How I came Into Gaming

Here is an article that was placed online concerning my involvement in gaming and where it all started:

Mr. Christensen, First off I’d like to thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

1. For those readers unfamiliar with your work, would you mind sharing a little information about your background? Feel free to throw in any information you’d like to include.

2. How did you first get into gaming, and how long you’ve been playing RPGs?

3. How did you become associated with FGU, and how were you introduced to Villains and Vigilantes

I knew I was hooked on gaming ever since my brother came home from the store with an Avalon Hill board game called Starship Troopers. I am not sure what year that would be, but I would have to think it was the late 70s. It wasn’t until high school that I came across D&D, and I remember pointedly each time I bought a brand new copy of the 1st edition set of AD&D — still to this day can I remember the smell of the binding, from cracking open the Dungeon Master guide. It was only a few years later that I started constantly DMing and then writing my own adventures.During those formative years we use to play a different RPG every month, trying out dozens of games — Sadly after three moves I own only a small percentage of my original core rulesbooklets.

It was during this time that Jeff Dee, and later Jack Herman, moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am unsure of the reasons he moved here, but I think it was a comic-drawing gig. The funny thing is I remember asking my mother if I could go down to this guy’s house and do some gaming, and my mom, always the worrisome type said no because it was in a rather unruly side of town (for Grand Rapids). So it wasn’t during the first alignment of the planets that I met Jeff Dee, but the second time when again he posted a sign at a local hobby store looking for gamers.

It was here that I was introduced to V&V. If I had to put a date to it, It was probably by 1983 or 1984. Jeff Dee was the best GM I have ever played with — his campaigns were so imaginative, the stories were intricate, and best of all the battles were engaging. I remember always wanting to go to his house and game. The years trickled by, and to be honest, I don’t think we played that many years together — maybe a handful (3 or 4). You would have to ask him how long he was in Grand Rapids, but it wasn’t that long at all.

During this time, I met up with Scott Bizzar of FGU and pitched him a number of ideas on different full length gaming system. This was before the time of word processing. If my memory serves me in 1984 the Lisa computer came out for Apple and that was the start of what I would call personal computing — although it would be another 15 years before I owned a Mac for a brief period of time. Alas, during this “stone age” everything had to be typed on either a typewriter or a bit later on my archaic Commodore-64 word processor. Around 1985 and 1986 that the ideas for Devil’s Domain and Return To the Devil’s Domain came together. Later, I did a Most Wanted III.

I believe that Jeff Dee moved from Grand Rapids sometime around 1987. I say this because I spent a year overseas in Japan — a beautiful country by the way, and I don’t remember him being around after I came back. If he was, it was pretty much over with by that time.

I look back on my V&V experiences with great fondness. Spending my Saturday afternoons holed up with Jeff and five or six kids in his little apartment, fighting battles to save the universe. I still remember the two super heroes I played in his campaigns, Meganaut, the wonder from another universe; and Imperial, the man with the legs of Jupiter. There was too many battles and stories to recount here, but I never had a dull moment in his house.

V&V, of course, wasn’t the only game we played over there. I want to specifically point out that we had several campaigns of “Swords & Glory” from within the world of Tekumel that were incredible. Of all the games I wish I could play again, even over V&V, I wish I could play S&G with Jeff again.

Speed twenty-odd years into the future and I am still gaming, though I have not played a table RPG in years. Sadly, even though I never thought it would come to this, I just don’t have the time or energy any longer to game like that. However, I would say, if Jeff came back to GR — I would dust of my dice and be waiting in line to play at his house.

I am working on several new projects for V&V, none of them far enough along to really talk about but I will say that the Devil is getting restless in his demesne! I hope to pitch a couple of books in the direction of Jeff and Jack here within the next couple of months, and I am very excited about the project.

As for myself, I have returned to school again trying for the final time to get my degree in History. I started at Grand Valley State University when it was only a college and now am in my senior years trying to take classes part time to finish up my BA. If all goes well, perhaps I will continue with my Masters and end up teaching in a college near one of the readers.

At the present, I work as a Computer Administrator at a company called Spartan Graphics in Sparta Michigan (if you ever see a Gerber baby food jar, we print the labels on them). I have been at SG for 15 years — can’t believe it has been that long.

Here is a link to the website where it is hosted: http://www.villainsandvigilantesforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1287459960

Reflecting on 2010:

2011 is only days away and I find myself reflecting back over the year. I am so amazed at how quickly the year tumbled by, it just seemed like it was 2009.

Each year holds surprises and the most wonderful unsuspecting experiences. I look back now at the things I held important and reflect on what I learned and what I must do next year.

A YEAR IN REFLECTION:

1. I want to return to writing, as I did in 2008 and build up a series of projects that showcase my writing potential. I am not looking for completed novels or screenplays, but I would hope to have a short story or two. Several chapters of a new novel completed, and perhaps have contact with a number of literary agents.

I did a bit of writing early in 2010 completing several mini board games and I did some major updates to Phantasm Adventures and Bloodbath. Overall though, I squandered my time and did very little in creating any new prose.

2. I want to publish my 2008 novel to the Kindel. I would be so thrilled to see a review, good, bad or indifferent posted on Amazon and perhaps a dozen people download my book.

I never got around to getting it on Kindel or other electronic media.  I am putting this on the top of my list for the coming year.

3. I want to stay away from Everquest II a total of 60 days. I totally enjoy the game, but I find I often waste too much time playing it. So over the course of 12 months, I would like to be able to not play it for 2 months — not in a row, but just say I wasn’t under a subscription for 60 days.

I actually did quite well on this task and my cousin and I did not play for months.  I would think that we were away from the game more than we actually played it.  Even as I type this, I am barely playing the game and am looking forward to several months away. It is a fun game, but just such a waste of time.

4. I want to go to GenCon this year. Last year I sat with a friend who did go, and he told me how fun it was. I have not been to a GenCon for more than 10 years. I have moved away from my love of gaming and role-playing and I think it would be marvelous to spend a week at the great convention watching people and experiencing new games.

I never got to GenCon this year because of money and time.  I have moved away from my passion of gaming for so long now, it is going to be hard to get back into it again.  Another goal this coming year is to play at least 20 weekends of gaming or Monday Night games (or whatever night it generally falls on).

5. Return to Podcasting. Last year I wanted to do so many shows, but strangely the time slipped through my fingers so quickly. This year, I am scaling my expectations way back. If I could produce 1 show on EQual Perspectives and Travels With Troy, I would be so delighted. Further, if I could be invited to three other podcasts, I would take that as icing on the cake.

Made a few vane attempts at returning to podcasting early on in the year, but it was over by April and I never had a chance again to work with my friends.  I will not be pursuing this in the next year, letting others carry on the torch.

6. I always love reading, but as I did last year I often found little time for it. Although completely two of Dan Brown’s mighty novels is an accomplishment — I fell way short of what my resolution predicted. This year, I have made a much more modest goal of reading three books. I could easily re-read a Heinlein book, and breeze through the latest Dan Brown novel, so that would leave just one other.

I surely could read more — though now that I am back at school, the mere art of reading is more of a chore than a pleasure. I have several books I need and want to read and I will make this a number one goal next year.  Early in the year I did read several Heinlein books and that was great.

7. Play another MMO. In the next 12 months, I want to try for at least 1 month another MMO. As I have said earlier, Everquest II is so fun, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I do not think it would be too hard, later this year, to spend some time in another game — New or established.

Early in the year I did play RuneQuest but that did not last long and I did not truly miss out on much.  I will only be concentrating on Everquest II next year and even then I want to only play 4 out of the 12 months.

8. Spend time learning more skills I can use on the job. Of course, how does one grade such a goal as this? It will be hard, but if I can earn myself a certification, raise, or new title — I would claim victory in this resolution. Such topics as SQL administration, Crystal Reporting, or even Windows 7 are just three of the many areas I would love to know more about.

I have truly learned so much this year concerning IT, computers, programs, and end-user support.  This is the greatest job for learning technical skills.  I wish I could have learned more secrets in SQL or Crystal Reporting, but I think I did very well in managing and learning new skill sets.

9. Take my wife on a 10-year anniversary trip. This year I would like to spend five days going somewhere special to honor our 10 years of marriage. To me, it does not have to be anywhere special, but I will leave that up to my wife. I just want to be able to say to her, that she has my undivided attention for a week and that we have something to look back on for the rest of our lives.

We took a nice vacation in the spring up to a lovely house in Sutton’s Bay Michigan and it was very relaxing and peaceful.  I wish we could have gotten to go more this year, but we also had a cat die this year.  Poor Cuddles simply slipped away last August — he will be missed, but months prior to that we knew he was sick and we stuck around the home for him.  I am looking forward to some kind of trip this year and truly spending some quality time with Cherry.

10. Pay down our debt by 3000 dollars. We made good strides last year, but I would love to be able to drop 3 grand on our outstanding debt.

Our debt has been replaced with College debt.  I started back to school in June and the bills are beginning to add up. We also refied the house this year and made allot of cost cutting savings.  Overall we did well.

11. With taking Resolutions 9 and 10 into consideration, I would like to also make 1 house repair this year. Perhaps new carpeting or a new paint job on the inside. Otherwise, I would even consider this a victory to buy a new lawn mower — since the one I have is at least 10 years old.

Never did a house repair this year, but I did not forsee going back to school — I guess that was a Life Repair and if I take it as that, I did very well.

12. Excercise! I would like to continue my walking regiment the entire year, with my two to three walks a day at work, and trying to use the elliptical at least 1 time a week for a couple of minutes. Perhaps in the spring, my wife and I can continue our walks on the White Pine Trails until it gets too hot. Just keep it up.

Started out very strong and we walked and exercised up until late April and early May but then we started petering out in the summer and fall.  Winter sucks.  We need to get vigilante again.

13. Play three new computer games this year. Seems silly to many, but last year I just never got out of my Everquest II rut. I did buy Left4Dead and Sims III — this year, I want to expand my gaming potential with one more title. It will be my goal to play a different game every 4 months.

I played GTA IV this year and that was a ton of fun.  Other than that, my non-EQII gaming has been pretty lame.  I will say that this year was energized terrifically with my MODDING of Civilization IV, a game that was pretty much dead last year.  Now the game takes up a ton of my time and I really enjoy modding.  Big accomplishment!!!

14. Have my friends over playing games 24different times — I traditionally have a Monday night gaming group, comprised of Wade, Joe, and myself. This year, I would like to expand that to invite 1 other friend and play something other than computer games at least 30 times this year (basically 6 months out of the year). I have so many other good friends from Mike, Alan, Kim, Eric, and Rick, that I should have the chance of luring them over. Albeit, I would also like to go to their house (counting that as double — since I am such a wall flower).

Didn’t get very far with this.  Gaming is still pretty much like it was in 2009 and I don’t see much change in 2011.

15. Spend time with my Family — I realized last year, that I spent so little time with my Mom, Dad, Brother, and outer relatives. I want to spend at least a weekend a month doing something with my immediate family. Museums, Movies, Going Out to Breakfast, Visits — simple things really, but so very important.

I spent a good amount of time with family, but need to push this a bit more next year. Early in the year I made a point to go to the movies with my brother — which served a good time to do some bonding.  Also went over to my mom’s house more to have supper and play cards.  Spent allot of time with my cousin and with friends.

16. Enjoying Work More. What am I talking about? Yeah, I know work is no fun. But last year I don’t think I really enjoyed my job as much as I could have. Set aside my differences of pay and compensation — just relish being at work and keeping busy. I guess next year at this time, I should be able to look back and say honestly if #16 was accomplished or not — I await eagerly 12 months to re-examine this goal and see how I have done.

My job is pretty good and I feel very confident in what I do now.  Surely, I could learn more and be more proactive, but overall it is a great job with great benefits. Very happy.

17. Less Doctors, less pain. Last year I seemed to always be going to a doctor. After all the visits, I don’t think I was any better off or in less pain. This year my goal is to go to the doctor only 4 times. And not be on so much medicine. Last year, I averaged 1 IMITREX every three days. This year, I want to average 1/week. I can do this!

Overall my pain was pretty much the same as it was in 2009.  I do notice that for whatever reason, I feel better in the later half of December and January than other times of the year.  Went to too many doctors last year – my goal is less doctors and more excercise.  Pain will always be pain.  I must manage it better.

18. Buy a new computer. Some may think this is an easy task. But with my tight budget, and desires to go to Gencon, an Anniversary trip, paying down my debt, and a house repair — this is pushing it to the limit. I know so little about Windows 7, I would like to learn more how it operates and feels.

Never got around to buying a new computer. Cherry got a new computer and it is Windows 7 — Started out rocky but it is much better now.  I also bought a mini but it had XP on it.  Not bad, but Cherry mostly uses it for around the house.  My old workhorse is still plugging along.

19. Start a new hobby. Hobbies are great — something to lose some time in dreaming about making something, collecting, or trading. Finding new friends, while talking to old friends about your discovery. I would like to comment next year on something completely different, some that I have no concept of now but will be so much more informed a year from now. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Just something new to add to conversations.

YES: School.  I started back at Grand Valley State University bound and determined to get my degree in History.  Life changing!  This was the biggest thing I did this year. I got two As too!!!

20. Be Happy. Another one of those great resolutions that is hard to measure or quantify. I think last year I would have graded this as a remarkable achievement — I had a great year, regardless of minor pitfalls, and look forward to another adventuresome and thrilling year. Keep my health, family, friends, and my lovely wife around me and I cannot fail.

Overall I did well at being happy.  I would say I made great bounds in staying happy and keeping my wife and friends happy too.  I look forward to another great year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I have been grossly absent from the Emerald Tablet for a while. Work has been keeping me busy and at the end of September I started back going to college.

I am proud to say that in the first term back, after more than 20 years away from school, I got two “A-“s. One class was in Ancient History and the other was in Modern History. I am trying to finish up my Bachelor’s in History and then make a decision if I should go on to my Masters. If I do, I will specialize in Mesoamerican studies specifically the Mayan culture.

The latter half of November I was busy with school and Thanksgiving, then had to study for my finals and write two extensive term papers. After that, of course, was Christmas and now I am trying to get my weekend organized for New Year’s.

I have also been writing a new expansion for my Civilization IV mod which will be debuting in the next couple of weeks and it will have as much new content as my entire mod I created in late July.

I have also been working on a V&V (Villains & Vigilantes) module that will be the first in nearly 30 years. I am still talking with Jack Herman and Jeff Dee about the specifics but things are coming along nicely.

At the tail end of all that excitement, I have also wasted too much time playing Everquest II. Although a fun game, it saps far too much energy and time from my schedule.

I hope everyone has a glorious New Year, and I hope to return in fervor next year and talk all about my games and projects.