Standing in the dropzone

Is an odd title for a first (ish) Malifaux blog post. Isn't it?

I've an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'm thinking back to an experience I first had around Halloween 2010 when I attended one of the first, if not the first, Malifaux tournaments in the UK. I took Ramos to the then still mostly book one event (Rising powers was just hitting shelves in the UK at the time).

I loved it. I loved competitive Malifaux and all that came with it and embraced it as part of me. As I had with MtG and Poker before MX. What has followed has been a great few years of gaming.

So why am I reminiscing about what is now nearly three years ago?

Well it's simple, this weekend I'm traveling north to Welcome to Malifaux, the first M2e event to be held in the UK. Once again I'm bringing along old man Ramos. Poorly painted, dusty from some time on the shelf and slightly chipped, he's back in action once more!

Despite being involved in both the open and closed testing for M2e I haven't had a lot of time to just sit back and enjoy playing the game. To sit down and play MX for the sheer fun of it.

So just like a few years ago I'm waiting apprehensively to see what finally playing this new version of the game for fun will bring. Will I really enjoy it?

I suppose in a way this is actually a microcosm of where we are with M2e in general. We're waiting with baited breath;

• How will M2e look when it's released next month?
• Did we miss any major balance issues in the play test?
• Will M2e kill or expand our community?

This is perhaps the most nerve shredding time for anyone who's been involved in the testing. Until now we've all had a hand in the process. Now we're waiting, in the dark, hoping Wyrd will get the game across the line in good order.

I have a lot of faith in Wyrd, but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous.

So here I am, like a lot of people who love Malifaux, toes over the edge staring into the abyss, waiting just a little longer for the real ride to begin. I'm in the drop zone.