Finishing school and how it has fucked with my head

For most of my adult life I have been an unrepentant polyamorous pansexual. I have trouble caring about the biologically defined sex of a person, and enjoy aspects in my partners from just about every socially defined gender. I have never had issue with my partner sleeping with others, as long as we both have the same rules placed on those relationships.

Recently school has been showing me how normal my queer relationship opinions are. In one class we spent a week on what the definition of queer is. I found myself seeing what educated people actually think about queer, and how they get from point a (mommy says that is wrong) to point b (actually that seems pretty normal).

I still see myself as queer, but leaning toward monogamy. This is not me saying 'go monogamy', I still see the way society acts about it as a social disease. I still see no reason for me to choose someone based on their biological sex, or their socially defined gender. I see no reason for our society to say monogamy is the only way. But when I look at myself I see someone looking for one person to be their life long partner. That is not to say I would ignore a perfectly healthy poly relationship because they are poly, I would just want more restrictions than most poly relationships I have been in or around.

Being 28 and still growing up, this shit be wack yo. Then again I still have issues telling people that would never judge me things about myself (including the whole becoming mono thing, thankfully none of those peeps are likely to end up here, at least not anytime soon), so maybe I am not all that grown up, then again, do we ever stop growing up?

Excerpt from an ethnography on geek dance

Rusty Con is the Seattle area Sci-Fi Fantasy convention. There are many conventions that are related to Rusty, Rusty is the most localized of the conventions for the Seattle area, the next level up is NorWesCon, and the one up from there is WesterCon. These conventions are loosely affiliated, but have strong bonds both in the people who come, and those who run them.

There are many things that convention goers expect from the Convention Dance, no matter what level, or where you are in the US. Latex outfits, leather outfits, and Cosplay are expected, recently Steam Punk joined the usual attire to be seen at convention dances. But as this is a dance certain songs being played are more important than any other aspect of the dance, and the DJ must make sure to time the playing of these songs, so they are not too close together, nor so far apart that convention goers are too enticed to leave to go to the room parties. The most important songs on this list are “Rasputin” by Boney M, “Burning Time”, and “When you’re evil” by Voltaire.

The song that seems to have formed the most structural culture at the conventions is “Rasputin”. In a previous ethnography I asked Andrew, a good friend from Russia, about this song.

I have never heard the song "Rasputin" by Boney-M prior to arriving to the US, and I only heard it here when I went to my first Sci-Fi convention. Most of my friends knew of my heritage, and I was surprised that they expected me to recognize the song immediately. Most of them were taken aback when I mentioned I have never heard the song before, and didn't know of the band that sung it. Apparently, in their minds, any song that mentions Russia or Russians should be greatly popular in Russia itself. The song does not illicit any particular emotion - I like the beat, and I find the lyrics somewhat humorous. The dance that goes with the song at conventions made me laugh at first, and the realization that my American friends thought that's how all Russian dance made me laugh even more. Overall, I think the song is a nice Sci-Fi convention tradition, and I'm happy to kick my feet up a couple of times if it makes my American friends giggle with delight.

Convention goers had taken aspects of what they thought was Russian culture, which it is in fact Ukrainian dance, mixed with bits of American culture top create the basics of the dance. The dance to this is both very communal, with everyone in a circle with their arm behind their neighbors back, and yet very much a show of skill, with those wanting to show their dancing prowess going into the center of the circle.

While America is considered a Christian country by many, in geek circles the less traditional religions are more the norm. In a nod to this another song that no convention dance can get away with not playing is “Burning Times”. This is less a communal dance, and more a dance where people who practice any aspect of Wicca show their connection to Mother Earth, and the ways they do this can sometimes be very obvious, and other times very obscure. No matter the how or the why behind the movements, they mean something powerful and important to the dancer.

Overheard from a Pathfinder game, while working on a scarf in the corner

Dark elves are Americans. ~ N
No, but I like dark elves. ~ B

Lunk will help you get up there. ~ N
By breaking your legs. ~ D

Speed slugs. They are painted red. ~ B
Painted red? ~ E
Red things go faster. ~ B

Guys, this isn't WoW. ~ D

Lunk will heal you, tank the slug. ~ N

The slug is laughing at him. ~ B

How about Lunk's efeminite younger brother? ~ N
Badonka-donk-donk. ~ B

If slugs coudld look puzzle, he would look puzzled. ~ C
He is a puzzled laughing slug. ~ B

He taught it to feel. ~ D
He taught it to love laugh and be confused. ~ B

I fail. ~ D
Bet you're bloody now. ~ N

How do you go so much damage? ~ J
He makes up numbers. ~ N

Lawful stupid, our group. ~ N

You stick your finger in it and it gets wet. ~ C

I softly punch him in the nuts. ~ D

No, you cannot sell the gift from beyond the gates of death. ~ N

You feel like doing very naughty thing to Kay. ~ C

Not South enough. It's underground. ~ N

How do we even getting any play in?

You bad man. Me love you long time. ~ S

I like looking like peoples brothers. ~ S

I have a good amount of sharp metal leverage. ~ N

So what are you doing? ~ D
Admiring your cat. ~ P
People on ecstasy admire your cat. ~ N
We're not doing drugs. ~ S

The dread brochure. ~ N
The Dread Brochure Roberts. S

I've got my rod. ~ P

My magic rod. ~ P

And you have rod expertiece. ~ D
Plus 2. ~ P

I have a thing. ~ N
He has a thing. ~ P

Holy crap batman. ~ P
Robin would not say holy crap. ~ E
Holy charred corpses batman. ~ N

Slap him, that always helps. ~ N

Fucking physics. ~ D
He has been saying that all day. ~ E
I will stop saying it when it stops fucking me. ~ D

Pooky will help me with the big long words. N
He points at a word and says 'the'. ~ D

I am going to roll arcana guess who got arcana specialization? ~ S
I am never running a game that has magic again. ~ D

The shirt has eyes. ~ N

Don't insult the phallus's. I was just sticking up for my buddy. ~ S
You do not need to stick up for phallus's, they stick up on their own. ~ E

Do a bro check. ~ D

He's taking you home to meet his mother. ~ P

There is only about a 60 year difference between those references. ~ S

There is no way this could end poorly. ~ N

It's like imaginary friends, but real. ~ N

I keep drinking. How drunk am I? ~ N

He picks you up, you puke on his back. ~ D

I know you are going to shot me, but I roll arcana. ~ S

To leave a torture victim press 3. ~ N

You wake up dead. ~ P

Captain couch surfer. ~ N

You have the most anti-girly hic-up. It is not masculine, but is somehow the opposite if girly. ~ E

I add stuff I guess. ~ N

One of these days Pooky, one of these days. ~ N
Bang zoom straight to the moon. ~ E

They know we are not dead, because we keep running around the market making fools of ourselves. ~ N

I am in the mood for something different. ~ E
Something fabulous. ~ N
You get a mohawk ~ D

We could have taken a train. ~ P
Yes, we could have stayed around and died while waiting for a train. ~ E

The subject is ultramarino. The message is "Here I don't grudge it take it". ~ D (reading from a spam email)
You opened it, now your computer is infected with ultramarino. ~ P

What's shaking Japan? ~ N

How did you get that stuck there. ~ D

I am not doing it to judge, I am doing it to enjoy. ~ S

We're off to see the wizard. ~ (missed who started this one)
The wonderful wizard of Sharn. ~ E

Try not to get taken out to the dumpster too often. ~ N

Birthday gaming quotes

Then, at 7, 7 shots. ~ N

There is nothing worse then not expecting it and getting it in the mouth. ~ N

Don't you hate it when you penis falls asleep? ~ L

Ya'll make no sense, and I am the one drinking. ~ E

I am pretty sure you just got killed by your apprentice. ~ Sc

Unless you convert you can never unjew. ~ Sc

Don't worry about it, we will tell you when you are older, and Ul I am sorry. ~ Sh

I am neither mafia, nor a cylon. ~ Sc

Quotes started early this evening

This chick is wrong. ~ U

But it was charged when it was stolen. ~ A

It's so small, it's Amy size. ~ A

I want to try African accent. ~ U

What is the dragon's name. ~ U
Beck, because she comes at our call. ~ A

Clearly it is not a face die. ~ U
What did you give him, and why are you not sharing ~ D

It's the konami code, get it right or pay the price. ~ B

You made a woman. ~ B
Undo it, undo it. ~ D

You birthed me, that seems wrong ~ E

Sort of like a penis to an ocean. ~ A
I do not get it ~ E
Because I fucked it up ~ A

I crit that, 22. ~ U

Gnomiwood ~ B
That is going to be a thing. Adventures in Gnomiwood. ~ D

Raitions? No, it is rations, even in South Africa. ~ U

Why don't you bend over while I check your pocketbook. ~ B

If you get something out of it, and not something in you. ~ U

So many Ella ~ D

That is both gross and disgusting. ~ J

Of all the references, pachinko machine? ~ E

Painting an army

I am not very good at PC when dealing with friends, but this is probably the worst I have ever done

Any opinion on weapon color for my hordes army? I'm going for a purpley pink grey sunset as the general color scheme ~ D
I understand that I have female parts, but that does not make me a girl ~ E
wuzzat have to do with anything? ~ D
You are asking me colour questions, you ask girls and gays that ~ E

The really sad part? I actually do paint minis.

And award for the night goes to the kind of Frenchman

Last nights campaign has started an advertising company, and we went to convention. Our companion that had finally decided started to live life sober found his way back to the bottom of a pint (many pints). And our slightly off putting Shaman/Druid that was raised in the wilds, is still not understanding city life. It just got worse from there.

Buy our weapons of mass destruction. ~ N

What are you going to ask, "Is that what you used to blow up that dirty elf country?" ~ N

We could make up a country, "We represent Whogivesafuckistan." ~ N

I am going to write a letter to Leovin "Dude, don't do it. Jesus Christ, restraining order, moved 3 states, OH MY GOD need car." ~ N

I know you're going to laugh at me, but I am going to work on- ~ S
Posters? ~ P
Brochures ~ S

They have good examples of brochures. ~ S
So many shots. ~ N

I think your mom's gay, no wait that's my mom. ~ N

Pooky is very appreciative in his pink leopard print hat ~ D
Pimpin' Pooky, pimpin'. ~ P

"You have reached the point in the campaign where you defend your party members, 'They really are good people.' ~ N

I liked 'well it's not yellow this time.' ~ N
At least it is not brown anymore. ~ D

Awww, Pooky, let's not have an alcoholic Pooky. ~ S

Did you hear about the 6th graders who started a fight club? They obviously forgot the first rule of fight club. ~ C
And the second rule. ~ B

You were drinking while we were playing D&D. And you did not offer me any. ~ N
I offered you some. ~ E
I thought it was gatorade. ~ N
You thought it was date rape? ~ B
You saw me going and filling it up, what did you think I was filling it up with? ~ E

Unfortunetly Santa has run out of ammo. ~ B

Cosmic-Bang-Hunters ~ B
"Cosmic Bang Hunters", sounds like a bad porn. ~ N
Galactus as the pizza boy. ~ D

There is a void in Nick that needs to be filled with Rosen. ~ D
Only one? ~ N
There can be only one. ~ B

Staring the Rock as Frodo Baggins. (I sadly was laughing so hard that I completely missed who said it)

As long as you only cuddle my face. ~ N

What I really miss about Canada, card games, and legos. ~ B
Because we do not have cards. ~ N
And we don't have legos, even though it is an American company. ~ D

Only you and George R R Martin use the term 'bedding'. ~ N

She is just on a present high. ~ C (and I totally was)

More Quotes

"I am pretty sure they think you are a gnome dancing on a cart." ~ J

"I like to fight, but I also like living." ~ A

"They look like carp, and you can't trust a fish." ~ U
after much laughing
"What do you mean fish?" ~ B
"We like gold fish." ~ A

"I think we should go straight at them, it is the last thing they will expect." ~ B

"Why would you tell us at the beginning, that is like recon and shit." ~ A"

"Technically I have multiple character sheets, does that count for anything." ~ A

"It is not the crown of light hopeful drizzle." ~ A

"And when I get hit I beep." ~ J
"You need to replace your RAM." ~ B

"Can we cross the stream?" ~ A
"Never cross the streams." ~ D

Gaming quotes

Before you think we are crazy, evil, or racist, well, we are crazy, but the other two are not true, just the crazy one. For those wondering these are from both D&D and Cosmic Encounter.

"Wizards book club of the month." ~ S

"Those hammered bronze cap people." ~ N

"Perhaps screaming for his murder was a bit too..." ~ S

"I am playing World of Commerence-craft." ~ N

"Pooky silently judges you." ~ N

"What contact information did you give him?" ~ E
"We didn't." ~ S
"So how is he going to contact you?" ~ E
(at this point I was so lost in laughter that I did not properly document)

"You usually go to conventions and play D&D, you never play D&D and go to conventions." ~ N

"It is literally like Alabama and you just said Black people are equal." ~ D

"Pickled Raelish." ~ P

"Have fun storming the universe." ~ P

"It's like Halloween over here." ~ B

"It's like a drive by." ~ N

"And now back to your regularly scheduled battle." ~ N

"The entire cosmos just shat on my face." ~ D

"I would not want to play 10 more games like this." ~ N
"Just like 9." ~B

"So what is going to happen at your party?" ~ C
"Fighting and drinking. There are going to be shots followed by shots." ~ N

"You need those troll HOTs." ~ B
"Yeah, all those troll HOTs." ~ N

D&D Part the end

Last Thoughts
Some people call geeks anti social, the people involved in this observation are the opposite of this. They are people who looked for and found people who think like them, at least to an extent. We all like to take a step away from ourselves, and play like we are someone else. Our Friday nights are spent gaming in many forms, usually starting with a game of Dungeons and Dragons, and commonly ending with us playing a game where we once again take on the persona of another non-existent person (although not always a human person).
We have recently been playing a Dungeons and Dragons game based on no fighting whatsoever. This means that the games I have been observing are a bit different than even what most gamers think of as Dungeons and Dragons, but they would recognize the basics of what we were doing, just not in the quantities we were doing.
The main evening of my observation everyone had maps of the train out, and notes made about the different questions asked, and what the suspects had said, with any other specific thoughts. When the fight finally started the sadness was clearly noticeable, even thought the group had been complaining about the lack of fighting for the last three weeks. A round before the fight end Caroline and Brent came in, while not in this 4th edition game, both playDungeons and Dragons, but only 3.5. After comments of "finally fighting?" and "so have you had to actually think in the game yet", the round was finished, and the surprise twist was announced, and more comments were made, this time more along the line of "we are so frakked" and "how did you fuck that guy (to a player about their pc and their former npc lover)".
The games for the night moved away from Dungeons and Dragons, but not role playing games. The group split with some playing a game as the evil dungeon lords, and others playing random characters in a game where someone turns evil, and tries to bring some evil into the world, or kill all the other players, or something of that nature.
My best friend has already said he will play Dungeons and Dragons with his kids, if he ever has any. “It’s a fantastic tool for social skills and problem solving.” People do not realize that Dungeons and Dragons is not just about fighting, but also about dealing with other people in the game, and in the game these skills can be learned and practiced. “If you knew you could do something to help your kids prepare for the real world, why would you not?”

New shinies

When the best friend gets new things, the old get handed down, to the poor college student. I can once again play WoW whenever I want. I can even /gasp take notes and not have to wait two minutes to see what I just typed.

The hair is short. I last had it short in high school. I let it grow, and grow, and would joke about to having a mind of it's own, and the ability to kill. It is once again short, but not as short as high school. Now it is a very good length for curls and no afro (white girls should not have an afro).

Rift is coming out soonish. I have gotten to play with the Beta. Not sure exactly how it is going be when it comes out, but I have enjoyed a good bit of it (although have not gotten high enough to get end game, or even dungeons), and have worries about how some things might turn out. I find the crafting interesting. The concept of the rifts seems to be working out well, for the most part. There are only 4 classes, and each class has 8 souls to choose 3 from, each soul gives a focus, this means a cleric might be DPS instead of healing (I am trying to figure out if you can play a cleric and be unable to heal, not that I would play it, but it is a cool concept).
My main for the Betas have been a cleric that has two heals, one is a HOT that does little real healing, and one that can only be used every two minutes, making me a horrible healer. This has caused many people to complain that the healer is not healing, I point out that I am not a healer but DPS and they still respond 'but you are a cleric'. I have only dealt with public groups, so I am hoping that expectation of the 'obvious' passing at some point, not sure I will find it a long term gaming choice, but I am sure I will find it a worth while purchase.

The best friend is proud to have finally found a type of real beers I like. Basically give me Belgian.

Enough already

Quarter half way done, birthday coming up, graduation coming up, need to find a job, practice for heritage play...

Have not had much time to deal with my side research, in fact nearly none. I am however Beta for Rift, so I will hopefully have some cool stuff to post about that (from multiple aspects of my off kilter mind).

However now I need to make sure I do not fall asleep in the choir loft in the morning.

Gaming Quotes

I am know to write down funny things said, and then loss the note. Here is one such note. Many of these make more sense in context, but read individually they are funny, just make no sense.

"Ship, Shipiti, Ship, Shipiti, Ship, Ship, Kaboom." ~ A

"Hey can I distract you, here is a baby." ~ M
"She threw a baby at the raiders." ~ D

"The cylons are pounding away, and oh, a tube of lube, spoot." ~ D

"Cylon Clause is better." ~ D
"Which is really a mind fuck." ~ S

On the other side, like from a different night, but clearly we have the same thoughts going all the time.

"I want a winged kitty mount." ~ A

"Tranny dwarfs, that shit be whack." ~ D

"We should move these, so they do not give anyone tetris." ~ A

"That would not be a hand job, so much as a body job." ~ D

"She could use you as a spring board." ~ D

"You could totally be his cock ring." ~ D

"Except they are blowing the wrong end." ~ D

"Shiv, Shiviti, Shiv, Shiviti, Shiv, Shiv rew." ~ A
"Don't Shiv 'Rew." ~ D

God is (in progess)

My lord God says to love thy neighbor
The people of God say to:
Love thy neighbor,
Unless he is gay
Unless his cheating is know
Unless he using drugs
Love thy neighbor,
Unless she is pregnant
Unless she drinks
Unless she is not the norm
Love thy neighbor,
Unless

My savior
My Jesus
Says to give to Caesar what is Caesars
The people of God here on earth say
Give me what is mine
The government should have none
The church gets only what I say is earned

The bible says God is love
The people here on earth say God is only capable of loving people like them
The bible says God needs us to give of ourselves
His people are lucky to qualify as Sunday Christians

D&D Part 8

Traditions
The traditions of Dungeons and Dragons are mostly about the actual playing, in whatever form the play choices to do so. The most important traditions of a pen and paper Dungeons and Dragonser will be to sit down with their groups and play, commonly the major celebrations are the times when they run know dungeons like Tomb of Horrors. Board game Dungeon and Dragon Players will have gaming parties where many games are played, and multiple encounters will be used. LARPing Dungeon and Dragon Players major tradition is getting together, usually once a week, and taking over a large space to play.
A common tradition amongst all Dungeon and Dragon Players is going to conventions. Not always are these conventions Dungeon and Dragons in focus, but in even the least Role Playing geek convention Dungeons and Dragons can be found, commonly at the Wizards of the Coast booth. Along with conventions Cosplay is a common tradition. Many a Dungeons and Dragons player will dress up for the convention, sometimes as one of their Dungeons and Dragons characters, or as a well known character from an MMO they play, or their character from an MMO they play, and sometimes as some character that they feel some strong connection to, even if they have never dealt with the before.
Tools of the Trade
The most important thing for most Dungeon and Dragons players is the pencil, dice are high on their list as well, as is a dice bag, and the Dungeon and Dragons books. Most Game Masters would say they need maps, or a map board.
Minis are very common, but in no way the norm, however the norm is not to not have minis either. If a group does not use minis they most likely use token or counters of some sort.
With a professional mini painter, one mini painter that just does it to cover what financial aid does not, as well as 4 players and the GM that have the kits of a professional mini painter, in the group what is seen on the table during this game is much nicer than many have, but not completely out of the ordinary. Six of the characters have fully finished minis, one is working on hers, and any side characters and extra figures are at least partially painted. This is in contrast to what people think of geeks, and gamers, where we are sitting in a dark basement with no figures, just papers telling the players everything they need to know.
One mini painter shared with me that she wishes more people wanted Dungeons and Dragons mini’s painted, “all mini’s can be expressive, butDungeons and Dragons mini’s are meant to be changed, and given it’s own thoughts and feelings, that have been created by a person, other mini’s are already given those thoughts before they reach the hands of the player, even before they are in the hands of the painter.”
Music
From what I have observed there is no one type of music that all Dungeons and Dragonsplayer listen to, but they really enjoy songs that are slightly off from the norm. For example the Guild music videos, and “Taking the hobbits to Isengard” techno.

D&D Part 7

Community
Dungeons and Dragons community is much like other broader parts of the geek culture, in that there is not one definition for it. DDO is one great way to have a community for Dungeons and Dragons players, they can be playing with a person they are at a LAN party with, or they can be playing alone in their room, while still playing with someone on the other side of the world. Many stick with the pen and paper Dungeons and Dragons and their community is the people they sit down and play with. Much like pen and paper Dungeon and Dragon Players board game Dungeon and Dragon Players’ main community are the people they sit down to play with. LARPers have a more active community, and usually deal with more people than either the pen and paper or the board gameDungeon and Dragon Players. Many Dungeon and Dragon Players find community on the web, usually in the form of forums. Many Dungeon and Dragon Players like to go to conventions, some to feel they are a part of something bigger, others to learn from other Dungeon and Dragon Players, others to teach other Dungeon and Dragon Players, and some just to show off their character, or costume.
Ideology
Most Dungeon and Dragon Players would say there is no one ideology for all Dungeon and Dragon Players , some wish to be what they always wish they could be in the real world, other wish to do things not allowed in the real world, some wish to save the day, but cannot or do not have the skills required to do so in the real world. However all have imagination, and the wish to use them in some way, whether that is to escape from some part of the real world, or to create a better (or worse) world of their own.

D&D part 6

Language
DDO - Dungeons and Dragons Online
LARP - Live Action Role Playing
NPC - Non-Player Character
PC - Player Character
GM - Game Master (same as DM)
DM - Dungeon Master (same as GM)
Squishies - Players with low HP and/or AC
CC - Crowd Control - used for characters who keeps the ‘squishies’ safe
DPS - Damage Per Second - the characters that do large amounts of damage
Tank - The character meant to take the hits, usually high HP and AC
HP - Hit Point
AC - Armor Class - used to describe how good the gear is at taking hits
Melee - Up close fighter, the ones that get right into the thick of the fight
Range - Fighting from a distance

Comments Half way through

I would like to point out the D&D culture is not conclusive, or even all that in depth, as it was after only 4 weeks of actual research on the specifics of D&D culture, which means this is just a start point, not an end point.

D&D Culture part 5

History of Dungeons and Dragons Original 1974 D&D Basic Set 1st Revision 1977 AD&D 1977–1979 D&D Basic Set 2nd Revision 1981 D&D Basic Set 3rd Revision 1983–1986 AD&D 2nd Edition 1989 D&D 3rd Edition 2000 D&D v3.5 2003 D&D 4th edition 2008 4th Ed Red Box 2010 1974 changed the world. At the time people thought nothing of it. Now we have so much from both the geek and the non-geek worlds to thank for this one thing. It was not a completely new creation, but it did create a whole new culture. D&D, Dungeons and Dragons, the original RPG, role playing game. It has since created a culture completely unique to Dungeons and Dragons, but has also had major influences on education, board games, video games, helped people with social disorders, what more can you ask of a single three volume set. When Dungeons and Dragons first came out people who did not want to play a game that seemed to be the same every time, the people that had imagination, the outcasts were given something that was theirs, something designed for the way they think. Since its first creation there have been a total of 4 base editions, this does not include sets like original, 3.5, etc. The real downside to OD&D, Original Dungeons and Dragons, was that the math was very complicated, making it hard for the average person to access. Each set since than has made things more understandable, and in many ways easier to play, the latest set even has a way to sit down and start playing with almost no set up, or start up time needed. My own group of friends love the Dungeons and Dragons concept, but even in our little group the exact opinions vary. None prefer OD&D, 1st Ed, or 2nd Ed, but there are the 3rd Ed faction, v3.5 faction, and the 4th Ed faction, I do have other friends from outside my main crew that are a part of the 2nd Ed . I myself started with v3.5, so even though it is not my favorite anymore, I still defend it, and probably will for the rest of my life. Caroline has tried every Dungeons and Dragons set, she believes that v3.5 is the best, for her play style at least. “3.5 is not as complicated as earlier versions, but not so simple that you can just phone it in.” I have not dealt with the Red Box Set yet so I will use the words of one of the pair voted most influential geeks in the world, Mike Krahulik, known to most of the geek world as Johnathan "Gabe" Gabriel “The first thing I noticed about Essentials was its character creation process. I have honestly never filled in a character sheet with a pencil. Since I discovered Dungeons and Dragons with 4th Ed I have always had the benefit of the online character creator. I have to say there was something cool about filling in numbers and erasing mistakes. The Essentials Player’s Handbook does an incredible job of walking you through this process via a solo adventure. “It’s structured like an old choose your own adventure with questions at the end of each section. When your wagon is attacked by goblins in the beginning the story asks you if your first reaction is to draw a weapon, cast a spell, heal the driver or sneak around behind the attackers. From there you jump to the appropriate section and continue with the adventure. What kind of spell do you cast? do you offer to help or ask for a reward? By the end of the adventure you have completely filled out your character sheet with your class, defenses, skills, languages, gear and powers. I honestly found this part to be really smart and a lot of fun.”

D&D Part 5

Who are the people involved in this research? My main group for this research was my Dungeons and Dragons crew of 8, including myself, I also asked those who are joining our group in the next few weeks as we spilt the rather large group into two smaller groups that are working towards the same goal, without being together while we are doing so. Old Lady* plays a Psion Changeling, in the real world she is the oldest in the group at 50, she is white female lawyer from New York who is married to one of the groups latest additions. Monkeys* plays a Warforged Battle Mind, in the real world he is a mixed blood 23 year old single male from Seattle that works in IT. El Toro Grande* plays a Human Fighter, while in the real world he is a 26 year old student from Seattle, who labels himself as forever alone, and is very proud to be both Portuguese and South American. Amy plays a Gnome Storm Sorcerer, and in the real world is a 26 year old artist originally from Monroe, married to another member of the group. Richard Rockhard* plays a Gnome Warlock, in the real world he is 34 year old from Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa who works in IT and is married to Amy. Bryon plays an Elf Monk, and in the real world is a 24 year old single white male from Seattle. Damoel* is the leader, AKA GM for the group, when not gaming he is a legal assistant, he is 29 years old which puts him near the middle of our ages. I also talked with Pete, who joins the group on 3 December 2010, and is married to Old Lady. Caroline and her husband Brent who will be joining us sometime in the next couple of weeks, originally they said they would never play 4th Ed, that v3.5 was the only Dungeons and Dragons they would play.

D&D part 4

What is Role Playing Culture? Language Role Playing does find most of its players speaking English, but the real part of the language that makes Role Playing language its own is the using of words no one else uses, and in ways that no one else would. Melee, GM, DM, DPS, tank, crowd control, MMORPG, and healer are all common Role Playing words, and are really required if one is to discuss what they are doing. Community Role Playing culture can still be anywhere, but is more defined and yet less defined. Online RPGs, MMORPGs, FRPGs, pen and paper RPGs, board game RPGs, and LARPs are the main forms of community of the actual gaming itself. Online forums, and conventions are major places for Role Players to go, to see and learn what others are doing and show off what they are doing. Ideology Role Playing Ideology is more than just the escape from a world that does not accept the gamer, but is a very active escape, one must either play as someone else in a world that is not the real world, or create the world the players will be using to escape. Traditions Role Playing traditions are simply the playing of the games, and usually going out either in the real or virtual worlds to meet other Role Players. Cultural Items Dice are very important to Role Players, sometimes because they need them for the gaming, other because they wish to have a connection to the past, other simply because everyone else they know has them, and the thought of being the odd one out in a group of social misfits just seems wrong. Music For the most part what has been covered for the other broader geek and gaming cultures is the same for Role Players, there is one addition, the really over the top GMs sound effects (eg rain, storm, eerie music).

Late night WoW

"I meant to hit Alt-4, but hit Alt-F4." ~ D
"This next fight is an idiot check, so we are screwed." ~ D
"You guys are killing me, I need to breath, not just laugh." ~ E

In class quotes

From Comparative Study of Death:
"I am the professional dead person." - Prof
"We use nice terms like going home, etc, you are dead. Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead." - Prof

I expect more interesting comments to come from classes this quarter, I will be posting them here (but only when I remember this blog exists).

Posting has me confused

Clearly I have not been around here much, but over break I started posting my D&D research (as turned in) to my gamer research blog, but when I posted just now, I decided to look at the blog itself (as some classmates have shown interest in it) and it looks like all 3 posts did not go up until today, even though they are dated earlier . . . looks like I found something else I have broken, go me.

D&D culture part 3

Again, this is not the bible on the subject, just part of geek introduction. What is Gaming Culture? Language Gaming Culture does not have a unifying language, but does use words in slightly different ways. For example turn can be used as most of society uses it to mean ‘my turn’ or ‘your turn’, but is very commonly used to mean this round of turns. Community When it comes to gaming your community is whoever you game with, and whomever you discussing said gaming with, which can be anywhere, and everywhere. Ideology Many geeks escape into discussions, or non active members of their escaping by just watching TV or Movies or reading books or graphic novels. Gaming culture is built around the active escape, whether it be through playing of gaming that other have created, creating an avatar and existing for a time as another person, or even creating your own world, and people in it. Traditions Gaming cultures one real tradition is gaming. Gaming can be anything from playing a single player video game, to LARPing all across the UW campus. Cultural Items Gamers cannot really be gamers without the having of dice sets, whether that be a block of d6s or a full set of dice. Even video gamers have dice sets even thought they are not needed for their game of choice. Music McChris is very popular with gamers, most geeks have at least heard his stuff, but Gamers seem more connected to his work. Jonathan Coulton is also very popular amongst gamers.

D&D culture part 2

This is purely an overview that I thought was important for the non geek reader to understand before they could understand anything deeper. What is Geek Culture? Language Unlike most cultures where part of their self definition is a shared language, geek culture does not have a language that everyone speaks. English is a major language for many parts of geek culture, German is major in board gaming culture, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese are major in video gaming. There are some things that while not technically part of the same language has crept into the different languages. 1337 (pronounced leet) is common where the non-letters on the keyboard can be used in such a way that they look like letters. lolspeak started as a way to make fun of people that use bad grammar, etc, now it is mostly used by the people it was first meant to make fun of, and by people doing cat, etc pictures online. Geeks have also created language that others use on a daily basis, just to exist. Without C++ I could not be writing this paper, and without html I could not turn it in online. Community Space the final frontier, but not all that important to geek community. Geeks do not have one place that they need to use or share, or even deal with to be a geek. The internet was created by geeks, and while non geeks enter the space, and use it, it is still the home of the geeks, but one need not ever go into a geek forum, or write a geek blog, or even play an MMORPG to be a real geek, or be involved in the community. There are geek groups all over where people get together in the old fashioned way of face to face. Ideology There is no one unifying ideology for this culture. Mostly it is people that are misfits, but find community with other misfits that think the same way, or enjoy the same things. Most geeks do seem to wish the world to be a better place, or to exist in another space, and so they go online, and enter this otherworld, or they play games where there is no need to dealing with real things, or even create their own world to exist in for a short time. This wish to be anywhere but here likely has to do with the way society as a whole views geeks, even as we are becoming the majority. Traditions There is not one things you can say all geeks do, but there are things that are very common. There are certain shows e.g. Monty Python, Dr Who, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, and Star Wars, that most geeks have seen and have opinions on, and most of them will gladly share with anyone looking for an in depth ‘discussion’. There are also movies that the same can be said of eg Dr Who, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Most geeks also either play a lot of games, or have strong opinions on why they do not Cultural Items With such a broad spectrum of what it is to be a geek is it possible to walk into a geeks house and see something that makes a person know that this is the lair of a geek? Well, there is not just one thing, but most geeks collect or prize certain things. Dice collections are very common amongst geek, as are minis, books are a staple of most geeks worlds, as are board games. Many people today have computer along with a few computer accessories, but not on the level that most geeks do. Music Geek music is rather varied and is more defined by where a person lives, than by their level of geek. However Nerd Core is common in most geekscircles, even if they otherwise do not like Hip Hop. For people who like the more folksy sound Filk is the musical choice, from what I can gather Filk started with a certain song that came from a show that defines the geeks want to not exist in this world, “The Man They Call Jayne” was from Firefly.