As we discussed this week on the podcast, on September 4th, on the Sunday of the PAX West gaming convention, hundreds of fans filed into a theater to watch Chris Perkins, Patrick Rothfuss, and the rest of the Acquisitions, Incorporated cast play Dungeons & Dragons for a few hours. While it continued an annual tradition, this year was a bit different: it was streamed live to theaters across the country via Fathom Events.
Wizards of the Coast was kind enough to send me to a nearby theater to watch the event, so along with a few dozen other faithful nerds, I filed into a theater at 8:30pm. Despite the fact that I’ve never seen a single episode of Acquisitions, Inc., I enjoyed myself, in no small part because I was livetweeting the whole thing. Here is that feed, preserving my bewilderment at the crowd reaction, amusement at dick jokes, and otherwise favorite moments for all time.
Headed to the PAX Acquisitions Inc live D&D screening at Empire 25 in Times Square. Anyone else there? Let me know.
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 4, 2016
About 20 people in the theater here at NYC's Empire 25. Apparently none of them follow me.
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772596803590029312
Well there's cursing before the show starts. Guess it's not really all-ages
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
oh no, I mean… Trivia splash screens are "who is Character X's mom?" And "What are Character Y's sisters names?"
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Show starting. Crowd cheered. I'd put headcount at ~35 in NYC's Empire 25. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Perkins gives synopsis. Rod of Seven Wonders, SKT, etc #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
This references the storyline for Wizards of the Coast’s most recent adventure, Storm King’s Thunder.
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772601289993752576
Theater chuckled at jokes of character death #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Thank God there's a recap of the plot #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772602545122476032
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772602853613572102
Recap done. Perkins on stage in B- cosplay.
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
This is referenced a bit later in the livetweet feed, but Chris Perkins’ costume was a gold dragon; mostly an elaborate face mask and shimmery gold robe.
Players are also in costume. Theater cheering for introductions, giggling at cosplay #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772604789054210048
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772606227880800256
People are cheering at Nat 20. Bit confused, but the rapport is amusing. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
"No level of rage past what he's already at… His dial will only have 11 on it" #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Rothfus: "are you actually gonna make me sing?"
Perkins: "I'm not, they are…"#AcquisitionsInc answers your question, @LexStarwalker— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
40 minutes in and we've got a resurrection and a long rest. Sounds about right. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
47 minutes… First dick joke. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Is there some special #AcquisitionsInc reason for Perkins to be dressed as a gold dragon?
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
56 minutes… 2 dick jokes. Theater is loving it. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
A few people in this theater shouted "green flame" and seemed very happy with themselves. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Roughly 10% here. 375 person theater.
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
#AcquisitionsInc intern drive lol
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
"Our mission statement was pretty focused… There wasn't rushing in and die doing some good for the world" lol #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Theater is VERY happy that Vandal the Silver Dragon has returned. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772622790654566400
Biggest cheer of the past hour? Stacking a hero mini on the back of a giant. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Heh
DM to Player: "I'm giving you inspiration"
Other Player: "What the fuck?!?!"
Man THAT is a familiar feeling#AcquisitionsInc— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Rothfuss: How far is that?
Perkins: A lot farther than you can jump.
Rothfuss: But is it farther than he can throw?#AcquisitionsInc— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
A sharp inhale of breath and an audible sigh from the theater at the death of many #AcquisitionsInc interns
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
White dragons… Are fucking dumb. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Rothfuss gem: Ive got an arrow in me, right? Im gonna take an arrow out of me & throw it at him. So he thinks they shot him #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
It's 11:20pm people, we don't need to shout "Green Flame" any more. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
"What?"
Literally someone's reaction to the Cloud Giant's tinny voice.#AcquisitionsInc— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Reckless Attack is a real crowd pleaser. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Dude in this theater was SUUUPER disappointed in Rothfuss rolling 1s on sneak attack dice. #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
Shoutout to the director who frames Rothfuss' disappointment on his Apocalypse Dagger con save. Great work bw him & the die #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
"You're a bard. Heal yourself." #AcquisitionsInc
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
"I would like to say if that dragon dies because of this, I get that XP."
"That's fair… Also for Jim."#AcquisitionsInc— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/Mundangerous/status/772642770037182464
My immediate reaction was that the event could've been a great introduction to new players. But I'm confident no one in attendance was.
— Shane from 🎉 Total Party Thrill 🎉 (@Mundangerous) September 5, 2016
After the event, we spoke to a very confused manager about getting copies of the handout module included with event tickets, Cloud Giant’s Bargain. Those of us who waited got copies, but I know some people left empty-handed. It’s a cool module, and really capped off the night.
As I said on the podcast, I don’t think this is the inflection point for D&D entering the mainstream that I was hoping it could be. But it was a fun event to attend, and I’m looking forward to settling into a seat with a big bag of buttery popcorn and an oversized Diet Coke again next year.
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