Rochester Gamers Community

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.

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