By Jack Holmes
Manchester Metropolitan was lucky enough to play host to the Student National Roleplaying and Wargaming Competition recently with over 500 Making their way from all over the country to compete. From Dungeons and Dragons, live action roleplaying and board games including Cards against Humanity, the weekend let students and alumni alike play for a finishing position, and to win points for their society, and hopefully become the winner of the year.
MMU’s Vague society won the right to host at last years Nationals which took place in Demontford University in Leicester, meaning that this year they were offered the chance to bring their own unique twist to the event. Head of Vague Society Corey Davies and his team of GM’s and nationals veterans eventually decided on a Circus theme for the event, meaning the weekend regularly featured top hats, ringmaster jackets and even a couple of canes. Corey explained, “We had several options for the theme so we put it up for a vote and they voted for Circus. It was between that and Shakespeare, I preferred this one”
The event took place throughout five floors of the Union MMU, and the entire Business School building, with different games taking place in different areas. The third and fourth floors of the Union for example, were transformed into a live action battlefield with a number of different scenarios run for students to don costumes and take part in throughout the weekend.
The closing ceremony was the chance to show off how much had been achieved throughout the weekend. The Nationals collects money for a charity chosen each year by the host and this year Manchester Met managed to rack up over £3000 but with the final number still increasing with counts still being done, it could be closer to £4000 for the Mood Swings Charity, based here in Manchester.
There were around 100 certificates handed out for placing first, second or third in various events as well as some special awards for sportsmanship, roleplaying excellence and even a fancy dress competition, the entrants to which you can see in our Nationals Album here. But it all led up to the final winner of the weekend which went to Nottingham, who were excited to take the opportunity to bring the Nationals to their hometown next year when Manchester Met will be able to once again compete.
With the weekend raising money for charity, as well as the University and showing off what Manchester has to offer to students across the country, it’s just another success story for this years alternative societies. This year has seen almost all of them receive record numbers of members and hosted events throughout the year.
If you want to find out more about other events run by the Vague society you can check out their Facebook page here and check out the photos from the whole weekend on Humanity Hallows Flickr (Some of the drunker ones have had to be removed I’m afraid!)
Did you attend the Nationals? Did you have any pointers for next years hosts or a favourite moment? Let us know @HumanityHallows and @Holmesblogs
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