The History of Funeratic (2024)

Buffet

November 22: When Funeratic members made group Zoom calls to cheer each up while sheltering at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Erik Bates and Matthew Preston had their first conversation and hit it off immediately. Several people remarked at how easily they got along, since each of them had a talent for free-flowing conversation and putting other people at ease. Later, Scott remembers this connection when discussing with Erik how fun it would be to meet in person to play their favorite Marvel board game instead of just playing it virtually, and they hatch an idea to get Matthew to join them for a three-day weekend of gaming and good company. Scott rents an AirBNB and plans a series of games to recreate Marvel movies and TV shows, made possible by the endlessly reconfigurable options. After a hurricane delay, they finally gather and have a weekend full of laughter. Although their time is dominated by the game, they do take breaks such as dining in local restaurants with Kelly and a Chinese buffet with fellow Marvel player Carl Van Leeuwen, and develop an assortment of in-jokes that long outlive the weekend in an ongoing group chat.