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.