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All:
With my first post to the Pathfinder boards, I would also like to ask your indulgence (without a "cool story bro" or "tl;dr").
Tabletop gaming was a major part of my childhood until I went to college, "grew up", and became "too cool". I swapped my dice bag for a golf bag and started "enjoying" an activity based entirely on driving around in a cart and trying to impress people I didn't really like with amazing clubs that improved my "game" somehow.
Rediscovering tabletop games was /not/ in my plans.. or at least it wasn't until I went up in my attic, I literally tripped on a box of the "world's oldest RPG" materials and almost fell right back out..
(*saving throw!*)
I was really curious to see what almost sent me crashing into my garage floor, so I naturally looked in the box.
When found all my old sourcebooks, I had this sudden flashback of childhood memories (it had to be nostalgia.. if it was my life flashing before my eyes, I seriously need to redo my "bucket list") and friends that have long since grown up and grown out of touch.
I started reconnecting with friends on "that big social media website" and found that even though we had totally different lives and were thousands of miles apart, we all still had fond memories of being around a table, having snacks and swapping stories.
My first set of dice was long gone and I decided to get a new set; 30 sets and a custom dice bag later, I was a little kid all over again.
But the dice weren't enough. I suddenly wanted to play again. I dragged all of my old boxed sets and campaign materials down from the attic, loaded them into my car, and brought them to my office so I could sort through them.
An incredible thing happened: other faculty members suddenly revealed a geeky and nerdy side of "I played that!!" and my students were shocked and awed by the collection in my bookcases. People I didn't really have a reason to talk to suddenly had volumes to say, and homesick freshman stuck for summer classes perked up at the idea of a game.
I told a certain bearded, Canadian librarian about this by email and he sent me back the greatest message about not taking myself seriously and to enjoy the company and friendship that his writing and my gaming brought to life.
I knew I had to pick a system and was sold on Pathfinder because of the online reference docs, the incredible Beginner's Box (which is way better than any "basic" set I ever had), and the forums here.
The Pathfinder community is probably the closest thing to my middle school gaming crowd. Maybe I've been lucky, but I've yet to see the rules lawyers and min/maxers here.. I certainly enjoy the conversations more than what goes on at the clubhouse.
With some luck, I've found people (like DFW Venture-Captain Jon Cary) who went above and beyond to hook me up with tips and ideas to start my own group or give me encouragement to get playing again.
I would have been happy just to be able to find my way back to the table after so many years, but I feel like Pathfinder players have gone out of their way to pull out a chair and welcome me back.
For reading my post and for making feel at home here: thank you.
To adventuring,
Legalbeagle
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Welcome back! I hope you get to live those adventures you didn't get a chance to take all those years ago.
We do have our share of min maxers and rules lawyers but we have enough room that they are also welcome to share our gaming tables.
With that said,if you are ever in Seattle, let me know. I will take you out for a round of golf as long as you don't mind me taking the nature hikes I usually end up taking during a round.
Great story and welcome back to the wonderful world of Roleplaying.
Michael,
Thanks for the kind offer; I would be more than happy to return the favor if you're in the Tulsa or Oklahoma City areas. My golfing persona would have to be either ranger (making survival checks for getting badly lost in the woods) or druid (I'm in the rough so much that I can commune with nature).
Talonhawke,
Thanks for not posting "cool story bro". ^_^
Majuba,
I'm hoping to get out to GenCon or PaizoCon shortly -- sounds like a great group of people!
Dragnmoon,
I'm in Oklahoma, so DFW is the closest Venture-Captain to me. It's a short drive so I'm trying to find some excuses to get down there and play a few sessions during the next open house.
KestlerGunner,
When I look back on it, bits of tabletop gaming sneak into real life: reading stories to my daughter with all the right voices and dramatic effect, organizing groups of people and learning to resolve differences, and I have to admit that "adjudicating rules" is my favorite..
All,
I appreciate the warm welcome back and look forward to visiting with each of you on the boards.
Best,
Legalbeagle
Fantastic! I got back into it in my late 20's and I now play regularly at a table that includes a couple of 50 years olds, their kids, and once in a while their grandkid!
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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My first set of dice was long gone and I decided to get a new set; 30 sets and a custom dice bag later, I was a little kid all over again.
One year for my birthday, my wife made a dice bag for me out of spare cloth, and embroidered "JIGGY" onto the side.
I <3 her so much. :)
I also got back into the game fairly recently, and our gaming group is a wonderful mix of people. It's an activity we all look forward to every month.
With all the people you met when you brought your 'big box of stuff' to work, hopefully you'll be in a group soon! Best of luck and have fun.
(Mike Mistele --- love that avatar.....lol)
Venture-Captain, Missouri—Cape Girardeau
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Great story! I too found way back to table-top gaming after years of putting it aside. My regular players from high school and college all "grew up" and quite playing to pursue other things of an adult type nature and my books languished on a bookshelf gathering dust. I friend of my younger brother invited me to run a game based on my GM reputation toward the end of the 3.5 era, bringing me back to the joy of RPGs and story-telling in general. With the close of 3E and rise of 4E, I decided to retire from gaming, feeling that 4E wasn't really aimed at me as a target market... until Paizo decided to Alpha test, then Beta test their Pathfinder RPG.
Now, several years later, I am proud that I have introduced Pathfinder to my youngest children (8 & 9) thanks to the Beginner's Box! My son is now an avid player and participant at our local game days, having just attended his first game convention this summer. His older sister is quite content to join in our odd home game when the opportunity arises. Both have increased their reading skills do no small part to their participation in the Pathfinder RPG, as well as their new obsession with both Munchkin and Pokemon!
Glad to have you back with us... hope you never again grow "too old" for us!
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Welcome back!
I was without a group after moving to Copenhagen a year ago, didn't have a group and felt miserable because of it. But through the good grace of the Copenhagen VC Diego, and the rest of the awesome folks in the Society there I'm playing again and actually trying to set up the Society in Reykjavík for the summer (while I'm here). Something I highly doubt I would've done if not for meeting up with the Society in Copenhagen.