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Heroic Knight
 
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:04 PM
Posts: 126,
Visits: 1,678
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Premise of the event:
Approx 17 players
Everyone plays a slightly dubious and slightly piratical gentleman or lady in 17th century England, down at heel and with the sole intention of making as much cash in any way possible by the end of the event, the other goal is of course to stay alive, there are various threats posed by the other players and whatever challenges the plot presents.
The system is hard skill only, so if you can't do it in real life you can't do it in character, you get black powder weapons that are aimed by insult and everyone gets just one hit and a daily "hero" point that you can use for pretty much anything you please.
Set encounter wise we had:
Locals & Yokels
The French
Redcoats
Bandits and Highwaymen
A mad professor with a talent for corpse re-animation
Hordes of zombies
Werewolves too, don't ask me where they came from
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The weekend was run at Caddihoe scout camp in Exeter, this has a beautiful thatched scout hut with a fabulous cast iron multi fuel stove, exposed timbers and a great atmosphere. there are more fields, woodland & pathways than you can shake a stick at.
Set dressing, costumes and props were universally high standard and there were so many of them and so much variety that it truly was mind boggling, I have enough trouble just keeping my own kit in order, how they managed it all I cannot imagine.
There seemed to be an endless number of crew but if I had to hazzard a guess I would say 15-20, so plenty to keep all the players busy all the time. From my pov they never slipped oc and always knew exactly what they were doing, what plot they had to deliver and where they were supposed to be.
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I had heard good things about BiC's previous events, the webiste comes across with a great sense of humour but it isn't supposed to be a panto. Everyone is expected to have a good laugh but I got the feeling that the plot was working hard to keep everyone in character and that people would have to apply themselves to their character and to the event to extract the most out of it.
As with the previous events I have attended I didn't know anyone there before attending and really had little idea what to expect. Unlike previous events I wasn't personally on best form when I got there and I think that may have hampered my overall enjoyment.
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Positive and Negative points from the weekend.
I dislike including negative’s because people always tend to dwell on them or it looks like moaning but I want the review to be objective.
Downsides:
I found it difficult to get on with a lot of the other players, my caveat was that I was feeling pretty rotten all weekend so I probably wasn't my usual extrovert self. It seemed that most of the other attendees had come as part of a group and were all pretty happy with their dynamic. There were plenty of in jokes and tbh I felt a little bit peripheral, though that might have been as much to do with me not pushing myself hard enough to get involved with the groups.
Definite plus points:
The site – was quite simply excellent for this period of event and this number of players. Given that it was a 10 minute drive from Exeter airport (probably the closest UK airport to Guernsey) it couldn't have been easier.
The Plot – There seemed to be so much going on all the time and it was all leading up towards the excellent Saturday night when we just knew we were going to be badly done over!
The Props and Costumes – All of a very high level, the werewolves were truly terrifying, the full moon added a bit to that I think, having to physically melt down our silver coin and make it into shot was inspired, a real high point. I also have to name check the swindlers fayre which in itself made the journey worthwhile.
The Crew/Monsters – Were tireless in their efforts to keep everyone involved, busy, terrified, fed and ripped off.
In Summary:
A really excellent event that I would reccomend to people without hesitation, however I would advise attending as part of a group rather than as an individual if you don't alreadys know anyone there.
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Knight
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 11:12 PM
Posts: 77,
Visits: 535
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Thank you Mr Jenko for your monst kind review.
The main points are true, we were great - you were rubbish.
All is quite fair comment apart from a few miners.
'Scout Hut' is a grade II listed thatched cottage.
There were numerous other encounters such as the mad Arabs and stuff
I was mighty impressed at anyone turning up to play not knowing anyone.
You can see a taste of the madness with the fabulous new trailer to be found at
www.burntisclean.co.uk then click on gallery
Sorry I have not worked out how to embedd video yet!
Chin chin
Si
PS There are also details of the next August event to be found...
----------------------------
www.burntisclean.co.uk
Swashbucklin' adventures where it's good to be bad
and
www.burntisclean.co.uk/itsjustthewind
The horror!
and www.mythlore.co.uk
The reunion!
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Heroic Knight
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:04 PM
Posts: 126,
Visits: 1,678
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Hmmmm ok Si that's the 3rd time you have told me how crap I was in relation to your greatness, I'll jump to the conclusion that you won't be wanting me to consider booking on a future event.
Whilst I made no no bones about how impressed I was by the site, the plot, props and general endeavour of the crew I'll probably be better off at an event where a large proportion of the player base do not seem content to sit in the corner drinking and socialising admist oc banter.
Whilst the description "scout hut" does no justice to the building I think you will find that my other descriptive verbs probably paint a clearer picture than "grade II listed building", so i hope that my review didn't mislead anyone. It lost a lot of it's charm after it was coated in the vomit of drunken excess on Saturday night, whilst enjoying a drink I do think that it hampers my ability to stay ic when I reach a certain point, another feature of the event that may put some people off.
chin chin
Nick
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Knight
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 11:12 PM
Posts: 77,
Visits: 535
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I mean no offence Mr Jenko sir.
You are most welcome and I hope you will come again. Just re hashing an old joke.
Oh, and I had forgotten about the vomit. Thanks for reminding me. Not of my doing I assure you!
----------------------------
www.burntisclean.co.uk
Swashbucklin' adventures where it's good to be bad
and
www.burntisclean.co.uk/itsjustthewind
The horror!
and www.mythlore.co.uk
The reunion!
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Initiate
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Friday, October 12, 2007 9:04 AM
Posts: 4,
Visits: 6
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Costume, props, plot and crew were all awesome. Have a look at the gallery to see some of the best bits.
The site is one of my favourites in the country. A lovely cottage that they deck out in all manner of props, such as latex bottles and picture frames on the walls you can pick up and smash over peoples heads and my personal favourites the head sized latex bucket and latex fish, a winning combination.
The players as previously stated are all from different groups and so all seem to have their own agendas. This adds a nice air of fear and loathing to the event. It is very difficult to know who to trust, especially when you have a very difficult treasure map riddle you cant work out or half a treasure map and trying to find who has the other half. I can understand Jenkos thoughts of turning up alone, a very frightening prospect, out of character everyone was friendly.
The event was run on a semi linear basis. We all had a job to do on Saturday morning and had a nice linear through the woods. Saturday afternoon was taken up by various wheeler dealing between the groups and off looking for treasure.
There were some subtle indications of things to come and we all knew something was big was going down come the evening.
We had the wonderful Swindlers Fair as entertainment in the early evening. As ever a wonderful mix of freaks and weird acts. Some old favourites and some new silliness. It simply has to be seen to be believed.
After that it was quiet for a short while until it was time to go off into the woods to seek the thieves graveyard in search of treasure. It was a clear night with the most amazing full moon. Once in the woods there was a slight ground mist and the moon made wonderful pools of light in clearings that was so bright you had a shadow and then pitch darkness. Eerie.
We tromp off and eventually find it. There are gravestones and wooden crosses and stuff hanging from the tress like something from Blair Witch. Very atmospheric and quite frightening. We search around for an age for the grave that contains the treasure. During this time we work out that the mad scientist has been conducting experiments in raising the dead.
After about ten minutes of searching and our guards all down, slowly from all around shadows seem to be taking shape and shambling towards us come a hoard of zombies. We quickly discover how inept our flintlocks are against the undead and start hacking into them. There seem to be loads of them so we decide to back out and get back to the barn. We turn around and there right in front of us, bathed in a pool of moonlight is the biggest meanest looking werewolf I have ever seen. It was no Halloween mask, it was a full body suit, about 7 foot high and about 6 foot wide. There were screams and not just from the ladies and we decided to leg it.
A hurried exit from the woods by a bunch of bumbling pirates running through the pitch black falling over the undergrowth led us to the open field where another of these beasts was waiting. More shrieks and we decided to run up the field to the other exit only to find another of the beasts in wait. By this point we were convinced there were loads of these things all over the place. (Later informed it was only 3).
After much running, screaming and bumbling we make it to the relative safety of the barn to regroup. Zombies still coming in thick and slow and the dread beasts lurking around in the dark.
One of the refs was playing the role of a ammo and bullet maker and had use of a bullet mould. All we had to do is melt down some of our silver coins to make some silver bullets. We had to make a fire to begin with, we had found some charcoal earlier in the day but in our wisdom someone had sold it. Thus we had to try and find some wood to burn to make a fire. Next someone had to make a mercy dash to the cottage to fetch the bellows to get the fire hot enough. Next it was time to get the other players to cough up some cash to get some silver. After an age we had some molten silver and under supervision some had the opportunity to make bullets. Simon (the ref) next said that we needed a file to file of the sprue from the freshly made bullet. This involved another brave mercy dash to the cottage. Finally the bullets were ready and we dispatched the wolves.
Throughout this whole time the fear was incredible and I was shaking from the adrenaline. Zombies were constantly hampering us and we kept catching glimpses in the dark of foul beasts. I have no idea how long it all took but trying to get a fire to light under pressure was horrible. It was at least an hour could have been two. My hat of to the poor chaps running around in full body suits.
Once this was over it must have been midnight or beyond and everyone was in need of a beer or two. It was one of the players birthday and I admit things did turn into a bit of a p*ss up. Perhaps there should have been a time out called, some people like to stay in character and drink whilst others were getting out of character. Someone was horribly sick upstairs which bring the place down somewhat.
Sunday was understandably a bit slower as many were nursing mighty hangovers but there were various bits of plot to be tied up.
Having been to all the Burnt is Clean events I can say that they are not all such high fantasy. Most have not had any ‘monsters’ or supernatural creatures.
So overall a wonderful event. The effort put in to the props and costume is amazing, the attention to detail is really something. The rules are spot on with nasty fire fights and good melee. There is no character progression and you can do what you can do so nobody is better than anyone else, you really have to survive by your wits.
I also must say a big thanks to Si, usually Burnt is Clean is a two man effort but due to family problems he had to run it alone although with a good crew team. A great personal effort. Hope Larry is back on board with the next one.
I would recommend Burnt is Clean to any one with an interest in pirate lrp or fancies trying something a bit different. Things are kept tongue in cheek mostly but Saturday night was one of the grittiest set pieces I have ever experienced in any system.
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Apprentice
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7:28 PM
Posts: 12,
Visits: 12
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| For some pics of their first event, have a look here... http://photos.orange.co.uk/public/customer.html?customer=128509 And for an idea of what a single Werewolf looks like, have a look here in the Gallery... http://www,grimmtales.org Personally, while this may serve only to inflate Simon's already impressive ego, I think that the whole Mermaid's Purse saga hve been amongst the most enjoyable, fun and atmospheric (and certainly the most humorous) events I've been on in years.
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