The moment I handed Richard my Hida Sukune Exp, I knew I had made a mistake--I could feel the great big gaping hole in my collection. I'd had the promo card ever since it arrived with my issue of the Herald long ago, and I only agreed to trade it to Richard after months of his bartering, harassment and pleading. Now I had to find a way to replace it; such as, for instance, by going to a major L5R convention.

Neal Allen Fisher

So, I signed up for the Y2C Party, and I went to Anaheim with a plan: let nothing stop me from getting a Hida Sukune Exp. to replace the one I traded away. This seemed like a good plan, a simple plan. Heck, even before the registration booth opened, there were SoCal players standing around with fat binders full of Swords, promos, Kaede Sensei, Kolat Masters, and other goodies. They all wanted $20 for Hida Sukune Exp. That just wasn't going to happen.

A Setsuban Festival

So, I played a couple rounds of cards with a Steven Grant from Castro Valley, and then went in for dinner and some speeches. The torii arch over the buffet table was a nice touch, as were the taiko drums set up on stage- and those drums got a serious workout later in the evening by the UCLA Kyodo Taiko Drummers. Man, those things are just plain amazing. Apparently they do weddings, too.

First things first, though. Ed Bolme and Luke Peterschmidt did the Master of Ceremonies thing, getting a loud "Banzai!" cheer for every winner of one of the Imperial Favor awards. The FRPG gang also read a letter from Ree, got some volunteers from the audience to put on rat-noses and act out a play, and finally, unveiled the 2000th card (you've seen it by now, the Legion of 2000 but the promo version has the card name in pretty red foil, and different flavor text).

The Imperial Favor Awards

Since Friday evening was devoted to the fans, we got to hear a long string of speeches by and about the winners. Furthermore, Luke Peterschmidt got up in between acceptance speeches to play MC; by the end of the night the party had degenerated into a giant hippy love-fest. In case you haven't already seen it, here's the list of the winners of the Imperial Favor Awards and a few highlights:

Jeff Kyer was recognized for running an excellent Canadian Kotei Championship (on just three weeks notice). He's so pleased with the award that he'll be doing it again in 2000-and will run it at the same bar, with the help of the Taddle Creek Irregulars.

Jean-Marie Baveux flew over from France for the pari and to receive the International award for organizing tf Imperial Daimyos (a group of ambassadors who demo the game in Europe), as well as two massive tournaments known as the Ist French Nationals and the 2nd French Nationals, which attracted 186 participants. He made a short elegant speech about loyalty and friendship among players-quite a trick when you're not speaking your native language.

The biggest Fan contest resulted in a tie between two videos, both excellent. Neal Allen Fischer put together "Five Rings and a Wife" In his acceptance speech he explained that he was introduced to the game by his mother, who sent him a few packs as a present while he was abroad in Japan. His advice to Mom after seeing these few cards? "Mom, buy boxes."

The other winning entry for Biggest Fan went to two Australians, Harrison Chadd and Rick McLeod. "The Kuni Witch Project" was such a searing portrait of one man's descent into obsession that a special pass was required to sit it. During the acceptance speech, we got a rendition of what could be a spin-off project: "Some people call it a sling blade, I call it an Obsidian Blade" Both the winning videos were shown all day Saturday and gathered a crowd.

Imperial Favor Awards

Historian: Jeff Alexander
Finances: Mr. and Mrs. Zinser
Web Site: Andy Cowell
Artist: Brian Snoddy
International: Jean-Marie Baveux
Tournament Organizer: Jeff Kyer
Magistrate: Joe Keyser
Trading Grounds: All Star Games
Unsung Heroes: Dark Age Gaming
Biggest Fan: Neal Allen Fischer
Biggest Fan: Harrison Chadd & Rick McLeod

Costumed LARP participants
Brian Snoddy at the signing table

The Box of Greed

The following day, it was time for the prerelease. Everyone got a starter and three boosters, and about half an hour for deck construction. Then it was single elimination; winners got an Ambition's Debt poster (very spiff), and a few draws from the Box of Greed. What is the Box of Greed? One of Taka's finest inventions: a big cardboard box filled with old rares and uncommons, a heaping helping of promo cards, a fistful of rares, and even a Wedge. First place winners got to draw ten cards; second place got five.

With this prize as motivation, I managed to take 2nd place twice, getting myself a 10-card draw from the Box. I got some fine cards (Flying Carpet, headless Oni no Ogon, as well as Kaiu Pass, Concealed Weapon, and other "lesser" cards), but no Hida Sukune Exp. I went back to the traders who wanted cash-and got my Hida Sukune for $10. "Not a bad price," I thought to myself. Then the fellow tells me that extra draws can be had from the box for $5 for 10 draws. Argh! Like the drooling fanboy I am, I return to the Box, plunk down my cash, and draw--a Time of the Void and a Hida Sukune. I can die happy now.

With my mission accomplished, I played a few more games, wandered over the kenjutsu demo that David Williams and Tony Kull were holding, talked to Brian Snoddy, and even watched the Doji House Guard charge off a hill and into massed ranks of Naga archers in a Clan Wars game.

Elsewhere, the last prerelease tournaments were winding down, and the LARP, Clan Wars, Open tournament, and other events were wrapped up by 10 o'clock-twelve full hours of L5R. About 48 different people won the various rounds of the Ambition's Debt prerelease (each was an 8-person, single elimination mini-tournament), and Jason Marliss won the Open tournament with the Brotherhood. I had taken my shot at Hida Sukune Exp. and wound up with two, and that was enough for me. Long live the Shadow Samurai!

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