You know, looking back, I see a somewhat negative vibe running through my previous posts. Ragging on past GM’s, players, crappy movies, etc. It’s too bad, because overall, besides a few pitfalls and bad experiences we had a ton of fun at our RPG sessions. Plus, there is just too much darn negativity on the internet these days as it is…I really shouldn’t be adding to it.
So, that being the case, I’ve decided that I’m going to list AT LEAST ONE good thing about the players and GM’s I’ve gamed with in my time. I mean, everyone has their faults, but I also think everyone has something positive they bring to the table, even if it’s minor and only surfaces occasionally. So, get your popcorn and here we go!
ME!: I’ll bypass myself as I’m not nearly as narcissistic as folks think I am. Or maybe I am and it’s just early. Who knows?
Black Cat: An unusual guy, but always good for a few laughs. Black Cat had a lot of originality and came up with some interesting character concepts…and could imitate an Ubese speaking through a respirator likes nobodies bidness. Despite having to give him a wake-up call every gameday, he was a lot of fun to have at the table.
Tank: A great friend, One of Tank’s biggest assets is his loyalty and dependability. That goes a long way with me, as I think those are cornerstones to a good friendship. Tank was a solid roleplayer and a definite positive addition to our gaming group, and his loyalty usually extended to his PC’s as well…so you could always count on him to be there for you when things got dicey.
Shades: Shades was an…odd…fellow who was with the gaming group before me but left very early in. He was only in a few game sessions, so it’s hard to really come up with something positive to say. However, he seemed like…he….hey! He always showed up with his snack requirement and was prompt (sometimes arriving as much as two hours early and sitting in a parked car in front of my house freaking out the neighbors) !!! See? I’m a positive guy! I can find something positive to say about everyone!
Elfgirl: Wow, well, let’s get things right out on the table…first off, she’s my wife. So points there…big points for reasons I can’t even go into without being censored. But when it comes to roleplaying, she’s the best roleplayer I’ve ever gamed with, bar none. Period. The time and effort and thought she invests in every one of her characters is astounding and puts others to shame. And I don’t say that because she’s my wife, I say it because it’s the flat out truth. I’ve been lucky enough to see her not only game but go into behind the scenes interactions and scenarios and make her PC literally live and breath…she’s actually raised roleplaying to an art form.
Scout: A friend of mine and a guy who has been roleplaying for more years than I can remember. One of the great things about Scout is that he is always up for a game and always willing to do something new and different. And when he gets into a character he really likes (like a hacker he played in the Boiling Point game) he can really shine…he did a great job with that character and it was fun to watch him play.
Linny: During the Raptor Squad game Linny put on some of the most memorable and enjoyable games I can remember. He balanced the games with combat and character interaction like a master and always seemed to have the big picture in mind. He was also instrumental in putting together one of the most intense and rewarding roleplaying story arcs I’ve ever participated in (what we’ll call here the Vaxxar Incident) and did so with such masterful flair and panache that it was a shame to see it end. It was truly a work of art and something to be proud of.
American Ninja: A great guy who joined our group pretty early on. AMNINJ (I’m lazy so you get abbreviations) was full of potential and enthusiasm, and that accounts for a lot in a roleplaying game. He especially flourished in the Boiling Point game, where he played a character who had a narcotic running through his bloodstream…a narcotic that would occasionally cause him to do and say some very…interesting…things. This was played out by him making a willpower roll against the drugs effects- a failed roll meant he dipped his hand into the “Bowl of Madness” - a fishbowl filled with slips of paper, on which were written some unusual behaviors-and retrieving said slip of paper. On the slip was a phrase or action he had to roleplay out in character. A lot of players couldn’t pull this off, but AMNINJ did a fantastic job that leant to some of the most memorable quotes and moments in our game. Such as his character driving madly into a group of zombies to save his team and taking time out to roll down his window and scream “IT’S NOT THE LOVE YOU TAKE WITH YOU, IT’S THE LOVE YOU LEAVE BEHIND!!!!!!!!”
Total classic.
Baltic J: Despite our differences and different playing styles, I’ll say this about Baltic J. Things never got boring with him around. If you had a lull in a game or combat was about to come up, you could definitely count on Baltic J to spice things up with some crazy ass stunt or scheme. True, sometimes it was a bit much and not entirely necessary, but there were those times when he would pull off something so insane and wild that all you could do was sit back, laugh and shake your head. And when you sit for eight hours around a table on a Saturday, that sure as hell counts for something.
Country Girl: CG is Elfigirl’s sister and joined our gaming group back in early 2006. She had some prior experience gaming from when she was younger and jumped back in with flying colors. CG has a lot of good traits, but some of her best are, like her sister, her ability to flavor her character with an interesting background and to roleplay a PC’s mannerism and speech. She did this with particular flair when she played a character called “Cinder”…coming to the table with a very authentic and ghetto street dialect that included gang signs and lingo. It was a lot of fun and something that definitely adds a lot of flavor to a game.
Long Haul: Long Haul is a buddy that I haven’t seen in about forever but I gamed with numerous times. One thing I can say about him is that he knows the rules well, and sure as hell isn’t shy when it comes to gaming. Long Haul would frequently dive in, ass first to situations in the game, occasionally doing a lot of damage to, well, not only himself but those around him. Still, he would also try to look out for his team, and pulled my character out of danger (at least danger he didn’t cause) more than a few times.
I think that’s about it for the major players! Wow, looking at this line up this list of nicknames reads like the late 80's GI JOE roster.
Anyways, point being you can always find something nice to say about someone if you just sit back and think about it. Despite the differences and issues that came up with some of these folks, in the end, during the heyday, we were just a bunch of friends hanging out and having a good time. I would like to think that as time goes on, the fun we shared will amount to be more memorable than any other thing that ever happened between us.
Till next time, keep gaming, and take a moment to thank those sitting with you at your RPG table!
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As much time and energy I liked to put into my characters, I have to say that Vic put in much more to his character when he was playing, and he is a dynamo as a GM.
As a player, Vic was ALWAYS there for the other players, no matter what kind of trouble they got themselves (and the group) into. If there was a useful skill that no one else in the group picked up, he'd pick it up. And he was a fantastic roleplayer! He had tons of background history for this character, including family, friends, and he ran a business that helped to provide the group's funding. He loved to roleplay character interactions and created some very memorable moments!
As a GM, Vic really shines! He puts countless hours and boundless creativity into games. He usually even has props for us players to better get into the feel of it. Combat is almost always played out with miniatures and we've had some pretty elaborate battles in full 3D with some of the sets he's created utilizing paper models and some styrofoam! He always makes sure ALL the players get involved too. No one is ever left on the back burner while another steals the limelight. If a player is kind is being kind of quiet, he'll create a situation that player has to deal with, usually with hilarious results.
Going beyond Vic around the table, he also has created all the fiction and this wonderful website which in and of itself has greatly enhanced everyone's gaming experience! Vic is a creative machine the likes of which I have never seen. I feel extremely lucky to have him as a fellow player, GM, and husband.
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