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Photo Index
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Page 1: Wednesday - The Hotel
- The Sheraton
provides a highly appropriate atmosphere for this fantasy-drenched convention.
- Courtyards
and fountains abound with fabulous taverns lining every walkway.
- Tudor
style rooms host our weary warriors on the rare occasion they decide
to rest.
- A lake
and pool just outside the ballroom and bar fill out this idyllic setting.
- Larger
than life! Dunryc leads the parade
to Nino's, our destination for dinner.
- Mikare
informs the restaurant's manager that when she said "party of 80",
she really meant "party of 80!"
- Aeatherion
and Harmonius exchange stories before
dinner, perhaps pretending not to notice the rather provocative art
behind them.
- Salads,
spaghetti, caprese, oh my! The food at Nino's was magnifico!
And the service fantastico!
- Say,
"Cheese!" Elriic helps
himself to an Italian delight.
- Alex,
Eldreth, Navlys,
Tamral, and Llorrin
were just a few who got their money's worth at the Backstreet Jazz
and Blues Club.
- The Greeks
invaded the hotel bar. The pillagers include Bonk,
Phalo, GM
Hypatia, GM Jacinda,
GM Feral, GM
Leonius, Gerett, GM
Logos and Effie peeking
in from the back.
>>
Page 3: Thursday - Afternoon
- The famous
St. Louis arch towers over these friends and sightseers - Hobris,
Tenasia, Vytoria,
Eupholus, and Aavarine.
- This
view from the peak of the arch reveals the Adam's Mark hotel (lower
right corner, beige building), the site of SimuCon '98.
- Easy
access and gorgeous weather all weekend made casual lunches the norm
for gamers such as these: Lmerri,
GM Sebbril, Caden,
GM Zilana, and GM
Warden (backwards).
- Further
down the walk were more lunching gamers at the Trainwreck Saloon
- Collettea, GameHost
Nemraesha, Soim, and
Chasitee.
- ...And
this very large group of GemStoners dine beneath the clock tower shortly
after registering. Recognizable faces here include Mikare,
Barachado, Aeatherion,
GM Ildran, GM
Tilmont, Blueland, and
Lmerri.
>>
Page 4: Thursday - Afternoon
- Henna-licious!
At $25 per artwork, the owner of Helping Hands Henna had a very
good weekend cause we kept her going nonstop! Crysiana
was among the first customers to this overwhelmingly popular merchant.
- Will
Game For Food!
That was one message on a plethora of humorous t-shirts from this merchant, along with beautiful crowns, circlets, and jewelry. Tyrathia, Aleximarus, and Kitain look through the wares.
- Shaylha
is utterly amazed by the Woodbaby Puppet creatures that sit on your
shoulder and move around. Skog and
Onysablet examine a blue critter
of their own.
- Skog
likes little critters. Skog tries
one on.
- Spunn,
who founded Simu radio back in 2002, kicks off this year's broadcast
with speakers GM Khaladon, GM
Elbrion, and GM Aiza.
- Newbies!
In the first ever "SimuCon Orientation" seminar Elonka
Dunin orientates 1st-time-con-goers Nonomis,
Matrina, Edoch,
Leika, Hobris,
and others on essential lessons for the con, such as how much sleep
deprivation a human can survive, where to find the parties, who not
to take drinks from, and who to run away from on sight (i.e. Phillus,
Prestius, Jolebin, Flamesong, etc).
- GM
Kabosh and Tom Zelinski (both seated) hand out chips
and table positions to the 50 players who signed up for the wildly popular
poker tournament. Lystid,
Nimmo, GM
Verse, Michael Niemeyer, and Aemergin
await their chips. Dainslef is already
seated.
- Spunn
hosts the Hero's Journey team in a fascinating discussion about Simutronics'
"next big thing". On the panel are product manager Eric
Slick, CEO David Whatley, artist Tracy Butler, designer
Dave Dean (back) and many others.
- Down
the hall several tables of Settler's competitors make their moves, as
Navlys is seen doing here in the
faces of Delmax, Kynevon
and Landrion.
- Scatter-brained!
These guys aren't afraid to bust open the Scattergories box.
Are they actually reading the rules?
- Even
alcohol can't slow Prestius! Back
at the poker tournament he makes an early move to quickly become the
tournament chip leader over Mikare,
Amorisse, Rorschach,
and others while GM Solomon and
Soim watch from above.
- Now that's
a poker face! Wise players should beware of Lurch.
- GM
Kabosh (top left) deals to the final table of the poker tournament.
Look at those serious players! Its GM Elbrion,
GM Tigermist, Kraelyst,
Shavay, Prestius,
Emarori, Harmonius,
and GM Tolli (not pictured).
- Emarori,
GM Tolli, and Harmonius
hold their breath as the cards are turned. Apu,
Gnafelot, Redarch,
and Dunryc observe safely from behind.
- With
just two players left, Harmonius
raises, putting Kraelyst (not pictured)
to the test.
- Kraelyst
calls... and wins the hand and the tournament! GM
Zabari, Nosaj, Blueland,
GM Shakahn and others bear witness.
- 'Round
midnight the 'Stoners wrestle control of the SimuCon radio broadcast,
led by Spunn and GM
Tigermist. Ketum, GM
Voraviel and Thrassus
chill in the back.
- A hop
and skip down the hall finds the Greeks Par-Taying merrily. Wave hello
to Bonk, GM
Jubalee, GM Jacinda,
Flamesong, Lytaria,
and Liye.
- Bayn
and Tagen strain their brains in
a grueling chess match! Good thing they pumped up with some McDonald's
brain food beforehand!
- Kristy
monkeys around, waves her hands about wildly, and acts like a maniac,
much to the pleasure of GM Leigh
and GM Karianne. She claims it is
because they're playing the immensely popular and wacked-out game of
Curses, but we have other suspicions.
- "I
wanna cast magic missile!"
Lakus and GM Chakram do battle in this game of Talisman, which began at 9:00pm Thursday and wouldn't end until after 5:00am Friday - at which time the lobby, game rooms, and hospitality suite were still surprisingly active.
- Uno!
Sleigher and Razzera
prove that no game will go unplayed during this night of gaming.
- The debauchery
of SimuCon continued to be broadcast around the world till the wee hours
of the morning. Spunn, GM
Vaschka, Alisaire, and
Blackscythe obviously enjoying the
radio as much as the viewers back home.
- "You
lookin' at me?"
The Plat Bunny gives GM Kabosh the evil eye.
- The fierce
and evil bunny wreaks havoc and spreads terror throughout the hotel!
....but pauses for autographs and pictures with adoring fans such as
Mihalia. Rekarth
(back left) wisely keeps his distance.
- Can you
hear the elevator music in your head? Belazriel
and Lissa have a very surreal moment.
- Later
at the con Solstitia's (left) Warrior
Chicken from DragonRealms Platinum makes an appearance, brandishing
a sword and doing a dance for the costume judges.
- Trouble
erupts in the bar as the Warrior Chicken clashes with the Pink Plat
Bunny of GemStone! Some livestock just can't hold their liquor.
- Lunchtime
in the ballroom - Arcadion and Elriic
wave candles as Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb reverberates from
the stage.
- Check
out the polynomials on her! Oh yeah, and the beautiful scenery. The
clothing, of course, is highly customizable. Can't imagine why David
chose this view?
- Ooooooh!
- Aaaaaah!
- Beating
a dead horse!
In a demonstration on the physics involved in HJ, cows were dropped from the sky and horses plowed through walls. Of course the most excitement came when the horse plopped over dead and was then beaten with projectiles. Sick crowd.
- That
slug-type thing is going to stick a crystal in the spiral thing, then
a fish-type thing will fly in and eat the energy... or something. It
was all very cryptic and impressive, but not quite as much fun as when
they later made four of those slug-type things start dancing together.
- Those
who attended the "Want to be a Hero's Journey GM?" seminar
later that night were treated to more travels through Elanthia (yes
that right, the land will be called Elanthia). This time our heroine
is slightly better clothed.
- On a thin
ledge far above the ground... the crowd begins to chant. "Jump...
Jump... Jump!" If the HJ team doesn't make it possible to jump
off cliffs and kill horses there might be a few disappointed customers.
- Laptops
were everywhere as people took constant advantage of the WiFi connections
provided by Simutronics, such as the four laptops in this picture (look
closely) with Menlatham at the front.
- Also
on the computer were GM Ceiswyn...
and GM Towint...
- ... and
Redarch...
- ...and
Gnafelot. (Amee
engrossed in her nails).
- ...and
Mozzik... and Board
Monitor Pomae
(GM Risek and Smegul watch as Blasword brings coffee).
- Surprise!
Two more - GM Skiori and GM
Paklin. Anyone else notice the preponderance of DragonRealms
folks on laptops? That's because the GemStone folks hid better, but
we found them anyway.
- Willowlea
gives a warning glare atop her beanbag chair.
- Not even
taking a break to smoke, Greever
relocates outdoors with his laptop, while Desorceri
partakes in another popular con activity - drinking and smoking.
- Tyrathia's
laptop is permanently attached as she transmits info 24-7 back to the
waiting masses.
- Two at
once! Jekipe and Rogtos,
who is uploading photos and quotes to his site, simucon2004.com, while
still at the con!
- Too ashamed
even to show his face, this gamer is in the first stage of addiction
- Denial. He shall remain unnamed.
- Good-natured
Eldrad knows he's been busted.
- Lissa
and GM Ildran plug in on Sunday
morning, and they're not the only ones.
- Even
into the courtyard goes Rorschach
and his laptop, along with the smiles of GM
Pandoreh and GM Tigermist.
>>
Page 12: Friday - Pre-Party
- Most
folks found their way out into the beautiful St. Louis weather, such
as Valadimir and Faunuzia/Allaya
in the Sheraton courtyard.
- Down
the alley, GM Logos, Lytaria,
Gerett, and Liye
take a break from the seminars.
- GM
Anji finds a quiet spot to enjoy some soup from the St. Louis
Bread Company.
- Just
outside the bar (before the night's invasion), the Platinum players
of DragonRealms pose for a group picture. Approximately front to back:
Barnacus, Lakus,
Nikiloi, Jekipe,
Solstitia, Fumier,
Talace, Davius,
Raecear, Treshan,
Flura, Renwulf,
and Leshrak.
- GM
Kylie and GM Karianne
have their fortunes told. I see much misbehaving in their futures!
- First
to the dance floor at the 80's party were "the physics guy",
who works with the Hero's Journey team, and his wife. Yes, that's a
pink tie and suspenders! That is sooo Miami Vice!
- Lytaria,
crimped and flashy, poses in front of a book of 80's trivia and a radical
Garbage Pail Kid collection! Wicked!
- Shiva
Malone struts her 80's stuff straight to the big dance.
- Baby
Shakahn parties like its 1999! He'll be breakdancing and
Moonwalking in no time. Mommy Purreliss
watches over his shoulder.
- The Material
Girl Phalo grooves to Boy George
while other dancers fluoresce in the background.
- She
Bop!
Pretty in pink, Flura plays hostess to the 80's party. The pink hair is real.
- Back
in the game room Nikiloi (center)
goes off the deep end while playing Curses! Carrey,
Mystyria, Davius
and GM Shakahn sit on either side
of him.
- Let
It Ride!
These Platinum players gamble with silvers (and the rent money) in GemStone's favorite casino game. Players include Somman, Silurian, Carli, Thenjhar, and Athias.
- Twister
at the 80's party! You might not recognize the players here, that's
because they're members of the hotel staff!
- Sing
us a song, piano Dwarf!
GM Kabosh reprises his role as piano Dwarf for another year of sing-a-longs, nearly drowning out the Curses chaos in the game room and the 80's music in the dance room. Rorschach, GM Von, Casilla, Prestius, and others join in.
- Beth
Paddock can't hide from us - we see that Poison t-shirt! Rock on!
>>
Page 15: Saturday - Seminars
- Carefully
disarming and picking a treasure chest during the live-action quest,
Dakira is shocked to discover a
bunny hiding inside. Artrusus shields
his face and someone calls for holy hand grenades.
- Mob boss
GM Jackson Shephard shakes down
Shiva Malone at the Modus Interactive
Mystery. GM Leigh Phelps, Jennifer
Plumley, Alexhandro and
others also play important roles.
- Donated
by Lissa
Holy hand grenades and mobster crime theater have nothing on this GemStone seminar game - "Pin the P on Prestius!" GM Kabosh and Rorschach get a good laugh at Prestius' expense.
- Reversing
roles, the DragonRealms GameMasters seize control of the SimuCon broadcast
with the likes of GameMasters Solomon,
Ssra, Jeremael,
Skiori, Paklin,
and Obseden.
- Friends
from GemStone relax in the hotel courtyard.
-
Donated by Eoworfinia
Costumes begin to show up in anticipation of the costume contest beginning at noon. As if from the halls of Rivendell comes an Elven noble, Aavarine.
>>
Page 16: Saturday - Seminars
- The Alliance
of Heroes gang broadcast their wicked thoughts onto the internet. Smirking
and cheering are [front row] Skippy, GM
Jubalee, GM Bontinor,
GM Jacinda, GM
Hypatia, [back row] GM Schism,
GM Feral, Anika,
GM Leonius, Lytaria,
Flamesong, Phalo,
Gerett, and Liye.
- At the
DragonRealms career fair (a cool interactive seminar introducing "careers"
to DR) GM Ceiswynn displays the
baker career by making bread from scratch.
- Hashi
makes origami, GM Zabari learns
about runes from Lycanthus, and
GM Tribanin does woodworking at
the career fair.
- Plat
Crashers!
This devious bunch waiting in the back of the GemStone Platinum seminar is clearly up to no good. Here's mugshots of Taru, Lurch, Ylena, and Rorschach
- Tamral
and Taru spring into action, sealing
the exit from the Plat seminar. They are foiled when Carli
(not pictured) stands up and simply pushes the door, since it opens
outward where there is no tape.
>>
Page 17: Saturday - Costumes
- Oengus
poses for the costume judges in an almost entirely handmade costume,
including his awesome shield and chainmail.
- Eridal
is easy on the eyes of the three female judges.
- Alliance
of Heroes favorite Phalo comes as
Athena and leaves as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place AoH costume winner!
- Prydaens
prowl the halls! Marrk and Nimmi
get the blues because they get no break from their costumes for over
8 hours.
- Elven
Emarori and Elothean Apu
take the stage for competition.
- GM
Helena makes a fetching lass, even more so with her authentic
English accent.
- Elriic
and Crysiana enter the "late
judging" in the village courtyard. A miscommunication in the convention
book combined with very early judging left these two and others searching
for judges, but all ended well as judging hours were extended.
- The enchanting
faerie Aavarine, known for her fantastic
wings throughout the years, dons her third costume of the convention.
>>
Page 18: Saturday - Costumes
- Bayn
is engulfed in magical orbs of light! ...or maybe that's just a camera
flash off the mirrors.
- Motarra
and Rowayn impress the con-goers
with rich costumes, but scare the "normals" sitting in the
window next to them.
- Nice
breeches!
Washee and Augie stroll to the outdoor costume judging, which makes a much better setting for photos anyways.
- And your
little dog too! Alixi's purple dress
and matching dog accessory were a hit. People were lining up to take
pictures.
- The Ghostly
Flower Girl of GemStone (aka GM Vaschka)
harvests petals for her ghostly purposes.
- The lovely
Leika at her first con is apparently
no rookie to costuming. Pointed ears seem to be all the rage this year.
- Eldreth
displays his sword for Effie, who
seems duly impressed. (What would a convention website be without a
tiny bit of innuendo?)
- How much
for a belly dance? As the costume dinner draws near, more well-dressed
adventurers flood the halls, such as Chasitee,
Jensene, and Shaylha.
- In lieu
of a speech, David Whatley instead presented this Mystery Science
Theater 3000 dissection of a speech-giving tutorial, which included
instructions for proper use of "lip and tongue action." Now
there's a joke that never stops giving.
- Good
friends dined together at each table of ten, this one containing Cameron,
Lissa, GM
Ildran, GM Warden, Dunryc,
and GM Tolli.
- We bet
this Prydaen, Felis, had a tough
time eating, and besides that there wasn't a single mouse on the menu.
- Long-time
friends from cons past... Aleximarus,
Kitain, Deloria,
and Tanath.
- Equally
prepared to fight or drink are the finely clothed likes of Hepsik,
Shylore, Aeatherion,
GM Tigermist, and Prestius.
- Newcomers
and veterans share in the feast, all making new friends in Soim,
Sypria, Artrusus,
Dakira, and Kraelyst.
- French-Canadian
Rohrr performs contact juggling
(like in the movie Labyrinth) with comedic asides in a French-Canadian
accent that had all the girls swooning.
- Winners
of the DragonRealms portion of the costume contest were Barnacus
(1st), Marrk and Nimmi
(2nd), and Elriic (3rd). Each winner
won great prizes (which will be shipped to them just as soon as the
prizes arrive in St. Louis).
- Ranger
Barnacus reveals how he got 1st
prize in the costume contest - by stripping down to nothing but a leaf!
Remember when we said the judges were all female?
- Anika,
player of a Centaur Storyteller, recites two poems she composed about
adventures in Alliance of Heroes.
- 2nd place
GemStone costume winner Desorceri
the Vesperti (center) looks like he's just found lunch with fellow winners
Bayn (1st) and Eldreth
(3rd). Eldreth remains on stage to lead us in a Scottish folk song.
- Ylena
plays both beautiful and sinister excerpts from The Lord of the Rings.
Does she know her audience or what?
- The
Most Modus!
Since none entered the costume contest, the Modus Operandi GMs voted on who had been the "Most Modus" at the con - the winners were Ichiko Daiumi (2nd place), Shiva Malone (1st), and Jennifer Plumley (3rd).
- Pepoco
rounds out the talent with a bit of stand-up comedy.
- The first
special award went to GM Brauden.
The prize - smile on a stick!
- GM
Riel and GM Jeremael
(not pictured) won best CE and Dev GMs respectively. The prize - microwavable
spotted dick (from England). The can says "Good for 2 minutes"
and "No GM ingredients." It is a real product - we couldn't
make this stuff up!
- SimuCon
2004 Poker champion Kraelyst accepts
a set of clay poker chips and the Mel Gibson poker movie Maverick
as his prize.
- Harmonius
nabs 2nd place in the poker tourney, winning a wooden chip rack and
the DVD of Rounders.
- Prestius
takes home a poker game and movie for his 3rd place victory, while Shavay
and Emarori (not pictured) each
win poker movies as well for their 4th and 5th place wins respectively.
- Light
and Shadow!
This year's con-wide game was won by Naijul (2nd) and Kynevon (1st) who got a full-sized replica of Sauraman's staff and Gandalf's staff respectively.
- The
Conquerors of Katan!
Dimaire and Landrion each reap prizes for winning the Settlers of Katan tournaments.
- GM
Hunterleigh reaches to draw names from David Whatley's
basket, but as you'd expect he keeps holding it higher or pulling it
away.
- GM
Solomon prepares to raffle a ball and chain, but David
remarks that he already has one.
- Cameron
of GemStone goes first, ready to win that iPod, he begins, "So
I, uh.." Bzzzzztt! Less than 1 second!
- Anika
thinks she has what it takes, but only talks for 10 seconds before being
buzzed... BUT, that's enough to beat all 4 other competitors and she
wins the iPod!
- The talent
show continues outside as Rohrr
(the contact juggler from before) removes his shirt (please calm down
ladies) and proceeds to light up the sky by breathing fire!
>>
Page 23: Saturday - Parties
- Hoola
Hoop queen Crysiana takes 2 hoops
at once at the hop.
- Aemergin
picks up where Quavvy left off,
supplying over 1500 shots (and we don't mean the needle kind) to these
party-hardy gamers.
- Alixi
and GM Elbrion make an appearance
at Aemergin's now-famous Room 114.
- The cups
looked like specimen jars, but the drinks inside were fantastic, including
shots of "Pink Plat Bunny", "Eldreth's Death Rum",
"Heartburn Relief" and more.
- Some
people actually bought drinks from the bar (we've heard they even sold
out of alcohol one night)! The party continues with Rohrr,
Talace, and Fumier.
Cheers, mates!
- Even
the game rooms saw some action on this last night of con, as folks like
Arcadion, Magdar,
Delmax, and Jay
tried to cram in their last games of Settlers or Curses until next year.
>>
Page 24: Saturday - Parties
- At the
DragonRealms party Krinahd puts
on a big smile, as do the many folks behind him.
- Bartender
Celestiaa serves up a mountain of
mixed drinks to customers like GM Edahla
on the right.
- GM
Major, flush with fellowship, gives his trademark grin.
- Isn't
love so sweet? GM Valdrik and Mohaun
exchange a romantic drink. Are they staring into each others eyes?
- Back
on the radio GM Helena (on the table)
is kidnapped to satisfy the unspeakable plotting of these GemStoners,
including Spunn, GM
Khaladon, GM Vaschka,
GM Voraviel (AKA Phillus) and Gnafelot.
- The highlight
of the 50's party is the hoola hoop contest, where Purreliss
just closes her eyes and prays nobody gets hurt.
- Taffei,
wearing her best 50's duds, also puts on a humorous show as we all discover
how bad we are with hoola hoops. Desorceri
waits in the wings for certain humiliations.
- Sunday
morning. Alexhandro. Need we say
more?
- Pink
Plat Bunny's head on a stick rolls out the door. Last year he was kidnapped
and hung, this year beheaded. Poor guy gets no respect.
- Packed
and checked out, Grassimino, Jutatip,
and Seihjin say goodbye to a great
weekend.
- GM
Obseden makes off with several computers from the hospitality
suite. A passerby runs off, calling for Obseden to be arrested for
pilfering!
- The Alliance
of Heroes crowd runs a street faire from noon to 5:00 (we told you there
were cool seminars on the last day). Here Liye
goes fishing and wins an alteration!
- Further
into the faire GM Leonius deals
some Three Card Monty to GM Schism,
and reveals that the rules in the instruction book actually require
the dealer to cheat.
- Tree-lovers!
DragonRealms Rangers prove they really don't like to stray from their trees. Returning to their roots are Thangor, Napan, and Motarra.
- At the
Modus Operandi build-your-own-watergun seminar, Felis
opens up with his "Duck-o-matic 2000". Fellow creator Pepoco
and rival Drongol stand transfixed.
Raycha and others watch from a safe
distance.
- Drongol
giggles at the tiny squirt from his own device (we promised some innuendo!),
which he dubs the "Drong-o-matic 2004". Although not as powerful
as the Duck-o-matic, Drongol wins
for most creative watergun thanks to its pump-action and beer-bottle
plunger.
- The GM
sleuths of Modus retire to Casa Gallardo in the Westport Village
for their final meal - Kylie, Ryan,
Karianne, and Leigh.
- Casa
Gallardo is subsequently invaded by about 60 total DragonRealmers
(in 3 different parties). The largest group is seen here, munching big
on chips and salsa. Needless to say, the restaurant was unprepared for
this size crowd on a Sunday afternoon (even though we warned them)!
- Back
at the hotel large groups gather in the lobby as friends drift off,
one by one.
- One last
bar-side lounging. After 5 days of nonstop pictures, GM
Kabosh finally proclaims no more photos! Also here: Rorschach,
Nephrenia, Giantphang,
GM Uska, GM
Verse, and Michael Niemeyer.
- Well
maybe just one more photo. Aavarine
and Purreliss say goodbye... till
next year!
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Photography
and site design by Kraelyst and Aavarine of DragonRealms.
© Copyright 1986-2004, Simutronics Corp. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 1986-2004, Simutronics Corp. All Rights Reserved.