Jack7
First Post
After having various private messages, discussions, and email correspondences with some of you it occurred to me that it might be easier to understand each other, to understand the various gaming and other interests we (as a gaming group) share, or do not share, if we knew a bit more about the backgrounds of the other members of this board with whom we are conversing, debating, arguing, or discussing various issues.
To that end I created this thread.
In it you can present your personal and individual interests and then others can gain some type of better understanding of who you are, what your interests are, and what is the nature of your background. As well as what your exact gaming interests are in relation to your other interests. I'll start off.
You don't have to use this format (the one I'm using) by the way, you can express your interests in any way or form you like. But this thread is not for argument (you can do that in other threads) or for the attacking of the interests of others, rather it is for presenting your personal background and interests and then getting some kind of idea of the background and interests of others. And of course the interests of various people are going to diverge on points, and will sometimes overlap at other points. But the intention is so that you can understand the other fella, or gal, a little better, and thereby know something about their background and where they are coming from so that the next time you read something they've written or argue some opinion they've expressed their position might make a little more sense to you.
Perhaps a few working relationships and even a few friendships will develop from this effort.
Art - My favorite general type of art is from the Renaissance and High Renaissance. Though I very much like some classical ancient art. I also like impressionism, and surrealism. I'm not much for most contemporary, modern art. I like highly symbolic art with many different inferences and alternating or hidden frames of reference. As for me, I sketch, illustrate and paint. I also dabble in creating architectural plans and to tell you the truth wish I had far more time to do so. I also compose music (my favorite forms being classical art music and opera, but also rock and roll) and play the piano. I like ancient and Medieval music as well. I write poetry, but very little modern stuff, mostly classical forms. When I have the chance, which is not often, I take photographs.
Religion - I am a Christian and have been since a little boy. As a teenager I studied Raja Yoga from a yogin (originally from Thailand but he studied in India from his personal master) and on up into my twenties. As for my Christian faith I have a strong interest in mysticism, and also like studying eschatology and prophecy, and studying languages like Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Sanskrit. I like to meditate, but don't get too as often as I'd like, and to pray and to engage in prayer experiments. There is however also a strong practical or pragmatic side to my religious faith, and I am a church treasurer, and assist or help run several mission and ministry projects. I have a lot of friends who are missionaries, stationed all over the world and I often keep in contact with them. I college, before switching majors I was studying to be a priest. After my children are grown and I and my wife retire I plan on returning to the priesthood to become ordained as a Greek Orthodox priest.
Science - My first scientific love from when I was a little boy was physics, and I still love both physics and astrophysics. Over time though I developed a strong interest in biology and genetics, and follow developments in both fields very closely. I am a trained medic with interest in medicine, and I develop my own medicines and treatment regimens. In my twenties I found I was pretty good at chemistry and have developed a number of chemical and biochemical formulae, mostly for use in non-lethal weapons, or as medicines. I also like the study of criminology, criminalistics, and military science. My original major in college was Religion and Philosophy, but that later changed to psychology, then ended up with studies in criminal psychology. I help homeschool my children and so I have a personal interest in developing better educational methods and curricula. I have a telescope and often study the moon, and occasionally Mars.
Vocation/Professional - Writing - I am a freelance non-fiction writer and journalist. I am now also trying my hand at fiction, but I've just started those efforts. I also engage in writing analyses and papers and occasionally assist on military matters. Business - I used to run my own business brokerage company handling start up ventures and IPOs. Detective - I have a background in criminal and detective work. Occasionally I assist my friends in the military (a lot of my friends have military backgrounds) on matters related to terrorism, analysis, criminal matters, or Intel, but this is usually on an unofficial basis.
Historical/Historical Epochs - My favorite historical epochs or time periods are (in no particular order): some of the Egyptian dynasties, the later Babylonian era, Greece in the time period of the Peloponnesian War, The Byzantine Empire from the founding of Constantinople to about 900 AD, the Holy Land around the time of Christ, and Israel and Judea around the era of the prophets, the Mayan era in Central America, the first imperial periods in China, the Age of Charlemagne in Europe, the periods of the Crusades, the Muslim period of scientific discovery and invention, the Ashoka period in India, the Renaissance, the Victorian Age, the period of the Frontiersmen and the Mountain men (Daniel Boone, Dave Crockett, etc.), the period of the French and Indian Wars, the Age of Napoleon, the era of British Naval Supremacy (age of sail), the American Civil War era, the Frontiers and Indian Wars and the period of the American West, the Second World War, the period of the Cold War, the early days of Space Exploration, and our current age.
Avocation/Hobbies - I like to Vad, and also to explore in rural areas. Occasionally I participate in archaeological expeditions, usually industrial archeology. I lift weights, hit baseball a lot, and ride mountain bike. I used to play soccer and run a lot but had to give that up after breaking my back. As rehabilitation I started throwing the discus and fell in love with it. I still throw, but am not great. It helps me through and I like it. Lately I started P90X, modified the program for myself, and it helped get me into such good shape I could take up running again without much back pain, but usually only about a mile to mile and a half at a time. I read a lot and like to go hiking and fishing. I used to box and sword-fight a lot as a kid. I raise and cross-breed Saint Bernards and Great Danes, and will eventually take up breeding horses.
Entertainment - Mostly I read. Very rarely I watch television or go to the movies. I much prefer exploring and being out of doors. I don't play sports much anymore because of my injuries, but do hike and throw discus, bike, stuff like that. I play with my kids and we go to the lake or mountains. I like going on expeditions. An old buddy got me to kayaking and if I had the time I'd do a lot more of that.
Gaming - I enjoy Role Playing Games. I also like historical wargaming, and some board games. I like some video and computer games but don't often have much time to play such games. I sometimes design simulations and training simulations for clients. I like to write adventures and mission scenarios. I design games, although recently only for my own interests, for my players, and for my friends. Recently I have given idea to designing for publication and so I'm now involved in a few such contests. As for design principles and general design philosophy I'd like to more closely integrate real world elements, history, art, literature, poetry, religion, culture, and science into game design. I also like the idea of education game design. I have been asked to help write the script for a video game, and I've been involved in a few projects concerning Virtual Reality, and I am considering various aspects of VR design. I like the idea of Viral gaming and I have already drawn up the sketch notes for a series of three inter-related Alternate Reality games (although really I call them Parallel Reality games, because they are based upon the real history of the locale in which they take place) that I plan to write. And I am interested I further developing transferable skill simulations.
Gaming Genres - I enjoy many different gaming genres. I like fantasy gaming, historical gaming (and even re-enactments), and wargaming. I also like sci-fi gaming, detective gaming, modern gaming, military and espionage games. I enjoy pulp and adventure gaming, and occasionally super-hero gaming. And some horror and weird gaming if it is well done. Generally speaking I prefer my games to tend towards more realism in nature, and to tend towards more role play and interactivity than to be just exercises in tactical combat (though I like interesting tactical combat situations).
Alright, your turn...
To that end I created this thread.
In it you can present your personal and individual interests and then others can gain some type of better understanding of who you are, what your interests are, and what is the nature of your background. As well as what your exact gaming interests are in relation to your other interests. I'll start off.
You don't have to use this format (the one I'm using) by the way, you can express your interests in any way or form you like. But this thread is not for argument (you can do that in other threads) or for the attacking of the interests of others, rather it is for presenting your personal background and interests and then getting some kind of idea of the background and interests of others. And of course the interests of various people are going to diverge on points, and will sometimes overlap at other points. But the intention is so that you can understand the other fella, or gal, a little better, and thereby know something about their background and where they are coming from so that the next time you read something they've written or argue some opinion they've expressed their position might make a little more sense to you.
Perhaps a few working relationships and even a few friendships will develop from this effort.
Art - My favorite general type of art is from the Renaissance and High Renaissance. Though I very much like some classical ancient art. I also like impressionism, and surrealism. I'm not much for most contemporary, modern art. I like highly symbolic art with many different inferences and alternating or hidden frames of reference. As for me, I sketch, illustrate and paint. I also dabble in creating architectural plans and to tell you the truth wish I had far more time to do so. I also compose music (my favorite forms being classical art music and opera, but also rock and roll) and play the piano. I like ancient and Medieval music as well. I write poetry, but very little modern stuff, mostly classical forms. When I have the chance, which is not often, I take photographs.
Religion - I am a Christian and have been since a little boy. As a teenager I studied Raja Yoga from a yogin (originally from Thailand but he studied in India from his personal master) and on up into my twenties. As for my Christian faith I have a strong interest in mysticism, and also like studying eschatology and prophecy, and studying languages like Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Sanskrit. I like to meditate, but don't get too as often as I'd like, and to pray and to engage in prayer experiments. There is however also a strong practical or pragmatic side to my religious faith, and I am a church treasurer, and assist or help run several mission and ministry projects. I have a lot of friends who are missionaries, stationed all over the world and I often keep in contact with them. I college, before switching majors I was studying to be a priest. After my children are grown and I and my wife retire I plan on returning to the priesthood to become ordained as a Greek Orthodox priest.
Science - My first scientific love from when I was a little boy was physics, and I still love both physics and astrophysics. Over time though I developed a strong interest in biology and genetics, and follow developments in both fields very closely. I am a trained medic with interest in medicine, and I develop my own medicines and treatment regimens. In my twenties I found I was pretty good at chemistry and have developed a number of chemical and biochemical formulae, mostly for use in non-lethal weapons, or as medicines. I also like the study of criminology, criminalistics, and military science. My original major in college was Religion and Philosophy, but that later changed to psychology, then ended up with studies in criminal psychology. I help homeschool my children and so I have a personal interest in developing better educational methods and curricula. I have a telescope and often study the moon, and occasionally Mars.
Vocation/Professional - Writing - I am a freelance non-fiction writer and journalist. I am now also trying my hand at fiction, but I've just started those efforts. I also engage in writing analyses and papers and occasionally assist on military matters. Business - I used to run my own business brokerage company handling start up ventures and IPOs. Detective - I have a background in criminal and detective work. Occasionally I assist my friends in the military (a lot of my friends have military backgrounds) on matters related to terrorism, analysis, criminal matters, or Intel, but this is usually on an unofficial basis.
Historical/Historical Epochs - My favorite historical epochs or time periods are (in no particular order): some of the Egyptian dynasties, the later Babylonian era, Greece in the time period of the Peloponnesian War, The Byzantine Empire from the founding of Constantinople to about 900 AD, the Holy Land around the time of Christ, and Israel and Judea around the era of the prophets, the Mayan era in Central America, the first imperial periods in China, the Age of Charlemagne in Europe, the periods of the Crusades, the Muslim period of scientific discovery and invention, the Ashoka period in India, the Renaissance, the Victorian Age, the period of the Frontiersmen and the Mountain men (Daniel Boone, Dave Crockett, etc.), the period of the French and Indian Wars, the Age of Napoleon, the era of British Naval Supremacy (age of sail), the American Civil War era, the Frontiers and Indian Wars and the period of the American West, the Second World War, the period of the Cold War, the early days of Space Exploration, and our current age.
Avocation/Hobbies - I like to Vad, and also to explore in rural areas. Occasionally I participate in archaeological expeditions, usually industrial archeology. I lift weights, hit baseball a lot, and ride mountain bike. I used to play soccer and run a lot but had to give that up after breaking my back. As rehabilitation I started throwing the discus and fell in love with it. I still throw, but am not great. It helps me through and I like it. Lately I started P90X, modified the program for myself, and it helped get me into such good shape I could take up running again without much back pain, but usually only about a mile to mile and a half at a time. I read a lot and like to go hiking and fishing. I used to box and sword-fight a lot as a kid. I raise and cross-breed Saint Bernards and Great Danes, and will eventually take up breeding horses.
Entertainment - Mostly I read. Very rarely I watch television or go to the movies. I much prefer exploring and being out of doors. I don't play sports much anymore because of my injuries, but do hike and throw discus, bike, stuff like that. I play with my kids and we go to the lake or mountains. I like going on expeditions. An old buddy got me to kayaking and if I had the time I'd do a lot more of that.
Gaming - I enjoy Role Playing Games. I also like historical wargaming, and some board games. I like some video and computer games but don't often have much time to play such games. I sometimes design simulations and training simulations for clients. I like to write adventures and mission scenarios. I design games, although recently only for my own interests, for my players, and for my friends. Recently I have given idea to designing for publication and so I'm now involved in a few such contests. As for design principles and general design philosophy I'd like to more closely integrate real world elements, history, art, literature, poetry, religion, culture, and science into game design. I also like the idea of education game design. I have been asked to help write the script for a video game, and I've been involved in a few projects concerning Virtual Reality, and I am considering various aspects of VR design. I like the idea of Viral gaming and I have already drawn up the sketch notes for a series of three inter-related Alternate Reality games (although really I call them Parallel Reality games, because they are based upon the real history of the locale in which they take place) that I plan to write. And I am interested I further developing transferable skill simulations.
Gaming Genres - I enjoy many different gaming genres. I like fantasy gaming, historical gaming (and even re-enactments), and wargaming. I also like sci-fi gaming, detective gaming, modern gaming, military and espionage games. I enjoy pulp and adventure gaming, and occasionally super-hero gaming. And some horror and weird gaming if it is well done. Generally speaking I prefer my games to tend towards more realism in nature, and to tend towards more role play and interactivity than to be just exercises in tactical combat (though I like interesting tactical combat situations).
Alright, your turn...
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. Pulp-style or comic book illustrations, especially manga/anime style. 
