Player Profile: Bradford Hendrickson
Players come to Megagames from a variety of backgrounds and interests. Bradford Hendrickson first found out about the hobby while attending 'Dragon Thrones’, a Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) event in a castle.
Bradford Hendrickson (far left) stands with the crew of the Dione during a Dallas Megagames run of Den of Wolves.
“I re-entered the world of LARPing (Live Action Roleplaying) in a January 2020 event called “Dragon Thrones,” which includes a megagame during the event,” Hendrickson said. “Others visiting the event told me about other games, and referenced the famous Shut Up and Sit Down Video, which I watched on the way home.”
After watching the video, Hendrickson did a quick search and, as luck would have it, he was close to two different Megagame groups.
“(I) found Dallas Megagames and Megagame Texas in Austin, and proceeded to sign up for the February 2020 run of Aegon’s Conquest (in Dallas).”
Unfortunately, it wasn't a great time to try and dive into the hobby.
“The fact that I got my first real taste just as COVID hit was the worst, as I was desperate for more. I prowled around for a few online-Discord games, but nothing compares to the energy of an in-person megagame.”
The online experience did provide some great memories, though.
“In an online Den of Wolves game, I (as a Captain) was arrested for Wolf suspicious activity by the Admiral, whom I had been a vocal critic of. The brig was lonely and isolated because of Discord, though two others (including a real Wolf) were in there with me to share stories. The Council had been very secluded all game and when the trial started, it became clear I would not get a fair shake because my Councilor had been very antagonistic and it was being held against me. At that point, all the other Captains burst into the Council room, guns drawn, and demanded my release, having grown tired of the Council and the Admiral. It felt like an epic rescue, a cool moment from any movie, and a narrative that changed the game.”
Special moments like that are a big part of why Megagames appealed to Hendrickson.
“I am an avid board game, with my all time favorite games combining elements of battle/war, diplomacy mechanics, but also talking/bluffing/diplomatic styles. I also have grown to enjoy co-op games quite a bit. Megagames really offer all those. Additionally, it scratches that roleplay itch just enough to be satisfactory.”
With games starting back up, Hendrickson has regularly attended games in both Dallas and Austin and has introduced new players to the hobby. He says his Megagame recruiting pitch is highly dependent on the person to whom he is talking.
“It depends on the person I am trying to recruit. When I bring more video-game/board-game enthusiasts, I pitch the scale and size and complexity. When I go to more roleplayers (whether table-top or live action), I pitch the roleplay elements. Overall, I tell them that the replayability factor is great, as games are rarely the same–whether from changing roles and countries, or just how the game proceeds.”
For anyone interested in coming to their first Megagame, Hendrickson has one key thing they need to remember:
“Do not think of (the rules) as a ‘rule book.’ Think of it as a baseline. Think outside the box. Ask control to do something zany and chase it.”
