Barkeep49
01-10-2007, 04:48 PM
1. Since you are the GameMaster here at FOFC and have created many great games that we participated in, what would be the dream game that you would want to create for us, assuming full participation?
Probably an updated version of a game I designed about 20 years ago that I called Empires. A fantasy world with around 20 different kingdoms/empires, characters, armies, navies, etc. Lots of role-playing involved. I ran it with a bunch of friends back in the day. It withered because there was uneven participation, which is typically the way it goes.
2. What would be the dream game you would want to create for the retail market and how would that game be played?
I’ve actually tinkered somewhat seriously with a game called “Battlesport.” It’s sort of a cross between a wargame and a sports text sim. Some of the gang here even playtested it for awhile, although that’s on hiatus right now. So little time…
3. What do you think was the turning point of the Civil War, if you had to pick one?
Always a pitfall question (heh), but I’ll take the bait and say the Union capture of Vicksburg . Beyond its obvious strategic importance (allowing full Federal passage of the Mississippi River, in particular), I think its capture also enabled two other very significant things: (1) it “uncorked” the Union in the west, freeing them up from the focus on Vicksburg, and (2) it really cemented Ulysses S. Grant’s role as the top Union general.
4. How did you get into the St. Louis area and become the Cardinal fan you are today?
Two-part answer, actually, since the two are unrelated. I’ll start with the Redbirds. Growing up in suburban Seattle , we didn’t have a MLB team…well, we had the Pilots for one year. And then the Mariners came on board, and we still didn’t have a MLB team (*rimshot*). Anyway, in my formative years of baseball fan-dom, heavily into Little League and baseball cards, I fell in love with the Cardinals. Lou Brock was my favorite player. I’ve been a devoted fan ever since. It helped that the Whitey Herzog era “Runnin’ Redbirds” played a style of baseball I loved (speed, defense, small ball).
My wife and I moved to St. Louis from North Carolina for my job. I got a promotion out of it, but the move also enabled my wife to pursue career options in a city that weren’t available in coastal NC.
5. Tell us how someone your age can be such a good softball player. Alternately, tell us about your softballing adventures with Mr. Robinson...
Heh. Compared to some of the young studs on our team, I’m just a scrub. But I’ve always loved to play baseball and softball, and in my younger days played it religiously. Getting older and out of shape didn’t help, then moving to new places, becoming a parent, yada yada yada…softball faded away. But I always still wanted to play. Then one day Rick (primelord) asked if I might want to play, and the clouds parted. Birds started chirping. It was spring! I was 22 again! Yee-ha! Until I got on the field and realized how out of shape I was. Gah! Sore as hell for weeks.
One of my favorite adventures with Mr. Robinson was the game we each got triples. Let’s just say we ain’t Willie McGee and Vince Coleman. The odds of us hitting two triples again in the same game are approximately 17,100,000,000 to 1.
Then there was the time a ball was hit to left field, and our leftfielder looked like he was picking flowers or something. Completely out of it. The ball sails way over his head, and he’s oblivious. We all about died.
6. Follow-up: and do you have any stories involving balling and Mrs. Robinson?
Er, um…Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away? Hey hey hey.
7. What, if anything, is your connection to the Outer Banks (the region, not the team)?
Lived there (Nags Head, NC) for several years in the mid 1990s. Worked at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Had a beachfront house. Awesome experience.
8. At this point in time, what are WSU fans' opinion of Ryan Leaf?
Tough to say overall, but for the ones I know (myself included) we have very fond memories of those years when he was piloting our offense, the near-miss against Michigan in the Rose Bowl, etc. But it’s soured by the fiasco of his pro “career.” Kind of like, “Why does it have to be OUR guy?” The kid had immense physical talent. If you recall, there was serious debate about who was a better prospect, him or Peyton Manning. I always thought it’d be an interesting “what if” to swap those two, with Leaf on the Colts and Peyton on the Chargers. San Diego ’s offense was utterly rancid at that time – no running game, piss-poor line, no name WRs. I’m not making excuses for Leaf’s behavior – he was an immature punk – but he was also put into a situation where he was set up to fail.
9. If you could live in any time/place other than the present, what would it be?
I’ve always fantasized about living in the early 19th century and being a frigate captain. Either American or British in say, the 1805-15 period.
10. What's your job?
I am a federal employee, working as a division chief (supervisory park ranger) for the National Park Service.
11. With your gamemaster tendencies, do you commish any online leagues (FOF, OOTP, etc.). If so, how has that experience been? If not, why not? It seems like a natural fit for you.
I’ve never commished any online leagues (unless you count fantasy football). It’s not for lack of interest or desire, but rather a question of time commitment and my fears that I wouldn’t be able to keep up the pace in the midst of busy life and parenthood. Rather then over-committing myself to such things, I don’t even think of it anymore.
12. What is, in your opinion, the most fun game you have created?
I think the original states game, where FOFC folks represented their states by posting cool information about them in a competitive format, was particularly well-received. I’ll never forget those intrepid underdogs from West Virginia .
13. Which better Eomer or Faramir?
LOL. I like them both – Faramir was one of my favorite characters from the book trilogy. But in the movies, I preferred Eomer, and with my Rohirrim tendencies, I’ll go with him as my answer.
14. Why Helm's Deep, particularly?
Well, see, we live in St. Louis , but if the orcs attack, we retreat to the citadel at Helm’s Deep. Duh.
15. What were you like in college?
Geez, got a few hours? The short version is that I was a shy, dorky freshman totally in awe of living away from home. Thoroughly distracted, my grades weren’t what they should’ve been. Sophomore year I had a blast, played lots of intramural sports, drank a lot, etc. Junior year I got a bit more serious about academics, but my roommate was my best friend so we got into plenty of mischief (and, incidentally, played lots of APBA football). Senior year my friend and I moved off-campus into an apartment with two other guys. We had a lot of fun but were poor and virtually starving. Overall, I was big into WSU athletics, intramurals, drinking, and checking out Coug babes. Oh yeah, I also got a good education and I graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s in history. Then I went to grad school and studied military history at Temple University in Philadelphia for several years.
16. OK, here goes, what is the best computer game on the market today?
Tough question. And it’s easy to fudge the word “best” by definition. But I’ll cheat and offer up four: Football Manager (Worldwide Soccer Manager) 2007, Civ IV (+ Warlords), Combat Mission (I, II, & III), and my dark-horse, Space Rangers 2.
17. What game do you spend the most time playing?
FOF 2007, at present. That’s the consistent one because I am in two MP leagues. Otherwise, I tend to go heavy into one other game for a stretch and then switch to something else. Recently, Silent Hunter III has been getting lots of attention. Before that, Civ IV, and prior to that, Space Rangers 2.
18. What game are you most looking forward to?
Announced? Europa Universalis III (plus the upcoming Civil War game by AGEod)
Unannounced? TCY2
19. What is your favorite board game of all time?
Another very tough question to answer. There are so many. Honestly, I don’t think I have one stand-alone favorite. Some that come to mind as candidates, however: History of the World, Empire Builder, and most of the Civil War Brigade series and Operational Combat series games from The Gamers.
20. What was your first car, and did you have a name for it?
Toyota Corolla SR-5 liftback, “The Blue Beast.” It had a really loose gear-shift for some reason, so it was super-easy to shift and was a fun, quick little car.
21. What did you study in college? Why did you choose it?
History, specifically military history. Honestly, I did not know what I wanted to be when I went to WSU. College was just the next step, so I took it. It was sophomore year before I really honed in on majoring in history. I’d always liked the subject matter (reading, movies, battlefields and historic sites, etc.), but wasn’t sure what you did with a major in history. (No one knows to this day. It’s a heavily-guarded secret). I still wasn’t sure, but a weak plan was better than no plan at all. I eventually decided teaching history would be cool, maybe at the college level. That became my goal and the course I followed up through my time in grad school at Temple .
22. What was the most challenging event that occured in your lifetime?
The death of my mother. She died of breast cancer a few weeks before my 15th birthday. Of course that changed everything in my life. I became a different person in a lot of ways – some good, some bad. I got a lot closer to my dad. I gained a step-mother, and my relationship with her has ranged from great to awkward to hideous at various times. Thinking back, what pains me the most is that I was robbed of my mother right when I was becoming old enough to appreciate her as a person, rather than just “Mom.” We never got to interact as two adults. And my two greatest joys in life, my wife and son, never got to meet her.
23. Are there some surprising things that people don't know about you?
I’m quite sensitive as a person, and I probably cry more than most guys do. I listen to Abba, enjoy cooking and like candles, and yet I’m not gay. My dream job is to be a fiction writer.
24. As a parent, what is best and worst incidents that you can remember involving your children?
The worst incident was Drew’s hospitalization at a young age. He is asthmatic, and was suffering from a dangerous lung virus called R.S.V. They put him into the children’s hospital and we had to wait forever to learn anything. They had a student intern working on his case who didn’t seem to have a clue what she was doing. They even put the poor little guy into this giant, medieval-looking x-ray device that holds them locked down while they take the images. He was screaming in fear and I was ready to punch the attendant. Anyway, any parent can tell you how awful it is when your children are sick and you can’t help them, and that was the worse scenario for me.
Best? A recent father-son bonding opportunity is one, for sure. Drew got a Lego police boat for Christmas, and the two of us put it together. It was great. He even wouldn’t let mom help because “me and Daddy are building it.” That may not sound like much, but it washed over me like a dream.
25. Did you come from a large family, small family or were you a single child?
I have one brother, who’s three years older. It was always the typical family of four growing up. I had one friend who had eight brothers and sisters, and I was always amazed. Two seemed about right to me.
26. What is most favorite hobby that you love to do outside of work?
I’m big into games (obviously), sports, and reading.
27. Were you raised in the city, country or in the lands of Mordor?
Suburban Seattle , in Bellevue . Mordor was Pierce County (inside Washington joke).
28. If there was one past event in your life that you could change, what would you change and why?
I think I was too timid as a youth. I think I’d go back and change my initiative to try things, take some risks, etc.
29. Why the unfortunate decision to go to WSU when you were originally from the Greater-Seattle area (IIRC)?
Purple clashes with my eyes. But seriously? I’m not really sure. It was something that I just grew into. I was always into following Cougar sports as a kid, listening to Bob Robertson on the radio and stuff. It just became a natural thing that I would go to WSU. And when the time came to make it happen, I liked the thought of being away from home on the other side of the state.
30. Who was a greater loss in battle? Theodred or Grimbold?
Well, Theoden’s decision to charge the oliphants head-on with his cavalry was puzzling. I think he got caught up in the moment and the success of his charge against the orcs. Take those big bastards by the flanks and a lot more Rohirrim get to ride home alive.
31. Why are reindeers at FOFC cursed?
Their magic corn is Made in China now, like everything else. It just doesn’t have the kick it used to.
32. What elements of gaming do you enjoy most? Least?
Good questions. I think the simplest answer is that I love games that really take hold of me. Football manager does so such that I scream at little 2D dots for not crossing the f’ing ball at the right time. Games like Civ, Space Rangers, Imperialism II, HOMM III, and the like have that classic “one more turn” thing, which means I am so deeply into it that time (and work, food, bathing, etc.) has become secondary. Graphics and such can hold me to a degree, but there has to be a sense of immersion and involvement and not “work.” That’s the flip-side: if there’s too much work, or the interface sucks, or the AI is such that I can’t get past that obstacle to my immersion, the game ultimately ends up gathering dust. Examples: Victoria , a game I should love, was just too much work and it never clicked for me. The Gothic series, which gets such high praise, never worked for me because I couldn’t get past what I consider to be a hokey combat system.
33. Name one mythical creature (unicorn, cyclops, etc) that you would want to be? I’ll go with Pegasus. Flying cavalry, how cool is that?
34. What would be worth selling your soul to the devil for? keep in mind the stories about hell may not be all it's cracked up to be, the Bible is rather biased. it could turn out to be not much different than earth, just with little chance of rain. what's worth eternal "damnation" for?
You’re probably fishing for an answer like “Nicole Kidman.” But I’ll play it straight and say “nothing.” Although not a religious person, I consider myself quite spiritual and to sell my soul would be to abandon all that I am. Can’t do it. Unless she’s wearing, like, pink lingerie for eternity, and we can eat unlimited Northlake Tavern pepperoni pizza without getting fat. Then maybe.
35. A wizard approaches you and proposes the following: the end of all suffering on earth and everlasting happiness for all and no breast size smaller than C cups. the catch? you would need to kill 10 perfectly healthy kids. what do you do. these are C cups we're talking about here.
The hell with the C cups. I’m an ass man so that’s rather low on my priority list. But ending all suffering and getting everlasting happiness? Absolutely. Bring the 10 little brats in here.
36. Jason Gesser or Ryan Leaf?
Gesser, without hesitation. The guy was a classic winner and team leader. He also represents everything Leaf does not (including arm strength…d’oh!).
37. What's been your favorite game to run on FOFC?
I really enjoyed the RPGs.
38. Being the starter of parents anonymous I would like to ask what is the funniest thing each of your children has done?
I’m not sure if it’s THE funniest, but the most recent hoot was just prior to Christmas. We were getting tons of boxes in the mail, and everyone of them was addressed to me or my wife. Drew (my son) was thoroughly frustrated by this. Well, one day a big box comes in and Drew asks glumly, “Is that one for you or mommy? They’re never for me.” When I tell him that it’s got his name on it, he immediately begins running in place really fast, starts screaming excitedly, and then reaches down and yanks his pants off! Underwear and all! I’m like, “Yo?!?” (How come my wife never does that…?)
39. Since you are the second oldest person on the face of the earth, how come you didn't help me clean the scuppers on-board Columbus ' ship?
As I recall, you were on the Santa Maria with the big Double C. Meanwhile, I was sloppin’ across the Atlantic on the Pinta with the lesser pasta-eaters.
40. In your opinion, which question is the least likely to be answered by Frodo Baggins?
The next one. The Hobbiton No Sox lost 100 games in 1982.
41. What were you doing in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series?
Playing intramural football at WSU, although I did catch the final innings.
42. Should Los Angeles get another NFL franchise or is the city's history of successfully running every other NFL franchise out of town, too much of a stigma for Los Angeles to overcome?
Personally, I don’t think LA deserves another franchise. They’ve proven time and again that they don’t support them, so why bother? But I know that with the reality of the money and market size one will end up there soon enough.
43. What's the most interesting story you can tell relating to an experience you've had at work?
My first park to work in was Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia . On Halloween, the popular radio morning show (The Morning Zoo) came to the site and broadcast live. They had me debunk a psychic on the air. I also got to meet Warren Zevon and hear him play “Werewolves of London” live right in front of me.
44. Dennis Erickson - good, bad or neutral influence on the WSU football program during and after his 2-years as head coach?
Bah. He was another one of the cut-and-run coaches who used WSU as a stepping stone. His offensive philosophy still lives on at the school, but otherwise he’s a footnote.
45. How has Tom Brady inspired you, personally?
I was always more of a Peter Brady guy. I could relate to him better. Greg was a big, freaking dork, Bobby was wetting the bed, and dad was gay. What else could I do? Wait…who was Tom? Was he doinking Alice ?
46. What's the secret of being a really cool dad at the age of 40?
Not being afraid to be silly.
47. What Football coach would you most like to play for?
Very funny, Wade. That’d be Bill Cowher. And no, I don’t like the Steelers.
48. Odd or Even? Jerry Burchell or Rufus Preston?
I think I was an Odd back in the day. And definitely Burchell. We rode his magic all the way to the IHOF Bowl.
49. Wings - bone in or bone out? What flavor?
Bone in, very spicy, but preferably dry. Dear god, do I love wings.
50. What better, Lord of the Ring or Star War?
LOTR, baybee.
51. Favorite author? Favorite book? How do hobbits reproduce since they all seem to be homosexual?
I don’t really have one favorite author or book, but I’m very partial to naval fiction like C.S. Forrester’s Hornblower series and Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series.
Hobbits impregnate pumpkins or other large vegetable hosts with their unborn young. You may recall at the end of Return of the King, when Frodo and the gang are back at the home-town inn drinking ale, that a hobbit is hauling around a large pumpkin and has a very proud smile on his face. That’s no pumpkin…that’s a space station. Wait! I mean it’s his son. He’s a proud papa with a pregnant pumpkin.
52. How old were you when you got your first record?
I was 12, in July 1976. Kiss’ “Love Gun” album. And some Abba 45s around then, too.
How about your first 8-track?
Never had one. *sniff*
How about your first cassette?
Can’t remember that one. Maybe something by Journey.
How about your first VHS and/or Beta tape?
What percentage of FOFC members know what the hell Beta is? Or that it was actually considered a rival to VHS? What better VHS or Beta? As for my first VHS, I’m thinking maybe "Patton" or some Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.
How about your first CD?
Def Leppard “Hysteria.”
How about your first mp3 player?
Just got a Ipod Nano for Christmas. Does that count?
Did they have big wheels in your childhood made of wood?
No, we had Big Wheels made of plastic. And big cars made of cold, hard steel. Seatbelts were an afterthought. You could hit stuff without crumpling your bumper, dammit.
What kind of lunchbox did you take to school?
Now THERE is a great question! Mine was a race car theme, and it had a race track game on the back with little magnetic cars. It had spaces like “Oil slick! Lose one turn” on it.
53. What is the best dish you make and can you share the recipe?
I’m very fond of my Cincinnati-style chili. PM me if you want the recipe
Best cooking tip?
Don't be afraid to experiment. Plan things ahead so you're not scrambling when you get down to actually cooking. Undercook rather than overcook (you can't go back). Oh, and use lots of garlic.
Who is your favorite cooking celebrity?
I’m not much into the cooking shows. One of my best friends, though, is a very good cook (I’d even call him a chef) and we talk a lot about cooking, food, and wine.
Predict the leaders in your WOOF division.
Well, I grabbed a very good QB in the 1st round of the draft, so I’d like to think my Palouse Hills Whirlwind can ride that horse to some success. But it’s way too early to say.
54. What do you miss the most about the Pacific NW?
How green it is. The ever-present blend of mountains and water. A line of evergreen trees against the sky. The food. My old haunts. Seagulls.
What do you miss the least about the Pacific NW?
The place it’s become since I grew up. The traffic.
What do you enjoy the most about the St. Louis area?
Generally, it’s a nice play to live. Lots of pride in the area, and great sports, culture, restaurants, etc.
What do you enjoy the least about the St. Louis area?
Latent racism. Violence in certain areas of the city, and lots of blighted sections. Poor roads and crappy road work planning. Light-running drivers. And it’s not a very scenic area.
Thanks for the opportunity! This was fun.
Probably an updated version of a game I designed about 20 years ago that I called Empires. A fantasy world with around 20 different kingdoms/empires, characters, armies, navies, etc. Lots of role-playing involved. I ran it with a bunch of friends back in the day. It withered because there was uneven participation, which is typically the way it goes.
2. What would be the dream game you would want to create for the retail market and how would that game be played?
I’ve actually tinkered somewhat seriously with a game called “Battlesport.” It’s sort of a cross between a wargame and a sports text sim. Some of the gang here even playtested it for awhile, although that’s on hiatus right now. So little time…
3. What do you think was the turning point of the Civil War, if you had to pick one?
Always a pitfall question (heh), but I’ll take the bait and say the Union capture of Vicksburg . Beyond its obvious strategic importance (allowing full Federal passage of the Mississippi River, in particular), I think its capture also enabled two other very significant things: (1) it “uncorked” the Union in the west, freeing them up from the focus on Vicksburg, and (2) it really cemented Ulysses S. Grant’s role as the top Union general.
4. How did you get into the St. Louis area and become the Cardinal fan you are today?
Two-part answer, actually, since the two are unrelated. I’ll start with the Redbirds. Growing up in suburban Seattle , we didn’t have a MLB team…well, we had the Pilots for one year. And then the Mariners came on board, and we still didn’t have a MLB team (*rimshot*). Anyway, in my formative years of baseball fan-dom, heavily into Little League and baseball cards, I fell in love with the Cardinals. Lou Brock was my favorite player. I’ve been a devoted fan ever since. It helped that the Whitey Herzog era “Runnin’ Redbirds” played a style of baseball I loved (speed, defense, small ball).
My wife and I moved to St. Louis from North Carolina for my job. I got a promotion out of it, but the move also enabled my wife to pursue career options in a city that weren’t available in coastal NC.
5. Tell us how someone your age can be such a good softball player. Alternately, tell us about your softballing adventures with Mr. Robinson...
Heh. Compared to some of the young studs on our team, I’m just a scrub. But I’ve always loved to play baseball and softball, and in my younger days played it religiously. Getting older and out of shape didn’t help, then moving to new places, becoming a parent, yada yada yada…softball faded away. But I always still wanted to play. Then one day Rick (primelord) asked if I might want to play, and the clouds parted. Birds started chirping. It was spring! I was 22 again! Yee-ha! Until I got on the field and realized how out of shape I was. Gah! Sore as hell for weeks.
One of my favorite adventures with Mr. Robinson was the game we each got triples. Let’s just say we ain’t Willie McGee and Vince Coleman. The odds of us hitting two triples again in the same game are approximately 17,100,000,000 to 1.
Then there was the time a ball was hit to left field, and our leftfielder looked like he was picking flowers or something. Completely out of it. The ball sails way over his head, and he’s oblivious. We all about died.
6. Follow-up: and do you have any stories involving balling and Mrs. Robinson?
Er, um…Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away? Hey hey hey.
7. What, if anything, is your connection to the Outer Banks (the region, not the team)?
Lived there (Nags Head, NC) for several years in the mid 1990s. Worked at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Had a beachfront house. Awesome experience.
8. At this point in time, what are WSU fans' opinion of Ryan Leaf?
Tough to say overall, but for the ones I know (myself included) we have very fond memories of those years when he was piloting our offense, the near-miss against Michigan in the Rose Bowl, etc. But it’s soured by the fiasco of his pro “career.” Kind of like, “Why does it have to be OUR guy?” The kid had immense physical talent. If you recall, there was serious debate about who was a better prospect, him or Peyton Manning. I always thought it’d be an interesting “what if” to swap those two, with Leaf on the Colts and Peyton on the Chargers. San Diego ’s offense was utterly rancid at that time – no running game, piss-poor line, no name WRs. I’m not making excuses for Leaf’s behavior – he was an immature punk – but he was also put into a situation where he was set up to fail.
9. If you could live in any time/place other than the present, what would it be?
I’ve always fantasized about living in the early 19th century and being a frigate captain. Either American or British in say, the 1805-15 period.
10. What's your job?
I am a federal employee, working as a division chief (supervisory park ranger) for the National Park Service.
11. With your gamemaster tendencies, do you commish any online leagues (FOF, OOTP, etc.). If so, how has that experience been? If not, why not? It seems like a natural fit for you.
I’ve never commished any online leagues (unless you count fantasy football). It’s not for lack of interest or desire, but rather a question of time commitment and my fears that I wouldn’t be able to keep up the pace in the midst of busy life and parenthood. Rather then over-committing myself to such things, I don’t even think of it anymore.
12. What is, in your opinion, the most fun game you have created?
I think the original states game, where FOFC folks represented their states by posting cool information about them in a competitive format, was particularly well-received. I’ll never forget those intrepid underdogs from West Virginia .
13. Which better Eomer or Faramir?
LOL. I like them both – Faramir was one of my favorite characters from the book trilogy. But in the movies, I preferred Eomer, and with my Rohirrim tendencies, I’ll go with him as my answer.
14. Why Helm's Deep, particularly?
Well, see, we live in St. Louis , but if the orcs attack, we retreat to the citadel at Helm’s Deep. Duh.
15. What were you like in college?
Geez, got a few hours? The short version is that I was a shy, dorky freshman totally in awe of living away from home. Thoroughly distracted, my grades weren’t what they should’ve been. Sophomore year I had a blast, played lots of intramural sports, drank a lot, etc. Junior year I got a bit more serious about academics, but my roommate was my best friend so we got into plenty of mischief (and, incidentally, played lots of APBA football). Senior year my friend and I moved off-campus into an apartment with two other guys. We had a lot of fun but were poor and virtually starving. Overall, I was big into WSU athletics, intramurals, drinking, and checking out Coug babes. Oh yeah, I also got a good education and I graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s in history. Then I went to grad school and studied military history at Temple University in Philadelphia for several years.
16. OK, here goes, what is the best computer game on the market today?
Tough question. And it’s easy to fudge the word “best” by definition. But I’ll cheat and offer up four: Football Manager (Worldwide Soccer Manager) 2007, Civ IV (+ Warlords), Combat Mission (I, II, & III), and my dark-horse, Space Rangers 2.
17. What game do you spend the most time playing?
FOF 2007, at present. That’s the consistent one because I am in two MP leagues. Otherwise, I tend to go heavy into one other game for a stretch and then switch to something else. Recently, Silent Hunter III has been getting lots of attention. Before that, Civ IV, and prior to that, Space Rangers 2.
18. What game are you most looking forward to?
Announced? Europa Universalis III (plus the upcoming Civil War game by AGEod)
Unannounced? TCY2
19. What is your favorite board game of all time?
Another very tough question to answer. There are so many. Honestly, I don’t think I have one stand-alone favorite. Some that come to mind as candidates, however: History of the World, Empire Builder, and most of the Civil War Brigade series and Operational Combat series games from The Gamers.
20. What was your first car, and did you have a name for it?
Toyota Corolla SR-5 liftback, “The Blue Beast.” It had a really loose gear-shift for some reason, so it was super-easy to shift and was a fun, quick little car.
21. What did you study in college? Why did you choose it?
History, specifically military history. Honestly, I did not know what I wanted to be when I went to WSU. College was just the next step, so I took it. It was sophomore year before I really honed in on majoring in history. I’d always liked the subject matter (reading, movies, battlefields and historic sites, etc.), but wasn’t sure what you did with a major in history. (No one knows to this day. It’s a heavily-guarded secret). I still wasn’t sure, but a weak plan was better than no plan at all. I eventually decided teaching history would be cool, maybe at the college level. That became my goal and the course I followed up through my time in grad school at Temple .
22. What was the most challenging event that occured in your lifetime?
The death of my mother. She died of breast cancer a few weeks before my 15th birthday. Of course that changed everything in my life. I became a different person in a lot of ways – some good, some bad. I got a lot closer to my dad. I gained a step-mother, and my relationship with her has ranged from great to awkward to hideous at various times. Thinking back, what pains me the most is that I was robbed of my mother right when I was becoming old enough to appreciate her as a person, rather than just “Mom.” We never got to interact as two adults. And my two greatest joys in life, my wife and son, never got to meet her.
23. Are there some surprising things that people don't know about you?
I’m quite sensitive as a person, and I probably cry more than most guys do. I listen to Abba, enjoy cooking and like candles, and yet I’m not gay. My dream job is to be a fiction writer.
24. As a parent, what is best and worst incidents that you can remember involving your children?
The worst incident was Drew’s hospitalization at a young age. He is asthmatic, and was suffering from a dangerous lung virus called R.S.V. They put him into the children’s hospital and we had to wait forever to learn anything. They had a student intern working on his case who didn’t seem to have a clue what she was doing. They even put the poor little guy into this giant, medieval-looking x-ray device that holds them locked down while they take the images. He was screaming in fear and I was ready to punch the attendant. Anyway, any parent can tell you how awful it is when your children are sick and you can’t help them, and that was the worse scenario for me.
Best? A recent father-son bonding opportunity is one, for sure. Drew got a Lego police boat for Christmas, and the two of us put it together. It was great. He even wouldn’t let mom help because “me and Daddy are building it.” That may not sound like much, but it washed over me like a dream.
25. Did you come from a large family, small family or were you a single child?
I have one brother, who’s three years older. It was always the typical family of four growing up. I had one friend who had eight brothers and sisters, and I was always amazed. Two seemed about right to me.
26. What is most favorite hobby that you love to do outside of work?
I’m big into games (obviously), sports, and reading.
27. Were you raised in the city, country or in the lands of Mordor?
Suburban Seattle , in Bellevue . Mordor was Pierce County (inside Washington joke).
28. If there was one past event in your life that you could change, what would you change and why?
I think I was too timid as a youth. I think I’d go back and change my initiative to try things, take some risks, etc.
29. Why the unfortunate decision to go to WSU when you were originally from the Greater-Seattle area (IIRC)?
Purple clashes with my eyes. But seriously? I’m not really sure. It was something that I just grew into. I was always into following Cougar sports as a kid, listening to Bob Robertson on the radio and stuff. It just became a natural thing that I would go to WSU. And when the time came to make it happen, I liked the thought of being away from home on the other side of the state.
30. Who was a greater loss in battle? Theodred or Grimbold?
Well, Theoden’s decision to charge the oliphants head-on with his cavalry was puzzling. I think he got caught up in the moment and the success of his charge against the orcs. Take those big bastards by the flanks and a lot more Rohirrim get to ride home alive.
31. Why are reindeers at FOFC cursed?
Their magic corn is Made in China now, like everything else. It just doesn’t have the kick it used to.
32. What elements of gaming do you enjoy most? Least?
Good questions. I think the simplest answer is that I love games that really take hold of me. Football manager does so such that I scream at little 2D dots for not crossing the f’ing ball at the right time. Games like Civ, Space Rangers, Imperialism II, HOMM III, and the like have that classic “one more turn” thing, which means I am so deeply into it that time (and work, food, bathing, etc.) has become secondary. Graphics and such can hold me to a degree, but there has to be a sense of immersion and involvement and not “work.” That’s the flip-side: if there’s too much work, or the interface sucks, or the AI is such that I can’t get past that obstacle to my immersion, the game ultimately ends up gathering dust. Examples: Victoria , a game I should love, was just too much work and it never clicked for me. The Gothic series, which gets such high praise, never worked for me because I couldn’t get past what I consider to be a hokey combat system.
33. Name one mythical creature (unicorn, cyclops, etc) that you would want to be? I’ll go with Pegasus. Flying cavalry, how cool is that?
34. What would be worth selling your soul to the devil for? keep in mind the stories about hell may not be all it's cracked up to be, the Bible is rather biased. it could turn out to be not much different than earth, just with little chance of rain. what's worth eternal "damnation" for?
You’re probably fishing for an answer like “Nicole Kidman.” But I’ll play it straight and say “nothing.” Although not a religious person, I consider myself quite spiritual and to sell my soul would be to abandon all that I am. Can’t do it. Unless she’s wearing, like, pink lingerie for eternity, and we can eat unlimited Northlake Tavern pepperoni pizza without getting fat. Then maybe.
35. A wizard approaches you and proposes the following: the end of all suffering on earth and everlasting happiness for all and no breast size smaller than C cups. the catch? you would need to kill 10 perfectly healthy kids. what do you do. these are C cups we're talking about here.
The hell with the C cups. I’m an ass man so that’s rather low on my priority list. But ending all suffering and getting everlasting happiness? Absolutely. Bring the 10 little brats in here.
36. Jason Gesser or Ryan Leaf?
Gesser, without hesitation. The guy was a classic winner and team leader. He also represents everything Leaf does not (including arm strength…d’oh!).
37. What's been your favorite game to run on FOFC?
I really enjoyed the RPGs.
38. Being the starter of parents anonymous I would like to ask what is the funniest thing each of your children has done?
I’m not sure if it’s THE funniest, but the most recent hoot was just prior to Christmas. We were getting tons of boxes in the mail, and everyone of them was addressed to me or my wife. Drew (my son) was thoroughly frustrated by this. Well, one day a big box comes in and Drew asks glumly, “Is that one for you or mommy? They’re never for me.” When I tell him that it’s got his name on it, he immediately begins running in place really fast, starts screaming excitedly, and then reaches down and yanks his pants off! Underwear and all! I’m like, “Yo?!?” (How come my wife never does that…?)
39. Since you are the second oldest person on the face of the earth, how come you didn't help me clean the scuppers on-board Columbus ' ship?
As I recall, you were on the Santa Maria with the big Double C. Meanwhile, I was sloppin’ across the Atlantic on the Pinta with the lesser pasta-eaters.
40. In your opinion, which question is the least likely to be answered by Frodo Baggins?
The next one. The Hobbiton No Sox lost 100 games in 1982.
41. What were you doing in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series?
Playing intramural football at WSU, although I did catch the final innings.
42. Should Los Angeles get another NFL franchise or is the city's history of successfully running every other NFL franchise out of town, too much of a stigma for Los Angeles to overcome?
Personally, I don’t think LA deserves another franchise. They’ve proven time and again that they don’t support them, so why bother? But I know that with the reality of the money and market size one will end up there soon enough.
43. What's the most interesting story you can tell relating to an experience you've had at work?
My first park to work in was Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia . On Halloween, the popular radio morning show (The Morning Zoo) came to the site and broadcast live. They had me debunk a psychic on the air. I also got to meet Warren Zevon and hear him play “Werewolves of London” live right in front of me.
44. Dennis Erickson - good, bad or neutral influence on the WSU football program during and after his 2-years as head coach?
Bah. He was another one of the cut-and-run coaches who used WSU as a stepping stone. His offensive philosophy still lives on at the school, but otherwise he’s a footnote.
45. How has Tom Brady inspired you, personally?
I was always more of a Peter Brady guy. I could relate to him better. Greg was a big, freaking dork, Bobby was wetting the bed, and dad was gay. What else could I do? Wait…who was Tom? Was he doinking Alice ?
46. What's the secret of being a really cool dad at the age of 40?
Not being afraid to be silly.
47. What Football coach would you most like to play for?
Very funny, Wade. That’d be Bill Cowher. And no, I don’t like the Steelers.
48. Odd or Even? Jerry Burchell or Rufus Preston?
I think I was an Odd back in the day. And definitely Burchell. We rode his magic all the way to the IHOF Bowl.
49. Wings - bone in or bone out? What flavor?
Bone in, very spicy, but preferably dry. Dear god, do I love wings.
50. What better, Lord of the Ring or Star War?
LOTR, baybee.
51. Favorite author? Favorite book? How do hobbits reproduce since they all seem to be homosexual?
I don’t really have one favorite author or book, but I’m very partial to naval fiction like C.S. Forrester’s Hornblower series and Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series.
Hobbits impregnate pumpkins or other large vegetable hosts with their unborn young. You may recall at the end of Return of the King, when Frodo and the gang are back at the home-town inn drinking ale, that a hobbit is hauling around a large pumpkin and has a very proud smile on his face. That’s no pumpkin…that’s a space station. Wait! I mean it’s his son. He’s a proud papa with a pregnant pumpkin.
52. How old were you when you got your first record?
I was 12, in July 1976. Kiss’ “Love Gun” album. And some Abba 45s around then, too.
How about your first 8-track?
Never had one. *sniff*
How about your first cassette?
Can’t remember that one. Maybe something by Journey.
How about your first VHS and/or Beta tape?
What percentage of FOFC members know what the hell Beta is? Or that it was actually considered a rival to VHS? What better VHS or Beta? As for my first VHS, I’m thinking maybe "Patton" or some Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.
How about your first CD?
Def Leppard “Hysteria.”
How about your first mp3 player?
Just got a Ipod Nano for Christmas. Does that count?
Did they have big wheels in your childhood made of wood?
No, we had Big Wheels made of plastic. And big cars made of cold, hard steel. Seatbelts were an afterthought. You could hit stuff without crumpling your bumper, dammit.
What kind of lunchbox did you take to school?
Now THERE is a great question! Mine was a race car theme, and it had a race track game on the back with little magnetic cars. It had spaces like “Oil slick! Lose one turn” on it.
53. What is the best dish you make and can you share the recipe?
I’m very fond of my Cincinnati-style chili. PM me if you want the recipe
Best cooking tip?
Don't be afraid to experiment. Plan things ahead so you're not scrambling when you get down to actually cooking. Undercook rather than overcook (you can't go back). Oh, and use lots of garlic.
Who is your favorite cooking celebrity?
I’m not much into the cooking shows. One of my best friends, though, is a very good cook (I’d even call him a chef) and we talk a lot about cooking, food, and wine.
Predict the leaders in your WOOF division.
Well, I grabbed a very good QB in the 1st round of the draft, so I’d like to think my Palouse Hills Whirlwind can ride that horse to some success. But it’s way too early to say.
54. What do you miss the most about the Pacific NW?
How green it is. The ever-present blend of mountains and water. A line of evergreen trees against the sky. The food. My old haunts. Seagulls.
What do you miss the least about the Pacific NW?
The place it’s become since I grew up. The traffic.
What do you enjoy the most about the St. Louis area?
Generally, it’s a nice play to live. Lots of pride in the area, and great sports, culture, restaurants, etc.
What do you enjoy the least about the St. Louis area?
Latent racism. Violence in certain areas of the city, and lots of blighted sections. Poor roads and crappy road work planning. Light-running drivers. And it’s not a very scenic area.
Thanks for the opportunity! This was fun.