Rochester Gamers Community

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.