Can there be too many friends??

Game Day this month was full of hard choices, hard decisions, hard feelings… But in a good way, if that’s possible. Three tables to choose from this time, all full of good friends and friendly faces. How to choose? Go with your heart, hubby whispers. Then instantly gets worried for me, all alone at another table. We sit back-to-back, pass notes all evening long, and reassure each other that we are fine. Funny- all our friends look on indulgently, laughing at our insecurity.

How do you choose where to sit, who to play with? Up til now it’s been which character do I play? How fast do I level, how intensely should I play- monthly, weekly? Game Days, Conventions, Home games… But now I’ve learnt the rules (somewhat), can identify a D20, 12 and 10 from one another (finally!) and have come to feel comfortable sitting in a room full of strangers.

But they’re not anymore! Strangers, that is. I know their faces, some of their characters, and even hang out with some of them. And I see hurt faces left behind at the table I didn’t choose, sad faces when I say goodbye, and find myself looking for faces that aren’t there- and have to chuckle a bit at myself. I know that I can’t please everyone- that would be one big table! So I take a deep breathe, look at my choices, and take a leap of faith…

And then, the unthinkable. I split the party, and go charging off to investigate screams in the distance. My character has found her “voice”- and she’s a freedom fighter folks! She doesn’t take kindly to senseless killing, or stealing, or taking any gruff from the bad guys… and she’s a bit of a rabble-rouser, too! She got into a stand-off  against the big-bad with a friends’ character. That was a hard decision to make- whether to stay with the group, or strike off on our own, to stand up for what you believe in. To behave like…heroes?

Needless to say, I got caught up in the storyline this time. And, I suspect, so did a few other people in the room that night, judging by the laughter, bellows of outrage, surprise, and nervous glances shooting around those tables! All those tables, full of friendly faces.