Saturday, November 7, 2020

Extra Life Marathon: 2020 Edition


It's here! It's Marathon Day! And if you're reading this, I'm already playing away in Lord of the Rings Online to raise money for the kids at Children's National!


What you'll find here:
  • Special Announcements relating to community incentives & poll outcomes
  • A list of stuff I will (try) to give away over the 24 hours
  • How I prepared for this
  • How unprepared I actually am


Poll Results

Yep, we're going to start off with the poll results. Drumroll!

A LOTRO Yule Story Returns

Svikorin of the Lonely Mountain, a Dwarf Champion, will be headed to Frostbluff this year! He narrowly defeated Aarawynn the High Elf Captain. You can probably expect to see this entry in January... I've got a hefty laundry list to work on!


Hot Shot: Spicy Food Challenge

Thank you for your mercy, everyone. Unanimously, you chose The Last Dab XXX hot sauce. I have already made the purchase, and will be putting it on some boneless chicken wings/bites in the near future. I am considering recording audio only with my husband as we talk about games and stuff while I eat the chicken. Thoughts?


Giveaways

LOTRO

There will be giveaways for LOTRO players:
  • VIP Time raffle for ASF: showdown between Laehagnub and Jondallon for guessing the correct class I will be playing during the marathon.
  • Random stuff: There were 20 other people from ASF who submitted class guesses, and I want to find stuff to gift to them for making the effort! Expect random cosmetics, pets, crafting mats and consumables!
  • If I reach my goal of $3k, I'll do an additional VIP Time giveaway to a LOTRO player who has donated this year!

Discord

As with previous years, you'll find me to be active in the #marathon channel of my Discord server. I'll be giving away game keys there randomly! Discord access is for patrons, which you can become for as little as $2!


How I Prepared For This

This is my 8th year raising money for Children's National. I've learned a few things in that time:
  1. Don't go overboard on caffeine -- intake only when you feel you need it, otherwise you'll be jittery AND tired.
  2. Don't eat anything heavy -- eat nibbly, snacky foods to avoid sleepiness induced from eating too much.
  3. Stay hydrated!
  4. Get up and walk/stretch/change body position on a regular basis to avoid strain or injury.
  5. If your head bobs, you should lay down for at least 15 minutes. Yes, it's a marathon -- but your health takes priority.
  6. Be mindful of those you live with during the evening hours of gameplay -- unless they're participating, too, you should let them get the sleep you're sacrificing!
  7. Learn to ask for the donations.
  8. Be consistent.
  9. Celebrate victories and actively thank donors on social media during the marathon to encourage more donations.


How Unprepared I Actually Am

  • I'm sorta nervous about getting my blog content done ahead of time so that I can actually rest on Sunday afterwards. That evening is usually when I put polish on Monday's Learning LOTRO entry, and as of right now as I'm writing this (Thursday night) I only have an outline done for it. I've only posted late *once* in the 37 entries I have written in the series, and I'd like to avoid it happening again!
  • I'm tired. The time change, weather change, beginning-of-the-month workload, the election, and health issues have made me want to sleep all weekend, not stay up and game for hours.
  • Knowing that even when I finish the marathon I still have a mountain of incentives to deliver is daunting. Send help.


Still With Me?

If you want to help me out today, there are a few things you can do!

  • Donate! Any amount. It all goes directly to Children's National.
  • Share my social media posts from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Raising awareness helps!
  • Join me in playing Lord of the Rings Online! (If you've never played, make a character on the Landroval server and ask in World Chat for an officer from Away Shall Fade.)
  • Pledge on Patreon! The support for Gamer Reverie allows me to do a lot for my content, followers, and Extra Life donors. It will also give you access to my Discord where you can follow along in the #marathon channel!


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