What Now?
Updated:
I went to Breakout Con for the first time. Had a ton of fun. I played nearly a dozen different TTRPGs. First time playing Call of Cthulhu and Draw Steel. Loved both of those for different reasons. I would definitely like to play those again in a more in-depth multisession campaign.
One game I didn't realize I'd love as much as I did was Red Carnations on a Black Grave. It's this extremely cool game entirely built by role playing. There really aren't many mechanics. You're given a couple of personas and then you begin weaving this highly detailed set of relationships among all the characters in play. You just set up scenes and let the relationships build themselves as you act them out or describe them. Loads of backstory, growth, reasons to get attached to these characters. And then the Semaine Sanglante ("Bloody Week") rolls through Paris and you get to tell the stories of many of these characters' deaths. It was sad, it was beautiful, it was hopeful, it was tragic. It was incredible! Had to buy myself a copy.
I got a chance to play both the Discworld RPG and Monty Python RPG. They were fun but I can't say they notably stuck out. Of the two, the Monty Python RPG was my favourite thanks to its fairly quirky rules. At one point the whole party had to stand up and sing God Save the Queen in a semi-crowded gaming hall at 9 in the morning because our characters had offended the Head of Light Entertainment. It was extremely quirky and weird. I think I'd need some more time in that system to see if I'd play it regularly.
Loads of indie TTRPGs including a couple play tests. I only had a single D&D session, but it helped me realize I'm definitely tired of it. It's not bad, but having played so many new and interesting systems, going back to play it felt limiting. I know I've tried to cram many things into games using that system, but many other systems just do those things better by being about those things. Not to throw shade at anyone enjoying it right now. Who knows, I might find myself drawn back in at some point.
I only got time to go to one of the panels, didn't spend any time painting minis, and missed many of the other big things to see and do at the con. 12-hour days just role-playing were pretty intense though. I'll probably still try and fill my bingo card again next year anyway. I'm so happy I got to be a part of so many tables' collaborative world-building and storytelling. It's funny how many times I managed to sneak in bits (often not even subtly) from the philosophy and literature I've been reading.