Everyone,

I'm so sore and wore out, I can't even tell ya. And I didn't even play in the game!

This game was a concept back in September of 2007, sitting around with friends watching Firefly on TV. We started wondering, "hmmm, how would this work as a scenario event?"

Since then, I'd been "hard at work" at work creating all of the graphics you saw for this game, and secretly printing out what was needed and smuggled home. lol All of the ID cards, the waivers, the maps, the posters, and the signage was a result of that.

I hoped that most of you enjoyed the opening words to the movie, Serenity, as you drove in. I didn't have to do that, but thought it would add just a little bit more to the experience if you read the signs and got into the spirit of the game.

The planet signs were also done at work, where I went to Google Images and found pictures of planets. If you do the same, you'll probably recognize some of the pictures I downloaded and used. The planet posts with the T dowel to designate who owns the bases was an idea swiped from Special Forces way back in 2001. That's how they did it there at the time, and I thought it was a cool idea. I brought the dowel idea into this game again, and hoped you liked that too.

The props were a culmination of either buying the stuff, collecting it from others, or making them myself. The fruity-oaty bars came from Rick Michel's deck project, and I wrapped each one with tin foil, the label that I printed out, and finally covered in packing tape. The money bags were poker chips and washers sewn into 40 cloth bags after having iron-on logos on each side. (yes, I create work for myself...)

Even the generals' bags were purchased at CC Military Surplus and sewn on patches from the movies to signify the sides. I got those patches off Ebay, and there are plenty more if you look there.

The ref shirts came from Ebay too, in a sense, because the freebie Blue Sun tan shirts came from there too. I contacted the seller and asked for more, then came back and asked if he would print me 25 white Blue Sun shirts and put REF on the backs. He's a BIG Firefly fan and was happy to do so for me.

The missions were all based on the plot from Firefly. Somewhere I have the list of missions electronically and will post them once I find them. The generals will know that the beginning missions were relatively easy, since it meant going from one of their planets to another, without having to "cross the line" into enemy territory. However, by about mission 3-4, it meant doing so.

I also gave them five secret missions that they could also do, if they had a mission ref readily available. Those got harder with the higher number on the envelope, with secret mission #5 going to Miranda to take the holodisc back to their main bases.

The Reaver concept came to me when I saw Damage Inc. guys all dressed in chainmail, torn shirts, spikes, bare skin, knives, etc. anyway. I thought, "my God, they dress like them already!!" So, it was a no-brainer to ask them to step up, and step up they did.

As for referees, it was obvious I'd need more refs than Splat Tag has on hand, so I needed the help of my team, the Minnesota Militia Paintball Team. I had a good number show up, but was still missing more. In the end, I was short on refs, even though my count leading up to the 20th said I would have enough. I don't know if you noticed, but yes, I was short on refs. However, we made it through regardless, and I thank you all for accepting that and playing honorably to meet me half-way on that.

The end battle was the Train Job for three reasons. One, it was different than most end battles you might be used to. Instead of it being a paint-waster, it was still a scenario. Instead of it being just a clash of players on players, it was a push to another side. Second, I was going to do an actual Battle of Serenity Valley, but the valley that Wild Bunch did for their HFTC was completely grown over, and you couldn't see the action like their game. Third, it was still a scenario from the movie. Episode Two of Firefly is "The Train Job" where the Firefly crew has to steal from the train going to Paradisio. I WAS going to have the Alliance side carry three to four wooden crates, but those are expensive. Rope is cheap, so I tied a series of loops onto a cord of rope and had players hold onto those.

That's my story. That's how I put this game together. It was a constant thought process all the way through to the end, but even so you can't think of everything. What sounds good in my head and on paper might suck in practice when the game starts, but for the most part, this game was a raging success.

Will I do this game again? I'm sorry, but this was a one-time deal. My team is ragged from reffing it, and I'm ragged from hosting it. I now understand what Darrin goes through with each Giant Big Game, and I bow before him for doing it. Yes, I know I made more work for myself than needed, but that's how I am, I put my whole 100% into the game, and it taxes me.

As for my team, they have a HUGE appreciation for the refs that control the games time and time again. I don't think you'll ever hear a peep of complaint from the MMPT ever again. We have stepped into your shoes and know what a bugger that can be.

I'll have stats for you later, because right now I plan on crashing again and waking up sometime late this afternoon. Thanks all who came out to the game, and I hope to hear stories about the experience for a long time. That was my ultimate goal. I can cross this off life's list that I hosted a scenario event.

A large thank you goes out to Tippmann Sports, ActionVillage.com, CC Military Surplus, Splat Tag, Inc., Hidden Valley Paintball, Karnage Paintball, Team Aces high, and especially Joss Whedon for creating such a great universe!

Sincerely to all of you,

Badger