Industry Interview - Rafael Chandler - Dread Developer

**Interview originally conducted in March of 2008.**

This time around I get to sit down (cyberly speaking, again) with Rafael Chandler from Neoplastic Press. Rafael is the developer of the independent horror role-playing game known as Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium. It is no secret that I am a horror fan, and love a good horror RPG when I can find one. So I was very intrigued when I first started reading about Dread and anxiously awaited its release. So let's get right to the questions.

For those that will read this and might not know about Dread, give us your quick and dirty explanation of the game.
Dread is a game about Disciples, demon hunters who wage a war on the front lines of the Last War. Wielding horrific magic and performing ill-advised stunts, they hunt the demons that feed on the flesh and spirits of innocent victims. Dread is brutal, profane, and bloody. It's also fast-paced and rules-light, making it ideal for one-shots, pick-up games, and short-term campaigns.

What made you decide to produce your own system?
I've been tinkering with my own designs since I got into gaming in the 80s. A few years back, I started a new gaming group. None of them knew anything about tabletop RPGs, but they were all really enthusiastic about the idea. However, our sessions were few and far between, so a lot of the rules systems we tried simply didn't work. Character generation took too long, or the fights dragged on and ate up too much time, leaving us just a few minutes at either end of the session. This wasn't much fun, so I started working on a system of my own. Since I've always been a fan of horror RPGs, it was inevitable that my game would be a horror title. After spending some time on the development of Dread, I decided to make it commercially available. It was produced on a shoestring budget and released in October 2002. A few years later, I started working on a new edition, which was released in August 2007.

Did you consider making it a D20 product?
No, it was never an option. I only played D&D 3E a few times, but found the system too complicated. I'm still playing 2E, in fact.

I know you have a pretty successful career in the video game industry, so why branch out to a horror themed RPG?
I love my job. Video game writing and design are really fulfilling. However, I've spent much of my time working on military shooters -- the Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and SOCOM series. Though I enjoy what I do, I still feel the urge to create something that's entirely my own, without the parameters of an established series. Also, I like the idea of a spell that causes your intestines to turn into lampreys, rip through the flesh of your abdomen, and attack your enemies. This is something that you will not see in a Tom Clancy video game anytime soon.

What do you feel sets Dread apart from the rest of the RPG systems currently available?
Dread is simple. The concept is simple: demons are bad, you are worse. Go forth and destroy. The character creation is simple: there are three classes, so you can either investigate, fight, or cast spells. Go. Character generation is simple, taking a typical group of total strangers about ten minutes. The rules are simple enough that I can explain them to people in about five minutes. And the game's primary hooks is simple: everything about Dread is violent, gory, and yet amusing in a fairly sick way.

What is more important to you: Game Mechanics or Story Elements?
If I have to choose, I always go with story elements. I've run horror games using all kinds of rules. When I listen to players talk about great moments, they usually talk about what happened, what they did, what their enemies did, what the characters said to each other. These are the moments that we remember. The numbers that you roll are less important.

Can you give those of us that simply get to enjoy the game after completion a little insight into what you have to do to develop something like Dread?
Great question! Now, I'm no expert -- I've only released one game, and there are plenty of people with more experience. But I'll do my best.

I treat tabletop RPG development the same way that I treat video game development. Here are the stages:

1. Concept: The idea behind the game. Dragons, wizards, ninjas, cyborgs, whatever.
2. Scope: The goal for the product. A PDF, a hardcover book, a spiral-bound manual, etc.
3. Mechanics: The conflict resolution system.
4. Outline: A rough outline of the book's content.
5. Alpha testing: Internal testing with my gaming group.
6. Revision: A re-working of the core rules based on feedback from alpha testing.
7. Beta testing: External testing with numerous groups.
8. Revision: A re-working of the core rules based on feedback from beta testing.
9. Writing: Creating the text of the game. Usually in MS Word.
10. Art: Commissioning the illustrations from various artists.
11. Proofreading: At least one person, other than myself, proofreads the text.
12. Layout: When art and text are ready, they're laid out.
13. Publication: Submission to Lulu. A print copy is ordered as a proof before going live.

I know you are currently working on the next major book, Scorn: The Second Book of Pandemonium, as well as a Pent: The First Gospel of Pandemonium, which is a collection of adventure scenarios. Are additional products for the system easier to make once the overall system is in place?
Yes, absolutely. Pent, for example, is a collection of scenarios that I've been running over the past few years. Spite: The Second Book of Pandemonium (formerly known as Scorn, but I changed the name in order to avoid confusion with another game) will feature rules for long-term campaigns. This is something I've been working on since I started creating the new version of Dread in 2004. Once the core rulebook is out the door, it's a lot easier to make time to work on ancillary projects. They're easier to tackle, because the core rules have been created, and because they're shorter projects. Also, you've got the momentum generated by positive user feedback, reviews, and sales -- these can help you keep your enthusiasm level high.

What was your biggest challenge in bringing Dread to market?
The first edition of Dread was 180 pages long, and there was a lot of wasted space. Also, the font was large. The new edition of Dread is packed with information, and the text is much smaller. It's about 280 pages long. Writing a manual that thorough is a really time-consuming process, and you have to be committed to the project. My day job involves a lot of creative writing, and maintaining an interest in my own projects when the night comes around is quite a challenge. It's easy to blow off you own game when you're not feeling particularly enthusiastic. But I really wanted Dread to be a game of substance.

What do you want people to know about Dread in general? What is its main selling point for you?
Dread's core concept is a synthesis of splatterpunk horror and police procedural. I love horror movies, the bloodier the better. Same goes for horror novels. Of course, these elements need to be welded to a strong narrative; films like The Descent and Creep are both gruesome and thought-provoking. I'm also a fan of crime stories. For instance, I'm really into TV shows like The Shield and The Wire; they present dark and occasionally nihilistic stories about criminals and cops, and the thin line between the two. I also read crime novels by James Ellroy and George V. Higgins, which are equally brutal and gritty. Ellroy in particular has had a serious impact on the games that I run. I recently read a review of one of his novels, which described the book as "one long scream of rage and emptiness and longing". This is an excellent description.

When these elements -- splatterpunk and street-level crime -- are fused, in my mind, the result is Dread: a story about merciless investigators who do what must to be done in order to close a case. They use disgusting magic that horrifies normal people, and they lock horns with demons so disturbing that I've actually had players tell me they don't want to run games with some of them. The game is about monsters fighting with monsters, and the air is full of blood, bullets, and profanity. But there's no angst. This is not a game where the protagonists get to whine about how unfair it is. You have a job, and you do it, and you leave the complaints at the door.

I picked up the book as soon as it came out and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have also run several demos of the game and have had a lot of positive feedback. I will definitely be running this game at some of our future quarterly events.
You know why? Because you are THE MAN.

Would you care to drop a few hints to our members and Dread fans about what’s in the pipeline for this game system?
I'm wrapping up work on Pent, which includes over a dozen scenarios and a dozen adventure hooks. The art in this game is just sick. The Shurull, Wreziam, Remarec, Ravaqat, and Nethasq (to name just a few) are presented in all their hideous glory. The scenarios are also ready-to-run, meaning that a GM can pick these up and go with them with virtually no prep time. Spite, which will be released later this year, features information about federal agencies, cults, and corporations. One corporation in particular, bioLogical laboratories, has been conducting experiments of an infernal nature. The results are even more horrific than the demons found in the pages of Dread. Players can look forward to throwing down with Vamputees, Skinotaurs, and Abominortions. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The book also features information about the Last War, new demons, new stunts (like the Organ Grinder and the Bloody Sanchez), and rules for the creation of anti-demon war machines.

Let’s say you are personally running a Dread game….What are a few of the mood songs for the night?
Akercocke: Leviathan
Behemoth: Be Without Fear
Behemoth: The Nephilim Rising
Bolt Thrower: Anti-Tank
Bolt Thrower: Mercenary
Dark Tranquillity: Terminus
Daylight Dies: Dismantling Devotion
Enslaved: Ruun
Napalm Death: Hung
Napalm Death: The Code Is Red
Shape of Despair: Quiet These Paintings Are
Slayer: Disciple
Vader: Apopheniac

What is your favorite part of Dread? You know, if you had to scrap the all but one thing to start the process over, what would you have to keep?
The demons. I'm really proud of them. Each one is a walking scenario hook, making the GM's job a lot easier. Furthermore, these are nothing like the Judeo-Christian demons of legend. They're nightmarish, tentacled, dripping with fluids... and yet very familiar. Some prey on innocent victims, and others are drawn to vice (murder, infidelity, child abuse). These entities are genuinely foreign and repulsive, but I tried to mold them around the newspaper headlines that disturbed me most. They are our shadow. They are a reflection of what is wrong with the world.

Do you have a favorite Dread character type?
Characters with the Discipline of Sorcery are a blast, because they alone can perform exorcisms. As with everything else in my game, exorcisms are bloody and painful. But why wouldn't they be? You're dragging a demon from the body of a victim -- of course it's going to be a gruesome affair.

Now for my left field question of the day. We have some tattoo fans in RGC…So do you have any personal ink, Rafael?
Negative. But if I ever get one, it will be the Slayer logo.

A few of our forum members had some questions for you as well.

skeloric wants to know about these issues:

What do you see as the state of the industry and what do you see as the cause of that state? Moreover, if you see it as poor, what would you recommend in order to improve it? Contrariwise, if you see it as good what do you see needs to continue to keep it that way?
I think that the industry is doing well. Decades of growth and experimentation, coupled with the advent of the Web, have resulted in a very broad and deep playing field. Enthusiasts have more games to choose from than ever before, and game developers have access to a wide range of publishing options. For independent game designers like myself, things have never been better.

What issues or opinions do you have concerning the D20 system of WotC?
It looks really interesting! I ran a 3E game during the summer of 2000, but found the rules too complicated, so I went back to 2E. Other than that, I haven't had any exposure to the D20 system.

Have you ever heard of TORG, and what do you think of it?
I have heard of TORG, and it sounds like a really intriguing system. I haven't played it yet, however.

What other established system/settings have you looked at and what opinions or concerns do you have concerning them?
I'm a fan of horror RPGs in general. I'm really fond of Beyond the Supernatural, Chill, Whispering Vault, and Call of Cthulhu. BtS was a fairly fun game, if somewhat compromised by silly notions (for example, "Supernatural or Super-Nuts?"). This is a weakness of the Palladium games in general, however. Chill was a solid game, but I didn't like the book's look and feel -- the art direction didn't work for me, and I couldn't figure out why the accent color was purple instead of red. Splattered purple fluid looks like grape juice, as opposed to splattered red fluid (which strikes me as more appropriate for a horror game). Whispering Vault is a really fun game to read, but I'm not sure how one would play it. I've got to try it one of these days. Call of Cthulhu is a phenomenal game, provided that one's players are in the correct frame of mind (neither cowardly not ridiculously heroic). The players have to understand that the point of the game is to fight a losing battle, knowing in advance that your character will probably die or go insane.

If you ever planned to do a game in an established system/setting, which would be your choice?
I'd love to design a game set in the world of Clive Barker's novel Imajica. It's one of my favorite novels, in part because it's set in a world unlike any other I've ever read (and also because it's beautifully written). It's a modern fantasy setting that doesn't employ any of the standard tropes, instead creating something new and bizarre.

Imajica's core concept is that there are five Dominions, of which Earth is only one. The Dominions are separated by a dimension of hideous creatures, and only powerful wizards can break through from one Dominion to the next. It sounds fairly standard, but he shatters every cliche and expectation, creating a story like nothing else I've ever read. I'm reluctant to go into detail, because it's so easy to accidentally spoil the story.

I believe that a game set in that world would be a lot of fun. That being said, it's unlikely that I'd ever work in someone else's universe. I've got too many ideas of my own.

What do you consider to be the #1 "draw" to your game Dread?
Tough question! Is is the nonstop gore, blasphemy, and profanity? Is it the brutal and repulsive magic? Is it the list of unspeakably vile demons?

I guess I would say that Dread's biggest draw is its simplicity. I play a lot of convention games and pick-up games. Also, my gaming group consists of a bunch of guys with resposibilities -- careers, families, other hobbies. Consequently, I find that complex settings and rules systems just don't work for me anymore. Twenty years ago, when I spent my summer vacation playing RPGs on a daily basis, complexity was an asset. But no longer. At this point, I'm looking for a simple idea that's driven by a simple rules system.

Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium delivers both -- you're a demon hunter, so find the demons. In every case, you roll a pool of d12s and compare the high numbers. Done. This makes it extremely easy to explain the concept and mechanics at con games, pick-ups, and new players.

This simplicity even extends to the book's layout. Though there are dozens of spells to choose from, I've set up lists in the Magic section that make it easy for a player to pick a few defensive spells, a few attack spells, a manipulation spell, and off you go. You can blitz through character creation for an entire group in twenty minutes.

I should note that the system is simple, but not simplistic -- though the core mechanic is easy to learn, there are hidden depths that players start to pick up on as they play the game. It's not a boring system.

Is the RPG community dying out?
I don't know of any evidence to indicate this. For what it's worth, things seem to be going well. Admittedly, this is still a niche hobby, but the release of 4E should give the industry a shot in the arm.

A note about the RPG community vs. the RPG industry: I don't know what sales are like, but I'm not sure how important they are to the community (though they are, obviously, essential to the industry). After all, RPGs are not packaged experiences -- they're opportunities for experience. A book or DVD is purchased, experienced, and may then be experienced again (although the experience will be the same each time). An RPG, on the other hand, is purchased and then utilized to create a unique experience. This can be repeated, with different results, indefinitely.

As a result, the RPG community could continue to flourish, even if RPG sales dropped to almost nothing. The millions of books that have already been purchased could continue to generate new games for years to come.

It's also important to consider web activity. Not all gamers are sharing their thoughts and experiences online. Those who are posting on web sites, forums, and blogs, only constitute a small fraction of the fan base. As a result, any theories or conclusions based on web activity are probably inaccurate.

Why do you believe that people tend not to reach out to get new people into RPGs and can this trend be reversed?
Well... I don't believe that people tend not to reach out. In fact, I've observed the opposite. Of course, there are exceptions, but from what I have seen, most gamers are only too happy to tell their friends about this great pastime. A few years back, I moved from Virginia to North Carolina. I made some new friends here, and it turned out that none of them had ever played D&D. These were video game enthusiasts, Trekkies, guys who could quote the LOTR and Star Wars movies. What the hell, I said. You need to play some D&D. I broked out the 2E rule books and off we went. It was great.

I've heard plenty of similar stories. Sure, you hear about social stigma attached to games, but I haven't really encountered it. Bear in mind that I work in the video game industry, so many of the people that I work with are also tabletop gamers. Results will vary wildly, I'm sure, depending on one's career.

Have you heard of the recent West End Games decision to go OGL on its D6 system and what are your thoughts on the trend surfacing?
I hadn't heard, but I believe that open licenses are good business sense. They increase interest in products, build communities, and can grant participants a sense of ownership in a product.

In general, to what extent does system enhance setting and how much does setting influence system?
When I was working on Dread, I started with the concept of a group of demon hunters called Disciples. While brainstorming ideas for a resolution mechanic, I realized that the d12 was perfect -- Jesus had 12 Disciples, and each face of the d12 is a pentagon, which in my mind evoked pentacles and pentagons. This mixture of the holy and the unholy fit the game's concept (demon hunters who may or may not be working for Heaven, and who themselves are hunted by angels).

The more time I spent working on the core idea, the more I realized that Dread would need a fast-paced, rules-light system in order to keep the momentum going. And the Disciple 12 system was born.

So, for me, the setting influenced the design of the system.

Additionally, has there ever been a system/setting combo that you have seen that to your mind worked not at all?
No, though I have played a few games whose rules systems required some tinkering in order to get right. The Beyond the Supernatural system, for example, needed some adjustment in order to work for my gaming group.

meng would like to ask you the following:

How much does system matter? In particular, how much does Dread depend on its mechanics in order to achieve the right feel, and how much depends on the players?
System matters. For example, if a player's decision to use a particular spell or stunt required consulting tables, rolling damage, rolling additional modifiers such as saving throws or dodges, and so forth, then the game's frantic momentum would be lost. In short, Dread would be hampered by a more complex system. It might turn into something interesting, but it definitely wouldn't be Dread anymore.

However, players are crucial to any good gaming experience. In the same way that both oxygen and water are necessary to sustain human life, a good system and a good gaming group are necessary to enjoy any game.

Rafael, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for Rochester Gamers' Community. We appreciate your time and your game. I look forward to running more demos of Dread in the near future.

Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you about my game! I am also extremely grateful for all the support and enthusiasm that you have shown for Dread. It means a lot to me.

Industry Interview - Travis Legge - Contagion Developer

**Interview originally conducted in April of 2007**

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down (cyberly speaking) with Travis Legge from Aegis Studios. Travis is the developer of the independent D20-based horror role-playing game known as Contagion. So let's get right to the questions.

For those that will read this and might not know about Contagion (which means they have not been listening to Tony and I – SHAME!), give us your quick and dirty explanation of the game.
Contagion is a game of Celestial horror in a modern world. On the surface it looks just like the real world, but in the shadows, the forces of Heaven and Hell fight a secret war for the souls of humanity. Demons use Hellspawn, their monstrous servants to torment mankind, while God relies on Slayers as warriors chosen from mankind and faithful Clergy to heal the wounds of battle. When normal folks find out about the War, they must either try to lay low and avoid the conflict, which is unlikely, or choose a side.

What made you decide to produce your own system?
A number of things. I have been a fan of the horror genre since I can remember, and I have always wanted to tell horror stories. With Contagion, not only do I get to tell scary and disturbing tales, I get to encourage other people to tell scary and disturbing tales with their friends. I get to inspire storytelling. There is very little on this planet cooler than that.

Did you always intend it to be a D20 product?
No. I spent about a year coming up with different rules and dice systems. I wanted it to be so unique and new. Then I realized that I could take the functional framework of the OGL system, adjust and tweak it to fit my unique vision, and have a final product that was familiar enough to appeal to people, but had my own unique fingerprint on it. Most gamers are familiar with the d20 system, which I think gave me a lot of freedom in creating my world. Players can delve into the unique flavor of the setting without having to learn, from the ground up, an entirely new dice system.

Talking with you a bit I know you are a huge comic book fan, so why go with a horror themed RPG?
Comics are my first love. Horror is a very close second. At the time when we were creating Contagion, I had a superhero comic in the works, which sadly never materialized. I actually have some comic work coming up this summer that I’m totally psyched about. It's called Shadowgirls. David Rodriguez, the genius behind Starkweather, approached me to pick up a few eight page short stories as backups to the main plot, so those should be showing up late summer/early fall. Shadowgirls is kind of a cross between Gilmore Girls and the Cthulu mythos, so while it's a comic, there are definitely horror overtones. Seems I just can't get away from monsters. I love them too much.

What do you feel sets Contagion apart from the rest of the RPG systems currently available?
Contagion takes several horror/fantasy standards and approaches them from a new angle. Our playable races are very different from what you have seen in other RPGs. We have tried to stay true to the horror genre, while making things fresh and approaching the characters, the setting, and the stories from an angle that you may not expect.

From a strictly systematic point of view, we have tried to streamline rules that we felt were bulky and unwieldy, as well as add in rules that give the player more control over his character, as opposed to relying solely on the dice. Contagion Points were a huge leap in my opinion. We have added racial challenges to make supernatural PC's more interesting and flawed. Also, we probably have some of the coolest class features, racial features and feats out there.

What made you decide to add the fantasy elements (elves, orcs, etc…) to your modern day horror setting?
All of the supernatural races in Contagion can be traced back to some form of demonic intervention. Our elves are the result of a terrible curse. They do not age and die, but they can never rest. Their sleepless eternity drives them slowly insane, but they are so afraid for their souls that they have an instinctual refusal to commit suicide or endanger themselves. The elves in Contagion are a pretty far cry from the nature loving, free spirits portrayed in the fantasy genre, and I think that gives them a horrific aspect. Horror is all about taking the familiar and making it frightening and disturbing. Making the safe unsafe. That was our goal with the standard fantasy races.

Can you give those of us that simply get to enjoy the game after completion a little insight into what you have to do to develop something like Contagion?
I smoke a lot. I spend countless hours in front of my Mac Mini, hammering out ideas, and doing research. I probably did more research while developing Virulence than I have in my 2 years of college. Everything in Contagion is based, albeit loosely, on real world beliefs and myths. I also sit around with the Senior Partners and bounce ideas back and forth, which is probably the most rewarding part of the process apart from hearing that someone played the game and loved it.

Are additional products for the system, for instance your recently released product Contagion: Virulence!, easier to make once the overall system is in place?
I find that each product is more challenging than the last, though I think that's largely self inflicted. Every time we set out to make a new product, we try to improve on the last thing we did. From storyline and system additions to art and layout, each new book builds on what we have learned before and reaches for loftier heights. We want our customers to feel that they are getting our best work every time. That is the challenge.

What was your biggest challenge in bringing Contagion: Virulence! to market?
That's pretty hard to say. There have been so many. The book was initially slated for release last year. My partners and I had some tragedies in our personal lives which led us to shelve the whole thing for about four months. That was probably the biggest obstacle. Trying to straighten out our careers and families while cranking out a book. Everything ended well though, so I can't complain too loudly.

What do you want people to know about Contagion: Virulence! or Contagion in general? What is its main selling point for you?
Contagion is perfect for people who like to see a vision of the world slightly skewed and twisted. It’s as if the part of the world that is under the lights is just as we recognize, but in the shadows, there are monsters. Things are darker than they seem.

Contagion also pulls no punches, and this is especially evident in Virulence. For a 130 page book, Virulence offers an amazing amount of system expansion, while still containing in depth setting and character material. I'm probably proudest of the "player's guide" chapter, which examines each playable class and tips for different approaches from a strictly role-playing point of view. And from a system standpoint, I absolutely adore Advanced Arcane Spellcasting. I think it's a pretty innovative way to deal with magic, and we got rid of "spells per day" which I detest.

I picked up the book as soon as it came out and I am enjoying my read of it so far. There is definitely a lot of new material that I can use for future demos during our gaming events.

I am glad to hear it! I can’t wait to hear how those turn out!

Now that Contagion: Virulence! is out are you planning your next project? Any hints for our Contagion fans?
Keep an eye on our site. We will have several adventure seeds coming out in the near future. As far as our next "Big" project, we will be focusing on the monsters in Contagion, the Hellspawn in our monster handbook, Hell's Henchmen. We are approaching Hell's Henchmen in a unique way, releasing each chapter as a standalone .pdf, for a very low price point. When it's all done, we will compile the chapters for a print release.

I think the fans will truly enjoy some of the monsters we are preparing to unleash, but I would advise that it's not going to be for the faint of heart. There's some pretty disturbing stuff in Hell's Henchmen.

You are personally running a Contagion game….What are a few of the mood songs for the night?
Yes I am. As far as mood music, I don't typically use it while running games. My group, as a whole, finds it distracting. However while writing I rely largely on 70's and 80's rock, punk, goth, and the occasional pop song. Everything from the Buggles to Type O Negative.

We have some tattoo fans in RGC…So how about a run down on your personal ink, Travis?
I have a smiley face with a bullet hole on his forehead on my right shoulder blade. It's pretty ghetto, so I plan to get it fixed soon. I have an upside down cross on my left wrist, a product of capricious youth. I was like 13 and a bunch of my friends and I got matching upside down crosses. How very metal of us ;)

I have a purple Decepticon logo on my left forearm. On my left shoulder I have a graffiti logo for the band Suicidal Tendencies. On my right shoulder I have the symbols for the Time and Entropy spheres from Mage: The Ascension. On my right forearm I have the Cobra logo.

My next tattoo is a toss up between the Shredder on my leg, or Skeletor on my left arm, with Old English lettering that says O.G. beneath it, because you don't get much more gangsta than Skeletor.

A few of our forum members had some questions for you as well.

ConanObrien asks the following:

How do you make sure that the RPG you develop differs from the hundreds of RPG systems already in play?
I rely mostly on my friends and playtesters. Between the group that playtests our books there is something like 120 years of collective gaming experience. If someone in that group says "this is just like "insert game here" I know I need to make changes. If everyone at the table says "That's awesome! I've never seen that before!" Then i know I'm on the right track.

How are you able to overcome the strict patents or copyrights held by companies if you try to make a combat system or anything else that closely resembles that of a RPG already published?
The Open Gaming License allows publishers to utilize the d20 system for their own publications. It's very similar to open source software. If you visit the Wizards of the Coast website, you can find out exactly how all that works. It’s a little complicated, but the short version is that there are options there for publishers.

skeloric wants to know about these issues:

Have there ever been any particular problems associated with the open game license that were event slightly troubling?
Not with the OGL, no. The d20 system trademark license is an entirely different beast though. Basically, anyone can use the OGL system, with extreme creative freedom. However if you want to put the d20 system logo on your book, you have to acquire a separate license, which places severe restrictions on the type of content you can produce. This is why you don't see the d20 system logo on Contagion books.

Does writing up a product to use the D20 system ever seem extraordinarily difficult or has it ever felt a little unrewarding?
No, actually it’s quite the opposite for me. I'm one of those gamers who likes to bitch. I like to sit there and say, "Well this rule would be so much better if it was THIS way." So when we decided to use the OGL to make our book, it was a chance for me to go and fix everything that I thought was broken in the d20 system.

What other system would you like to write something for if you had the chance?
I would love to write for Shadowrun. It's one of my favorite RPG settings of all time. I would also like to work on any of the World of Darkness stuff. Mutants and Masterminds would be a thrill, having the chance to unite my love of comics and my love of gaming.

ang* would like to ask you the following:

I’ve played RPG’s for awhile now, yet there is always some where to learn more. Where do you start? How do you know you are not missing something?
One of the beautiful things about role-playing is that you never stop learning. Each time you sit down at a gaming table, it's a new experience. Don't worry about memorizing a million systems. That's what books are for. To quote Henry Jones, Sr. "I wrote them down so I wouldn't have to remember."

That said, when writing a Contagion book, I spend countless hours cross referencing previously completed material for continuity. Big publishers have editors whose entire job is making sure that their published material is internally consistent. If anyone is looking for an unpaid internship...lol

Big projects generally run on timelines and are set-up in phases or stages. What are the timelines and phases of development?
Typically I have an idea and I toss it around with Darius McCaskey and Toy Cesar. Once we come up with a solid vision of how the book is going to be, I write it and pass it off to Darius for editing. During that process, we recruit artists and an Art Director, who help us create the visual aspects of the book. As the project nears completion, we start with press releases, teasers, and the like, then finally, publication.

This type of development is obviously too big for one person. With so many aspects of game development how is the number of people decided for a project?
We work with what we have. Back when we did Living Dead, it was all me, Darius, and Jason Huntress for the most part. Dean Petty did a bit of pickup writing, but that was a pretty small project. If you check out the credits page on Virulence, you can see that a lot of people came together to make it an awesome book, but we still could have used more hands. You can’t really have too much help, as long as the project is directed with a clear vision.

I don’t see a lot of BA’s for game development outside of the computer technology. What kind of an education does it take to work in such a field?
Most people would suggest an English degree I suppose. Honestly, in my experience, the best education is getting out there and doing it. Self-publish, find cheap freelance work, write, write, write, and build a portfolio of your writing.

I’ve actually played Contagion now, so I ask you. What’s your favorite character?
That's a really tough question. I would probably say my favorite race is the werewolf. Contagion werewolves are tortured, chaotic, emotional messes trying to survive despite their uncontrollable urges to engage in slaughter and mayhem. I think that werewolves are a great metaphor for the struggles people go through with their emotions every day, just on a much larger scale.

My favorite core class is the Arcane Student. I think they have incredible versatility, and can compliment any party of characters. They also tend to be in the know, and I have always enjoyed empowered and smart characters in horror.
My favorite advanced class is probably the Magus. I love wizards and sorcery, and I think we have created a very unique class in the Magus, with some pretty cool societies of magic study. I also think that the Advanced Arcane Spellcasting system is phenomenal.

Travis, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for Rochester Gamers' Community. We appreciate your time and your game. Every demo I have done for Contagion has been met with appreciation for the game, so you definitely have a few fans in the Rochester, MN area.

Thanks for having me! It's been a pleasure!

RGC Member Interview with Chamberlain

How do you feel you have been influential to RGC and the expansion of its events?
I hope I have been. Since I’ve joined I have shown up to the last two gaming events and I donate my artwork to the e-zine to show team spirit for RGC. I hope I can do what ever I can in the future.

Tell Us, When Did Gaming Take Over Your Life? Or Has It?
I don’t think gaming has taken over my life but if so it would have been after I met my husband Bob who is a huge gamer in D&D. We both influence each other.

How Were You First Introduced To The Whole Concept Of Gaming Outside Of A Computer Or A Console System? When Did You First Learn About Roleplaying Games, Collectible Card Games, Or Anything That You Play?
I have never been a huge online player and the most as a kid/teen for console games was my old Atari which still works to this day! I’ve dabbled a bit in RPG on Myspace but just don’t have the time to sit and do much.

I’ve known about RPG games like D&D since I was a kid but never had anyone around to influence me to play. I read Dragonlance and other fantasy/sci-fi books back then.
I’ve never done the card games even thru I know they are popular. My husband Bob has been the biggest influence in my current gaming in D&D.

Has Gaming Been A Good Experience As A Whole For You? Have You Met Interesting People Or Seen Interesting Places?
I think gaming has been a wonderful experience so far even thru I feel like I have not been in it as long as others here. It was how I met my husband was when he was gaming in my sister’s house! I’ve met a few friends via thru some of my gaming friends thru gaming. Also going to my first gaming day last summer for RGC was a terrific experience as well as to meeting people and interacting with them in different games. Of course I had to go home and tell my husband and our gaming friends who were over all about it.

How Does Your Family React To Your Weekly Or Daily Gaming Escapades?
They accept it cause they have no other choice but to. My mother use to complain saying its silly but I ignored it the best I could. Now she doesn’t say anything.
My brother is a gamer as well so he thinks nothing of it.

What Would Be the Ultimate Gaming Store Be In Your Mind?
Darn. . .tough one. Really is considering that the internet especially Amazon has come into serious competition with stores.
I think Jimmy Jams and Book Review do a good job here in town. But I think the closest to the Ultimate Gaming Store is The Source. At least for D&D.

You Are Stranded On A Desert Island With A Small Group Of People, What 3 Games Help You Relieve The Boredom?
D&D of course. RISK. . . especially if that Transformers one comes out! So many other good games out there. I’ve been enjoying Battletech a lot.

You Suddenly Find Yourself A Lottery Winner, What So You Use The Money For? Do You Stop Working?
* laughs * Who hasn’t dreamed this!?! I don’t think I would stop working right off but I would pay off my house and anything else first. Then maybe build onto the house right under the deck to have more space for whatever Bob and I want it for!! After that . . . don’t know. I’ll have to dream more about it!

What Is Your All Time Favorite Game? If You Play Multiple Types Of Games, You Can List A Category For Each.
I don’t think I have an all-time favorite game. I enjoy D&D 3.5 with my husband and our friends. Also I enjoy Battletech since a friend of mine loves it and I enjoy playing with him. I just recently got Betrayal at House on the Hill for Christmas. I played it at the last 24-Hour Gaming Day and loved it. I got to play a villain in it. ;D

What Game(s) Do You Want To Play, But Have Not Yet?
I would love to play Fury of Dracula since I saw it played at the 24-Hour Gaming Day but didn’t have a chance to. Looked like a great game.

Is There A Particular Game Or Games That You Do Not Care For?
Mmm. . . . I haven’t found one yet.

What Is Your Favorite Movie?
I have quite a few fave movies. Alien series, Blade Trilogy, Rose Red, Aeon Flux, Scary Movie series and Resident Evil to name the top ones off hand. I love a lot of sci-fi and fantasy movies. I’m also into cartoons.

What Is Your Favorite Type Of Music?
I enjoy goth/industrial rock but I also enjoy Enya, Midnight Syndicate and 80’s music. Ya I bit of a wide taste in music but I enjoy a bit of everything. . .except country.

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Authors/Books?
May sound silly but I enjoy Three Investigators. I can get thru one book in a single day and with how busy I can get that is nice to get thru something fast. I also enjoy Dragonlance, Sherlock Holmes and manga.

Can You Give Us Your Favorite Gaming Story?
. . . .I don’t really have a favorite gaming story. Memories of the last gaming day and playing Risk with my in-laws. Right now I’m making new memories with my new gaming group.

What Hobbies Do You Have Outside Of Gaming?
Well if any one hasn’t guessed my two main hobbies outside of gaming are drawing and collecting Transformers which I have been into for years. I’m always drawing something up every day and I know precisely (well most of the time) what is

RGC Member Interview with ConanOBrien

How do you feel you have been influential to RGC and the expansion of it’s events?
I’m not sure that I have been an influence to expand the gaming aspect of RGC because every attempt that I have made to bring a group of people together to play a game has bombed. But I believe it is a vital role that all of us play in the club when we go out and talk to people about joining the club, what we do, why we do it, and how much fun it can be. I enjoy talking to people and I believe that it might be my biggest contribution to the club.

Tell Us, When Did Gaming Take Over Your Life? Or Has It?
At one point Gaming did take over my life, but that point past a long time ago. Since then I have not really had the opportunity to do what I love, which is Role Play. The group that I played in fell apart more than 2 years ago, and since then it has been a crap shoot trying to find players willing to try something different. Right now my life is not focused on a particular game.

How Were You First Introduced To The Whole Concept Of Gaming Outside Of A Computer Or A Console System? When Did You First Learn About Roleplaying Games, Collectible Card Games, Or Anything That You Play?
I was introduced to D&D by my friends Dave and Bobby back in 2001. I played D&D for 3 years with them, and eventually evolved to Heroes Unlimited and D20 modern. I am not a fan of dark games like Vampire or warewolf, I don’t know why, they just don’t sound interesting to me. I started playing Magic the Gathering back in the good ol days when Wizards of the Coast wasn’t releasing a new set every 2 weeks. And I played for 5 years. I have also UNFORTUNATELY play Yugioh card game for about 4 months until I realized that it’s stupid. I have started to play A Game of Thrones card game, but it was short lived, I don’t have the time to play it or make a deck, I need a job first of all.

Has Gaming Been A Good Experience As A Whole For You? Have You Met Interesting People Or Seen Interesting Places?
Gaming Has Been A Great Experience For Me! I have made many friends while gaming, and have been exposed to many interesting game types and game genres. I have never been to a large convention, and unfortunately at my age, I doubt that it will be as fun if I ever do decide to go, it would have been much more fun if I could afford to go 5 years ago when my life was filled with gaming.

How Does Your Family React To Your Weekly Or Daily Gaming Escapades?
Well since I have joined RGC I have stopped all forms of Role Playing, and I am only now in a group to play D&D, and I await the first time we actually play. My mom doesn’t like the fact that I play games.

What Would Be the Ultimate Gaming Store Be In Your Mind?
Wow… where to begin? Okay… 4,000 Square feet of Gaming area with tables, comfy chairs and HEAT!! The store would sell every Role Playing Game ever!!!! Like The source comics and games. Besides role playing games, it would have to have 2000 square feet of board game choices, 2000 Square feet for CCG choices, 2000 Square feet for Miniatures, and 2000 Square feet for Comic Books and other Fantasy Books and figurines. Then it would have a full restaurant, separate from the gaming area with simple foods like burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, pizza, salads, big pretzels, onion rings. It would also definitely need a bathroom that’s bigger than 2 feet by 2 feet, and preferably a bathroom with more than 1 stall and separate for men and women. The are would have a separate room for video games, it would have 4 couches and 10 recliners, and 4 52 inch LCD TV’s. Upstairs of the game store would be separate rooms that people could reserve to hold games at, for example (Tony could reserve one of the 8 rooms to have his D&D Group play every Sunday), it would also have an extensive book store upstairs as well as all kinds of Sci-Fi souvenirs, figurines, toys, shirts.

You Are Stranded On A Desert Island With A Small Group Of People, What 3 Games Help You Relieve The Boredom?
Betrayal at the house on the hill, UNO, and Modern D20.

You Suddenly Find Yourself A Lottery Winner, What So You Use The Money For? Do You Stop Working?
Pay off all my debt, pay off the house, and buy a better one. Buy a car that’s actually comfortable, buy 10 pairs of shoes, buy a fishing boat. Invest in some stocks and some black market commodities, and then work on something which I enjoy.

What Is Your All Time Favorite Game? If You Play Multiple Types Of Games, You Can List A Category For Each.
Modern D20

What Game(s) Do You Want To Play, But Have Not Yet?
Game of Thrones RPG, Cyber Punk

Is There A Particular Game Or Games That You Do Not Care For?
Yugioh, Magic the Gathering, Heroclix.

What Is Your Favorite Movie?
Braveheart, Gettysburg, The negotiator, Lord of the Rings….

What Is Your Favorite Type Of Music?
Anything but Country music. I listen to 70’s and 80’s rock.

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Authors/Books?
R.A. Salvatore, Stephen Coonts, Paul Murphy.

Can You Give Us Your Favorite Gaming Story?
Haven’t played in so long that I forgot what my favorite gaming story was.

What Hobbies Do You Have Outside Of Gaming?
I like reading, hacking, making graphics, making websites, taking pictures, model building, fishing, throwing rocks at people named Kyle, cooking, writing.

RGC Member Interview with Darkwind

Original interview was submitted by Igor back in 2006 and as the first question states; it was the first member interview we ever did. Since finding it and brushing off the dust, I'll do a slight update/revamp to bring it somewhat current. ;-}

How does it feel to be the first Gamer of the Month in RGC history?
It is pretty exciting. Not because I am the first, but because it is a new direction and a new addition to RGC as a whole. I get enjoy when our members find new ways for us to branch out and communicate with each other and with others. So I was excited to see the idea come into reality. Being chosen to be the first to go through the process is just an added bonus.

How do you feel you have been influential to the expansion of RGC and its events?
Slightly before RGC became RGC I showed up to a Friday night game just to see what was going on and maybe talk a little about the A Game of Thrones CCG that I just started demoing up at Jimmy Jams. That is where I first met Toby, Monique, Dan, and Jesi. We all talked for awhile and Dan and Jesi taught me Munchkin. Now fast forward a bit and RGC has been formed and I find myself as interim Co-President on the Board of Directors. That is a far stretch from showing up to play a game or two.

But how do I feel I am influential? I think I bring some of the business aspect that is needed to make RGC legitimate. I think the business side of the organization was a bit overwhelming and I hope I have helped with the transition from local gaming group to a potential community name. We have come a long way from concept to reality, but there is still a lot left to be done. I like to hear new ideas and work with people on shaping the ideas that make good sense for the organization. I work for the organization whenever I can. I have worked with Tony to setup the Friday night game demoing at Chateau Theatres. I have talked about RGC to everyone I meet up at Jimmy Jams and when I am demoing and running tournaments for the A Game of Thrones CCG. I have written many articles for the e-zine and I still have hope that we can put together a great e-zine and that it will see distribution in the near future. I also make myself as available as I can for our members and for gaming. I enjoy seeing RGC members at Jimmy Jams on Wednesday nights for gaming. We also have the upcoming Game Day event on June 17th that I jump started on the forums. I cannot wait to see how that turns out. My hope is that the group will see it as a big success for the organization and something we might want to attempt on a regular basis. Hopefully events like this will assist in getting our name out in the community and warm everyone up for the day we finally have the convention here in Rochester.

The more recent ways would be the game days, helping to shape the overall processes used in RGC, being part of the people that worked on planning and implementing the Gamers Reunion convention and working with everyone to keep it going. I use to have weekly game nights at my place, but I've since had to stop that. I've also taken on the majority of the responsibility for the website. I think each time we revamp the site, it gets a little nicer and it definitely has a nice community feel at the moment.

In general I try to be a public face for RGC and hope people see it as a positive reflection on the group and check us out.

Tell us, when did this "gaming" take over your life? Or has it?
Gaming has not taken over my life. It does eat up a good portion of my income lately though. I would say that gaming has become a bit more prevalent in my life in recent months. Getting more involved in gaming had a lot to do with the wonderful people I met not only through RGC but up at Jimmy Jams as well. I also got caught up in the enthusiasm of seeing RGC become a reality and that has driven me even further into gaming. So between RGC and the A Game of Thrones community I have become a more serious gamer again. Prior to that I pretty much just ran an online Heroes Unlimited game, and played in a few as well, and played the occasional game at home with my wife and my son. Hanging out at Jimmy Jams and with other RGC members has introduced me to a few new games that I now play: D&D Minis, Star Wars Minis, Ticket to Ride, Apples to Apples, Vs (although I no longer collect the cards), and starting the Rochester meta has kept me extremely interested in continuing with A Game of Thrones.

How were you first introduced to the whole concept of gaming outside of a computer or a console system, when did you first learn about Role-playing Games, Collectable Card Games, or anything that you play?
Other than your typical kids games (I still remember playing Stratego in school as a young kid, and games of Connect Four over at a friend's house) my first real venture into gaming was with role-playing games.

I started role-playing around the age of 10 or so. For someone who liked to write, this was a perfect outlet for some of my overly active imagination. I started out with the old boxed version of basic Dungeons & Dragons. If you're a old school role-player, you remember it well; the old red box and the cheap dice that came with a crayon to color in the numbers. I stayed up all night reading those books. Role-playing has a special spot in my heart for me. You see, it was more than a game to me. My grandmother, the only real family I've ever had, bought that boxed set for me. She was a very special lady. I cherished each and every gift she ever got me. This particular gift has lasted a lifetime. She never attempted to criticize anything I ever did. She never tried to take away my dreams. In fact, she attempted to help them grow. She always believed in me. Anyway, I feel that every time I role play, I'm using the gift given to me by a very special person in my life. I have run many type of games over the years and even helped run massive online campaigns.

I sort of adventured into collectible cards games the same way most people did; through Magic: The Gathering. I played for several years and even ran online clans with tournaments. During that time I tried many of the other CCGs that came along but really never stuck with anything like I did Magic. Eventually the rules changed in Magic a little too much for me and I stopped playing that as well. Fast forward many, many years and I picked up the A Game of Thrones CCG because my wife and I completely love the books the game is based on. My wife has tried Magic with some of my older Magic cards, but did not really care for it one way or the other, but A Game of Thrones hooked us both right away.

With board games, beyond the early games I listed above and a few party games, really started once I joined RGC. I was more of a role-player when RGC first formed. I still love role-playing, but my board game collection has grown immensely over the last 3 years.

Has gaming been a good experience as a whole for you? Have you met many interesting people or seen interesting places?
I do think gaming has been a great experience as a whole. I cannot think of too many bad experiences overall. Sure everyone runs into that campaign that was not run well or the annoying player who ruins the fun factor from time to time, but there are still positives that can be taken away from those situations. I have met a lot of cool people through gaming in all phases of my life.

As for interesting people I have met because of gaming, I guess I would count Nate French and Luke Reed into that category. I met both Nate and Luke basically the day before each of them started working for Fantasy Flight Games and developed a decent friendship with both of them. Luke I actually talked to a few times online before actually meeting him since he was excited that I was putting together a Rochester meta for A Game of Thrones and he knew a couple of people in the area that might play. Both of these guys are really cool and I think the A Game of Thrones community is much better off knowing these two are working for the future of the game. Plus, they make the trip to Rochester whenever they can to play in our tournaments and meet the Rochester players. I think that has had a great impact on the local community. I met Travis Legge, the creator/developer of Contagion. He's a cool guy and Contagion is a great product. Unfortunately, it looks like Travis has moved on to strictly comics and Contagion has not seen any updated material in awhile.

As for interesting places, I have lived all over the United States, mostly up and down the east coast. I also went to Iraq and Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. I never got the chance to drop in Kuwait though. That had nothing to do with gaming though; I was in the Army and sent over during the war. The only real gaming I did there was play Spades, lots and lots of Spades.

I did go to GenCon for free one year because of A Game of Thrones. I demo'd the game at GenCon for Fantasy Flight Games. In exchange, they paid for my ticket, hotel, and gave me a ride. That was cool, as it was my first time ever going to GenCon.

How does your family react to your daily or weekly Gaming escapades?
For the most part my family is supportive of me picking up another hobby to replace a few of the ones I gave up in the past few years. I use to play in pool leagues and had a great team that helped bring home quite a few trophies, but I got burnt out being the team captain and trying to keep everything running smooth, especially after one of my teammates moved to Chicago and drove back from time to time for tournaments. So I stopped playing pool, I have not collected comic books since I left the military because of the cost (I was dropping $50+ a week back in the 80s and 90s), I have not played Magic since around Ice Age, etc. Basically the only hobbies I kept was an online game of Heroes Unlimited and my movie collection (1200+ DVDs and still growing); neither of which really got me out much. So when my wife and I started playing A Game of Thrones and I eventually talked about starting a meta in Rochester, she told me to go for it. From the meta my interest in RGC grew and she's been supportive of that as well.

Sometimes trying to balance gaming/RGC/GR time with real life schedules can be tough. Especially now that I've started working a second, part time job.

My son does not seem to mind my gaming, especially since we started playing a modified version of Dungeons and Dragons miniatures. He loves my miniature collection and we get to play a game together which is always a bonus. So D&D minis are my son's gateway drug into gaming. ;-}

What would the 'ultimate gaming store' be in your mind?
The ultimate gaming store in my mind would be a place with plenty of room. I would love to see an area for free, public, open gaming and then possibly a rentable game area that could be used by gamers that want more privacy and a decent space to game. The game store would either have a serious amount of choices for food and drinks, or they would allow certain amount of outside food in. The store would have a clean and friendly environment. Oh, and it would have a decent set of evenings hours (open until at least 9PM during the week) to accommodate us gamers that work a typical day shift. I would love to see a gaming store that used the ultimate gaming table design I posted to the boards as their main tables. That would be sweet!

You are stranded on a desert island with a small group of people, what 3 games help you relieve the boredom?
This is a tough question now. My original answer was a bit easier, because I hadn't played a lot of board games yet. Now that I have, it is a bit harder to narrow down just 3.

I'd say give me Shadowrun, Last Night on Earth, and maybe Race For The Galaxy and I might be ok.

You suddenly find yourself a lottery winner, what do you use the money for? Do you stop working?
I first use the money for the basics of paying off bills, etc... After that I think I would love a shot at running the gaming store I talked about above. As far as work, I cannot see myself not working. I am not even sure if running the gaming store would be enough for me. My wife might have to run it during the day so I can continue being a programmer. I love what I do and I love my current job, so I would have to keep working in some capacity.

What is your all time favorite game? If you play multiple types of games, you can list a favorite for each category.
Role-playing: I feel like I should say D&D out of loyalty since it is the system I started on, and my previous answer was Heroes Unlimited based on the game setting and my personal campaign world (which I still love). But I think I'm going to have to go with Shadowrun, with Mutants & Masterminds coming in close behind it.

Board Game: There are so many good games I have been able to try by being a part of RGC that this is a tough category to pick a single game to represent. I am a big fan of Last Night on Earth, so I think I'll pick that for now. But man, I could list a lot of games here!

Miniatures: It use to be Star Wars or D&D miniatures, but at the moment I'd have to pick AT-43, even though I did not get to play it much. Mutant Chronicles might replace AT-43 once I get a few plays in. Heroscape is a great miniatures game as well.

Collectible Card Game: A Game of Thrones hands down. I use to play Magic, I tried Pokemon when my ex-girlfriend's daughter got into it heavily, and I have a box full of other collectible card games I have tried over the years, but nothing has captured my interest like A Game of Thrones. I just love the mechanics of the game. I love the strategy involved, and I love the books the game is based off of. I also do not think A Game of Thrones is as big of a rare chase as a lot of CCGs and have made competitive decks with mostly commons and uncommons. The A Game of Thrones community is awesome and the prize support is pretty decent for tournaments. (note: I have since stopped playing AGOT, but still have interest in it and debate picking up the latest edition.)

Card Game: This is a close one between Race For The Galaxy and Dominion at the moment. I am going to go with Race For The Galaxy, simply because I've played it a bit more.

Video Games: I play a lot of video games as well so this will be difficult too. On the console I like the X-Men Legends series. Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines on the computer has one of the scariest haunted mansion/hotel scenes ever. I don't even get jumpy at scary movies, etc. But I played through that scenario one night in the dark with my speakers up and it freaked me out. I was jumpy and my heart was racing. The Star Wars Knight of the old Republic games are great. Both Freedom Force games are cool. Pirates, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, Grand Theft Auto (take your pick), Dungeon Siege, Black & White, Baldur's Gate, etc. All are great games and this particular list could go on forever. I just recently started playing World of Warcraft as well.

What game(s) do you want to play but have not yet?
Since the last time I answered this question, I have been able to try Mutants & Masterminds, Shadowrun, Kung Fu Fighting, Heroscape, and Mall of Horror thanks to being a part of RGC. So that is great. Now for the next generation list of games I want to try. ;-}

Agricola, Wasabi!, Android, Murder City, Dark Heresy, and CthulhuTech are a few I can think of off the top of my head.

Basically I am interested in trying just about anything once.

Is there a particular game or games you do not care for?
I seem to be in the minority for the people that did not like Morrowind. I just cannot get into this game no matter how hard I try, and I love computer RPGs. I kept putting it aside and coming back to it hoping I would like it, but I just cannot stand the game.

Settlers of Catan is an obvious one that everyone knows I can't stand. I know it's a popular game and a lot of people really enjoy it, but I really, REALLY can't stand it. It's a waste of time that I can't get back to play good games. ;-}

What is your favorite movie?
Man, this is a tough one since I collect movies. I might have to attempt categories for this one.
Comedy: 40-Year-Old Virgin and Waiting…
Comic Book: The Crow is an old favorite, but man Batman Begins & The Dark Knight brought a lot of faith back to comic book movies, didn't they? Yes, I also enjoyed the X-Men and Spider-Man movies.
Drama: This is a tough category because of all the great dramas, but I am going to go with The Shawshank Redemption I think.
Animated: The Incredibles.
Action: Desperado. Another hard choice to make though.
Horror: This is going to be tough. I have been a horror fan, especially b-movie horror films, for a long time. I love the Hellraiser series. Saw was great. The Grudge was pretty decent. Also the Dawn of the Dead remake was pretty good too, even if the zombies did move at a fast pace. The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes are great as well. Like I said, this is a tough category for me.
Sci-Fi: Serenity was a great movie that more people should have gone to see! Strange Days was a cool concept of a movie. And although a lot of people hate it (especially people that read the book - which I have not), I liked the first Starship Troopers.

I guess I will stop there. I know quite a few more categories I could go into. Although I do have to give honorable mentions to Poolhall Junkies, The Boondock Saints, and Equilibrium.

What is your favorite type of music?
I have a very eclectic collection of music. My CD collection is just slightly behind my DVD collection. I use to be a DJ so I have a lot of variety in my music. I listen to everything from some Country to Heavy Metal and Alternative Rock to R&B and Pop, but my main listening is hardcore hip-hop. I grew up on it, I played it a lot as a DJ, and I still listen to it today. This tends to surprise a lot of people. I won't get into my background a lot, but trust me it fits. ;-}

What are some of your favorite books/authors?
George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has easily climbed to my top 3 all time favorite series of books. (Come out with the next book, George! PLEASE!) Let's see; no one writes a fight scene like R.A. Salvatore. Orson Scott Card's Ender series is pretty decent, especially since I read more fantasy than sci-fi. The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman is an excellent read, as are the main Dragonlance books by them as well. Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame are an excellent read as well. This series is about a group of role-players that get turned into their characters by the GM who happens to be a wizard from another reality. I like Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, Michael Moorcock, and Paoilini.

Can you give us your favorite gaming story?
Well, I think it would go back to when I was in the Army and after I came back from the war and was stationed in Virginia. I hooked up with a gaming group that played D&D every weekend. Eventually we got tired of D&D and started running Heroes Unlimited. This was my first experience with the game and I have been playing it ever since. After awhile the gaming group sort of filtered out, which happens on a military base as people get transferred, and in the end it was just me and my friend playing in each other's worlds. We would switch of GMing Heroes Unlimited every Saturday and Sunday. We both played multiple characters in each others worlds and a lot of times had to face off against our own characters if the situation came up that put them at odds.

One of my characters was a space combat military type. She was all gung-ho and always got the job done, but had a way of getting herself almost killed all the time until she finally was more machine than human anymore. Her nickname was Lady Ace or Ace of Spades. Somehow she ended up on a planet with a few of my other characters and they ended up being at odds. The group she was with was on the run from my wolf-like alien that could turn himself into electricity. I remember him catching her scent and breaking away from his group to give chase. The rest of his team could not keep up, so they just followed as best they could.

Lady Ace was being urged to run through the forest by the group she hooked up with, all of them in a panic about being caught by my wolf-like alien. At first, Lady Ace complied with their wishes and simply ran along with them, but it really got on her nerves because it was not her style. As she ran, her hearing implants caught the sound of the chase and she got fed up with running so she simply stopped. The group she was with continued to plead with her to keep going. She simply held up her hand and in her commanding voice said, "Give me a minute."

Lady Ace lowered herself to one knee and took out her most lethal weapon. She went into total concentration mode and sighted the weapon towards the approaching noises she heard. The people with her were in a complete panic. It was at this point my friend asked me what my intentions were. I looked at him and said, "Simple. Headshot. Lady Ace is pissed off about running and she plans to make a statement about it." My friend chuckled and asked me if that was really what I wanted to do. I said yes. The die roll: a natural 20.

My wolf-like alien made it to the small clearing in time to look up and get the full blast right in the face, taking his head clean off.

Lady Ace simply stood up, looked at the people she was with (who were all awestruck) and said, "Now we can go." My friend stopped the game for awhile to let the laughter drain from him and repeat over and over again, "Man, I cannot believe you did that! To your own character! That was cold, man!"

That was just Lady Ace. ;-}

RGC Member Interview with GuruDave

What is your favorite kind of game?

I like games that simulate things in the real world, particularly things that interest me. I’ve always been intrigued by models, by which I mean things that represent, look like, or behave like other things, but are under my control. I like to be able to manipulate and experiment with models to see how they work. So, I enjoy most games that model how real things work – aerial dogfights, civilizations, stock markets, etc. because I feel I am learning while I play.

Since I am very interested in history, my passion is historical miniatures. I often describe miniatures games as “playing a book.” You can learn by reading about history, but when you paint an army, build terrain, and then organize and play it as a game, you really get to know what went on historically and what factors contributed to the outcome and what might have caused things to come out differently.

The other aspects of miniatures gaming – painting figures and building terrain – fit in well with my interest in “arts and crafts.” I find the time that I spend painting and building terrain very relaxing, and it is something I can do for hours at a time or just five minutes at a time, depending on my schedule.

What is your least favorite?

I usually don’t enjoy abstract games like traditional card and board games (checkers, Hearts, etc.) My worst gaming experience ever was trying to play Schafkopf (Sheepshead) with a nice German family. Even their nine-year-old son had a better grasp of the game than I did. I also try to avoid computer and other electronic games. While they can be fun, I find them addictive and they don’t teach you much about reality. Honestly, I come away from a computer game feeling stressed and frustrated, compared to the calmness I get from painting figures.

When did you become interested in miniatures?

I suppose it goes back to watching my brother play Jutland on the living room floor, using the cardboard ship counters. That was about 1970. I got into board wargames about the same time in a big way, but it wasn’t until maybe 1990 that my father got me interested in miniatures gaming when he brought back some miniatures gaming magazines from England. By then, I could actually afford to buy minis, and I had already started painting figures to use in HeroQuest games with my kids, so one thing led to another.

How much time does it take to paint a miniature?

It depends mostly on the scale, the amount of detail that is sculpted into the miniature, what I intend to do with it after I paint it. A 15mm figure with little detail that I will use for a game may take less than 5 minutes to paint, but I’ve spent hours on a single figure when I wanted it to look really nice on display. Most of the figures I paint are 25mm scale that I use for gaming, and they take maybe 15 to 30 minutes each to paint.

Have you ever entered any of your miniatures into a contest?

Yes, just once, at Con of the North last year -- an Ice Giant from Magnificent Egos. It won 1st Place in the Single Figure category, but I had a lot of help from RGC folks that voted for my figure.

As president of RGC, how do you envision RGC moving forward?

I think our mission statement is sound and I believe we are heading in the right direction. I am particularly proud of the work that the RGC has done for charities. After all, RGC is about gaming and having fun, but it’s also about building each other up and making our community a better place to live. However, no matter how dedicated and capable the Board of Directors is, the RGC can’t reach its full potential without the help from the general RGC membership. I’ve been very encouraged recently by how involved several RGC members have become in organizing and running game days, promoting RGC, helping out with the website, etc. The more involved people get, the more everyone will get out of the RGC experience.

How can RGC members help?

The Board of Directors periodically publishes specific goals that the RGC is trying to accomplish. What we need are people who are willing to say “I will personally work on goal number six (or whatever)” and then come up with some creative ideas to make it happen. I know there are some amazingly talented and capable people in the RGC, and we all have our networks, so I encourage everyone to consider becoming directly involved in the success and growth of the RGC.

What is your favorite game memory?

Quite honestly, I don’t win very often, and I’m okay with that. I just enjoy watching the little army men run around on the field. I do remember a game of Waterloo that I played in college with a brilliant friend of mine who now works for the CIA. I was the French, and I managed to pin his front line with my heavy infantry while my cavalry charged around his flank. It was a complete and quick victory for me, but he was so discouraged he never played me again, so that was the downside. I think I’ve won a game once or twice since then, too.

Do you like GemQuest?

It sounds cool. Teach me.

Never...

RGC Member Interview with Jormi_Boced

How do you feel you have been influential to the expansion of RGC and its events?
I am really excited to be helping out with the RGC. I love games, and I think it is great that I can use my skills to help further the goals of the RGC.

Tell us, when did this "gaming" take over your life? Or has it?
Well I don’t know if it has “taken over my life”, but it is definitely a major part of my recreational life. I have been gaming for as long as I remember. It started with board games with the family when I was pretty young. We had the usual games around; Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly, Sorry and such. I became very interested in fantasy and science fiction, so games like Dragon Strike and such started being played by my brothers and I. Once I got into high school, I met others who played CCGs like Magic and Star Wars, RPGs like D&D, miniatures like Warhammer and Euro board games like Settlers of Catan. This is when gaming really took off for me. I played CCGs almost every day over lunch time at school. I had a regular gaming group for D&D. There were a few different Warhammer armies around for me to battle and then I started introducing my family to the interesting Euro games I would pick up. I started going to Gen Con around this time as well, which helped me find many more fun an interesting games, as well as play at very competitive levels. When Decipher lost the Star Wars license, I started playing Lord of the Rings TCG as my main competitive game and was able to place 16th at the World Championships in 2005. Anyway, that turned into more of a history of my gaming than anything else.

How were you first introduced to the whole concept of gaming outside of a computer or a console system, when did you first learn about Role Playing Games, Collectable Card Games, or anything that you play.
I guess I kind of covered that in my above history of gaming, but I have pretty much been exposed to all types of gaming at some point in my life by some great individuals, and I am really happy to have had all of those experiences.

Has gaming been a good experience as a whole for you? Have you met many interesting people or seen interesting places?
Gaming has been a great experience for me overall. I have met people from all over the world through gaming. It is amazing how I have met people from across the globe to right down the street a ways all because of this hobby. Gen Con every year is an amazing interesting place to be. I am going to keep going as long as I can. I have been going for 6 years now I believe, and I just don’t want it to stop.

How does your family react to your daily or weekly Gaming escapades?
They mostly support it. My parents and siblings all enjoy games as well. My wife is a bit more reluctant with the games, but she is willing to try every game at least once, and there are many that she enjoys as well. She is also very understanding of my hobby and allows me to take over the house with my geekiness for Heroscape and other gaming nights.

What would the 'ultimate gaming store' be in your mind?
It needs to have a ton of room to play games and a huge selection. Knowledgeable friendly staff would be nice to see as well.

You are stranded on a desert island with a small group of people, what 3 games help you relieve the boredom?
Well definitely the number one game would have to be Heroscape. There are just so many options you can have with it, and if you start to get bored, you can think up some other cool scenarios to try for a while. I think Puerto Rico would be another one, for when I wanted a bit of a brain burner. My other would be Carcassonne.

You suddenly find yourself a lottery winner, what do you use the money for? Do you stop working?
Well I guess it depends on how much the lottery is for, but assuming it is a good amount. I would first pay off all my bills. I would then open up a sort of youth club where kids could come play games from a large library. I would also open a dog park in Austin and support some other charities. The rest would be invested so I could retire well, but I would continue working.

What is your all time favorite game? If you play multiple types of games, you can list a favorite for each category.
Miniature game – Heroscape
CCG – Star Wars CCG (Decipher)
Euro Game – Carcassonne
Card Game – San Juan
RPG – D&D 2nd Edition

What game(s) do you want to play but have not yet?
Thurn and Taxis, Battleground Fantasy Warfare, Tiki Mountain and like a whole slew of others. Those were just the first ones I thought of.

Is there a particular game or games you do not care for?
Most of the traditional board games and party games that are on the market are pretty lacking, but there are a few good ones here and there.

What is your favorite movie?
Hard to pick just one here, so I will list a few. Lord of the Rings Trilogy, original Star Wars trilogy, Braveheart and Boondock Saints.

What is your favorite type of music?
I really listen to all kinds of music. I think that pretty much every genre has something that is worth listening too. I think my all time favorite band is Barenaked Ladies. They have really evolved over their career, but every CD still has throw backs to their original stylings, and in concert they are wonderful crowd pleasers.

What are some of your favorite books/authors?
JRR Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Dean Koontz and Dan Brown.

Can you give us your favorite gaming story?
It is hard to pick just one, but we had a pretty amusing incident occur the other night when playing Heroscape that happens to be on my mind right now. Rali and I were assaulting a castle that Luke was defending with Raelin, Major Q9, two sets of knights and Sir Hawthorne. Major Q9 was doing a pretty good job mowing down the sieging army, but some of the knights were being picked off the ramparts by ranged figures in the sieging army, so Luke decided to move them back. He started by bonding with Hawthorne, and when Hawthorne takes a turn at the end of it you must roll the D20 to see if you roll a one. If you do, Sir Hawthorne stabs you in the back and you must give control of him to one of your opponents. Well on Luke’s very first turn of the very first time he ever played with Sir Hawthorne, he rolls a one and is stuck with an infiltrator that is in his well defended castle, and to add insult to injury, he is also in the way of where Luke wanted to move his knights.

What hobbies do you have outside of gaming?
I like to hang out with my wife Kate and play with my dog Sprocket. I also like to play Disc Golf and computer games. I like to paint miniatures and do other creative things. Reading and watching movies occupy another fair amount of my time. I also like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking and in the summer I like to hit the grill and smoker pretty hard.

RGC Member Interview with Kalisha

How do you feel you have been influential to the expansion of RGC and its events?
By hosting games at my house and coming out of my shell and learning new games. I'm not so great about spreading the word, but if someone asks about RGC, I definitely put a good word out there about us and encourage them to show up to an event or hang out at Jimmy Jams.

Tell us, when did this "gaming" take over your life? Or has it?
I don't entirely know when this gaming took over. It kind of has just sucked me in over the past few years. I still try to keep my son my number one focus as well as my relationship with TJ. It does help to have a hobby that TJ and I both enjoy together, even though we are far apart.

How were you first introduced to the whole concept of gaming outside of a computer or a console system, when did you first learn about Role Playing Games, Collectable Card Games, or anything that you play.
My very first RPG was WW on an AOL chat room. Pretty lame, but that's where I started. It slowly progressed and I didn't really get into RPG's until last year. And by RPG's I mean tabletop. L5R was my very first tabletop RPG. I have dabbled with CCG's but they are not my favorite. I've played Vs., DBZ, and AGOT. Most of my recent gaming I credit to TJ. He has taught me a lot and I've learned so much in the past few months.

Has gaming been a good experience as a whole for you? Have you met many interesting people or seen interesting places?
Without gaming I wouldn't have met the people that I know today. All the people I have met are interesting in their own rites :) All in all, it's been a wonderful experience and I've started to make friends since I've been here in Rochester (3 years)

How does your family react to your daily or weekly Gaming escapades?
It's my hidden hobby really. I think I mentioned to my mom about it once and was told that I was wasting my time and should focus on other responsibilities. So in essence I'm still "in the closet" about this one. :D

What would the 'ultimate gaming store' be in your mind?
Rows and rows of 8' tables with ample chairs, decent ones too! Every table has some sort of game on it in miniature style so if someone has that game, they can crack it open on that table. A good size room for me would be a hotel conference room. On the walls I would imagine just a sea of games of all types. Any game imaginable really. And Jeff to run the whole damn place! :D

You are stranded on a desert island with a small group of people, what 3 games help you relieve the boredom?
Apples to Apples, 5 Crowns, Descent

You suddenly find yourself a lottery winner, what do you use the money for? Do you stop working?
Pay off my never ending bills, to pay all my current bills up to 10 years down the road so I would never have to pay another bill again for that long. And no, I would probably not stop working, but I definitely would take time off to find myself a decent job and probably go back to school and get a degree in something.

What is your all time favorite game? If you play multiple types of games, you can list a favorite for each category.
Currently, WOW is my favorite Online game. Apples to Apples my favorite board game, and 5 crowns my favorite card game.

What game(s) do you want to play but have not yet?
Descent. I have played it once and it was great, but I want to play it again soon!

And any game that Mike owns that I have not tried out yet :)

Is there a particular game or games you do not care for?
CCG's (although I put up with them really) and Warhammer (*ducks to avoid getting shot by TJ and the alike*)

What is your favorite movie?
Currently.....Cars! But I have a list! Seven, Father of the Bride one and two, When Harry Met Sally, Titanic (Yes, shut up, I like it! But I'm a girl so who cares?!)

What is your favorite type of music?
Anything 80's really. I think I'm in a time warp and I'm not up to speed with anything current.

What are some of your favorite books/authors?
Don't really have any favorite books. I like to read, but I have to be in the mood to do some serious reading. Ok, fine, if I have to pick it would be the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Can you give us your favorite gaming story?
Wow this is a tough one. The only ones that are coming to the top of my head are the ones in WoW. I had an emote become a disaster one evening. It was the first time I had quested with TJ's friend and the first time I had met him. We were all in a dungeon run together and I believe I wanted my character to shake his characters hand (Tj's friend) and so I did a /shake not knowing exactly what the emote would say, but I assumed it would be something along the lines of "Neid shakes Brenton's hand". Oh no....not the case at all. Instead it comes up as "Neid shakes her rear at Brenton". I was absolutely mortified and he just chuckled and acted like nothing horribly wrong had happened. :) It was funny to say the least.

What hobbies do you have outside of gaming?
You mean there are other hobbies out there besides gaming???? :D Well, I do play the piano and I only get to play when I go to my mom's house. I like to scrapbook, but with a 4 year old it's a bit tough to accomplish. I also like miniatures....and I'm not talking D&D. I have a dollhouse that I still haven't put together and I would love to finish that one day and then decorate the entire thing with miniatures. Camping, Rollerblading, Golf, shooting pool are more hobbies of mine but I don't get a chance to do too often anymore.

RGC Member Interview with Siddy

Siddy (Cyrus), Member of RGC since 2007

How long have you been playing boardgames, RPGs, collectible, and card games?

Boy, let me think. Since I was 5, I'd guess. I have always been drawn to games, especially those with lots of bits and pieces and really interesting visual design.

What is your earliest memory of a game you played?

Easily, it was "Hungry, Hungry Hippos". While I am sure I played other games before this one (such as Candy Land or Shoots 'N' Ladders), the Hippos remains one of my strongest game memories from my childhood. I think this is most likely because of the non-stop action the game required. A perfect game for a little boy who had too much energy and not enough to do.

What is your favorite game of all time and why?

HeroQuest remains one of my favorite games for three reasons.

First it was the first dungeon crawl game I ever played. I was big into Dungeons and Dragons and seeing the monsters alongside my hero was an incredible moment for me. The scenarios that I had always played out in my head and on paper came to life before my eyes.

Second, the endless possibilities with the game allowed for customization and personal expansion. I have always been a fan of games that did not corner the player and had flexible and customizable elements there were easy to expand on. HeroQuest allowed me to create, design, and play countless different ideas with my friends. There never seemed to be an end to the possibilities.

Third, the exploration element of the game made the game much more than a hack 'n' slash dice chucking event. As the character, you had to venture further and further into the dungeons or castles with unknown dangers around the corner. I still recall the thrill of opening a new room and having the Overlord (the person who was responsible for the plot, game board, and monsters) "populate" the room with monsters and furniture. A a player, I found that experience greatly rewarding.

Man, just thinking about this game again makes me want to get it out and play it!

What is your least favorite game of all time and why?

I thought a lot about this as the answer is not an easy one. There is more to a great game then just the rules and components. There is a social aspect that greatly influence that game, as well. For example, if you play a great game with really nasty people, you will most likely not walk away from the gaming table with "warm fuzzies".

That being said, my least favorite game of all time has got to be "Gem Quest". My dislike for this game is legendary and has become something of an inside joke amongst the senior members of RGC. I have been and always will be rather vocal about it, as this game rubbed me the wrong way from the very beginning.

There are many elements to the game I dislike, but to break it down to the top two (so as to not rant on forever about my never ending loathing) I found the entire game play a convoluted mess. There were also balance issues from the very beginning and no sign of improvement.

In short, the time and energy I put into the game was never rewarded. It was a waste of my time.

What is one of your most memorable moments in a game?

Oh, so many...so many.

One of my favorite moments happened in 2008 playing Fantasy Flight Games' "Battlestar Galactica".

In the game, you may or may not be a Cylon. Because the other players do not know, this game element produces a great amount of second guessing, paranoia, and backstabbing. I was a Cylon from the beginning, and while I was immediately targeted as a "possible Cylon", I was able to manipulate the players and the game from the shadows so effectively that when I revealed myself as a Cylon, everyone at the table was floored by the news! The look on their faces as I blew up the Galactica will forever be a cherished memory of mine.

The complete game session can be read by clicking the following link:

http://rochestergamers.com/drupal/node/17

What about the games you play do you enjoy the most?

The most enjoyable aspect of a game for me is the shared experience; the act of being part of a story that everyone at the table helps tell and finish. It is this social aspect that I find greatly lacking in video games (including massive multiplayer video games...sorry Warcraft). The "human element" and the social interaction when playing a game is one of the greatest thrills for me.

Any last words?

Just one.

I hate you Gem Quest . I hate you so very, very much.

RGC Member Interview with Splifaclez007

How do you feel you have been influential to the expansion of RGC and its events?
Looking Back Over The Past Six Months Or So Its Amazing To Me The Things This Club Has Accomplished. As Far As My Part In The Expansion Of R.G.C. I'm Only Doing What I Love! Talking To People About Gaming, Planning Game Days, And Gaming Itself Of Course! As Far As The Events, Its Pure Torture To Have To Run My Favorite Game For Multitudes Of People. I Mean, I Get To Teach People About This Awesome Game. Allow Them A Space And Opportunity To Exercise Their Imaginations, IT SUCKS MAN!! lol.

Tell us, when did gaming take over your life? Or has it?
I Don't Believe Gaming Has Taken Over My Life At All. I Spend As Much Time As I Can With My Family, And I Have To Work As Well So, Gaming Occurs Whenever I Can Fit It In.

How were you first introduced to the whole concept of gaming outside of a computer or a console system? When did you first learn about roleplaying games, collectible card games, or anything that you play?
I Started Playing Dungeons And Dragons Around Age 15. From There I Moved To Vampire, Shadowrun, Mage. In High School I Played Magic. I Have Just Recently With The Help Of People Like Sheldon And Michael!) Started Playing Board games.

Has gaming been a good experience as a whole for you? Have you met interesting people or seen interesting places?
Gaming Has Been A Great Experience For Me! I've Met And Made Friends With Many Interesting People Through Gaming And I Am About To See Oshkosh Wis. As A Result Of Gaming. I Hope Its Interesting.

How does your family react to your weekly or daily gaming escapades?
Well I Only Play Weekly So, My Family Does Not Mind At All! It Helps That My Wife Plays And Loves D&D!

What would be the ultimate gaming store in your mind?
Well...We Would Need Massage On Command Services, You Know For Those Stressful R.P.G. Sessions. Then A Full Service Restaurant And Bar With Klingon Waitresses. Also, Live Jedi Gladiator Fights Where They Kill Jar Jar Binks Clones A Hundred Different Ways Each Day. Oh And Gaming Stuff As Well. Maybe Comics Too. It Would Have To Stay Open Later Than 7pm As Well. Hey..You Said "Ultimate"!!

You are stranded on a desert island with a small group of people; What 3 games help you relieve the boredom?
Dungeons And Dragons, Chess, And A Deck Of Playing Cards.( Mostly For Spades!)

You suddenly find yourself a lottery winner; What do you use the money for? Do you stop working?
First I'd Pay Off All My Debt, Pay My Family's Debt As Well.
Then I'd Build A Really Nice Bed And Breakfast Around La Crosse Wis. And Run That For The Rest Of My Life. I'd Probably Visit The Motherland (IRELAND BABY!) As Well.

What is your all time favorite game? If you play multiple types of games, you can list a game for each category.
Dungeons And Dragons. All Editions.

What game(s) do you want to play, but have not yet tried?
I'd Really Like To Play The Game Of Thrones RPG Sometime! Also Kung Fu Fighting!

Is there a particular game or games that you do not care for?
I Haven't Found One Yet!

What is your favorite movie?
Boondocks Saints Is My Favorite Movie! Sick!

What is your favorite type of music?
I Like Pretty Much Everything Except Country (That Aint My Truck In Her Driveway...blah) Favorite Band Is Tool!!!!!

What are some of your favorite authors/books?
Anything By R.A. Salvatore For Sure! George R.R. Matin Too! I Really Like The Poetry Of Shel Silverstien And It Sounds Lame But I LOVE GREEN EGGS AND HAM!

Can you give us your favorite gaming story?
Boy Can I! Just Recently I Was Running The Picnic Game Day Afternoon Session, Aron Was Supposed To Run An Ebberon Setting That Same Afternoon. We Decided To Combine The Two, And Give Aron The Opportunity To Bask In My DM Greatness.lol. We Were Playing The Updated Version Of Gary Gygax's Classic " The Tomb Of Horrors". The Party Adventured Abmirably For Awhile And Came Upon A Puzzle. Easily Solving This Puzzle, The Party Recived A Gem. The First Person That Touched The Gem Was Informed That It Was A "Gem Of Wishing." Roberts Character Gave The Gem To Toms Character Who Impaitently Used The One Wish Right Then. The Wish Was Fairly Simple And Straight Foward, "I Wish For The Whole Party To Be In The Room We Need To Be In To End This Quest." Easy Right? Wrong! The Gem Is Actually A "Cursed Gem Of Wishing"! The Gem Is Made To Twist And Pervert The Wish As Much As Possible! Gary Gygax Is A Genius! I Deposited The Players In The Antechamber To The Room They Needed To Be In. The Door Into That Chamber Is Made From Adamintite. The Door Behind A DC 40 Search Check Secert Door. The Room Dimensions 20x20. The Secondary Power Of The Gem, Roll Init. For The Gem And On Its Turn It EXPLODES In A 30ft Blast Of Hell Fire. Thus Dealing The Death Blow Of 200 Points Of Hellfire To The Entire Party. 70 Points If You Make You Reflex Save. The Whole Party Died. Awesome. The Best Thing Was The Last Character To Go Seeing A Noisesome Purple Mass That Had Been The Gem Chuckling At It Through A Magic Mouth Spell.

What hobbies do you have outside of gaming?
I Ilke To Read Anything I an Get My Hands On. Love Frisbee Golf Too!

RGC Member Interview with kfritz

How do you feel you have been influential to RGC and the expansion of it’s events?
I do not feel that I have been very influential, but I have been able to provide some additional support to the board gaming hobby. When my children grow older, I hope to get more time to be able to spread the wargaming hobby out a bit. I attend when I can, invite others to my game days when I have them and participate as much as possible to the content on the forums here.

Tell Us, When Did Gaming Take Over Your Life? Or Has It?
Gaming has played a large role in my life at different times. In my grade school years (83-85) AD&D ruled my life (in addition to heavy metal music ) as did Axis and Allies and Supremacy. But high school begat a gaming drought as many of my friends moved out the the suburbs (I grew up in Milwaukee, WI) and my new friends got me interested in skateboarding, being in a metal band (Fatal Plaid) and girls, girls, girls. College days brought more plays of Supremacy, but that was extent of it as Video Gaming took center stage. After graduation and moving out here, I got some folks interested in Supremacy. In turn, I was introduced to Illuminati. Wanting to know more about both games, I came across Boardgamegeek.com in late 2003. The rest is history as since that time, I have acquired well over 200 games.

How Were You First Introduced To The Whole Concept Of Gaming Outside Of A Computer Or A Console System? When Did You First Learn About Roleplaying Games, Collectible Card Games, Or Anything That You Play?
I was brought up on boardgames (well, crappy roll-and-move ones at least), so computers came later (Magnavox Odyssey^2 was my first system). RPGs came about in the early 80s (AD&D, Gamma World, Marvel Superheroes, Star Frontiers, Battletech). Having Gen Con located in Milwaukee was nice! Light war games had a progression of Risk (from my mom) and moved to A&A, Fortress America and Supremacy, now I love the historical education you can get with the point-to-point, card-driven and Hex-and-counter type systems I have become acquainted with in the last few years. Consoles were the focus for me in the 1989-2000 years.

Has Gaming Been A Good Experience As A Whole For You? Have You Met Interesting People Or Seen Interesting Places?
Gaming has been wonderful for me. Luckily, my loving and beautiful wife has been very supportive (how many wives do you know like Age of Steam?). RGC has also expanded my circle of friends and got me deeper into the hobby. I cannot say that I have been to any interesting places as a result. Hopefully someday I will make it to the annual Essen convention though.

How Does Your Family React To Your Weekly Or Daily Gaming Escapades?
Daily, Weekly? Yeah.. right.. Right now it is monthly if I am lucky. With a 2.5yr old and a 3 month old gaming for me is reading a rulebook or playing Star Wars Attacktix or Tumblin' Dice with my son.

What Would Be the Ultimate Gaming Store Be In Your Mind?
There is a store back in Milwaukee that is pretty cool (The Boardgame Barrister) that meets my desires. They have a good selection (although 95% of the time I know what I want). Participation in open gaming on weekends costs $5 and you can open a game on the floor if you wish as well if it is not already opened. The people are friendly and remember your name pretty quickly. There are a number of restaurants within walking distance in the area if you need a food break as well.

You Are Stranded On A Desert Island With A Small Group Of People, What 3 Games Help You Relieve The Boredom?
Three huh? Ok, I'll give it a shot. Although this list is always changing.. We should make this a top 10!
- Power Grid
- Pizza Box Football
- Supremacy (I figure I would have lots of time to figure out how to fix the broken market mechanism)

You Suddenly Find Yourself A Lottery Winner, What So You Use The Money For? Do You Stop Working?
How much money are we talking about here? Well, I doubt I could quit working, but money would go to helping my family and investments. While owning a game store would be nice, I am not so certain retail would suit me. Like the quote from the movie Clerks "this job wouldn't suck if it wasn't for the customers".

What Is Your All Time Favorite Game? If You Play Multiple Types Of Games, You Can List A Category For Each.
2 Players - Pizza Box Football
3 Players - Age of Steam
4 Players - Power Grid
5 Players - Shadows over Camelot
6 Players - Bang!

Again.. this is a tough category..

What Game(s) Do You Want To Play, But Have Not Yet?
Another tough one as I want to get through them all! Next on my list is Twilight Struggle (published by GMT). It is a card-driven area-control game that has a Cold War theme. Players (US or Soviet) play cards to assert influence tokens on different parts of the world by using operations points or events dictated on the cards. As I
mentioned earlier, I am very interested in the Cold War. I have got as far as setting up the game and playing a little solitaire to learn the rules. From what I have experienced, I am very eager to play it. The two-player aspect makes it tougher to get it to the table, but I have a good feeling my wife, father-in-law or brother will play it with me soon.

Is There A Particular Game Or Games That You Do Not Care For?
Collectable games really turn me off. I like the game, but hate the required investment because I am a sucker for that sort of thing. In general party games are a moderate turn off, although I have been introduced to some suprisingly good ones lately like "Apples to Apples" and "You Must Be an Idiot".

What Is Your Favorite Movie?
It has been awhile since I have seen a movie in full above a "G" rating, but from what I can remember:
- Comedy: "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" or "Don't be a Menace"
- Action: "Serenity"
- Drama: "Boyz n the Hood"
- Animated: "Akira"

What Is Your Favorite Type Of Music?
I like a lot of different types of music, but I am heavily biased towards metal. My top three "metal" bands are Paradise Lost, Kreator and In Flames. However, I do like 90's rap (N.W.A. (and its various incarnations), BOSS, ICE-T). This all doesn't stop me from having Milli Vanilli or Amy Grant on my iPod playlist though. You wont see Country or anything from Neil Young or any other type of Hippy crap .

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Authors/Books?
I do not have a favorite author, but any books that discuss history that deal with tactics (military or diplomatic) is one that I will be interested in. My last book that I got part way through was "On War" by General Carl Von Clausewitz. The ideas and thoughts presented in the book are pretty interesting. Sun Tsu's "The Art of War" has some interesting nuggets as well.

Can You Give Us Your Favorite Gaming Story?
This one goes back many years to my grade school AD&D days. When we played, we had some folks that were serious, some that were out to just have fun and others that were there to cheat and dominate. Well, my story combines the perfect storm of all those types just not getting along.

While I cannot remember the scenario, I swear it was "The Keep on the Borderlands" which was an introductory module from the basic D&D set back in the early 80's. One of the players "Mike" brings in this character that was way overpowered (I forget what level he was, but it was uncalled for. Mike said that he got leveled up so high from playing with his "other" group and added "If you guys gang up on me and I die, I will become a god because my charisma is so high".. yeah, whatever. John, a little guy, wasn't too keen on this idea and was sort of a stickler for the rules. The DM didn't really care to intervene, although I do not believe that he felt like fighting today
(we normally had some sort of fight anyway in the game). I just sort of sat back and waited for the fireworks to begin. John and Mike start arguing, not just about the stats. John actually got down to the encumbrance of Mike's character. Mike did have a little too much stuff on him, especially for an elven cleric (the broadsword might have
been too heavy, but with a strength of 18/100.. (yeah.. I know.. I'm not sure an elf can have a strength that high, but I digress). Anyway, as we approach DEFCON 2, Mike throws a couple of cheeze balls at John and tells him to the impossible. DEFCON 1 occurs, and John starts swinging at Mike. Mike is a bigger guy and has the height, but not much more weight. Either way, in the end, before we intervened, the last schrill, bawling cries I heard from John as he is getting pummeled by Mike was "You can't carry that sword! YOU'RE ENCUMBERED!!!".

I still see that image to this day.. You may have had to be there, but I for one laughed for many years after that.

What Hobbies Do You Have Outside Of Gaming?
Raising my kids with my wife and woodworking.

RGC Member Interview with starscream

How do you feel you have been influential to the expansion of RGC and its events?
Probably three ways:
1. I was here before it was called RGC when it was still an RPG only game club, and my posting on the forums helped open some of the doors to allow other gaming types like board games.
2. I help organize the once of month board game night at Chateau.
3. I post a fair amount on the forums which helps keep the group active. Also in my posts I try to provide some information about board games.

Tell us, when did this "gaming" take over your life? Or has it?
No, it hasn't. Gaming is just one of many things I am involved in. Typically I don't game at all during the summer, although this summer I have done more so with the chateau game nights and other things. For me gaming is a mostly winter activity that I enjoy, but even then it does not take a top priority in my life.

How were you first introduced to the whole concept of gaming outside of a computer or a console system, when did you first learn about Role Playing Games, Collectable Card Games, or anything that you play.
Well, I played board games as a child, my family always played a fair amount of board and card games but not really the strategy type I play today. I did dabble in strategy games a little bit in high school but really when I worked at IBM for a summer as an intern a couple people I knew there played board games a lot and I became interested in it. When I went back to college that fall I brought board games back with me and have just increased my knowledge and plays since then.

Has gaming been a good experience as a whole for you? Have you met many interesting people or seen interesting places?
Yes, if gaming was not a good experience for me I probably would not be writing this here. The most interesting places gaming has taken me is probably Gen Con (again for a second time this summer), and Con of the North. Gaming Cons are always a fun time, especially to try new games out.

How does your family react to your daily or weekly Gaming escapades?
Well, my kids like board games a lot. My wife is neutral towards gaming. She sometimes participates and sometimes not. Most of the time everything is good between the family and gaming, but like any hobby that takes time it does occasionally conflict with other things going on and create some friction.

What would the 'ultimate gaming store' be in your mind?
I really think that a gaming store in today's era should strive to be an online retailer as well and a store. Then they can offer type of selection and prices the online retailers can. I also think more gaming stores could take advantage of trying organizing game nights. If they charged $5 a person it would only take 8 attendees to open up a brand new copy of $40 game. It would not take long to build a collection of games that way. For the store is a win win, they sell games that they get to keep at the same time as providing a service that gamers would like.

You are stranded on a desert island with a small group of people, what 3 games help you relieve the boredom?
I will just go with three of my favorite games and/or current hot games right now: Puerto Rico, Caylus, and Tigris and Euphrates.

You suddenly find yourself a lottery winner, what do you use the money for? Do you stop working?
I don't know. I don't think I would stop working, but maybe would try a different job or try to be self employed maybe just for something different.

What is your all time favorite game? If you play multiple types of games, you can list a favorite for each category.
Probably Puerto Rico.

What game(s) do you want to play but have not yet?
Too many to list here. I want to try just about every new release that comes out. Hopefully I will get to try a ton of new board games at Gen Con. I want to try that new Marvel Heros game, Thurn and Taxis, Cleoptra and the Society of Architects, Elsund the first City of Catan, Tempus, Reef Encounter, etc etc etc.

Is there a particular game or games you do not care for?
Yeah, I don't like party games, or really most any of the games that regular department stores have. I play games for their strategy and planning, not to do any drawing, guess at lists, acting, or answering trivia. I am not big into games with lots of luck or dice rolling either, although it is case by case.

What is your favorite movie?
Hmm... I don't know if I have an exact favorite. I like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pulp Fiction, Fight Club all pretty well I guess.

What is your favorite type of music?
I don't listen to music hardly at all anymore. Maybe live music, I like the down by the riverside concerts. When I used to listen to music it was mostly 80s hard rock.

What are some of your favorite books/authors?
I read a lot of mystery books from various authors. I like fantasy series too, like the Song of Ice and Fire series.

Can you give us your favorite gaming story?
The last time I went to Gen Con I went up separate from some of my friends and stayed with my wife's aunt and uncle who lived near Milwaukee. So I was there a day early and didn't have to worry about a hotel or anything. They came after work one night and it ended up being really late. They didn't plan ahead and have a hotel or anything so they didn't know what to do and ended up sleeping in some tree nursery field just off the highway. It still cracks me up to think that they slept in some random tree nursery on the way to Gen Con.

What hobbies do you have outside of gaming?
In the summer I run a lot and try to compete in a 5K race each month. I also disc golf. I play in a basketball league in the winter. I watch a lot of sports on TV, like NBA, NFL, and NASCAR. I read books a quite a bit (in streaks). I check a lot of movie DVDs out from the library and watch them. I camp in the summer, with hiking and swimming at state parks.