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A friend of mine passed away last Saturday. His name was a Michael Satran. He was a game designer (wrote a bunch of modules for Hero System) and even got a book published(Hellbow Rune). He was a great GM and a great friend. He had a passion for gaming that match my own and the writing skills to pursue his passions.
About a month ago on Thursday I was gaming with him....than that Sat he was in the hospital with what would be a brain tumor. It was all around bad news. It just happened so quick. Part of me is still can not believe it.
As I think what he meant to me I felt the need to share it with people...anyway...
I met him around twenty years ago in the basement of Game Masters in Fairlawn, NJ. I joined his 2nd ed D&D game. Over the years we went from 2nd ed to 3rd...than 3.5 than to Pathfinder...with playing a little Shadowrun, Rifts and his true passion Champions. The stories we told together will stay with me for the rest of my life...he made me a better player and a better GM.
But it is as a friend that he meant the most to me. He was generous and supportive. Anytime I needed help he would give it to me...he covers the cost of dinner or a movie without any hesitation if somebody was short. Almost every night we would talk over IM...about games....sometime a little RP...other times about movies or TV shows. Talk about our days and our problems. We would share cat stories.
Most of you do not know this about me but I came out as a Transgendered woman about 9 months ago. He was the second person I told. He was supportive and allowed to have books shipped to his house and would have allowed others thing I might be getting...and provide a safe place for me to express myself. Though I was nervous in coming out to him because I knew he had a very bad experience with a trans person coming on to him very strongly. But I heard through a friend who asked him how he was dealing with it...Mike's response was, 'I have to support her. She is my friend.' I think he grew as a person and buried is past prejudices due to me...which....makes even all the sadder that he is gone.
Rest in Peace Mike...one day we will be together and we can tell awesome stories together and roll some dices.
P.S. I prefer to keep this thread about Mike. If you want to show support or ask questions about the trans stuff you can do so in my thread. Also I am going to set my default name to Selene Spires the alias I have been using over on the LGBT Gamers thread. Life is too short to be not who you are.
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My condolences for your loss. Even though I have never met Mike he sounds like an amazing person, thank you for sharing.
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Deepest condolences.
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That we can all depart this path we are upon with these friendships and families is all we can ask.
Selene, condolences on the loss, and may you roll some crits for Michael the next time you play.
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I am sorry about your loss, Mike / Selene. IMHO you have always been an awesome person, so your friend must have been too. Please take care.
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So sorry for your loss John. My sympathies for you, your mutual friends, and his family.
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I accidentally used the name "John" after you had told us about your alias change. I hope that didn't offend you.
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I'm so sorry. Peace to you and his family.
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Thank you all.
Thinking about one of his legacies is a very strong gaming community in NJ...and beyond. So many people have sat down at his table over the years. And a lot of us still play.
@DungeomasterCal: Do not worry about it...people are still getting used to it.
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Selene...sorry to hear about your friend Mike.
But it sounds like he was a great dude, and had a positive effect on people. So, as you say, remember him for that.
And maybe throw some 21d6 fireballs around at the old FLGS to honor a fallen adventurer and comrade.
Seems to me, Mike would likely approve.
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I am sorry for your loss, Sister Kretzer.
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I only met Mike the one time and he was an intense and passionate person especially about gaming.
His Champions characters were interesting as hell.
My condolences once again Kretz.
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I'm so sorry for your loss.
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Thank you all.
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Sigh...I want to take a moment to thank the people of Paizo for building a system and a great world in which I and Mike built a lot of great characters, adventures and memories together. I will continue without him now...but every time I roll a die, create a character, crack open a new RPG book, etc. I will think of him.
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Pretty sure that remembering Mike each time a d20 spins or you stat up a new PC is a damn good legacy.
I may not have known Mike personally, but he sounds like the kind of gamer who would be pleased to know that.
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Mike sounds like an awesome person. So sorry, Selene.
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So I am using this to cope....it helps putting my thoughts out there about my friend...
Just came back from seeing Thor Ragnarok ( a very good movie). Mike would buy a bunch of tickets for the group+ to the Marvel movies and few others and we would go as a group. He loved comic books and the concept of super heroes. So we went as a group...and I kinda of teared up thinking about how he would have loved this movie.
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*Offers Hugs*
Things get better. Slowly but surely.
If you want to talk about him, I am sure the rest of us would love to hear more.
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I'm sorry for your loss Selene.
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* grabs Selene in a big bear hug and offers her two big fluffy shoulders to cry on *
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Thanks Everyone. *hugs*
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So I got together with a friend tonight and we talked about continuing Mike's games...he would have wanted that.
He also is going to have the last supplement he was writing for the Hero system get published...probably with some proceeds of it going to research.
We are also going to see if we can get a couple of novels he had completed published. And we are getting get his notes to see if we can get his Champions(Hero system) campaign setting called Legacies published.
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I am sorry for the loss of your friend, truly.
I am a longtime HERO player myself.(was my first RPG even before DnD Redbox.)
Would you be able to share a short list of any of the products he did that you recall? Regardless it is nice to see you all moving forward and feeling good that it is what he would have wanted also.
stay strong, selene.
best wishes.
edit: Found one,Foxbat for president! /salute. so great...
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Sure.... Modules are Imaginary Friends, Unkindness, King of the Mountain, Pretty Hate Machine.
Plus a supplement called Journey to the Center of the Earth which is his campaign setting Center of the Earth.
He also had a supplement coming out called The Jade Throne...which detailed China in his Champions universe.
He also had a novel titled Hellbow Rune.
All of them a great read...even if you do not play Champions.
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Just thinking about one of the last adventures he was running was Foxbat launching a convention Center filled with Flat Earthers to prove to them the Earth is not Flat... :( He did love the zaniness of Foxbat.
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Foxbat was always wonderful(and a huge headache for my players), and thanks for that list so fast. I have several of those i'm pleased to say.
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Teddy! Where have you been? Everyone was asking about you.
Hey John,
Long story short - between some health issues (don't worry, I'm better now) and work my time was severely limited.
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Hi Selene. I think being fondly remembered by people is the best legacy one can have. To know that we have not lived in vain
You are an excellent person. That you share with us these great memories of your friend is an honor. And we know now that there was an awesome guy on this Earth that made many lives brighter. Michael Satran, I humbly salute you
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Thanks Raven Black
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Sundays have been the toughest...it is the day we have consistently played in Mike's game. Now it just seems strange. We get together and talk about continuing the games...right now though we need a space.
The is a informal memorial for Mike next Friday.
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So last night was the memorial for Mike. It was nice to see people I have not seen in a while...and friends of Mike I have never met before. Hearing stories of Mike was great...and a little sad.
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It's a rough time of year to have it happen, too.
Hang in there, we're pulling for you.