Utz!

Samurai are funny guys. You think they are going to be serious sorts, all curt words and swift gestures, then you go drinking with a few of them, realise they can be pretty laid back, then you face a crowd of about 200 of them roaring and cheering and nope, right back to being terrifying again.
Legend of the Five rings is a card game with over 10 years of history behind it, and the in-game factions have fans that are loyal to the point of fanaticism, proving that not every word that is over-used has to lose it's meaning.
Last year the European Championships were held in Dublin's RDS, where over 250 of these loud and loyal players spent 4 days settling scores and battling for the top spots in Europe. The organisers needed a staff shirt that would stand out, make them easy to recognise at a glance, and convey the correct sense of 'bad-ass-ness'.
The image that adorned their hard-working backs is one of the Ivory Champion, the title up for grabs during the competition. Note the temples, tusks, and nods to the sub-continent.
They were happy with the results, and they made their pleasure known. My ears are still ringing.


M. Fitzpatrick




