{"id":8371,"date":"2013-07-11T15:27:21","date_gmt":"2013-07-11T22:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/?p=8371"},"modified":"2017-11-11T09:15:54","modified_gmt":"2017-11-11T17:15:54","slug":"gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/2013\/07\/11\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\/","title":{"rendered":"GAMA Origins Game Fair 2013 &#8211; Brats, Buff Guys, and Board Games!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a title=\"Origins Game Fair Home\" href=\"http:\/\/www.originsgamefair.com\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8239\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8239 aligncenter\" title=\"Origins Game Fair 2013 banner - Click to learn more at their official web site!\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Origins-Game-Fair-2013-640.jpg\" alt=\"Origins Game Fair 2013 banner - Click to learn more at their official web site!\" width=\"640\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Origins-Game-Fair-2013-640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Origins-Game-Fair-2013-640-256x50.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Origins-Game-Fair-2013-640-320x63.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Origins-Game-Fair-2013-640-400x79.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><object id=\"_fp_0.1693169940263033\" width=\"640\" height=\"100\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http:\/\/download.macromedia.com\/pub\/shockwave\/cabs\/flash\/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\" name=\"player\"><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" \/><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" \/><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" \/><param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\" \/><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"config=%7B%22clip%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/audiox\/OriginsGameFair2013-Jun1613-remastered.mp3%22%2C%22autoPlay%22%3Afalse%2C%22pageUrl%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/youdecide\/%3Fp%3D3813%22%2C%22bufferlength%22%3A38%2C%22autobuffering%22%3Atrue%7D%2C%22plugins%22%3A%7B%22sharing%22%3A%7B%22share%22%3Afalse%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/flowplayer.sharing-3.2.8.swf%22%2C%22callType%22%3A%22default%22%7D%7D%2C%22playlist%22%3A%5B%7B%22url%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/audiox\/OriginsGameFair2013-Jun1613-remastered.mp3%22%2C%22autoPlay%22%3Afalse%2C%22pageUrl%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/youdecide\/%3Fp%3D3813%22%2C%22bufferlength%22%3A38%2C%22autobuffering%22%3Atrue%7D%5D%7D\" \/><param name=\"src\" value=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/flowplayer-3.2.8.swf\" \/><embed id=\"_fp_0.1693169940263033\" width=\"640\" height=\"100\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/flowplayer-3.2.8.swf\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" wmode=\"transparent\" quality=\"high\" flashvars=\"config=%7B%22clip%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/audiox\/OriginsGameFair2013-Jun1613-remastered.mp3%22%2C%22autoPlay%22%3Afalse%2C%22pageUrl%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/youdecide\/%3Fp%3D3813%22%2C%22bufferlength%22%3A38%2C%22autobuffering%22%3Atrue%7D%2C%22plugins%22%3A%7B%22sharing%22%3A%7B%22share%22%3Afalse%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/flowplayer.sharing-3.2.8.swf%22%2C%22callType%22%3A%22default%22%7D%7D%2C%22playlist%22%3A%5B%7B%22url%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/audiox\/OriginsGameFair2013-Jun1613-remastered.mp3%22%2C%22autoPlay%22%3Afalse%2C%22pageUrl%22%3A%22http%3A\/\/wormholeriders.org\/youdecide\/%3Fp%3D3813%22%2C%22bufferlength%22%3A38%2C%22autobuffering%22%3Atrue%7D%5D%7D\" name=\"player\" \/><\/object><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Welcome back!!! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Origins Game Fair Home\" href=\"http:\/\/www.originsgamefair.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Origins Game Fair<\/a> is <a title=\"GAMA Home page\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gama.org\/Home\/tabid\/2508\/Default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">GAMA\u2019s<\/a> (The Game Manufacturers Association) premier event in its convention season, the crown jewel if you will, an opportunity for the fan, gamer, and nerd alike to geek out over past and proven favorites in the gaming world, <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">and to try new and untested and up and coming games of all media and types!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gama.org\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-5351\" title=\"Origins Awards Nomineeseal Medallion - Click to learn more at the GAMA web site!\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Origins-Awards-Nomineeseal-Medallion-640-360x360.jpg\" alt=\"Origins Awards Nomineeseal Medallion - Click to learn more at the GAMA web site!\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y9x2CHQClTU?&amp;autoplay=1&amp;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Unlike <a title=\"GAMA Trade Show\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gamatradeshow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">GAMA\u2019s Trade Show<\/a> (<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-8402\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-320x183.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 20 13 - Steve Jackson\" width=\"320\" height=\"183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-320x183.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-256x146.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-400x229.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">held earlier this year in Las Vegas), an exhibition and networking event primarily held for retailers, manufacturers, and designers, Origins Game Fair is for the players! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">For those who enjoy the games, the literature behind the games, the art work associated with all aspects of the vibrant and enjoyable gaming industry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">The official theme this year was \u201cSuper Heroes\u201d, aaaaaaaaaaand we\u2019ll get to that momentarily, but for us, the theme this year might as well have been, \u201cWhat\u2019s Old Is New\u201d!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Kevin Sorbo Official Webpage\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kevinsorbo.net\/Kevin_Sorbo_Official_Website_-_Home.html\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-8403\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Kevin Sorbo Headshot\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Headshot-159x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Hevin Sorbo Headshot\" width=\"201\" height=\"304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Headshot-159x240.jpg 159w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Headshot-127x192.jpg 127w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">I cannot begin to explain our giddiness and glee at the prospect of having granted press passes this year, that in and of itself begins the escapades of this year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Thank you VERY MUCH to GAMA to granting us our media credentials this year, it was an opportunity not taken lightly, and VERY much taken to heart, we at <a title=\"WHR.com page\" href=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">WormholeRiders News Agency<\/a> greatly appreciate this chance to showcase Origins and all that it encompasses!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">This year\u2019s \u201cSpeci<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Ioan Gruffudd Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IoanGruff\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8404 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Gruffudd Headshot\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Gruffudd-Headshot-180x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Gruffudd Headshot\" width=\"219\" height=\"292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Gruffudd-Headshot-180x240.jpg 180w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Gruffudd-Headshot-144x192.jpg 144w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Gruffudd-Headshot-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Gruffudd-Headshot.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">al Guest of Honor\u201d titles go to Mr. <a title=\"Steve Jackson Games Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SJGames\" target=\"_blank\">Steve Jackson<\/a>, (above left) of <a title=\"Steve Jackson Games Home page\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sjgames.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Steve Jackson Games<\/a>; Mr. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Kevin Sorbo Official Webpage\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kevinsorbo.net\/Kevin_Sorbo_Official_Website_-_Home.html\" target=\"_blank\">Kevin Sorbo<\/a>, (pictured right) Hercules himself; and Mr. <a title=\"Ioan Gruffudd Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IoanGruff\" target=\"_blank\">Ioan<\/a><a title=\"Ioan Gruffudd Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IoanGruff\" target=\"_blank\"> Gruffudd<\/a>, (pictured left) also known as the gracious and remarkable Mr. Fantastic of the\u00a0<a title=\"Click to learn more about Fantastic Four!\" href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0120667\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fantastic Four<\/a> movie series franchise based on the famous <a title=\"Click to learn more about Marvel Comics Fantastic Four!\" href=\"http:\/\/marvel.com\/universe\/Fantastic_Four\" target=\"_blank\">Marvel Comics<\/a> series of the same name!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Rounding out the \u201cGuests of Honor\u201d ticket are: <span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;\"><a title=\"Charles Urbach Gallery\" href=\"http:\/\/www.angelfire.com\/id\/hawkrune\/\" target=\"_blank\">Charles Urbach<\/a><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;\">, <\/span><\/strong>a writer and artist with 20 years of work in design, publishing, and illustration; <a title=\"Patrick Rothfuss Official Website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.patrickrothfuss.com\/content\/index.asp\" target=\"_blank\">Patrick Rothfuss<\/a>, Quill Award winning author of \u201c<em><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;\">The Name of the Wind\u201d; <a title=\"Steve Kenson Home Page\" href=\"http:\/\/stevekenson.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Steve Kenson<\/a>, a self-proclaimed \u201cProfessional Geek\u201d that has <\/span><\/em>designed the <a title=\"Mutants and Masterminds Website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mutantsandmasterminds.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mutants &amp; Masterminds<\/a><span class=\"style4\"> Superhero RPG<\/span> a<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">With <a title=\"True 20 Adventure Rolplaying site\" href=\"http:\/\/true20.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">True20 Adventure Roleplaying<\/a> rounding out the \u201cticket\u201d Steven S. Long (pictured above left), having been involved in the gaming industry for over a dozen years, during which time he\u2019s written, co-written, edited, or developed nearly 150 books.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 15pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Day One:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Drury Inn and Suites at Columbus\" href=\"https:\/\/wwwc.druryhotels.com\/PropertyHotelServices.aspx?property=0107\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-8406\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Drury Inns and Suites\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites-320x212.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Drury Inns and Suites\" width=\"320\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites-320x212.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites-256x169.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Drury-Inns-and-Suites.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Being credentialed this year gave us new perspective and prospects \u2013 from interview participation to thinking of all the goings on in a different light, not just as a participant but as a surveyor of happenings. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We arrived on Wednesday afternoon (June 12, 2013), and after our hassle free check in at <a title=\"Drury Inn and Suites at Columbus\" href=\"https:\/\/wwwc.druryhotels.com\/PropertyHotelServices.aspx?property=0107\" target=\"_blank\">The Drury Inns &amp; Suites<\/a> ,whereupon we promptly made our reservations for next years Origins 2014 event!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We took a short pleasant walk to <a title=\"Greater Columbus Convention Center site\" href=\"http:\/\/www.columbusconventions.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Greater Columbus Convention Center<\/a> where the weekend fun was to take place!<a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8414 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Badge Pick Up Kids\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Badge-Pick-Up-Kids-160x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Badge Pick Up Kids\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Badge-Pick-Up-Kids-160x240.jpg 160w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Badge-Pick-Up-Kids-128x192.jpg 128w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Badge-Pick-Up-Kids-400x599.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Badge-Pick-Up-Kids.jpg 427w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Our first order of business was to collect our Convention Badges for our children \u2013 again, making all that is old new, we brought ALL three this year!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Once our kids were legit, we went to procure our Press Passes from the show offices.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Upon entering the offices, we were warmly greeted by Ms.<a title=\"Erica Gifford\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mybellaevent.com\/about-us\/erica-gifford---president\" target=\"_blank\"> Erica Gifford<\/a>, GAMA\u2019s Media Liaison for Origins. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Having traded communications over the past few weeks with Ms. Gifford, I found it none too surprising at how much of a people person she is \u2013 a perfect fit for her position. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Instantly she knew who we were, gave us our passes and without delay explained to us the ins and outs and privileges of a press pass.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>THANK YOU!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We had no sooner sat down outside the offices to collect and gather ourselves when we ran into our good friend, artist <a title=\"Rik DesChain Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rik.deschain\" target=\"_blank\">Rik DesChain<\/a>.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Rik had just arrived and was in the process of figuring out his next move too.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We chatted a bit, then he went his way and we went our way \u2013 DIRECTLY to the Battletech Pods; there<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Rik DesChain Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rik.deschain\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8407 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Rik DesChain\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-160x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Rik DesChain\" width=\"320\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-160x240.jpg 160w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-128x192.jpg 128w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain.jpg 427w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> were six again this year, delivered unto the convention by <a title=\"Virtual World Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VirtualWorldLLC\" target=\"_blank\">Virtual World<\/a>, all the way from Michigan.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>It did not take long for us to lose our time and tokens to this crew, but it is something that we endeavor to do (way too willingly) every year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">This year, in addition to all of our kids joining us, we brought another (newly retired, lots of time on his hands) friend, with a history all his own steeped in Battletech lore as well.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we finished whetting our appetites, we walked away while we still could, taking a break and went back to the hotel to grab a drink and let the kids better explore the room. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we were about to head back out, we noticed a lot of fire and rescue equipment headed to the convention center.It turns out that there had been a fire.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 15pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Please read the following press release:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">\u201cOrigins Game Fair is Still Going Strong!<\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"><a title=\"Virtual World Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VirtualWorldLLC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8412 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Battletech Pods\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Battletech-Pods-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Battletech Pods\" width=\"402\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Battletech-Pods-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Battletech-Pods-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Battletech-Pods-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Battletech-Pods-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Battletech-Pods-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Columbus, OH (June 12, 2013) \u2013 At <span class=\"aqj\">4:20<\/span> this afternoon a small fire broke out in the ba<\/span><\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">sement of the convention center. In order to fight the fire, local departments shut down the electricity to the building. At that time, the Greater Columbus Convention Center ordered an evacuation of the building. \u00a0During the evacuation, games were still going strong in both our LARP and RPG areas of the Hyatt. A big thank you to the Game Masters and Attendees for their cooperation. \u00a0Many GMs have offered to run their events later in the evening.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">7:30 PM<\/span> this evening, we were able to restore power and operations at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. If any attendees have questions about their events, please stop by customer service in the concourse.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Thank you again to all <\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"NerdSpan Home Page\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nerdspan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8409\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson from NerdSpan\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-from-NerdSpan-219x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson from NerdSpan\" width=\"320\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-from-NerdSpan-219x240.jpg 219w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-from-NerdSpan-175x192.jpg 175w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-from-NerdSpan-400x438.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-from-NerdSpan.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">of our attendees, it takes a lot more than three hours to slow origins down!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Let the games continue!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Well, let me tell you that we were not going anywhere and by now we are all slightly famished, it was a long ride in the car, and after a couple of distracting hours in the pods and catching up with a few friends, we all asked ourselves, \u201cwhat\u2019s that noise?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">And the timing could not have been<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> more perfect, the 5:30 pm \u201cKickback\u201d was about to start back at the hotel, so we all hoofed back \u2013 all of a matter of a \u201cfew steps\u201d, we\u2019ve learned that location is everything over the years!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Having satisfied tummies, we went back over to the convention center, but not without stopping first to check in on Steve Jackson and his simultaneous \u201c12 game playing\u201d of his beloved and relaunched game \u201cOgre\u201d (falling into the what\u2019s old is new again category). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we looked on, I could see the interest in the eyes of my kids grow \u2013 what game is this? His plan to gather the next generation\u2019s interest in a best seller, to continue its legacy had worked! From the <a title=\"Ogre Website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sjgames.com\/ogre\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ogre website<\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Steve Jackson Ogre, Courtesy of Kickstarter\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/847271320\/ogre-designers-edition\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8410 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson Ogre from Kickstarter1\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter1-320x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson Ogre from Kickstarter1\" width=\"401\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter1-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter1-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter1.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> itself:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">\u201c<strong><em>Ogre<\/em><\/strong> and its sequel, <strong><em>G.E.V.<\/em><\/strong>, are tactical ground combat games set in the late 21st century. In 2085 A.D., armored warfare is faster and deadlier than ever. Hovercraft, tanks and infantry slug it out with tactical nukes. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">But the most feared weapon of all needs no hum<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">an guidance. It&#8217;s the giant cybernetic tank called the Ogre.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><strong><em>Ogre<\/em><\/strong> was <a href=\"http:\/\/sj.sjgames.com\/\">Steve Jackson<\/a>&#8216;s first design. It was originally released in 1977, as the first Metagaming<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Microgame. Since then, it has appeared in Pocket Box and &#8220;Deluxe&#8221; large-board editions, as well as a miniatures version and a computer game from Origin Systems (now long out of print).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">A companion game, <strong><em>G.E.V.<\/em><\/strong>, added more rules and more units; <strong><em>Ogre<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>G.E.V.<\/em><\/strong> are fully compatible. A &#8220;sequel&#8221; in a different scale is <strong><em>Battlesuit<\/em><\/strong>, in which each piece represents an individual infantryman in combat armor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">The <strong><em>Ogre<\/em><\/strong> miniatures line is now available through <a title=\"Warehouse 23\" href=\"http:\/\/www.warehouse23.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Warehouse 23<\/a>. From the collected sets of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.warehouse23.com\/item.cgi?SJG10-5001\"><strong><em>Deluxe Ogre<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.warehouse23.com\/item.cgi?SJG10-5002\"><strong><em>Deluxe G.E.V.<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to the<a title=\"Individual Figures for Ogre\" href=\"http:\/\/www.warehouse23.com\/search.cgi?gtype=miniatures-individual&amp;pline=Ogre\" target=\"_blank\"> individual figures,<\/a> you&#8217;ll find the right <strong><em>Ogre<\/em><\/strong> miniature for your game.<a title=\"Steve Jackson Ogre, Courtesy of Kickstarter\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/847271320\/ogre-designers-edition\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8411 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson Ogre from Kickstarter2\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Steve Jackson Ogre from Kickstarter2\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Steve-Jackson-Ogre-from-Kickstarter2.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Once again the killing machines stalk the war-torn countryside as Paneuropean and Combine forces battle to the death. A new generation of gamers is learning what it means to face the <strong><em>Ogre<\/em><\/strong> .\u00a0.\u00a0.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">It was incredible to watch the man work the room, to play 12 games simultaneously!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">From our little stop over watching Ogre, we sallied forth back to the Battletech Pods where this time even our tweebs got the opportunity to \u201cpush buttons\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">One mission with daddy and one asked, \u201cwhat does this button do?\u201d and subsequently started the shutdown sequence of the \u2018Mech \u2013 she stayed with me as my copilot most of the forthcoming missions)!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Sadly, our day one pretty much ends here\u2026tired folk all around.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>We found ourselves back at the Drury, tucked our kids in and then went next door to our friends\u2019 room, whereupon <a title=\"MaulTBC Twiter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MAULTBC\" target=\"_blank\">Tom<\/a> and Brian decided it was time for a little swordplay to wrap up the day.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8413\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Late night games\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Late-night-games.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Late night Games\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Late-night-games.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Late-night-games-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Late-night-games-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Late-night-games-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 15pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Day Two:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Up bright, early, and well rested\u2026well, okay, maybe only partly true\u2026I\u2019m not a morning person so there goes \u201cbright\u201d; it was close to 9 am by the time we got downstairs; and I am not quite the same when I\u2019m not in my own bed&#8230;well, okay, allow me my delusion please!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We secured our tables in the dining a<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8417\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale kids room area manager\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Lisa-Garrison-Ragsdale-kids-room-area-manager-320x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale kids room area manager\" width=\"398\" height=\"299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Lisa-Garrison-Ragsdale-kids-room-area-manager-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Lisa-Garrison-Ragsdale-kids-room-area-manager-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Lisa-Garrison-Ragsdale-kids-room-area-manager-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Lisa-Garrison-Ragsdale-kids-room-area-manager.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">rea at the Drury for their \u201cQuickstart\u201d breakfast.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">The kids \u201cdined\u201d on cereal, waffles, scrambled eggs, and sausag<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">e while I generally opted for the biscuits and gravy \u2013 I\u2019m on vacation, not exactly watching the waist at the mome<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">nt.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Though I did convince myself that by having a banana and drinking orange juice was counterbalancing the effect of the rest of breakfast!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">From breakfast it was a visit to the Kids Room for the first time this trip.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As a parent, let me share that the Kids Room is an absolute blessing, and the individuals that run it are a godsend! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Led by the Area Manager, Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale, the group that runs the Kids Room is absolutely incredible.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>There is <a title=\"Jennifer Driver-Sylvia Home Page\" href=\"http:\/\/thinkjenthink.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-8418\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Most of the Kids Room Staff courtesy of Jennifer Driver-Sylvia\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Most-of-the-Kids-Room-Staff-courtesy-of-Jennifer-Driver-Sylvia-320x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Most of the Kids Room Staff, photo courtesy of Jennifer Driver-Sylvia\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Most-of-the-Kids-Room-Staff-courtesy-of-Jennifer-Driver-Sylvia-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Most-of-the-Kids-Room-Staff-courtesy-of-Jennifer-Driver-Sylvia-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Most-of-the-Kids-Room-Staff-courtesy-of-Jennifer-Driver-Sylvia-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Most-of-the-Kids-Room-Staff-courtesy-of-Jennifer-Driver-Sylvia.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>not enough that can be said about these people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As this is the fifth year that I have been attending, each and every year I become more and more impressed with the staff, not only do they remember the children year to year, but they REMEMBER the children!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">And it is not because of anything that the kids have done, it is because they are THAT good!! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">So, for us to say that our kids were excited to go to the kids room would be an understatement! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">And at the same time I would be diminishing the excitement of the staff in their pursuit to guess who would be coming back this year and to recognize them from last year.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As an added bonus for the staff, not only did we have the three kids this year, but more friends of<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Catalyst Labs Homepage\" href=\"http:\/\/www.catalystgamelabs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8419\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Catalyst Labs Booth\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Catalyst-Labs-Booth-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Catalyst Labs Booth\" width=\"401\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Catalyst-Labs-Booth-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Catalyst-Labs-Booth-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Catalyst-Labs-Booth-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Catalyst-Labs-Booth-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Catalyst-Labs-Booth-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> ours joined us that Thursday afternoon, and before you knew it, we had a gaggle of FIVE kids at the kids room over the weekend!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Once successfully in the care of the kids room, we began our quest to see all in the Great (Exhibit) Hall.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we entered, as is customary, we were met by the <a title=\"Catalyst Labs Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/catalystgamelab\" target=\"_blank\">Catalyst Labs<\/a> booth.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Last year\u2019s big game for them was \u201cLeviathan\u201d, and it continued its successes this year, as well as ushering in an force expansion.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">One of the big changes this year for Origins and the Great Hall, was to bring the \u201cArtists Alley\u201d INTO the exhibit hall.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Smart move! Bring the artists closer to the action, in a well-lit \u201croom\u201d versus the darker room that took forever to find.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Prominently displayed across the end of ea<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Cynthia Kirk Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vanystuff?ref=hl\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8420 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Cynthia Kirk\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013- Cynthia Kirk\" width=\"401\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cynthia-Kirk.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">ch aisle, near the Paint and Take booth were happy and briskly busy artists.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Just before Origins, I had recently had the pleasure of trading tweets with an artist named <a title=\"Cynthia Kirk Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/vanyell1967\" target=\"_blank\">Cynthia Kirk<\/a>, and as we journeyed through the Great Hall, I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Kirk as well.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Rik DesChain Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rik.deschain\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8421 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Rik DesChain at Booth\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-at-Booth-180x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Rik DesChain at Booth\" width=\"281\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-at-Booth-180x240.jpg 180w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-at-Booth-144x192.jpg 144w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-at-Booth-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Rik-DesChain-at-Booth.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As our luck would have it, Ms. Kirk\u2019s booth was only about three booths or so away from Rik\u2019s (DesChain)! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">An artist specializing in the Su<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">per Heroes, Ms. Kirk found herself in the right place at the right time \u2013 Origins Game Fair 2<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">013!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Right about this time, we missed our opportunity at the Paint and Take table \u2013 a feature we ALWAYS like to partake in, whereupon you are provided with one complimentary miniature and you can sit in their area and paint it up, hence \u201cpaint and take\u201d.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We missed our opportunity and the crowd at the Paint and Take area NEVER got any smaller all weekend, we \u201ctaked\u201d our miniatures ho<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8422 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Cosplay Spaceball\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-Spaceball-180x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Cosplay Spaceball\" width=\"279\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-Spaceball-180x240.jpg 180w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-Spaceball-144x192.jpg 144w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-Spaceball-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-Spaceball.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 279px) 100vw, 279px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">me to paint instead.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We also inquired as to the \u201cwhere and when\u201d of the pa<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">inting contest.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">One brings their painted minis from home and enters them into the contest to be judged for prizes. &#8220;Paint and Take&#8221; is nothing but fun for all who partake in the event!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We would have to come back later in the day for the info we sought, as well as to enter our<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> \u201cpride and joys\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we meandered and wandered through the Great Hall and the convention center itself, there were many Game Fair \u201cgoers\u201d partaking in the cosplay that often accompanies Origins and conventions of this manner.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">From Spaceball to Steam Punk, anything<a title=\"Origins 2013 - MaulTBc and FidgetTBC Fantasy Cosplay with family\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8423 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Cosplay 1\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-1-160x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Cosplay Steam Punk\" width=\"260\" height=\"391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-1-160x240.jpg 160w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-1-128x192.jpg 128w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosplay-1.jpg 427w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px\" \/><\/a> and everything goes. <span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0<\/span>We too fell into this, as you will see again later in this article.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">This year, this day was picked by the kids as \u201cNinja Day\u201d, and a big THANK YOU to those manning the Role Playing and Live Action Role Playing tables for playing along with our \u201cNoSeeEm Ninjas\u201d.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">One minute you\u2019re just casually carrying on a conversation, the next minute you\u2019re surrounded by ninjas! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">But what\u2019s this, in the blink of an eye they\u2019re gone?? Did we really see what we thought we saw?? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">The costuming this year was great, as you can see from the following photos.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Origins also runs a blood drive each and every year as well, and 2013 was no exception; even the sign bearer got in on the Cosplay!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8427 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - NowSeeEm Ninjas\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NowSeeEm-Ninjas-256x170.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - NowSeeEm Ninjas\" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NowSeeEm-Ninjas-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NowSeeEm-Ninjas-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NowSeeEm-Ninjas-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NowSeeEm-Ninjas-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NowSeeEm-Ninjas-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>We are now approaching dinner time again \u2013 where do these days go?? And as we collect the kids, we head back to the Drury to again take advantage of its \u201cKickback\u201d program and play a game of \u201cNuts\u201d.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">In the game of nuts, you are a squirrel and you are trying to collect, steal, and protect your nuts and everyone else\u2019s.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">The game itself takes only minutes to play, but you find yourself wanting to play again and again \u2013 it is as fun as it is entertaining, and different each and every time you play it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we finish our dinner, we head back to the pods to get our nerd on again, and forever (well, at least as long as this day and the convention).<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas1\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-8425\" title=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas1\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas1-400x262.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas1\" width=\"400\" height=\"262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas1-400x262.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas1-256x168.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas1-320x210.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas1.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>We were then met by another nice family attending the convention, the aforementi<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">oned with the two other children that comprised the gaggle of five including my own little Origin 2013 convention adventurers!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">That makes at total of seven<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> Battletech players, and four lap riders; man, the \u201cpod people\u201d loved us!! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">It is all mutual, we l<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">ove them and their pods!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As if you could not tell already, playing in\/at the pods is a major chunk of our \u201cOrigins fun\u201d! In my opinion, the convention would not be &#8220;Origins&#8221; without the Battle Pods!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Now, as is the case, children 10 and under are apt to get tired and cranky after 10 pm or so. No<\/span><\/span><a title=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas2\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-8428\" title=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas2\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21-400x266.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - NoSeeEm Ninjas2\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-NoSeeEm-Ninjas21.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">w it\u2019s time for the adults. We all head back to our respective hotels, and tuck our children in for the night.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">But wait, there\u2019s more!! As the kids all go to bed, we make a pact to meet up in the bar of the Crown Plaza\u2026a half hour or so later, there we are!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">A great hang out session and a couple of drinks later, it\u2019s our turn to hit the hay\u2026catch you on the cool side of the pillow that is Friday morning\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 15pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Day Three:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">It\u2019s Friday!! Or in our book, \u201cFantasy Friday\u201d!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>As we had be wont to do yesterday, we went downstairs for breakfast, and then back upstairs to get today\u2019s costumes on.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Unbeknownst to the kids, Uncle Brian had procured the COOLEST Disney Princess costumes for them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Our three girls represented well, dressing <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8431 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Family Cosplay 2\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay-2-320x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Family Cosplay2\" width=\"400\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay-2-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay-2-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay-2-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay-2.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">in the parts of Rapunzel, Belle, and Snow White. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">And, UNBEKNOWNST to Tom, Uncle Brian and I \u201cconspired to acq<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">uire\u201d the Wicked Witch of the West costume from Disney\u2019s latest, \u201cOz, The Great and Powerful\u201d! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">While Tom was getting himself ready in his costume of the day, I took the girls to Uncle Brian\u2019s room to get dressed. They went gaga after seeing their new costumes, thank you Uncle Brian!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">And then it was my turn\u2026 We ended up forgetting the kids\u2019 badges in our room so w<\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8432 alignright\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Interview with Karina\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Interview with Karina\" width=\"399\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-with-Karina.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">e went back to get them!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">What we did not know was that Tom was still in the room, we thought we gave him enough time\u2026we did not. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">He caught one sight of the costume, and then did a double take to make sure it was me \u2013 my normal modus operandi involves a mask or a helmet, something covering the face so as to \u201cnot be seen\u201d.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">I must say, that is now easily my favorite costume \u2013 probably because I was able to dress up without having to act out (if you catch my drift).<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>So off to the convention hall we went, our gang of Disney Princesses, Disney Witch, Prince Charming, and Friar Brian.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As the afternoon came about, Tom and I had a previously scheduled appointment, and interview with Mr. Fantastic <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8433 alignleft\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Interview Thinking Question\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Interview Thinking Questions\" width=\"401\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thinking-Question.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a>himself, the honorable Ioan Gruffudd.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Thank goodness, again, for the Kids Room, for as we entered the interview, our children were in the Kids Room, playing and enjoying themselves, and that gave us peace of mind for the next half hour 45 minutes of our day, that we could focus solely on this interview.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Mr. Gruffudd is just that, fantastic.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>A perfect gentleman, very well spoken and a great interviewee, very comfortable fielding questions, putting this nervous interviewer at ease almost immediately. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">In a separate article, I will be posting more on this interview, as well as the interview itself.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>But before moving on, let me just say that due to a scheduling mix up, WormholeRiders was lucky enough to have an exclusive interview with Mr. Gruffudd.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8434\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Interview Thats a Wrap\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Interview That's a Wrap\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Interview-Thats-a-Wrap-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Now going on dinner time, but a little early for the \u201cKickback\u201d at the Drury, not to worry, tonight is the night for our customary \u201c<a title=\"Thurman Cafe Website\" href=\"http:\/\/thethurmancafe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Thurman Caf\u00e9<\/a>\u201d dinner. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Through trial and error, we have learned that the best way to enjoy this dinner, without going to the restaurant itself at 9 am to have a burger just so that you can get seating, is to order take out and bring it back to the convention center.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">This serves two purposes \u2013 we get to eat a tremendous meal, and everyone around us starts to search for the place in the respective food<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8436\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Family Cosplay\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay1-199x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Family Cosplay\" width=\"320\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay1-199x240.jpg 199w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay1-159x192.jpg 159w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Family-Cosplay1.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> courts for who is serving what we have.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Famous for its appearance on \u201c<a title=\"Man Vs Food Site\" href=\"http:\/\/www.travelchannel.com\/tv-shows\/man-v-food\" target=\"_blank\">Man vs. Food<\/a>\u201d and its \u201cThurmanator\u201d \u2013 starting with the bottom bun and working your way up: bottom bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, banana peppers, 12<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"> ounce burger, bacon, cheddar, followed by ANOTHER 12 ounce burger, saut\u00e9ed mushrooms &amp; onions, ham, mozzarella &amp; American cheese followed FINALLY by the top bun, AND served with fries \u2013 we LOVE their food!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">It\u2019s all real! You want chicken wings \u2013 you get a chicken\u2019s wing!! You want onion rings, them things are fresh!!!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>We did NOT order the \u201cTh<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">urmanator\u201d, we left that for the experts. Instead we opted for their more \u201cpersonal\u201d 3\/4lb burger \u2013 we have no choice that is the size of all other burgers (unless otherwise noted).<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We of course have yet to learn our lesson when it comes to ordering an appetizer though, still ordered them AND the burger and could not finish either! As is customary, we took a couple of hours to eat and digest, right across from the Battletech pods of course.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">And when we could all move again, at least in turn to get to the pods, we cycled in and out for the next couple of hours to close out Friday.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 15pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Day Four:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">\u201cUp and at \u2018em\u201d for our self-proclaimed \u201cSci-Fi Saturday\u201d!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Breakfast downstairs, and then back up to get our costumes on.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">This year, with <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-8437\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Cosply 2\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2-320x213.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Cosply2\" width=\"420\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/>the addition of two more kids (in the past it has only been our eldest attending), we have two more costumes to join us.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">For our Sci-Fi Saturday we customarily choose Star Wars \u2013 Tom and I are Scout Troopers, and our eldest has \u201cevolved\u201d from Yoda, to Jedi in training, to Princess Leia.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">With our two little ones joining the fray this year, it seemed only natural to have them join us as Jawas, glowing eyes and all.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Uncle Brian also \u201cenlisted\u201d for Sci-Fi Saturday as he donned his Sith Lord costume, complete with light sabre.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">No sooner had we entered the convention center proper than the photos opportunities began. It is kind of fun actually, I get the anonymity that I like, but at the same time someone\u2019s center of attention. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">The best part is when people say \u201csmil<\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-8438\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Photobomb 1\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1-400x266.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Photobomb 1\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-1.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">e!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">I find myself smiling in my helmet, then chuckling as I realize what just happened that no one could possibly see me with my Storm trooper helmet on! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">I gleefully giggled each time this happened and happily told people I was smiling inside the costume! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Many could tell as everyone at Origins has a great time at the event!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Photobomb with Storm Troopers\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-8439\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Photobomb with Storm Troopers\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2-400x266.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Ioan Photobomb with Storm Troopers\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Ioan-Photobomb-2.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>We walked through the Great H<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">all again today, or we tried to \u2013 between the increase in \u201cpopulation\u201d (it was Saturday after all) and being asked for a picture e<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">very few strides. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Visiting friends and checking further into booths that we glanced at on the previous days but wanted to go back to.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we proceeded to arrive in the famed \u201cLibrary\u201d section of the Origins &#8220;Great Hall&#8221; (the area that housed all of the special author guests), it suddenly occurred to Tom and I that we had mentioned to Mr. Gruffudd that we would be the costumed as <a title=\"Click to learn more about Star Wars at the official web site!\" href=\"http:\/\/starwars.com\" target=\"_blank\">Star Wars<\/a> Imperial Scout Troopers today. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Now we were on a mission \u2013 to seek out and share our glee with Mr. Fantastic himself!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">To our delight, the day\u2019s sig<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8440\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Kevin Sorbo Interview 1\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Interview-1-160x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Kevin Sorbo Interview 1\" width=\"320\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Interview-1-160x240.jpg 160w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Interview-1-128x192.jpg 128w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Interview-1.jpg 427w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">ning session had been moved into the Great Hall, and was located pretty close to the \u201cLibrary\u201d.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">To say that we photo-bombed his session would probably be right, but I thi<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">nk we kind of INVADED his space.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">He was great, and appreciative, AND surprised when we took the helmets off.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Mr. Gruffudd was a good sport, let us in behind his table, so that, as he put it, HE could get a photo with US, saying that it was a must<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>and that his daughter would really like that photo!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we finished our trek through the Great Hall, we thought that we starting to have a nervous tic or felt like we were suffering withdrawal!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Turns out, we hadn\u2019t visited the Battletech pods yet today (seeing a pattern developing here?)\u2026so, off to the pods we went! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We didn\u2019t have much time this go round as Tom and I needed to go back to the hotel to change and get onto our next adventure \u2013 our Kevin Sorbo inter<\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-8441\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Kevin Sorbo Panel\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Panel-320x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Kevin Sorbo Panel\" width=\"401\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Panel-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Panel-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Panel-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Kevin-Sorbo-Panel.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">view!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">There was no snafu in the timing of Mr. Sorbo\u2019s interview, so rather than an exclusive, we had the opportunity to partake in an impromptu panel interview of sor<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">ts.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Like Mr. Gruffudd, Mr. Sorbo is a warm and gentle soul, a very grounded, and salt of the earth gentleman.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We ran the gamut with questions and topics, and we will be posting that article and interview shortly as well \u2013 stay tuned!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Origins2013 - Kevin Sorbo Thinking during a question\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8471\" title=\"Origins2013 - Kevin Sorbo Thinking during a question\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion.jpg\" alt=\"Origins2013 - Kevin Sorbo Thinking during a question\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion-256x170.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins2013-KevinSorboThinkingQuestion-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Now, believe it or not, it is getting to be dinner time already! We gathered the kids, and made our way to our other favorite \u201cMan vs. Food\u201d featured restaurant in Columbus, \u201c<a title=\"Schmidt's Sausage Haus SIte\" href=\"http:\/\/www.schmidthaus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Schmidt\u2019s Sausage Haus<\/a>\u201d!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Schmidt's Sausage Haus SIte\" href=\"http:\/\/www.schmidthaus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-8443\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Schmidts Sausage Haus\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Haus-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Schmidts Sausage Haus\" width=\"639\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Haus-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Haus-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Haus-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Haus.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">We had nearly an hour wait, for a table for EIGHT, but we got in, and we were seated with in aroma and sight radius of the grand buffet. Eating here now three years straight, and so long as we are able to attend Origins, there is no end in sight for our taste buds and our desire for AWESOME and authentic German food!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">From the buffet, we had our choices <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Schmidt's Sausage Haus SIte\" href=\"http:\/\/www.schmidthaus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8444\" title=\"Origins 2013 - Schmidts Sausage Buffet\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Buffet-320x240.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - Schmidts Sausage Buffet\" width=\"399\" height=\"299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Buffet-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Buffet-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Buffet-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Schmidts-Sausage-Buffet.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">of the Bahama Mama (regular or spicy), bratwurst, knockwursts, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, red cabbage, just about every variety of German food that one desires and can dream of. And believe it or not, most of us actually had room for dessert too! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Having the reins removed, our eldest decided that she was going to order a chocolate cream puff; not normally a problem, but when the cream puff itself is the size of one of her sisters\u2019 heads, let\u2019s just say that she shared the wealth!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As we finished dinner and made our way back to the convention center, our friend, a brave brave soul, asked if our girls could stay with her and her boys back at their room for a cookie and milk party while the rest of us spent the next few hours in the pods.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Jumping on that offer, we got our girls (the little ones) changed into their PJs, walked them across to the street to <a title=\"Crown Plaza Columbus\" href=\"http:\/\/www.crowneplaza.com\/hotels\/us\/en\/reservation\/searchresult?destination=COLUMBUS%2COH%2CUnited+States&amp;siclientid=1863&amp;dp=true\" target=\"_blank\">The Crown Plaza<\/a>, and then didn\u2019t look back for a couple of hours.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>As a last hurrah, we played six more missions this evening \u2013 a light tonnage Mech FFA, <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">a medium tonnage Mech FFA, a heavy tonnage Mech FFA, an assault tonnage Mech FFA, and a couple of random FFAs (so random, it was left to the guys running the pods to make all the decisions, we had no input in these two).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Oh, round about midnight or half past the hour, we checked in on the girls and went to collect them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Now being 5 years old, one would figure that full days would lead to tire and spent children \u2013 NOT SO!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>As the door to the hotel room was opened, we were attacked by four raging kids with foam swords and pillows!!!!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Aaaaaarrrrghhhhhh!!!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 15pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Day Five:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Alas, we have come to the end\u2026our final \u201cQuickstart\u201d breakfast courtesy of the Drury for this trip.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>I could swear the kids dragged out their breakfast because they (too) didn\u2019t want to go back upstairs and have to pack up\u2026our kids after all still had one final week of school waiting for them when they got home (I had work waiting for me, I sure as heck wanted to draw out my vacation as looooong as I could!).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Once the suitcases and the truck were packed, we trudged over to the Great Hall to take one final stroll to see if there was anything we missed and to collect our painting contest entered miniatures.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>We had pretty much just entered the hall when we were greeted with, \u201cyou better have a bag with you when you come for your miniatures!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Such a cryptic statement makes one want to run to the back of the hall to see what he meant!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8445\" title=\"Origins 2013 - The Family's Painting Entries\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-The-Familys-Painting-Entries.jpg\" alt=\"Origins 2013 - The Family's Painting Entries\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-The-Familys-Painting-Entries.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-The-Familys-Painting-Entries-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-The-Familys-Painting-Entries-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-The-Familys-Painting-Entries-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">What he meant was, we had won (quite) a few categories and prizes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Our eldest\u2019s entry won Third Place in the youth category; Tom\u2019s entry won First Place in the \u201cLarge\u201d category; and my entry won First Place in the \u201cDiorama\u201d category and Second Place OVERALL!!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Painting miniatures is one of the great family hobbies that all five of us partake in \u2013 on any given rainy weekend day you can find our kitchen table completely covered in trays, paints, brushes, and miniatures; we certainly didn\u2019t need any encouragement to paint more, but hey, we\u2019ll take it!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As this year\u2019s Origins Game Fair comes to a close, there was much revelry and gameplay, cosplay and just plain play. As the <a title=\"Origins Game Fair Home\" href=\"http:\/\/www.originsgames.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Origins homepage<\/a> reflects, this year was quite the success, building on years past with increasing numbers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">As the final stats were tallied, this year\u2019s attendance numbers were , 11, 573 combined totals \u2013 both badges and day passes together.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Though a mere 241 increase over last year, the measure that I find interesting and TRULY encouraging in the vitality and presence of Origins is how the numbers added up this year versus last year when looking at badges and day passes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">This year\u2019s badges totaled 9183 versus last year\u2019s 6865, while this year\u2019s day passes totaled 2390 versus last year\u2019s 4457\u2026to me that signals that attendees wanted more, wanted the WHOLE weekend as opposed to just a day here and there \u2013 this year\u2019s numbers, in contrast, were in line with 2009\u2019s total delineation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Attendees this year were committed to Origins, as the convention itself was genuinely committed to its fans and its supporters.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">In closing, thank you very much, kudos to GAMA and to Origins Game Fair 2013, we appreciated the opportunities that our Press Pass bestowed us, we realize and understand the gravity that comes with the credentials that hung around our necks this year.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">\u00a0 <\/span>Thanks again, and we cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next year!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Click to visit and follow WormholeRiders News Agency on Twitter!\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WormholeRiders\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7396\" title=\"Click to visit and follow WormholeRiders News Agency on Twitter!\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/WormholeRiders-New-Logo-150TS-Dark.png\" alt=\"Click to visit and follow WormholeRiders News Agency on Twitter!\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Thanks to Kenn for the final audio, video-embedding, and image staging, and many thanks to you for reading and for visiting Convention Corners at <a title=\"Click to visit and follow WormholeRiders News Agency on Twitter!\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WormholeRiders\" target=\"_blank\">WormholeRiders News Agency<\/a>!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this article, or you can chat and follow me on Twitter , just click on my avatar to the right.<a title=\"Click to visit and follow FidgetTBC (Karina) on Twitter!\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-8446\" title=\"Click to visit and follow FidgetTBC (Karina) on Twitter!\" src=\"http:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/profile-photo-240x240.jpeg\" alt=\"Click to visit and follow FidgetTBC (Karina) on Twitter!\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/profile-photo-240x240.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/profile-photo-192x192.jpeg 192w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/profile-photo-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/profile-photo.jpeg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\">Thank you,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Calibri'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Calibri';\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri';\"><a title=\"Karina Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FidgetTBC\" target=\"_blank\">Karina (@FidgetTBC)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back!!! Origins Game Fair is GAMA\u2019s (The Game Manufacturers Association) premier event in its convention season, the crown jewel if you will, an opportunity for the fan, gamer, and nerd alike to geek out over past and proven favorites in the gaming world, and to try new and untested [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":8437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2410,2415,1638,2414,2385,1682,2411,2412,1013,862,1687,28,2381,1674,2416,1742,1677,2457,133,2417,2418],"tags":[4474,2141,2439,1680,2450,2443,1667,2447,2448,4110,2455,2441,4462,2458,2444,2442,2454,2440,2451,2445,2449,2456,4487,2014,2446,3476,2393,2452,2453,2438],"class_list":["post-8371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2013-fidgettbc-maultbc-origins-game-fair-jun-16","category-charles-urbach","category-fantastic-four","category-gama","category-gama-origins-game-fair-2013","category-game-manufacturers-association","category-ioan-gruffudd","category-kevin-sorbo","category-lego","category-marvel-comics","category-mayfair-games","category-music-news-series","category-nintendo","category-origins","category-patrick-rothfuss","category-rik-deschain","category-sandra-l-garrity","category-skillet","category-star-wars","category-steve-jackson","category-steve-kenson","tag-2013-fidgettbc-maultbc-origins-game-fair-jun-16","tag-artist-alley","tag-battletech","tag-battletech-pods","tag-belle","tag-catalyst-labs","tag-cosplay","tag-crown-plaza","tag-disney","tag-fantastic-four","tag-food","tag-g-e-v","tag-gama-origins-game-fair-2013","tag-hero","tag-leviathan","tag-lisa-garrison-ragsdale","tag-man-vs","tag-ogre","tag-oz-great-and-powerful","tag-paint-and-take","tag-rapunzel","tag-schmidts-sausage-haus","tag-skillet","tag-snow-white","tag-spaceball","tag-star-wars","tag-steam-punk","tag-thurman-cafe","tag-thurmanator","tag-virtual-world"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>GAMA Origins Game Fair 2013 - Brats, Buff Guys, and Board Games! - WormholeRiders Conventions Corner<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/2013\/07\/11\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"GAMA Origins Game Fair 2013 - Brats, Buff Guys, and Board Games! - WormholeRiders Conventions Corner\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Welcome back!!! Origins Game Fair is GAMA\u2019s (The Game Manufacturers Association) premier event in its convention season, the crown jewel if you will, an opportunity for the fan, gamer, and nerd alike to geek out over past and proven favorites in the gaming world, and to try new and untested [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/2013\/07\/11\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WormholeRiders Conventions Corner\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-07-11T22:27:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-11-11T17:15:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wormholeriders.org\/cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"427\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Karina\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@WormholeRiders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@WormholeRiders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Karina\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"25 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/11\\\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/11\\\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Karina\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8224ccca82040b2a7c247ea4b08f3ddc\"},\"headline\":\"GAMA Origins Game Fair 2013 &#8211; Brats, Buff Guys, and Board Games!\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-11T22:27:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-11-11T17:15:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/11\\\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4964,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/11\\\/gama-origins-game-fair-2013-brats-buff-guys-and-board-games\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wormholeriders.org\\\/cc\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/Origins-2013-Cosply-2.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"2013 \u2013 FidgetTBC &amp; MaulTBC Origins Game Fair Jun 16\",\"Artist Alley\",\"Battletech\",\"Battletech Pods\",\"Belle\",\"Catalyst Labs\",\"Cosplay\",\"Crown Plaza\",\"Disney\",\"Fantastic Four\",\"Food\",\"G.E.V.\",\"GAMA Origins Game Fair 2013\",\"Hero\",\"Leviathan\",\"Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale\",\"Man vs\",\"Ogre\",\"Oz: Great and Powerful\",\"Paint and Take\",\"Rapunzel\",\"Schmidt's Sausage Haus\",\"Skillet\",\"Snow White\",\"Spaceball\",\"Star Wars\",\"Steam Punk\",\"Thurman Cafe\",\"Thurmanator\",\"Virtual World\"],\"articleSection\":[\"2013 \u2013 FidgetTBC &amp; MaulTBC Origins Game Fair Jun 16\",\"Charles Urbach\",\"Fantastic Four\",\"GAMA\",\"GAMA Origins Game Fair 2013\",\"Game Manufacturers Association\",\"Ioan Gruffudd\",\"Kevin Sorbo\",\"Lego\",\"Marvel Comics\",\"Mayfair Games\",\"Music News Series\",\"Nintendo\",\"Origins\",\"Patrick Rothfuss\",\"Rik Deschain\",\"Sandra L. 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