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There is sadly no Men's Self-Defense this year.  We tried that a few years ago and it didn't work too well.  But if there's enough feedback (using the Feedback Forms), we'll definitely consider any ideas for panels/workshops that the Fans desire.  That's why we're trying new things this year (Yoga, Krav Maga, "Exotic Weapons").  Your feedback helps steer the course of the Dojo's programs from year-to-year.

As for the storytelling panel, this isn't run directly by the Twilight Knights Renaissance Guild (which KevFox2169 and myself are a part of), so I don't have a lot of information on exactly what they will be covering.  My understanding is that they will be showing how to make an engaging action-based story, along with incorporating fighting scenes.  I guess we'll have to learn together the exact material they'll be covering.

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask!  And of course drop by the Dojo, and see for yourself what each panel/workshop is about.

Addendum:  As we're way too bloody busy actually running the Panels/Workshops, we're woefully understaffed when it comes to taking pictures, recording video, and other multimedia activities.  We're really trying hard to update our website (www.twilightknights.com) with more contemporary visual examples of our work.  If you could help us out, that would be grand.  Any pics or videos (or links to such things) would be greatly appreciated.

[The Twilight Knights Renaissance Guild]

Hiya!  This forum thread is a request for feedback, both positive and negative, about the Bushido Department at Fanime 2010.  This is the second year that the Bushido Department has been running the martial arts demonstrations and workshops out of the Dojo, and we'd like to know more about your experience with us this year.  This is Sergeant JP of the Twilight Knights, by the way, and it was a pleasure meeting so many of you at our panels two weeks ago.

There were three groups that did martial arts demonstrations at the Dojo this year:

The Twilight Knights Renaissance Guild
- Rapier/Saber Demo (demonstrated real 16th century dueling with epees and sabers)
- Archery Panel (was just a basic demo and Q&A this year, hoping to expand to actual interactive workshop next year)
- Armour Panel (history of armor, methods of construction for real, practical armour)
- Kung Fu Workshop (introductory stances, basic attacks and blocks, kata)
- Self-Defense for Women (how to avoid being a target, ways to escape holds and grabs and hurt your attacker)
- Self-Defense for Men (how to avoid being a target, multi-opponent fighting theory, how to escape attackers)
- Dagger Fighting Workshop (english, french, italian, japanese styles)
- Longsword Fighting Workshop (english, german, italian, celtic styles)
- Spear Fighting Workshop (english, chinese, japanese, zulu styles)
- Q&A and Boffer Sale (answering any of your questions, selling you the boffers we used for all our workshops)

Team Lift
- How to Make a Fight Scene

Amtgard
- Fantasy Combat LARP

We are open to to feedback on your experience with any of our panels this year or previous years.  Also, we would be open to listening to any suggestions on future panels, or modifications to our current workshops.  Feel free to be as terse or verbose as you wish.  We here at the Bushido Department are very open to your ideas, and are committed to continual improvement each year.

*laugh*  While I'm not from the United Kingdom, I lived in Scotland for two years, 2003-2005.  Really miss the excellent fish and chips, and can't find brown sauce over here to save my life.  Very sad.

I think Fanime is quite worth it, but I work the Con, so my view might be different.  *grin*  I teach martial arts and swordfighting and such at the Dojo, so it's hard for me to get bored.

I go every year, but won't this year because it's the same time as my little sister's wedding.  Dang it!  September 19th is the date me and my friends (Twilight Knights / Bushido Department / Dojo people) will be there running the sword tournament around noon, in the food court.  I was really hoping to participate, but the scheduling didn't work out.  Oh well, weddings are more important anyways.

Hiya!  Did anyone get pics of what was going on down in the Dojo?  Or video?  That would be cool too.  The Dojo was the place where they were teaching katana-fighting, knife-fighting, kung fu, women's self defense, and did a few panels, like the shield/spear demo.  Anyone?

Sadly true.  I've got a couple games that are progressing, but most of my games die rather quickly, either through the PCs dropping out, or the DM disappearing off the face of the earth.

*laugh* Yeah, was really awesome to meet new people, and see some old faces.  Always smart to be on the good side of the head of security!  *grin*  Plus the gift exchange was tons of fun, what with seeing people's faces as they get ready to backstab and connive their way to 'better' presents.  Awesome.  Anyways, thanks again for the fantastic party, and I hope to see y'all soon.

TC_X0_Lt_0X - I really couldn't stand most of the players in the Tolarian Academy thread.  Loves the DM-ing, and the general idea, but it felt like I was really back in high school.  And I hated high school.  College was somewhat better, mainly because I was in a serious science program, so there was less rough-housing and stupidity.  And there were 20-odd players, so I was lost in the threads by the third day.

I signed up for the D&D game last year too, but had the same problem of not being able to meet up with people.  I second the motion to A) have signs, and B) set up the meeting place and stick there in case someone is running somewhat late.

I currently play D&D 3.5.  I played 2nd Ed back in Elementary School, and tried 4th Ed, but don't like it at all.  Too little customizability in the characters.  I also play White Wolf (everything except Hunter and Demon), Shadowrun (3rd & 4th), SLA Industries, D20 Modern, Fallout RPG, and Deadlands.  Probably a couple others that I forgot.  Love the stuff.  Currently in about 4 tabletop campaigns, and a dozen online play-by-post campaigns.  Good times.

*laugh* Awesome!  I've got a wedding to go to that day (a coworker), so I don't know if my schedule will allow my attendance.  But I'll be there if at all possible.  Always good to catch up, and have fun doing it.

*laugh* Awesome!  I know that exact feeling!  It's like the enemy has this endless supply of ships, while I'm trying desperately to cobble together a working fleet.  Simply awful.  Yet so addicting.  Is it training us to be masochists or something?

Yeah, I empathize.  Most of my friends live around Pleasanton and such.  I'm free most weekday nights.  I spend Saturday afternoons swordfighting, and Saturday/Sunday nights tabletop gaming with friends.  The joys of having graduated college, and now working full-time, is I have no homework on the weekends.  Good times.  If anyone wants to hang out during the week, I'm free.

Hiya!  Fanime was a blast for met this year.  Was with the Twilight Knights Renaissance Guild teaching swordfighting and Tai Chi and such.  Good times.  I live in San Jose, but pass through Sunnyvale every day for work up in San Mateo.  My sister works in Sunnyvale at a Starbucks.  Heck, quite a few people I know live in Sunnyvale or Mountain View.  Strange.

Anyways, I also recommend the anime groups for fun.  If you're interested in physical activities at all, my swordfighting group practices just a couple exits away in Cupertino on Saturday afternoons.  Rides wouldn't be a problem to organize either.  Heck, having more women in the group helps the men.  When you beat the crap out of them, it helps to keep their ego in check.  I, of course, have no problem with ego, and am completely impervious to pride issues.  Oh yes.  Of course.

Besides that, hanging out one-on-one is also fun.

- JP

2nd year at the Con, and enjoyed it thoroughly.  Many thanks go out to the Staff, volunteers, and Con-goers who came to the Twilight Knights workshops and panels.  Almost to a man (or woman) you were friendly, had good questions, and wanted to participate.  Especially those that were involved with the Katana or Dagger fighting workshops, I really have to give you credit.  You did better than I did my first few practices.  Thank you so much for making this a great experience for the Guild.  When we were doing out last debrief, we had our usual vote to see our interest in coming back next year.  It was unanimous in the affirmative.  All of you are welcome to practice with us anytime, and we look forward to next year's activities.

Pros:
Loved the 24/7 action on Stage Zero.  Whenever I was bored I could simply walk by and there was always something going on.
Amazing Staff.  I'm talking about the full-time, working their butts off, never get a moment of sleep Staff, not the other kinds.  Always helpful, especially when I needed to use the mic to make an announcement, had a question, or wanted to chat.
Good selection of animes and movies in the viewing rooms.  Didn't have much liberty to spend in the rooms, but was able to catch bits here and there.

Cons:
... don't really have anything major to complain about.  I had a great time.  Missed the B&W ball because one of my friends got injured (sprained ankle while running), so I heard second-hand that the ballroom was much too small.  When I had dance lessons there on Friday, it was crowded with just the lessons, not the crowds of people I saw in line for the dance.  Perhaps a bigger area next time would be in order?

Woot.  Good to hear I wasn't the only geek on campus at UCSC.  Or the only anime fan.  Visual Arts ... yeah, I had to walk through those areas occasionally to get to classes.  I rarely waited for the busses if I didn't have too.  Better for the legs anyways.

So yeah, I'll definitely be spending a lot of time in the Tabletop Room when I can.  Have a D&D game lined up for Sunday night after the B&W Ball.  So I'll see you there.  Any identifying costume or something?  I'll be in black kung fu pants, black tee shirt, and a beret.  Also feel free to drop by the swordfighting panels and workshops (Twilight Knights) if you want to say hi.

I'd be totally up for that.  You'll find Tom and I with the Twilight Knights teaching swordfighting most days (you have to sign up with the Con to get in the workshops), or see us at the panels.  Otherwise we have time off, and can chat.  Let's figure something out.

Oh, and I went to Merrill.  Freshman year in the dorms, Sophomore year in the Crown-Merrill Apartments.  Had some good friends over in Porter though.  I was a Neuroscience & Behavior major, so I didn't have any classes over at your 'hippy' college.  *grin*

Hiya!  Me and one of my friends noticed that there are quite a few little 'hey do I know anyone here' threads in the forums, and thought we'd post one of our own.  Anyways, did anyone who's coming attend California High School in San Ramon, attend UC Santa Cruz, or even UC Los Angeles?

My friend Tom Liu and myself (Joshua Percy) both attended Cal High from 1997-2001.  Heading off to college, he went to UCLA (2001-2006), and I to UCSC (2001-2003, 2005-2007).  Wondering if any old class mates are wondering around.  Tom and I'll be hanging with the Twilight Knights (swordfighting group) all weekend, so we'll be there from Friday to Monday.  Hope to see you around.  Drop a line here on this thread and let's see if we can get re-acquianted, shall we?  Heck, even if we didn't meet up at school, always good to be friendly to a pal from the old alma mater, eh?

It's always good to know that someone's got adamatine in the group.  Can always tear it off you and bash the enemy over the head with it, eh wot?  *laugh*  Yes, please bring the extra dice.  I always seem to be losing my set, can never find it lately.

I'll most likely still be wearing my B&W ball tuxedo, or I'll have changed back to my fencing costume.  If anyone wants to chat before game, I'll be with the Twilight Knights teaching swordfighting workshops, and holding panels on the same topic.  I'll be there Friday noon until closing ceremonies.  White guy, 5'5", glasses, black kung fu pants, black t-shirt, a beret, hard to miss.  I answer to Josh, JP, Tobias, Squire, Man With Door, and all sorts of names.

Standard Gold for 8th level characters is 27,000 gp!