The following article text is reprinted from Polyhedron Magazine #132. This publication is available as part of RPGA membership.
by Stephen H. Jay <SJAYKahn@aol.com>
A: I met a gentleman named Nathan M. Carpenter at a convention in Oklahoma in 1991 and was quite impressed with his gaming ability and DMing style. Nathan was a member of the RPGA and later became the RPGA Regional Director for the state of Oklahoma. Nathan was also the President of Darkmoore (the largest gaming club in Oklahoma from 1991 to 1997) at the time. [Because of Nathan] I joined both Darkmoore and RPGA, and together we took the [two organizations] as far as we could. We were quite a team. Once in a Darkmoore Talisman column, Nathan was referred to as the soft-spoken diplomat and I was referred to as the "in-your-face man-of-action." That's about how it worked. Between the two of us it seemed like there was nothing we could not accomplish. I also served as Regional Director (RD) for Oklahoma during a period when there was no RD.
A: I am the RPGA US Military Regional Director. I serve all active duty US Service Members, their dependents, and their civilian counterparts wherever they happen to be from Bosnia-Herzegovina to submarine duty with the US Navy. While stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma I also helped plan and run conventions, charity events, and game rooms at numerous conventions in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
A: (I once got) and e-mail from someone serving in the Atlantic Fleet that they were going to be putting ashore in Portugal in a few days and we're trying to find a gaming convention or just agame. It ... really became a nightmare!
The toughest part is trying to stay in touch with our service members. Depending on what megalomaniac is rearing his ugly head each week, US Service members can and do end up almost anywhere on earth. Add to that trying to keep the lines of communication open (between members). An impossible task most of the time, but I try. When possible I try to get our members my contact data and help them with whatever they may need help with, from ordering modules, scoring rounds, planning events and helping direct them to the nearest gaming convention.
A: I have been stationed at several Air Force Bases (AFB) around the world. Two of special note were the 1849 Electronic Installation Squadron at McClellan AFB in Sacramento, CA and the 3rd Combat Communications Group at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, OK. They had different missions, but they were similar in one way. To accomplish the mission you had to deploy (all over the world). So after ten years between these two units you can just imagine where I have been (the US, Great Britain, and the Orient). And if I was going there for any length of time you can bet I was taking my gaming materials with me!
A: OH YES! I prefer to game with service members, or people with previous military experience. I find that they already understand the team concept. They work together quickly and efficiently. Our success rates and team scores are always very high. Bickering amongst players is almost non-existent. Now bickering with the judge, well, that's other matter altogether! We all stick together. You can always count on the person next to you. I like that, knowing that I can really trust the members of my team.
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