Tell Me Something New About You

Tell Me Something New About You

Tell Me Something New About You

I’m going to go off-topic (just this once!) to do a post inspired by one Meg Baker did a couple months ago.

It occurs to me that, while we have great conversations about roleplaying games in this space, I don’t really know many of you that well. If you wish, share something cool/unique/interesting about yourself that we may not know! It can be serious (like mine) or fun or whatever.

I’ll share a bit about my professional life (this is re-posted from my response to Meg’s post)…

I am an attorney, and much of my work has revolved around civil rights and civil liberties. Some things I’ve been involved in (in ways both large and small):

-Helping migrant farmworkers in Texas deal with predatory employers and landlords.

-Organizing and running legal clinics for indigent people in the Rio Grande Valley.

-Helping transgendered inmates in the Texas prison system get access to their meds.

-Helping minors in Texas get judicial bypass for abortions.

-As a law student, I helped with the Texas line of cases that were part of the national effort that led to Obergefell (the gay marriage case).

-Part of the reason many courts recognize your ability to record your interactions with the police is because of some research I did as a law student.

-I have personally been responsible for a number of school districts in Texas backing-off from doing a bunch of unconstitutional bullshit, like making students participate in religious ceremonies and not letting them form Gay-Straight Alliances. 

102 thoughts on “Tell Me Something New About You”

  7. Serious:

    – I haven’t had more than 4 hours uninterrupted sleep in the last month.

    – I’m a baritone.

    – Breakfast is actually the least important meal of the day.

    – After several screw-ups at/by the local utility, I got a bill of 300$ last month.

    – I’m an editor. I type all day long converting garbage sentences into science.

    Fun:

    – Building 1970s-style wall-of-knobs synthesizers is a thing that I can do.

    – I’m sitting on just a silly amount of artwork that is paid for, but not in layout.

    – Just found out that crunchy peanut butter and date-jam sandwiches are the tastiest.

    – I used to carry a tape deck and headphones. Not a walkman. A tape deck with the ability to record and replay cassettes at various speeds.

  8. Serious:

    – I haven’t had more than 4 hours uninterrupted sleep in the last month.

    – I’m a baritone.

    – Breakfast is actually the least important meal of the day.

    – After several screw-ups at/by the local utility, I got a bill of 300$ last month.

    – I’m an editor. I type all day long converting garbage sentences into science.

    Fun:

    – Building 1970s-style wall-of-knobs synthesizers is a thing that I can do.

    – I’m sitting on just a silly amount of artwork that is paid for, but not in layout.

    – Just found out that crunchy peanut butter and date-jam sandwiches are the tastiest.

    – I used to carry a tape deck and headphones. Not a walkman. A tape deck with the ability to record and replay cassettes at various speeds.

  9. Thanks, Jason Cordova​. I have great respect for the people who work to make our communities safer for children, like yourself. While I greatly enjoy taking action to help the lives of people now, I think that the world desperately needs the sort of people who are willing to plant the trees that only their grandchildren will sit under the shade of, so to speak.

  10. Thanks, Jason Cordova​. I have great respect for the people who work to make our communities safer for children, like yourself. While I greatly enjoy taking action to help the lives of people now, I think that the world desperately needs the sort of people who are willing to plant the trees that only their grandchildren will sit under the shade of, so to speak.

  11. I am an embedded engineer which basically means that I design build and program electronics. I believe laziness is the foundation of good engineering, a good engineer should always ask “how can i do this job once” and “how do i make this job easier”. I read and watch a lot of science fiction and will be listening to an audio book almost any time someone is not talking to me. I am fascinated by ants (as any programmer should be) and the way the human brain works.

    -I used to work at a company that built custom controls that allowed people with disabilities to drive an automobile.

    -Recently I have been contracting with several small companies while looking for permanent work.

    -My team won the Intel 2016 Austin Hackathon with a mobile sensor platform (robot) that patrolled a house and reported changes to the web. I built a simple web interface to control and monitor it.

    -My mad scientist father and I are exploring how to make simple internet connected devices simple to setup for non-technical people.

    -I design and make simple video games as a hobby but I rarely complete them before moving onto another project. I have made two games for the Game Boy Advanced. I have also played around with XNA and more recently Javascript/HTML/canvas browser games.

    -I am not an artist but I have certain skills with photoshop that have allowed me to alter the original gauntlet logo to make the hangout and UK logos.

    -I am learning to use 3d printers, laser cutters and cnc woodworking equipment at the local TechShop

    -I have a fair amount of welding experience and once made a truly awful lamp for my mother.

    -I used to make my own funny T-shirts and fake labels for can food.

    -in college i made a remote control mouse (cat toy + tiny remote control car) to terrorize my dorm and the engineering computer lab. It Nearly got stomped to death twice.

  12. I am an embedded engineer which basically means that I design build and program electronics. I believe laziness is the foundation of good engineering, a good engineer should always ask “how can i do this job once” and “how do i make this job easier”. I read and watch a lot of science fiction and will be listening to an audio book almost any time someone is not talking to me. I am fascinated by ants (as any programmer should be) and the way the human brain works.

    -I used to work at a company that built custom controls that allowed people with disabilities to drive an automobile.

    -Recently I have been contracting with several small companies while looking for permanent work.

    -My team won the Intel 2016 Austin Hackathon with a mobile sensor platform (robot) that patrolled a house and reported changes to the web. I built a simple web interface to control and monitor it.

    -My mad scientist father and I are exploring how to make simple internet connected devices simple to setup for non-technical people.

    -I design and make simple video games as a hobby but I rarely complete them before moving onto another project. I have made two games for the Game Boy Advanced. I have also played around with XNA and more recently Javascript/HTML/canvas browser games.

    -I am not an artist but I have certain skills with photoshop that have allowed me to alter the original gauntlet logo to make the hangout and UK logos.

    -I am learning to use 3d printers, laser cutters and cnc woodworking equipment at the local TechShop

    -I have a fair amount of welding experience and once made a truly awful lamp for my mother.

    -I used to make my own funny T-shirts and fake labels for can food.

    -in college i made a remote control mouse (cat toy + tiny remote control car) to terrorize my dorm and the engineering computer lab. It Nearly got stomped to death twice.

  13. Jason Cordova, I’ve thought for a while that someone should make a legal drama PbtA game in the vein of The Good Wife, Boston Legal, etc. Maybe you should make it?

  14. Jason Cordova, I’ve thought for a while that someone should make a legal drama PbtA game in the vein of The Good Wife, Boston Legal, etc. Maybe you should make it?

  15. An interesting/fun fact about me: I’m engaged to be married, which a lot of people seem to have missed, probably because my partner isn’t a gamer, his interests are in other areas of geekdom. The fun part comes when I have to remind him to put some trousers on when I’m playing a game via Hangouts! 😉

  16. An interesting/fun fact about me: I’m engaged to be married, which a lot of people seem to have missed, probably because my partner isn’t a gamer, his interests are in other areas of geekdom. The fun part comes when I have to remind him to put some trousers on when I’m playing a game via Hangouts! 😉

  21. Serious

    – I am a researcher studying the way different foods affect your brain as you age.

    – I’ve averaged one new address for each of the last 15 years.

    Fun

    – I once crashed the Red Sox holiday party. I was there an hour and two free drinks before I realized I was in the wrong party. Oops.

    – I love tacos

  22. Serious

    – I am a researcher studying the way different foods affect your brain as you age.

    – I’ve averaged one new address for each of the last 15 years.

    Fun

    – I once crashed the Red Sox holiday party. I was there an hour and two free drinks before I realized I was in the wrong party. Oops.

    – I love tacos

  23. Serious

    – Wife and I lost a child just before birth a couple years ago. For a year +, I had major anxiety issues and def. sympathize with people who live with such problems. We were blessed a year later with an amazing fucking little girl which help drastically.

    – I have spent too many days in the last years in cast and braces playing soccer which I kept refusing to give up. I feel more machine than man now.

    – I lost a ton of money helping a startup company in FL a few years ago

    Fun

    – I have a guitar neck from Kirk Hammett (guitarist of Metallica) that I caught in the crowd on my 18th birthday.

    – I love to cook, entirely on experimentation

    – I have traveled the globe multiple times to see my favorite soccer team

    – I was the lead singer / screamer in a metal band that travelled pretty extensively 15 years ago which I quit to finish college

    – I love my job as a graphic designer. I have used my knowledge to help out quite a few RPG designers with free design help.

    – I am loving Yoga as I find it very meditative.

  24. Serious

    – Wife and I lost a child just before birth a couple years ago. For a year +, I had major anxiety issues and def. sympathize with people who live with such problems. We were blessed a year later with an amazing fucking little girl which help drastically.

    – I have spent too many days in the last years in cast and braces playing soccer which I kept refusing to give up. I feel more machine than man now.

    – I lost a ton of money helping a startup company in FL a few years ago

    Fun

    – I have a guitar neck from Kirk Hammett (guitarist of Metallica) that I caught in the crowd on my 18th birthday.

    – I love to cook, entirely on experimentation

    – I have traveled the globe multiple times to see my favorite soccer team

    – I was the lead singer / screamer in a metal band that travelled pretty extensively 15 years ago which I quit to finish college

    – I love my job as a graphic designer. I have used my knowledge to help out quite a few RPG designers with free design help.

    – I am loving Yoga as I find it very meditative.

  25. Even though I now work as Technical Consultant (on SharePoint), I’ve had various other jobs. I’ve been: a barista, a High School math tutor, a substitute teacher, a retail employee in a brick and mortar board game shop, and an outdoor adventure guide (Back-packing, Kayaking, Rock Climbing).

    I love to cook (and I think I’m pretty decent). I use to have a Monthly themed potluck with friends. The goal was to try new recipes.

    I have a tendency to play RPGs standing up (even online, I have a standing desk).

  26. Even though I now work as Technical Consultant (on SharePoint), I’ve had various other jobs. I’ve been: a barista, a High School math tutor, a substitute teacher, a retail employee in a brick and mortar board game shop, and an outdoor adventure guide (Back-packing, Kayaking, Rock Climbing).

    I love to cook (and I think I’m pretty decent). I use to have a Monthly themed potluck with friends. The goal was to try new recipes.

    I have a tendency to play RPGs standing up (even online, I have a standing desk).

  27. – I’m an experimental cook, which usually means I have a bunch of something that was on sale and am attempting to use it before it goes bad.

    – I work for the local Houston Comic Convention as the Mobile Applications Coordinator, which is basically cat wrangling

    – I can make a song out of any phrase. I’m basically a bard

    – Having to follow Daniel Fowler is a tough act

  28. – I’m an experimental cook, which usually means I have a bunch of something that was on sale and am attempting to use it before it goes bad.

    – I work for the local Houston Comic Convention as the Mobile Applications Coordinator, which is basically cat wrangling

    – I can make a song out of any phrase. I’m basically a bard

    – Having to follow Daniel Fowler is a tough act

  29. Serious

    -I’m currently an account representative at a document retrieval company. It kills me.

    -Perpetually in school, never on vacation. Also kills me.

    -Artistic expression is seriously the only thing that gives me life.

    Fun

    -I’m an optimist.

    -I think I’ve played Dungeon World with Jason at a convention

    -I have technically traveled the globe but never left the United States.

    -I can draw fairly well, but I’ve plateaued without regular practice.

    -I’m in an AP podcast, here’s the trailer:

    doomrides.blogspot.com – Troublesome Times In Tumbleson County – Teaser Trailer

  30. Serious

    -I’m currently an account representative at a document retrieval company. It kills me.

    -Perpetually in school, never on vacation. Also kills me.

    -Artistic expression is seriously the only thing that gives me life.

    Fun

    -I’m an optimist.

    -I think I’ve played Dungeon World with Jason at a convention

    -I have technically traveled the globe but never left the United States.

    -I can draw fairly well, but I’ve plateaued without regular practice.

    -I’m in an AP podcast, here’s the trailer:

    doomrides.blogspot.com – Troublesome Times In Tumbleson County – Teaser Trailer

  31. – I work for an aerial imaging company that provides images tied to geographic data that are used for, among many things, 911 centers to help guide emergency responders to locations. I get to play with the photographs and the data.

    – Went to school to become an art teacher. Realized I would have come to hate both children and art if I’d followed through with it.

    – I used to write a fan-fiction-esque story using Sims2 images. (For those in the know, it was a Legacy.) It was kind of like a graphic novel towards the end. I regret not finishing it.

    – I’ve been a regular author on Gnome Stew since 2014.

    – I have now reached the point in my RPG “career” where I have been gaming longer than some of the people I play with. Dirt is still older.

  32. – I work for an aerial imaging company that provides images tied to geographic data that are used for, among many things, 911 centers to help guide emergency responders to locations. I get to play with the photographs and the data.

    – Went to school to become an art teacher. Realized I would have come to hate both children and art if I’d followed through with it.

    – I used to write a fan-fiction-esque story using Sims2 images. (For those in the know, it was a Legacy.) It was kind of like a graphic novel towards the end. I regret not finishing it.

    – I’ve been a regular author on Gnome Stew since 2014.

    – I have now reached the point in my RPG “career” where I have been gaming longer than some of the people I play with. Dirt is still older.

  33. Serious: Pharmacist by profession. I work pretty late hours. Trying desperately to have a child, but it has been a difficult road for my wife and I. It can be a very disheartening process, and it can be tough to watch as it “Just happens” for many others around us.

    Fun: I love to play video games of all sorts, but tend to like team fps games and Zelda. Also, I am an alright musician. I play the piano and have a decent singing voice.

  34. Serious: Pharmacist by profession. I work pretty late hours. Trying desperately to have a child, but it has been a difficult road for my wife and I. It can be a very disheartening process, and it can be tough to watch as it “Just happens” for many others around us.

    Fun: I love to play video games of all sorts, but tend to like team fps games and Zelda. Also, I am an alright musician. I play the piano and have a decent singing voice.

  35. Serious

    -I’ve been a Pet Store Manager, co-owner of a Tattoo Parlor, a bill collector, a mortgage broker, a security supervisor, a private investigator, and the co-founder of a UV photo-chemical company.

    -My education background is in biotechnology.

    -I’m a Freemason.

    Fun

    -I researched paranormal activity throughout the 90’s.

    -I purchased all the equipment needed with the intention to film a Slasher/Horror Movie before I die.

    -I was once an arsenal possessing/survivalist/prepper.

  36. Serious

    -I’ve been a Pet Store Manager, co-owner of a Tattoo Parlor, a bill collector, a mortgage broker, a security supervisor, a private investigator, and the co-founder of a UV photo-chemical company.

    -My education background is in biotechnology.

    -I’m a Freemason.

    Fun

    -I researched paranormal activity throughout the 90’s.

    -I purchased all the equipment needed with the intention to film a Slasher/Horror Movie before I die.

    -I was once an arsenal possessing/survivalist/prepper.

  39. serious: I’m a movie theatre manager and I’ve been given my first theatre to run in Seattle, and that makes me nervous and excited.

    fun: I think Torchbearer is the best RPG.

  40. serious: I’m a movie theatre manager and I’ve been given my first theatre to run in Seattle, and that makes me nervous and excited.

    fun: I think Torchbearer is the best RPG.

  43. Serious stuff: I’ve been with the same partner for twenty years, and we aren’t married.

    Professionally, I build computer chips that go into cars, washing machines, game controllers, etc.

    Usually, the best part of the job is writing code and then running the tools that translate this into the templates that are translated into silicon. The worst part is dealing is dealing with the constant politics/reviews/meetings/emails/BS.

    I left the US for the first time this year; I hadn’t really had the opportunity previously. After working for the same company for 19 years, they decided to send me on my first business trips to Germany and then later India.

    Fun stuff: I have too many hobbies: Lego, Board Gaming, RPGs, TV, etc, so time is my most precious commodity. 🙂

    I’m big into Lego, and I have an extensive collection (314000 inventoried parts–likely double or triple that when un-inventoried parts are included).

    I love going to gaming cons (GenCon, BGG.Con, and numerous local cons), as the people and vibe there feels like I’m with my tribe. I run two “cons” a year–a local one with about 30 attendees and a holiday one with five or six friends in my home state.

  44. Serious stuff: I’ve been with the same partner for twenty years, and we aren’t married.

    Professionally, I build computer chips that go into cars, washing machines, game controllers, etc.

    Usually, the best part of the job is writing code and then running the tools that translate this into the templates that are translated into silicon. The worst part is dealing is dealing with the constant politics/reviews/meetings/emails/BS.

    I left the US for the first time this year; I hadn’t really had the opportunity previously. After working for the same company for 19 years, they decided to send me on my first business trips to Germany and then later India.

    Fun stuff: I have too many hobbies: Lego, Board Gaming, RPGs, TV, etc, so time is my most precious commodity. 🙂

    I’m big into Lego, and I have an extensive collection (314000 inventoried parts–likely double or triple that when un-inventoried parts are included).

    I love going to gaming cons (GenCon, BGG.Con, and numerous local cons), as the people and vibe there feels like I’m with my tribe. I run two “cons” a year–a local one with about 30 attendees and a holiday one with five or six friends in my home state.

  49. Serious

    – I work project management at a not-for-profit educational research organization

    Fun

    – Food is my passion so cooking is my hobby. I’m intro gastronomic experimentation and I spend about 6 hours cooking every Sunday. I’ve made stuff like chilli vodka, bacon bourbon, magical coffee, and explosive pasta

  50. Serious

    – I work project management at a not-for-profit educational research organization

    Fun

    – Food is my passion so cooking is my hobby. I’m intro gastronomic experimentation and I spend about 6 hours cooking every Sunday. I’ve made stuff like chilli vodka, bacon bourbon, magical coffee, and explosive pasta

  51. Serious:

    I’ve been married for twenty two years and turned forty four recently, so that is half my life.

    I have three kids, two girls (six and eight) and a boy (eleven).

    My youngest daughter was born premature and had issues that resulted in her having a cranial reconstruction surgery when she was just a year old which led my wife and I to start hosting an annual board game marathon to benefit the children’s hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, as way to thank them for saving her life.

    I am working with my wife to start a computer science club for underserved kids in our town and I am very excited about it.

    For my day job, I am a systems administrator for a university and I love it.

    Fun:

    I love playing board games and do it, often in public, every chance that I get. I also co-host a monthly community game night that regularly has thirty five to sixty five attendees of all ages and many backgrounds.

    I recently started playing The Warren with my three kids and it has been a blast!

  52. Serious:

    I’ve been married for twenty two years and turned forty four recently, so that is half my life.

    I have three kids, two girls (six and eight) and a boy (eleven).

    My youngest daughter was born premature and had issues that resulted in her having a cranial reconstruction surgery when she was just a year old which led my wife and I to start hosting an annual board game marathon to benefit the children’s hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, as way to thank them for saving her life.

    I am working with my wife to start a computer science club for underserved kids in our town and I am very excited about it.

    For my day job, I am a systems administrator for a university and I love it.

    Fun:

    I love playing board games and do it, often in public, every chance that I get. I also co-host a monthly community game night that regularly has thirty five to sixty five attendees of all ages and many backgrounds.

    I recently started playing The Warren with my three kids and it has been a blast!

  55. I was in this geek program in highs school devoted to aeronautics and went to Space Camps in Nice and also somewhere in Belgium at 11 and 12.

    I have a black belt in Kempo Karate.

    I work a boring job in a cubicle for a railway company.

    I’m separated and have a new girlfriend so some nights we have 5 kids at home.

    My dream is to someday own a motorcycle. (The harley style ones not those racer killing machines).

  56. I was in this geek program in highs school devoted to aeronautics and went to Space Camps in Nice and also somewhere in Belgium at 11 and 12.

    I have a black belt in Kempo Karate.

    I work a boring job in a cubicle for a railway company.

    I’m separated and have a new girlfriend so some nights we have 5 kids at home.

    My dream is to someday own a motorcycle. (The harley style ones not those racer killing machines).

  57. My work: I have worked for a grocery store, a frozen custard shop, an Italian restaurant, US Congress, a gun store, 2 universities (running dining halls), and a video game developer. Now law school…

    My hobbies(too many): I am a competition shooter, a board game player, podcaster, baker, cook, beer maker, sometimes editor but more than anything a story gamer.

    Trivia: I have either been employed or in school (usually both) except for one month in my life. During that month, I played Fallout 4 for the first 20 of 24 hours it was out, nearly daily I walked to and from a grocery store 3 miles away to collect the fresh ingredients to make my food for the day, which sometimes included milk to make cheese, tomatoes to make sauce, and flour to make dough.

  58. My work: I have worked for a grocery store, a frozen custard shop, an Italian restaurant, US Congress, a gun store, 2 universities (running dining halls), and a video game developer. Now law school…

    My hobbies(too many): I am a competition shooter, a board game player, podcaster, baker, cook, beer maker, sometimes editor but more than anything a story gamer.

    Trivia: I have either been employed or in school (usually both) except for one month in my life. During that month, I played Fallout 4 for the first 20 of 24 hours it was out, nearly daily I walked to and from a grocery store 3 miles away to collect the fresh ingredients to make my food for the day, which sometimes included milk to make cheese, tomatoes to make sauce, and flour to make dough.

  61. Serious: I’m an exterminator working for a regional company. In the final phase of starting my own business which I never ever thought was in my life plan. I hate businessey stuff so I’m sure things will work out exactly as planned.

    Fun: I brew my own beer and drink too much of it. I play Magic the Gathering and I’m terrible at it. I haven’t played rpg’s in over 10 years and due to my schedule I can’t invest much time in face to face rpg’s so I discovered play by post and it’s allowed me to rediscover my joy for rpg’s.

  62. Serious: I’m an exterminator working for a regional company. In the final phase of starting my own business which I never ever thought was in my life plan. I hate businessey stuff so I’m sure things will work out exactly as planned.

    Fun: I brew my own beer and drink too much of it. I play Magic the Gathering and I’m terrible at it. I haven’t played rpg’s in over 10 years and due to my schedule I can’t invest much time in face to face rpg’s so I discovered play by post and it’s allowed me to rediscover my joy for rpg’s.

  65. As a new person here, I wondered if there was some sort of intro thread. Thanks for starting this, +Jason Cordova!

    Fun and serious is all mixed together for me.

    I haven’t had a paycheck in over 12 years.

    In that time, I’ve lived in intentional communities or traveled light (hitchhiking, camping, etc).

    These days, I’ve been learning to make my money as a street performer. I do a magic show that sometimes looks like this:

    http://imgur.com/SgLw7eG

    In my show especially, I introduce myself as Joby the Slightly Magnificent. Now that it’s getting cold and I plan to stay in the north for the winter, I’m looking to build a website to help find more indoor gigs. Anyone have any recommendation for affordable hosting?

    Most of my friends know me primarily as a musician — I grew up playing piano and cello and study west african percussion. I used to play with anyone who would ask and in the past a lot of friends asked… so I’ve played with several singer-songwriters, with indie rock bands, blues bands, with a tuvan throat singing-delta blues-Tom Waits cover band, comped jazz standards for vocalists, with a Christian Goth/Industrial band. I can find recordings and youtube of a variety of performances if anyone is interested.

    I’m a grown unschooler. Most of my primary education came from being set loose in the library at least once a week as a child (unschooling is a philosophy of education based on the idea that kids are curious and learn more naturally through play and exploring interests than by being coerced into doing paperwork and listening to lectures). I’ve never had to go to a class I didn’t choose for myself, and I started attending college classes at age 13.

    Edit: Oh! I meant to mention that my favorite game is Go. I’m involved in the local weekly club here in Philadelphia, organizing a tournament this Winter, and when I travel I try to find people to play with.

  66. As a new person here, I wondered if there was some sort of intro thread. Thanks for starting this, +Jason Cordova!

    Fun and serious is all mixed together for me.

    I haven’t had a paycheck in over 12 years.

    In that time, I’ve lived in intentional communities or traveled light (hitchhiking, camping, etc).

    These days, I’ve been learning to make my money as a street performer. I do a magic show that sometimes looks like this:

    http://imgur.com/SgLw7eG

    In my show especially, I introduce myself as Joby the Slightly Magnificent. Now that it’s getting cold and I plan to stay in the north for the winter, I’m looking to build a website to help find more indoor gigs. Anyone have any recommendation for affordable hosting?

    Most of my friends know me primarily as a musician — I grew up playing piano and cello and study west african percussion. I used to play with anyone who would ask and in the past a lot of friends asked… so I’ve played with several singer-songwriters, with indie rock bands, blues bands, with a tuvan throat singing-delta blues-Tom Waits cover band, comped jazz standards for vocalists, with a Christian Goth/Industrial band. I can find recordings and youtube of a variety of performances if anyone is interested.

    I’m a grown unschooler. Most of my primary education came from being set loose in the library at least once a week as a child (unschooling is a philosophy of education based on the idea that kids are curious and learn more naturally through play and exploring interests than by being coerced into doing paperwork and listening to lectures). I’ve never had to go to a class I didn’t choose for myself, and I started attending college classes at age 13.

    Edit: Oh! I meant to mention that my favorite game is Go. I’m involved in the local weekly club here in Philadelphia, organizing a tournament this Winter, and when I travel I try to find people to play with.

  67. Joby Morey​ wow you are a modern bohemian. Much respect. I love when people are completely non-standard. You are probably the closest thing to a Bard in this day and age. 😆 (without the magic part sadly cause magic was killed by science).

  68. Joby Morey​ wow you are a modern bohemian. Much respect. I love when people are completely non-standard. You are probably the closest thing to a Bard in this day and age. 😆 (without the magic part sadly cause magic was killed by science).

  71. Maxime Lacoste​ but but but… I do magic! The same way traveling performers did in the actual medieval age!

    Also, forgot to mention that I really want to push myself to collect and tell folk tales. I love stories. Modern OC is great, but I think there’s something special about a story that has been handed down for generations. We only get to hear it because in every generation someone liked well enough to repeat it. I think that there’s some deep magic there.

  72. Maxime Lacoste​ but but but… I do magic! The same way traveling performers did in the actual medieval age!

    Also, forgot to mention that I really want to push myself to collect and tell folk tales. I love stories. Modern OC is great, but I think there’s something special about a story that has been handed down for generations. We only get to hear it because in every generation someone liked well enough to repeat it. I think that there’s some deep magic there.

  73. Daniel Lugo They’re not quite as exciting as they sound, but they are both very tasty.

    Magical coffee is a two-day cold-brew coffee made with cinnamon and finished with almond milk over ice.

    Explosive pasta gets its name from the judicious uses a spicy “explosive mixture” pesto that’s about 30% eggplant, 25% chilli, 20% olive oil, 5% dried tomatoes, 5% mushrooms, 5% capsicum, and some salt, pepper, vinegar, and herbs. I don’t think that makes a full 100%, but making it is hardly a science.

  74. Daniel Lugo They’re not quite as exciting as they sound, but they are both very tasty.

    Magical coffee is a two-day cold-brew coffee made with cinnamon and finished with almond milk over ice.

    Explosive pasta gets its name from the judicious uses a spicy “explosive mixture” pesto that’s about 30% eggplant, 25% chilli, 20% olive oil, 5% dried tomatoes, 5% mushrooms, 5% capsicum, and some salt, pepper, vinegar, and herbs. I don’t think that makes a full 100%, but making it is hardly a science.

  75. I’ve been around here a few weeks now. Some facts:

    – I’m Australian, and I live in the beautiful Blue Mountains (west of Sydney)

    – I’ve got a very articulate three-year-old daughter, who I think is nearly ready to get into RPGs. And another one on the way (who might be a while off playing just yet)

    – I always cook the dinner, but could be better at housekeeping

    – I’ve got an undergraduate degree in philosophy, a diploma in book editing, a certificate in massage therapy and I’m doing a masters in digital media (I’ve never been able to settle on one thing to commit to)

    – I work as a lecturer at a private media college, teaching game design and screenwriting

    – I got that job via co-running a (financially unsuccessful) indie development studio for a few years. I also used to do a bit of writing for the videogames press

    – Apart from games of all types, I’m fairly obsessed with politics: I’m a paying member of the Australian Greens party, and regularly hand out flyers on election day (I’m hoping to get more involved than that soon)

    – For a long time I struggled to find my purpose in life, but in recent times I’ve pretty much decided that it consists of: being a good dad, supporting progressive causes and running as much Dungeon World as I can find time for.

    EDIT: Oh, I’m also a massive consumer of podcasts, which is how I found this community.

    EDIT 2: Updating again, because I’m procrastinating:

    – I plan to use RPGs pretty extensively in my teaching next year (see my other post from today)

    – I have travelled to Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, India and the USA. Vietnamese food is the best.

    – I used to be married to an American, but she is now married to a Brit and lives over there. My current partner was born in New Zealand.

    – I’ve worked in about ten different bookshops

    – My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Joe Abercrombie (who are more similar than you might imagine). I read outside of fantasy, too (but don’t read all that much these days).

    – The thing I’m trying to work on is an interactive tutorial to Twine (the hypertext story-making tool), which is itself built in Twine.

    Alright, back to work…

  76. I’ve been around here a few weeks now. Some facts:

    – I’m Australian, and I live in the beautiful Blue Mountains (west of Sydney)

    – I’ve got a very articulate three-year-old daughter, who I think is nearly ready to get into RPGs. And another one on the way (who might be a while off playing just yet)

    – I always cook the dinner, but could be better at housekeeping

    – I’ve got an undergraduate degree in philosophy, a diploma in book editing, a certificate in massage therapy and I’m doing a masters in digital media (I’ve never been able to settle on one thing to commit to)

    – I work as a lecturer at a private media college, teaching game design and screenwriting

    – I got that job via co-running a (financially unsuccessful) indie development studio for a few years. I also used to do a bit of writing for the videogames press

    – Apart from games of all types, I’m fairly obsessed with politics: I’m a paying member of the Australian Greens party, and regularly hand out flyers on election day (I’m hoping to get more involved than that soon)

    – For a long time I struggled to find my purpose in life, but in recent times I’ve pretty much decided that it consists of: being a good dad, supporting progressive causes and running as much Dungeon World as I can find time for.

    EDIT: Oh, I’m also a massive consumer of podcasts, which is how I found this community.

    EDIT 2: Updating again, because I’m procrastinating:

    – I plan to use RPGs pretty extensively in my teaching next year (see my other post from today)

    – I have travelled to Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, India and the USA. Vietnamese food is the best.

    – I used to be married to an American, but she is now married to a Brit and lives over there. My current partner was born in New Zealand.

    – I’ve worked in about ten different bookshops

    – My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Joe Abercrombie (who are more similar than you might imagine). I read outside of fantasy, too (but don’t read all that much these days).

    – The thing I’m trying to work on is an interactive tutorial to Twine (the hypertext story-making tool), which is itself built in Twine.

    Alright, back to work…

  77. Saul Alexander Good to see a few fellow Aussies floating around here! If ever you put together a Dungeon World hangouts game and have room for another player, please do let me know.

  78. Saul Alexander Good to see a few fellow Aussies floating around here! If ever you put together a Dungeon World hangouts game and have room for another player, please do let me know.

  79. neko cam Sure. It seems there’s enough folk around to put some games together (Satuday night seems to be the go). I’d be keen to run DW at some point, but would like to play in a few hangouts games prior to running one (just to get a feel for it).

  80. neko cam Sure. It seems there’s enough folk around to put some games together (Satuday night seems to be the go). I’d be keen to run DW at some point, but would like to play in a few hangouts games prior to running one (just to get a feel for it).

  85. Joby Morey I’m incredibly interested in the tuvan throat singing-delta blues-Tom Waits cover band – thing! Where can I find some of this?

  86. Joby Morey I’m incredibly interested in the tuvan throat singing-delta blues-Tom Waits cover band – thing! Where can I find some of this?

  89. Serious

    -My wife and I just celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary earlier this month!

    -I’m currently working as an exam proctor for a local community college. My education background is in Social Studies Ed for grades 6-12. I’ve never had a classroom of my own, but I have been a substitute teacher, a corporate trainer, and an instructor for a local non-profit that ran an after-school program.

    -My wife, Megan is the lead designer at a local visual media design firm.

    Fun

    -I’m fascinated by broken/deeply flawed games & settings, and often find myself drawn to them moreso than games considered to be better designed.

    -I have been told that I’m good at baking!

    -I’m also enthusiastic about fountain pens, stationery, linux, animation, and old video games.

  90. Serious

    -My wife and I just celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary earlier this month!

    -I’m currently working as an exam proctor for a local community college. My education background is in Social Studies Ed for grades 6-12. I’ve never had a classroom of my own, but I have been a substitute teacher, a corporate trainer, and an instructor for a local non-profit that ran an after-school program.

    -My wife, Megan is the lead designer at a local visual media design firm.

    Fun

    -I’m fascinated by broken/deeply flawed games & settings, and often find myself drawn to them moreso than games considered to be better designed.

    -I have been told that I’m good at baking!

    -I’m also enthusiastic about fountain pens, stationery, linux, animation, and old video games.

  91. Michael G. Barford if you mean recordings with me playing djembe or dununs, I’m not sure that exists. I’m no master drummer anyway.

    When I play it’s usually for a west African dance class or at an event.

    Here’s an old video of a project with a lot of west African (and other) percussion: https://youtu.be/izAEFug4kuw

    I’m playing the accordion here. The guy playing the djembe is one of my best friends and one of my mentors in drumming. These days he’s the lead singer for a party samba band called philly bloco (phillybloco.com).

    He’s the reason I’m in philly right now: we’re recording a project together called Beast. I don’t think there’s any web presence yet. Maybe I can sneak a track onto SoundCloud or something.

    Fun asides from the video: the weird noise at the beginning is coming from Brian Grover face. That’s the thrust singing guy from my last post. The fiddle player is one of my housemates now, and played a cleric in my first ever session dming Dungeon World on Tuesday.

    There’s more music from Psalters at psalters.bandcamp.com. The only album there with me playing much is the Divine Liturgy. I wish I could find the live album we did in 2005, I’m surprised it’s not there.

  92. Michael G. Barford if you mean recordings with me playing djembe or dununs, I’m not sure that exists. I’m no master drummer anyway.

    When I play it’s usually for a west African dance class or at an event.

    Here’s an old video of a project with a lot of west African (and other) percussion: https://youtu.be/izAEFug4kuw

    I’m playing the accordion here. The guy playing the djembe is one of my best friends and one of my mentors in drumming. These days he’s the lead singer for a party samba band called philly bloco (phillybloco.com).

    He’s the reason I’m in philly right now: we’re recording a project together called Beast. I don’t think there’s any web presence yet. Maybe I can sneak a track onto SoundCloud or something.

    Fun asides from the video: the weird noise at the beginning is coming from Brian Grover face. That’s the thrust singing guy from my last post. The fiddle player is one of my housemates now, and played a cleric in my first ever session dming Dungeon World on Tuesday.

    There’s more music from Psalters at psalters.bandcamp.com. The only album there with me playing much is the Divine Liturgy. I wish I could find the live album we did in 2005, I’m surprised it’s not there.

  97. I am a graphic designer at a fundraising group. I design junk mail that asks for donations for non-profits mostly, so I take any opportunity to design game stuff in my free time to keep my sanity. I have the greatest wife in the world and a brand new baby boy who I plan to teach all of my gaming ways.

    I’m currently making several classes, compendium classes, a bestiary, and a system for using mana to cast spells for Dungeon World. I’m also considering starting a Patreon where people can have access to all of my random content I create.

    I’ve only been involved in one campaign through the Gauntlet, but I still hang around for all the great discussions and stories!

  98. I am a graphic designer at a fundraising group. I design junk mail that asks for donations for non-profits mostly, so I take any opportunity to design game stuff in my free time to keep my sanity. I have the greatest wife in the world and a brand new baby boy who I plan to teach all of my gaming ways.

    I’m currently making several classes, compendium classes, a bestiary, and a system for using mana to cast spells for Dungeon World. I’m also considering starting a Patreon where people can have access to all of my random content I create.

    I’ve only been involved in one campaign through the Gauntlet, but I still hang around for all the great discussions and stories!

  99. Serious:

    I started my undergrad in the Fine Arts program, planning to be an illustrator or a comic book artist. Part way through, I switched into psychology intending to be a counselor. After many many years of post-secondary, I’m now a Psychometrician. Go ahead: google it (SFW). Real life is its own Perilous Journey.

    Fun:

    For the last 12 years, I was an expat Canadian living in DC. That’s a far cry from the small rural town that I grew up in. Sure, most of us have lived in small towns, but my county was 70 miles across with a population less than 7000. Scouts honour, I built an igloo once but couldn’t spend the night in it cuz it was -40 degrees. Without even a movie theatre, that’s how us kids had fun.

  100. Serious:

    I started my undergrad in the Fine Arts program, planning to be an illustrator or a comic book artist. Part way through, I switched into psychology intending to be a counselor. After many many years of post-secondary, I’m now a Psychometrician. Go ahead: google it (SFW). Real life is its own Perilous Journey.

    Fun:

    For the last 12 years, I was an expat Canadian living in DC. That’s a far cry from the small rural town that I grew up in. Sure, most of us have lived in small towns, but my county was 70 miles across with a population less than 7000. Scouts honour, I built an igloo once but couldn’t spend the night in it cuz it was -40 degrees. Without even a movie theatre, that’s how us kids had fun.

  101. Boring: I do Quality Assurance work for a government contractor. (yawn)

    I’ve collected more degrees than I should: B.A Middle Eastern Studies, M.A. Russian Language and Culture, B.S. Software Engineering, M.S. Systems Engineering. I love learning, what can I say?

    Less boring: While living abroad and traveling, I won the Evil Empire Visa Collection contest I had with my best college friend — I got Soviet Union, East Germany, and Syria. I only outclassed him by one, but two of them had ceased to exist by the time the contest ended, so I won with style.

    Romantic: I watched the sunrise from the top of the Pyramid of Khufu with that same best friend.

    Keep your Cool: Had to talk my way out of being killed by a Russian policeman who had a gun held to my forehead and hated Americans. Much vodka was involved.

    Fast Talk: Made the mistake of stopping for the night in a Palestinian town that was under military curfew. Had to talk my way out of being held hostage/killed for standing to close to their secret meeting place. By accident. Same best friend managed to get us sanctuary for the night in a church after I talked my way out of that one. By the end of that trip, my friend had been beaten by Israeli police, stones had been thrown at us, and we managed to get out of every town just before it was cordoned off. And in all this, we never did anything wrong. We were just too curious. How’s that for a Spring Break?

    You may have noticed my headers became PbTA moves names: because that’s what’s giving me life these days. And a much safer life it is. 😉

  102. Boring: I do Quality Assurance work for a government contractor. (yawn)

    I’ve collected more degrees than I should: B.A Middle Eastern Studies, M.A. Russian Language and Culture, B.S. Software Engineering, M.S. Systems Engineering. I love learning, what can I say?

    Less boring: While living abroad and traveling, I won the Evil Empire Visa Collection contest I had with my best college friend — I got Soviet Union, East Germany, and Syria. I only outclassed him by one, but two of them had ceased to exist by the time the contest ended, so I won with style.

    Romantic: I watched the sunrise from the top of the Pyramid of Khufu with that same best friend.

    Keep your Cool: Had to talk my way out of being killed by a Russian policeman who had a gun held to my forehead and hated Americans. Much vodka was involved.

    Fast Talk: Made the mistake of stopping for the night in a Palestinian town that was under military curfew. Had to talk my way out of being held hostage/killed for standing to close to their secret meeting place. By accident. Same best friend managed to get us sanctuary for the night in a church after I talked my way out of that one. By the end of that trip, my friend had been beaten by Israeli police, stones had been thrown at us, and we managed to get out of every town just before it was cordoned off. And in all this, we never did anything wrong. We were just too curious. How’s that for a Spring Break?

    You may have noticed my headers became PbTA moves names: because that’s what’s giving me life these days. And a much safer life it is. 😉

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