We walked off and he and Jeff talked for a few.

We did our second run with Gary, just wow! Gary took his time to explain things, shows some of the basics for combat, and impressed us with his behind the back Cleric bead reading! Well after we finished that run, I found Jeff again and said what a difference it makes having good DMs and a party that actually worked together! I almost always mention this in a thread some place and I always tell the new players this story.

This year we are successful in having at least one newbie on ALL our 7 runs! This will make the 5 year of successfully finding a total new person for all of our full runs.

It is now a family event, my wife and other son attends GENCON now and love TD! I will keep paying it forward because of Gary.

To Gary - if you ever return to GENCON you will always have spot in our group. Thanks for making my family first year TD experience a remember-able experience.

I will probably post something again next year!

/salute

Thanks
The Arneson Family

Such an honor and so glad your fun continues. And to think I owe my first TD experience to some friends and my volunteer tenure to Jenn the original tavern wench. It's just great that TD and the gamer community is this awesome. One day I'll be back. Thanks so much Ed and fam. Too kind.

That is Awesome!

Bringing a few new people into my 2 Origins runs this year too. Done that a few times in the past at Gencon.

cdsmith wrote: That is Awesome!

Bringing a few new people into my 2 Origins runs this year too. Done that a few times in the past at Gencon.

That is awesome! We are going to Origins next year (I think) and going to do the same! Keep paying it forward!

Kaledor wrote:

cdsmith wrote: That is Awesome!

Bringing a few new people into my 2 Origins runs this year too. Done that a few times in the past at Gencon.

That is awesome! We are going to Origins next year (I think) and going to do the same! Keep paying it forward!

Ed, I have two runs at Origins just slotted for Newbies to TD. They can come for free and experience TD ("first one's free")

If you know anyone please send them my way.

The times are Friday 6:24 PM and Saturday 5:01 PM - they can email me at eddevaney at levelonegaming (period) com

Ed

What a great story, thanks for sharing!

Now I can add this to the list of what makes True Dungeon and the community the best ever.



Trent

Kaledor wrote: Gary took his time to explain things, shows some of the basics for combat, and impressed us with his behind the back Cleric bead reading!

Aaahahah, I remember that trick!

I also remember Gary trying to focus on his prayer beads while an NPC provided some *cough* significant distraction... and he still got them 100% right.

But more important than focusing on his skill test, I agree that Gary focused on making sure the game was fun - for himself, but also for the people he ran with. He was always a blast to adventure with, even when there was a dragon literally breathing down your neck.

If'n'when you come back to TD, Gary, I'd be game for another dungeon run with you - and maybe your kids as well : )

To this day I still have a special place in my heart for Dryads!!!

My newbies I bring with me are the friends I drag with me every year. Someone new joins us each year.

This year I was planning to take a friend I haven't seen in a few years through with her boyfriend. She had told.me she was going, but wasn't planning to do TD because so many of her friends had heard/had such terrible experiences (sounded just like your story, bad dms, bad veterans and the such), so I convinced her to go through with me.

Sadly, we both got shut out at registration, and with full time volunteering, my schedule is very limited to try and find us a replacement...